Canterlot Central Station; considered to be the hub of Equestria because it linked the many corners of the equine nation. Soarin’ and Twilight admired the elegant architecture of the building while they head off the platform. They were on their way to the Sparkle residence to tell them the news of their twins. Soarin’ enjoyed the soft spring breeze as he trotted down Mane St with his wife. While the streets were full of ponies; Soarin’ didn’t notice them. All he could think about was his unborn foals. ‘I still can’t believe we are going to have twins… I hope we are ready…’
Soarin’ wasn’t sure how Twilight’s parents are going to react. Sure they will be happy; but Soarin’ still remembers when they told her father. ‘He didn’t take it well when he found out I got his daughter pregnant, but he eventually warmed up to the idea.’ The only reason that Crescent didn’t kick his flank that night was the fact that he was married to Twilight, and he knew that Soarin’ wouldn’t abandon her. Now Crescent was helping Soarin’ prepare for his impending fatherhood. Before Soarin’ knew it, they were at Twilight’s old home. He shook his head out of his trance. His head turned towards his wife and saw she was sitting; her eyes fixated on him. She had a small, but warm smile that radiated the love she had for the stallion.
The door creaked open and the couple was greeted by grey unicorn mare. “Twilight,” she happily greeted; a wide smile on her face. “It’s great to see you,” Star said, “and you too Soarin’.”
Star Sparkle let the two ponies in, and led them into the living room. Twilight’s foalhood home wasn’t very extravagant, but it was cozy. Crescent was sitting in a large armchair, sipping a cup of coffee. “Crescent… Twilight and Soarin’ are here,” Star announced.
Crescent spun his head towards his wife. “Twilight,” he said standing and trotting towards the young mare. “How is my little filly?”
Twilight hid her head in embarrassment. “Dad… I’m not a filly anymore,” she protested.
Crescent chuckled; he motioned for Twilight to take a seat on the couch. “Hello to you Soarin’,” he greeted the Pegasus stallion. “I assume you have been taking care of my filly?”
“Of course I have…” Soarin’ took a deep breath. “We have some news for you… Twilight?” he asked looking towards Twilight.
Crescent and Star sat down next to their daughter; happily awaiting their news.
“Mom… Dad,” Twilight said buying for time. “I went for my ultrasound yesterday…”
“Is the foal ok?” the grey mare asked.
“Yes, the foals are perfectly healthy,” Twilight answered.
When Crescent heard that his daughter would be visiting and she had news about her foal; he was worried that something was wrong. ‘I’m glad my grandfoals are healthy… Wait… wait grandfoals…’ The realization hit him like a brick. “What do you mean by foals?” he asked; the shock was evident in his voice.
“We are having twins,” he said cheerfully.
Star had a wide, beaming smile on her face. ‘I’m going to have two grandfoals…’ She was so excited when Twilight told her that she was going to be a grandmother for a foal, but now two foals. She was happy for her daughter, for her son-in-law. “That… That’s wonderful…” She look at the blue stallion; still sitting in stunned silence. “Did you hear, we are going to have two grandfoals?”
“I-I know… I-I” Crescent didn’t know what to say, so he didn’t say anything. He silent moved over to the young mare and pulled her into a hug. ‘My little filly is grown up, and soon she is going to have her own foals to love… and to raise…’
“That’s great news… but can I have a word with Soarin’?” Crescent asked. “In private.”
“Ok, I need to go to see Princess Celestia,” she answered. “Mom would like to walk with me. I would like to talk to you.”
“Of course dear, let’s get going.”
***
Twilight slowly trotted towards the castle with her mother. The weight of carrying the foals was starting to tire her out, so Star helped her along. Since they started their trek Star has been asking Twilight how she has been feeling. ‘My life has been amazing. I have two amazing parents, great friends, a loving husband, and soon two foals…’ What she didn’t tell her was the guilt that tugged at her heart. From all the things that Soarin’ done for her; she feels she should… no needs to repay him. “Mom…”
“Yes honey,” Star answered. “Are you tired? Do you need to rest?”
“No,” Twilight answered quickly. She took a deep breath. “When you were pregnant with Shining or well me; what did dad do?”
Star was taken by surprise with her daughter’s question. “Well, he helped me around the house. He made sure I was ok and he supported me,” she answered. “Why do you ask?”
Twilight stopped dead in tracks. She sat down to give her hooves a rest. “I feel guilty…” she said softly; hanging her head.
“Why?”
“Well, Soarin’ has been doing so much for me,” she answered. “Every morning he wakes up and makes me breakfast, he does my chores around the library, and he is always checking on me to make sure I’m ok,” she explained.
“He is doing that because he loves you and your foals,’ he said trying to cheer up her daughter.
“I know. I don’t think I could’ve found a better stallion if I tried and I want to repay him for everything he has done,” Twilight explained. “I want him to know that I appreciate what he has been doing.”
Star sat next down to her daughter; running a comforting hoof along her back. “If Soarin’ anything like your father. Just knowing that you are happy and healthy and your foals are healthy is thanks enough,” the grey mare replied with a soft motherly tone. “What were you planning to do?”
“There is this mare, Rising Sun, who was an adoptive mother to him. He hasn’t seen her in a while, and I thought if I could find her, I could get her to spend the day with Soarin’,” Twilight answered. “But I haven’t made any progress, so I was going to ask the Princess for help.”
‘Rising Sun…’ That wasn’t a name she has heard in a while. She knew that Princess Celestia was a mother to Soarin’ and she used an alias when she visited him. ‘I forgot, Twilight doesn’t know that the Princess is Soarin’ adoptive mother, but she deserves to know…’
Twilight was getting worried about her mother’s silence. “Mom?” she asked trying to get her attention.
She snapped out of her blank stare. “Sorry dear… I’m sure the Princess can help. Let’s get going sweetie”
The mares resumed their trek to Canterlot castle
***
Soarin’ slowly sipped his coffee. The former Wonderbolt found solace in the warm, bitter elixir. Each sip slowly relived the tremors in his hooves. He felt nervous. He was elated that he is going to have two foals to raise. The only problem: he is going to have two foals to raise. ‘I was scared out of my mind about being a father with one foal and now…’
Crescent took his seat next to Soarin’. He was wearing a proud smile. He is going to be a grandfather to two foals. He turned to Soarin’ who was still sipping his coffee. “You must feel proud…”
“What?” the Pegasus asked realizing that wasn’t paying attention.
“I said you must feel proud,” the blue unicorn repeated.
“I am, but…”
“But what?” Crescent asked.
Soarin’ sat slumped in his chair. He felt no respect for himself because he was afraid. ‘A husband has to take care of his wife and a stallion has to take a care of his foals. How can I stay support my family when I’m afraid… I have to stay strong… I need to…’ Soarin’ looked up at the blue unicorn sitting next across from him. “I’m afraid… that I’m not going to be good father,” Soarin’ started to choke up. “I love our foals and I want to raise them… but what if I’m not ready… what if I'm not good enough?”
“Soarin’…” Crescent said with a soft, yet fatherly tone. “I know how you are feeling.”
The Pegasus shot up in his seat; his emerald irises blew up like a balloon. “What!?!” Soarin’ exclaimed. “You’re a great husband and you raised two amazing foals,” the light azure stallion explained. “And to be honest… I look up to you. I have been trying to be as a good of a husband as you and I want to raise my foals as well as you raised Shining and Twilight.”
“Soarin’… Have I ever told you the story about how I married my wife?” Crescent asked.
“No,” he answered shortly.
Crescent sighed. ‘Soarin’ needs to hear this… he needs to know…’ The unicorn took a deep breath. “When I met Star, we were both studying astronomy at Canterlot University. “ Crescent stopped to compose himself before continuing. “Star came from an important unicorn family, while my family… I love my parents, but we never really had a lot of money. We weren’t poor. I became quick friends with Star and I sort developed a crush on her…”
“When did you two start dating?”
“I’m getting to it,” Crescent sighed. “It was our last semester. Her parents always tried to set her up with royals; she only went along with it because she didn’t want to upset them. One night she went on a date with some Prince. I don’t know what he did, but she showed up at my apartment crying her eyes. It hurt to see her in such a disheveled state, so I stayed with her all night and I comforted her. That was the night I told her that I loved her… It turns out she had feelings for me, and we started dating.” Crescent told Soarin’ about how he proposed to Star and soon broke her heart when he called off the wedding off to save her relationship with her parents. Then how he decided to marry her again.
“After I went back to Star… that’s when she told me… She was pregnant with my foal… She was pregnant with our son, Shining Armor…”
Soarin’ was shocked. He figured that they had Shining well after they were married. “How did your parents react? How did Star’s parents?” Soarin’ asked.
“My parents were supportive, they liked Star. Star’s parents… they broke contact when I continued our engagement… When they found out I got her pregnant… I-I heard they erased every record of ever having a daughter…”
“I-I…”
“It’s ok…” Crescent took a deep breath. “We were both scared; we weren’t ready to be parents… so we were going to give our foal up for adoption…” Crescent said shamefully. “When our colt was born we… we couldn’t give him away,” Crescent started to choke up. “We loved that little colt and we wanted to keep him, so we did. It was the best decision we made.” The blue stallion stopped to wipe his tears. “What I’m trying to say is nopony is ready ever really ready to be a father, but you Soarin’… You are a great husband and don’t let anypony tell you different,” the unicorn said forcefully. “You are going to be an amazing father.”
“You really think so?” the Pegasus asked softly.
“Yes, I know you will,” Crescent reaffirmed. “I know you’re afraid; becoming a father is a scary thing, it is worth when you hold your foal for the first time.”
“I-I… thank you Crescent… I can’t wait to be a father.” Soarin’ smiled at the thought of his family.
“I was going to meet my son, Shining, for lunch. I want you to come with me,” he invited Soarin’.
Soarin’ nodded. 'I'm still afraid, but I'm not alone. I think I can do this... As along as I have Twilight... We can do this...'