//------------------------------// // Foalsitting Fun // Story: Twilight's Life // by DuskShadowTheArkane //------------------------------// “Oh dear…,” Shining mumbled as he watched Twilight howling. “C-come now, Twily, i-it’s okay. Mommy won’t be gone very long, so please, stop crying.” Twilight looked at him for a second, considering his words, before seemingly thinking otherwise and continuing to cry even more loudly than before. “Oh, no, please, c-calm down. Here, how about I make some funny faces?” he offered, sticking a hoof into his muzzle, blowing up his cheeks and rolling his eyes. That managed to stop Twilight’s tears, even earning a small giggle. Shining grinned confidently. “You like that, huh? Well, I got a whole stock of funny faces just for you.” He turned away, preparing a grimace for his sister. When he turned back, however, Twilight was gone. “What the – ? Twily, where are you?” He began wandering around, becoming more nervous with each passing second. Oh Celestia, how in the world did this happen? Very good, Shining. Twelve seconds foalsitting your baby sister and you have already lost her. Oh, mom is going to kill me for sure this time! Where could – he was ripped from his thoughts by foal noises coming from the kitchen. Stepping through the doorway, he stopped dead in his tracks, his blood instantly turning to ice.Twilight was balancing on a chair, leaning against the kitchen counter. To make things worse, she was holding a knife in her fore hooves which she used to stab a tomato. Had the act not been very dangerous, it would have been cute to see the foal trying to imitate their mother. MY CELESTIA! – “Twily! Watch out!” Twilight turned to face Shining, causing her to lose her balance. “NOOOO!” Shining yelled as he jumped forth, barely catching his sister mid-fall. “Woah,” he said incredulously before his face turned into a smug grin. “Gotcha! Would you look at that? The perfect royal guard, saving his charge just in time. What do you say about your brother now--AUGH!” his smug talk was interrupted by a rolling pin landing on his head. Unfortunately, it was made of wood, and the kitchen was high enough to leave a mark, so Shining was sent tumbling to the floor, his pupils spiraling against one another. “Ow, my head,” he groaned as he rubbed his skull, already feeling a lump starting on it. He shook his head to clear his thoughts, as well as getting his lopsided eyes under control, earning a giggle from his little sister. “So, you find that funny, huh? Well, at least you’re not hurt. But you can’t just go and –“ he stopped, looking at the foal in bewilderment. “Wait a second. How did you even go? Yesterday, you couldn’t get more than three steps, and today you disappear as soon as I get inattentive. How’d you do it?” Twilight just looked at him, her little head cocked to the side in an asking manner. She smiled and booped her brother’s nose, starting to giggle at the action. Shining smiled at his sister’s antics. “Well, we can worry about that later. What do you wanna do?” A loud rumbling coming from Twilight’s belly answered his thoughts. “Well, that answers my question. And also explains why you were after that cookie,” he said, lightly poking Twilight’s underside with a hoof, eliciting a joyful squeal. “Well, let’s get you something to eat.” He placed his sister on his back before going to the fridge. Opening the door and peeking inside, he let out a groan. His mother had prepared at least seven different bottles. And all held notes telling him in minute detail what he should and shouldn’t do. “Seriously, mom? You think I’m that dumb? Like you could do something wrong with preparing warm milk.” Shaking his head, he took one of the bottles out and placed it on the counter. Focusing his magic, he heated the bottle for a few seconds before picking it up again. “Well, let’s see,” he mused, dripping a few droplets of the foal food on his foreleg. “Hmm, could be a bit warmer.” Heating the bottle up, he tested it again and smiled contentedly. “Perfect. Alright, Twily, I know you’re hungry, and I’ve got just the right thing for you,” he said, placing his sister in her high stool and hoofing her the bottle. Twilight squealed before taking the bottle and beginning to drink. Shining watched her with a warm smile. How could mom think I couldn’t handle this myself? She’s gorgeous! We’re gonna have the best. Time. Ever! Finishing, Twilight held the bottle towards Shining, smiling at him. Aww, look at that. “All full, Twily?” Twilight giggled, bobbing her head and clapping her hooves. “Alrighty then, let’s get a burp out of that belly,” and with that, he picked his sister up and carefully tapped her back. When Twilight didn’t burp, he pulled her away and held her at foreleg’s length. “Twily, why aren’t you… is… something wrong?” he asked, noticing her scrunched up face. “Why are you looking –“ before Shining could continue, Twilight let out one of the loudest and strongest burps he had ever heard, making his mane flutter in the winds and the skin in his face pull back. It only lasted a second, but was enough to completely stun him. What the…? I think I felt the walls shaking! “Woah, Twily, how did you do that?” Twilight just giggled, pointing to his head. Shining eyed her in bewilderment before looking up. Seeing nothing, he placed Twilight on his back again and started for the mirror in the hall. Upon looking at his reflection, his chin hit the floor. “What in Celestia’s holy beard happened?! My face, it’s… it’s… it’s pink! And my mane is green! How did this –“ looking back at his sister, who was giggling about his antics, her horn giving off a spark from time to time, he began to understand. “Magic Surges,” he groaned, rubbing his now-pink face with a forehoof. Facing the mirror again, he tried rubbing off the color, alas to no avail. “And I don’t know how to break a color-changing spell. Looks like I’ll stay this way for a while. Well, since you can’t control it, I can’t really blame you, now can I, Twily? Twily?” Looking back again, he noticed that while he had been busy with his unnatural fur color Twilight had vanished again. Pulling a forehoof across his face again, he groaned a second time. “Oh, what have I gotten… “ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ “… myself into,” Cadence said sadly as she sat on her bed, thinking about what had happened recently. She crossed her fore hooves before lying her head onto them. "How could I have been so cruel to Aunt Celestia? All she was doing was looking out for me and doing what's best." You know, a female voice suddenly said, I was in a very similar position once. Cadence gasped, frantically looking around the room. Always thinking Celestia - the voice practically spat the name - was doing what she thought was best. But do you know something, child? She's a foal! Her façade just hides what she truly is: a frightened foal too ignorant to see through the two-faced smiles and lies of her oh-so-beloved subjects. "Who are you? Show yourself!" the young princess called out, angered by the phantom's blackening of her aunt's name. And guess what? You're becoming just like her. A frightened little foal too scared to make her own decisions. So disappointing. You have so much potential, the voice purred, sending a shiver down Cadence's neck. "What do you want?" she asked nervously, getting up and moving away from her bed in hopes of getting away from the ominous presence. Me? I don't want anything, my dear Cadenza. It's what you want that matters. And what I can do to help you get everything you wish for. "No!" Cadence answered resolutely. "I don't know who you are or what you want, but I won't disobey Celestia's wishes. I am confident that she has only my wellbeing at heart. Like she did with her sister? the voice asked, the silky sound now directly beside the pink alicorn's ear. Cadence winced, feeling a breath on her neck, but when she turned around, she was greeted by nothing, not even the slight tingle of residue magic lingering in the air. Face it, Princess, the voice continued, seemingly unfazed by the alicorn's discomfort, as long as you don't start making your own decisions, you'll be Celestia's lapdog. You will sacrifice yourself for mortals not even worth looking at your horseshoes. You will wither away just like your mother. And when you decide that you deserve a bit of gratitude, then let us see what the noble, always-do-good Princess Celestia will do. "That's a lie! My aunt is the kindest, most loving, most generous pony in all of Equestria. Everything she did back then was to safe her populace, and I'll not allow you to speak such slander." Tell me, then, 'Princess', how do you know about what happened nearly a thousand years ago? What did Celestia tell you? "N-nothing. I-I read everything there was to know in a book," Cadence lied, drawing her shoulders up and looking to the side. Mmmh, don't lie to me, my child. A shiver ran down the young mare's spine. She felt something like a wing drape around her body, though she could see no such thing.. She tried using a sensor spell, only to gasp in fear as her horn fizzled out without so much as a spark. Now, now, my dear, don't do that. You don't want to hurt yourself using magic, now do you? Cadence started shivering in terror as she noticed the imaginary wing draping closer around her, effectively immobilizing her. See? Isn't this much better? Now, where was I? Ah, yes, I was about to tell you what really happened back then. Back then, everypony in all of Equestria was ignoring your mother's beautiful night. That much you know already, no? Well, in all her misery and hurt, she turned to me, the only being in the world that appreciated her work for what it was: a masterpiece of the finest art. I told her that it was imperative that we try and prolong the night. But we were so naive trying to reason with her sister. Of course, Celestia was enraged by Luna's simple request and sent her away to continue wilting like a beautiful moonflower in the sunlight. So I convinced her to do what was necessary: forcing night upon Equestria for all to see. It was only meant as an onetime event. But Celestia, in all her ignorance, attacked your mother with all her force. You know how it ended: your mother lost, unable to fight her own sister, who could do so without a second thought. And it seems she found a replacement. Her sister's daughter, a foal to mold to her twisted beliefs and to raise as an enemy to her own mother. "NO! You're lying. I won't fall for your heresy," Cadence screamed, but there was doubt glinting in her eyes. She used all her might to push away the presence, and, to her utmost satisfaction, she got loose, skidding over the floorboards and nearly tripping. Shaking her head, she looked back towards the space she had been confined in to notice a pair of draconic eyes staring back at her. "I won't fall for your lies, Nightmare! You may have been able to twist my mother, but I won't let you get me, too. My aunt loves me. And she loves her sister. More than anything in the world. Every day, she begs her to forgive her for the sins she committed long ago. And nothing you say will EVER make me believe otherwise. I'm ashamed that I let myself be spun into believing one of your foul words for even one second. Mark my word, Nightmare: you will never separate me from Celestia or my mother. Not now, not ever!" The draconic eyes regarded her indifferently, before closing and vanishing into thin air. We will see about that, the voice said before vanishing, a shadow darting over the wall before disappearing. "We will. You will never win! We will always be there to stop you! Just you see," Cadence yelled angrily, still watching the spot where the draconic eyes had been. Breathing heavily, she allowed herself to slump down on her haunches. Only now did she realise she was shaking from horn to tail. "Damn you, Nightmare. I'll show you!" "Your highness?" a new voice sounded from the door. Quickly turning around, the princess noticed a guard had entered while she was yelling. "Is everything alright?" Cadence took a few calming breaths before smiling at him. "It wasn't before, but now it is," she said. The guard stared at her confused, before thinking better of it and formally adressing her again. "Your highness, I bring you a message from your aunt, our highness Princess Celestia," he mechanically said, bowing down. "Please, stand up. What did she say?" Cadence asked nervously. "Well, your highness," the guard started, not meeting her eyes, "Princess Celestia has asked that you stay in your room until she has found time to come by. She said it shouldn't be longer than after dinner," he finished, sweating slightly. "What? Oh no, I need to be at the Sparkle house by then," she moaned as soon as the guard had finished. She started for the door, only to be intercepted by the guard sticking one of his wings out. Noticing the uncertainty in his eyes, she addressed him again, desperation evident in her voice. "Please, I have to talk to her. I want to tell her how sorry I am. Please let me through." "I'm sorry, Princess," he replied apologetically, "but I have to follow my order. Please stay in your room." "I... understand," Cadence said, all energy draining from her again. The guard looked at her incredulously. "Really?" he asked, the confusion inside him leaking out through his voice. "Yes. As royal guard, it is your duty and my aunt's order is beyond mine. I don't wish to impose. I will stay in my room as my aunt has ordered." The guard sighed in relief. "Thank you, your highness. I will be posted outside should you desire anything." With that, the guard turned around again and walked out of the room, taking his post right outside of the door next to another guard. "Any problems to report?" his comrade asked, looking at him from the corners of his eyes. "No, everything's fine. Let's give the princesses time to calm down so they can talk about stuff sooner rather than later." ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ As soon as the guard left, Cadence sighed dejectedly. "I'm not welcome around Aunt Celestia. That's the worst thing that's ever happened between us. And to top that off, she sent a foalsitter to make sure I stay in my room." She thought about her situation, remembering the promise she had given Shining to come to their family get-together. She sighed again before working her magic, unlocking and opening her balcony door. Stepping outside, she let the gentle breeze of the day caress her face and play through her mane before looking apologetically at the door the guard had left through. "I'm sorry, but I have… " ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ "… to do this," Shining said as he levitated Twilight onto his back again and the cookie jar to the highest shelf in the kitchen. "Bababa!" Twilight exclaimed, trying to reach the cookie jar by holding onto the kitchen counter. "Twily, no!" Shining ordered as he walked out of the room. Twilight began to whine, pulling at his mane and jabbing her little hind hooves into his sides. "OW! Twilight, stop it now!" he shouted at her. He watched as her lower lip quivered and her eyes filled with tears. Feeling her expression tugging at his heart strings, he shook his head and extended a hoof in her direction. Before he had a chance to say something, however, Twilight let herself glide from his back and scurried away. "Wait, no. Twilight!" he called after her before chasing her purple tail which, disappeared behind the doorframe leading to their living room. Stepping in, he let his eyes wander around the room before spotting a fleck of purple behind the sofa. "Twilight?" he asked, slowly approaching the little purple blotch that was his sister. "Twily?" he bowed down to her and stretched out a hoof, only for her to whimper and shy away as he tried closing the distance. She looked at him with wide, fearful eyes, tears leaking out of the corners. Her lower lip was trembling as she tried to make herself as small as possible, curling up into a small purple ball that shivered in fear of him. "Sis?" He laid his hoof on her shivering form, making her recoil and curl up even further. "Oh, little filly, I'm sorry for yelling. I'm only looking out for you and you can't have any sweets before eating some healthy lettuce. So please, don't be mad at me." He regarded her with bated breath, waiting for some kind of response. Finally, after what seemed like forever, she uncurled herself before offering a small smile. Sighing in relief, he gently took her in his magic and placed her on his back again. "So, Twilight, how about we go and play in the garden a bit? It's such a nice day and it would be a shame to stay indoors all day." Twilight gurgled happily as Shining led both of them outside. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The garden of the Sparkle residence was a rather big complex, even for Canterlot standards. It consisted of a big terrace sporting a round wooden table with comfy cushions placed around it. The lawn featured a cobblestone path languidly winding its way through it, flanked by various flowerbeds. In the middle, the lawn was divided by two artificial creeks originating from magically operated wells and ending in a small pond. A wooden bridge with small sculptures of tigers on its posts spanned the pond at its largest diameter, and the plant life consisting of reed, bamboo and water lily alike created the atmosphere of a garden belonging to an old Chineighse temple. As Shining knew, his father had crafted this garden in minute detail as a wedding gift to his mother. This was the place where Velvet had found the inspiration for her bestseller, "Daring Do And The Quest For The Sapphire Stone". The lawn itself was surrounded by various plants, mostly of edible nature. As a hobby botanist, Velvet took great pride in the beautiful flora she had nurtured. Strewn around the flower beds were trees bearing apples, pears and cherries. The border of the garden consisted of a small hedge, so as to welcome visitors and give the Sparkle family a good view over Canterlot. Embedded into the hedge was a small wrought-iron door leading to the small alley between the Sparkle property and the neighbors' garden. Shining sat Twilight down at the beginning of the lawn, where Night Light had build a sandbox when it had been clear that Velvet was pregnant. Getting a bucket and a shovel from beside the box, he noticed Twilight had taken some sand into her hoof and was trying to eat it. "Nonono, Twily, you can't eat it. It's not edible. You can play with it, though." He took the shovel and dug a small hole into the sand. "See? This is sand. You can dig holes into it or build castles." Under Twilight's curious gaze, he began to fill the bucket up to the brim. Compressing the sand, he swiftly flipped the bucket and smashed the opening onto the sand. "And now we have a turret," he said, raising the bucket again to reveal a small body faintly akin to a castle's turret. Twilight cautiously approached the construct, gently prodding a hoof against it. Where her hoof made contact, a small trickle of sand fell off the sand turret. "I knew you would like that," Shining told Twilight with a smile as he watched her squealing and clapping her hooves together. "Now, how about yoEARGH!" he exclaimed as the foal decided to make the sand trickle not by prodding it, but by smashing her fore hooves on it as hard as she could, effectively giving Shining's pink face a touch of ocher. Wiping his face in disgust, he noticed Twilight had fallen over from laughing too much. "Hahaha, very funny, you little troublemaker," he remarked before helping his sister to her haunches again. "Well, do you want to continue playing, or do you just want to redesign my face?" As if to answer his question, Twilight poked his muzzle with her hoof, leaving an sandy imprint. "Oh, come on," he whined, eliciting a bout of giggles from the baby pony. Picking her up and walking up to the pond, his reflection showed that all small specks of sand on his already pink face were aligned perfectly around the imprint on his muzzle, giving him the looks of a pink moon. "Well, I guess it is kind of funny," he stated before joining in on his sister's laughs. "Well, well, well, would you look at that? A chump of a stinking foal. Oh, and a baby pony as well," a snide voice wafted through the garden. Turning around, Shining noticed Blueblood and his goons stepping through the gate. "Hey! Get outta here! This is private property," Shining yelled, stepping forward and shielding his sister from the trio's eyes. Blueblood scoffed and approached him nonetheless. Standing before him, the prince allowed a smug grin to adorn his features. "As a prince, I am allowed to enter every property I deem worth of my presence. Now," he started, walking around the garden a bit under Shining's angered gaze. He proceeded towards a tulip bed, one of Velvet's favorites. Regarding them with a critical eye, he waved over his goons. "Oh my, such beauty. It must have been painfully hard to grow such perfect flowers." Smirking, he plucked one out before nodding towards his two brutes. At his command, they sprang into the bed and began trampling down the flowers. "HEY! STOP THAT! THEY ARE MY MOTHER'S!" Shining screamed, causing Twilight to cry. "Oh, is that so? I am SO sorry. You know how hard it is to find good staff these days," Blueblood laughed mercilessly. "But I have an idea. How about my guards plant your face in there? You match the colors perfectly." Noticing the bawling filly behind Shining, an annoyed mien flashed over Blueblood's face. "Is this your little sister? Tell her to be silent. She's getting on my nerves." "Leave her alone," he breathed, taking an angry step towards the prince, horn aglow. Seemingly out of nowhere, Blueblood's guards appeared and threw Shining to the ground, immobilizing him. "Baba!" Twilight cried, trying to get to her brother, but as she stood up she was blocked by the prince stepping in front of her. "Be silent. As your prince, I command you to hold your tongue." Twilight stopped sobbing, but looking him in the eye defiantly. Blueblood turned around, closing his eyes and motioning his hoof in a haughty manner. "A smart one, are you? Well, it seems your uncouth parents have no idea how to raise a foal. Ignoring titles and social ranks seems to run in the family. Well, too bad flogging is prohibited. You both could sure use some." Turning around again, he noticed the foal was no longer present. He halted mid-lecture and looked at his goons, who seemed surprised as well. "What in Equestria?" Blueblood asked as he starred at the spot where the foal had last been. "Twily?" Shining asked in fear as he and Blueblood's goons starred at the spot Twilight had been not moment's before. He turned his gaze towards Blueblood to see the prince watching him with annoyance evident in his face. "What did you do? Do you really think your little trick will sa - AUGH!" The prince's rant was interrupted as his tail was grabbed in a purple glow and he was lifted upside down towards the table where... "TWILY!" Shining called out in joy as he noticed his sister was sitting on the table, seemingly unharmed, her face scrunched up in concentration as she levitated the prince towards her. "GUARDS! HELP YOUR PRINCE!" Blueblood screamed. The two brutes let go of their hostage and started towards their master, but were stopped as their hooves were surrounded by a magic glow as well. They only had time to turn around and see Shining with his horn aglow before their hooves dropped into magically formed holes, effectively immobilizing them. "GUARDS! YOUR PRINCE COMMANDS YOU TO -" he cut himself off as he noticed his rump being levitated to the foal. "What in Equestria are you -" his rant fell short as he felt a tiny, but still strong forehoof connect with his fundament. "OW! MY ROYAL BACKSIDE! STOP THIS AT ONCE, YOU LITTLE- OW!" Shining watched in amazement as the prince got his buttocks beaten by a foal not even a month old. After about twenty beatings, Twilight's horn glowed blindingly. The Prince had only time to start screaming before he disappeared in a flash, just to appear above the pond a second later. His scream was interrupted with a gasp as he ungracefully landed face first in the greenish water. He resurfaced soon after, algae hanging in his mane and a frog croaking angrily on his head. Smirking, Shining enveloped the remaining two and tossed them into the pond as well. The Prince opened his muzzle, only to spit out greenish sludge. "MY MANE! MY BEAUTIFUL MANE! YOU! YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS INSOLENCE! BOTH OF YOU!" Blueblood screamed, pulling himself out of the pond and running away, his goons in tow. Looking after them, Shining turned around to find his sister giggling, sticking her tongue out at the prissy prince. Quickly, he took her and hugged her to his chest before holding her at legs’ length. "Twilight! That was GREAT!," he said, sitting her in his lap and ruffling her mane, eliciting a squeal from the foal. "How did you even pull that off? That has to be the strongest magic surge I've ever heard of." Twilight just looked at him with a smile. He thought he noticed a gleeful glint in her eyes, but thought better of it. Suddenly, Twilight began babbling in joy before pointing to the sky. Following her hoof, the colt noticed a pink figure in the sky approaching them from the direction Blueblood and his brutes had fled to. A grin passed his features. "Just you wait until we tell Cadence about this. She'll burst with laughter." ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Meanwhile, Night Light and Twilight Velvet were walking through Canterlot towards their destination, the Sparkle wine store. "Are you sure Shining's alright?" Velvet asked for approximately the hundredth time. It was starting to get on Night Light's nerves, even moreso since he was going to meet his parents with Velvet in tow. "For the hundredth time, they'll be fine, Velvet. You should worry more about meeting my mother again." A dark shadow crossed Velvet's features. In the sixteen years they had been married, Dazzle had never warmed up to her. Despite Night Light's and his father's best efforts, nothing seemed to lessen their mutual aversion for the other in the slightest. Dazzle even dropped the name of Canterlot's most famous divorce lawyer, Buck Matrimony, from time to time. After that, Night Light feared that his wife would sooner become a Nightmare witness than a friend towards his mother. "Oh yes, because meeting your mother is always such joy! She's the climax of the whole day," Velvet replied sarcastically, to which Night Light shot her an annoyed glance. "What? It's not my fault she's a pain in the flank!" "Please, dear, try to be nice to her, just this once. Please?" Night Light begged while giving her the puppy eyes. Velvet rolled hers in return. "Alright, I'll try. But you owe me, BIG TIME." Night Light chuckled before giving his wife a chaste kiss on her cheek. "Thank you, Honey Bun. You won't regret it. Now, let's do this," and with that, he pushed the door to his parent's wine store open, holding it for Velvet to enter. At the sound of a chime mounted to the door, a decadent mare exited the back of the store. "Welcome to the - oh Night Light, it's you. How nice of you to come by." Noticing Velvet, Dazzle scrunched up her nose, looking down on her with disgust. "And I see you brought your lovely wife along. How wonderful." "Hello, mother. Nice to see you, too." Giving his wife a sidewards glance, he noticed she was glaring daggers at his mother and prodded her gently with a hoof. "Hello, Dazzle," Velvet hissed through clenched teeth. Just relax, Velvet. maybe it won't be TOO bad. "Well, follow me to the back and let's see what you need. By the way, it's good you decided to stop by, Night Light, because I wanted to ask you if it's alright if I bring Raindrops along tonight. It's been so long since you two met, and you have SO much catching up to do. The poor dear is feeling so lonely at the moment, and could really use a shoulder to lean on. She was divorced again, you know." "Oh, wonder, how in the world could that happen?" Velvet asked in mock surprise. Dazzle gave her a scathing gaze. "Yes, it's a real surprise, isn't it? Well, I guess bringing her along would benefit all of us. Some of us could especially benefit from learning from a real mare how to behave as a wife and mother." And some of us could benefit from their mother-in-law being locked up in a barrel and thrown into the River Equine, Velvet thought darkly as she and Night Light followed Dazzle into the back of the store. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ A sigh emanated from the luxurious bed of the sun princess. Listlessly, Celestia turned from one side to the other, facing towards the windows. She had ceased crying a while ago, the only evidence being the tear streaks on her cheeks. "What am I doing?" she asked herself, shaking the blanket off her and getting up. "This isn't the time for moping. It is the time for acting." Stretching, she got a peek of the moon and its famous silhouette. "Oh, Luna, why does this have to be so hard?" she asked her sister, even though she knew she couldn't hear her. "I knew it would not be easy to raise your foal, since I was sure she would be a trouble maker like her mother" - she allowed herself a small chuckle - "but what do I do now? What if this remnant of the Nightmare gets stronger? I can't bear having to fight another one so dear to me." Shaking her head sadly, she let her gaze wander towards a golden picture frame sitting on her night stand. The picture it contained showed a newborn Cadence being cradled by her aunt. Celestia smiled. Never in the almost thousand years since Luna's banishment had she felt such joy, but also such grief, at the prospect of raising a foal. She had never had any children of her own, so getting to raise and teach one herself was a great opportunity. It came at a great cost, though. She couldn't quench the feeling of guilt as she remembered what raising Cadence would mean to Luna. She knew her sister now would probably never feel the joy of being mother to a newborn. She feared the day Luna and Cadence would meet. She could see it: Her sister, eager to finally be reunited with her daughter. The surprise when Luna would not be presented with an infant, but a fully grown mare probably living on her own by then. Imagining the look of shook and hurt on her sister's face made a single tear leave her eye to join its kin on her bedding. "Maybe I was to hard on Cadence. After all, she's still just a filly, and this meant so much for her. Maybe sending a guard to deliver my message wasn't the best idea. I should probably talk about this with her myself. Maybe we can find a compromise." Invigorated, she got up, stretching before checking her appearance in her mirror. After a few magical touches, she moved on towards her door. Just as she reached for the handle, however, a loud banging sounded from the other side. "Your highness, please, let me in! It's important!" Raising an eyebrow, she used her magic to open the door to Ironlance, the guard she had sent to look after Cadence. "Sergeant Ironlance, what is wrong? Has something -" "Princess Cadence! She's gone!" ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ "... and she really did this all by herself," Cadence asked skeptically, sipping at her tea. After landing in the garden and confronting Shining about what had happened, he had invited her in. Currently, they were sitting in the living room, with Twilight next to them on her foal blanket, playing with her teddy bear. The colt nodded exaggeratedly. "Yeah, you should've seen it. One moment, Blueblood was an evil douche, the next moment he's a big crybaby!" Shining snorted at the memory of the whining prince, an image forever etched into his mind. Cadence regarded him for a moment, before turning her gaze towards Shining's sister. A smile spread on her face as she watched the foal. Twilight was currently bouncing her plushie up and down, babbling to herself. She swung it around a bit before hugging it close to her chest and cuddling it. She turned from left to right as she did so, and proceeded to roll onto her back with a giggle. "Such strong magic surges at such a young age. She really is something else, isn't she?" the Princess asked, still not taking her eyes from Twilight. Carefully, she wandered over and sat down opposite the foal. Twilight opened her eyes and regarded her, before smiling and going back to cuddling her teddy. "Yeah, she is. And look what she can do," Shining said, sitting down a few hooves away from his sister. "Twily? Come here, come to your brother," he encouraged, regarding the foal. Twilight looked up from her bear, smiling at Shining before offering her bear to Cadence. "Da! Baba!" she stated as Cadence took the toy in her magic. Twilight turned to her brother again before she, under the expectant gaze of Shining and Cadence, walked to her brother, hugging him and looking into his eyes. The colt shot Cadence a victorious grin, but his smile wilted as soon as he saw her bemused face. "What's wrong?" he asked, uncertain as to the princess's confused mien. "Uhm, I'm sorry, did I miss anything?" Cadence replied with uncertainty. "Er, yeah, she walked! This is awesome, isn't it?" "It... is?" The alicorn regarded the siblings, not sure how to react. She searched Shining's face for clues, noticing his visage changing from confused to sudden understanding. "We... I never told you, did I?" he asked, looking at her with a serious face. "Told me what?" Shining sighed, looking down at his sister. The foal was was watching them anxiously, fearing she had somehow done something wrong. Her brother, noticing that she had begun shivering while pressed into his chest, pulled her into a hug and began gently stroking her mane. "There, there, sis, it's alright," he soothed. Turning his gaze up again, he looked Cadence directly in the eyes. "Well, it all started two weeks ago... " ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Two weeks earlier "Err, Velvet?" "Yes, Night Light?" "Have you noticed anything... odd… with Twilight?" Velvet looked up from the teddy she was currently sewing up. She noticed that her husband was watching their foal with rapt attention. Said foal was currently crawling around on the floor, gnawing on everything she could get her little hooves on. "What do you mean?"she asked. She pulled a pillow away from her daughter and set her down on her back with her magic. At the same time, she levitated the teddy into the foal's forelegs "Have you ever heard of a filly... crawling? And at her age, no less?" Velvet gasped, looking back at her daughter with eyes laden with worry and fear. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ A short while later "Well, Mr. and Mrs. Sparkle, I have the results," the doctor said to Velvet and Night Light. They currently sat on a gurney with Twilight between them. The foal watched her parents and the room in wonder, too stunned to try and grab something. "Please tell us what's wrong with our little filly, doctor," Velvet pleaded, tears starting to form in her eyes. The foal doctor sighed. After all his years, it still wasn't easy to tell parents like the Sparkles when there was something wrong with their child. The doctor regarded them for a short while before smiling. "There is nothing wrong with her. She just has some weak muscles," he explained, levitating a clip board towards himself. "That's why she can't walk yet?" Night Light asked, confused. The doctor nodded. "Yes, Mr. Sparkle. It's nothing to really worry about. About one in ten thousand foals are born with weaker muscles. Interestingly, those seem to be the more gifted ponies later in life." "What can we do to help her?" Velvet asked, gently nuzzling her daughter's head. "Well, for one I would advise training with her. Help her get up and let her try her first steps. The first ones are always the hardest, but it will get better in time. She will most definitely try to walk on her own some day, so better watch out she doesn't get on the run to the Canterlot Express," he said with a chuckle. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Present Day "... and it seems Twilight got the hang of it on her own," Shining concluded, ruffling his sister's mane and eliciting a giggle out of her. "And in no time, she'll be prancing about, causing even more trouble. Isn't that right, Twily?" he asked, rubbing his snout against his sister's. Cadence smiled at the siblings. She was glad that everything had gone out well, and that Twilight would grow up to be a happy and healthy filly. A loud rumbling ripped her out of her thoughts, followed by a mewl from the foal. "Well, sounds like somepony is hungry," Shining said, picking his sister up and carrying her into the kitchen. "Now, let's see what mom prepared." Opening the fridge, he noticed a small bowl filled with various greens. Lunch was written on a note attached to it. "Alright, Twily. It seems mom wants you to eat this lettuce. Well then," he stated, placing Twilight in her high stool and levitating the bowl towards the stool's surface, "now open wide. Here comes the Can...ter...lot express?" he finished with a frown as Twilight pressed her lips closed, turning her head to the side. She pointed her hoof towards where the cookie jar was standing. "Now Twilight, you can't always eat cookies. Mom wants you to eat something healthy. And believe me, this lettuce really is tasty." To proof his point, he took one of the leaves and placed it in his muzzle, munching happily on it. Wow, this really IS tasty, he thought, eating the leaf with delight. "Now it's your turn. Open wide." Twilight mimicked her brother, taking the lettuce into her muzzle and chewing on it. Instead of swallowing however, Twilight spluttered the chewed up leaf around, blotting Shining's pink face with green. "Now Twilight," Cadence said, stepping up to the foal. "It's very important to eat healthy. How about this? You eat half your lettuce and get half a cookie. Deal?" Twilight regarded her, seemingly not understanding a thing, but clapped her hooves together at the mention of the word 'cookie'. Cadence smiled before picking the fork up in her magic while also levitating a cookie out of the jar. "Finish all of your lettuce and you get a whole cookie." And with that, she levitated another leaf into Twilight's now open muzzle. The princess waited with bated breath until, to her great relief, the foal swallowed her morsel. "Ahbaba!" she stated, pointing to the lettuce. Smiling, the alicorn fed her another morsel and another, until, after a short while, they had emptied the bowl. Cadence picked her up and gently tapped her back to burp her. After she was done, she placed the smiling filly on her back and levitated the cookie towards her, making the foal squeal in delight as she munched on the treat. "Well done, Twilight," she said as she watched the baby pony crumble her cookie. "See, Shining? She's the perfect little filly. Piece of cake!" "Yeah, she's an angel," Shining grumbled, pulling a piece of spittle-soaked lettuce from his face. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^