//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: The Second Year; Gravidity // by TwilightsmyMare //------------------------------// Guards clear the room! Twilight! What’s happened? What... Princess! Please... I... I don't know what happened... I... His heart is shutting down, the ascension spell has split the two of you... Cancel it! Take it back please Princess! I cannot... The spell is of your making Twilight Sparkle, it cannot be undone... No! I won't let him die! Twilight please your expending too much magic it's not safe... I won't give up! Calm down please... No! I won't calm down! I won't stop! He wouldn't... This isn't helping... Get away from me! Just leave us alone... I... I'll get the doctors... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... Song Darkness... Nothingness... Emptiness... There was nothing, I could see nothing, smell nothing, feel nothing... But I could hear... Something... Faint and indistinct but something... I searched and searched for the source of the sound moving excruciatingly slowly through the darkness. Was I crawling? Walking? Floating? Trotting? I couldn't tell, didn't matter. Only the sound... Time was a foreign concept, days, weeks, months, years...? Far in the distance I finally saw something, a faint glow, an infinitesimal pinprick of light... Another eternity and I finally came upon it, it was faint, barely distinguishable from the darkness surrounding it a strange symbol that looked like this. It glowed very lightly purple, I had no idea what it was... But it felt important... Important to me...? Me... Who am I? What am I? Where...? I had no idea. The symbol pulsed lightly, a strange thrumming sound like a crystal bowl tapped gently... So I stayed there. I had nowhere else to go, and here I could see something though nothing of what I might be, and hear the clear and pure sound though I did not understand it... And I began to... Feel. Something, a warmth... Comforting but faint and tinged with something... Grief... Sadness... Despair... Mine...? Or someone else... I waited... Sometimes the symbol would dim even further and others it would brighten slightly the sound as well grew and shrank but the warmth stayed the same... Something... Someone? Was trying... Searching... For me? Or something else here? I tried to remember... To think... But there was nothing. At the lights brightest I almost... But then it was gone. Time and again, hundreds, thousands... Then suddenly a different sound... A crack! Deafeningly loud in the silence and suddenly the symbol grew brighter and brighter pushing back the darkness reveling... Me? Hands, arms, legs, feet, torso... A human form?! That’s what I was! What I am! Rick... Dad... Daddy... Daddy! Star! Twilight! Scootaloo! I remembered as the light pulsed once more blindingly pulling me into it... Pulling me back... I slowly opened my eyes, above me was a plain white roof. I couldn't look to either side nor move my neck or any other part of me holding my eyes open was a chore in itself... I could breathe but only barely like trying to draw a breath through a straw. I could feel though, pinpricks of pain all throughout my body as if I hadn't moved for ages a cool fabric covering me and a warm spot on my chest... I could feel my heart struggling to beat as if it too had been stalled for some time... Atop me I felt a twitch and a gasp as whatever it was moved around slightly for a moment then suddenly it was gone. I realized now I could hear as well as I could hear little hoof beats galloping a short ways away from me and a hushed whisper... "Mommy...?" Star! Followed by a quiet grunt. "Mommy... Mommy! I heard it! I did for real this time!" "Star..." Twilight! "How long was I out...?" "Not long... But I heard it Mommy! Daddy’s heart beat!" Twilight sighed wearily as I tried in vain to move, to say something, anything! "Baby... I know you want to hear it... I want to hear it...! But every time... I'm trying, I'm trying so hard..." I heard her voice crack and it broke my heart hearing the anguish in her voice. "I've got to set up again Baby... Try something else... I... I..." "I know Mommy... Daddy wouldn't give up either..." I heard Twilight sob and the two of them embrace as I continued to try to do... Something! I could breathe slightly easier and even managed to blink once or twice... "Okay Baby, I'll check but don't get your hopes too high ok?" "Okay Mommy... Mommy...?" Twilights hoof clicks towards me ceased. "What?" "Your wings...?" "My...?" I heard a shuffling of hooves then a sudden clatter and warmth and pressure on my chest for a few moments then suddenly my vision was dominated by her face. She looked worn and tried bags under her eyes and those beautiful eyes slightly bloodshot but it was still the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. "Rick?! Rick!!!" I blinked in response as it was all I could do. She stared at me a moment then collapsed on top of me crushing her mouth against mine kissing me hard and passionately. "I... I was so..." "Mommy...?" "Come here Baby... You were right..." A moment later my sweet little baby’s face hovered over mine with a little smile. She looked bigger but I suppose it could just be the position I was in. She too looked tired and as if she had been doing a lot of crying, I wanted so badly to grab her and hold her, hold them both and Scootaloo too but I had to settle for blinking at her several times. "Daddy!" She squealed hugging me tightly. They both laid against me for a moment sobbing then Twilight cleared her throat, "Gallop and get your sister Star, and the doctors and... And, anyone!" "Okay!" She nuzzled against me a moment. "Love you Daddy!" And then she was off. Twilight looked down at me a moment then shook her head levitating over a glass and straw. "You'll need lots of water but slowly... It’s been so long..." She inserted the straw between my lips but I couldn't manage to draw any water through it so she took it between her own sucking up a straw full and then releasing it slowly and carefully between my lips. The cool liquid washed over my mouth and throat with each straw full I felt just that tiniest bit better. Finally I was able to draw a full breath of air and croaked out. "What... Happened?" Her eyes turned overcast and she turned her face away from me for a moment, turning back her eyes were filled with tears. "The spell... The ascension spell... The Princesses should have never...! No..." She leaned down and kissed me softly lying beside me and turning my head gently so I could see her. "I shouldn't have tried it without further study... Without knowing what it would do!!!" I still didn't quite understand but I guessed the spell had backfired somehow affecting me maybe... I was glad it hadn't been her. I managed to slowly and painfully bring my arm around to caress and rest against the side of her face. "But you’re ok?" Her eyes flew open and she cried harder pressing herself against me as I held her as well as I could. "You don't understand! The spell... Worked." "The spell... I remember you had just figured out the spell and disappeared... I was worried but something drew us all to the middle of town and before too long you reappeared with Princess Celestia... Something was different but before I could get a closer look there was a pain in my chest and... Everything just went black... Then there was nothing for a long, long time it felt like then I woke up here..." She sniffed looking up at me the pain and anguish in her eyes clear. "You died... I killed you!" "I... Died?" "The spell... It was more powerful than the one binding us...! It superseded it! Broke it! It’s all my fault!" She buried her head in my chest sobbing as I gently stroked her mane thinking a moment, remembering... "It didn't break it love, nothing can break it... Nothing can take me from you." I whispered in her ear. "But..." I stopped her with a soft kiss. "I remember now, even in the darkness... There was something... I could see it, hear it, feel the warmth against me..." "You were in suspended animation! You shouldn't have been able to...!" You know I would die for you love, a hundred, a thousand, a million times over! No more blame. Rick... She lay atop me as I gently stroked her mane and fondled her soft ears running my hands over her as we kissed softly and stared into each other’s eyes. Her heart was hammering a mile a minute as mine slowly was getting back into pace. That worried me but as she calmed down and I got stronger our hearts seemed to sync up again and I hoped for as long as I lived beating as one. "That’s better." I sighed. She smiled softly and snuggled against me. "I was so scared. Star screamed and suddenly I realized I couldn't feel you! I ran over but there was nothing I could do! I... I panicked grabbing you and everypony nearby teleporting us all to the Canterlot hospital! Normally I would never have been able to teleport so many even a fraction of that distance... But as an Alicorn..." It clicked in my mind finally, ascension to Alicornhood... Practical godhood... I reached back feeling for her wings but only found two mats of fur that stood out a bit on her back easily soothed back down. "Their gone now... I've tried so hard to get rid of them... Of it! This curse!" "Twi! You gave up...? Immortality? For me?" She smiled softly blushing a bit. "Even the Princesses don't live forever. I didn't want it! I don't need it! I don't care if we live only a year, as long as we're together..." "You know all I want is for you to be happy love... All you could have done, accomplished...!" She stopped me pressing her forehoof to my lips. "I could have what? And what about what I want? What good is an immortal life, or close to it if you’re not with me? What would you have done?" "I wouldn't have rested a second until you were back by my side or I joined you in the hereafter." I answered without hesitation. "I love you so much Twilight, thank you." "I love you!" We kissed again and again not able to get enough of one another as we held each other close. I was beginning to feel much better as the pins and needles subsided and I could move my stiff joints and muscles more though I was still so weak. "Is everyone here then?" I asked looking over towards the slightly ajar door expecting ponies to flood in at any time. "Scootaloo, the girls? What did you do?" "Everyone was here... At first. But as time passed and I failed again and again... I got... Angry... At the Princesses, at my friends, at you... But especially at myself..." "How long...?" "Almost four months..." Four months! No wonder Star looked bigger... Four months I missed out on with her... Four months she wasted here watching over me...! Despite everything else that bothered me more than anything. "I tried to cancel the spell, to reassert the one that was on us! Anything and everything I could think of! The Princesses... They wanted to help... They both cast the spell of stasis on you... They tried to help but they didn't want to make things worse... I wanted you back right then! I... I may have drove them away..." "I'm sure they understand." "I hope so..." She smiled laughing lightly. "And Star... We couldn't keep her away, literally. Even if I carried her out of the room to try to get her some rest and food she would run back or teleport away from us! I was shocked, and worried she might hurt herself! So she’s been here all this time, laying on you mostly... She wouldn't give up, wouldn't let me... Scootaloo too but her I insisted she sleep at my parents... I didn't want them both here if... Something happened..." "They’re both such stubborn fillies... Take after their mother." "And their father..." She teased right back. "I tried and failed so many times I was beginning to lose hope... I didn't want to go on without you, but I didn't want to trap our daughters down here with me while I..." I squeezed her tightly as she let out another sob. "I'm so sorry love, sorry you had to make that decision at all." She sighed softly turning to kiss me again. "Alizarin has been bringing me books pretty much at random from the archives to help in any way he could..." Looking around the room now that I could I saw hundreds if not thousands of books strewn around the room. "Last night he brought me a very old one that showed a formula for transference of magic rather than cancelling or destroying it..." "So what did you...?" "There was only one pony that popped into my mind when I..." She was interrupted suddenly as we could hear frantic galloping out in the hall and the door burst open. "Twily! What did you do?!" Shining Armor stood in the doorway panting, he too looked a bit bigger then I remembered and suddenly a pair of large white wings unfurled from his back flapping once lifting him slightly off the ground before he got them back under control and tucked back. Twi gasped her eyes going wide. "It... It worked... Surprise..." She smiled sheepishly. "Armor?" "Rick?! Your awake thank Celestia!" He moved over to us still trying to awkwardly control his new wings. "Twilight?" "I'm sorry! It was just another in a long line of things I'd tried! I didn't even know if it would work..." "But why me? I'm not mad Twily, I'm confused..." She sighed closing her eyes as I caressed her mane and neck. "Last night after you tried to convince me to get some rest again we had a long conversation, we'd had a similar one a long time ago when you tried to explain death to me after our cat died remember?" "I remember..." He nodded. "I didn't want to accept it then and even less last night, every point you brought up was valid I couldn't refute a single argument you made but my mind... My heart wouldn't give up, couldn't give up... Not yet, not until I had tried everything! So when I found the spell there..." She gestured to a nearby tome. "It was ancient magic strong but simple it explained the spell Transference... Magic moved from one thing to another but only one of the same thing and only once, pony to pony, inanimate object to another object and so on..." "But you were an Alicorn not a pony..." "I wasn't born one though, I was... I am still a pony inside, you were foremost... Well second most maybe in my mind as I intoned the spell... I didn't know what would happen really! I hoped... I had expended so much energy I was afraid, afraid to stop, afraid to go on but something... Clicked..." "I was writing a letter to Cadence when out of nowhere I was surrounded by a corona of energy penetrating every part of me. I felt strong! My magic seemed to increase a hundredfold! But pain too as my body changed growing larger and these of course..." He unfurled his wings flapping a few times cautiously creating a breeze before tucking them back with a bit of difficulty and a small smile. "They’re going to take some getting used to..." "You’re not mad at me?" Armor pulled her into a tight hug. "Mad? You've given me a gift sis, Cadence and I... Well she's going to be very surprised... And you saved Rick, what’s to be mad about?" "I do appreciate it..." I chuckled just then we heard a commotion in the hall galloping hooves and my little Angel and Star came bursting through the door followed by at least a dozen ponies who looked like doctors, nurses and maybe even a few medical students. "Dad!" "Daddy!" Scootaloo scooped up her sister both of them flying across the room onto the bed and my embrace, I hugged them both as tightly as I could kissing them both again and again. "I'm so glad you’re ok dad... I... I was so scared!" She tried to put on a brave face but she couldn't hold back the tears Star crying along with her as they clung to me. "I'm so sorry girls... I never want to leave you, I'll fight my way back no matter what... You." I kissed Scootaloo. "You..." Same for Star. "And you..." Twilight. "Your all I need in this world, you’re my everything and I'm not giving that up..." I whispered. "Daddy..." Star cried as I rubbed her chest gently her little hooves holding me so tight. "Excuses me Sir Sparkle?" The doctors still waited patiently the others I hadn’t noticed leave. "Yes?" "May we examine you? We hate to interrupt but... Honestly none of us expected you to ever recover! No offence." He added embarrassed. I chuckled shifting Twilight and the girls slightly. "I understand, feel free I'm eager to recover. Try to make up for some lost time..." I squeezed all three of my girls as the doctor’s horns lit up scanning poking and prodding making notes on my reactions and my answers to their questions. It took a good twenty minutes or so but finally they were done, they conferred amongst themselves before turning back to us. "Amazing, when first we examined you your heart had all but stopped your other organs following suit we couldn't imagine what was keeping you alive... That was when the Princesses put you in suspended animation slowing what little metabolism you had left to nearly nothing, just a temporary delay of the inevitable we thought but now... Well, I've never been more glad to be proven wrong, we have no idea how but your fine! Your organs are all working fine, even better than before! Granted we only saw them briefly and you still have to recover from long term stasis... Even now your whole system is resetting itself, your muscles will have suffered the most... But as I said everything looks extremely promising, we've taken enough of your time for now we’ll leave you to rest. Congratulations Sir Sparkle it's good to have you back." "Thanks..." I didn't recognize any of the doctors though I had likely met them before long ago but apparently they recognized me, nevertheless I was glad to be given a somewhat clean bill of health. I relaxed back in bed even that short time of sitting up made my muscles ache and my head spin a bit. "I think I'm ready for a nap..." I murmured Twilight and Scootaloo laying on either side of me heads resting on my chest Star between them. "I think we all could..." Twilight whispered looking up to kiss me softly levitating a sheet over us. "I really have a letter to write to Cadence now, rest up and I'll see you all tomorrow." Armor smiled teleporting away. We all cuddled close together warming each other I had no idea what time of day it was but the strain, stress and long sleepless nights were clear to see on each of their faces I watched them as they each fell asleep, I had made things tough for them. But tonight at least we all could sleep soundly... Together...