//------------------------------// // Part 4 // Story: Aspects of Parenthood // by xd77 //------------------------------// Nathan could now see that his upcoming role of fatherhood had doubled in length, hence the explanation from the nurses. He could not have felt any less nervous since they told him about he and Apple Bloom having twins, but he knew he could not hide his apprehensiveness from anypony for long. Anyway, back in the castle, Princess Twilight was sitting in her throne anxious for Nathan to show up for his morning duties. Zodiac was there already, and so were the guard troops, but it was just not right for Nathan to be this late. "Oh where is he, he was supposed to be here five minutes ago." "It's just not right for him to be late for captain's duty." The commotion was almost endless until the throne doors opened to reveal two more guards. "Your majesty." one guard said. "Yes?" "Captain Nathan is arrived, but....." "But what?" asked Zodiac. "Well, when he came in through the entrance, he looked rather different. His main and tail are messed up, his helmet is on backwards, his armor is inside out, and he keeps repeating the word 'twins'." Twilight was now on the verge of annoyance, because ever since Apple Bloom announced her pregnancy, he had been running amok and fearful of it. Just as the guard said it was, Nathan came into the throne room, and the guards description of him was also the way he said it was. Nathan looked strange, and could not even see where he was going due to his helmet being on backwards. "Twins....." "Twins....." "Twins....." "Twins....." Nathan kept repeating the words in a raspy voice. Twilight used her magic to take his helmet off and revealed his face, he was not looking the way he should as a captain, yet he was not acting like it either. Twilight angrily walked up to him and smacked him to get him to snap out of it. Nathan shook his head and realized how stupid he was looking. "Nathan, where have you been?!" Twilight demanded. "Sorry, the thought of mah' babies kept me up all night." "Nathan, you were supposed to be here five minutes ago, you have never been late for duties!" "Your majesty, don't you think maybe you should cut him some slack?" "Yeah, I mean he is a bit nervous right now." "I understand he's fixing to be a father, but he and you all have duties as well. Right now that's more important." "But your majesty, this is a very serious matter." "No it's not, get back to your positions!" "But Aunt Twilight......" "Nathan, I don't care if you're having twins, you are supposed to be here on time and leading the guards in their positions." "Surely you don't mean that?" asked Zodiac. "Just be quiet and get back to your positions!" she ordered, but finally Nathan snapped. He then took his helmet off with his magic and threw it against the wall. "YOU KNOW WHAT AUNT TWILIGHT, YA' DON'T DESERVE US!!!!!!!!!!" he yelled. "Nathan, you are not to talk to me like that, I am ruler!" "Yeah, well you're certainly not being an adequate one!" Zodiac exclaimed. "Oh not you too!" said Twilight. "Your majesty, you are supposed to care." "I do care, I care about this throne being guarded from the forces of evil and anything beyond it." said Twilight, "Now for the last time, get back to your positions. And Nathan get in the shower and get dressed properly!" Nathan was now boiling with rage, Twilight was acting rather selfishly in front of them. "Well, are you going to do your assignments or not!?!" "SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Nathan yelled again, this time he actually struck her in the face, causing the guards and Zodiac to gasp in horror. "Ya' know Aunt Twilight, you distinctively said that you would always be there for everypony when ya' first became ruler. But ya' seem to have forgotten the fact that helpin' others means being there for each other. As a guaranteed bonus, you said you'd help me and Apple Bloom get through it." "Nathan I don't care how tired you are, you are to be in time, end of discussion. And you know I can have you dismantled for assaulting me!" "Your majesty...." "No, not another word out of any of you!" said Twilight "Aunt Twilight, ya' seem to forget the fact that Ah'm nervous right now. Apple Bloom and Ah' are about to be parents, we have twins coming along, so yes we are going to be missing time!" "Nathan that is enough!" "No, Ah've had it, yer' actin' like such a worthless hypocrite. Ah' was hoping that you understand what's goin' on with me and Apple Bloom." "Captain...." Twilight tried intervening "Ah' would've also hoped that you would show some sympathy towards me. Perhaps cut me some slack like the guards said, but no, you gotta scold me. Ya' gotta criticize me over being late over a reasonable difference!" "Nathan, you are going to be disbarred!" Twilight warned. "Go ahead, disbar me, you seem to have to forgotten the fact that Ah'm not just your captain, Ah'm your nephew! You ain't the aunt Ah' used to have." "Nathan, get out of my sight, if you're going to act like this!" "You know, if you're going to treat me like crap, then you can just guard your own butt. Ah' wish for just once that you'd stop being a princess and start being mah' aunt again!" Nathan then headed out the doors, but not before looking back at her again. "Seriously, sometimes Ah' wish Celestia and Luna NEVER MADE YOU RULER!!!!!!!!" he said through clenched teeth, then he stormed out of the room in anger. "So that's it, now I have no captain to lead my guards." "Actually Princess Twilight, you have no guards at all!" exclaimed Zodiac as he and the other guards stared at her in disgust. "Oh don't tell me you all are siding with Nathan?!" she said in an annoyed tone, "You're shooting me down for scolding him for being late in duties?!" "We're shooting you down because you're not being a princess, you're being a dictator, and we will not have it!" said Zodiac as he left the room, soon the other guards followed him out the doors and slammed them shut. Twilight was now shocked over what had just happened, she looked at her own reflection in a window and it showed her as an ugly monster. "What have I done?!" she asked herself.