The majestic sun was high in the azure sky; its warm, comforting rays gracing the green landscape of the commons of Ponyville. The green, grassy fields of the quaint Equestrian town were filled ponies and families celebrating Father’s day and enjoying the warm summer day. Every year the town would hold competitions in the park for stallions and their foals. Near the center of the park sat a large oak tree, and under the protection shade of its branches sat two ponies. Soarin’ had been enjoying his day with Twilight, which was evident with the wide smile on his face. Earlier he had decided to stretch his wings a bit, but now he just wanted to sit next to his wife.
While the unicorn mare was engrossed in a tome on advanced magical theory, Soarin’ simply watched the ponies participate the day’s events. ‘All the stallions and their foals… They look so happy…’ Soarin’ looked down towards his wife; she was leaning in to Soarin’s side, her head gentle resting on his neck. ‘In a few months I’m going to be a father… I’m going to be responsible for the lives of these two ponies… It’s going to be our job to raise them and to love them…’ When Soarin’ first heard about Twilight’s pregnancy he was scared, and still is a bit. When he thought about being a father it filled him with worry, but now it didn’t. It the thoughts engulfed him in a different emotion. Pride, that he is giving his wife a family and love. Even though his foals aren’t born yet he loves them as much as he loves Twilight.
Twilight slowly closed the book that was levitating in front of her and placed the tome in her saddlebag. She had just the most interesting treatise on the possibilities of astral projection. She looked over to Soarin’, he was staring off into space. “Soarin’,” Twilight said nudging him with her muzzle. “Are you ok?”
“Yeah, I just got lost in thought,” Soarin’ answered.
“What were you thinking about?”
Soarin’ turned his head to look at the crowd of ponies. “This time next year we can be taking our foals to the park… we’ll have a family…”
Twilight turned to look at the families. “I know…” Twilight said almost absent mindedly. “How are you enjoying the day so far?”
Soarin’ thought back on the day so far. ‘I woke up to Twilight’s smiling face, we shared an amazing breakfast, and now I have time to relax with her… this was perfect…’ Soarin’ began to nuzzle the top of his wife’s head. “This was amazing, thank you again.”
“That’s goo…”
Twilight was interrupted by a certain pink earth pony. “Hiya Twilight… Hiya Soarin’!” Pinkie cheerfully yelled, merrily bouncing around the couple.
“Hi Pinkie,” Twilight greeted. “We’re just enjoying a day in the park.”
“Pinkie, how did you beat me here?” the azure mare asked hastily landing next to the bouncing mare. Rainbow thought for a moment. “Never mind, don’t answer that question.” The rainbow mare just shrugged it off as Pinkie being Pinkie.
“Hi Rainbow, how are you and Spitfire doing?” Soarin’ asked.
It has barely been a month since Rainbow’s wedding to Spitfire. “I thought marriage would hurt me on the cool scale, but being married to Spitfire has made me 120% cooler,” the rainbow mare boosted.
“So are you and Pinkie pranking today?” Soarin’ asked.
“Oh yeah I forgot… I came here to get you,” Rainbow said recalling the reason for her visit.
“For what?” Soarin’ asked dreading the answer. He has been pranked by Ponyville’s primer pranking duo more than a few time, but since she started dating Spitfire. The Great Ponyville Pranking Triumvirate has been merciless in their antics. ‘This is probably another prank…’
“You. Me. Applejack’s barn. Ten minutes. Cake eating contest.” Rainbow replied curtly.
Soarin’ was surprised by Rainbow answer. He had just beat her in a pie eating contest last week. “Another eating contest… Dash you might be ‘fastest flier in Equestria’, but I could beat you in a eating contest blindfolded,” Soarin’ said confident in his eat abilities.
Rainbow chuckled as she pulled out two black blindfolds. “Good thing I have these,” the Pegasus mare said with a devious smile.
Soarin’ turned to his wife. A shocked look on his face.
“I think you should do it Soarin’,” Twilight said.
Soarin’ looked down thinking of his options. He quickly turned his head towards the Pegasus mare with a determined smile. “You are on…”
***
Soarin’ sat proudly in front a large square table; the black blindfold snuggly wrapped around his face. ‘I can’t believe she was serious about being blindfolded,’ he groaned to himself. Across the table sat his competitor, his challenger for the title of eating champion. Soarin’ took a deep breath. ‘I’m ready for this.’
“All right ya’ll,” Applejack announced. “The rules are simple… You all have a minute to eat the as much cake as you can. The pony who has eaten the most wins,” the apple farmer explained. “Now on your mark… get set… go!”
“Soarin’ quickly dug into his first cake, quickly finishing it off. Competitive eating was an art and a science, and Soarin’ was a master. He was surprised cutie mark wasn’t for eating. The only problem Soarin’ had with these competitions was he couldn’t savor every morsel. If he were to do that he would surely lose. ‘5 cakes…. 6 cakes… 7 cakes… 8 cakes… 9 cakes…’ It was only a 60 second competition, but to Soarin’ it felt like he has been eating for hours. ’15 cakes… 16 cakes…’
*Ding* *Ding*
“Stop eating,” Applejack declared.
“Now we just need to tally the cakes and announce the winner,” Twilight said beginning her audit of cake consumption.
Soarin’ sat with a smug smile. He was sure of his victory, and he decided to leave the blindfold on his head. “So how many cakes did I beat you by Rainbow?” Soarin’ asked.
“Uhh… Soarin’… you lost by 24 cakes,” Twilight admitted hesitantly.
“What!?!” Soarin’ yelled. ‘No way Rainbow could beat me by that much… the only pony that could…’ Soarin’ quickly ripped off his blindfold and instead of seeing a Rainbow maned Pegasus sitting across from he saw pure white mare with a soft pink mane. ‘The only pony who could beat me is Celestia… my mom…’
“Hello Soarin’,” the Rising Sun gently greeted. “How are you my colt?”
Soarin’ didn’t know what to say. If he did find the right words to tell his adoptive mother, it felt like his mouth my sealed shut. “M-m-mom,” the stallion stammered in disbelief.
“Yes Soarin’ it’s me,” the older mare said opening her arms for a hug.
Soarin’ quickly sprung from his seated position, and with a few flaps of his wings he propelled himself over the cluttered table. He made contact with the pink maned mare and entered a tight embrace. “It’s been too long since I last saw you,” Soarin’ said a few stray tears in eyes.
Celestia saw her son’s tears and gently wiped them away with a free hoof. “I know my little colt.” Celestia thought for a moment. “Well you are very little anymore or a colt, but you grew into a fine stallion.” Celestia recalled all the times when used to wipe away his tear when was upset, and when she would cradle his small body in her arms. With those memories, came all the wonderful feelings of being a mother to such an amazing colt.
“It’s because I had such an amazing mom… I love you.” Soarin’ could hear a chorus of ‘D’awws’ coming from his wife, Twilight, and her five friends. “Why… Why are you here?”
“When Twilight came to see me she told me what she was planning,” the pink maned Pegasus explained. “I jumped on the chance to spend time with you because over the years I have felt like I have neglected you and when I did see you I hid my identity, so this day forward I no longer wish to hide who I am,” Celestia announced. A bright white glow enveloped the Pegasus mare, and her body began to grow. Slowly it transformed from the body of Rising Sun into the regal for of Princess Celestia.
The ponies in the spacious barn quickly gasped and bowed at the appearance of their Princess of the Sun sans her regalia; all the ponies except Twilight who knew about the Princess’s attendance.
“I might Princess Celestia, Regent of the Sun, but now I wish to wear another title with pride. One that is far more prestigious and important to me than any royalty that can bestowed upon me,” Celestia announced. “That is Celestia, mother… mother of such amazing foal named Soarin’.” The Princess could feel Soarin’s grip tighten around her. She knew they shared a special bond, a bond between a mother and her foal. Even though she didn’t give birth to him, it’s a bond that can’t be broken. She was the first pony to truly care about him and to take care of him.
“Thank you… Thank you…” Soarin’ repeated.
“Don’t thank me, it was Twilight who planned this,” Celestia said pointed to her faithful student.
Soarin’ turned his and head. His wife was standing next to her friends, a smile on her face. A smile that made his heart melt. “Thank you Twilight, you have truly made me a happy stallion today.” Soarin’ turned his head and began to lightly nuzzle the alicorn’s chest; trying to recall the happy memories of his colthood.
“My faithful student,” Celestia in her soft, yet regal voice.
Twilight approached her mentor. “Yes Prin- I mean Celestia.” Twilight was told not to call her mentor by her title, but just by her name. Twilight was still getting to referring to her without the title Princess.
“Over the past years you have written to me about magic of friendship and more recently about the magic of love,” Celestia said. “Now I have a new assignment for you. I a few months both of you will be parents and I want you and Soarin’ to write to me about the magic of parenthood. It such an amazing gift to have a foal and to be a parent.” She looked down the stallion snuggled close to her chest, her hoof softly caressing his mane. “Being a mother is a wonderful thing and I wouldn’t give it up for anything.”
“Of course we will write to you,” Twilight answered with determination.
“WooHoo! Now let’s get this party started!” yelled the pink party pony as she pulled out a blue cannon out of nowhere.
***
It might have been father’s day in Equestria, but the events in Ponyville turned into a celebration for all parents. Soarin’ and Twilight celebrated their coming family, while Rainbow and Spitfire celebrated with their adopted daughter, Scootaloo. It was a happy day in Ponyville, a day filled with love and family.
The sun was now below the horizon and the Luna’s moon rising in the velvety night sky. The festivities in Ponyville were now over. Soarin’ was standing outside the library, giving his farewell to his mom. “I wish you didn’t have to go so soon,” Soarin’ said with melancholy. Soarin’ had loved the day his wife planned for him. He was able to spend quality time with Twilight and with Celestia, and for that he is grateful.
“I know, but I must return to Canterlot,” Celestia said. She pulled Soarin’ into hug. “Good bye son, I can’t wait to meet my grandfoals.”
“Bye mom…”
Celestia bent her head down a placed a sweet kiss on her son’s forehead. “You are a great husband and you will be a great father… Never hesitate to write to me and when you can, you are always welcome to visit.”
“I will.”
With that Celestia took off towards Canterlot, the light of her sister’s moon lighting the way. Soarin’ watched his mom fly off and as she left his view and turned and entered his home. He joined his wife upstairs in their bed. They slowly drift off in to each other’s embrace.