Alec stalked down the corridor with Captain Warper at his side. They stopped at the end of the cells and looked into one of them, seeing the pegasus stallion who had attempted to abduct Scootaloo. A huff drew their attention to the opposite cell, where the earth pony mare was glaring at them. “I still can’t believe you caught them like that, sir.”
“I still can’t believe that two of Equestria’s best burglars brought a sweet little filly like Scoots into the world.” They then continued their walk, heading out of the dungeons and back towards the castle. They saw Luna and the twins just leaving the castle, and the alicorn stallion nodded to the unicorn, who peeled off to another area. Alec headed on an intercept path for his wife, nuzzling her cheek when he got close enough. “And where are you going without me?”
“I am merely pregnant, you do not need to dote on me.” He just poked his tongue out at her, causing the twins to giggle. They flapped their wings and flew up to his back, Flame settling between his wings, Sky resting against his neck, high enough that her head could see over his, looking ahead of them between his ears. “We are on our way to the hospital, I have a check up due.”
“Hurry, daddy!” Alec gave a chuckle as Sky tugged on his mane, and she started to giggle as he bounced his head as he walked along. Luna glanced at his back and smiled as she saw Flame asleep, Alec’s wings raised a little to keep him safe. As soon as they left, two ponies fell into step behind them, and the mare glanced over her shoulder to see who it was, Sky doing the same. “Auntie Petal!”
“Your Majesty.” Alec chuckled, hearing the subtle tone of annoyance in the mare’s voice at his daughter's title for her. He didn’t even need to confirm who the other pony was, Warding Spear remaining quiet as he followed. Mares and stallions moved apart for the alicorn couple, bowing with a smile as they passed. There was a sudden gasp from atop the stallion’s head, the filly shifting so that she was blocking his vision in one eye.
“Daddy, can we go play with our friends?” Alec looked to one of the playgrounds they were just passing, seeing colts and fillies waving to his children, then turned to Luna, who gave him a smile and nodded.
“Yes, you may. Petal, Spear, keep an eye on them.” The two guards nodded, the pegasus stallion giving a small chuckle as the twins transferred to Petal’s back. The two alicorns continued on their journey, Alec’s wing draped over Luna’s back. It didn’t take them long to reach the hospital, the infirmary at the castle being rather busy with training strains. Warper was really putting the new recruits through their paces.
The receptionist smiled when she looked up from her desk, then led them down the corridor to a consulting room, informing them the doctor would be along soon. Alec helped Luna onto the bed, sitting on the chair next to it, running his hoof through her mane. The door opened and a unicorn mare walked in, smiling at the couple that remained staring at each other. “Okay then, shall we get this sorted?”
Alec looked around and smiled to her, giving the mare a nod. Even though he had explored every inch of his wife, the doctor still covered her rear legs for privacy, lifting up the end at the foot of the bed and lighting her horn. Luna’s face shifted a little, the check being a little uncomfortable, but then the doctor let out a surprised gasp, Alec staring at her with worry. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
The mare ignored him and looked straight at Luna, her face clearly serious. “Your majesty, when was the last time you went to the toilet?”
“A few hours ago. Why?”
“I think that was your water breaking. I can see the foal’s head.” Alec’s eyes went wide as the mare galloped out of the room, the stallion taking a look under the blanket to find she was right. He returned to Luna’s side and placed a hoof gently on her cheek, smiling softly down at her. The door opened and the doctor returned with a couple of nurses and a hospital cot. “Right then, I believe you know where to go, so get there.”
Alec nodded and lit his horn, pushing Luna into a sitting position, then slid in behind her. He slowly lowered her back, the mare’s back pressing against his chest, and he leant down to softly kiss her forehead. “Okay, your majesty… I’m going to get things moving now. It could be dangerous to leave the foal like that.”
Luna just gripped Alec’s hoof tight with her own, then nodded to the doctor. The room was soon bathed in a cool, pale green light.
Braeburn stared on in shock as Fluttershy gave another scream, not even registering his hoof being crushed by the mare. He glanced from where the doctor was working on his wife to the two cots next to the bed, a third one remaining empty. His head snapped back as Fluttershy let out another scream, and he lowered his head to nuzzle his wife as a third distinct cry from a foal filled the room.
It was passed to a waiting nurse, who cleaned it up, then placed it into the waiting cot. “Brae… I’m tired.” He looked down to the exhausted face of his mare, her eyes half closed. He softly kissed her on the tip of the muzzle, then turned to the hospital staff.
“Is there anywhere mah wife can go with the youngin’s? Ah don’t think she wants to be away from them.” The doctor gave him a nod, motioning for the nurses to move the cots. Braeburn turned around as Fluttershy groaned, trying to sit up and reaching a hoof towards the foals.
“Braeburn, where are they taking them?” He trotted over and nuzzled her cheek, reassuring her with a soft smile
“Yer goin’ with them, mah lil’ butterfly. We’re goin’ to a room where ya can rest.” She gave him a small nod and lay her head back down on the pillow, closing her eyes. The stallion followed as they took her down the corridor, then paused as he saw the other ponies looking through the window, turning to the nurse behind him. “‘scuse me, miss, could those ponies there come with us? That’s Shy’s parents.”
“Of course, sir. I’ll give you about ten minutes to get settled, then bring them in.” She turned and walked away, the stallion smiling to Posey and Defiant Moonlight as they waited patiently. They gave him a nod and he caught up to his wife just as she was wheeled into a spacious recovery room, trotting over and placing his hoof over hers as her eyes fluttered open. “‘ow yer feelin’, Shy?”
“I’m tired… but I want to see my babies.” He gave her a nod and moved over the three cots, pushing them closer so that she could see them. Tears started to form in her eyes as she looked them over, Braeburn climbing up on the bed behind her. “They’re beautiful… what do we have?”
He nuzzled the back of her head with a chuckle, placing a hoof around her and squeezing gently. “Two fillies, one pegasus an’ one earth pony. T’ other is a pegasus colt. Ah suppose we’d better name them, huh?” She just gave a light giggle at that, turning her head to softly kiss his cheek. “Tell ya what… why don’t Ah name the fillies, and yer can name the colt?”
“Only if I can hold him whilst doing so.” The stallion slipped from the bed and approached the cots, carefully lifting the colt out and passing him to the mare. She gently wrapped her hooves around him, nuzzling against his cheek and causing him to squirm, tiny wings on his back giving a small flutter. He had an orange coat with a dark red mane. “...Harvest. Cyclone Harvest.” The colt gave a small moan, then pressed closer against his mother. “See? He likes it!”
“Ah can tell. Now then, let’s take a looksie at who we got ‘ere.” He picked up the earth pony filly first, whose eyes were open and staring at him in complete wonder, her coat being the same colour as her mother, with her mane a shade darker. Braeburn brought her close and nuzzled her cheek, then slipped her next to his son, and she settled down next to him. “Mah lil’ Butterfly, meet mah lil’ Buttercup.”
“That’s perfect, my delicious Apple. What about the other filly?” The stallion turned back around and his eyes went wide, the third cot being empty. He started to panic, looking around the room, then down at the floor, and started to trot around in his worried state. “Braeburn… look up.”
He did as told, but only had a brief moment to focus as the pegasus filly landed on his muzzle, her bright green eyes staring into his. He carefully made his way back to the bed, where his wife took her from him. She struggled to get loose a little until she looked at the pony holding her, then settled down. The filly had a pink mane like Fluttershy, but her coat was a light purple. “She’s like a cloud. ‘ow about… Nimbus? An’ we can name her after yer favourite flower. Lavender Nimbus.”
Fluttershy just nodded her agreement, before her head fell back to the pillow once more, her eyes fluttering shut. The foals shifted around until they were pressed against her side, her wing coming down to cover them up. The door cracked open, Posey and Moonlight sticking their heads in.
Braeburn waved them over with a smile, lifting his dozing wife’s wing and revealing the three sleeping foals. Buttercup decided then to roll over, managing to fall from the edge of the bed. Posey was there in an instant, the filly held safely between her forehooves. She put her back on the bed and nudged her to the safety of her daughter’s side.
Braeburn slid a blanket over his wife’s back, covering the four as they drifted off to sleep. Her parents gave a nod and moved back out of the room, the earth pony stallion, spotting a couch in the corner. He gave Fluttershy a nuzzle, causing her face to scrunch up adorably, then trotted over to the door and flicked the lights off.
There was just enough coming through the blinds to let him see the couch, and he lay down on it, lowering his hat over his head. Something landed on his chest, and he raised the hat up enough to see Lavender’s green eyes reflecting the low light. He gave a chuckled and pulled her close, the little filly settling down.
He could already tell she was going to be a daddy’s filly.
Scootaloo shook lightly in Rumble’s hooves, the young stallion gently nuzzling the back of her head. They were currently on a train to Canterlot, her family around her in the compartment, which had been closed off to the rest of the ponies by guards. She didn’t want to go, but Warding Spear was insistent that she did. Prismatic Blast was on her other side, the filly asleep soundly, even as her aunt worried away.
Soon the vehicle began to slow, the door opening to allow the star couple of the Wonderbolts inside. Soarin swept Prism onto his back, whilst Dash did the same with Scootaloo, the young mare saying nothing as she was taken from the carriage. A group of guards surrounded them, escorting them to the castle gates, where they were met by the guard captain, who took over.
Warding Spear and Blazing Petal had been following along in the shadows, having decided to wait until Scootaloo had calmed down sufficiently before speaking to her parents. The stallion and mare peeled off from the main group and headed to one side of the garden, the mare gasping at what she saw.
Alec lay with a hoof and his head over Luna’s back, the mare’s up next to his as they just relaxed in each other’s company, their eyes closed. The twins were peering over the stallion’s back at something in the mare’s hooves, which upon closer inspection was revealed to be an earth pony filly, her coat a shade lighter than the stallion’s with her mane a lighter shade of Luna’s.
The filly then yawned and started to squirm around, making Luna bend her head down and nuzzle her. Then she lay still again. The alicorn looked at her other foals with a smile, the pair staring down in wonder, and then she turned to her other viewers. “Warding Spear, Blazing Petal, come forth.”
The pair did as bid, bowing low to the ground, their gazes still locked on the newborn. She was breathing lightly, her muzzle pressed against Luna’s chest, the mare’s forelegs holding her both gently and firmly. “She’s beautiful, your majesty.” Luna smiled over at Petal, who then noticed the pouting come from Alec’s back, and she trotted over with a sheepish smile. “You still are as well, Princess Sapphire.”
The alicorn filly gave a little giggle as she bopped the pegasus mare on the tip of her muzzle, then turned her attention back to the other filly. Petal gave a thoughtful hum as she looked over at Spear, the stallion raising an eyebrow before his single crimson eye went wide. He stood and bolted, the alicorn stallion giving a small chuckle as he showed signs of life at last. “It seems that he should have a talk with Braeburn about his fears. I trust that they have now arrived.”
“Yes sir, Warper met them at the entrance. Moonlight has remained in Ponyville to ensure the peace stays… and to be with his three grandfoals.”
“Three?” The mare just nodded at his question, and he shook his head, turning to nuzzle Luna’s cheek. “Well, we can’t let them beat us now, can we?” She just giggled and nudged his head away, then made her way to stand, Alec lifting the foal to his back in his magic. “Her name is Wonder Life. She may be an earth pony… but she can fly a little and use magic. For now… the evening is yours.”
Petal bowed as the family made their way into the castle, then quickly headed to the apartment she was sharing with Warding Spear for the moment, finding the stallion out of his uniform and sipping a mug of cider. He didn’t attempt to look at her, but she could see the small blush on his cheeks, wondering what he was thinking about.
The carpet soon had its fill of alcohol, the mare jumping into the stallion’s lap and knocking the mug away, wrapping her forehooves around his neck. “So… why’d you run?”
“I had a mission of the utmost importance.”
“Which was?”
“To get back here and pass out drunk before you came back.”
“Too bad.” Petal stood from him and took his wing between her teeth. At first he tried to resist but she bit gently into it, forcing him to follow her. He swallowed nervously as he was guided towards the bedroom opposite his, where the mare resided when not on duty.
Scootaloo hugged Rumble tightly, the two day trial having a result she could never imagine. She purposefully grinned at her birth parents as they were led away in shackles, not to be seen for a long, long time. The young stallion pulled away from her, a concerned frown on his face. This was accompanied by Bifrost doing the same, who suddenly swept her into a crushing embrace.
A shadow fell over them and she turned her head to find Alec scowling at the now closed doors, and they were almost able to feel his barely contained rage. “They deserve worse. Scootaloo, I can heal them for you, if you want me to.” She ran a hoof under each of her wings, feeling the lines along her body, hidden by her fur.
“No. I don’t care where they came from - not anymore - but they’re a part of me. Besides…” she hopped down from her adoptive father’s grip and walked past Rumble, flicking her tail over his muzzle. “...scars can be sexy.” The alicorn stallion snorted, gave the young pegasus stallion a small glare, then left the room.
He made sure to dump his anger before entering into his office, Celestia having told him there was a surprise waiting for him, a good one. She was certainly right, the stallion’s mouth opening but no sound coming out as he saw Luna sat on a couch… with a human baby in her hooves, her hands running over her muzzle and causing the mare to giggle. “What… the… fucoowww!”
He gave a half-hearted glare at his giggling foals, the pair either side of Luna. Alec jumped around in shock as the door was slammed shut, a beige aura quickly surrounding Wonder Life. “What’s the matter, don’t you trust me?” His eyes went wide as he let the human come into focus, before he let his magic drop.
Sarah stepped forward and wrapped her free arm around his neck, the stallion placing a hoof behind her back. The filly started to squirm, and the woman placed her upon Alec’s back. She wriggled around a little but then lay still, her eyes slowly closing. He slowly turned to the couch and climbed up on it next to Sky, bending down to look at the baby. “So… who’s this?”
“That would be Luna, my little girl. She’ll be one next month.”
“And you took her into space?”
“No… she was born in space, just like most of our family these days. Klaus should be along soon… with Alec.” The stallion whipped his head around to stare at her, his face showing his surprise. “Yep, we had twins as well. And, just like you, he’s a handful.” He just poked his tongue out at the woman, who started to giggle.
“So, how long are you here?”
“A few days. Equestria is actually on the route from home back to my station.”
“Home?”
“Once more, Terra belongs to the human race. We could have done with someone of your abilities there, but I wouldn’t let them take you away from your family. Anyway, as a certain somepony has told me, I believe you are due for a night of privacy?” Alec turned to see Luna smiling coyly at him, knowing exactly where her mind had gone. “To that end, along with Faust when she gets here, we’re going to look after all the kids tonight.”
“That’s very kind of you, I’ll be sure to return the favour to you sometime whilst you are here. For now…” Luna stood up and he slowly followed, taking hold of Wonder Life in his magic and setting her down in between the foals. Sky immediately wrapped her hooves around her younger sister and pulled her close, whist Flame moved to her side. Sarah had taken hold of the human Luna, sitting next to the trio on the couch. “Well, I’ll see you in the morning. You two be good, okay?”
The twins nodded to their father, Luna stopping to kiss them on their foreheads, then turned to leave with the stallion. Two white alicorns entered the room along with a human man, who was carrying another baby. Alec stopped and looked at his namesake, then nodded up to Klaus. They carried on with their journey as the door closed, soon emerging onto Luna’s sanctuary, a place that was special to them for, now, three reasons.
The stallion chuckled as an opaque length of fabric was draped over his eyes, his ears twitching as Luna moved around the room. Something took hold of his mane, tugging him forward, and he obeyed. His hooves hit some cushions and he was let go, his horn lighting and removing the blindfold.
He smirked as he saw Luna, and the way she was dressed. He started to step forward, his horn beginning to glow and his wings starting to spread out. “Well then… I guess it’s time to… clean up?” She started to giggle as he nuzzled her cheek and rolled her over to her back, the feather duster clattering to the floor as her mouth became occupied by his.
He pulled away and picked the duster up in his mouth, Luna doing her best to scramble away, but not in time to stop the feathers tickling her forelegs. She lit her horn and teleported to the other side of the room, but Alec followed and pounced on her, making her sink to the floor with a giggle.
He took the cleaning implement in his magic as he leant in to start nibbling on her ear, brushing the feathers over the other one, the mare’s body writhing about under him as she tried to contain her mirth. The stallion let her free and she jumped up, panting for breath with a smile, whilst he just wriggled his eyebrows at her.
Her horn flashed once and he found himself above the bed, falling back first to the mattress. Luna was instantly upon him with a passionate kiss, sliding a rear leg along side one of his. He let out a small chuckle as she pushed his forehooves to the bed, keeping them in place and sitting on his lap.
His head was suddenly thrown back, deep bassy laughter filling the room, the mare having taken the duster to his hooves. His body bounced around as he tried to break free, but Luna knew that he could easily overpower her, yet he remained submissive. She let the duster clatter to the floor and lay on his chest, gently stroking his cheek with a hoof. “Any more, and you might just wet yourself.”
Alec gave a chuckle as he wrapped his now free forehooves around her back, pulling the mare closer. “You’re dressed properly then. You’d have to clean it up.” She slapped his cheek lightly with a giggle, then pressed down into a passionate kiss. Luna pulled away with a gasp as his wings began to entwine with her own, and she bit her lip as she looked down at him, bringing their muzzles closer…
...until the door burst open with a bang of confetti, the new pony standing there with a smile on her face. “CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW FOAL!” Alec just gave a groan as Luna rolled off of him, then sat up to glare at Pinkie Pie, the mare having no idea what she had just interrupted. “So… where is it?”