//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: The Fine Art of Hatching // Story: The Hatchling // by Dafaddah //------------------------------// The chariot arrived in Ponyville to much fanfare. Twilight trotted down to the castle courtyard as the conveyance made its final approach. The landing was smooth as silk, as one would have expected. The pegasus guardponies detached their harnesses and took station on each side of the door. One of them opened it. Nopony stood waiting to get off. Twilight waited several seconds, and then called out. “Pinkie, is everything okay?” “Just peacheriffic!” came the reply. “Aren’t you going to come out?” asked Twilight. “Yuppers. But... just give us a minute, Twilight, please.” Us? As far as she knew, Pinkie was the only passenger aboard, other than... the egg! Twilight waited patiently for a minute, then there was a motion at the carriage door. Pinkie Pie appeared, standing on three legs and clutching a blanket to her bosom with the other. A small head peeked from the cloth. Tiny mismatched limbs clutched her coat. “Guess what, Twi? The little guy just couldn't wait to be born!” She beamed down tenderly at the little form. “Isn’t he beautiful!?” The Element Bearers and Spike had been assembled in the throne room shortly before Pinkie’s chariot landed. There were seven thrones in the circle, and all of them were occupied except for Twilight’s and Pinkie Pie’s. The mood was exultant and all heads turned expectantly when Twilight appeared in the doorway. As she strode down the aisle that led to the circle of thrones, ponies clapped hooves and shouted greetings. Then another profile shadowed the doorway behind her. The room grew progressively quieter as a pink mare walked in, standing upright and holding a blanketed bundle in both forelegs. By the time she reached the center of the circle, Twilight stood before her throne, and the room was deathly quiet. Pinkie remained standing in the center of the circle. There was the sound of a baby’s cry. She raised the bundle to her face and cooed reassuringly. She then plunged a forehoof into her frizzy mane and pulled out a nursing bottle full of a white liquid. She inserted it carefully into the bundle. The crying stopped and was replaced by a loud slurping sound. “He's a hungry little fella!" Pinkie smiled down at the bundle. “That’s his third bottle since he hatched!” She looked up in Spike’s direction. “Hold your left claw up, Spikeroo!” The dragon shrugged and complied. Closing one eye, Pinkie rotated minutely on her rear hooves. There was a huge burp and the empty milk bottle arced through the air, landing precisely into Spike’s open claw. There was a moment of complete silence. “That, was awesome!” exclaimed Rainbow Dash. As if that had been the cue they were waiting for, everypony abandoned their thrones and went down to inspect the newly hatched infant. Dash arrived first as she flew down to land next to Pinkie. “So what does the little bugger look like?” Pinkie pulled the blanket back, revealing a small round head completely bald except for two little knobs dotting its crown. His eyes were red, with yellow pupils. And like any infant, he seemed very unsure at the fast growing crowd coming to look at him. He turned and buried his face in Pinkie’s ample mane. “Ooh, he’s shy!” declared Pinkie. “Whoever woulda thunk it?” She patted the infant’s back reassuringly. There was a lull in the noise and Pinkie’s smile faltered as she saw Fluttershy approach. It was clear from her face that her friend had spent most of the last day weeping. She stopped in front of the pair, her expression unreadable. “Do you want to hold him?” asked Pinkie. Her voice trembled, and her eyes were moist. Fluttershy lifted the corner of the blanket revealing the back of his little head and tiny shoulder. Little claws dug deeper into Pinkie’s coat. Fluttershy sighed, and patted the blanket back into place. She stepped back and shook her head. “No, he’s just where a newborn needs to be, –” a smile as sweet and tender as Celestia’s dawn lit her face “– he’s with his momma.” She leaned over and nuzzled Pinkie Pie. “Congratulations, Pinkie. I think you’ll make a wonderful mother!” Cheers rang out, and were silenced by another cry from the newborn. There were chuckles and murmurs in hushed tones, as everypony did their discrete best to get a peek at the infant. Oblivious to it all, Pinkie Pie rocked the newborn gently as tears streaked down her muzzle. It wasn’t long until she realized that it was now up to her to make the right decisions for this little one. She smiled apologetically. “Sorry to leave the party early, but the... my son needs his nap now. I think it’s time I brought him home.” Each of the mares and Spike took turns to wish her a good night, then Twilight stepped up close and draped a foreleg over her withers. There was a flash and they stood in Pinkie’s familiar room in Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie raised a hoof to her lips. Twilight nodded. “Are you sure you want to do this, Pinkie?” whispered Twilight. There was a world of longing and hope in Pinkie’s eyes. “I’ve never wanted anything more in my whole life, Twilight.” She sniffed. “Oh, Twilight, am I being selfish? You know I would never, ever, ever hurt a friend, don’t you? And Fluttershy is one of my bestest friends of all.” Twilight nodded. “I know, Pinkie. And so does Fluttershy. She knows you’ll be a great mom for the little guy." Her gaze turned inwards. "I think she only volunteered because of the love she still feels for the old Discord." Twilight glanced back up. "But this is a new Discord, a little lost soul who needs a family to grow up in, and I think that somehow, of all of us, Pinkie, he chose you. I think Fluttershy saw this too. She loves him enough to let him make that choice, and she is kind enough and wise enough to accept it.” Pinkie nodded, smiling again through her tears. There was another flash, and Twilight was gone. In the corner next to Pinkie’s bed was the cradle in which the Cake twins had slept so often when she was foalsitting them. She walked silently over to it, pushed it up against the side of her bed, and gently deposited the sleeping infant within. She sat on the edge of her bed and gazed in contentment on the tiny sleeper. Soon, she had to stifle a yawn of her own. “Mothers need their naps, too,” she whispered softly. She looked around the room. When the Cake twins had reached school age they began taking naps in their own bedroom. Her own room had felt so empty without them, so she had stopped spending much time there. Tonight though, it felt very different. Tonight her room was warm, and safe, and full of life. It was home. Pinkie put on her pajamas, and went to bed.