The sound of evenly paced hoof steps echoed through the halls of the Crystal kingdom, as Twilight Sparkle and Spike approached the guards they cleared the way for the young princess to the next set of halls which holds the royal couple. She looked around the sudden dark lit rooms and hallways, "Shining Amor?" there was no reply however a familiar pink Alicorn made her appearance, she had dark bags under her eyes and slumped. She wasn't enthusiastic in her welcome.
"He's been working overtime, what brings you here? I thought you were back at your castle."
"Cadence." Twilight scanned her sister-in-law thoroughly "You look awful!"
"Excuse me?" She stared her down with an almost terrifying look on her face, even spike recoiled at the dark gaze.
"It wasn't meant to be offensive, you look so unrested and drained, it's a good thing I came."
Cadence took a deep breath as Twilight began to push her into her bedroom, she needed to calm herself before she went bezerk on her sister, the touching, the shoving, it made her feel more than uncomfortable in the moment. "Listen Twilight." she thrusted her hoof to stop Twilight from shoving her any longer and Twilight fell to the ground, " I know you're trying to be polite and helpful in all but, I will be fine here, by myself." Twilight got up and gave her the look, almost asking for an explanation for such behavior.
"Cadence, what has gotten into you?" Twilight didn't bother to pick up the dropped saddle backs that fell on the floor also.
"Nothing really." she gave a blank stare.
"You're not acting like yourself Cadence, your pushy, your moody, and you look worse than Celestia on her worst day!"
"Oh boy, hope that doesn't go into a friendship letter." Spike said in a low voice.
"Okay okay, it's just." Mi Amore Cadenza looked down and gave up the argument, she knew she wasn't getting anywhere other than deeper in the rabbit hole, "Come with me." she led her younger sister-in-law into her room that she fought earlier not to go into, they both sat on the crystal framed bed as Spike dragged both his carrier and dropped saddle bags, Twilight then quickly levitated the baggage to the other side of the room upon notice of his struggle. "There was something that happened on the day I was checked out by the doctor." she began rubbing her leg.
"Yeah?"
"I'm in foal." Cadence shut her eyes tight as Twilight's face lit up.
"Holy guacamole!" Spike jumped into the air, the dark gloomy crystal room made it feel even more dramatic.
"Please don't tell anyone, not even Shining Armor, I don't want him to know."
"I can't believe it! Your in foal?" Twilight was now standing on the bed with four legs staring at her sister, but then her words came back to her almost in a lag, then her excitement fell to the floor in realization of what kind of situation she got herself into, "But.. Why wouldn't you want him to know your in foal? You have been trying for months."
"Yeah, I mean this is great!" Spike began imagining what it would be like, "Just think of it, I can teach him how to blow fire or play hoof ball and we can go to the theaters together and have sleep overs all the time!" his claws were into fists over the excitement.
"Spike!" Twilight gave him an intense gaze over his inconsideration.
Cadence felt very uncomfortable in the moment, "Its okay, its just I don't want Shining Armor to get excited over something that may not happen."
Twilight felt her heart sink into her stomach which turned sour afterword, "Wha- what do you mean?" she stuttered almost in fear.
"I know we have been trying for months but I'm afraid I won't be the greatest parent I always thought I might be one day." Twilight then felt a little relieved, she might be able to turn this around if she is thinking what she thinks she's thinking.
"Who put that in your head? You're going to be a great mom, One of the best!" Twilight put her hoof around her.
"Yeah, but." she began to shrug her shoulders she felt pressured.
"But?"
"But what if he is right?" Cadence felt the tears swell up.
"Who, Shining Armor? of course he's right, your going to be a great-"
"No not Shining Armor." Twilight knocked her head back slightly, she didn't expect that answer. "It was a stallion in the shop."
"What did he say?"
"He said that, I wouldn't be able to care for the foal properly because I wouldn't have the time to spend mommy child bonding time, I would need a baby sitter to care for it most of the time and he wants me to put it up for adoption." the warm drops of tears washed her face and there was no stopping them.
"What! that's ridiculous! Who is this Stallion? I should smack the side of his head." the young alicorn fumed.
Spike threw his claws into the air, "Who does this guy think he is? Your the Princess, what right does he think he has to talk to you in such way?" he paced upset and ready to bat the wall with his fists.
"I thought *sniff* that way too." Cadence hiccuped in tears but tried to speak her mind, "What if he's right? with all this kingdom business and running a city?" she wiped her cheek as the tears kept flooding in, "I don't want to put it up for adoption! *Hiccup* but what if it's the best thing for our child? *hiccup* he'll need a loving home, parents who can give him the loving attention he needs. *sniff*"
"No, don't you see this already proves your going to be a great parent? You want what's best for your child and you're afraid you won't be able to provide it, I know you can provide the loving attention he needs and you should believe in yourself, you foal sat me plenty of times and in a sense you took on a parent role, I remember always wanting to be around you, except for maybe those occasions you disciplined me nevertheless it made me who I am today and I thank you for making me a better person by showing me your love in that way." Twilight had put a hoof onto her chest and looked at her with authenticity and tears swelling up also hoping that Cadence see's it the way she does.
"Thank you Twilight." in return she gave a deep hug, "I should just stop doubting myself and ignore what he said." The tears kept coming but began to slow down, Spike tried to be manly but couldn't hold it in anymore, he was pouring out a waterfall by this time.
"It's just so beautiful!" he cried and the other two gave a barely audible chuckle.
"Anyway." Twilight returned to her sister, "It's a boy?"
"No, I just got tired of calling it, it."
"Me too and why is it so dark in here?"
"I don't know, it makes me feel less stressful for some reason." Twilight magically opened the curtains and the light came pouring in and they both squinted.
"There, better now?" the reflection of the light went off every direction because of the colorful crystal.
"Uh, kinda." she still squinted in disdain.
"You're going to need your rest before you'll present the news to Shining Armor, so we'll leave you alone for now." she and Spike slowly walked toward the door.
"Uh Twilight, Spike?"
They looked over their shoulders, "yes?" the young alicorn answered.
"Don't tell Shining Armor any of this, okay?"
"Your secret is safe with us." she walked off in hopes that the princess herself will tell Shining Armor what was going on and Spike followed, as soon as the door quietly closed behind them Cadence magically shut the curtain once more and the darkness filled the room.