Twilight dashed through the hall from the lady’s room and swiftly reentered the Ball room, a flurry of emotions running through her after Flappy told her things went bad. In the ballroom, she gasped when saw a few things that weren’t there when she left it. The Refreshments table was in shambles, and the table itself was broken. Silver-Mane had been tackled and was currently being placed under arrest from what she could gather, which her mind chalked up was related to the most important, and worrying thing wrong with the image before her. Sparkler was nowhere to be found.
Flash noticed her return and dashed over to her. “Twilight, we have a situation.” He said.
Twilight blinked a few times before coming out of her moment of shock, she had heard Flash. “I can certainly SEE that. What the hay happened Flash?!” She asked, her anger quickly rising. “And more importantly, WHERE IS SPARKLER?!”
Flash jumped a little when Twilight shrieked that second question. “Uh, I don’t know. She disappeared after Silver-Mane threw her out.” He told her.
“Silver-Mane did WHAT?!” Twilight asked, panicking.
“I tried to stop him. I swear!” Flash said quickly, fearing his life. “I’m sorry!” He said.
Twilight took a few deep breaths to compose herself. “The refreshments table is broken. She’s covered in food and punch isn’t she.” She asked. Flash nodded in response. “Get out there and find her. NOW!” Twilight ordered Flash.
Flash quickly saluted and dashed away. Twilight turned her attention to the crowd gathering around the arrest that was taking place. She approached the commotion and Chief Quill noticed her first. “Princess Twilight.” He greeted her.
“Chief Quill.” Twilight responded.
“Princess Twilight, I must implore you to have these stallions release me.” He told her.
“How about I have them throw you in the dungeon?” Twilight shot back. “After what happened here tonight I think that’s the place you belong.” She scolded him.
Silver-Mane gasped in surprise. “The dungeon?! For what reason would I go down there?” He asked.
“Ooh! Can I answer this one Princess?” Chief Quill asked. He smiled when Twilight nodded in response. “For starters, you attacked an Alicorn—“
“That mare is not an Alicorn. She’s a pretender.” Silver-Mane cut Quill off.
Quill grimaced. “You attacked an Alicorn. You harassed her, and you have promoted unrest in the city because of her refusal to wear a crown.” He said.
“And it’s a crime to try and get rid of an imposter?” Silver-Mane asked.
“She is not an imposter!“ Twilight growled.
“And even if that were not the case. We are not talking about her.” Came Celestia’s voice, she and the other princesses joined them. “The Yule Ball is a public event that any creature is welcome to attend. And nopony deserves to be thrown out without just cause. Which Sparkling Medley has most certainly NOT given.” Celestia scolded Silver-Mane.
“And this latest incident comes after a string of incidents in which you Silver-Mane have caused unrest in this land merely because Sparkling Medley refuses to wear a crown. Which she has every right to refuse.” Luna continued.
“And to cap it all off, you continually claim that one cannot be BORN an Alicorn. That it is impossible.” Cadance added. Particularly unhappy with that one since it attacked her daughter as well.
“Because it is.” Silver-Mane said. “The only way to become one is to Ascend. And there has been no reason given for why that mare ascended.”
“Because there ISN’T one!” Twilight growled at him. “She cannot give a reason because she never ascended. She was born that way.”
“Then she is an imposter.” Silver-Mane shot back.
“That is where you are WRONG Silver-Mane. Quill! Take him away! I shall deal with him later.” Celestia ordered Quill.
“Yes your majesty.” Quill replied. He led Silver-Mane away with the help of some guards.
With Silver-Mane gone, Twilight took a deep breath. Composing herself. “This is all my fault. I shouldn’t have left her alone.” She said.
“Do not blame yourself for what you could not control.” Luna responded. “But right now there are more important matters to attend to.”
“Finding Sparkler.” Twilight said. “And making sure she’s not hurt.”
Off to the side, Fleur and Fancy watched the whole thing unfold. When they saw Silver-Mane escorted away, Fleur nodded and got up off her seat to go.
Fancy saw this and glanced at his wife. “Where are you going?” He asked.
“To find Sparkler. If I know Silver-Mane, he’s probably got another thing planned.” She told Fancy.
“How are you gonna find her?” Fancy asked.
“Let’s just say I’ve been spending time with Celestia.” Fleur responded. She glanced over to where Twilight was. And she saw a small dog race up to the princess and start barking. She sighed. “Let me know if anything happens here.” She said as she took off in a gallop out of the Ball room.
Out in the streets of Canterlot, Sparkler, still covered in food and punch, ran farther away from the castle, her mind replaying the events and reminding her of her past.
You are an imposter.
Alicorns are supposed to be royalty.
Listen here you imposter, one is not born an Alicorn. The only way to become one is to Ascend. And you are most certainly NOT worthy!
Sparkler shook her head. “I’m not an imposter.” She whispered through her sobs.
Look at the feather horn over here.
Here are your eggs back you horned chicken!
Back to the coup where you belong.
Sparkler shook her head again as the sound of eggs impacting on her filled her mind. Fueling her crying and making her run faster. “No. Stop it. Please.” She pleaded.
“Uh, you OK ma’am?” Asked a random pony she had passed by.
That made her jump a little. “No! Don’t hurt me!” She cried as she ducked into an alleyway and hid behind a dumpster. Leaving the pony confused as they just kept walking.
Behind her dumpster, Sparkler curled into a ball and was visibly shaking. Crying still. She shook her head. “Stop it…please…” She begged the thoughts in her mind.
“Well well well. What do we have here?” Asked an unfamiliar voice.
Sparkler stopped shaking and glanced up to see that the alleyway wasn’t so abandoned as a trio of ponies in trench coats came out from the shadows. She gulped, more afraid.
One of the ponies took a look at her and his eyes widened. “Hey. Isn’t she the one the boss wants us to make disappear?” He asked.
“I think so. Look at her wings. They match the description.” One of the pony’s friends said.
At that, Sparkler gasped and jumped to her hooves. She noticed the ponies approaching her and she backed away. “W-what are you do-“ She stopped when she backed into something. She turned and saw a fourth pony that was larger than her, blocking her way out. She gulped as she realized she was trapped. “No…no please. Let me go…” She begged.
The big one chuckled. “And why would we let a pretty mare like you go? I reckon you would fetch a pretty handsome ransom.” He said.
That confirmed in Sparkler’s mind what these ponies were gonna do. She was about to be a kidnapping victim! Before she could do anything, she felt her forelegs be grabbed by two of the ponies and yanked behind her. “No! Please! Let me go! SOMEPONY HELP ME!” She screamed at the top of her lungs.
One of the goons winced as Sparkler used the Royal Canterlot Voice. “Grah! That’s it you need to shut up!” He told her.
Elsewhere, high in the sky, Fleur Dis-Lee flapped her wings as she searched for Sparkler. Suddenly, she heard a pony scream in the Royal Canterlot Voice, calling for help. She gasped when she realized it was Sparkler. “Sparkler.” She clapped her wings harder and rocketed towards the source of the scream. She landed and found who she was looking for. Her eyes widened when she saw Sparkler gagged and being tied up. She growled as she lit her horn. “Hey! Let her go!” She shouted at the goons.
One of the goons turned and saw something he didn’t expect, another Alicorn. “Uh, we got company!” He said.
“Then deal with them.” One of the other ponies told the goon. “We can handle this one.” He added, looking down at the struggling Sparkler.
The goon nodded and walked towards Fleur, who growled and blasted the goon into a wall with her magic. The goon’s friends saw their friend hit the wall hard and growled, they decided Sparkler wasn’t going anywhere and the three remaining goons all headed for Fleur, who just lifted them in her magic and slammed them against the wall as she did their friend. All four goons were immediately knocked out from the impact.
With the goons dealt with, Fleur immediately rushed to Sparkler and started setting her free from the ropes. “It’s ok Sparkler. You’re ok.” She told the crying and struggling mare as she carefully pulled the tape off.
Sparkler immediately got to her hooves when she was freed and backed away from the new pony that she didn’t recognize. “No! Please, don’t hurt me!” She cried. Her PTSD still in effect.
Fleur folded her wings back to her sides and gently smiled at Sparkler. “Sparkler, calm down. It’s ok, nopony is gonna hurt you.” She said in a gentle, comforting tone.
Sparkler took a few deep breaths as reality sunk in. She glanced at the goons who had tried to kidnap her, and then at the pony she realized had saved her. “W-who are you?” She asked.
“Fleur Dis Lee. One of the two Nobles that are on your side.” Fleur replied.
Sparkler remembered that name. It was the name of the noble Flash said wanted to talk to her. “T-thank you…” She said shakily.
“Your welcome Sparkler.” Fleur responded, ruffling her wings subconsciously.
Sparkler saw the wings and gasped. “Y-You’re an Alicorn?!” She asked in surprise. Was there ANOTHER Alicorn out there?
Fleur nodded. “Yeah…I am.” She said. “That’s part of what I wanted to talk to you about. How I admire you for coming out. Something I can never do.” She told Sparkler, lighting her horn and making her wings vanish.
Sparkler’s mind was racing. A NOBLE admired her for coming out? She wanted to say something, but as she opened her mouth, there was a sharp pain in her womb. She cried out and collapsed, clutching her womb.
Fleur caught Sparkler in her forelegs. “Sparkler?” What’s wrong?” She asked.
Sparkler glanced up at Fleur in panic as she wheezed. “I…my foals…I think they’re coming!” She said.
At that moment, Flash Sentry came running around the corner and stopped when he saw the unconscious goons, Fleur, and Sparkler in Fleur’s forelegs. “What the, what happened here?!” He asked.
“Goons tried to kidnap Sparkler.” Fleur said. “I stopped them. Captain, Sparkler’s going into labor.” She told the Captain.
Flash’s eyes widened. “Then we need to get her to the castle ASAP!” He responded, deciding to take care of this crime thing later. “Do you mind carrying her Fleur?” He asked.
Fleur immediately stood up and picked Sparkler up in her magic. She followed Flash as they raced back to the castle.
At the castle, the rest of the Yule Ball guests were funneling out. Celestia having canceled the rest of the Event over the incident with Silver-Mane.
When the last of the guests left, The Elements of Harmony, the princesses, and Shining and Night-Mare remained. “The nerve of that jerk!” Rainbow exclaimed. “Throwing her out is SO not cool.”
“This is exactly why I hate Nobles.” Night-Mare said.
“Where the hay were the guards?” Applejack asked.
“Nowhere to be found like always.” Starlight said with an eye roll.
At that moment, the doors to the ballroom were bucked open and they all saw Flash, Fleur, and Sparkler in Fleur’s magic rushed in. “She’s going into labor!” Flash called out. He and Fleur brought Sparkler to the gathered ponies and Fleur set her down.
Twilight saw the state her marefriend was in and immediately took Sparkler in her own forelegs. “Sparkler!” She exclaimed. “Are you ok?”
Sparkler was panting heavily. “They’re coming!” She responded.
Everypony gasped. Sparkler was about to give birth! Celestia nodded. “Twilight, get her to Shadow Wind.” She told Twilight.
Twilight nodded and picked Sparkler up in her magic, rushing her out of the room right to the infirmary. Her friends watched her go. “Didn’t I tell them they couldn’t be born yet?” Pinkie asked.
“They must not have liked that. Come on y’all.” Applejack said.
Applejack and her friends raced off after Twilight and Sparkler. Shining, Cadance, and Night-Mare as well. That left Fleur, Flash, Celestia, and Luna.
Celestia turned her attention to Fleur and Flash. “Was there any trouble?” She asked them.
“A few goons tried to kidnap her.” Fleur replied. “I managed to stop them.”
“She shouted for help in the Royal Canterlot voice, allowing me to find her.” Flash added.
“Captain Sentry? Would you find Chief Quill and go back for said goons?” Celestia asked.
“Yes your majesty.” Flash replied as he raced off to find Quill.
Luna noticed the somewhat saddened look on Fleur’s face. “Sparkler is now aware of your true self isn’t she.” She inferred.
“Yeah.” Fleur responded. “She is.”
“Thank you Fleur, for saving her.” Celestia said. “It is commendable that you were willing to take such a big risk.”
“Sparkler needed to know that there were Nobles on her side. But it was also the right thing to do.” Fleur responded.
In the infirmary, Sparkler had been set on a bed, and she was anything but calm. She was groaning in agony as the pain constantly came back. “Ugh! Faust is this what it’s like?!” She asked.
Twilight bit her lip as she held Sparkler’s hoof. “Sparky, just stay calm. It’s gonna be ok.” She assured her with a kiss on her horn. She was wearing a smile, but she was actually terrified, and it hurt to see her lover in such pain and discomfort.
Meanwhile Shadow Wind, who was doing a quick scan to search for any last minute problems, smiled warmly at Sparkler. “Everything will be ok Ms. Medley. Just take deep breaths and—“ Shadow Wind stopped as he suddenly found something with the scan spell. His eyes widened as he stopped smiling.
Sparkler saw this and raised an eyebrow. “What? What’s wrong?” She asked, panicky.
Shadow Wind gulped. “Uh, good news. We now know the exact species and gender. Not so good news. You’re about to give birth to SIX Alicorns!” He told her.
“WHAT?!” Sparkler and Twilight responded, Sparkler in total panic now. “Six Alicorns?!”
“How the heck is that even possible?!” Twilight asked, struggling to contain her own panic. “Before she was having an Earth Pony, Pegasus, and Unicorn!”
Shadow Wind shook his head. “I’m not sure. But now’s not the time to ask questions. Sparkler, I’m afraid it would be best if we put you under for this.” He told her.
“Put me under? What’re the genders?” Sparkler asked. “I don’t want to go under, I want to see what I’m having!” Sparkler shrieked.
Twilight shook her head and turned Sparkler’s head to look her in the eye. “Sparky, I know you have questions and I know you don’t want to wait to see Kicker again. But now’s not the time to argue. If it’s true that you’re giving birth to six Alicorns then I think we should follow the doctor’s advice.” She told her.
Sparkler had tears in her eyes as her mind raced. “But..Kicker…” She whined.
“If it helps, you’re having three fillies and three colts.” Shadow Wind interjected.
Sparkler heard him, and that brought her a small sliver of comfort. There was still a chance Kicker was coming back. After a few seconds, she finally relented. “Can Twilight be the one to put me to sleep?” She asked Shadow Wind.
“Absolutely. It’s just a simple sleep spell.” Shadow Wind responded.
Sparkler nodded, and turned to Twilight. “I’m ready.” She told her.
Twilight leaned in and gave Sparkler a quick kiss on the lips, smiling as she pulled back and lit her horn. “Everything will be ok, I promise. And when you wake up I’ll tell you exactly what ends up coming out.” She told her. “I love you Sparkler.” She said as she cast the spell.
The spell hit Sparkler and she quickly felt herself losing consciousness. “I love you too…” She managed to say before she blacked out.
Shadow Wind nodded at Twilight. “Alright, now comes the critical part. Making sure all the foals come out ok.” He said.
Twilight looked at the unconscious Sparkler before nodding with determination. “How can I help?” She asked.
To be continued…