Though their trip to the Changeling territory had provided a small worry for the future, Flurry and Moongleam had managed to put that worry at the back of their minds for the moment, and enjoyed their downtime until the next assignment. Moongleam in particular found herself attaining a comfortable level of relaxation. Until one night....
Moongleam couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned, counted Crystal sheep, but couldn't seem to get herself to drift off into the land of slumber.
'Maybe some warm milk will help.' She thought as she climbed out of bed. 'Never could stand the stuff, but it always worked when I was younger...'
A small smile appeared on Moongleam's face as she recalled fond memories of her mother and father helping her to sleep when she was younger.
'Good times...' She reminisced.
In order to get to the kitchen, Moongleam would have to pass through the sitting room. She hoped her parents wouldn't mind her brief trip out of bed. Just as she placed her hoof on the first step, she heard them talking.
"...Sure we're ready for this?" Sunburst's voice asked.
"Of course we are." Starlight's voice replied.
'Ready for what?' Moongleam froze in place.
"It's kind of a big step, though." Sunburst declared.
"I know." Starlight agreed. "But it's way past time this home saw a new addition."
"New addition?" Moongleam whispered.
"I'll admit, it'll be nice to have a new little bundle of joy around." Sunburst chuckled.
"Is that a 'yes'?" Starlight urged.
"I'm definitely leaning towards that answer..." Sunburst teased.
"Great." Starlight cheered. "Then let's put our little plan into motion..."
Moongleam was surprised, to say the least. Forgoing the warm milk, she made her way back to her room, her mind needing the time to process the information.
'They're going to have another foal.' She thought, as she got back into bed. 'It's really happening. A new addition to the household...'
Not too long ago, Moongleam had told Flurry that she would have liked to have a younger sibling, for the idea had seemed harmless enough, even amusing. But at the moment, she was feeling something other than amusement, as the stark reality of the situation sunk in. A new foal would demand a lot of work and attention from her parents, meaning there would be less attention for her...
'But I'm the foal here. Me'. Moongleam thought. ...Granted, I'm not exactly a child any more... but still, shouldn't I be enough for them? What logical purpose would there be for them to have another child?' Her face formed into a scowl, as several negative emotions flooded into her. 'What, are they just bored with me? They need a new kid to replace me? Is that it?' Her face fell. 'What if they're so busy with this new foal that they won't any time for me any more? No more reading with dad... no more kite-flying with mom... I knew those days were numbered, but I thought I still had a few good years left. This foal is going to ruin everything...'
Moongleam barely slept that night, her worries keeping her awake. The next morning, she glumly joined her parents for breakfast.
"Morning, sweetheart." Sunburst smiled.
"Morning." Moongleam muttered.
"Are you okay, Moongleam?" Starlight asked, taking note of Moongleam's tired appearance. "Did you get enough sleep last night?"
"Like you care..." Moongleam muttered under her breath.
"What was that, dear?" Sunburst asked.
"I said, I messed up my hair." Moongleam lied. "Didn't sleep much."
"My poor little girl." Starlight stroked Moongleam's mane. "You should have said something. I would've made you some warm milk, like when you were little."
"Sure you would." Moongleam frowned. "But I never did like the stuff..."
"It always did the trick, though." Sunburst recalled.
"It doesn't really matter now, does it?" Moongleam said haughtily as she ate her breakfast pancakes.
Starlight and Sunburst shared a concerned look, but said nothing, chalking Moongleam's unusual attitude down to her lack of sleep.
After finishing her pancakes, Moongleam stood up.
"May I be excused?" She asked flatly. "I need to go and see Flurry."
"Of course, dear." Starlight nodded.
Without another word, Moongleam exited the room.
"I'm getting the feeling there's more going with her than just a lack of sleep." Starlight frowned.
"Something is definitely off." Sunburst acknowledged. "Maybe we should have a little talk with her later, so as to get to the bottom of things..."
Moongleam made her way over to the castle. She caught Flurry just as she was heading to the library, having finished her own breakfast.
"Good morning, Flurry." Moongleam said curtly.
"Good mor-oh." Flurry froze mid-sentence as she looked upon Moongleam's messy mane. "Did you... lose your hair brush, by any chance?"
"No." Moongleam growled. "I couldn't sleep last night."
"Did you try some warm milk?" Flurry asked. "Because it always works for-"
"I couldn't sleep because I overheard my parents talking about adding a 'new addition' to the family." Moonglam revealed.
"'New addition'? You mean like, a foal?" Flurry smiled.
"It certainly appears so, yes." Moongleam nodded.
"But that's great!" Flurry cheered. She then took note of the annoyed look on Moongleam's face. "Isn't it?"
"No, it's not." Moongleam growled.
"Oh." Flurry frowned. "But wait, didn't you once say you'd like a little bro-"
"I know what I said!" Moongleam yelled. "But that was before I took into account all the ramifications. A new foal in the house will take up all of my parents' time and attention. Meaning they won't have any time to spend with me."
"Well, foals do need a lot of attention." Flurry admitted. "Especially the newborns..."
"I can't believe this is happening to me." Moongleam groaned. "Everything was perfect already. Just me, mom and dad. Why would they want to ruin it by bringing in a new foal?"
"Moongleam, it's not as bad as you think." Flurry placed a supportive hoof on her bestfriend's back.
"I doubt that." Moongleam scowled.
"I know how you feel." Flurry declared. "In fact, I felt the same way when I heard mom was carrying Anthem."
"You did?" Moongleam asked. "How did you respond?"
"Well, it went a little like this..." Flurry began.
Flashback...
Flurry, currently four years old, was playing tea party in her room. Several of her stuffed animals was seated around a small table. Prominent among them was Flurry's beloved stuffed snail, Whammy. The toy had grown a little weathered over the years, but Flurry still loved it as much as she did the day she first got it.
"More tea, lord Whammyton?" Flurry hovered her plastic teapot over the plastic cup. "There you go. Drink up, now."
Just then, Shining Armor entered the room.
"Hi, sweetheart." He smiled.
"Daddy!" Flurry pouted. "Where are your manners? Can't you see I have guests?"
"Oh... sorry." Shining Armor humored her. "I didn't mean to interrupt. Could you come downstairs? Mommy and I have something very special to tell you."
"Ooh, a surprise?" Flurry cooed.
"You could call it that." Shining Armor smiled. "Come on."
"Right behind you, daddy!" Flurry grinned.
As Shining Armor left the room, Flurry turned to Whammy.
"Dreadfully sorry, lord Whammyton." She announced. "I'm afraid we'll have to take a short break. See you soon."
Flurry followed her father downstairs to the throne room, where Cadance was waiting.
"Okay, I'm here!" She said excitedly. "So what's the big surprise? Is it a present?"
"...Kind of." Cadance grinned cryptically.
"What is it? What is it?" Flurry squealed, barely able to contain herself.
"It's a very special thing." Shining Armor declared. "Very, very special. And it's in mommy's tummy."
"You ate it?" Flurry frowned at her mother. "Then how am I supposed to get it?"
"I didn't eat it." Cadance chuckled. "What's in my tummy is a new foal. In a few months time, there's going to be a new little filly or colt here. Flurry, you're going to have a little brother or sister."
"...What?" Flurry gasped, feeling as if her heart has just been stomped on.
"You're going to be a big sister, sweetheart." Shining Armor grinned. "Isn't that great?"
"But... but... why?!" Flurry yelled.
"Why?" Cadance asked.
"What do you mean, Flurry?" Shining Armor asked.
"Why are you getting a new foal?" Flurry retorted. "Don't you love me any more?"
"Of course we do." Cadance tried to assure her.
"Then why are you going to replace me?" Flurry sniffled.
"We're not-" Shining Armor started.
"Yes, you are!" Flurry yelled again.
"Now you calm down, young filly." Cadance frowned.
"I won't!" Flurry scowled. "You're going to love the foal more than me!"
"That's not true." Shining Armor declared.
"Liar!" Flurry roared.
"Don't you talk to me like that." Shining Armor frowned. "I know you're upset, but we're going to have this foal. You have to accept that."
"No, no, no!" Flurry started crying. "I don't want it! Make it go away! This is the worst surprise ever! I hate it! I hate it! I hate it!"
"That's enough!" Cadance said sternly. "Go to your room, little miss!"
"Fine!" Flurry yelled. She raced out of the room, tears still streaming from her eyes.
"...That could have gone better..." Shining Armor sighed.
"I never imagined she'd react that way." Cadance stroked her stomach. "What if she doesn't change her mind? What if she keeps resenting the foal?"
"I'll go have a talk with her." Shining Armor declared.
Back in her, Flurry had just finished explaining her predicament to Whammy.
"So that's it, Whammy." She said sadly. "Mommy and daddy don't love me any more. They're going to replace me with a stupid, dumb new foal. Well, you know what? if they don't want me around, then I may as well just as leave. I'll go somewhere where ponies still care about. I'm gonna ask Sunburst if I can stay at his place. And if not, I'll just get the train to Ponyville. Auntie Twily will take me in. She still loves me, at least..."
Flurry took out her favorite blanket and laid it on the floor. She placed Whammy in the center, along with some other "essentials", wrapped the blanket around them, then tied it to a plastic baseball bat, which she then slung the makeshift pack over her shoulder.
"Goodbye, room." Flurry sighed. "I'll miss you..."
Just as Flurry turned to leave, Shining Armor entered once again.
"Going somewhere?" He asked, taking note of the makeshift pack.
"Yeah, I am." Flurry sniffled. "If you're going to replace me, then you won't mind if I go now."
"Flurry, we're not going to replace you." Shining Armor placed a hoof on Flurry's free shoulder.
"You are!" Flurry wept. "Why else would you have another foal?"
"For you, of course." Shining Armor smiled.
"...Me?" Flurry frowned. "But I already told you, I don't want a baby brother or sister! It'll be stinky, and drooly, and crie-y... and you and mommy will love it more!"
"No, we'll love you both equally." Shining Armor declared. "I promise."
"Yeah, well... I still don't like the idea of some dumb foal living with us!" Flurry said stubbornly.
"You should." Shining Armor told her.
"I don't." Flurry pouted.
"...Did I ever tell you about the day your aunt Twily was born?" Shining Armor asked.
"No." Flurry shrugged.
"Well, on that, I was in the hospital's waiting room." Shining Armor recalled. "And I was a little worried about what it would mean for me to be a big brother. I was worried I wouldn't be able to cut it. But then I was let into the room where mom and Twily were. I saw your aunt, this little bundle of fur in mom's hooves, and it all feel into place."
"What do you mean, daddy?" Flurry asked.
"All my worries faded away as I looked at my new little sister." Shining Armor smiled. "I knew she'd need me as she grew up, and I promised myself that I'd be the best big brother to her I could be. And I was. As we grew up, I protected her, taught her, played with her... those were some of the best times of my life."
"Really?" Flurry asked.
"Really." Shining Armor nodded. "Because being a big brother or sister is one of the most wonderful things in all of Equestria. In the years to come, that foal in mommy's tummy will be looking to you to be a guide, a protector, and a playmate."
"It... will?" Flurry frowned, unsure.
"It's a lot of responsibility." Shining Armor admitted. "But it's also a lot of fun. Do you think you could give it a try?"
Flurry thought it over for a moment. She had never considered that having a younger sibling might actually be fun. And from her father had told, it could be a lot of other things. Good things...
"I... guess I could give it a try." She admitted.
"That's my girl." Shining Armor hugged her.
"But I'm not changing any diapers, understand?" Flurry said firmly.
"Understood." Shining Armor chuckled. "Now, weren't you having a tea party earlier? Because I'd like some tea... if you don't mind."
"Of course not." Flurry smiled. She opened her blanket and returned Whammy to his seat at the table. "You can sit beside Lord Whammyton."
"Of course." Shining Armor sat beside the stuffed snail. "A pleasure to you again, your lordship."
Flurry chuckled as she "poured" her imaginary tea.
Months later...
Flurry was sitting in the waiting room of the Crystal Empire's hospital. Candace had been rushed there the night before, as she had gone into labour. As Shining Armor had Cadance taken to the hospital, he sent Flurry to stay with Sunburst for the night. The following morning, Sunburst took Flurry to the hospital, and was sitting beside her.
"Do you think they're okay?" Flurry asked worriedly. "Mommy and the foal, I mean."
"I'm sure they're fine." Sunburst assured her.
"I hope you're right..." Flurry frowned.
After what seemed like forever, Shining Armor entered the waiting room, looking very frazzled. His mane was a mess, and he clearly hadn't slept, but he had a big smile on his face.
"Flurry, there's somepony who wants to meet you." Shining Armor smiled.
Nodding, Flurry got off her chair, and followed Shining Armor back down the hospital corridors. Once they reached the maternity ward, Flurry saw Cadance lying in bed, tired but content, with a small white bundle with purple hair sleeping in her hooves.
"Flurry, meet your little brother, Anthem." Cadance smiled.
"I have a little brother." Flurry whispered, as she slowly approached. "...Can I hold him?"
"Of course." Cadance nodded. "Careful, now."
Flurry gently held Anthem in her hooves.
"Hi, Anthem." She said softly. "I'm your big sister, Flurry Heart."
Anthem, sensing Flurry's body heat, nuzzled up against her. In that moment, Flurry felt a surge of love and affection for her new little brother.
"I'm going to be the best big sister I can be." Flurry whispered. "I promise."
The present...
"...And I kept that promise." Flurry finished. "Sure, there are times when Anthem annoys me, times when we fight... but I wouldn't trade that little squirt for the world."
"That was a beautiful story." Moongleam admitted, wiping a tear from her eye.
"Like my dad said, being a big brother or sister is one of the most wonderful things in all of Equestria." Flurry smiled. "At the very least, you shouldn't knock it 'til you've tried it."
"I suppose you have a point there..." Moongleam mused.
"And it wouldn't hurt to talk to your parents about it." Flurry declared. "Just to get it all out in the open."
"Another good point." Moongleam nodded.
As lunch time rolled around, Moongleam returned home. Her parents were waiting for her, concerned looks on their faces.
"Uh... hi, mom." Moongleam declared. "Hi, dad."
"Moongleam, we need to talk." Starlight announced.
"Is there something... bothering you?" Sunburst asked.
"Was it that obvious?" Moongleam cringed.
"Yeah, it was." Starlight nodded. "So you may as well tell us what's up."
"Okay. Last night... I overheard you two talking." Moongleam confessed. "About adding a... new addition."
"You heard that?" Sunburst asked.
"Yes." Moongleam nodded. "And I want you to know that if you really want to have a foal, I'm okay with that."
"A foal?" Starlight frowned. "We weren't talking about having a foal."
"...You weren't?" Moongleam gaped. "But you said-"
"We were talking about getting a family pet." Sunburst smiled.
"A... a pet?!" Moongleam spluttered. "All this time, I've been worried over a pet?!"
"Looks that way." Starlight ruffled her daughter's mane. "But it's nice to know you'd be okay with your father and I ever having another foal."
"Yes, we'll have to keep that in mind for the future." Sunburst grinned. "But for now, let's focus on our new family pet."
"I can do that." Moongleam smiled.
"Great." Starlight smiled. "First thing tomorrow, we'll be going to the pet store, and we'll choose our pet together... as a family."
"I look forward to it." Moongleam beamed.
Two days later...
Flurry was in the front room of Moongleam's home, the two standing before a cage containing a green lovebird, which the family had named "High Note".
"So they just wanted to get a pet?" Flurry asked.
"That's right." Moongleam nodded, as she opened the cage. "Come here, High Note..."
The lovebird leapt out of the cage, and onto Moongleam's outstretched hoof. He then started eating birdseed from Moongleam's other hoof.
"He certainly is a cutie." Flurry smiled. "Not exactly your traditional little sibling, but having a pet does come with responsibilities and fun of its own..."
"It certainly does." Moongleam nodded. "But if I ever do become a big sister for real, I'll do everything I can to be worthy of the title."
"That's the spirit." Flurry grinned. "And if you ask me, any foal would be lucky to have you as a big sister."
"Thanks, Flurry." Moongleam smiled, as High Note nuzzled against her cheek. "And I think High Note agrees with you."
"That's one smart bird." Flurry chuckled, stroking High Note's feathery head.
"You're going fit in just fine in this house." Moongleam told High Note, who chirped happily in response. "Better than fine, even..."
Moongleam had meant what she said. If a new foal ever did grace her home, she would welcome him or her as a true big sister, and provide all the love that little foal deserved. As a big sister, she could do no less.