EPILOG
Happiness is like a drug, a sweet euphoria that consumes my days and nights. In the cool of fading spring, the twins cavort about with their doting aunts, determined to keep up. They have been named Dusk and Dawn for their striking coloring. Bisected from chest to tail, they are my purple on their top halves, and Applejack's orange on belly and legs. Their stubby wings are Fluttershy's buttery yellow and the longer feathers are Dash's blue. Mane and tail are Rarity's deep purple, striped with a wildly kinky pink lock like Pinkie's.
One of the princesses is always in attendance to the youngsters. These foals are a legacy of more than just Applejack and I, more than the Elements of Harmony, more than the regal sister of sun and moon. They are a new future.
"Mama!" Dawn burbles happily, toddling over on his stubby legs to collapse onto my forelegs. He squeaks and I automatically shift his weight a bit so that he's not kinking his wings. The poor dears have so much magic and so many limbs to learn to coordinate! Babbling at me in baby speak, my son tells me about his day, his games with his aunties and sister and Appy. That's what they call Applejack. When Dusk came up with it, my lover shrugged and said it was close enough to 'daddy' and the moniker has stuck.
Dawn may have been birthed by Applejack, but he is every inch my son too. So much like me, intent and interested in the world around him, but more cautious than his devil-may-care sister. Even now, Dusk giggles and screams happily as Dash and Fluttershy toss her carefully back and forth like a beach ball; many pony-lengths from the ground. The stubby wings buzz wildly and I know she will fly at an early age. So much alike in color and conformation, we all call them twins, despite them not sharing a womb. The little darlings were created simultaneously by magic, conceived and later birthed at the height of the Spring Equinox. Twins seems one of the more mundane things to call them!
Today is another milestone as Luna is busy teaching Applejack some of what she will need to know about the infant alicorns. The princesses have magicked up a talisman for her to mimic flight and enable her to help control her powerful children. My flight talisman is nearly done and I both look forward to and dread the lessons. Wingless ponies are meant to keep their hooves on the ground! But we'll never keep up with the twins if we don't take this step. Despite her natural fear, Applejack listens closely to the moon sister and nods along. As with everything she does, my darling will excel at this. And the foals will be thrilled to have us to fly with when we are all ready for that step.
"What are you doing, silly boy?"
My teasing question makes Dawn giggle and continue to bat at my chin with his little hooves. So, I happily oblige him and lean down to make those obscene farting sounds against his soft belly that make him laugh so. Soon, he is breathless and weak with laughter and I can lean away from flailing hooves. Little guy is getting stronger every day!
"Look at your Appy," I coax Dawn and he obliges, turning those big emerald eyes over to his other parent. I am so very pleased that they inherited Applejack's rich gaze, sharing the brilliant, earthy color of summer grass and trees. Applejack is hovering awkwardly at the moment, the faint shimmer of what look like immense bee wings buzzing wildly behind her. How appropriate for my hardworking earth pony! Dusk is thrilled, squealing happily to be included in this new game. Dash obliges, bringing over the squirming foal so that she can cuddle her Appy and they can test out their wings together.
Standing, I stretch luxuriously and shake off my lassitude before nuzzling the boy and nudging him to trot over to the rest of our family.
"Look at you!" I crow at Applejack and Dusk, who looks like she is very nearly ready to launch away from the supporting orange hooves. "You'll be flying as well as Rainbow Dash soon!"
"Ah doubt that," Applejack chuckles wryly, but doesn't take her eyes off of her daughter. Seeing that her awkward hover is already improving in just these few minutes, I snort in disbelief. In fact, I scoop Dusk up to perch just behind my horn and we both rub our muzzles on Applejack's belly.
"You look pretty good from here, Lover."
"Flatterer," she chuckles and nabs a falling Dusk with careful teeth and lands to toss the squirmy filly onto her forelock so that she can babble excitedly at her brother. While they are distracted by one another, I can nuzzle and kiss my dearest, basking in this perfect day.
Yes, this is my life now, this wonderful mare, our miracle children, the apple trees that make up my home instead of just my books, the attentions of the mystical princesses to the foals that are their legacy too.
This is my life now.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
THE END... For now!