//------------------------------//
// Birth 
// Story: Twilight Of The Damned 
// by Foals Errand 
//------------------------------//

Clear Dawn stared down at his cards, chewing his lip. He took a sip of the drink beside his right hoof. He was on a really good streak. All he needed was one more card to win another hand. “Shining...Do you have a two?”

“Sorry, Uncle Dawn. Go fish!” The colt grinned as he took a swig of his colt cola. His Uncle groaned plucking another card from the pile.

“Velvet, you have to let me teach him to play poker! Boy would be a card shark!” Clear Dawn looked over at where his sister-in-law was resting, rubbing her heavy and swollen belly. “I’ll even teach the foal. It’ll be fun!”

Velvet laughed and shook her head. “I told you, Dawn...No gambling! Oh!” She paused, her hoof still resting upon her belly as her ears folded back. “Night!” She cried out as Clear Dawn and Shining Armor got up.

“Mom? Mom is everything okay?” Shining Armor rushed to his mother’s side. She smiled up at him, smoothing his messy mane with her magic.

“Everything is fine, honey. It’s just...Your baby brother or sister is ready to say hello!”

Shining’s eyes widened as he raced to the stairs. “Dad! Dad, hurry! It’s time! It’s time!”

Loud galloping was heard as the Night Light appeared at the bottom of the stairs, his mane mussed up from having just woken up, but a huge grin on his muzzle. “It’s time? Oh boy oh boy!” He ran over to Velvet and held her hoof. “I’m here, baby. Just take some deep breaths. Can you walk? Should I telegraph for a cab?”

Velvet nuzzled into her husband’s mane. “Don’t worry. I’m fine. I’m certain I can make it to the barn.”

Clear Dawn frowned at the mention of a barn. “Why would we be going to a barn, Velvet? Shouldn’t we be heading over to the clinic?”

Velvet shook her head, her muzzle still in Night Light’s mane. “With all the mares due at the same time, Moral Compass and Doctor Stable felt it was most likely that the Sisters would arrange for all our beautiful gifts to come at the same time. And, well, there’s not enough room at the clinic for ten mares to give birth in a comfortable or safe manner. Looks like you scheduled your leave perfectly, big brother! Shining, go get your Mom’s bag and let's head out!”





Clear Dawn glanced around the barn. He obviously couldn’t see much as each mare had a curtain around them. He had scrubs and a mask on as he turned back to Velvet. She was doing her lamaze breathing and accepting ice cubes from Night Light’s magic. He frowned, not seeing his nephew. “Where is Shining Armor, Night?”

Night Light looked up. He frowned in thought before smiling. “I’d have to say that he’d be with Melody. He’s had his eye on that filly for a while. I think he’s hoping to help her raise her foal.”

Clear Dawn smiled and nodded “A good colt you have, Night.”

Night Light grinned before turning back to Velvet. “I like to think so. I know it’s mostly from Velvet, but I like to think I had a bit to do with it.”

Clear Dawn smirked. He stepped back to go find his nephew even as he heard his voice calling for help.

“Help her! Something is wrong!”

He turned to see Melody being rushed past him. Deep Inquiry was pulling on scrubs as she galloped past, shouting orders. Shining Armor stopped in shock next to Clear Dawn as Melody was taken into another room.

“Th-they won’t let me back Uncle Dawn...Why won’t…” Shining looked up at Clear Dawn, tears in his eyes.

Clear Dawn wrapped a foreleg around Shining Armor. “Hey… listen, you go and be with your Mom and Dad. See your new sibling born. I’ll stay here and wait for news.”

“Y-you promise, Uncle Dawn?” Shining bit his lip as his uncle nodded. “Alright. Let Melody know that… I’m here, okay?”

“Soon as I see her, buddy. Go on.” Dawn nudged Shining Armor with his muzzle, urging the colt back to his Mother’s curtain. He then turned to the door and waited patiently.





“Push! Push! Push! Come on, Velvet! Just bare down hard!” The doctor called up to the straining unicorn mare who was squeezing the hooves of both her teenage son and husband. “I see them! Come on! One more good, hard push!”

Velvet screamed as she gave a final hard push. She soon heard a loud, healthy cry. “Are they okay? Are they healthy?” She tried to see her foal as it was laid on her chest, the doctor smiling. 

“There she is. Mom. Great job! She is a beautiful unicorn!”

Velvet stared down at the squealing newborn on her chest. A tuft of dark blue mane stuck up, showing the nub of a horn. “My foal! My beautiful little filly!”

Night Light and Shining Armor grinned as they hugged Velvet. Shining Armor glanced out the curtains to see his uncle, who was slowly walking outside. He frowned before he turned his attention back to his new baby sister.



 

Clear Dawn walked over to Deep Inquiry. She was leaning against a chariot, smoking a cigarette. Her magic seemed to be flickering a bit as he walked over.

“I saw you come out here…” Clear Dawn narrowed his eyes, ripping the surgical mask off as the mare glanced over at him.

“Sergeant Clear Dawn, am I right? You’re one of the Princess’s personal guards. What are you doing in this tiny town?”

“My brother and his wife Twilight Velvet,” He started before being cut off by the mare as she took a small puff.

“Right, that makes sense. Family… So why are you out here while they are in there?”

Clear Dawn snorted, pawing the dirt. “I told you. I saw you leave Melody’s room with a bundle in your magic.”

Deep Inquiry narrowed her eyes before she shook her head. “The foal was stillborn. The umbilical cord got wrapped around his neck. I brought him out here so none of the other mothers would see him. No need to ruin their day, hmm?”

Clear Dawn closed his eyes. “Buck, my nephew… He and Melody were planning…” He shook his head. “Maybe it was for the best. They’re both still so young. Will you be returning the foal for burial after an autopsy, then?”

“Yes… of course.” She smiled before stamping her cigarette out. “Now why don’t you get back to your family and celebrate the birth of their foal?”

Clear Dawn frowned, but nodded. He turned and headed back to Night Light and Velvet. Shining Armor looked at him with big eyes. Clear Dawn frowned. “I’m so sorry, Shining.”

The colt’s ears pressed down. Velvet looked up from the sleeping filly in her forelegs. “Go to her, Shining. She needs you.”

Shining Armor nodded. He galloped from the room, quickly spotting Melody. She was curled up, sobbing. “The-they said it was a colt…  Soul Fire…”

Shining Armor nuzzled to her, nosing into her mane as they both looked at the empty bassinet.





Clear Dawn washed his hooves before walking over to where Night Light was holding the newborn filly. “They’ll be alright, Night. They’re so young… Plenty of time.” He shook his head before smiling at the purple-furred unicorn who was slumbering in his brother’s forelegs. “So, will you introduce us?”

Night Light smiled at his brother and gently set the filly in his arms. “Of course. Clear Dawn, this is Twilight Sparkle. Twilight Sparkle, this is your Uncle Dawn.”

Clear Dawn smiled down at the tiny pony. “Hey there… Don’t you ever worry, Twilight Sparkle. If you ever need me, I’ll be right there for you.” He kissed her forehead. “I promise.”