//------------------------------// // Epilogue - “Tomorrow’s Child” // Story: Desert Getaway // by TikiBat //------------------------------// Silver Eclipse paced back and forth in the hallway, an unnecessary scowl of worry and anxiety plastered across his face. A few months ago, it would have been from the massive water damage and subsequent construction roadblocks, but today those things paled in comparison to what was really stressing him out. “First-time father, I’ll take it?” the nurse asked him, earning a frantic head nod from the frazzled stallion. “Yeah… is it that obvious?” He asked in a shaky, nervous voice. “Definitely, you’ve got all of the telltale signs of a worried, nervous stallion,” she laughed back. “Don’t be though, we do this kind of thing dozens of times a day, and you wanna know how it goes every single time?” “Good?” He guessed. She nodded her head. “It goes better than good. I can’t tell you how many nervous stallions we get every day; I mean, we just had three others maybe an hour ago? This kind of thing is still new, and it’s only natural to be nervous and anxious about it.” Silver slowly nodded his head. “That’s a relief to hear— not that I was expecting anything to go wrong— it’s just…” “Just you’re a new father, and you’re bundling that with being a pony, so you’re probably feeling even more overwhelmed by this. Trust me when I say that you’re not the first, and you really have nothing to worry about.” “But what if something comes up that we don’t know how to handle? There’s only been ponies on this earth for like a year; what if something happens that no one else has had happen?” The nurse laughed again, “I think you’re overthinking this.” “You… really think so?” She nodded, “I’d wager a lot more and say that I know so.” A happy and proud feeling welled up inside Silver at the nurse’s words, briefly pushing aside the anxiety and worry, “I… thanks.” “Don’t thank me, it’s my job, and I completely understand where you’re coming from here. It’s perfectly okay to be nervous; this is a brand new chapter in your life, after all.” At that moment, a tall blue pegasus with a distinctive white mane trotted in. “Sorry I took so long; it’s not exactly easy to get down here on short notice.” Silver smiled at the pony who had previously held the record as the pony who had caused him the most stress in his life, and he trotted to greet her. “Glad you were able to make it down, Sapphire. I didn’t want to make any problems for you, and I know it was a lot to ask—“ “Did I say I had a problem with it?” she quickly cut him off and smirked. Silver laughed. “No, I guess not. I just really appreciate you coming all this way for this.” “What are friends for? I’m kind of surprised you’d call me up for something like this.” “What can I say?” Silver replied. “I know we had a terrible first introduction to one another, but I stand by what I said before. Ponies forgive, and you did a lot to help clean up and rebuild what was lost, and I’m not going to ever forget that.” “I’m glad we could bury the hatchet on that.” she glanced over to the nurse’s station. “So, how’s Scarlet doing?” “Probably a lot better than me,” he meekly laughed. “She’s been in there for a couple of hours now, but it feels like an eternity.” Sapphire was about to say something, but before she could even open her mouth, the nurse ran over. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but you might want to go step inside, Mister Eclipse.” Silver looked back towards Sapphire, who grinned and nodded her head. “You go check things out; we can catch up some more later.” Needing no further permission, Silver galloped over into the hospital room and gasped as he took in the sight in front of him. A very tired-looking Scarlet sat on the bed, cradling a tiny purple foal in her hooves. Immediately a series of happy tears welled up in Silver’s eyes, and he slowly took a few steps towards her, coming to a stop at the side of the bed. “S…Silver,” Scarlet began as she wept a few happy tears of her own. “He’s so beautiful.” Silver leaned closer and smiled as he saw his son for the first time. “He is Scarlet; he really is.” “So what are you going to name him?” the nurse asked as she stepped closer. Scarlet turned to Silver, who gave a silent nod, and then back toward the nurse, “Orion. Orion Eclipse.” The nurse smiled, “That’s a cute name, so Orion Eclipse it is.” Silver nuzzled up next to Scarlet and brushed a few happy tears away from his eyes, “Orion, our bright little star… oh Scarlet, he’s beautiful, I love you so much!” She let out a long yawn and snuggled up next to him, “I love you too, Silver.” “Sapphire’s out in the hallway too, just got here a little while ago.” “I’m glad she was able to make it.” “Me too; I guess she’s Auntie Sapphire now, eh?” Scarlet laughed. “Only if she promises to give him the best birthday presents.” Silver shared the happy moment with her for a few long moments before speaking up again. “You know what’s crazy?” “Huh?” “I feel like we’ve already been through so much, but it’s only been like a year, right? Like it feels like this all happened yesterday, but here we are… starting the next big adventure in our life.” “Well, I don’t know about you, but I can already tell I’m going to love it.” “Me too, Scarlet,” he gently brushed a hoof over the foal’s mane, his smile growing bigger, “We’re going to do so much together, go to so many places— it’s going to be so much fun, and I can’t wait to show him everything.” Scarlet smiled and brushed a hoof across the foal’s mane. “We’re going to have so many memories, and I can’t wait to make them.” The two of them sat together for what felt like an eternity, enjoying each other’s company and staring lovingly at their new son. This was just the beginning of the next chapter in their lives, and as uncertain as it might have felt at the moment, they both knew it would be a magical one.