//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2.  
// Story: A New Purpose 
// by Sparky Brony 
//------------------------------//

I sigh as I look out the window of the aptly named Friendship Express. Though getting to ride in the Royal Coach is always a good thing. Twilight is moving slowly back from the restroom, she finally sits on the bench next to me.

She leans up against me. "I can't wait to drop these foals. Bathroom every ten minutes. Ugh!" She snuggles closer as I put a wing around her, I nuzzle the top of her head.

"Pregnancy can be hard, Twilight. But don't worry, you are going to have some beautiful foals."

She giggles. "I just want it to be over."

I think back, she's had a tumultuous pregnancy. Shortly after she informed me of her pregnancy, she gets called away to Canterlot because of something that she wasn't allowed to tell me. Then, less than a week later, we learn of this Tirek character. In the end, she had the alicorn magic of all the alicorns in Equestria. Though finding out that there were only four of them, that was interesting. Twilight and her friends ended up taking care of him quite handily. Though I didn't see it, I was out of town. Twilight had sent me on a shopping trip to Fillydelphia. She wasn't showing much then, unlike now. She's ready to drop. I've felt the foals kicking. And I was informed that she is having two unicorns, both fillies. Though near the end of the pregnancy, she's certainly ready for this ordeal to be over with.

"Well, your doctor says any day now. So why are we heading to Canterlot?"

"Because Princess Celestia has requested that I come immediately."

I look out the window, we are on the mountain now, and should be pulling into the station soon. In fact, now the brakes are being applied. In a matter of minutes, the doors are open and we exit the train.

I'm just letting Twilight lean against me as we walk when I hear a mare's voice. "Princess Sparkle, we have a coach waiting for you." I look over, two coaches are waiting. I smile, I don't want Twilight walking too much in her condition.

***

"Princess Twilight, I'm so sorry to have to call you away at an inopportune time," calls out a white alicorn. I stop in awe. Celestia is beautiful, with her glowing white coat and wings, her multicolored mane drifting on an unfelt breeze. I feel Twilight continuing on, so I dutifully continue supporting her as we all get into the throne room. I see Luna standing next to her sister. As we get closer, Twilight pulls away from me so she can nuzzle her mentor. I can see the genuine affection here. But the happy moment is short lived as Celestia pulls away. She turns to me.

“Greetings Nick. I have been informed of you, and some of the other humans my sister has brought here.”

She looks sternly at her sister, who wilts a bit under Celestia's gaze. She looks back at me. "I do have a question for you, young Nick."

I bow as best as I can, "I'll answer any question from you, Your Highness." Might as well be formal if I can pull it off, right?

Rose colored eyes capture my attention, I have a feeling that I'm going to answer her question honestly whether I want to or not.

"Are you still angry at my sister for her bringing you here?"

Luna pipes up, "Sister, I needed to find out more about these humans…" Only to be cut off by a sharp stamp of the hoof from Celestia.

Celestia continues, "I know I am unable to send you back, but if necessary, I can offer reparations."

I look at Celestia, then glance over at a cowed Luna. And finally a quick look at Twilight. I'm going to be honest.

"My emotions about coming to Equestria are mixed, your highness. The most important thing is that I am in love, with Princess Twilight." I move closer to her and fold a wing over her, I direct a pointed glare at Luna, "I am still angry at Luna for causing the circumstances for me to come to Equestria." I look at the ponies from Ponyville around me. "But the friends that I have made here, and the love that I have found, completely outstrip how angry I am at your sister. So, since you are offering reparations for her actions, I must respectfully refuse." I look at Twilight. "To accept would mean that I am getting compensated for what was done to me. The trouble is, given the choice, and knowing what I know now, I wouldn't change a thing." Well, I would change one thing, and that would be the big blow up that nearly tore Twilight and I apart, but I'm not going to mention that to the Princess. I squeeze Twilight a little closer, and she leans into me.

Celestia smiles at me. "I am glad to hear that things are turning for the best for you, young Nicholas."

Apparently that little bit of business is taken care of… Celestia turns to Twilight.

"We have a grave threat to Equestria, and you are the only ponies that can help."

Twilight's ears droop. "What is needed of me, Princess?"

Celestia sighs. "I sincerely wish that somepony else could counter this threat, but you have shown your abilities. And I am afraid that I must ask you again to help." She stops for a moment and looks at her sister, then back at Twilight. "We felt a dimensional portal being opened, actually, several of them."

"A dimensional portal? Like how Luna brought Nick here?"

Celestia and Luna both look unsure. "Not exactly. The method that Luna used specifically exposed Nick to the magic inherent to our world. And that is what caused him to be turned into a pony. The portal that was used is more along the lines of a rip in reality. Those entering are exposed to the magic, but if they have their own magic, it would prevent them from becoming like us."

Twilight looks confused. "So, they may not be ponies.  So it will be easy to identify them, right?"
A short nod. "Most likely, yes. The trouble is, we could not pinpoint where these were, just that they opened. And we have no idea where they are."

Twilight speaks up, "So, what exactly are we to do, Princess?"

"You are to keep your eyes and ears open. I have a feeling, we don't know what exactly is going on, but I think we will find out soon."

***

"I hate you, you did this to me," Twilight moans at me.

I suppress a laugh. "If I remember correctly, you started in on me that night"

She growls at me. She doesn't like being proven wrong I guess.

I sit there holding her hoof as she is in Canterlot General Hospital. Not half an hour after our meeting with the Princesses, she stopped mid trot and told me it's time. Pinkie and Applejack were sent off to get the Princesses to the hospital, along with Twilight's birth herd. The naming conventions of pony society certainly are different than what I'm used to. She's been in labor for an hour. And the doctor, a very nice unicorn, says she's doing fine. But to look at her sweat soaked face, I am a little uncertain. I kiss the top of her head, and just stay close to her as the doctor works on her other end. She starts screaming again. A strong contraction this time.

"And, I've got the head." One more big push and the doctor has the first foal. Two nurses rush the foal to the other side of the room to be cleaned up and wrapped in swaddling. "Here comes the second," he says as two more nurses move close. Twilight howls in pain as she finishes pushing. And a second cry is added to the room, two bright and kicking foals. I smile at Twilight as she collapses. Her eyes flutter as exhaustion takes hold. After a few moments of me holding her, one of the nurses comes forward.

"You have to beautiful baby fillies here, Princess Sparkle."

Twilight brings the foals closer. She indicates one, a white coated unicorn with silver highlights in her coat, and a bright silver mane with a wide streak of lavender, like her mother. Her eyes are gold. "This is Starlight." And she indicates the other filly, another unicorn with a golden blonde coat, a much lighter, nearly platinum blonde mane but with pale pink and hot pink streaks in her mane, piercing blue eyes look at the new world to her. "And this is my little Moonlight." Twilight looks at me. "I chose those names in honor of Princess Luna, who brought us together." She nuzzles me and I just sit there, to be close to her.

"I love you Twilight."

She sighs in relief, "I love you too, Nick. But you had better show off the foals quickly. Don't want to keep our friends waiting."

I gather up both foals and my wings carry us slowly into the waiting room. One completely full with three Princesses, Twilight's family, and our friends.

"May I present… the newest members of our family,” I say to the room in general, silencing all the conversations in the room.

*** Outside Manehattan ***

Chrysalis has been busy since coming back to Equestria. All of the Vore soldiers are ready. She looks out at the thousands of assembled insectoid soldiers. The ponies haven't been paying attention to border security, meaning keeping them hidden was child's play in the rolling hills around the huge pony city. But their time of peace is over. Chrysalis keeps her natural changeling form as she walks to the head of the massive army. She looks back at her army. The time for her revenge starts now.

"Charge!"