The Elements of Nature Book 3 - 气 (Air)

by Superior-Doc-Fossil

Chapter 20, Twins

It was about 5 a.m. in Canterlot, and Luna's moon still shone brightly in the darkness of the sky. Most of the lights in the city were off and the town was dark, save for that of the ever busy hospital. Rainbow, with her usual unruly bed-head mane, burst through the doors to the second floor hallway of the hospital, followed by Applejack without her hat, Rarity with curls in her mane, Pinkie Pie bouncing as always, and Fluttershy, who looked scared and nervous as she looked around, then Shining Armor and Cadence, back to her original shape, Agua with her mane strait up, Hielo having bed head, Blitz in some light blue pajamas without his Beret, Terra in her usual wear and Ar with his monk robe. "Wait!" A nurse Pony shouted, galloping through the doors after them, "You aren't allowed up here without proper authorization!"
"We don't need nah' stinkin' authorization, ma'am!" AJ shouted back, "Our buckin' friend is giving birth!"
Weaving in and out of doctors and nurses in the hallway, the five friends galloped to the room the nurse behind them had indicated before the went off, running up the stairs. Lunar Eclipse, the Alicorn known as the Prince of Darkness, was standing tall and strong in front of the door to the room in which ear-shattering screaming could be heard.
Upon, hearing the screaming, the five friends and the nurse skidded to a halt and covered their ears. Lunar Eclipse remained stalwart, but even he flinched and his ear twitched when Twilight's scream echoed through the hall. "Shhh sh sh! Twilight, look at me! Look at me, Twi!" Fire's voice was heard, "I'm here for you!"
"What in tarnation?" Applejack walked forward, but Lunar Eclipse held up a hoof and stopped her.
"That's far enough, Applejack." The Alicorn muttered, "It's ... well, it's not pretty in there, to say the least..."
"Meaning?" Shining asked, knowing what child birth looks like.
"Needless to say, the doctors here have no idea how to birth even one Alicorn; let alone know what to expect. An Alicorn hasn't been born for a very long time." Lunar sighed, "Dr. Carousel is doing his be—"
"AAAAAARRRRRRRHHHHHHHH!" Twilight screamed in pain again, causing everypony to flinch. Fluttershy winced and stepped forward towards the door a little, as if wanting to go in a be there for Twilight as well.
"Hey, you ponies!" The nurse who was chasing them called out as she finally caught up with them, an angry expression on her face, "I don't care if you know Ms. Twilight, you aren't allowed—"
"Nurse." Lunar Eclipse said sternly, "With my royal permission, they are allowed up here. Period."
He stared her down, and the shuddering nurse slowly nodded, "My apologies, your highness." With that, the nurse turned and galloped back to the doors they had burst through.
"How long has the poor dear been here, Lunar?" Rarity asked, frowning, "When did they check in? How did it happen?"
Lunar sighed, "Even this is new for me..." He looked up at the clock on the wall, "Roughly five hours ago, I heard screaming from Twilight's tower. I teleported in, and found Twilight screaming and Fire’ panicking." He sighed again, "Needless to say I put two and two to—" He was cut off by another scream and Fire’ shouting words of comfort again before he recovered and said, "Together." He nodded curtly.
"Can..." Shining asked, "Can we go in?"
"No, I'm afraid..." Lunar said, "Before going into labor, Twilight said that nopony except Fire’ could be in the room with her. She said, however, that you all could come up and wait out here." He smiled slightly, "So you didn't even need my permission, ultimately."
"So..." Fluttershy asserted herself, "We wait? That's all we can do for Twilight?"
"That's all we can do fer now, partner." Applejack took a seat in a chair outside the room.
“Hold on, wait.” Rainbow said. “Where your son, Blaze?” Rainbow asked Shining and Cadence.
“He’s at my parents.” Shining answered. “We didn't want to bring him along so we left him with them.”

An hour of screaming and heavy breathing exercises later found Twilight on the verge of ‘splitting open,’ as she kept screaming whenever a retraction occurred. Fire’ was seated in a chair next to her bed, grasping her hoof with both of his hooves, eyes locked on her and never looking away; not even for split second. After another painful retraction, Twilight's breathing returned to what could be considered normal for a mare in labor, she turned and looked at Fire,’ squeezing his hooves tighter than ever before. "F-Fire '..." She winced as more pain shot through her, "Fire,’ I-I'm not g-gonna make it! AAARGH!"
Fire’ stood up on his hind legs and stroked her mane while still holding onto her hoof, "Shhh shshsh ... Twi, these things happen every day here. Dr. Carousel knows what he's doing."
"That I do, Miss Sparkle." The faithful pony doctor said from the edge of the bed, where he was managing Twilight's labor, "You have absolutely nothing to worry about!"
"Really?" Twilight looked over at the doctor.
The doctor hesitated before saying, "Yes, I promise. Now, let's deliver a couple of babies, shall we? Back to breathing, remember? In, out. In, out." Twilight did as instructed for about a minute before turning to Fire’ and noticing that, for the first time, his head was not turned towards her. He was unwaveringly staring at the floor.
"F-Fire’?" She winced through more pain. "Fire,’ a-are you o-okay?"
"Twiley..." He looked at her, his eyes glowing and a smile on his face, "We're gonna be..." He chuckled as a tear fell out of his eye, slipping down his face before he looked up and smiled, "We're gonna by parents..." Twilight smiled as he got even more emotional, "I just ... I didn't think having at least one foal would feel so..." He shook his head in disbelief, "Would feel so good. Rewarding, you know?"
"You think you're surprised?" Twilight smirked before inhaling and exhaling as the doctor instructed, "When we first met, would you or anypony ever think me good enough to be mommy material?"
They both chuckled and shared one last moment of conversation before Twilight's eyes widened in pain and she screamed as her body writhed from another contraction. This one bigger than the rest. "Uh oh!" Fire’ grasped her hooves again, "Twilight! It's gonna be all right! I love you! We'll get through this!"
"Oh, boy!" The doctor cried out from the edge of the bed. "There coming! The Alicorns’ are coming!
The heartbeat monitor beat faster and faster as she writhed in pain again and again. "FIRE’!" She closed her eyes tightly and started screaming louder if possible, "IT'S KILLING ME!"
"Twiley, you can do this!" Tears were streaming out of Fire's eyes at this point. He couldn't bear to see her in such pain, "Twiley! I'm here!" She couldn't hear him over her screams of pain. Fire’ grasped her hoof even harder and leaned forward, tears flying off his face, he screamed back at her: " TWILIGHT! I LOVE YOU! AND YOU CAN DO THIS!"

From outside in the hallway, many of the doctors and nurses had gathered around the door to listen. The seen friends sat still as well. They were emotionally moved upon hearing their friend in such pain. Rarity started crying and buried her face in a nearby doctor's coat, who looked around awkwardly. Fluttershy, surprisingly, was the most stable one there, standing tall and leaning towards the door, as if ready to spring into action at any moment. Just when the screaming became worse, and they heard the doctor say the foal was coming, everypony held their breath. They heard the heart-rate monitor going nuts, and finally, Fire’ screamed: " TWILIGHT! I LOVE YOU! AND YOU CAN DO THIS!"
Then silence. No more screaming. No more Fire’ giving words of confidence. Only the sound of the heart-rate monitor returning to normal. Then, the sound of two foals ... crying. Everypony out in the hallway exchanged glances of joy and shock with Lunar Eclipse, who, for the first time in a long while, had a small smile on his face. "Out-of-the-way!" Fluttershy said suddenly, pushing past the Alicorn, who readily let her aside, and yanking open the door.
What the 12 friends beheld upon entering the room was enchanting. The sun barely peaking over the mountains out of the window and shining its bright hue over the scene. Fire’ was standing on his hind legs, still gripping Twilight's hoof, and Twilight lay in bed, panting heavily, staring at the doctor. Or rather, what was in Carousel's hooves. A small baby colt and a baby filly were curled up in the doctor's hooves, both crying. The colt had an orange mane and a light red coat while the filly has a purple mane with a turquoise streak thats like Twilights, and a coat the same color as Twilight's. Two new Alicorns had been born into Equestria.
"Here you go, Twilight..." Dr. Carousel said, walking over and gently placing the tiny foals in Twilight's arms. The foals stopped crying all at once and nuzzled their mom's chest.
Rainbow slowly looked up at Fire,’ who had the biggest smile she's ever seen him make. Tears streaming down both parents faces, they embraced in a way that the baby was included, but gently. The scene brought everypony who came through the door to tears or to the verge thereof. Rainbow had to get a tissue box. Rarity was still crying into the doctor's coat, but tears of joy. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were quiet, smiles on their faces as they gazed at the baby. Shining and Cadence were the most moved by the fact that they now had a nice and nephew.
Lunar Eclipse, however, was overjoyed. He had just witnessed the birth of two Alicorns. Two members of his species. He sighed and shook his head, emotion clogging up his throat. "Perhaps there's hope after all..." He thought.
The foals rolled over and hunkered down into their mother's hooves, falling asleep instantly. Fire’ smiled. "Now, comes the important part, Twi. Naming the two."
"How about Nyx for the filly and Phoenix for the colt?" Twilight asked.
Fire’ smiled at this. “Nyx and Phoenix. I love it.” Fire’ said as he wiped away another tear before chuckling and saying, "They couldn't have asked for better names..."
Everypony stood in silence for a few moments more, in awe at the Alicorn foals, or there for support. Nyx started making cute little noises and flailing her hooves in his sleep. "She's dreaming Fire.’" Twilight chuckled and looked over at Fire.’
He smiled. "Heh ... she is ... she's awfully feisty, like Twilight was when she was born." Shining said, remembering when Twilight was born when he was six.
"I guess so." Twilight said, sighing and chuckling again. "I wonder what they’re dreaming about." Fire’ stood suddenly and, much to the groups surprise, began singing a lullaby:

Twilight smiled and held up the babies to their Dad. Fire’ took Nyx and Phoenix in his arms and chuckled as they tossed and turned in their sleep.

He walked over to a window and, rocking Nyx and Phoenix back and forth in his arms, continued singing gently to his son and daughter.

Fire’ gasped as the babies opened their eyes and gazed up at their Dad, and smiled a little. Phoenix had charcoal black eyes like his father while Nyx has turquoise eyes. Fire’ sniffed and smiled back at them.

Nyx and Phoenix fell back asleep in his hooves. They nuzzled Fire's chest as his heart swelled with joy. He had never felt happiness like this before in his life, except when he met Twilight. He turned, and gave the baby back to her, who wiped away tears from Fire's lullaby. "Well, if he's anything like his father, he's probably dreaming about music."
Fire’ laughed slightly. "Haha ... oh Twiley..." He put a hoof over the mare's shoulder. "We did good, Twi..."
"We sure did ... But, seriously Fire.’ How did you learn to sing like that?”
“My dad used to sing it to me when I was a colt.” Fire’ answered.
Just then, Celestia, Luna, Night Light, Twilight Velvet and a baby Alicorn, Shining and Cadence’s son, Blazing Dawn came in, who has a sapphire blue coat and a pale gold mane. “Oh, there beautiful.” Velvet said when she saw her new grand children.
“Mom, dad, Celestia, Luna, meet Nyx and Phoenix.” Twilight said to them.
Luna took a step forward and saw the baby Alicorns, and started to cry. “Doctor.” Luna said to him. “How fast will Blazing Dawn, Nyx and Phoenix grow?”
“If I had to guess, I say they will be biologically 17 in about two years.” Carousel answered.
“They’ll be the same age a Sweetie Belle by then.” Rarity said as Twilight leans her head on Fire’s chest as they gazed at Nyx and Phoenix, the second and third Alicorns to be born in a very long time.

One month later, Twilight and Fire’ have been busy keeping Nyx and Phoenix both healthy and happy. During that time, the two baby Alicorns grew fast, thou they were chronologically one month, they were 5 months old biologically. Phoenix was a bit too eager to explore. One time, Twilight found Phoenix in the trash can, and another time Fire’ found him in his and Twilight’s closet. Nyx often cried when Spike took something she liked or when Twilight had to yell at Spike just to get his attention. It became clear to Fire,’ Twilight and even Spike that Nyx was quiet sensitive.
When it was time for bed, Twilight either read to two a story or Fire’ sang them a lullaby. They took turns when it came to putting them to sleep, and changing the dippers. The crusaders came over one time to babysit due to Fire’ and Twilight going out to dinner, and they got along quiet well, especially Sweetie Belle and Phoenix. “Thanks again girls.” Twilight said as she and Fire’ are about to leave the door. “Oh, and make sure Phoenix stays on the ground! When he tries to fly, he hurts himself!” She said as she closes the door.
"He has Fire's eyes, and she has Twilight's tail and mane style, but I have no idea where the turquoise came from..." Scootaloo remarked.
"There so cute, though!" Sweetie Belle cooed softly as she and Scootaloo watched Phoenix look at a butterfly that had wandered in.
"An' besides, pony genetics ain't th' easiess thin' to understand...” Apple Bloom said as she plays with Nyx. “Maybe Twilight's gran'ma had a turquoise mane ... o' maybe Fire's cousin twice-removed had it..."
Phoenix was gleefully swiping at the butterfly, but ended up rolling forward right into Scootaloo's lap as she was sitting down. He started to cry at his short tumble, but Scootaloo quickly picked up the baby Alicorn and tried to calm him. "Shhh, sh! It's okay, you little cutie." Scootaloo said as she smiled, "Scootaloo’s here to take care of you."
"Ah doesn't reckon thet'll work, Scootaloo..." Apple Bloom sighed, "He be hankerin' for his mammy..." Phoenix then opened his eyes for a split second and saw Scootaloo. Upon seeing the young pre-mare holding him, her grayish purple eyes sparkling despite not being in the sun. Phoenix then stops crying and smiled, flapping his little wings and trying to fly towards Scootaloo from her arms.
"Whoa..." Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle both said at the same time, shocked. "How in Equestria did you do that?" Sweetie Belle questioned, still staring at the baby colt, who was laughing and giggling.
"I ... I didn't do anything!" Scootaloo chuckled as she tossed Phoenix up into the air and caught him, "Wee!" Scootaloo exclaimed, ruffling his orange mane and watching the baby chuckle, "I don't know what your mommy was talking about! You can to fly!" Phoenix started giggling even more, fluttering his wings in excitement.
"Here, let me see him, Scootaloo!" Sweetie Belle reached out her arms, but Phoenix leaned away from Sweetie Belle's outstretched arms and shook his head, whimpering a little.
"Sorry there, Sweetie..." Scootaloo chuckled, "I guess he only likes me."
Apple Bloom giggled as Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes. "Yeah ... I guess..."
“Oh, cheer up. Yo' kin see Nyx.” Apple Bloom said to her white Unicorn friend. Sweetie Belle then look over to Nyx, who was playing with a little teddy bear.
“I guess your right.” Sweetie Belle said as she got up and headed for the kitchen. “Now, where's that list at.” She said as she looked around the kitchen. “Oh, here it is.” She said as she takes a list off the refrigerator. “Lets see, feed them at 6, give them a bath at 7, and put them in bed at 9. Easy enough.”
“Why didn't Fire’ o' Twilight let Spike take care of these two agin?” Apple Bloom asked as she gave Nyx a new dipper.
“They said that he just disappeared.” Scootaloo answered as she changes Phoenix’s dipper. “Wonder why?”
“I think I know why.” Sweetie Belle said as she opens the refrigerator, finding Spike completely stuffed and out like a log. “I’ll get him to his bed upstairs. But we have a problem. He ate all the food!” She said as she takes out a bottle of ketchup, opens the cap and squeezes it, but gets nothing.
“Looks like one of us has to get food.” Scootaloo said as Phoenix plays with her mane.
“Ah volunteer Sweetie Belle.” Apple Bloom said.
“Why me?”
“Because, yer th' oldest.” Apple Bloom pointed out.
“Okay, fine.” Sweetie Belle said as she accepts defeat. “But how do we make baby food?”
“I think Twilight and Fire’ bought a baby food maker thing when Twilight was still pregnant.” Scootaloo said as she gets up, Phoenix on her back, giggling. “I’ll check the panty while Apple Bloom checks the cabinets.”
“Say, Sweetie Belle, while yer out, git some of mah sisters apples an' other fruit.” Apple Bloom said as she looks at the list. “It says hyar thet they like their baby food made fo'm fruit.”
“Gotcha.” Sweetie Belle said as she takes all the bits the three had and heads for the door. “I’ll get some pizza for us on the way back.” She said as she runs out and closes the door. As Sweetie Belle is running to the market place, she looks at the clock tower and sees that its 5:00 p.m. “Only got an hour until we have to feed them.” She said as she lands at the first stand, one that sells oranges. She buys a basket for four bits and heads for the next stand, the Sweet Apple Archers stand, and wouldn't you know it, Applejack is tending to it.
“Wal howdy Sweetie Belle.” Applejack said with a warm smile. “Whut kin ah git ya?”
“A basket of sweet apples please.”
“Sure thing.” Applejack said as she gets a basket and places it on the stand. “Th' usual price is 5 bits, but on account o' yer a fine friend of mah nutty sister, it on th' house.”
“Thanks AJ.” Sweetie Belle said as she takes the basket and places it on her back.
“Hold on, isn't yo,’ Scootaloo an' Apple Bloom babysittin' Nyx an' Phoenix tonight?” AJ asked.
“We are, well, I was, until we found Spike in the fridge, and all the food gone.”
“Oh, okay.”
“I should get back now.” Sweetie Belle said, having gotten enough oranges and apples. She then heads for the closest pizza parlor.

Back at the tower, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom are cleaning the refrigerator after they got Spike out and into his bed, who weighed half a ton. “Thet sh'd does it.” Apple Bloom said as they throw away the wipes they used. They then hear their stomachs growling. “Ah hope Scootaloo gits back hyar soon. I’m gittin' hungry.”
“I think the babies are getting hungry too.” Sweetie pointed out when she sees Nyx and Phoenix gnawing at their table.
Just then, with pizza, apples, and oranges in hoof, Sweetie Belle runs in. “I got the food.” She said as she places each on the table. Sweetie then uses her magic to levitate some apples and oranges into a baby blender, turns it on, pours the mush into two bowls, one pink and one blue, and gives them to Nyx and Phoenix, who happily eat.
“Perfect timing, Sweetie Belle.” Scootaloo said as she takes a slice of pizza. “We were all getting hungry.”

One hour later, the three young mares are trying to get Nyx and Phoenix to take a bath, but they refuse to do so. It took two hours to clean them. Now was the part the three fillies were dreading, putting them to bed. It was 10 when Sweetie decided to sing a lullaby.

She sang it, which worked. The three Crusaders then quietly walk down stairs to the living room. “Boy, am I tired.” Scootaloo said.
“Me too.” Apple Bloom added. “I notice that Phoenix really likes you, Scootz.” At this, Scootaloo slightly blushed.
"Aw ... look ..." Sweetie said as she nudged Apple Bloom, "Scootaloo’s got a new crush..."
"What?" Scootaloo sad as she shook her head, "He's a month old!" The three friends then laughed together as a news report came on the TV, catching there attention. They see a Unicorn reporter with blond mane, a light yellow coat and a reporter’s microphone with light blue stars for a cutie mark.
“Three months ago, Stark Jr, CEO of Stark International, was captured by a terrorist group after performing a weapons presentation in Afghanistallion. Multiple search parties have turn up nothing. And without it’s leader, Stark Industries will crumble.” She said.
“Oh, I hope that Stark guy is all right.” Apple Bloom said.
“Don’t worry, AB.” Scootaloo said. “I’m sure he’s fine. Wherever he is at.”

In a remote cave in Afghanistallion, a terrorist group has made it home. Deep within it, behind a 2 inch thick anti-magic door, an Earth Pony with a light brown coat and a black mane that's the same length as Big Mac’s and a light blue glowing circle for a cutie mark, is pounding metal with a sledge hammer. After he pounds it a few more times, he puts it into a bucket of water. Steam comes out as the pice of iron cools. He takes it out with a giant pair of tongs and places it on a table that a satyr is working at. The satyr looks at the molded metal, which is a metal mask three inches thick.