Animosity Is Magic

by little-tweenframes

Prologue: 25 Years

Author's Note:

Hi everyone! Before reading, you can see information about any Next Generation characters and designs here:
http://little-tweenframes.deviantart.com/gallery/59067548/AiM-References

Chapter 1 will be out next week!

Stars in the sky shone brightly as a purple Alicorn mare landed on a set of soft, fluffy clouds. She stretched her magnificent wings until they couldn’t go any farther, and looked around. Where am I? She blinked, realizing the moon was nowhere to be seen. That’s odd.

A sudden gust of wind almost threw the Alicorn off her hooves. She clenched her eyes shut until it was over. However when she opened them, she couldn’t help but let out an audible gasp.

Another being shone in the sky before her, as if it were written in the stars. The ghostly figure of a large Alicorn Stallion loomed over her. His mane waved around his head like that of a lion, and his horn grew in crooked.

“Twilight Sparkle.” He spoke. “Princess of Friendship, is it?”

Twilight opened her mouth in response, but couldn’t make a sound. Her wings felt as though they were glued to her side.

The being towered forward until his face was only inches from her own. She could smell stardust on his breath.

“…How pitiful.” He then let out a blood-curdling scream, which blew the clouds away and forced Twilight to fall as the sky beneath her opened up into darkness.

---

Twilight blinked her eyes open as the scream continued. She slowly made sense of her surroundings, realizing she was back in Poyville’s hospital. I fell asleep? …Some friend I am. Pinkie Pie stood in front of her, attention focused on the beige door that led to Rainbow Dash’s delivery room. Twilight winced as another scream bit the air.

Twilight looked down at her lap and noticed that Dash’s young sons, Daring Dash and Delta Strike, had both fallen asleep as well. It’s good they’re getting some sleep. It’s been near impossible for anypony to get proper rest these days.

“Hey, AJ?” Twilight called to Applejack, who sat fidgeting a few seats down the hallway.

Applejack blinked, as if her mind were miles away. “Yeah, Sugar Cube?”

“Do you think she’s holding up all right in there?” The mare motioned towards Dash’s room. “The last time she saw him, things didn’t end very well… and I don’t want that to put a damper on today’s… surprise.” Twilight finally voiced the same concern the other four mothers waiting had been wondering for months.

Roughly sixteen years ago, Rainbow Dash wed Soarin, second-in-command to the Wonderbolts. Immediately afterwards, they had their first child on the way. Rainbow had a restless pregnancy, itching to get back out on the playing field again with her mate. However, a new baby brought on an unfortunate reality for the top-notch flier. The Wonderbolts were no longer her top priority, nor second, or third.

Stormy Nights sucked up all of her time, and it was years before she was able to go out and fly again. Soarin, on the other hand, continued to go to work every day and spend time with his family in the evenings. Spitfire forbade their children from coming to work with them; after the hiccup Rainbow had on her first day as a Wonderbolt, everypony agreed that it would be safer to keep young children away.

Rainbow Dash saw less and less of her husband as the years went by, sometimes it would be days before he would return home with an apology about how busy work was. Dash knew, of course, how busy it was being a Wonderbolt. However her loyalty to her son was more important than holding a job she’d already lived through for more than several years.

Nothing had changed after the twins were born; even then Soarin went weeks without coming home. And when he did, the hours they spent together were full of yelling and slamming doors. Soarin had even gone far enough as to migrate to sleeping on the couch. They eventually had to come to terms with the fact that they were no longer compatible. Rainbow Dash put family over work, whereas Soarin put work over family. And yet, Dash couldn’t blame him too much. There was a day where she would have done the same.

“I’m sure Rainbow will be fine. She’s strong and she’s got spirit.” Applejack turned to face Twilight and smiled encouragingly.

“You’re right, thanks Applejack.”

As if the timing couldn’t be more perfect, the door to Dash’s hospital room creaked open. Stormy Nights walked out, his normally well-kept white-and-blue mane disheveled. He looked as though he hadn’t slept in days.

“Nurse gave the okay, you can come in now if you want.” Twilight noticed he was limping. Chuckling inwardly, Twilight guessed Dash used her son as a stress-reliever.

“Stormy, I’m glad to see you!” Twilight walked up and gave him a one-armed hug, Fluttershy following close behind. “How’s your mother doing?”

Stormy glanced away, puffing out his cheeks. “Yeah, about that…” Their faces transitioned from relieved to worried. “She’s… uh… Mad.”

“Oh?” Oh dear, I was hoping Dash wouldn’t think too much about Soarin today.

Stormy sighed. “Maybe it’ll be better for her if she sees you’re here.” He looked back into the room, but didn’t move or motion to go inside.

Pinkie Pie jumped in between Twilight and Fluttershy, looking furious. “Well, what are you waiting for? Let us in!” She challenged Stormy with a stare.

“Pinkie!” Fluttershy warned.

Twilight clenched her jaw. This is not a good time to get angry! To her relief, Pinkie immediately apologized, as if a switch turned itself off. “I-I’m sorry!” She cowered. “I really don’t know what just came over me!” She turned to Stormy. “Can we go in, please?”

“Yeah, I was just looking for the nurse.” He shrugged nonchalantly, as if he had no fight left inside. As Pinkie bounded into the room after him, Twilight turned to notice Fluttershy had woken up the twins. Daring woke up immediately and ran in almost as fast as Pinkie, while Delta held back with Fluttershy. Twilight smiled, and took her place inside the room.

Rainbow Dash lay in her hospital bed, propped upright by a stack of pillows, staring straight ahead. In her arms lay a small pink filly, head already full of blue and purple hair, fast asleep.

“Mom?” Stormy ventured slowly, “I brought your friends in here.” He paused at the foot of her bed, waiting for a response.

Rainbow didn’t make eye contact and simply spoke what was on her mind. “Your father’s dead to me.” Twilight then realized Soarin didn’t show up.

“I know.” Was all Stormy Nights could say before Pinkie Pie lunged her entire being and wrapped her arms around Rainbow Dash.

“I was soooooo worried about you!” Tears filled her eyes.

“Yeah… Thanks, Pinkie.”

Twilight thought quick to try and distract Rainbow Dash from the worst of the day. “So, have you thought of a name yet?” She asked as Pinkie gave Dash room to breathe.

Dash finally smiled. “Yep.” She pulled back the blanket her daughter was wrapped in to show off more of her face. “Everypony, this is Turtledove. You can probably guess where I got the idea, huh?”

Fluttershy immediately began cooing over the infant. “Oh, she’s so sweet!” Applejack inched closer as well.

Twilight backed away to allow Daring and Delta a chance at seeing their new sister up close. She couldn’t help but let her mind wander.

I know I should be happy for Dash, and I am… But was having a foal at this day and age the best thing? Equestria hasn’t exactly been safe. With all these nightmares recently, and the other problems resurfacing… I can’t help but worry. Nobody’s fit to stay up all night caring for a foal at a time like this.

Twilight watched Dash’s family, somehow complete just as it was there, and couldn’t help but smile.

For now I guess all we can do is enjoy the time we have together. Memories of her vision came creeping back into her mind. After all… Who knows how much time we’ll have left?

End of Chapter 00.

Comments

[Ratmandango]

Looks nice so far.

I swear to god, if I see FlashLight I'm gonna kill myself

Can't wait for more.

[little-tweenframes]

7640636

Haha sorry! Twilight (at least princess pony twilight) is paired with Flash in AiM. Don't fret too much though, their relationship isn't really plot relevant so I probably won't show it a whole lot

[little-tweenframes]

7640423

Aww thank you so much! ;w;

[Krickis]

I'm really liking this so far
Gonna get caught up as soon as I can, this is looking like it'll be really good