The moon began rising over the ocean water. Cadence set herself on the edge of the shore. The moon's reflection touched her and the glow surrounded her. The water rose up all around her and in a second, she was transformed into an alicorn once more.
The younger princesses and their husbands gaped and uttered a "Whoa…"
The elder princesses and their husbands just smiled and Rainbow said, "Never gets old…"
Shining Armor was a stallion again thanks to Twilight, who was able to change him back at will. Of course, it was his request that he was transformed during the day, just like his cursed beloved.
"Wow…" Sweetie Belle admired her cousin's true form. "You were pretty before, but you're prettier now. I mean…"
Cadence chuckled, "It's all right. You three are the most delightful cousins I ever had the pleasure of meeting. Auntie Celestia and Uncle Sombra knew what they were doing when they took you in…"
The trio beamed at her and she held her arms out so they could have a group hug. Then, Scootaloo gave a yawn.
"Sorry to cut this sappy moment short, but I am exhausted!"
Rainbow protested, "Hey, if anyone's tired, it's for playing ten rounds of checkers with you all day!"
Applejack bonked her sister, "If anyone's tired, it's the ponies that had to go underground to save their sister and get a book back from bandits!"
"I quite agree!" Rarity flipped her mane, "Now if you all excuse us, but my husband and I need our beauty sleep!" She and Fancy took their leave back for the castle.
The others also thought it was a good idea, so they slowly said their good nights and departed. All who were left were Flash, Twilight, Shining Armor, and Cadence.
Flash pointed out while having bags under his eyes, "We should probably get some sleep too, Twi. We have to leave first thing in the morning."
"You're right. You go ahead. I'll be there shortly with you…" she smiled.
He returned the smile and turned towards the couple, "Good night, captain, princess…" he saluted.
Cadence shook her head as Shining playfully saluted back, "Good night to you, Sir Sentry, but you don't have to get formal with me. You are, after all, a prince."
"It's my way of righting a great wrong against you…"
Twilight rolled her eyes, "Oh, for… Flash, it's over. There's nothing to feel sorry for."
"I know… but it's only fair."
"You're a good colt, Flash. Twilight made the right choice when choosing a lover…"
Cadence wrapped her wing around her special some pony, "Just like I did…" she giggled.
He turned back to her with love shining in his eyes. Twilight knew then it was best that her husband and she get going to leave the two lovebirds alone.
Flash made a point when they went past the gates, "It's too bad they can't enjoy their love in the sunshine…"
"True… but… I seem to recall having to enjoy our love at night in an underground kingdom…" she smirked.
He smirked back and wrapped a wing around her, "So true, my dear, so true…" They went into the castle.
Cadence and Shining watched the moon and stars from the beach where they sat side-by-side. She sighed, nuzzled her head on his shoulder, and rested it there.
"Cadence?" his soft voice said to her.
"Hm?" she merely said while staying where she was.
"Do you really think I can prove to the whole world I can make a vow of everlasting love?"
"Well…" she slowly lifted her head up to face him, with her sweet lavender meeting his cool blue eyes, "…knowing you, once you set your mind to something, you fulfill it."
"I do! I really do! It's just… I never… spoke to a whole room full of ponies, let alone the world! I mean it's one thing to give commands to the guards, but to confess my love for some pony I love for every pony to hear… Are you sure I'm even worthy of breaking your curse? Maybe there's someone else better off who can confess their-" But he was cut off by the lock of her lips to his.
Once she broke it, she stated, "There. Now you'll have no choice but to make the vow…" she smirked.
He gaped, "Cad-Cadence! You can't just make a choice just by kissing me!"
"I just did." she winked.
He was at loss for words as he was trying to figure out what just happened.
"You're just nervous, Shiny… Who wouldn't be?"
"Twilight." he stated while crossing his arms.
"Okay, other than Twilight… Lots of ponies would be nervous."
"But… what can I say? What should I say?"
"Don't worry… You'll figure it out… You have love by your side, I have love by my side, we both have love at our side to help us out…" Then she started singing, "Love… It seems like only yesterday, you were a child at play… Now you're all grown up inside of me… Oh, how fast those moments flee… Once we watched a lazy world go by… Now the days seem to fly… Life is brief, but when it's gone, love goes on and on… Love will live… Love will last… Love goes on and on and on… Once we watched a lazy world go by… Now the days seem to fly… Life is brief… but when it's gone, love goes on and on…"
They slowly moved in for another kiss.
"You really think I can do this?" he asked.
"I know so…" she smiled. "After the way you turned yourself into a Breezie, you can face just about anything."
He took her hoof, "As long as I have you, I can…"
They touched horns.
They did not see the face in the moon looking at them and just like that, it was gone, since the Princess of Night had to return to Canterlot. She felt confusion as to how her daughter could have fallen in love with the captain so quickly. Now she knew how Sombra felt when he saw his daughters all grown up before his eyes. The same could be said for her, realizing her daughter wasn't the little foal she carried around in her arms, but this young mare ready to take her place in the world. When Cadence would return to the mainland, there were certainly going to be lots of questions that would need answering…
The next morning arrived and Cadence was immediately turned back into a Breezie. She fluttered into her lover's hoof and he carried her back to the castle, where the others were starting to eat breakfast. When Cadence was in the comfort of the birdhouse, Twilight turned Shining back into a Breezie as well.
When they were done eating, Sweetie said, "So, you're really going?"
"I'm afraid so, darling. We must get back as soon as possible." said Rarity.
Twilight nodded, "Yes, we must get back to get the Ancient Book of Secrets to a new hiding place and we have to help Shining Armor make a vow of everlasting love to prove to the world."
Rarity pointed, "Not to mention we have to get back in time to celebrate our wedding anniversary."
"That's coming up?!" Scootaloo gestured.
"Shoot! And I don't have a present made for you!" said Apple Bloom. "It's the first year I haven't been thinking of making anything for my family because I've been too busy living on Marendelle."
"Yeah… Same goes for me…" said Scoots.
"Me too…" Sweetie dejectedly said.
Twilight spoke, "Girls, it's okay…"
"Right!" said Discord when popped between the three of them. "Besides, we all agreed to lay off the gift exchange this year."
"Why?" the trio questioned.
Rainbow answered, "Long story. We don't want to bore you with details."
"So instead," said Fluttershy, "we're going to recreate our first date."
"Awww!" the three princesses gushed.
Suddenly, Scootaloo felt a kick that made her wince. "Putting up quite a fight, aren't you, baby?" she rubbed her stomach.
"I bet you'll have a boy." Sweetie touched her sister's tummy, "Hey… Twilight, didn't you say there was a spell in the book that could tell what a baby's gender was before they're born?!"
"Why, yes!" the alicorn said, "If Scootaloo and Rumble are willing, I could cast the spell to find out."
"Would you?!" the expecting parents said.
"All right, then, are you ready?"
"Ready!" Scoots declared.
Twilight looked through the book, found the spell, and began to chant the words as her horn glowed. Then, a ray landed on Scootaloo's stomach and she started giggling.
"Hey! That tickles!" she kept laughing until the glow faded away.
"Oh, my!" Twilight gasped.
"What is it, Twilight?" asked Fluttershy. "Anything wrong with the baby?"
"Actually, I think you mean babies…"
"WHAT?!" the whole room gaped.
"What do you mean babies?!" Rumble shouted.
"That's just it. You're having twins…" she beamed at the shocked parents, "A boy and a girl…"
The parents were still in shock mode while their relatives were congratulating them left and right.
"Dude, I didn't know you had it in you! Way to go!" Pip slapped Rumble's back, causing him to cringe.
Apple Bloom got in her sister's face, "Just think, Scoots! Now you have twice the joy, twice the love, and twice everything else!"
Spike whispered to his wife, "Not to mention twice the diapers, twice the feedings, and twice everything else…"
"Are you excited?!" Pinkie bounced around them, "Cause I know I am!"
But sweat was flowing down their brows.
"Yeah…" Scoots said in an unenthusiastic tone, "Whoo…"
Rumble said nervously, "We couldn't be happier…"
"What's wrong?" Sweetie asked in concern when she noticed the worry right away.
"Well… it's just…" Scootaloo started. "We were going to be in charge of taking care of one life form, now only to discover we're going to take care of two?! I'm… I'm not sure if we're up to it…"
Rumble nodded in agreement.
"I am happy about having another baby, but what if we do a terrible job taking care of two babies? Then we're not fit to be parents!"
"What she said." Rumble gestured.
"Oh now, sugar cube, every new mother and father feels this way before their child is born." AJ looked around the table, seeing everyone else who had been through it before nodded.
"Yes, but how many of them are going to have twins?" Scootaloo questioned.
"Point taken," said Flash. "Since none of us have had twins before, we can't tell you how to raise two kids at once."
"Unfortunately, it's true," said Twilight. "You'll be on your own there, but you won't have to face it alone…"
"That's right." Button went to his friends. "I promise that you and your children will be well-taken care of in the palace…"
"And we'll come visit our little niece and nephew at any chance we get." said Sweetie Belle.
"And offer babysitting service…" AB smiled.
"You… You would do that?" Scootaloo asked.
"Of course! We're your sisters and those two peas in a pod's aunts!" Sweetie motioned.
Scoots had to wipe away a piece of liquid pride before hugging the sisters she had known since they were kids. Shortly after, their older sisters joined in.
Pinkie had to ask, "So, what are you going to name them?"
"It might be a bit early for names," said Rumble, "since we don't know what they look like."
Scoots felt a kick again, "Well, one thing's for sure, one of them is going to be name Kicks, because he or she keeps kicking around in me!"
The room burst into laughter.
Moments later, the young princesses and their husbands waved off their relatives from the dock as they waved back on the ship and headed out to sea.
Scootaloo turned to her husband, "Looks like we got work to do into redoing the nursery…" she sighed.
He sighed also, "No kidding…"
Apple Bloom smiled, "Don't worry. We'll help out."
They grinned at the assistance.
The entire underground lair shook when a power-hungry centaur yelled, "You dare to come back empty-handed?! You were given a simple task for your simple minds, and you came back without the item I need!"
"Master, I swear, I had it with me the whole time!" Suri crouched in fear.
"But obviously you lost it or else, you would still have it!" pointed Silver Shill.
Suri grit her teeth, "Listen, you-"
"Enough!" Tirek commanded. "Now… we shall see if it's in the hooves of that meddlesome princess who altered my curse…" He summoned his magic mist and an image of Twilight appeared with her carrying the book. "There… just as I thought. She would never in her right mind let something so powerful escape her grasp… She's just like that aunt of her's, always taking things that don't belong to them… Must run in the family…" he sneered.
"Master, I beg of you, let me have a second chance to retrieve the book." Suri pleaded.
Tirek gave this thought and finally said, "And how do I know you will not fail me again?"
"Because I know how they are going to break your spell on that princess…"
He frowned, "Go on…"
"In order for the spell to be broken, the princess's love must make a vow of everlasting love to her and prove it to the world."
"I see… Then we must be certain that he doesn't fulfill the vow… Watch them, and from the moment that the book is within your sights, take it!"
"Yes, Master!" Suri bowed and Silver and Coco reluctantly did as well.
"And be sure you do not disappoint me again… Understand?" his eyes glowed menacingly.
They gulped and nodded their heads and quickly set off.
Tirek went back to the mist, watching the princess on the ship talking to her sisters and in-laws, one of those in-laws being a powerful draconequus who started to do a juggling act to entertain them with a chain saw, sword, and mace.
"Look at that… How the mighty have fallen… Pathetic… Being nothing more than a circus act to a bunch of strict royals… Fortunately, I got the remedy to that. Once I have the book of ancient secrets in my hands, I shall make him an offer he will not refuse…" he gave out an evil chuckle.