//------------------------------// // What Makes a Parent - Prologue // Story: Two Lives Becoming One // by manuccia //------------------------------// Soarin’ and Twilight cheerily trotted through Ponyville, the busy town was alive with activity and they were on their way to pick their foals up at school. The past eight years been both difficult and rewarding. They found raising two foals wasn’t as easy as they thought. They remembered celebrating anniversaries at home so they can watch them and other sacrifices they had made, but no matter the trouble it was worth it. They were happy to be parents. Soarin’ could feel his wife slightly leaning into him. He smiled and wrapped a wing around her back. Twilight looked at her husband, a little worry on her face. “Do you think the foals will be ok with my parents tonight?” Twilight asked. It was there tenth anniversary and they were going out to eat in Canterlot. “They will,” Soarin’ reassured her. “Tonight’s going to be our special night.” Twilight nodded; she couldn’t believe she has been married for ten years now. The two ponies could see the small, red schoolhouse in front of them. As they approached they saw Glida waiting out front, but they couldn’t see Dusk. Soarin’ and Twilight started to pick up their pace, feeling worried. As they got closer they saw tears coming from Glida’s eyes, she was crying. Every paternal instinct in their bodies went into overdrive as they picked up their pace to gallop. “Glida,” the couple yelled, as they galloped towards the crying filly. Twilight swooped up her daughter in a hug and held her filly tight. “What’s wrong my filly?” Twilight asked in a soft, motherly tone. “Where is your brother, Dusk?” Glida could feel her tears starting to stop as she was held in her mother's embrace. She didn’t want to answer, because she knew her parents would be upset when they know why Dusk wasn’t here. “Dusk… is still inside…” Glida answered hesitantly, pointing to the schoolhouse. “…he got into a fight…” Twilight’s eyes widened. “A… fight…” Twilight thought she was going to faint. Somepony tried to hurt her little colt. Soarin’ noticed his wife’s worry. He rested a hoof on her shoulder. “I’ll go…” he said nodding towards the schoolhouse. Twilight nodded; running a hoof through her daughter’s mane, softly cooing in her ear. Soarin’ trotted into the stuffy, wooden building. As he trotted in, he saw three unicorn colts leave, each with a nasty scowl on their face. Soarin’ continued to the front of the class; Cheerilee seated at her desk and Dusk was seated in a small desk in the front row; tears running down his face and a few bruises on his small body. Every fatherly instinct in his mind was screaming at him to forget everything and go and protect his son, but he couldn’t. As he trotted up to the front the classroom Cheerilee noticed the stallion and she nodded to him; telling him that he can talk to his son first. Soarin’ quickly trotted over the crying colt and wrapped his arms around him. Soarin’ gently his hoof along the unicorn’s back. “D-dusk are you ok? What happened?” Soarin’ asked worried about his son’s wellbeing. The purple colt hid head in his father’s chest. “…I-I’m sorry dad…” the colt answered his voice shaking. “… are… are you and mom mad at me…?” Soarin’ tightened the grip around the colt. “We’re not mad… We love you very much Dusky… your mother and I are worried…” Soarin’ reassured him. Cheerilee smiled at the exchange between the two ponies. It warmed her heart to see the relationship the colt had with his father. She stood up and trotted over to the two ponies. “Dusk, you can go now. I just need to speak with your father,” the teacher stated. Soarin’ loosened his arm around the colt’s small body, and looked into his son’s eyes. “Go ahead… I’ll be right there,” Soarin’ said gently. Dusk gave his father a quick hug before galloping out of the schoolhouse and towards his mother. Soarin’ sighed and turned to Cheerilee. “Wh-what happened?” Cheerilee trotted back to her desk and motioned him to sit. She took a deep breath. “There was a fight…” “Please don’t say Dusk started it,” Soarin’ said. “No,” the teacher answered. “It wasn’t as much a fight and more of the other three attacking him.” Soarin’ gulped. The stallion shuddered at the thought ponies ganging up on his son. “Why?” The mare thought for a moment before continuing. “From what I was told the three foals were teasing his sister Glida and they have been for some time now. Dusk tried to standup for her and things escalated from there,” Cheerilee explained. “Don’t worry he’s not in trouble. I had him stay to hear his side of the story to make sure he was ok.” Soarin’ sighed in relief. “Thank you Ms. Cheerilee,” Soarin’ said standing up. “No problem Mr. Soarin’, your foals are a pleasure to have in class.” Soarin’ trotted out of the schoolhouse. He saw Dusk and Glida seated with their mother, Twilight. He smiled as heard a few laughs coming from the two foals. He trotted over to them and the family made their way home. As he trotted Soarin’ looked at his son, who was trotting right next to him. “Dusk,” Soarin’ said. The colt’s head turned up to his father and his smile disappeared.. Worry was on his face, he was worried he was going to get in trouble “Yes dad…” “I… the way you stood up for your sister. I’m proud of you,” Soarin’ said to his son. “… just try not get into any more fights…” Dusk’s smile quickly returned. “Yes dad. Mommy said you are going out to eat tonight.” Soarin’ chuckled a bit. “We are,” the stallion answered. “Why?” Glida chimed in. “For our anniversary dear,” Twilight answered. “What’s that?” Dusk asked. “Well, when two ponies love each other they get married and every year on that day they celebrate,” Soarin’ explained. “How long have been married to mom?” Glida asked. Soarin’ looked up at his wife and smiled at her. “Ten years… ten years today…” Soarin’ said as he looked at his wife. The four ponies continued on their way home, Dusk and Glida continued to ask their parents about love and marriage. They soon reach the library and Dusk and Glida went upstairs to put their saddlebags away. Later that day: Twilight went up to her room to wash up and get ready for night in Canterlot, while Soarin’ watched the foals work on their homework. *knock* *knock* Soarin’ trotted over to the library door and he was greeted by a grey mare and dark blue unicorn stallion. “It’s nice to see you Crescent, Star,” Soarin’ greeted. “Come in.” The two ponies trotted inside. “It’s nice to see you too,” Star responded. “Thanks again for watching the foals for us.” Crescent spoke up. “Well ten years of marriage is a big thing, and I love seeing my grandfoals,” Crescent said. Crescent and Star trotted over to foals. Hi Dusk… Glida, how are my grandfoals,” Crescent asked. Dusk and Glida lifted their head out of their books. Large grins grew on their faces when they saw who was there. They quickly galloped over to their grandparents. “Grandma… Grandpa…” they yelled cheerfully. Soarin’ watched as his foals talked to his in-laws about school and just life in general. Twilight soon trotted down from her room and saw her parents. “Hi mom, dad,” she greeted. Star turned her head towards the stairs. “Hello, Twilight,” the older mare greeted. Twilight talked to her parents a bit. Her and Soarin’ soon said their good byes to their foals and headed off to the train station. After Soarin’ and Twilight left, Dusk looked up to his grandfather. “Grandpa… what’s a divorce?” Crescent and Star looked to each other. It was going to be a long night. *** Soarin’ and Twilight slowly trotted through the dark streets of Ponyville. They enjoyed their evening together and now they couldn’t wait to get home and see their foals. The town was quiet in under the serene night sky. Twilight was leaning into her husband as she trotted. They soon reached the library. Inside they were surprised that Dusk and Glida didn't gallop downstairs to greet them. Soarin’ stops in the center of the library’s main floor right in front of the main staircase. He turned to his wife and started to speak. “Twilight… for the past ten years you have made me the happiest stallion in Equestria. When I promised you to always love you, I meant it and I love more than anything,” Soarin’ stated passionately. “I still remember when we met, our first date, and day I proposed to you. I’ll always be with you, I’ll always support you, and I’ll always love you. You’ll always be my mare… my Twilight…” Twilight smiled lovingly at her husband, she was moved by his passionate words. “Soarin’… When I was a filly I didn’t care about friendship. I had my books and I was happy. Then I got the five best friends I could have ever asked for. Then I told myself I didn’t need love, I didn’t need a coltfriend… until I met you. After I met I learned that I needed you… I needed your love. You’re the only stallion I ever want. You have always supported me and have taken care of me and I’ll always be with you… You'll always be my stallion… my Soarin’…” Soarin’s head inched towards his wife as they met in a passionate kiss. His eyes wandered and he saw standing at the top of the stair case were his foals, Dusk and Glida. With them were his in-laws, Crescent and Star. He turned his back to his wife as he got lost in their kiss. He didn’t the clopping of hooves as his colt and filly galloped down stairs and soon he felt himself being tackled by the little ponies. Soarin’ and Twilight turned their heads down and they say their two foals looking up at them, wide beaming smiles on their faces. Soarin’ and Twilight quickly swoop down and wrap their arms around the cheerful foals. “I hope you’ve been good for grandma and grandpa?” Soarin’ asked. In response Dusk and Glida nodded excitedly. Soarin’ chuckled a bit at their enthusiasm. “Now it’s time to get ready for bed,” Soarin’ said slightly diminishing the foals’ excitement. “… and if you hurry, Twilight and I can read a story tonight.” Glida looked up to her mother. “Can we read the next Daring Do book…?” Twilight nodded. In a flash Dusk and Glida burst into a gallop up the stairs in a race to the bathroom. Crescent and Star made their way down the steps. “Dusk and Glida were wonderful tonight,” Crescent said thinking back to the night’s events. “I’m glad,” Twilight answered. “Thanks for watching them.” “It was no problem,” Twilight’s mother said picking up her saddlebags. She turned her head to her husband. “We should probably get going.” “Mom, dad why don’t you stay here in the guest room?” Twilight asked. It was a long trip back to Canterlot and they seemed tired. “Thank you,” Crescent said. “We’ll go get are things settled.” Crescent and Star trotted back up the stairs to the guest room. They took their time to unpack a few things and make the bed. After a few minutes they left the cozy and guest room and headed towards the kitchen. As they trotted past the foal’s room they smiled at what they saw. Dusk and Glida were intently listening and watching as their mother narrated the story and as their father dramatically played out the suspenseful scenes with the help of a few props. They decided to sit and watch the family. They were proud of their daughter and proud of her husband. *** In Canterlot, Princess Celestia sat in her throne room. It was empty, save a few guards, and she was taking the last few appointments before she ended her court for the day. The sun Princess marveled at the expertly crafted stained glass that adorned the room. She was prepared to close court when she heard the door swing open. Her head turned to the source of the noise. She saw three ponies enter. At the head of the pack was her Sergeant-at-Arms, his head held high. Behind him were two ponies; a unicorn stallion with a deep brown coat, and a Pegasus mare with a regal white coat. Their head were hung low to the ground. Their bodies emanated the deep shame that they felt. The guard approached the Princess and stopped in front of her and bowed. “Your highness,” the guard greeted. “The… foal abusers are here to speak with you,” he announced with voice filled with disgust. “Thank you Sergeant, you may leave now,” Celestia dismissed him. The Sergeant trotted out of the room, glaring at the two ponies as they passed and he left, heading home to his wife. Celestia motioned the two ponies to approach her. “I’m sorry about my Sergeant,” the Princess apologized. “Him and his wife have been desperately trying to have a foal for some time now,” she explained. “It is fine, your majesty,” the mare said solemnly. Celestia nodded. ”As you know you are reaching the end your rehabilitation,” Celestia said. As a part of their punishment for the torment they inflicted on their son they were sentenced to go through a series of counseling to try and change their views and to show them the true toll they put on their colt. “In a few months you must complete the final task before you move out of the castle and back into society.” “We know…” the stallion answered. “We must talk to Soarin’…”