//------------------------------// // Big Brother // Story: Summer Love // by Bluecatcinema //------------------------------// The time had finally come. After eleven months of pregnancy, Cadance was about to give birth. Shining Armor had rushed her to the Crystal Empire hospital after her water had broke, leaving Anthem in charge of the castle, should any emergencies arise. After an hour or so, Anthem began pacing with worry. He was concerned that something could go wrong with the birth, resulting in harm to the foal and/or his mother. He wished Winter could be there to provide comfort to him, but her next visit wasn't for another couple of days. It wasn't until night fell that Anthem finally received word from the hospital; Both Cadance and the foal were doing fine, and they would be home in the morning. Anthem breathed a sigh of relief. As he prepared for bed, Anthem reflected on what life would be like with a baby sister. 'I'm a big brother now.' He thought. 'I'm not an only child anymore.' Anthem barely slept that night, his mind reeling over the possibilities. The next morning, his parents returned after breakfast, Cadance carrying a small bundle. "Anthem, meet your new little sister." Shining smiled. The filly had Cadance's coat and Shining's mane. Her eyes were like lavender orbs. "Her name is Twyla." Cadance whispered. "Twyla Crystal." "Hi, Twyla." Anthem smiled, extending a hoof. "I'm Anthem. I'm your big brother." Twyla yawned. Snuggling against her mother's side, she fell asleep. "She's still tired, poor little thing." Shining cooed. "I'll take her to her crib." Cadance whispered. Anthem couldn't help but feel a little disheartened by his first encounter with his new sister. He had hoped for some sort of recognition. Still, it was early days, and he was confident Twyla would get to like him. Before long, the rest of the family arrived to meet the new little princess. "Oh, she's gorgeous!" Dusty sighed. "Just like her mother." Blueblood agreed. "She reminds me of Miracle when she was just born." Celestia smiled. "I think Miracle was a little bit cuter, though." Shine added. "How does it feel to be new parents again, after all this time?" Luna asked. "Exhausting." Cadance sighed. "I'd forgotten how much work a foal can be." "And rewarding." Shining added. "The look on that little sweetheart's face makes it all worth it." "So true." Cadance nuzzled Twyla. "She'll be in the best of hooves with you two." Gothic declared. "And Anthem." Twilight grinned. "Twyla's lucky to have a big brother like her." Anthem, a few feet away from the gathering, balked a little at Twilight's words. He had no idea how to be a big brother. He was certain he could handle it when he first heard the news, but now, he wasn't so sure. There was so much he could share with Twyla: Playing, learning, watching her grow... He truly wanted to be the best big brother he could be, but he had no clue where to start. He could've shared his worries with his parents, but they were so happy and excited to have Twyla to care for, and he didn't want to spoil that for them. The next day, Winter arrived at the train station. Winter greeted her with their standard hug and kiss. "So, what's been goin' on?" Anthem asked. "Well, my mom finally had the foal." Anthem revealed. "No way!" Winter beamed. "Colt or filly?" "Filly." Anthem answered. "Her name's Twyla Crystal." "What a pretty name." Winter smiled. "I have to see her." "Oh, you will." Anthem chuckled. "Mom and dad are so proud of having her. They'll probably shove her into your face the minute you come in." Anthem's prediction wasn't too far off, as it turned out. Shining and Cadance tended to care for Twyla in shifts, balancing their royal duties with her needs. At the moment, it was Cadance's turn. "Hello, Winter!" Cadance smiled, carrying Twyla. "Twyla, say hello to Winter." "Wa!" Twyla gurgled. "She's adorable!" Winter took Twyla in her hooves. "Hi, Twyla! I'm your auntie Winter!" "Gee!" Twyla squealed. Winter replied by blowing raspberries on her tummy, causing the foal to giggle wildly. But then, her nose turned up. "Ew, I think somepony needs a diaper change." She cringed. "Leave that to me." Cadance took Twyla back, and to her room to change. "You're so lucky, Ant." Winter declared. "She's the sweetest little foal I've ever seen!" "Yeah, I guess..." Anthem sighed. "What's wrong?" Winter asked. "Nothing really." Anthem shrugged. "I just... don't know if I'm cut out to be a big brother." "What makes you say that?" Winter asked. "I've been an only child for so long." Anthem sighed. "I'm so unused to even the idea of having a little sister. And then there's the huge age gap between us. If there was only a few years between us, like my cousins Dusk and Starlight, it wouldn't be such a big deal. Heck, if it was around ten years like Shine and Mist, it would still be fine, but two decades? What if we can't... y'know, connect?" "Of course you'll connect." Winter smiled. "A kind, caring stallion like you? Twyla will adore you!" "I hope so..." Anthem sighed. "I really do..." "I wish I could help you, Ant." Winter declared. "But I'm not exactly an expert on sibling bonding. I've always been an only child." "That's okay, Wint." Anthem smiled. "It's not your problem, it's mine." "Of course it's my problem." Winter admonished him. "You're my coltfriend, remember?" "As if I could ever forget." Anthem beamed. Cadance soon returned, carrying Twyla (who wore a fresh diaper). "Here we are." She smiled. "Who's ready for more playtime?" "Me!" Winter beamed, once again taking Twyla in her hooves. "Did you miss me, Twyla?" "Ba!" Twyla gurgled happily. "I missed you too!" Winter gently bounced the filly on her knee. Anthem couldn't help but smile. Despite her solitary upbringing, Winter really had a way with foals. 'Why can't I be like that with Twyla?' He pondered. 'What am I missing?' "Here you go." Winter suddenly passed Twyla over to Anthem. "Time to play with your big brother!" "Uh... hi, Twyla." Anthem said awkwardly. "Remember me?" Twyla stuck her hoof in Anthem's mouth, exploring it. "Gareful 'ere!" Anthem mumbled. After searching Anthem's mouth, Twyla started pulling and tugging at her brother's face. "Okay, this is a little weird..." Anthem frowned, as his cheeks were poked and prodded. Twyla's face suddenly turned sour, and she started crying. "WAAAA!" She cried. "W-what did I do?" Anthem panicked. "Nothing, dear." Cadance took Twyla. "She's probably hungry. Time for your bottle, little filly." Cadance took Twyla to the kitchen. "Well, that could have gone better." Anthem sighed. "That wasn't your fault, Ant." Winter told him. "Twyla couldn't help being hungry." "She's not that grabby with anypony else." Anthem noted. "Maybe she thinks I'm weird!" "She doesn't think you're weird." Winter rolled her eyes. "How do you know?" Anthem asked frantically. "You don't speak foal!" "Okay, just calm down." Winter urged. "Just relax." Anthem took a deep breath. "Sorry." He told Winter. "I just don't want to mess this up. I want to be the best big brother I can to Twyla." "I know." Winter smiled. "You just need to stop being so nervous. Be yourself, and she can't help but love you." "I'll try." Anthem nodded. That evening, at dinner, Anthem offered to feed Twyla her evening bottle. It seemed to go well at first, but then Twyla grabbed the bottle and shook it, spraying Anthem with milk. When he tried to burp her, she threw up over his back. He offered to help Cadance put her down for the night, but was pelted by her stuffed toys. The next morning, he put her in her highchair, and she struck him on the head with her rattle for his troubles. "She hates me." Anthem groaned, as he walked Winter backed to the train station. "I just know it." "She doesn't hate you." Winter countered. "Of course she does." Anthem sighed. "She doesn't act like that with anypony else." "She's a foal." Winter told him. "She's just doing what foals do. Don't let that stop. Just keep on trying." "I will." Anthem kissed her goodbye. "See you soon." "Not soon enough." Winter grinned. After Winter's train departed, Anthem returned to the castle. As he walked into the throne room, he passed his father, who noticed the sad look on his face. "What's with the long face, pal?" Shining asked. "Oh, it's nothing." Anthem declared. "Come on, son." Shining frowned. "You can't pull one over on your old stallion. You know you can tell me anything, right?" "Yeah, but..." Anthem sighed. "No 'but's." Shining declared. "Let's hear it." "It's... Twyla." Anthem admitted. "What about Twyla?" Shining asked. "I'm not sure if I can be a good big brother to her." Anthem confessed. "She doesn't really seem to like me, anyway." "Don't be so sure." Shining grinned. "I've seen the way she plays with you." "Plays?" Anthem asked. "You know." Shining nodded. "The bottle, the toys, the rattle... she was just having a little fun with you." "She was?" Anthem briefly perked up. "Still, I don't know if I'm cut out for this..." Shining chuckled lightly. "What?" Anthem asked. "You know who you remind of?" Shining asked. "Who?" Anthem replied. "Me." Shining grinned. "When your aunt Twilight was born, I was so worried that I wouldn't be a good big brother to her. I could barely let myself hold her, out of worry I'd drop or hurt her." "So what happened?" Anthem asked. "One day, my parents had me look after her while they were out." Shining recalled. "She started crying all of a sudden. Some... instinct took over. I walked over to her, picked her up, and started rocking her in my hooves. She calmed down right away. Then she looked at me, and gave me the sweetest smile ever. It was then that I knew I could be the greatest big brother ever." "Wow." Anthem whistled. Just then, the sound of Twyla crying filled the air. Anthem and Shining ran to the next room. Twyla was in her playpen, crying her eyes out. She had thrown her rattle out of the playpen, and it was now out of her reach (as she hadn't yet developed the magic surges or flight an Alicorn would usually get). "This one's all you, pal." Shining told Anthem. "But, dad-" Anthem protested. "But nothing." Shining said firmly. "Go for it." Reluctantly, Anthem picked up the rattle, and brought it to Twyla. "Lose something?" He shook it. "Gyaaa!" Twyla gurgled happily as she reached for the rattle. "Here you go." Anthem gave it to her. "Ba!" Twyla shook the rattle. Then she raised her hooves once again. "I think she wants you to pick her up." Shining smiled. "Okay..." Anthem gingerly hoisted Twyla out of the playpen. "Just don't whack me again, okay?" Anthem pointed a hoof in emphasis. Twyla placed her little hoof on his, and gave him a gummy smile. "I think she likes you." Shining chuckled. Twyla nuzzled against her big brother. "She does." Anthem declared happily. "She really does." Anthem felt all his doubts slipping away, replaced by a warm, fuzzy feeling. "Is this what it feels like to be a big brother?" He asked his father. "Sure does." Shining nodded. "It's a great feeling, isn't it?" "Greatest feeling in the world." Anthem whispered, as he gently stroked Twyla's mane. "I'll always be there for you, Twyla. I promise." Twyla yawned as she nuzzled deeper against him. She soon fell asleep. Anthem kept holding her, enjoying the feeling of her little heart beating against his chest. "Atta boy." Shining said proudly. "Like father, like son."