//------------------------------//
// Family And The Future 
// Story: Alternate Geoverse #2: Transformation 
// by GeodesicDragon 
//------------------------------//

	I groaned as I picked myself up off the floor and headed towards the kitchen, where I could hear the happy babbling of Azure Hopes and Evening Whisper — Twilight and I's children. The two of them were in their high chairs at the kitchen table with a bowl of something or other in front of them, munching away without a care in the world. But as I trotted into the kitchen the two of them eyed me warily while I took a seat and smiled at them.

"Morning, kids!" I said cheerfully. "Daddy still isn't used to walking on four legs and fell down the stairs because he's such a klutz!"

Azure and Evening looked at each other for a moment, and then back to me — at which point Azure said three words that cut me to the core. "You're not daddy," he said bluntly.

"Mm-hmm," Evening added. "Daddy isn't a pony, he's a man."

I was shocked. A part of me had expected them to know who I was by the sound of my voice, but they've always had a face to go with that voice. Now that the face is different they clearly thought that I was somepony else, which hurt — a lot.

"Where's daddy?" Evening asked, somewhat sternly for a foal.

Twilight came over and, seeing the crestfallen look on my face, nuzzled me affectionately before turning to the two.

"This is daddy," she said softly. "Princess Celestia made him an alicorn, just like me, so that we could be together for longer."

Evening looked at her brother — who simply shrugged, dropping some of his breakfast on the floor. She then turned to look at me. "If you're really daddy, then prove it," she said, crossing her forelegs. "What is the one thing Azure and I really like?"

It's times like this when I curse the fact that the two of them are pony/human hybrids. When Haywick broke the news to Twilight and I, we were stunned. Though, thankfully, instead of a humans looks they got the natural intelligence the species possesses. This has made them a lot smarter than your average foal and – it would seem – a hell of a lot more logical.

"Well?" Azure said. "Evening asked you a question, maybe fake daddy. Are you going to answer it or not?"

"I'll do more than answer her question, son," I said, walking over to the two of them. "I'll show you what you both like." After praying that I wouldn't fall on my flank, I reared up onto my hind legs — and began to mercilessly tickle the two foals with my forehooves. 

They squealed with laughter as they squirmed in their chairs, gripping the sides in an attempt not to fall out. I continued the assault for about thirty seconds before I finally stopped, getting back onto all fours. "Does that answer your question?" I asked.

The answer came in the form of two sets of forehooves being wrapped around my neck. "It really is you, daddy," Evening said. "We're sorry for thinking you were a fake."

"It's okay, sweetheart," I replied, gently kissing her forehead. "I guess Auntie Celestia should have had the common sense to tell you what she was going to do beforehand."

Azure nodded. "Should have, but didn't," he grumbled. "But I'm glad it's really you as well, daddy."

"See, kids?" Twilight asked as she came up to us. "I told you it was really daddy in there. Now finish your breakfast, granny and granddad are coming over with Uncle Shiny and Auntie Cadence." She looked at me. "They need to know as well — but prepare for a lot of questioning, especially from Shining Armour."

As the two foals detached themselves from my neck and resumed demolishing their breakfasts, I smiled warmly at Twilight. "I put up with enough questions when I was a human," I replied. "I'm sure I'll be able to handle some as an alicorn."

Twilight smiled back and I was finally able to sit down for some breakfast of my own — although, without knowing how to use magic, most of it inevitably ended up on the floor.


***


With everypony fed and watered, Twilight and I settled for playing with Azure and Evening. We were in the middle of a tense game of Hide and Seek when the doorbell rang, which in turn led to Azure poking his head out of a plant pot. "It's granny and granddad and Uncle Shiny and Auntie Cadence!" he squealed.

I pointed at him. "I guess it is, Azure," I said. "But here's a quick tip — never reveal your hiding place. Consider yourself found."

He thought for a moment before he sighed and held his forelegs up so I could take him out the pot. Placing him on my back, I went to answer the door. As soon as I opened it, I heard a sharp gasp of shock. "Who on Equestria are you?" Shining Armour demanded. "And, more to the point, why do you have my nephew?!"

"Silly Uncle Shiny," Evening said, as she popped up from between the cushions of the couch. "It's daddy! But don't worry, we didn't know it was him at first, either."

Shining looked at her, then to me. "Jeez, Geo," he said. "Celestia told us that there was a surprise waiting for us here, but we sure as heck weren't expecting this!"

Twilight, hearing the commotion, came downstairs. She levitated Evening onto her back and beckoned her family in with a forehoof. "He's not the only alicorn around here, you know," she said. "Princess Celestia, in her infinite wisdom, made me one as well."

"Wait..." Shining Armour looked at my sides. "You're both alicorns?! I thought the surprise was that Geo had been turned into a unicorn!" He wobbled on his forehooves. "I... I need to sit down."

"You and me both, honey," Twilight Velvet said, pushing past him and flopping onto the couch. "My daughter and my son-in-law are both alicorns... if anypony needs to be shocked, it's me."

"Celestia always said she had plans for you, Twilight," Cadence said warmly. "I'm proud of you, sister-in-law... and fellow Princess."

"Thanks, Cadence," Twilight replied. "It means a lot to hear you s— Princess?" She paused. "I'd completely forgotten about that..."

Cadence giggled. "Don't worry about it," she said, patting Twilight on the back reassuringly. "Your coronation isn't until next week, so I'm sure you and Geo have plenty of time to prepare." She looked at me. "Perhaps now you will stop referring to me as 'Princess' Cadence... Prince Geo?"

I nodded meekly and swallowed a lump in my throat. "You bet my flank I will, Cadence," I mumbled. "But I still need to learn how to fly and use magic before then."

Cadence nodded and soon the whole family was gathered around the fire, talking away as if nothing had changed.


***


Waving everypony away, I closed the door with a heavy sigh and trotted back to the couch. I sat down next to Twilight, who leaned into me with a contented sigh. The kids were in bed, and the two of us were simply happy to be in each other's company.

"I still can't believe that this is happening," Twilight said suddenly. "I keep thinking that I'm going to wake up as a unicorn, next to my wonderful human husband... but I know that's never going to happen ever again." She looked at me. "So much has changed so suddenly, Geo, and I worry about what it will mean for us."

I kissed her forehead gently, making sure to avoid any horn/eye contact, and nuzzled her cheek softly. "I worry as well, Twi," I replied. "But I know that whatever happens, we'll face it together. Sombra, Trixie, reforming Discord... if we could face all of that and come out on top, then this will be a walk in the park."

Twilight smiled and kissed me back. "You're right," she said. "We'll face it together, come hell or high water."

I nodded. "Learning to fly is going to be fun," I grinned. "Though I can't imagine what kind of teacher Rainbow Dash will be."

"If she's anything like the kind of teacher I'm going to be when it comes to teaching you magic..." Twilight leaned in closer and whispered in my ear. "Then you're in for one hell of a wild ride."

I grinned back and we sat in peaceful silence for a moment, eventually drifting off to sleep.