Doorway side stories

by Java Joe


Second Chance.

Author's Note: The ending of Eris' Game indicated that Twilight and Rick finally had decided on having another child. So this is their "Second Chance" so to speak for doing so.

"Thanks Mom, see you tomorrow,” Rick said as he hung up the phone. Turning to Twilight he said, "okay, they'll be here tomorrow to look after Twyla. I didn't tell them the complete reason simply that we needed to head out to Equestria for a few days and couldn't take her with us. They're thinking it's a dirty weekend or something like that even if technically they're right."

"Oh I'm not looking forward to the comments Walter is going to make when we come back. Just try to make sure that you don't leave any bruises on my neck, you can sometimes get a little carried away as a stallion."

"Oh please, you love it. Your husband of almost 10 years still finds you adorable and is willing to give you a hickey like some damned high schooler, " he reached out and took her by the waist bringing her in close. Then with a smile playfully attacked her neck and shoulder with his mouth making "nom nom" sounds and causing Twilight to shriek with laughter.

Twyla chose that moment to come into the kitchen to see what was going on only to catch her parents being all strange with each other again. "Don't you guys ever stop?" she asked with all the drama an 8 year old could muster.

The two adults looked at each other for a moment before they answered, "no," in unison.

"You two are just weird, " Twyla said as she grabbed a peach from the fruit bowl on the counter and tried to ignore her parents. It wasn't that she minded them acting in love, she just didn't always want to be around when they did things like this.

"Twyla, just to tell you that Grandma and Grandpa are coming to stay with you for a few days while your Dad and I go to Equestria for some research, " Twilight said, still held tight in Rick's embrace.

"Really? Oh that is so cool!" Twyla said with a big grin. Twyla loved her grandparents in a way that sometimes made Rick feel a little jealous. He never had that rapport with his parents that Twyla did, but then his Mum never had the rapport he had with his grandparents either. Twyla rushed over, gave them both a big hug and kiss before racing upstairs to her room to do whatever it was that kids did.

Rick chuckled a bit as he watched their daughter run upstairs. Twilight turned in his arms so she was facing him, gave him a quick kiss on the lips and asked, "what's so funny funny-man?"

"Nothing really funny, " he said as he squeezed his wife tight and gave her a quick kiss in return. "It's just more than 10 years ago when we first met I never thought my life would turn out like this. I couldn't imagine having a life with a wife and child and now I can't imagine how empty my life would have been without you or Twyla. This, " he said gesturing around with a hand indicating the house and the yard, "means nothing. The only thing that really matters in my life is my girls. You're the air that I breathe, the food that I eat, the sun that shines on my face, the wind in my hair and everything that makes life worth living. I could work a dead end job, living in a tiny, cramped apartment but I wouldn't care if you and Twyla greeted me every night and still loved me like you do. And if this works, there'll be somebody else to share that love even more."

Twilight looked at him with her heart in her eyes. "You are such a silver tongued devil you know that?" She pulled his head down and kissed him hard on the lips. "And it's a good thing I love you otherwise I'd have to smack you for being so sappy. But thank you. We love you too."

Twilight felt Rick's hands work their way down until they were cupping her ass. She kissed him again and said with a saucy grin, "slip it into neutral there loverboy. That can wait until later when Twyla is asleep."

"Why? All we have to do is tell her we're going into our room to be weird and she'll gladly stay away. Hell, she'll probably go to Equestria and hang out with her friends in an attempt to be as far away from us as possible."

"I said later, right now we have things to get ready for tomorrow. Spike is going to have to hold down the fort in the library all by himself so I need to go over a few things with him, you need to check your vines to make sure they're okay and we'll have to pack some things for the trip which reminds me, can you get me some marequil from the garden?"

"Sure. How much you want?"

"A dozen leaves should do, we just need enough in case it gets too hot and we're not in the cabin yet. It's a long way to Neighagara Falls, " Twilight said and shook her head. "I don't know why we couldn't get a place that was closer."

"We needed a quiet place where we could hole up for a couple of days and still have all the comforts of home. I figured one of the honeymoon cabins in Neighagara Falls works perfectly for this. They're used to ponies getting it on, we have access to room or in this case cabin service for our meals and when we're not rutting we have the falls and the surrounding area to explore. If they ask, we're on our second honeymoon which in a sense we technically are. It's not going to be cheap, but it's not like we're hurting for money."

"I guess you're right, " Twilight said as she smiled at her husband.

"Of course I am. I'm Rick. You remember? The guy with the ego?"

"How could I forget?" Twilight said with a sigh. In truth he did have a large ego and while he played it up all the time, she knew that most of it was just for fun. Kissing him one more time she gave him a little slap on the rear and said, "okay, let's get ready and I'll see you later."

Twilight left to transfer to Equestria while Rick sighed and putting on his sunhat, walked out to check on his vines.

The next day found them all packed and ready. Rick's parents arrived and they made sure everything was set before Rick and Twilight headed to Equestria. As they had made their goodbyes, Rick heard his Mum ask Twyla, "so Twyla dear, do you want to help Grandma make some chocolate chip cookies?"

"Yes! Thank you grandma!" the little girl cried out excitedly.

"That's not fair. She never offered to make me cookies, " Rick groused as they entered the portal room before taking their clothes off and readying themselves for the trip to Equestria.

"I think you're old enough to make them yourself, " Twilight said as she stepped through the portal turning her back into a pony.

"Yeah but it's always nicer when somebody makes them for you. Do we have time to grab something at Sugarcube Corner?" Rick asked as he followed her through.

"Why? Didn't you already have breakfast?" Twilight asked as they exited the library and trotted towards the train station.

"Yeah, but now I want cookies or at the very least a cupcake or something." Rick flashed her a maniac grin showing all his teeth like they do in the toothpaste commercials.

Twilight just shook her head and smiled. "You're impossible sometimes you know that?"

"Yes, but at least I'm cute and still have a great butt."

Twilight thought about that for a moment and couldn't fault his reasons even if they had no actual bearing on the matter at hand. She trotted after him as he made his way to Sugarcube Corner and chose 4 cupcakes to go.

They made their train and were comfortably settled in their cabin for what was going to be a long trip. They wouldn't arrive in Neighagara Falls until mid-morning tomorrow and Twilight's heat shouldn't start until sometime in the afternoon or early evening. It was just enough time to get there, get checked in, get ready and then get busy.

"You okay babe? You look a little distracted, " Rick said as he nuzzled Twilight.

"Hmm? Sorry, just thinking of Twyla. I think this is the first time we've gotten away like this without her since she was born."

"Yeah, I'm going to miss her too but she'll be fine. My folks are there to look after her and she has cookies. I'm sure she's going to be okay and she'll be happy to see us when we get back."

"I hate to admit it but you're right again. Now why don't you pass me the box with the cupcakes?" Twilight asked.

"Here you go. And you know, on a completely unrelated note, I was thinking of something recently, " Rick said.

"Hmmm? What's that?" Twilight said as she picked a cupcake out of the box.

"I think I know why it was that we weren't able to conceive all those years ago even though we spent all that time in bed, " Rick said with a wicked smile.

"Yes, it was very nice but why do you think so?" Twilight asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Just about every single day you would transfer between Earth and Equestria right?"

Twilight just nodded her head wanting to see where he was going.

"And while it can take like up to 48 hours or so before fertilisation actually takes place? Well what happened in the intervening time? You were changing between human and pony so was your body chemistry. I'm guessing that was the reason. My sperm was still human, your chemistry was now pony and to paraphrase that line on 'South Park' human and pony DNA do not splice."

"So, you're saying that we could have conceived had both of us stayed on Earth during the whole affair just to be sure?"

"I'm not saying I'm right but I would believe this is the case. Either that or we were just really unlucky."

Twilight thought about this for a moment before nodding. "Whether that's the reason or not, at least we're almost guaranteed that this is going to work this time around." She smiled at her husband, love shining in her eyes, "I love you, " she said leaning in for a kiss.

"Love you too, " Rick said before kissing her in return.

Due to a delay just outside of Neighyork it wasn't until mid-afternoon by the time they pulled into Neighagara Falls. They were greeted by the roaring sound of the rushing water when they stepped onto the platform. Trotting over to the hotel, they got checked in during which time the front desk pony gave Rick a bit of a knowing look when he mentioned that all they had were their saddlebags with them.

"Cheeky bugger, " Rick joked as they made their way to their cabin.

"Hmm? I'm sorry, did you say something?" Twilight asked.

"Just commenting on the front desk clerk. He knows why we're here, " Rick said as they got to their cabin and waiting for Twilight to clue in and make a remark. When she simply let it pass he took a look in her eyes and noticed she had a faraway look in them. He opened the door of the cabin and ushered her in.

"Oh, this is nice, " Twilight said as she looked about. In truth it was nice enough. The cabin was set up with a sitting area & small kitchenette as well as a bed large enough for two ponies to share.

In the closed confines of the cabin, it quickly became obvious that Twilight was ready. Dropping their saddlebags to the floor the two ponies started to kiss, nibble and nuzzle each other.

"I forgot how good you smell during this time, " Twilight said breathlessly.

"You always smell good to me babe, you just smell better right about now, " Rick responded in the same way.

Twilight nickered gently as Rick ran his lips and teeth up and down her neck, bringing her nose in close to inhale his scent as he did.

Both of them were ready, awash in a sea of pheromones and desire. "How do you want it?" Rick whispered urgently to her.

"Doesn't matter. We've got the next few days to play. Just do me now, " Twilight said turning away from him, lifting her tail and presenting her hindquarters.

The next two days were spent in a haze of rutting, room service and just laying around. Once or twice they ventured outside to take in the scenery but once you see the falls, there's not much else to see in that area. It wasn't like Niagara Falls back home where at least there were touristy attractions on the Canadian side like overpriced wax museums and novelty shops and the outlet malls on the American side. No, here it was simply the falls, a couple hotels and a medium sized resort town to support them.

By then end of the third day, both ponies were exhausted. Admittedly there wasn't much else to do so even when they weren't rutting, they were still laying together, sleeping, making out or actually making love without the hormonal influence.

"We've got to do this more often, " Twilight sighed as she idly ran her hoof over Rick's chest and stomach.

"Speak for yourself babe, let's not consider another foal until we've had this one first."

"That's not what I mean. I don't mean doing this to conceive, I mean just you, me and a hotel room in Equestria. You've just got so much more vigour as a stallion than as a human. Five times in a day, that's a record, " Twilight said with a gentle smile.

"Thanks for making me feel inadequate. The only way I can satisfy my wife is as a pony."

"That's not what I meant! You're a great lover in either form!" Twilight said only to realise that Rick was smiling and trying to suppress his laughter.

He leaned down and kissed her gently saying, "I know, I'm just teasing."

Twilight harrumphed at that, scowled in an adorable way and said, "I'm mad at you now."

"Oh don't be that way, " Rick responded and took her in his hooves holding her tight. He kissed her a few times, she resisted for a while but eventually couldn't contain her giggles either and kissed him back before settling down for a good night's sleep.

The next day they were all ready to go, Twilight took a look at the state of the room and the sheets in particular. "What are they going to think of us when they clean this cabin up?"

"Let them think whatever they want. It's not like they don't see this every day. Think about it babe. This place is full of honeymooners and most if not all of them are going to mess up the sheets, the shower, the couch, the kitchen, that area in front of the fireplace, the entrance... " Rick said as he listed off the different places they had rutted or had sex in the past few days.

Blushing slightly Twilight just said, "keep your voice down! I don't want everypony to know what we did and where!"

"Oh please, after everything that happened last night, I wondered if anypony heard us and you said specifically, 'who cares? I'm feeling too good right now,'"

"That was then, this is now. And besides I was hormonal and out of my mind with pleasure, no court in the land would convict me based on that, " Twilight said before giving Rick a kiss and impish smile.

"Twilight Sparkle, you are the best, " Rick said as they trotted to the hotel to pay their bill.

"I know, you told me that last night!" she replied with a self-satisfied smile.

They paid for the rest of the room charges, and made their way back to the train station for the trip back to Ponyville. Most of that time was spent dozing as both ponies were still tired from all the physical activity over the past few days.

Finally, the next day they pulled into Ponyville, a little less tired but eager to get back home. They were met at the library by Spike who just gave them a knowing smile before they crossed the portal back to Earth.

"It's so nice to be home, " Rick said as they made their way upstairs.

Looking around, they couldn't see anybody but heard voices coming from outside where Rick's parents were sitting on the porch and just admiring the countryside.

"There they are! Welcome back!" Mabel said greeting them both with a hug and kiss.

Walter kissed Twilight hello then looked to his son and said in a serious way, "you're just getting a handshake, " before cracking a smile and pulling him in for a manly hug.

"So how was it?" Walter asked with a smile once everybody had been seated.

"Tiring. But hopefully it will have worked, " Twilight said enigmatically while smiling and looking at Rick.

This look was not lost on Mabel who asked, "okay, what's going on you two? You call us up to look after Twyla for a few days while you disappear off to Equestria and come back here, tired but glowing."

"We figured it was about time to try to have another child, " Rick said while taking Twilight's hand in his own. "We tried several times here over the years but nothing ever happened and the only time Twilight did get pregnant was when we were both in ponies in Equestria. So we figured the next time she's in heat we'd just go somewhere and conceive."

"In heat? You mean ponies have an estrus cycle?" Walter asked.

"Yes we do, and it's rather annoying that for 3 days every six months or so we're nothing more than a walking mass of hormones with only one thing on our minds, " Twilight said a little sourly.

"But how do you know? If you've tried before and it didn't work, then maybe Twyla was just luck, " Mabel asked.

"It's because when a mare is in estrus she's not only fertile but she will get pregnant if there's a stallion around to impregnate her. It's pretty much a done deal, " Rick said with a yawn. "If you don't mind me, I need a coffee right about now. I know you want one, " he said to Twilight. Turning to his parents he asked, "you guys want one too?"

"It's a little late for me, but maybe your father?" Mabel said.

"I'm good thanks, " Walter said.

"Cool, I'll be right back."

The rest of the day was spent catching up with what had transpired over the past few days. Twyla showed up after school, happy to see her parents.

"So do you know if it's a colt or a filly yet?" she asked her mother excitedly.

"I'm sorry, what?" Rick asked a little lost on how Twyla knew what they had done.

"Daaad, I'm not a little kid I know how these things work, " she said giving him a look in the process.

Rick thought about this for a moment and said, "so who told you? Porter? Flame Flicker? Somepony else?"

Twyla was about to say something when she simply looked defeated and said, "it was Pinkie Pie. How did you know?"

"I didn't, " he said giving her a gentle tap on the nose with his finger causing her to giggle. "I just knew that you didn't know about this when we left and as Grandma and Grandpa were also unaware you must have found out from somepony in Equestria."

"And we don't know yet, we prefer that it be a bit of a surprise when it finally happens. But we'll find out when it's time, " Twilight said bringing her daughter into a tight embrace.

As with last time, Twilight spent the last 8 weeks of her pregnancy in Equestria which meant that Rick and Twyla were also sleeping there as well. When the date finally came, Twilight's foaling was much easier and much quicker. In fact they hardly needed to wait. It was early morning and they were still sleeping when Twilight nudged Rick awake and told him it was time. They had barely gotten to the hospital and an hour later the nurse came in with the news that it was a colt.

"Twyla?" Rick said gently shaking his daughter out from her sleep. She woke up blearily and looked at him confusedly for a moment. "C'mon, let's go meet your brother." Still partially asleep, her brow furrowed until the realisation of what he meant came to her and she leapt up to her hooves excitedly.

They made their way to Twilight's room where she was holding a tiny bundle in her hooves. Twyla rushed over to meet the newest member of their family. He was a blue colt, similar in colour to his grandfather Night Light but with a black mane like Twyla and Rick. And like his mother and sister, he was a unicorn.

"What's his name?" Twyla whispered excitedly.

"You know what? We haven't figured one out yet. Your mother was convinced it was going to be another filly, " Rick said as he looked fondly at his wife and new son.

"There's no rush, we'll come up with something soon, " Twilight said.

"So, coffee?" Rick asked Twilight. Like last time, Twilight started having issues with the smell and taste of coffee so they had given it up for the remainder of her pregnancy. Rick especially was looking forward to being able to drink it again.

"Please, " Twilight said with a slight yawn.

"Okay." Rick turned to Twyla and said, "let's go get some coffee and we'll get you a muffin at the same time."

"Can't I stay with Mom and the baby?" she asked.

"That okay with you?" Rick asked Twilight.

Twilight just nodded and said, "that's fine, but hurry back."

Trotting out of the hospital Rick decided to stop off at Sugarcube Corner and see if they were open. Pumpkin Cake was behind the counter as Mr. & Mrs. Cake were busy in the kitchen.

"Hi Rick!" the young unicorn said.

"Hey Pumpkin Cake. Is your aunt Pinkie Pie around?" There was a massive rush of air as something zoomed into the cafe and with an audible 'sproing' like in cartoons Pinkie Pie appeared.

"There she is, " Pumpkin Cake with without a trace of irony.

"Hey Ricky! What are you doing here so early in the morning?" Pinkie Pie said with her usual brightness.

"Two things. I need 6 cupcakes or muffins, whatever you got. 2 cups of coffee, black and just to tell you Twilight and I just had a colt this morning.

The pink party pony gasped and shouted "Yahooo!" while throwing a double hoofful of confetti in the air. Where she managed to hide that stuff, Rick did not want to know even if the concept fascinated him. "Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh! Another colt! Oh he's going to be so cute! I need to tell everypony!" Pinkie Pie said as she raced about the place putting everything together. A few years back, Rick had arranged with Mr. & Mrs. Cake to set up a coffee stand at Sugarcube corner allowing ponies to get introduced to caffeine and coffee flavored beverages. It was successful enough and considering that this was currently the only place in Ponyville to get coffee, they did a reasonable business on it. They had even talked about opening something in Canterlot possibly with Pony Joe's help but Rick would need to get a better supplier. Or figure out a way to grow coffee in Equestria. So far, they hadn't met with much success.

"Here you go!" Pinkie Pie said thrusting the box and cups into his hooves before racing off either to inform the other fillies or to meet the newest member of her extended family.

"Need a bag to carry that?" Pumpkin Cake asked.

"If you wouldn't mind, " Rick said as Pumpkin Cake transferred this all to a bag so he could carry it back to the hospital in his teeth.

When he got back to the hospital, he found Pinkie Pie there gushing over his son. He placed the bag on the table next to Twilight who without hesitation picked up her coffee and immediately took a sip.

"Oh that's the stuff, " she sighed appreciatively. A moment later she used her magic to bring the box of goodies closer to the bed and everypony had one of the confections.

Soon, the doctor showed up to take the colt away and to get all the paper work done. It wasn't long after that the visitors started to pour in. First it was Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Flame Flicker who congratulated the two of them.

"How did you know we were here?" Twilight asked.

"I stopped off at Sugarcube Corner to get something and Pumpkin Cake told me, so I told Applejack and Flame Flicker so we came right over. Big Mac, Fluttershy and Porter will be showing up soon and so will Spike, Rarity and Precious Gem, " Rainbow Dash said. "So where is the little guy? He's probably dying to meet his super awesome aunt!" she said while striking a heroic pose.

"He's probably in the nursery right now. I'll take you, " Rick said leading the way while Twilight and Twyla stayed behind.

"There he is, the little blue guy, " Rick said pointing proudly at his son.

"Well, ain't he the cutest little thang?" Applejack asked rhetorically.

"Well duh! All foals are cute Applejack!" Pinkie Pie said. Everypony turned to look at her and her only response was to look back at them and ask, "what? They are!"

The rest of them showed up shortly after, the Three Musketeers as Rick called Twyla, Porter and Flame Flicker went off to a corner of the room and started playing some elaborate game which involved a lot of giggling. Precious Gem, or the D'Artagnan to their Athos, Porthos and Aramis joined as soon as she showed up with her parents.

Not long after, the little colt was brought back into the room in his bassinette and everypony admired him and congratulated the mother and father. There were looks between the couples that said maybe, just maybe, they would consider having another foal of their own.

He soon started crying which meant it was time for him to nurse. The stallions and foals left the room to give them some privacy while the fillies stayed and did whatever mysterious filly bonding they did in those cases.

"So have you thought of a name?" Spike asked. The young dragon was now as tall as Rick and Big Macintosh were in pony form so this meant he could finally look his big brother in the eye.

"Nah, we're still working on that. Twilight was convinced it was going to be another filly so we didn't even consider colt names. Problem is, I don't know of a name that can work for both a colt and a human. Twyla's name had significance and it's also a human name so we lucked out on that. Right now, I'm pulling a blank on what to call the little blue guy. Here it doesn't matter that much. I can think of a dozen names for him but was can't call him the same thing back home at least not on the legal documentation. So we either give him a human name like me and this will apply on Earth as well as here or we simply choose a name at random to put on his birth certificate back on Earth and we call him by his pony name."

"I could see how that might be a problem. I'm glad I didn't have to go through it, " Spike glanced fondly over at Precious Gem who was currently sitting with the rest of the foals. She looked up at her father, smiled and waved. He grinned and waved back. "It's amazing the power they have over you isn't it? Back before any of this, I couldn't have imagined a life with a child much less a foal but now I can't imagine a life without her."

Rick chuckled at that because he felt the same way. "Yeah, half an hour of fun and you're paying for it for the rest of your life. But don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade it for anything either. But hey, I saw the looks Big Mac and Fluttershy were giving each other as well as Dash and AJ, another foal and they're thinking of doing the same thing. What about you and Rarity? Thinking of having another?"

"I don't think so. Not that we wouldn't want another one, but I think Rarity is too busy for this at the moment. She's always working and has even taken on an apprentice to help her with some of the minor jobs around the carousel. But we'll see what happens next."

The door to Twilight's room opened and the fillies came out to reclaim their husbands and children before making their final goodbyes and heading home. Twilight carefully placed their foal in the foal carrier on Rick's back and they made their way out of the hospital and back home.

Like last time, they'd spend another few days here in Equestria before heading back to Earth but this time around the Grandparents were able to visit right away.

It was just past lunchtime when Rick made his way back to Earth for several reasons. He needed to call his parents to give them the good news and since breakfast was such a long time ago everybody, or everypony in that case, was feeling it so he needed to throw together a quick lunch that he could take back to the library.

Searching through the cupboards, there wasn't much but there was some tuna and he decided that tuna salad was going to have to suffice for the time being. He'd send Twyla to get some bread and he'd also bring along some chips and dill pickles. Twilight didn't like the pickles but for himself, sandwiches needed pickles.

"Hey Mum, " Rick said as his mother picked up the phone on the other end. "Just wanted to tell you that we just had the baby and you have a new grandson."

"Oh that's wonderful news dear!" She pulled the phone away from her mouth and Rick could hear her speak to his Dad to give him the good news. There was a muffled conversation before she came back on and said, "we'll be ready to leave soon and we should be there in a few hours."

"It's okay, the guest suite is set up for you but we're still in Equestria so if you come to the door and there's no answer, knock really really loud, we need to hear you in another universe, " Rick said with a grin.

"We could try that, or maybe just use the spare key we used last time we were taking care of Twyla?"

"Yeah, I guess that would work. See you guys when you get here. I need to get lunch to a bunch of hungry ponies now." With those words he hung up the phone and packing everything up made his way back to Equestria. "Twyla!" he called and a moment later with a clatter of hooves his eldest child showed up.

"Yes Daddy?" she said with a grin.

"I need you to go to the bakery and pick up a loaf of sliced bread and when you bring it back we're having lunch. Here's some bits, " he pulled some bits out of the saddlebags and gave them to his daughter before she raced outside.

"How you doing up here?" he asked Twilight after making his way upstairs to the living area.

"I'm okay, just feeling a little tired, " Twilight said with a tired smile. Rick couldn't help himself but give her a kiss and gently run his hoof through her mane.

"I sent Twyla to get some bread, I've got some tuna salad ready. Unfortunately we didn't have much left in the house so that's all we have right now. I'll have to go to the market later and pick some stuff up. I called my folks, they're on their way and they've got a spare key so they can make their way here and see you and junior."

"Okay, that works, " Twilight said with a bit of a yawn.

"Somepony sleepy?" Rick teased.

"A little bit, I figure a nap after lunch and we'll be ready for your parents when they show up."

Twyla arrived shortly with the bread and they immediately tucked into their sandwiches. After all this time Rick had finally managed to get used to using his hooves to pick things up. It wasn't easy and he much preferred his fingers but what you can you do?

Lunch was done, a few ponies came to see the new arrival. It wasn't every day that one of the Elements of Harmony had a foal and news had spread quickly. Rick was also asked several times if he'd be up to stud by some mares. He had sired three foals already, two of them with his wife, and the news for this had gotten out among those mares without a stallion in their lives who wanted a foal. In every case, he declined politely. He had done this for Rarity & Spike years ago but it just wasn't something he wanted to do again.

It wasn't long before his parents finally showed up and like they did the last time just adored their newest grandchild.

"Guys, you must have really been moving to have made it here so quickly, " Rick commented.

"It was your Mother's idea. She wanted to see him as soon as possible."

"Oh that's enough out of you. You're the one that insisted we get here quickly, " Mabel said mildly rebuking her husband.

"Yes dear, " Walter said with a smile.

"So what's this little charmer's name?" Mabel asked as she cradled him in her hooves.

"We haven't decided yet. I was convinced it was going to be another filly, maybe that was just wishful thinking on my part, " Twilight said. "Then we had this little guy and we're stuck with what to call him."

"If it was just a matter of calling him something here it would be no issue, but we don't want to have to call him two names and confuse the little guy. One name here, one name back home. Ideally, we'd like it to have some connection to the sky or the stars."

Mabel just smiled and said, "well, if you're willing to take your Mother's advice then maybe I've got one for you."

"What seriously" Rick asked with more than a hint of skepticism.

"Yes dear, all those years of crossword puzzles paid off. It's an Old English name meaning 'little star' which isn't common back home in fact it's very rare. But in a land of ponies it could work."

"Would you mind telling us or would you prefer we guess?" Twilight asked.

Mabel laughed. "You two have been married too long. That sounded like something he would say, " Mabel said with a toss of her head in Rick's direction.

"I'll take that as a compliment, now how about you make with your grandson's potential name, " Rick said to his mother.

"Sterling."

Both parents moved the word about in their mouths for a moment. Rick wasn't too thrilled with it, it sounded like something the really posh or really clueless would name their child. On the other hand it did fit the situation quite well. He turned to Twilight and asked, "what do you think?"

"I like it. It sounds strong. What do you think?"

Rick walked over to his mother and reached for his son. He gazed at the tiny form held gently in his hooves and asked, "so tell me son, you have any objections to being named 'Sterling'?"

If the foal had any objections, he didn't make a sound or even acknowledge that his father had spoken.

"Last chance buddy. It's going to be your name unless you say anything, so don't blame me later. 3... 2... 1..., " the foal continued to sleep. "I guess he's cool with it. We might need to come up with a second part to it but right now, Sterling it is."