//------------------------------//
// Chapter Eleven 
// Story: The Nature of Nurture 
// by lola2901 
//------------------------------//

	Swearing under my breath, I gallop right up to the field, stalling at the edge of the magic pink bubble. Steeling my nerves, I gently brush the magical field with my hoof. It doesn’t sting me or push me back-not a forcefield, then.
Hesitating, I grit my teeth and duck inside. Nothing-except the distant sound of crying, echoing off the field as it keeps the sound in. I hurry towards the castle, ducking inside. I still can hear the faint crying sound, coming a ways down the hall. I chase it as it grows louder.
A door has pillows strapped across the entire surface, as if a crude attempt to soundproof the room, and Spike is standing guard, holding his claws over his ears with a grimace. “I wouldn’t go in there if I were you,” he tells me, slumping against the wall. Ignoring his advice, I open the door. Beyond is a war zone.
A huge magical animal mobile hangs from the ceiling at an angle, quite a few of the little glass figurines laying on a desk. Baby powder cakes the walls, and here and there I catch glimpses of yellow streaks dripping down the walls. Stuffed animals of all shapes and sizes have been flung all across the room, one teddy bear fallen in what looks like a baby’s practice toilet.
Brio lays in the cradle, kicking his front legs, tail wriggling as he screams, struggling for breath as he bawls. Twilight is curled up beneath the cradle, frantically flipping through a book, no doubt looking for some kind of solution.
He can’t be hungry-Twi’s stress should be plenty. His diaper doesn’t smell dirty. From the look of things, toys didn’t pacify him. Maybe he’s hurt? But he looks alright.
Trotting over to the cradle, I bend down, gently scooping him out with one hoof. Cradling him, I gently rock him, muttering soft little nonsense. “Did my little guppy scare his aunty Twilight? Poor little guppy, did you miss me? Hush little hush hush, momma’s got you now my little fishy fish.” He’s stopped crying, blinking up at me with his big pink eyes. Smiling, I bend, blowing a raspberry on his forehead. Little Brio giggles, his eyes lighting up.
Twilight crawls out of the bed, her mane looking as bad as mine has no doubt gotten. She’s smiling, but she looks exhausted, not to mention frazzled. “Wow, how’d you do that?”
“Sheer luck. Sometimes I’m up all night trying to get this little bugger to go to bed,” I admit, relieved that I could calm him down. “I think he just missed his mama.”
Twi pauses, her expression turning sheepish. “Oh, hey Apple Jack? Sorry about, you know-”
“Raising a baby siren and a baby dragon are apparently real different, don’t sweat it sugarcube,” I tell her, offering a tired smile. “Maybe I can teach you a couple tricks, get the two of you to know each other better, and then you can sit him for me.”
The idea of learning something new, even just baby care, lights Twilight’s eyes like lanterns. “Sure! And if you ever need any help, I could lend you some of my books on siren biology and foal care,” she offers.
“Thanks, but maybe you should do the reading,” I tell her, using my teeth to grab my saddle bag from where it’s leaned against the cradle. Swinging it over my back, I tuck Brio in his sling. “Shucks, I have a lot to do. I’ve got to get all my chores done early-Rarity’s sending me on a blind date this weekend,” I explain, wrinkling my nose.
Twilight giggles. “Good luck with that, Cinderella.”
I give her a look, raising one eyebrow. “You do realize she’ll probably try setting you up with someone next, right?”