Sunset Shimmer returns to Equestria, but not the Sunset Shimmer we know
When Sunset Shimmer wakes up in a strange forest she doesn't recognize after seeing another her at her new school Canterlot High and finds she is now a pony, she doesn't know what's going on.
what's more, when she eats some glowing fruit because she's starving, it takes a strange turn she could have never expected.
And scootaloo, after running away from the orphanage, gets a second shot at life.
new cover art provided by Princess Glitzy, who you can find HERE and this plus her other wonderful works you can find HERE
Featured 27/10/2019. Fitting it get featured during it's final udapte. A kind swan song. thank you all
She groaned. She felt like she’d been put through a tumble drier on high and she felt... strange.
She tried to stand up, but found, for some reason, she couldn’t and fell down again, her face meeting mossy earth.
She frowned. Mossy earth? That didn’t seem right.
She slowly sat up; at least she wasn’t having problems doing that. She opened her eyes and looked around. She appeared to be in some kind of forest.
“Well, that’s not right,” she said, looking around with confusion. “Wasn’t I at Canterlot High a few seconds ago?”
She moved a hand to rub her neck and froze; Where she had expected to see a hand, there was a hoof instead.
She looked around frantically. Seeing a small puddle of water a meter away. She looked at the surface of the water and her eyes widened.
The image she saw still had her red hair with its streaks of yellow—giving it a flaming look—and her green eyes were still the same, but the face staring back at her wasn't human; It was the face of a yellow unicorn.
“What happened?” she cried, putting her hooves to her head. Then she started to frantically wave them, as if trying to shoo away a fly.
She started to hyperventilate, then calmed her breathing and tried to think clearly. Her mother had always said, "Never panic right away. Think the situation through before reacting."
“Okay, Sunset Shimmer,” she said to herself, finally getting her breathing back to normal. “Think. What happened before you woke up as a... I can’t believe I’m gonna say this. What happened before you woke up as a pony?”
“Oh, man! I’m gonna be late!” Sunset Shimmer cried as she ran along the footpath. She’d slept in and had to skip breakfast so that she wouldn’t be late.
Dad’ll kill me if I’m late on the first day, she scolded herself as she turned a corner and saw Canterlot High several feet away.
“Yes!” she cried, speeding up pace as she saw the high building stretching up. “I might just make it before—”
Sunset Shimmer slowed down, then stopped. She looked towards the horse statue that stood outside the school and noticed someone was standing there. They were looking around, as if slightly surprised by what they saw.
I should hurry inside before the bell rings, she thought, turning to head into the school. Then she turned back to the person standing by the statue. They seemed lost.
Well, her mother always said, help others and good things will happen to you.
Sunset nodded to herself, then walked over to the person, calling out, “Hey, there! Need any help—?” Her words caught in her throat.
The person standing before her was a girl who looked about her age. She was wearing the same red and orange top, red skirt and brown sneakers as her. Not only that, but the girl's eyes, hair, face, and even her skin looked just like her own.
“Who’re you?” they both asked in unison. “Me? I asked you first? Quit copying me!”
This went on for a few minutes, before the other girl held up a hand and said, “Okay, I think I’d better start off.” She cleared her throat and—with a snobbish look Sunset had seen on some of the spoiled rich kids back at her old school—said, “I am Sunset Shimmer, personal student of Princess Celestia, ruler of all of Equestria.”
Sunset Shimmer frowned. Princess Celestia? The only Celestia she knew was the principal of her new school, but she was certain Principal Celestia wasn’t a princess.
Wait a minute. The girl said her name was Sunset Shimmer?
“That can’t be,” Sunset Shimmer said, shaking her head. “My name’s Sunset Shimmer. And how come you look just like me? Are we related?”
“In a way, you could say that,” the other Sunset said, that smug look still on her face. “Am I right in guessing you’re going to this school?” She thrust a thumb in the direction of Canterlot High.
“Well, yes,” Sunset said, then gasped. “I’m going to be so late!”
She turned to leave, but the other Sunset grabbed her by the arm. “I’m glad there was another me on this side. Taking over your life will be a lot easier than trying to create my own.”
Sunset began to ask, “What do you—” when the sun was suddenly hidden behind the moon. What had that gotten there? There wasn’t meant to be a solar eclipse today.
“See ya,” the other Sunset’s voice said from within the darkness and Sunset felt herself being thrown in what she knew was the direction of the statue’s base.
She screamed, readying for the pain of her face being smashed against stone, when I bright light blinded her and she remembered nothing more.
That other her, of course. She’d done something, sent her to... wherever here was and somehow managed to turn her... into a pony? Why?
She glanced to her back and saw that, on each side of her was a saddle bag. Had the other her done that too, changed to backpack into a pair of saddle bags? Her frowned deepened. There was a mark on her flank shaped like the sun print she’d had on her dress. What was that doing there? She checked her other flank and saw the same mark on there too. This was getting weirder every second.
She patted the horn on her head. It kinda looked like a narwhal’s horn, the way it spiraled. But its tip was blunt, not pointy. She wondered what it was for.
Sunset Shimmer got up slowly and looked around. She couldn’t tell which way to go. For all she knew, she was on the other side of the world.
“But I’ve never seen some of these plants before,” she murmured, looking at a bunch of strange blue flowers.
She was about to touch one, when something told her not to. She backed away, tripping on her rear legs and fell onto her back.
“Right,” she said firmly. “First things first, Sunset. Gotta sort out your balance.”
It took a few minutes, but, eventually, Sunset Shimmer was able to stand on her four legs and walk. She had to pay attention to when she lifted her front hooves in time with her back hooves, but she got it in the end, sorta.
Deciding it was best not to wait around in a forest she didn’t know, Sunset Shimmer started walking— no, trotting through the forest.
For about half an hour she trotted, looking at the strange flora and fauna as she went. She’d never seen anything like this forest before. She’d certainly never read about it and she was a very studious studier.
“Maybe I’m in another... nah,” she said, chuckling. “Another world? That’s just ridiculous.” She began laughing and then she stopped. “Although no one in my world has ever turned into a pony before.”
This sudden realization made her very uneasy and would have scared her, when she realized she was really hungry and remembered how she hadn’t had breakfast. Actually, she wasn’t just hungry, she was really, really hungry.
Her stomach growled and Sunset winced. It had hurt a little. How long had she been out?
She moved to over one of the saddle bags, when she remembered she didn’t have hands anymore. Reluctantly, she used her new muzzle to open both bags, trying to find the lunch she’d packed for school. If she wasn’t gonna be at school today she may as well eat it now.
But it was gone. All her food was gone. Only a few things she’d planned to show anyone who’d be friends with her were left. A photo of her when she was eight and few drawings, in case there was an art club she could join and her school supplies.
“But I’m starving!” she cried, looking around for something to eat. It felt like she hadn’t eaten in years.
Her eyes fell on something glowing. It was a bush of big blue berries that were in bunches, like grapes.
Now, normally, Sunset Shimmer wouldn’t think twice about eating a plant or fruit she didn’t know anything about, especially when said fruit is glowing, but she was so hungry she threw caution to the wind and started gulping down as many glowing blue grapes as she could, despite the difficulty of having to grab her food with her mouth.
Several minutes later, something stopped Sunset Shimmer as she was about to eat another bunch of the berries that tasted pretty good.
She felt strange. Well, stranger.
She looked down at her hooves. They seemed to be getting smaller. That was weird. Also, why was the ground getting closer? It took a second before it processed through Sunset Shimmer’s mind. She was shrinking!
“Help!” she cried and tried to run, only to fall forward and land with her forehooves beneath her.
“Who’s there?” a female voice called out, sounding not too far away.
“Help me!” Sunset cried as she did her best to stand up, but fell back down. Something was stopping her from standing. “I’m shrinking!”
The sound of galloping hooves came from somewhere, getting close very quickly. When Sunset Shimmer looked up, she saw a purple unicorn.
No. It wasn’t a unicorn. Unicorns don’t have wings.
The... whatever it was stared at her with wide eyes. “Sunset Shimmer? What’s going on? How did you get here?”
She paused. It knew her name? How could it know her name? And what was a unicorn with wings doing here in the first place?
Sunset Shimmer didn’t get to have any of these questions answered. She was still shrinking and the winged unicorn was towering over her now.
“Wat’s Happwning?” she cried, then gasped. “Why am iw tawking wike a baby?”
The winged unicorn gulped. “Because... you are a baby.”
“WAT?!” Sunset Shimmer cried, her eyes filling with tears. This just wasn’t her day. First she gets thrown into some weird forest with blue plants and now she was turning into a baby?
________________________________________
Twilight stared at the tiny foal at her hooves. What was Sunset Shimmer doing in Equestria? How as she even here? The portal wouldn’t open again for another fifteen moons.
When she saw the tears forming in Sunset Shimmer’s eyes, Twilight realized she had to do something. Her horn glowed with her purple aura and she levitated Sunset into her forehooves.
“Shh, shh, it’s okay, Sunset,” she cooed, trying to calm the tiny foal down. "It's okay."
Sunset sniffed a few times, then looked up at her. “How do you know my nawm?”
Twilight blinked. “You... don’t remember me?”
When the foal shook her head, Twilight felt very confused. How could Sunset Shimmer have forgotten her, of all ponies?
“We’ll go to Zecora’s house,” Twilight said, nodding, more to herself. “She might be able to fix this.”
“Zecorwa?” Sunset looked up at her in confusion. “What wouwd my ewemetawy scoow fwiend be dowing herw?”
Now it was Twilight’s turn to look confused. “Elementary school friend? You went to school with Zecora? How? She hasn’t been here for that long.” The foal just looked up at her with more confusion. Twilight was about to respond, when she thought better of it. She could ask those kind of questions later.
“What did this to you?” she asked, looking around for what could have made Sunset’s age regress to that of a foal.
“Dose!” Sunset Shimmer pointed to a bunch of glowing blue berries lying next to a bush with even more of the same fruits. Twilight made to reach for them when Sunset Shimmer screamed, “NO!” Twilight glanced back down at the foal. “Down’t touch dem!”
Twilight nodded, levitating the closest bunch with her magic. “Let’s see if Zecora knows what these are.”
“Wait!” Sunset cried, reaching toward her saddle bags. They had the only things she had left from her home in them. “Mwy bawgs!” The winged unicorn glanced at them and nodded, levitating them too.
________________________________________
“Zecora!” Twilight shouted as she slammed Zecora’s front door open. “We’ve got a problem.”
The zebra grumbled a little, clearly having been about to turn in for the night.
“What is it that seems to have transpired, that has ensured tonight I will keep feeling so tired?” she asked, turning, only to have the foal Sunset Shimmer pushed right up to her face.
“Sunset Shimmer’s back and she’s turned into a foal!” Twilight cried, levitating the foal back to herself and lowering her onto her neck, which Sunset clutched, happy to be holding something sold again. “Can you tell us what this fruit is?” Twilight asked, levitating the glowing blue berries.
Zecora’s eyes widened. “Do you mean to tell me, that those berries were found, here, in the Everfree?”
“Wes!” Sunset nodded from Twilight’s back. “I awt dem, den I turwned intwo a baby!”
“Take me to these berries you found,” Zecora said firmly and Twilight led her out of the house and off towards where she’d found Sunset Shimmer without a second thought.
As they walked, Twilight wondered why Zecora had not finished her last sentence in rhyme. A few minutes later they were standing in front of the bush of glowing blue berries.
Zecora glared at the bush of berries “These berries must be burned to the ground,” shesaid, her voice grim.
So that’s why she didn’t finish earlier, Twilight thought to herself.
Zecora cleared her throat and Twilight realized she meant for her to burn the plant. Her horn glowed and the bush caught fire. Within minutes it was nothing but ashes.
"Um, Zecora?" Twilight asked, turning to the zebra. "Exactly why did I have to destroy that plant?"
Zecora turned to her. "For many moons the shaman of my tribe, many tales they did describe, of a berry plant that makes one young, but also the many disasters that they brung. for another disaster to not be employed, the berries, the entire bush, had to be destroyed."
Zecroa then motioned for Twilight to follow and she did, with the foal Sunset Shimmer still clinging to her neck.
________________________________________
Sunset Shimmer listened as the two older mares talked.
She was surprised how much like her old school friend Zecora was. Her friend had been from Africa and, judging from the accent, so was this Zecora. Plus, she was a zebra. Zebras come from Africa.
Another thing she did, just like the Zecora she knew, this Zecora also always spoke in rhyme. She’d never asked her why and wasn’t sure she wanted to asked the zebra, in case it was prying.
The other pony was named Princess Twilight Sparkle and was something called an alicorn.
Sunset learned she was in a world called Equestria, in which there lived many talking ponies as well as other animals, though only those who were part equine, sheep or, surprisingly, Griffon, could talk.
There were four different types of ponies. Unicorns, like Sunset had become herself, pegasi and normal ponies who were referred to as earth ponies. The four race of ponies, obviously was alicorns, like the princess.
Sunset had explained to the two that she was not the Sunset Shimmer they thought she was, which shocked them, but then they both looked uneasy.
When she’d asked why, she learned that it had not been minutes since she’d woken up after she’d been thrown out of her own world and into Equestia. It had been four and half years and the portal only opened every three years.
This was bad enough, however, she did not like what the mares were talking about in regards to the berries she’d eaten. Apparently, they were called Baby Berries. A rare and forbidden plant, thought to have died out in a time before something called Nightmare Moon.
If the juice of the berries came into contact with you, your age would regress. How young you became depended on how much juice you made contact with. Luckily, the effects were only temporary, wearing off in a matter of days, two weeks at the most. However, that was if you only touched the juice.
Zecora also explained that the reason she'd had Twilight destroy the bushes was because being able to gain eternal youth through such an easy means as eating those berries for as long as you wanted to live was against nature,and, being a shaman, she could not allow such a plant to continue existing, for it had caused many wars between the three tribes that was ended when Celestia and Luna took to the thrones and forbid the berries, ordering their destruction throughout the land.
“The effects, I fear, will not be so mild, for this dear and lost little child,” Zecroa said, before explaining that, because Sunset had ingested the berries, they were now inside of her and the only way to become older again was that she would have to grow up normally.
At this, Sunset Shimmer had started crying. She didn’t mean to, but she couldn’t stop herself. She wailed like... well, like a baby, tears streaming down her face, forming small puddles next to her rear hooves.
She felt someone pick her up and opened her eyes slightly to see it was Princess Twilight. She was holding her in her forehooves, smiling warmly down at her.
“Don’t worry,” she cooed, her smile reminding Sunset of her mother. “Until we can fix this, I’ll look after you.”
“Weally?” Sunset asked, then winced at her speech, which only made Twilight giggle.
There was a cough and they looked at Zecora.
“Twilight Sparkle,” Zecora called. “before you go, I must talk to you for a minute alone, for there is something you must know,” the Zebra replied.
“Um... okay,’ Twilight said, then glanced down at the foal in her forehooves. “ But, what about Sunset Shimmer?” she asked, not wanting to leave a small pony who’d been a human up until today unattended, especially since she was now a foal.
“Come with me, I only have some to ask, you see?” Zecora nodded towards the door to a smaller room of her hut and Twilight followed her, leaving Sunset Shimmer alone.
________________________________________
“So, what’s up, Zecora?” Twilight asked as they stood in a small room Zecora must use for making very special types of potions. She wondered why Zecora couldn’t have said whatever she needed to say in front of Sunset Shimmer.
Zecora turned to her with a worried expression. “Twilight Sparkle, what i ask now isn't something we can simply dismiss. Just how old do you think Sunset Shimmer is?”
Twilight thought about it for a moment (plus, having to decipher the rhyme in her head) before answering. “I’d say... maybe one year old?”
Zecora shook her head and said, “No, my princess. I can tell that is sadly not the age she has yet met. She isn’t even one yet.”
“Then... how old is she?” Twilight asked, curious as to what Sunset’s age was.
“If my guess is true and right she will be three months old by tomorrow night.” Zecora replied.
This shocked the alicorn so much her mouth hung open in a great big O. Three months? She knew Sunset Shimmer was small, but, yikes! “So, what's the big deal?” she asked, not getting what the Zebra was implying.
“Twilight Sparkle, I know this may sound rather a little bit ilk, but what do foals drink until they are old enough to drink whole milk?” Zecora asked. She watched the mare think of the answer. Twilight’s eyes grew wide as saucepans.
“B-b-breast milk,” she said, her whole face turning a red that would make Big Macintosh jealous. “But would she even—?”
Zecora interrupted by holding up a hoof. “You may not have to do, but if she can not keep down formula, you may well have to,” she said.
“But..” Twilight protested, her face, somehow getting even redder, “I'm not lactat— My body isn't producing milk.”
“I can take care of that, my friend,” Zecora smiled. “I'll do what I can to help this situation amend.” She went over to a shelf and pulled down a bottle of greenish-blue liquid. “Just take this, and then you'll nurse the same as a mother cow,” she said, hoofing it to Twilight, who caught it with her magic, then put it in Sunset’s saddle bag, which she was wearing, since its owner was too small to carry it anymore. “Well, I think it is time for you two to go now,” Zecora said.
Twilight went back into the other room and Twilight levitated Sunset onto her back, who started holding onto her neck. “Well, we'll be going now. See you later Zecora and thank you for your help. Say goodbye, Sunset.”
“G’bye!” Sunset chirped, waving to Zecroa as they walked back through the front door and it closed behind them.
This letter is to inform you of an event that happened earlier this evening, shortly after I visited Zecora in the Everfree Forest.
As I was leaving her house I heard the sound of a pony crying out for help. I hurried to their aid and was shocked by the pony in question.
It was Sunset Shimmer, but she is not the one who was your student. She is the one from the other world (though I did not learn this until later).
She had eaten a bunch of berries that glow blue and she was getting younger. Before I knew it, she was a foal. I took her to Zecora’s and that’s where I learned from Sunset herself as to her identity. I also learned what the berries she’d eaten were.
They were Baby Berries. From what Zecora explained, they were forbidden before your sister became Nightmare Moon, so you probably know about them already.
This being said, what you would not know is that Sunset Shimmer is now stuck as a foal and will have to grow up like a normal foal.
Seeing as you told me shortly after my return from the other world that Sunset Shimmer was an orphan when you took her as your student, I know that she has no living relatives to who can care for her.
This being the case, I have taken it upon myself to care for her. However, I do request that you come to Ponyville as soon as possible. I feel I made need a little advice on a few matters.
Know, however, that she is doing fine for now and things are under control.
Your Faithful Student and fellow Princess,
Twilight Sparkle.
“That should do it,” Twilight said, finishing the letter, rolling up the scroll with her magic and levitating it over to Spike, who sent it away in a puff of green flame.
When Twilight had arrived home, Sunset Shimmer had already fallen asleep. She’d given her to Spike and hurried to the nearest baby store and thanked Celestia that it was still open.
Upon her return to the library, Spike told her he’d put one of the spare diapers left over from when Twilight had foalsat Pumpkin Cake several weeks ago on Sunset Shimmer in case she had an accident and that Spike had placed her on Twilight’s bed in her loft so as not to wake her.
“So, now what?” the baby dragon asked, glancing up the stairs.
“To be honest, Spike,” Twilight said, giving a yawn, “I have no idea. This kind of thing has never happened before. Not since Nightmare Moon was banished to the moon, anyway.”
“How exactly are you going to take care of her?” he asked, rummaging through one of the many bags Twilight had come back with, all filled with baby supplies. “I never really took you for the type to raise a foal.”
“And just what is that supposed to mean?” Twilight asked, her voice curving a little. “I’ve taken care of you since you hatched, haven’t I?”
“That’s not what I meant,” Spike said, slightly worried by the tone in the mare he thought so much of's voice. “I just mean that raising a foal is very different from raising a baby dragon. Plus, you were a filly when you started caring for me. I was almost like a little brother to you back then.”
“And what makes you think you’re not still like a little brother to me now?” Twilight asked slyly, nuzzling him.
“You know what I mean, Twi,” he said, trying to act bored, but unable to hide the laughter in his voice.
They spent the next few minutes going through all the things Twilight had bought in order to care for the foal Sunset Shimmer, which they checked off a list Spike had to assume Twilight had written on her way back to the library from the store.
Lots of diapers, check
Baby bottle, check
Baby formula, check
Crib, check
Baby powder, check
Baby clothes, check
Toys, check
When they’d finished checking the list, Spike glanced at Twilight. “Why did you need baby formula?” he asked, an eyebrow raised as he placed the list and the quill he’d been using to tick off everything they had onto a nearby desk. “Isn’t she old enough for solid foods?”
Twilight shook her head. “No, Spike. She’s only three months old.”
“Three months?!” Spike cried, then slammed his claws over his mouth and the two turned in the direction of Twilight’s room. No sound came from it and they both sighed with relief.
“Not so loud, Spike,” Twilight said, shaking her head. “We don’t want to wake her. She’s had a really big day. Or, years, I guess?”
Spike smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck. “Sorry about that, Twilight,” he said, then frowned. “So, since she’s only three months old, Sunset Shimmer’s gonna have to drink baby formula?”
“I sure hope so,” Twilight thought out loud, blushing a little.
“What do you mean?” Spike asked, confused. “Are you saying she might not be able to drink formula? What would she drink then?”
“Well...” Twilight hid her beat-red face behind a wing. “If she can’t keep down the formula... I’ll have to... feed her myself.”
“I don’t follow,” the baby dragon put his hands on his hips. “If she can’t drink formula, how would you feed her yourself?”
Twilight gulped. This really wasn’t a conversation she wanted to have with Spike. Not, at least, until he was a bit older. But he’d trapped her. She had no choice but to answer his questions honestly. She just hoped she wouldn’t scar him for life.
“Spike?” she asked, her voice shaking. “Do you know how foals feed when they’re first born, before they can drink formula?”
Spike’s brow furrowed. “Well, yeah. They drink from their mothers. But, what’s that got to do with...?” he trailed off at the look on Twilight’s face and his mouth dropped open. “Really?”
She nodded, her face so deep a shade of red she was sure nothing in all Equestria compared. “If she can’t keep down formula... I’ll have to nurse her.”
“B-b-b-ut—” Spike said, his eyes so wide Twilight thought they’d pop out there sockets. “You’re not a mom! How can you feed her?”
“Zecora gave me a potion,” Twilight murmured, her voice almost a whisper. She levitated the bottle out of Sunset’s saddle bag, which was resting by the front door. “If I drink it... my body will start producing milk a foal Sunset’s age can drink.”
Spike looked from Twilight to the bottle and back to Twilight. “You’re not actually gonna drink it, are you?” he asked, looking very uncomfortable.
Twilight brought the bottle over to them and laid it on her work desk. “On the off-hoof chance Sunset can’t keep formula down, I have to, Spike,” she said, her face still so red she’d have made the most ripest of tomatoes jealous of her. Before Spike could say anything else, she held up a hoof. “Let’s just go to bed. We’ll find out what has to be done in the morning.”
Spike wanted to protest, but he could see how tired Twilight was and agreed.
She and Spike went up to her room and crept in quietly. Sunset Shimmer was sound asleep on Twilight’s bed, her right-hoof in her mouth as she sucked on it.
The sight made both the alicorn and the dragon “D'aww” before getting into their beds.
Spike easily curled up in his basket and went to sleep almost instantly.
Twilight, however, gently lowered herself onto the bed, so as not to wake the sleeping foal. As she lay down next to her, however, Sunset turned towards Twilight. Upon touching her, she snuggled closer into Twilight’s fur and gave a yawn.
This made Twilight’s heart flutter in a way she’d never felt before, though she didn't quite know why.
She smiled, wrapped her wings around the tiny foal and went to sleep.
Sunset Shimmer shifted, not opening her eyes. She’d had the weirdest dream. She’d met another her who’d sent her into a world where she was a pony and then became a baby pony.
Sunset Shimmer opened her eyes and started to rub them, when she stopped. She was not rubbing her eyes with her hands. She was rubbing them with hooves. Tiny, yellow fur-covered hooves.
Okay, maybe that wasn’t a dream after all, she thought nervously, her heart starting to beat a little faster.
She looked around, trying to figure out where she was. Last thing she remembered she was riding on Princess Twilight’s back as they traveled through a large countryside.
Everything around her was lavender-purple feathers, to which she raised an eyebrow.
She noticed her bottom rubbing against something soft. She looked down to see a white diaper on her rump. This made her frown. She wasn’t really a baby. She didn’t need diapers.
She felt whatever the feathers encasing her were connected to stir and the feathers pulled away to reveal a loft that looked part bedroom, mostly bookshelves, with walls that looked like they were the inside of a tree.
She turned her head to see Princess Twilight smiling at her, her eyes half open from having just woken up. “Good morning, Sunny,” she said, giving a loud yawn. “Did you have a nice sleep?”
Sunset Shimmer looked down at her hooves. “Yes... your highness.”
“Hey, now,” Twilight said, sitting up completely and rubbing the sleep from her eyes with a hoof. “None of that, little filly. Just Twilight, okay?”
Sunset shifted a little. “Okay... Twilight.”
It was at this precise moment that Sunset’s stomach made a strange sound and she felt herself getting wet near her crotch. She looked down to see a big yellow stain appear and grow large and large.
“I’m peeing myself! I’m peeing myself!” she cried, waving her hooves in the air.
Twilight took the small foal in her hooves as tears started to form in her eyes and cooed, “It’s okay, Sunny. It’s okay. You’re a foal now and foals wet themselves. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“B-but I’wm a big giwl,” she sniffled, pressing her muzzle into Twilight’s shoulder. “I shouwn’t hawe asidewnts.”
Twilight hushed her, then, using her magic, she lowered Sunset onto the bed. She levitated a clean diaper, some baby powder and a wet wipe from somewhere in the room Sunset couldn’t see from her current position, undid her current diaper, wiped her lower area clean, then lifted Sunset’s rear, slid the diaper under her, lowered her again, shook some baby powder into the diaper and did up the pins and finished by making the dirty diaper disappear. Where to, Sunset didn’t have a clue.
“Is that better?” Twilgiht asked, smiling down at her.
Sunset sat up and shifted, feeling the soft cushion on her tiny tush. “It’s otay.” She winced at her words. Was she ever gonna get use to this?
Twilight’s smile seemed to brighten a little. She scooped Sunset into her arms and nuzzled her neck.
The sound of movement made the two ponies turn. Sunset raised an eyebrow. What looked like a small purple dragon was sleeping in a basket not too far from the bed she and Twilight were on.
The dragon stirred, opening its eyes, sat up and stretched, giving an over-the-top yawn. It looked at her and held up its tiny claws in a reassuring way.
“Don’t worry, Sunset Shimmer,” it said in a male voice that sounded like a little boy's. “I know I’m a dragon, but you don’t have to fear me. I’m Spike, Twilight’s friend.”
“I’wm not scawed,” Sunset said, shaking her head a little. “You’w not scawy at all.”
The dragon named Spike scowled, then looked away. “Talk about kicking a guy’s pride out the door.”
Sunset looked to Twilight. “Did I say somefing wong?”
Twilight only chuckled. “Would you happen to be hungry?”
As if to answer, Sunset’s pudgy belly decided at that moment to make a loud growling sound and Sunset blushed deeply.
“I’ll take that as a “yes”,” Twilight said, carefully placing Sunset on the bed, getting off it and heading for a door across the room. “Spike, watch her until I get back.”
“Can do,” the dragon replied, giving the mare a salute, making Sunset giggle.
Twilight walked back up towards her room, a bottle full of baby formula suspended in her magic. She had already taken the potion Zecora had given her the previous night before she’d prepared the bottle.
I do hope Sunset will be able to keep her formula down, she thought, blushing as the thought entered her mind. The alternative might prove more difficult for her to accept. And for me.
At that moment she heard a loud scream come from her room. Twilight rushed up the remaining stairs, readying her magic for a fight— to see Spike blow raspberries into Sunset’s chubby belly.
“Spike!” the little foal cried, tears of laughter streaming down her cheeks as Spike got ready to blow again. “I sawd stowp! Wou’ll make me pee agaiwn!”
“Okay, Spike, that’s enough,” Twilight chuckled, walking over to the two. “It’s time to feed Sunset.”
Spike looked disappointed, but moved away and didn’t argue.
Twilight sat down on the bed and waited for Sunset to finish wiping the tears from her eyes and catch her breath again, before asking, “Hungry?”
Sunset looked from Twilight to the bottle and frowned, looking back up at Twilight. “A boddle? Weally?”
“Sunset, you’re a foal now. You have to eat what other foals eat,” Twilight said, moving closer, picking her up and holding her in her right foreleg. “Please drink this, for me?”
Sunset folded her arms and glared at her for a few seconds, then sighed and nodded.
Twilight’s smile brightened a little and she lowered the bottle to Sunset, who opened her mouth, then closed it around the nibble and started to drink.
Sunset could feel the warm liquid going down her throat. She had to admit, it tasted better than she thought it would, for a few seconds, anyway.
Sunset felt the liquid come back up and spat it onto Twilight’s bed sheets.
“Uh oh,” Spike said, having stopped making his bed when Sunset spat-up.
“Wat’s “uh oh”?” Sunset asked, fear entering her mind. Why would her spitting up make Spike say “uh oh”?
“I’d hoped this wouldn’t happen,” Twilight sighed, the bottle floating away and landing down beside the bed.
“Why?” Sunset squeaked, looking up at the older mare. “What’s gonna happen?”
Twilight gulped. “Sunset, do you know how foals— I mean, baby humans... do you know how they feed after they’re born?”
Sunset cocked an eyebrow. “Wew, duh. I may be a baby, but I’wm not swupid, Twiwight. Dey dwink fwom dere moders...” she trailed off as her eyes went wide. “No.”
Twilight nodded. “Yes. Since you can’t keep down the baby formula, you will have to drink...” she gulped. “You will have to drink... breast milk.”
Twilight then explained about the potion Zecroa had given her when the two of them had left her alone for a few minutes, back at Zecora’s hut, what it did and why she’d been given it.
On Sunset's request, Twilight tried to feed her the bottle of formula four more times, each ending with Sunset spitting up.
When Twilight finished cleaning up the fourth mess using her magic, Sunset turned away from her, her front hooves folded over her chest. “No.”
“But, Sunset—” Twilight began.
“NO!” Sunset shouted, wincing a little at how loud her own voice had been. “I won’t dwink bweast miwk! I won’t!”
“But, if you don’t, you’ll starve,” Twilight said, putting a hoof on Sunset’s shoulder.
“I’d waver stawve,” she muttered, not turning around.
Twilight’s hoof moved away from her shoulder, making her glance behind her. Twilight had a very firm look on her face.
“I’m sorry, Sunset Shimmer,” she said, sounding more stern than before. “You are in my care and I will not let you starve.”
Sunset’s body became shrouded in Twilight’s magic and she was forced to turn around. Twilight’s horn was glowing. She was laying on her side, her two teats exposed.
“You will drink my milk, even if I have to force you, Sunset Shimmer,” she said, looking straight into Sunset’s eyes.
Sunset floated against her will towards Twilight’s teats, with her unable to do anything to stop it.
“Twiwight!” she cried as her muzzle was inches from one of the teats. “Pwease, don’t!”
Twilight said nothing, but her magic shoved Sunset a little further, forcing the teat into her mouth, the pressure causing milk to squirt into her mouth and down her throat.
Sunset’s eyes widened. The milk... tasted nice. Really nice. She couldn't remember ever tasting anything so nice in her whole life. Without even meaning to, she started suckling.
Twilight was taken aback when Sunset started suckling eagerly. She hadn’t expected her to accept this so quickly.
It was an odd sensation, nursing. Yet, Twilight felt like it was completely natural. As if she was meant to do this.
Well, mares do all have the means to feed foals, whether they’re mothers or not, she thought to herself as Sunset continued to suckle. So, I suppose it would make sense that this feels natural.
Fifteen minutes later Sunset moved away, a content look on her face.
“All full?” Twilight asked the tiny pony.
Sunset nodded. “All full.”
Twilight sat back up and looked at Sunset. “How was it?”
“It was—” Sunset stopped and looked away, her muzzle getting a light pink blush on it. “It was otay, I guwess.”
Suddenly her face became strained.
“What’s wrong?” Twilight asked, putting a hoof on Sunset’s shoulder.
“My tomic,” Sunset said, wincing. “It huwts.”
Twilight smiled. She knew what was happening. She picked up the tiny foal, put her over her shoulder and patted her back.
“Wat’w you—?” Sunset began, then gave a small burp.
Twilight lowered her back onto the bed and smiled. “Better?”
Sunset’s face was bright red. “Beddew. But, tew me nex’ tiwme you’w gonna do dat.”
Twilight was about to say something when a knock came from downstairs.
“Oh, good,” she said, getting off the bed, picking up Sunset and gently flew down the stairs. “She was able to come.”
Sunset Shimmer watched from the highchair Twilight had put her in as she trotted over to the door of the library and opened it with her magic.
In walked another alicorn, much large than Twilight. She looked more like a horse than a pony. She had a long, billowing mane and tail of cyan-blue, light-green, very light lavender and pink, which moved as if in a wind despite there being none. Her fur was a pure-white. Her horn and wings were much large than Twilight’s and she was wearing a golden tiara on her head. on her flank was a sun, different from the one Sunset had seen on her own before she began a foal. Celestia's mark looked golden, while hers had looked more like it was setting.
Sunset frowned, thinking about the similarity between the mark she'd had and her name? Did ponies always get a name in relation to their mark or was it the other way around?
Sunset wouldn’t be lying if she said she was scared of Princess Celestia. She’d been the other hers teacher. She was worried what Celestia might do to her.
Princess Celestia walked inside, saw Sunset and quickened her pace until she was right in front.
Sunset wasn’t sure if she was happy or worried that Twilight had put her in this highchair. It made Princess Celestia seem a little less tall, but it also meant she couldn’t get away.
For a moment, Celestia just stared at her, then, her muzzled turned into a small smile. “It is very nice to meet you, Sunset Shimmer.”
Sunset gasped. Princess Celestia sounded just like the principal of Canterlot High when she’d spoken to her over the phone a few days before this all started.
“Uh-um...” Sunset stuttered, looking down. “It’s... niwce to meet you to, pwincess.”
“Oh, you are just so adorable!” Celestia suddenly cried, making Sunset wince in fear.
“Easy, princess,” Twilight said, coming back over, the door closed by her magic. “Keep in mind, you’re the third pony she’s seen since she arrived. Well, aside from her own reflection, I suppose.”
Celestia seemed to realize what she’d just done. She cleared her throat and seemed to regain her composure. “Yes. Of, course, Twilight. Now, would you mind explaining in full the events that happened last night involving miss Shimmer?”
“Of course,” Twilight said, nodding towards what Sunset saw was a small dining room. “I have prepared some tea.”
The next few minutes were of Twilight explaining to Celestia everything that had happened to Sunset and about how she was going to take care of her.
Sunset was thankful she’d left out the part about Twilight nursing her. She blushed just thinking about it. Luckily, Twilight had been talking about Sunset peeing in her diaper, so she knew Celestia would think that was why she was blushing, which made her feel a bit better.
Once Twilight was done, Celestia was silent for a few moments. She had not said anything through Twilight’s revelations of the events of last night, occasionally sipping from her tea whenever Twilight paused.
When she did speak, it was to Sunset directly. “Do you wish to stay with Twilight, Sunset?” she asked, her voice gentle and even.
Sunset looked from Celestia, to Twilight, then back again.
Twilight was the only pony she knew in this world aside from Zecora and Celestia. She hadn’t spoken much to Zecora, since she’d been too similar to her friend back in the human world and while Celestia was nice and Sunset could sense a motherly bond between Celestia and Twilight, she didn’t feel as close to Celestia as she did to Twilight.
“I’w stay wif Twiwight,” she said, her firm tone over shadowed by her baby talk.
Twilight turned to her, a loving smile on her face. “You really want to stay with me?” Her eyes were shining as she looked at Sunset.
She nodded. “Yeah.”
Twilight scooped Sunset from her highchair and hugged her tightly. “I promise, you won’t regret it!” she squealed, a few tears sliding down her face, surprising her.
Sunset returned the embrace. Twilight’s hug was so warm. Even more so than her mother’s.
Celestia watched the two for a minute before she finished her tea and stood up. “Well, things seem settled here. I must return to Canterlot ,now. I have several meetings I moved so that I could visit today.”
“We understand, Celestia,” Twilight said, turning to her mentor. “Thank you for taking the time to come.”
Celestia nodded and walked towards the door. It opened with her magic, which Sunset noted was golden, unlike Twilight’s purple.
When the door closed behind the princess, Twilight looked down at the foal in her hooves. “Want to meet my friends?”
Sunset looked up at her. She thought about it and decided, if they were Twilgiht’s friends, she’d like to meet them.
She nodded and Twilight flew into the main room again, carrying Sunset in her forehooves.
Sunset was looking forward to this outing into where Twilight lived. She’d told her it was Ponyville and she wanted to see how ponies could live in a very human-like society... until she saw the cyan baby carrier sitting near the front door, Spike standing next to it.
“Any o’ ya’ll know why Twilight asked us all ta come here this mornin'?” Applejack asked, looking around at her friends as they sat at a table in Sugarcube Corner.
The other ponies shook their heads.
“N-no, I’m sorry,” Fluttershy said, barely a whisper. “I don’t have any idea. All I know is I woke up this morning with a scroll from Twilight at the foot of my bed, asking me to come here.”
“I must confess, the same thing happened to me,” Rarity said, nodding at the shy Pegasus. “Poor Opal had it fall on her head. The poor dear’s been in a bad mood all morning because of it.”
“When isn’t that cat in a bad mood?” Rainbow whispered to Applejack from behind a hoof and the two chuckled, until they caught Rarity glaring at them.
Rainbow gave a small cough. “We had the same thing. Fell right on top of our heads, right when we were—” Rainbow stopped and looked away, both her and Applejack getting blushes on their muzzles and didn’t meet anypony’s eyes, not even each others.
“You we having FUN!” Pinkie Pie shouted, pouncing into the air and remaining there for several seconds before gravity started working on her again.
Applejack coughed, her face burning. “Having fun. Uh, yeah. ” She coughed again. “You could say that.”
“Um, why is Scootaloo here?” Fluttershy asked, then hid behind her pink mane. “Um, if you don’t mind my asking.”
“Rainbow Dash has been helping me with my flying!” the purple maned Pegasus filly sitting on Rainbow’s right shouted, her wings buzzing in excitement. “I’m getting really good.”
Rainbow chuckled. “Show ’em, squirt.”
Scootaloo nodded, a determined grin on her face. Her wings started buzzing harder and she rose into the air. The ponies all watched as she went higher and higher, until she reached the ceiling.
“Nice one, squirt,” Rainbow grinned up at her biggest fan and adopted little sister.
“Um, I guess you also received a letter from Twilight. Right, Pinkie?” Fluttershy asked, having smiled at Scootaloo’s flying and turned to look at the pink mare.
“Yep!” Pinkie said, a big closed-eye grin on her face.
“I bet Twilight’s gonna come in with a foal that she’s taking care of that used to be somepony we know!” Pinkie bounced.
Applejack raised an eyebrow. “I doubt that, sugarcube. I don’t see Twilight settlin’ down and takin’ care o’ a foal.”
“You don’t think she could take care of a foal?” Fluttershy got a stern look on her face, something none of her friends were common to see.
Before Applejack could retort, a voice called from the door to Sugarcube Corner. “Hi, girls.”
The five ponies all turned to see Twilight walking towards them... wearing a foal carrier.
Four pairs of eyes turned to Pinkie. “Pinkie,” Rainbow asked, her mouth slightly agape, “how did you know that?”
Pinkie cocked her head, a smile on her muzzle. “Know what?”
“That Twilight had a foal with her,” Applejack shook her head.
“Twilight has a foal with her?” Pinkie asked, then clapped her hooves happily. “Yippee! A new friend to play with!"
They all shook their heads. Pinkie was just being Pinkie. Trying to understand further than that was psychological suicide.
“Uh, did I miss something?” They all decided to turn their attention back to Twilight, who’d stopped next to the table and was looking at her friends with a raised eyebrow.
Rarity shook her head. “Never mind, dear. What did you want to see us all for?”
“An’ what’s the foal carrier for?” Rainbow asked, pointing at it. Twilight had it facing away from them, so they couldn’t see what was inside. “You foalsitting for somepony? Pinkie says you’re taking care of a foal. I mean, as if, right?”
Twilight merely smiled and turned her head to the foal carrier. Her horn glowed and a small yellow-furred, red and yellow maned, green-eyed unicorn foal was lifted out and she took the foal, holding it in her right forelimb.
“Everypony,” she smiled at her five friends and the filly she’d just noticed on the ceiling, “I’d like you to meet Sunset Shimmer. Say “hi”, Sunny.”
“Hi,” Sunset said, waving a tiny hoof at the five open-jawed ponies. The only one without an open jaw was, of course, Pinkie Pie.
Sunset Shimmer smiled at the other ponies all staring at her with wide open mouths.
She’d been a little nervous about meeting other ponies, she’d only really met three so far and a dragon, and one of those three had been a zebra, not a pony. But, Twilight’s friends seemed nice and she was curious to get to know them.
Twilight had told her a little about her five friends on their way to Sugarcube Corner. When she’d first seen the pastry shaped bakery Sunset had wondered if she was seeing things, then laughed at the design of the place.
It had taken longer than Twilight said it would take to get to Sugarcube Corner, though, because other ponies kept stopping Twilight, asking about Sunset and D’aaawing at her. It was funny at first, but after the first twenty times, it got the littlest bit annoying, the exception being a mint-green coloured unicorn with a lyre on her flank who’d been with a cream-coloured earth pony with a bubblegum coloured mane who’d had three candies on her flank. The earth pony had even smelt like candies.
“Oh, aren’t you just the cutest thing?” Fluttershy cooed, getting up, walking over and tickling Sunset’s chubby belly, causing her to giggle.
“So, mind tellin’ us why and how in the hay Sunset Shimmer’s back in Equestria when thirdy moons ain’t passed and why in tarnation she’s a foal?” Applejack asked, cocking an eyebrow at Twilight.
“I bet the Sunset Shimmer from here cast a spell on herself right before she went to the other world,” Pinkie said, her eyes bright. “A spell that, when she made physical contact with her other self, it casued a solar eclipse so that she could throw her other self into the portal and nopony else would see it.”
Everypony stared at Pinkie, but she continued.
“But the eclipse messed with the portal’s dimensional energies, so that, when Sunset Shimmer arrived in Equestria, she not only didn’t appear on the other side of the mirror, but appeared in one of the more mysteriously magical areas in Equestria, the Everfree Forest and was arrived three years and nine months in the future from the time she last stood in her world.”
There was silence as everypony just stared at Pinkie.
“How... could you possibly know that?” Rainbow asked, shaking her head.
“Just as hunch,” Pinkie chimed, then laughed. “I like the word "hunch". You ever noticed how it rhymes with so many things? Lunch, munch, bunch, crunch, brunch...”
Rainbow simply face-hoofed. “Pinkie Pie... you are so random!”
“Can you explain a bit easier, Twilight?” Applejack asked, turning to the alicorn holding the foal.
So Twilight explained the events of the previous night to her friends, though Fluttershy didn’t seem to be paying attention. She was too busy tickling Sunset’s tummy, making her giggle over and over.
When Twilight had finished explaining to her friends what had happened up until their arrival at Sugarcube Corner, her friends were all staring at her. Well, Rainbow, Rarity and Applejack were staring at her. Pinkie was frowning, her eyes closed, deep in thought and Fluttershy was still cooing at Sunset and prodding her belly.
“You know, I think it’s kinda cool,” Scootaloo said, coming down from the ceiling and making them all jump. Having stayed up there so long without saying a word, everypony had almost forgotten she was there.
“What do ya mean, squirt?” Rainbow asked, her brow furrowed.
“Now me, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle can try something new to get our Cutie Marks!”
And before anypony could ask her to explain further, the filly Pegasus was out the door and gone.
“So, um, Twilight, dear?” Rarity said, returning to her calm demeanor and smiling at her friend. “Are you really going to be caring for Sunset Shimmer, all on your own?”
“She’s not all on her own,” Fluttershy said, turning to the white unicorn. “She has Spike and all of us to help her.”
Rarity seemed to think about this for a minute. “Yes,” she said after a while. “I suppose you’re right, Fluttershy. But, Twilight? My I have a quick word?” Rarity asked, motioning for Twilight to follow her a little away from the table.
“Um, okay,” Twilight shrugged. She hoofed Sunset over to Fluttershy, who went back to cooing at the small filly.
Twilight followed Rarity til they could barely hear their friends anymore, meaning Rarity didn't want their friends to hear them either.
Rarity turned around and faced Twilight. “How are you feeding her?”
“Huh?” Twilight was taken aback. She hadn’t been expecting that. She’d been expecting Rarity to ask if Sunset would help her with a fashion line for little foals she told Twilight she was starting two days before.
“How are you feeding her?” Rarity asked again, her expression serious.
“Wh-why do you ask?” Twilight replied, trying to ignore the tiny blush that was starting to form on her muzzle, visible only to her eyes.
Rarity sighed. “Twilight, I know, just from looking at her, that Sunset Shimmer is only about three months old.”
Twilight’s mouth hung agape. How had Rarity spotted that? She never said anything about Sunset’s age. She knew Rarity had a keen eye, but she’d never have expected her to notice Sunset’s age that quickly.
“Wh-what’s your point?” Twilight asked, knowing her blush was spreading very quickly now across her face.
Twilight’s head shot up and her wings flared. “H-how did you—?”
“Twilight, I’ve had a very keen eye, ever since I was a filly,” Rarity said, stepping closer to her friend. “I watched my mother nurse Sweetie Bell when she was born and I know the look of a mare who’s been nursing.”
Twilight was certain her whole face was red now. Rarity had figured that all out, just be looking at her?
Rarity sighed again and her expression became concerned. “Twilight, I thought you should know that nursing is a very intimate experience between a foal and their mother.”
“B-but I’m not—” Twilight stuttered. She hadn’t been this flustered since the tardy incident.
“I know you’re not, dear,” Rarity said, putting a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “I’m just warning you, if you’re not careful, you may grow too attached to Sunset Shimmer.”
“Wh-what do you mean, “too attached”?” Twilight was genuinely worried now. Rarity had never spoken to her like this before.
Rarity looked very worried. “Twilight, from what you told me about how Sunset became a foal, I fear there may be a nasty side effect to those berries she ate.”
Twilight calmed down a little. “Yes, Zecora explained the side effects. Prolonged consumption of the berries can distort the mind, making it hard to remember more than a few days at a time."
When Rarity continued to look worried she added, "But, she assured me, even though she ate a lot of the berries, because it was the first time Sunset had ever eaten them, she should be immune to those side effects. She mentioned Sunset’s being from the other world might also have given her immunity.”
“I see,” Rarity still seemed a little unsure.
“Don’t worry, Rarity,” Twilight smiled and gave her friend a reassuring nuzzle. “Everything’ll be fine. Sunset won’t have any more problems.”
Rarity looked like she wanted to say something else, but simply sighed and nodded. “Very well, Twilight. Just, remember what I said about the nursing, alright? I would suggest bottle-feeding her instead.”
“It would still be my milk,” Twilight reminded her. “That wouldn’t change. She’s still too young for formula yet.”
“Yes, dear, I understand,” Rarity said, nodding. “Just... think about what I said, alright?”
Twilight nodded and headed back towards the table, where the others were all cooing and fussing over Sunset, who seemed to be enjoying all the attention.
Sunset smiled up at all the ponies around her. She’d never expected them all to be so friendly to her.
Twilight came back over with Rarity and Fluttershy hoofed Sunset back to her.
“I’ve just had THE BEST IDEA EVER!” Pinkie cried, bouncing into the air.
Her sudden cry made everypony in the bakery jump in fright.
Sunset’s eyes widened as she watched Pinkie hang in mid-air for several seconds before coming back down. She glanced at Twilight with a looked that said, “How did she just do that?”
Twilight chuckled. “I’ll explain later. At least, as best I can. When it comes to Pinkie , it’s hard to explain anything.” She turned to Pinkie. “What’s your idea, Pinkie?”
“Since this is the first time Sunset Shimmer’s ever been to Ponyville I’ll throw her a Welcome to Ponyville Party!” the pink mare cried, reaching under the table and somehow pulling out a large array of balloons, streamers and a chocolate cake so high it almost touched the ceiling.
“Huh?” was all Sunset could manage.
“Too bad the Cakes are out of town for the day,” Pinkie said, putting a hoof to her chin. “We coulda planned a play date— Oh, wait a minute!” Pinkie cried, her eyes growing wide. “If Sunset’s gonna grow up again, then, technically, midnight was her re-birthday! I’ll throw a Happy Re-Birthday and Welcome to Ponyville Bash!”
“Okay, Pinkie,” Twilight chuckled as the party pony bounced around the room. “Just remember she’s only a foal. Nothing too over the top, okay?”
“Noooooo problem!” Pinkie said, waving a hoof. “I’m the premier party planner. I know what I’m doing.”
“I get the feelin’ it’s still gonna be a big party,” Applejack muttered so only Twilight could hear.
Twilight nodded ever so slightly. Then she frowned. "Pinkie, I never told you she turned exactly three months old at midnight. how did you—?"
Pinkie gasped loudly, hanging in mid-air again. “I’d better get started right now!” And, before anypony could even blink, Pinkie seemed to just vanish into thin air.
Twilight shook her head, placed Sunset back in the foal carrier, said goodbye to her friends and the the two left.
As they walked out, Sunset glanced back behind them, expecting Pinkie to jump out of nowhere at any minute.
“There they are!” Scootaloo’s voice called out.
Sunset turned back to see Scootaloo and two other young fillies galloping towards them.
One was an earth pony with a bright red mane and tail, the former with a bright pink bow at the top and yellow fur that was slightly lighter than hers.
The other was a white-furred unicorn with a light-purple and white mixed mane and tail.
Those must be Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, Sunset thought, remembering what Scootaloo had shouted right before leaving Sugarcube Corner.
The three fillies stopped in front of the carrier and the two Sunset hadn’t met awwwwed at her.
“Are you really going to be taking care of her, Twilight?” The unicorn asked, looking up from Sunset to Twilight.
Twilight smiled. “Yes, I am. Sunset, these are Scootaloo’s friends, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle. Say hello.”
“Hewwo,” Sunset said, suppressing the urge to moan at her own speech slur.
But this just made the Cutie Mark Crusaders D’aaaww at her even more.
“So, what can I help you girls with?” Twilight asked, looking at each filly in turn.
The three stopped what they were doing and took a deep breath.
“Oh boy,” Twilight muttered, making Sunset turn her head, raising an eyebrow.
“CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS: BABY CARE ASSISTANTS!” the three fillies screamed, making Sunset nearly jump out of her straps.
When the ringing in her ears had stopped, Sunset turned back to Twilight. “You said we were gowing to see evwypony in town,” she said, giving a small smile. “Dey couwd come wif us.”
She was curious to know more about these fillies. She noticed none of them had marks on their flanks and, assuming Cutie Marks was the name for the marks on pony's flanks, that gave a small insight into why the fillies called themselves Cutie Mark Crusaders and she wanted to know just how they crusaded for their marks.
As if following a cue the three fillies all looked to Twilight with big puppy dog eyes that were so funny, Sunset struggled to keep herself from bursting into laughter.
Twilight sighed. “Okay, girls. You can come with us.”
The three fillies cheering was suddenly drowned out by a loud male voice shouting, “You fillies stop right there!”
“Uh oh,” Applebloom said, her ears dropping.
They all looked to see a large red stallion slowly making his way towards them, with a large sack filled with something on his back.
“Just a sec,” the yellow filly said, then shot towards the older pony.
Sunset glanced at Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, an eyebrow raised.
“That’s Apple Bloom’s big brother, Big Macintosh,” Scootalo explained, scratching her neck sheepishly. “I kinda got Apple Bloom to hurry after me when she was helping him carry that sack. Apparently it’s Mac’s turn to sell apples at the Apple Family stall today.”
Sunset would have asked her to explain that further, but decided not to. She could learn later. She had all day.
“I’ll help,” Twilight said, and they all headed towards Big Mac, who was showing signs of strain. He looked strong, but even he had to have his limits.
So the next few minutes were spent with Twilight using her magic to help Big Mac set up an apple stall.
Once it was finished, Big Mac thanked her and she and Sunset went on their way, the three fillies eagerly following them.
Twilight took them to Ponyville park. Here, she watched the CMC play around and coo at Sunset whenever she did something cute.
As they played, several animals came to play with them. Sunset couldn’t help but cuddle a baby rabbit that came up to her and sniffed her muzzle.
She watched Sunset playing with the young fillies and animals, smiling and giggled when a group of squirrels that had started running circles around her.
She was glad Sunset was so happy. She’d been worried she might not be able to adjust to the way she was now and had thought she’d refuse to play with anypony.
She was very glad to see she’d been wrong and how much fun Sunset was having.
“Twilight Sparkle? Is that really you?”
Twilight looked away from Sunset’s playing to see two ponies walking towards her, an earth pony and a unicorn.
“Octiva?” Twilight’s eyes lit up.
“I must say, I never expected to meet you today,” the grey coated earth pony smiled, walking up to Twilight and nuzzling her. “I haven’t seen you since... well...”
“Since that disaster that was the Grand Galloping Gala?” Twilight asked and the two chuckled.
Sunset heard laughter from Twilight’s direction and turned to see two ponies talking with her. One was a unicorn and the other an earth pony.
Putting down the bunny she’d just been letting tickle her hoof, Sunset crawled over to Twilight and pulled at her leg.
“Twiwight?” she asked and all three mares looked down. “Who awe dey?”
“Oh, isn’t she just the cutest?” the earth pony said in a very English sounding accent to Sunset’s ears. “Are you foalsitting for somepony, Twi?”
Twilight sat on her haunches and lifted Sunset into her forehooves and held her. “Actually, I’m taking care of her full time.”
“Wait, so you’re her mother?” the unicorn asked in a very New Yorken, and both Twilight and Sunset unanimously blushed.
“Oh, it’s not like that,” Twilight said, shaking her head. “I’m caring for Sunset because... well... She’s not exactly a normal foal. Oh, Sunset, these are Octiva Melody and her wife, Vinyl Scratch. Octiva and I once collaborated on a project, back in high school.”
Sunset didn’t hear her. Her mind had stopped listening after Twilight said the word wife.
Sunset knew these ponies. Thanks to Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle telling her about musical artists in Equestria, she knew that Vinyl went by the stage name, DJ-PON3 and was a great DJ and Octiva was a brilliant cellist. From what she’d been told Sunset couldn’t believe the two were married. She didn’t understand how two ponies that loved such opposite types of music could possibly be fall for one another. Then again, there was the old saying that opposites attract.
The two then explained that they’d come back to Ponyville for a with the intention of a small vacation, their jobs having become a tiny bit too stressful.
Twilight asked if they’d like to stay and while Octiva said that would be lovely, she and Vinyl had lunch reservations at the Golden Horse Shoe, Ponyville’s most pristine restaurant.
Twilight looked disappointed, but bid the two farewell and Sunset watched until they were both out of sight.
“Hey, was that DJ-PON3?” Scootaloo asked as she and the other CMC members ran over and looked up at Twilight.
Twilight nodded.
“Aw, rats!” Scootaloo stomped a hoof. “I coulda gotten her autograph.”
“Don’t worry, Scootaloo,” Twilight smiled. “I’m sure you’ll get another chance. She and Octavia and staying in Ponyville for a while.”
“She is?” Scootaloo’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree.
At that moment, Sunset stomach rumbled.
She blushed as Twilight asked, “Is somepony hungry?”
Sunset nodded and squirmed a little. She hoped Twilight wasn’t going to nurse her so openly in public, and not in front of the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
To Sunset’s relief, Twilight levitated a bottle of milk out from underneath the foal carrier with her magic.
Soon as it was close enough, Sunset clamped her mouth on the nibble and started drinking.
It was Twilight’s milk, she could taste it. She knew she was too young for formula yet, so Twilight must’ve put some of her milk into a bottle.
She was thankful the CMC didn’t know about this and vowed she’d never speak a word of it. Not at the cost of her life.
When the bottle was empty Twilight put Sunset over her shoulder and patted her a few times before Sunset belched.
Through her feeding the CMC had remained quiet, but when Sunset belched they D’aaawwed so much Sunset blushed more than she had all day.
They stayed in the park for another two hours (the first of which Sunset slept through after having her milk). During the second hour, Sunset played with the CMC and learned they did things she’d have never thought possible to be what their cutie marks would be.
When she mentioned this, they admitted that, to date, none of their crusades had ended with a Cutie Mark for any of them, which she knew already, their blank flanks being proof.
While they played, Sunset saw many ponies walking through the park, several stopping to watch her and the others play, then moving on.
Sunset found it strange how so many of the ponies seemed to vaguely remind her of people from her own street, back in the human world.
Half an hour later, Twilight rounded the girls up and they left the park.
As they were moving through the town square, Pinkie Pie appeared out nowhere screaming “Happy Re-Birthday and Welcome to Ponyville Sunset Shimmer!” and began Sunset’s Happy Re-Birthday and Welcome to Ponyville Bash.
The party was huge; Applejack had been right about that. Sunset was sure she’d never seen a party this big back in the human world before.
She now knew why Pinkie was called the premier party pony.
The party went on for ages. It had games like Pin the Tail on the Pony, which made Sunset chuckle at what it was ponifying and many other fun things, though most Sunset couldn’t be part of, since she was just a foal.
Pinkie had been thinking a little too much on making it fun for everypony, while forgetting not every pony was old enough for some of those games.
Sunset stayed with Twilight for most of the party, only joining in games like Limbo (which she won) and other games she was glad Pinkie had thought of that even foals could play.
When the day was coming to an end and the sun was almost beyond the horizon, Twilight and Sunset returned home, Sunset doing her best to stay awake. The party had been really fun and she was really tired.
There had been one downside to the party though.
Sunset was a mess.
While Twilight had been talking to a Pegasus named Raindrops after Sunset won the Limbo game, two unicorn colts by the names of Snips and Snails had knocked the table her carrier had been sitting next to and a punch bowl had fallen on top of her, soaking her in punch.
Now that the punch was almost all dry, Sunset was sticky all over, leafs and sticks having stuck to her as if her fur was made of Velcro proving it. It was very uncomfortable.
When they entered the library, Twilight took Sunset upstairs and bathed her.
As Twilight scrubbed her mane, Sunset decided to ask something that had been nagging at her since the party, and even before that. Something Octavia had said when they were at the park.
“Twiwight?” she asked, keeping her eyes closed so soap wouldn’t get into them.
“Yes?” Twilight asked, humming a little as she levitated some water over Sunset and rinsed her mane.
Sunset shifted a little in the tub. “Do you... see me as your dauwder?”
Twilight paused. “Why do you ask that?” she asked, her tone revealing nothing.
“Well...” Sunset started twiddling with her hooves. “Some fillies and colts at the party were asking me if my mommy is really nice.” She turned and looked up at Twilight. “Dey tought you were my mommy. And Octawi tought you were my mommy too.”
Twilight said nothing for a few moments, then asked quietly, “And what do you think?”
Sunset looked down. against her will, tears started forming in her eyes. “I... I...” She wailed, startling Twilight. “I wish you were my mommy!”
She buried her face in her hooves and started sobbing.
Twilight quickly picked Sunset up in her hooves and cradled her, cooing, trying to calm her down.
“Sunset, why are you crying? Didn’t you have a mother, back in the other world?”
Twilight gasped. She had temporarily forgotten about how the other world was a sort of mirror world of Equestria, only with humans instead of ponies.
If the Sunset Shimmer from Equestria didn’t have any living relatives, then it was the same in the other world.
“Who cared for you then?” Twilight asked as she patted Sunset’s back, still trying to calm the little foul down.
Sunset's sobbing lessened to sniffles and she hiccuped. “M-m-my st-st-stewp p-p-p-parents took care o-o-of me,” she managed through small sobs, burying her muzzle deeper into Twilight’s shoulder. “Th-they were k-k-kind to m-m-m-me. B-b-b-but...”
“They weren’t your parents,” Twilight murmured, knowing what she would say.
Sunset pulled back and looked at Twilight’s face, sniffing. “Y-you’re the f-f-fiwst t-to e-ever be l-l-like a m-mowfer to m-me.”
A small smile made its way across Twilight's face and she hugged the damp filly close. “If you want to think of me as your mother... you can.”
Sunset sniffled, returning Twilight’s embrace. “Tank you,” she whispered.
They stayed that way until Sunset let out a loud sneeze and Twilight remembered that she had yet to dry her.
As soon as Sunset was all dry, her stomach made a loud growling noise.
“I take it somepony’s hungry?” Twilight smiled and Sunset blushed.
Twilight took Sunset up to her room, changed her diaper, then laid down on her bed and Sunset began suckling without hesitation.
She remembered what Rarity had said, back at Sugarcube Corner, about suckling being a very intimate time between foals and their mothers.
While Rarity had advised Twilight that she would do better to feed Sunset her milk from a bottle, so as not to form such a bound, after what Sunset had told her in the bathroom, Twilight thought a moment that made Sunset feel more like she was with her mother was a wiser move.
And, as Sunset suckled her milk, Twilight realized she was enjoying the experience, as if she was a mother feeding her foal.
That was when it dawned on her. Sunset saw Twilight like her mother... and Twilight saw Sunset like her daughter.
She closed her eyes and let her mind wander into these new thoughts.
She had decided to care for Sunset out of kindness, but, somehow, over a period of just a day, that had changed and she now wanted to care for her for an entirely different reason. She now had a daughter.
When Sunset was finished her milk, Twilight sat up and smiled down at the filly. “Better?”
Sunset yawned and rubbed an eye with a hoof. “Bedder,” she said sleepily.
“I think it’s time a little filly went to bed,” Twilight said, taking Sunset in her hooves and floating towards the small crib next to her bed that she’d had spike build while they’d been out.
“Um, Twiwight?”
The small voice made the alicorn looked down at the foal in her arms. “Yes?”
Sunset blushed a little. “Can I... sweep wif you agawn?”
Twilight blinked. “How come?”
Two bright green eyes looked up into her lavender ones. “I wike sweeping wif you.”
Twilight was stunned for a moment, then she smiled warmly, nodded and carried Sunset back to the bed.
The two lay down; Twilight wrapping her wings around the tiny foal and Sunset snuggled into Twilight’s chest, falling asleep almost at once.
Twilight beamed at the sleeping foal. “Good night, my little filly.”
Still asleep, Sunset yawned and murmured, “G'night... mommy.”
Twilight felt her heart swell. She leaned closer, kissed Sunset’s mane and went to sleep, her daughter wrapped in her wings.
“Morning, Applejack,” Twilight smiled at the farm pony as she stood outside the Apple Family house, Sunset next to her in her carrier.
It had been three weeks since Twilight had taken in the foal Sunset Shimmer. Two days after Twilight had decided to be her mother; she’d gone with Sunset to the adoption agency and made it official. Sunset Shimmer was now Sunset Shimmer-Sparkle.
The hyphen name was Sunset’s idea. Twilight had thought it sounded a little weird, but since her daughter wanted to have her mother’s last name, she agreed.
Over those weeks, Twilight had been bringing Sunset to Sweet Apple Acres to play with Applebloom and the other Cutie Mark Crusaders.
She smiled warmly as the four played, one of the CMC sometimes letting Sunset ride on their back as they ran around.
The weeks had had a lot more eventfulness though. Sunset had been in on Fluttershy using her Flutterguy voice to hide Big Mac losing his voice so the Pony Tones could perform, she’d had to calm Sunset down after she’d been woken from her afternoon nap when the CMC had brought all the fillies and colts from school to their Twilight Time session and she’d had to ask Cheerliee to watch Sunset when she and the girls had to help the Breezies get back to their world by her using a spell to turn them all into Breezies themselves.
It had been an exhausting time for the new mother, but she was taking it in her stride.
“Are the girls in?” Twilight asked as Applejack let her in.
“...Yeah.”
Twilight stopped and looked at Applejack. Her tone was of worry.
“Applejack, is something wrong?” Twilight asked.
Applejack looked surprised, then relaxed. “Guess Ah can’t hide anythin’ fr’m you, can Ah, Twi?”
She sighed and motioned for Twilight to follow her. They went into the living room and sat down on the couch, Twilight levitating Sunset out of the carrier and onto her lap.
“Sum’in’s been bothering me,” Applejack said, not looking at Twilight. “It’s about Scootaloo.”
Twilight and Sunset both blinked. “Scootaloo?”
“Sum’in’ Rainbow told me after she an’ the girls got back fr’m the Crystal Empire.”
Twilight nodded, indicating for her to go on.
“I never realized Scoots was an orphan,” Applejack slumped her shoulders.
Sunset looked up at Twilight, who sighed. “I’ve known for a while now.”
Both Sunset and Applejack looked at her in shock.
“How?” was all the farm pony could ask.
“Her independence,” Twilight said quietly.
She’d noticed right from the beginning that Scootaloo was more independent than most fillies her age. And after Rainbow told her how Scootaloo had been desperate for Rainbow to be like her big sister on the camping trip they’d taken with Applejack, Rarity and their sisters, it had clicked in Twilight’s mind.
“So, what do we do about it?” Applejack asked. She seemed genuinely worried that a filly like Scootaloo didn’t have a family.
“Well, I can think of one thing,” Twilight said, not noticing she’d tightened her grip ever so slightly around Sunset.
“An’ what’s that?” Applejack asked, leaning forward. “She’s my sister’s best friend. I’d do anythang to help.”
“Adoption.”
Applejack’s face went blank at the word. Then she raised an eyebrow. “Yer askin’ me ta adopt Scootaloo?”
“I never said that,” Twilight said, looking away, a small blush appearing on her face.
“You mean you?”
Sunset’s voice made Twilight flinch, before she turned to see Applejack giving her a very confused look.
“Why in tarnation would you adopt Scootaloo?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “Ya’ll already got yer hooves full with Sunset, dontcha?”
“I guess it’s a motherly reflex,” Twilight murmured, her blush growing by the second. “Now that I’m a mother... I don’t want a filly I know to suffer without a family.”
Applejack shook her head. “I’d suggest thinking this through a little first, Twi. Ya’ll already caring fer one foal. And... well... Scoots has a few other problems ya’d need to think about.”
Twilight blinked, then frowned at her friend. “What do you mean “problems”?”
Applejack sighed, she was doing that a lot today, Twilight noted.
Applejack looked firmly at Twilight. “Twi, you ever notice, despite her bein’ a Pegasus, how little Scootaloo flies?”
Twilight cocked her head as she thought of this. Now that she ran over her memories, she’d never really seen the orange Pegasus fly. Hover, yes. Make it all the way to the interior roof of Sugarcube Corner, yes, that was only three weeks ago. But fly? No. She’d never seen Scootaloo actually fly before.
“What are you getting at?”
Applejack took a deep breath, looking like she was about to say something taboo. “Her wing’re deformed.”
It took a few seconds for what she’d said to process through Twilight’s mind, but before she could respond, the farm pony went on.
“Ah don’t pretend Ah know much about flying, but Ah know when somethin’ has too small the wings ta fly and Scoots’ wing’re too small for a filly her age.”
She got up and walked over to a small picture of her little sister and her friends.
“Ah know Rainbow’s been tryin’ to be brave about it, she knows how much that filly looks up ta her and’s been tryin’ ta help her fly better. But even if she were ta help Scoots for a thousand years, I don’ thank it’d do much diff’rence. Her wings just ain’t able to help ’er fly.”
Twilight had put her hooves over Sunset’s ears. She didn’t want her to know this. It’d show every time she was around Scootaloo. Foals were a little too honest, even when they were trying not to be. Pound and Pumpkin Cake were a prime example.
“There’s not much we can really do though,” the alicorn sighed, shaking her head. “If somepony had gotten her help when she was a newborn, her wings could’ve been fixed. But, now that’s she grown so much...”
“It wouldn't help none,” Applejack nodded, her face fallen.
Twilight sighed. “Maybe Sunset shouldn’t play with Scootaloo and the others today. Even though she hasn’t heard much, she knows enough that it’ll be on her mind.”
Applejack nodded again. “’Sides, I ain’t even seen Scoots around t’day. Only Sweetie Belle came ta play. Don’t know why, but that Pegasus has been avoidin’ me since two days ago.”
Twilight nodded, taking her hooves off of Sunset’s ears and lowered her into her carrier.
Sunset didn’t complain, meaning she understood she shouldn’t play with the CMC today, not after she’d learned about Scootaloo being an orphan.
Luckily she didn’t know the rest. It would have broken her heart and Twilight wouldn’t allow that to happen to her filly.
As she bid Applejack farewell and the two of them headed off, Twilight’s mind was stuck on Scootaloo.
Though she rarely showed it, the Pegasus was very touchy about family matters, which Twilight understood. It couldn’t be easy for Scootaloo, having to friends with such loving families, while all she had was a room and a few belongings.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Sunset calling to her.
She looked into the carrier to see the filly giving her a pleading look. She was hungry.
Twilight’s smile returned. She lifted Sunset out with her hooves, levitated a bottle of milk from the basket of the carrier, sat on her haunches and started feeding her.
“Gotcha!” Scootaloo cried, leaping at Applebloom, who ducked, the gape where she’d been leaving the Pegasus to sprawl on the ground.
“Missed me, missed me, now ya gotta kiss me,” Applebloom playfully teased, then ran off.
Scootaloo grinned, shaking her head. “Say what you will about Earth Ponies not being able to fly or use magic, they’re dang... fast...”
She’d started getting up, when she’d spotted something outside the school gate.
Twilight was sitting across the school. She was holding Sunset in her forelimb, feeding her.
The smile on both their faces made the Pegasus tear up a little.
When she realized she was crying she wiped her eyes with her forehoof and checked that none of the others kids had seen.
Sure enough, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were still running, playing tag with Dinky and several other fillies and colts.
She turned back to watching Twilight feed Sunset.
She sat there, just watching, seeing the look on both their faces. Mother and daughter. A family.
Scootaloo was so jealous of Sunset. She was from the other world, had somehow gotten sent to Equestia, turned into a foal and ended up having Twilight as a mom since she couldn’t return to her world, especially now she was a baby.
If only she were so lucky. Every time a pony couple or a single pony had come to the orphanage, looking for a foal to adopt, they’d taken one look at her wings and then moved to the next filly or colt.
She cursed herself. She’d been taking lessons from Rainbow ever since that time Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon had teased her about not being able to fly.
She’d gotten better. She was able to fly really high now compared to her best efforts when she’d been trying to do it so she could fly at the flag carrying competition, but she was nowhere near a good flyer yet. Heck, even Pound Cake could fly better than her, and he was a baby!
The bell signalling the end of lunch sounded and Scootaloo joined the rest of the fillies and colts as they headed in, hiding her sadness by acting tough, like she always did.
Several days after their talk with Applejack, late one the afternoon, Twilight was reorganizing the library for the third time that day while Sunset was playing with a Wonderbolts toy Rainbow Dash had gotten her. It was Fleet Foot. While one of the lesser known of the Wonderbolts, Sunset liked her because she reminded her of her favorite soccer player by the same name, back in the other world.
She’d started making sure she stopped referring to it as her world. Now that she was a baby, she was going to be living in Equestria for a long time. Even when she was old enough to return to that world as a human, would she really want to?
The other Sunset Shimmer had clearly taken over her life since they’d met what still seemed like only three weeks ago for her and her returning wouldn’t do any good. If anything, it would cause a huge problem.
The fact that was if the media found out there were two of her, one younger than the other, it could risk Equestria being discovered and she knew the government wouldn’t sit idly by while there was a world filled with unicorns with spells that could easily outshine their own military weapons and then it would been an inter-dimensional war.
Besides that, it was clear the other Sunset Shimmer liked her life in that world far better than Sunset had. She seemed on top of the world when Twilight had first arrived from what her mother had told her about her adventure into that world.
But for Sunset, there she was an orphan in the foster care system, though clearly enough time had passed that the other Sunset Shimmer was living on her own now, while here, she had a mother and friends who played with her and didn’t judge her.
At that moment the door to the library banged open, startling both ponies.
Sunset threw her doll into the air and Twilight dropped the books she’d been levitating, one of them hitting Sunset on her head, making her cry out.
Standing in the doorway were Applebloom and Sweetie Belle.
“Girls, what’s going?” Twilight asked, taking Sunset in her hooves and hushing her. Despite everything, Sunset had started whimpering like a normal foal because of the pain in her head.
Both fillies responded at the same time. “Scootaloo wasn’t at school today!”
Twilight looked up from her daughter to the fillies, an eyebrow raised. “Maybe she was sick and had to stay in her room today?”
Both fillies shook their heads frantically.
“She’s not even at the orphanage!” Sweetie Belle cried, her voice squeaky with fright. “I went over and they said they hadn’t seen her since she left for school several days ago.”
Sunset felt a small flicker of panic, overriding the pain from being hit on the head with a book.
Scootaloo was an orphan. If she hadn’t been at the orphanage last night, something must have happened.
Sunset had never really liked the orphanage she’d been in, and even when she’d gotten into the foster care system it had only been a bit better, but she knew it was worse being on your own.
She tried it when she was six. She’d gone hungry more nights than she could bother to count and when she’d ended up in the foster care system, she’d welcomed it.
If Scootaloo was on her own, there was no telling what could happen to her. Ponyville was a nice place and she hadn’t heard of any crimes ever happening, from what her mother had told her, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t maybe that one pony with a dark heart hidden under a friendly exterior.
“Girls, stay here and watch Sunset for me,” Twilight said, giving Sunset to Applebloom. “I’m gonna go out and look for her.”
And before any of them could say anything Twilight was out the door and gone.
Sunset looked up at Applebloom. “I weally hope my mom finds her.”
Scootaloo trudged through the alley she now called home, stepping over some empty plastic cups and stopped at the box sitting by the right-side wall.
She walked into it and closed the flaps.
She didn’t look at the few posters she’d brought from her room at the orphanage, lay down and rolled onto her side, ignoring the growling of her stomach.
She hated not having regular meals, but she didn’t want to be at the orphanage anymore either. What was the point when nopony was going to adopt her anyway?
The only things she had left were her Cutie Mark Crusaders cape, her saddle bags and her scooter.
But even with her few possessions, she still preferred living like this than at the orphanage.
All the other fillies and colts still teased her about her wings and how she’d never find a family because of them.
Whenever she tried to stop them by saying how Rainbow Dash had taken her on as something like a little sister, they just laughed and called her a liar, saying that Rainbow Dash would never want to be her sister.
With that, the fact nopony would adopt her and how none of the staff had tried to stop the teasing, she was better off living on her own.
“Oh, dear Scootaloo. I never thought I’d see you sink this low.”
Scootaloo’s eyes shot open and she glared at the wall of the box. She knew that voice. Hard not too when he’d caused so much chaos and then how little he’d helped when those plants from the Everfree, which, according to Rainbow Dash, he’d planted a little over a thousand years ago, had been attacking.
“Leave me alone, Discord,” she said, closing her eyes and looking at the other wall of the box.
“Well, isn’t that a bit rude?”
Scootaloo felt herself suddenly being held by her tail as she looked at the ground of the alley.
She turned her head and glared at the draconequus as he held her like a doll by her tail.
“Let. Me. Down.”
Discord gently lowered her to the ground and she turned to face him, still glaring.
“Come now, Scootaloo, is that any way to be to a friend?” he asked, looking offended.
Scootaloo snorted. “Since when have we been friends?”
Discord shrugged. “Okay, you got me. But can’t a guy want to help somepony in need?”
Scootaloo turned away. “Why would you help me?”
“Because I don’t like seeing a little filly in so much distress?”
Scootaloo shot him a glare from over her shoulder.
“Alright, alright,” he said, holding his paw and claw in front of him. “You’re got me; I do like watching ponies in distress. It’s still amusing, even if I have been reformed.”
Scootaloo wasn’t so sure he was reformed. He still caused a lot of trouble wherever he went. The only question was what kind of trouble would he be causing her?
“Anyway,” Discord continued, acting kinder than Scootaloo knew he normally would, “I noticed how stressed you’ve been and I thought this might make you feel better.”
He held out his claw and a cup of blue tea appeared in a tea-cup above it.
Scootaloo turned around, an eyebrow cocked. “Tea? You know I don’t drink tea, Discord. I’m a filly.”
“Oh please,” Discord waved her words away— literally, her words seemed to appear out of thin air and he waved them away. “When Celestia was a filly she drank tea all the time, even when she was younger than you.”
Scootaloo frowned. “She did?”
She wasn’t bothering to question how Discord would know this. She knew he’d been around since Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were a lot younger.
“Indeed,” Discord nodded, holding the cup out and she took it. “I promise, drink this and things will be better for you.”
Scootaloo didn’t really trust the draconequus, but her stomach was begging for something and this tea would help, even if only a little.
She took a sip, not noticing the mischievous grin plastered on Discord’s face.
“Scootaloo?” Twilight called as she ran through the streets. “Scootaloo, where are you?”
It was dark now and she’d had to illuminate her horn so she could keep looking for Scootaloo.
She been searching for the filly for several hours now, but it was as if the Pegasus had simply vanished.
Twilight stopped to catch her breath near an alley way.
When she had enough oxygen back in her lungs to let her think clearly, she noticed a sound that made her pause. It was a sound she’d become familiar to since taking in Sunset.
Crying. Foal crying.
She turned her head. It was coming from the alley.
Curious, Twilight made her way through the alley, stepping over bits of trash here and there.
When she reached the source of the crying she stood still.
A small orange Pegasus foal with a crop of purple mane was lying on the ground in a pool of what looked like its own pee.
It was crying, flailing its tiny hooves around, screaming at the top of its lungs.
Twilight picked the foal up in her magic and carried it to her and held it in her forehooves.
This made it stop crying and it looked up at her with eyes a light shade of lavender. Tears were still in its eyes.
The poor thing. Who would go and leave a little foal in an alley all on its own like this? It was female. It wasn’t even wearing a diaper.
“Who went and left you all alone like this?” she asked, her heart hurting. Now that she was a mother, the idea that somepony could do something this horrible to a foal made her blood boil.
“Scooawoo,” she said, looking up at Twilight with both fear... and anger?
“What do you mean, little one?” she asked, though wondered why, since she doubted the foal could communicate in conversation.
“Scooawoo!” the foal cried again, looking firmly up at Twilight.
“Scooawoo?” Twilight was puzzled, then she smiled. “Oh, you heard me calling for Scootaloo. I guess you wouldn’t be able to tell me if you’ve seen her, huh?”
“NO!” the filly screamed, flailing her forelegs around. “Scooawoo! Iw'm Scooawoo!”
Twilight blinked. She looked into the alley and her eyes fell on several things that caught her attention. One of the Cutie Mark Crusaders' capes lying on the ground and Scootaloo's scooter resting behind a cardboard box, her saddlebags resting onto of it.
She looked back down at the foal. “Could you repeat that, little one?”
It couldn’t be. There was no way. This filly couldn’t possibly be...
“Scooawoo, Twiwight!” the tiny pony screamed, glaring at her. “I. AM. SCOOAWOO!”
Twilight gasped. “Scootaloo? Is... Is that really you?”
The filly nodded, whimpering.
Twilight stared, her eyes wide. “But, I don’t understand. How did this happen?”
“Well, I believe I did my part.”
Twilight groaned. She knew that voice. Every time she heard it her brain got ready for the impact of a serious headache.
There was a popping sound and Discord appeared, floating above her.
“He did dis!” Scootaloo shouted, pointing a hoof at the draconequus. “Have gave me tea dat turwned me to a baby! I din’a ask for dis!”
Twilight narrowed her eyes at the mismatched creature. “Is this true, Discord?”
Discord shrugged. “I don’t see why she’s so upset. I told her things would be fine if she drank the tea I made with the last of my Baby Berries and—”
“You made tea with WHAT?” Twilight screamed, her face going red.
Discord put his paw over his mouth, hiding the snicker. “Well, I couldn’t let that bunch you left at your zebra friend’s hut go to waste now, could I?”
Twilight blinked. The bunch she left... Oh no. She face-hoofed. She’d dropped her telekinetic hold on those berries when Zecora told her to show her where they’d found the berries.
“I sensed my last bush was recently activated, so I went to take care of it,” Discord explained, acting as if this wasn’t serious at all. “Image how happy I was when I found you’d destroyed it—”
“Wait. Your bush?” Twilight could feel the urge to turn Discord back to stone at that moment biting at her forethoughts.
Discord blinked. “Oh! You didn’t know? The Baby Berry bushes were my own creation. However, once I saw they were causing too much chaos, even for me, I didn’t stop Celestia and Luna from destroying them. I didn’t help, but I didn’t stop them. I am the spirit of chaos, after all. I needed to uphold my reputation.”
“Wait. You created the Baby Berries?” Twilight’s left eyebrow was twitching.
“Yes,” Discord nodded, seemingly oblivious to Twilight’s anger. “Had I known they’d cause more chaos than even I would like however, I’d never have done so.”
“Then why did you give Scootaloo tea you’d made with the last of them?” Twilight demanded.
Discord shrugged. “I wouldn’t want food to go to waste.” He ignored Twilight’s faster twitching eye. “Besides, things are better for her now, are they not?”
The tone of his voice when he asked the question made Twilight pause, raising an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Well, now that she’s a foal, I highly doubt you’re just going to just leave her all alone, are you, Princess Twilight?” he smirked, leaning in a little. “I don’t see you putting her into an orphanage at this age either. Do you?”
And with that he vanished, leaving Twilight with the now foal Scootaloo.
“When I get my hooves on him...” she muttered, grinding her teeth.
Twilight suddenly became aware that Scootaloo wasn’t saying anything. She looked down to see the little Pegasus had fallen asleep, curled up against Twilight’s chest.
Despite her anger at Discord, Twilight smiled gently. “Let’s get you to the library, Scootaloo,” she whispered, flapping her wings and heading back in the direction of the library. “We’ll handle this tomorrow.”
As Twilight walked into the library she saw Spike putting a few of the books she’d dropped when Applebloom and Sweetie Belle had come charging in back on their shelves.
The entire library was cleaned up. Spike must have put everything away while she’d been out looking for the filly now sleeping against her chest.
She glanced around and noticed the other fillies were gone.
“I’m guessing Applejack and Rarity came by and took their sisters home?” she asked, closing the door behind her with her magic as she walked in.
“Yeah,” Spike said, not looking around as he placed the last book on the shelf. “They apologize since you asked those two to watch Sunset while you were out, but they needed to get to bed since they have school tomorrow. So, did you find Scootaloo?” he asked as he turned around and hopped down from the ladder he’d been using to reach the highest shelf.
“... Sort of,” she replied, shifting the foreleg she was holding the filly in a little to keep her comfortable.
Spike noticed how she was holding her leg and frowned. “What’s up, Twi? And, if you found her, where is Scootaloo? Did you take her straight back to the orphanage?”
Twilight shook her head and lowered her foreleg a little so Spike could see what she was holding.
The baby dragon’s eyes went wide. “That isn’t...?” Twilight’s nod confirmed his answer. “But... how?”
Twilight rolled her eyes. “Discord. He tricked Scootaloo into drinking some tea he’d made using the last of the Baby Berries.”
Spike raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Why?”
Twilight snorted. “He said he didn’t want to waste food.”
“Likely story,” Spike frowned, folding his arms.
“Although... he said the other reason was so things would be better for Scootaloo,” Twilight murmured, looking down at the sleeping filly.
“And you believe that?” Spike asked, giving Twilight a skeptical look.
“At first I didn’t,” Twilight said, as Scootaloo gave a small yawn and curled a little closer to her. “But then he said he couldn't see me leaving her alone now she’s a foal or putting her back in the orphanage. And... I think he's right.”
“Twi?” Spike asked, stepping forward. “You’re not thinking of adopting Scootaloo too, are you?”
Twilight sighed. “Let’s just get her cleaned up, diapered and put to bed for now, okay, Spike? We’ll figure this out tomorrow.”
Spike seemed to decide she had a point and they headed upstairs.
Twilight quickly cleaned Scootaloo, doing her best not to wake the small filly, then put a diaper on her and lowered her into Sunset’s crib next to a sleeping Sunset.
With the foals taken care of, Twilight and Spike got into bed and went to sleep.
Chapter 6 Not Dreaming. Is That a Good Thing? _____________________________________________________________________
A loud knocking came from downstairs, rousing Twilight from her sleep.
She sat and looked to the crib, worried the foals had been awoken.
To her relief, they still seemed to be asleep.
Twilight got out and bed and headed downstairs.
The knocking became louder and more insistent.
“Okay, okay. Hold your horses,” Twilight called as her horn glowed, the same close encasing the door.
No sooner had it opened then it was thrown back and Applebloom and Sweetie Belle ran in, bowling into the alicorn.
The three tumbled a few metres, smashing into one of the bookshelves. Several books fell off their shelves and dropped on top of them.
Twilight glared at the two fillies, who smiled sheepishly.
“Um... sorry about that, Twilight,” Sweetie Belle said as she and Applebloom got up and said alicorn shook her wings.
“Yeah, sorry,” Applebloom said, shuffling her hooves a little. “We were just wonderin’...”
Twilight glared turned into an understanding smile. “You wanted to find out what happened to Scootaloo.”
“Did ya find ’er?” Applebloom’s voice rose as she asked, her eyes filled with worried.
Twilight gently nodded.
“YAY!” both fillies screaming, slapping hi-hooves.
“Shh!” Twilight whispered, making the fillies pause. “You’ll wake the girls.”
“Oh,” Sweetie Belle blushed and looked down smiling. “Sunset’s still sleeping, huh?”
“Well it is only 6:30 in the morning,” Twilight chuckled. “Applebloom’s family might get up earlier than that, but two foals aren’t likely to do so.”
The two fillies frowned in confusion.
“Foals?” Applebloom asked, cocking her head. “Ah thought ya’ll only had Sunset?”
Twilight gave another chuckle and motioned for the girls to follow her upstairs.
The three ponies quietly walked upstairs and entered Twilight’s room.
Twilight walked over to the crib and indicated for the two younger ponies to look in.
They came over and looked in.
Inside the crib Sunset was wearing blue woolen full-body pajamas. Next to her was the foal Scootaloo, sleeping soundly. She was a bit bigger than Sunset, maybe a year old. The two foals had curled up next to each other in their sleep.
The sight made the two fillies and the older mare D’aaaaaaaaaw, before both Sweetie Belle and Applebloom’s eyes went wide as they realized who they’d just D’aaawed at and turned to Twilight, bewilderment filling their features.
Twilight asked them to sit down, which they did and she explained what had happened when she’d found Scootaloo.
The two looked horrified when they learned Discord had done this two their friend, but Twilight assured them that, aside from becoming a foal, Scootaloo seemed perfectly fine and she was going to take her to the hospital later that morning after she’d woken to get her checked-up.
“So, what about her stuff?” Applebloom asked, glancing from the crib to Twilight.
Twilight’s eyes widened and she face-hoofed. “I can’t believe I forgot to grab Scootaloo’s stuff before coming back to the library. Girls, watch them for a bit, til I get back with Scoots’ things.”
There was a flash of purple light and Twilight was gone.
What a weird dream. Discord giving comforting words, then she turned into a foal and being found by Twilight?
Yeah... like she’d be that lucky. The only thing she’d see when she opened her eyes was the brown wall of the cardboard box.
She felt warm though, warmer than she knew her box would make her. Plus, what were those noises around her?
She tried to focus, making the sounds become clearer.
“Ya thank she’ll remember us?” a voice that sounded a look like Applebloom said from somewhere.
“Maybe,” Sweetie Belle’s voice seemed to answer. “I wonder how she’ll react to all this? Wait! What’ll this do to our group? Can we really be the Cutie Mark Crusaders with a baby as one of our founding members?”
Okay, that was a little harsh, especially for her friends. Sure, she’d left the orphanage instead of staying there, but they didn’t have to call her a baby.
Scootaloo opened her eyes, rubbing the sleep from them. What she saw made her eyes widen.
Sunset was sleeping next to her, wearing blue woollen pyjamas that covered her body from the neck down.
Wait. Why was Sunset sleeping next to her in the first place?
Scootaloo slowly sat up and felt something soft on her flank, followed by a crinkling sound.
She looked down and saw a white diaper.
Her frown deepened. Why in Equestria was she wearing a diaper? She’d stopped wetting the bed ages ago... and she wasn’t in the orphanage, so who put it on her?
“Hey, Scootaloo’s awake.”
Sweetie Belle’s voice made Scootaloo look up and what she saw made her jaw drop and filled her with fear.
Her follow crusaders were towering over her and looking down at her through the bars of a... crib?
“Wha—?” she said, looking around frantically. It looked like Twilight Sparkle’s bedroom, but much bigger than she remembered. “Wat hawppened?” She gasped, putting her hooves to her throat. Her voice had gotten higher and she’d spoken like a baby.
Tears started forming in her eyes. She didn’t want to be a baby, not again. She could vaguely remember a little from when she’d been a baby. It wasn’t much, but she’d been about a year old when a fire had killed her parents, leaving her all alone and sent to the orphanage.
Her friends started cooing, trying to calm her down, but she couldn’t hear them. All that was going through the little Pegasus’ mind was her memories of last night, for what was happening now confirmed they were memories, not a dream.
There was a flash of purple light and another voice joined her friends. “Oh dear, Scootaloo, please don’t cry.”
Scootaloo felt somepony pick her up and she opened her eyes to see Twilight smiling down at her. She was holding her in her forehooves.
“Wat—?” Scootaloo sniffed, trying to speak through the sobs threatening to overtake her. “W-wat h-h-h-happened?”
Twilight started rocking her and murmured quietly, “Discord gave you the last of the Baby Berries, the same ones that turned my Sunset into a foal.”
“C-can I ch-ch-chawnge back?” she asked as Twilight wiped a fear of her tears away.
Twilight smiled sadly and shook her head. “I’m afraid not, Scootaloo. You’ll have to grow up again, just like Sunset does.”
Scootaloo started crying again and buried her face into Twilight’s chest.
She felt the alicorn’s hold on her tighten in a hug. “Don’t worry, Scootaloo. If it comes to it, I’ll take care of you too.”
Scootaloo stopped at this and looked up, shocked. Had Twilight just said what she thought she’d just said?
“You... You wouwd? Youw'd be my mommy?” she asked, doing her best to say the words and inwardly groaning at how much they sounded like baby-talk.
Twilight seemed to hesitate, dashing Scoots’ hopes, then she smiled. “If you want.”
Scootaloo hugged her as tightly as possible while shouting, “Tankyoutankyoutankyou!”
A mother! Oh, sweet merciful Celestia! She had waited so long for a day like this!
Although, when she'd pictured getting a mother, not once had she seen herself as a foal again. That was definitely different.
She felt Twilight pat her diaper and heard her give a small chuckle.
“It seems somepony needs a diaper change.”
Scoots’ face went bright red. She’d peed herself in her sleep? Seriously?
“Mommy?”
All turned to the crib, where Sunset had sat up and was rubbing her eyes with a hoof. She looked around, saw Scootaloo and raised an eyebrow. “Somepony mind expwain’ dis to me? Why’s Scoowts’ a foawl?”
After she finished explaining everything about the previous night to Sunset, Scootaloo and the fillies so they all understood everything, all of which she’d done after changing both foal’s diapers, she turned to the two now oldest members of the CMC.
“Do you still feel that Scootaloo is your friend?”
She didn’t like asking such a question, one, because she knew the answer already, and two, because she knew it was worrying Scootaloo. The poor thing was afraid that, now she was a baby, her friends wouldn’t want to be her friends anymore.
“O’ course she is,” Appleboom said firmly, stomping a hoof. “Ah’d never stop bein’ friends with Scoots just cuz she’s a foal now.”
“Same here,” Sweetie Belle nodded, smiling sweetly at Scootaloo in Twilgiht’s forehooves. “Plus, she’s so cute now.”
Scootaloo blushed and tried to bury herself deeper into Twilgiht fur, wanting to just hide herself.
She hated cute and now she was cute? Not cool, so not cool— Oh, Celestia! What would Rainbow Dash think?
Twilight could tell these were the things going through Scoots’ mind as she felt the small foal dig deeper into her fur.
She couldn’t help it. It caused her to smile warmly.
“Okay, girls,” Twilight said to the two fillies that weren’t wearing diapers. “We’ve been talking for a while now. Shouldn’t you be heading off for school?”
“Oh my gosh!” Sweetie Belle cried, a hoof flying to her mouth. “It’s that time already? Rarity will kill me if I come home with a tardy note!”
Twilight felt herself flinch at the word “tardy”, but hid it and continued to smile.
She put Scootaloo down on the bed with Sunset and followed the girls to the door and closed it behind them once they’d left.
She went over to the cupboards and quickly prepared some formula. She wasn’t one hundred percent sure, but she had the feeling, unlike Sunset, Scootaloo’s body was physically old enough to came down formula. But if not, she still had an alternative.
Once she’d finished making the formula, she went back upstairs to find the two foals talking.
“... weally not embawissed about woosing a diapy?” Scootaloo was asking Sunset, a look of astonishment on her face.
Sunset shook her head. “Nope. I got over dat afer de fiwst week.”
“Hmm,” Scootaloo said, putting a hoof to have mouth, a pondering look on her face.
The look was so cute Twilight couldn’t help but giggle, turning to the two foals’ attention to her.
Twilight walked over to the bed, got on it and laid down. “Feeding time.”
Sunset crawled over and clamped her mouth on one of Twilight’s teats and began suckling.
Twilight looked to Scootaloo and saw she’d been rooted to the spot, a look of shock and horror on her face.
It took a second for Twilight to understand why and she chuckled.
“Don’t worry, Scootaloo,” she said, motioning with a hoof for the foal to come over, though she remained where she was. “I’ll see if you can keep formula down first. Only if you can’t will you have to suckle, like Sunset.”
Scootaloo didn’t seem reassured by what Twilight said and just looked like she was about to freak out.
When Sunset had finished her breakfast, Twilight burped her and set how down, where she cuddled against Twilight, enjoying the warmth of her mother.
Scootaloo still seemed paralyzed so Twilight levitated her over with her magic and took her in her forehooves. Before Scootaloo could revolt, Twilight took the bottle and popped it into her mouth.
This was met by an instant suckling, which seemed to surprise Scootaloo, judging from the widening of her eyes.
As she drank the formula, Scootaloo seemed to calm down and started to enjoy her meal.
Once the bottle was empty, Twilight put Scootaloo over her shoulder and patted her back. This was followed three seconds later by a loud belch.
As Twilight lowered Scootaloo, her face was bright red again.
“Okay, girls,” she smiled down at the two fillies. “Now that you’ve eaten, let’s get you ready for our outing, shall we?”
As Twilight got off the bed, Sunset had a confused look on her face. “Where’w we going, Mommy?”
“Once I’ve some breakfast myself, we’ve got an appointment for Scootaloo at the hospital.”
Scootaloo seemed very worried by this. “A-apoiwnment? Wh-why?”
“We need to know what state your body’s at,” Twilight said as she levitated several things into the basket of a two-seated baby carrier which she’d gotten shortly before returning with Scoots’ things. “Since you didn’t spit-up you’re old enough for formula, but we need to know more than that. We have to make sure there won’t be any nasty side-effects because Discord made you drink that tea.”
“So, what’s the prognosis, doctor?” Twilight asked the stallion wearing a white coat.
She and Sunset were sitting in the waiting room of the Ponyville hospital.
The doctor was a unicorn with a brown coat, blonde mane and tale and grey eyes and an X-ray Cutie Mark. His name tag said Doctor X-ray. Though he preferred to be called Doctor X.
“Well, princess—” he began.
“Just Twilight, please,” she cut him off.
Doctor X blinked, then went on. “Miss Twilight, Scootaloo’s tests have shown that her body is exactly one year, three months and seventeen days old. She seems perfectly healthy, though I noticed her wings...”
“Yes?” Twilight said eagerly. “Can you fix them?”
Doctor X smiled. “Since she’s still so young, yes. It’s a simple magical operation.”
Twilight sighed with relief. “How long will it take?”
Doctor X looked at the notes on the clipboard he was levitating in front of him. “At least another hour. She’s already in surgery. Sorry, but we felt it was urgent to get to it as soon as possible so we didn’t wait for your okay on it,” he finished apologetically.
Twilight shook her head. “Like I’d have said “no” to Scootaloo’s wings getting fixed so she can really fly?”
“Now, there is one other mater, Miss Twilight,” Doctor X said, his tone changing. “Who are her parents?”
Twilight’s smile vanished and she looked away. “She’s... Scootaloo’s an orphan.”
Doctor X nodded and scribbled something on his clipboard. “Normally, we wouldn’t be allowed to give surgery to a foal without the parent or parents’ consent. It’s only because of your stature that we are able to overlook the rule this time, your highness.”
Twilight was about to correct him, but since he’d just said if not for her being a princess Scootaloo’s surgery wouldn’t even be happening, she decided against it this one time.
“Now, since she’s an orphan, where will she go once the surgery and recovery is over?” Doctor X asked, barely giving Twilight time to finish thinking about the last sentence.
“Well...” she said, looking at Sunset, then at the Doctor. “I was thinking... maybe... I’d adopt her.”
Doctor X smiled and nodded. “I had a feeling you were going to say that, princess. Luckily, since she’s a foal, you can adopt her here. If you’ll follow me, we can fill out the paper work and you can take her as soon as she’s ready for release.”
Doctor X started walking back down the hall and Twilight followed, Sunset now sleeping soundly in the carrier after learning Scootaloo was okay.
Family _____________________________________________________________________
Scootaloo slowly opened her eyes. Her vision was a bit blurry, but for some reason, everything looked blue.
“Hey, honey. Did you sleep swell?” she turned to see Twilight smiling at her.
Scootaloo was in a small bed.
They were in a room fit for a mother and daughter in the nursery wing of Ponyville Hospital. She’d been here a few times with her school on a field trip or two.
The room wasn’t anything grand, just the needed amount to be welcoming.
The walls were a light-blue, like Rainbow Dash, the bigger bed had sheets the same colour and a small fold-out crib was next to it, in which lay a sleeping Sunset.
Scootaloo sat up and looked around, confused. “Whewe am I?”
Twilight chuckled. “You’re at the hospital, honey, remember? I brought you for a check-up to make sure nothing had gone wrong when you turned into a foal. You also had some surgery.”
Scootaloo’s eyes widened in horror and her face went pale. “Surerwy? Wat kiwnd o’ surerwy?”
Scootaloo started imagining the worst. Brain injury from the sudden shift in body mass, her wings were damaged in some way and had to be amputated, her stomach had become infected from something in the tea Discord had given her, the list went on and on, moving too fast for her to focus on one thing for more than a second.
Twilight seemed to realise this and quickly picked up the Pegasus and cooed to calm her.
“It’s nothing to worry about, Scootaloo. The doctor noticed your wings and fixed them, that’s all.”
Scootaloo’s fear was replaced with confusion. “Fix dem? How’d ’e fix dem?”
Twilight smiled. “When you get older, you’ll be able to fly. Look at them.”
Scootaloo did as she was told and her eyes widened when she saw her wings. They were the right size a foal her age should have. Before, her wings had only been twice the size of Pound Cake’s wings. Now they were a little bigger than his, meaning they’d only get bigger as she got older.
Twilight hugged the filly back, her embrace the warmest thing Scootaloo had ever felt.
As she loosened the embrace, Scootaloo noticed a small band around her right fore-hoof. On it was some writing.
Name: Scootaloo Sparkle.
Age: 1 year, 3 months and 17 days
Scootaloo frowned. She was over a year and three months old? That meant she was older than Sunset. She was a big sister?!
She turned to her little sister sleeping in her fold-out crib.
Wait.
She looked back at her name. Scootaloo Sparkle?
She glanced up at Twilight, cocking her head, holding up her hoof to indicate what she was asking.
Twilight’s smile only became warmer. “While you were asleep, I adopted you. You’re officially my daughter now, Scootaloo.”
Scootaloo felt her heart explode with joy and she hugged her mother tightly, crying, “Mama! Mama! Mama! Mama!”
Twilight hugged her back, making Scootaloo feel like she was safe, like nothing could ever go wrong again.
At that moment there was a stirring from the crib.
They both turned to see Sunset sit up and rubbed her eyes with a hoof. “Wa’s goin’ on?”
Twilight’s horn glowed. Sunset glowed the same and was levitated until she had joined the embrace.
“My little fillies,” Twilight murmured as she hugged the two of them. “Nopony is as lucky as me.”
Scootaloo could only hug her mother as tightly as she possibly could. She had a family again.
Yesterday she’d had nothing, no home or family. Now She had a mother and a little sister!
“Dis is da bes’ day ewer!” Scootaloo shouted and her sister and mother laughed.
Once all the hugging was done, Twilgith put Scootaloo back in her hospital crib and Sunset in her fold-out crib.
“So,” Twilight said, sitting in her chair and looking at Scootaloo. “You wanna know what’s been happening while you’ve been asleep?”
Scootaloo sat in her crib and nodded ferociously.
Now that she knew she’d be flying for real and that she had a real family, she was itching to know the news.
“I’ve told Miss Cherilee about how you won’t be coming to school for a long while,” Twilight began.
“She di’n’ see me, did she?” Scootaloo gasped, her eyes wide. What would her teacher think if she saw her like this?
Twilight chuckled. “Yes. She came by when I told her you were having surgery. Arrived shortly after you’d been brought into this room. She thought you were the cutest.”
Scootaloo felt her face heating up in embarrassment.
“She couldn’t help but D’aww as you sucked you hoof in your sleep,” Twilgith chirped on.
Scootaloo felt her dignity go right out the window. She’d been sucking her hoof in her sleep? Oh, come on! Why not just have her have said “Mama” to Twilight in her sleep, why don’t you?
“She even giggled when you called me “Mama” in your sleep.”
That did it. All Scootaloo’s dignity was gone. Washed away, never to be seen again.
She buried her face in her hooves. How could this possibly get any worse?
She moved her hooves away from her eyes to see Rainbow Dash walking inot the room, a smile on her face.
She fell backwards and stared at the ceiling.
My life is over. Rainbow’s seen me as a foal. No way will she wanna be sisters with something cute.
“You know, as a foal, you’re pretty cute, Squirt.”
Scootaloo shot up.
Rainbow was standing in front of her, a warm smile on her face. The same kind of smile she’d worn ever Scootaloo had asked her to be her big sister.
“You... You mean it?” the filly asked, not sure if she could believe this or not.
Rainbow ruffled her tiny crop of mane. “You bet ya, kid. Can’t believe Twilight lucked out in getting such a cute foal.”
Scootaloo felt herself blushing again, but from modesty. Even though she didn’t like being seen as cute, Rainbow Dash had technically just complimented her.
At that moment a chorus of hissing sounds started and went for about a minute. When it stopped, Scootaloo had buried her face in her hooves again. She’d just peed herself in front of Rainbow Dash.
“Wanna lend a hoof?” Twilight voice asked and Rainbow’s responded in a slightly anxious tone.
Once she’d changed the girls, Twilight and Rainbow discussed Scootaloo’s eventual flight training. Since her wings were now going to grow properly, Twilight wanted her little Pegasus to have the best flight instructor when she started flying.
“O’ course,” Dash said, grinning smugly. “Who better to teach her than her big sister?”
“I guess that kinda makes you a Sparkle too,” Twilight joked.
Rainbow went bright red, causing Twilight and the foals to burst out laughing, which only made her face turn a deeper shade of red.
After everypony had simmered down, Rainbow left for her weather duties.
“Mama?” Twilight turned at the sound of her eldest daughter’s inquisitive tone. “How wong am I gonna be hewe?”
Twilight nuzzled Scootaloo, saying, “Only a few days, honey. Then we can go home.”
Scootaloo hugged Twilight’s face and she let her. “Home,” the filly whispered, a deep smile on her face. “I have a home.”
Shortly after Scootaloo fell asleep again and Twilight used her magic to gently pull herself from her filly’s grasp.
She knew Scoots would be sleeping a lot over the next few days. It was a side-effect of the surgery, so her body had enough time to gather the energy so her wings would grow at a normal rate.
She looked to Sunset’s crib and saw she’d gone to sleep too, no doubt just following her big sister’s example.
She smiled and decided she’d take a nap as well.
Getting into the bed provided for her, she snuggled into the blankets, closed her eyes and went to sleep alongside her daughters.
“There they are,” Twilight smiled, looking down the path.
It was five days later and she and the girls were at the Ponyville park.
During the five days, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle had visited after school, only once getting to see their now foal friend awake. Every other time she’d been asleep and they’d just D’aawed at her cute she was.
Other visits had included Applejack, who’d given Twilight a sly smile and playfully teased her about how she’d told her to think it through before she adopted Scootaloo, though she knew full well Twilight hadn’t had many options when she’d found the poor filly in that alley.
When the doctors had given the all clear, Twilight had taken her daughters home.
Now five days later, she’d arranged a playdate for the girls with the Cake’s twins.
She’d expected to see Pinkie Pie bringing the twins, but was pleasantly surprised when she saw Mrs. Cake pushing the stroller with her two foals.
“Hello, Mrs. Cake,” Twilight called, waving as the middle-aged mare came closer.
When the stroller stopped, Mrs. Cake smiled. “Hello, your highness.”
Twilight chuckled. “Mrs. Cake, you don’t have to address me as anything other than Twilight. We’ve been friends since before I got my title.”
“Oh, right,” Mrs. Cake blushed. “Then you can call me Cup Cake. Mrs. Cake from a friend makes me sound so old.”
Twilight chuckled again. “Wish I could say one day I’d understand what you mean...” She trailed off and looked away. She hated when she accidentally brought up the fact that, now she was an alicorn, she was immortal, just like Celestia and Luna and while others grew old, she remained the same.
Several other thoughts in relation to that tried to enter her mind but she pushed them aside. Today was meant to be a fun day.
Cup Cake seemed to know Twilight hadn’t meant to say what she had and didn’t push the matter any further, instead taking her children out of their stroller and putting them on the red and white checked mat Twilight had laid out for the foals to sit on.
Sunset and Scootaloo were already sitting on it and Scootaloo got a slightly anxious look as the twins were put down in front of them.
“Remember, girls, play nice with the twins,” Twilight reminded her daughters.
“Yes, Mommy,” Sunset chirped, closing her eyes as she smiled.
“Okay, Mama,” Scootaloo nodded, though still looking a little uncertain.
She felt a nervous twitching next to her and turned to her sister. Scootaloo was still looking anxious, even after their mother had just told them to play nice.
“Wat’s wong?” she asked, cocking her head to the side.
“De’re weal foaws,” Scootaloo responded, turning to her. “We’we not. How does dis wowk?”
“You couwd tawt by tawking to us,” Pound replied.
Sunset giggled at the shocked expression of her sister’s face.
“You... You can tawk?” she asked, pointing a hoof at Pound.
Sunset giggled again and explained to her that, in the weeks since she’d become a foal, Twilgiht had brought her over to Sugarcube Corner several times. During one of those visits she’d learned from the twins that all foals could understand each other and even some animals.
Scootaloo’s shocked face made Sunset giggle again. She was doing her best not to burst out laughing.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the blank flank who can’t fly.”
Scootaloo suddenly went stiff.
Sunset looked to the sound of the voice that had spoken and felt her brow furrow.
Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.
Ugh! She hated those two. They’d woken her up one time when they’d come over during the CMC’s Twilight Time. She’d been really cranky for the next couple hours after cos they wouldn’t stop making noise.
The next time they’d come was even worse. They’d brought all of the kids from school with them. Several had actually come in the bedroom and taken her out of her crib to play with her, even though she made it obvious that she hadn’t wanted to play.
She’d gotten them to go back downstairs by pooping herself. Sure, she’d been stuck with the stink until her mother had come up to check on her and change her, but it had been worth it to free herself.
But now these two were back and was making fun of them.
No. Wait. Diamond Tiara, for she knew it was her who had spoken, had said “blank flank who can’t fly”.
Being a unicorn, the idea of her flying made no sense, the same for Pumpkin and she knew Pound could fly, despite him being a foal. That only left...
Scootaloo had tears in her eyes.
“Oh, look, she’s wearing a diaper,” Silver Spoon sneered, her voice dripping with an Oh-I-So-Superior-To-You tone. “Bet she isn’t even good as a baby.”
“Who’d want her anyway?” Diamond’s face was full of cruel joy at Scoots’ unhappiness. “We heard about how you’re from the orphanage.”
Scootaloo winced as the tears started trailing down her cheeks.
“I bet whoever adopted you takes you back as soon as they realise they’ll be caring for a foal that’ll grow into a Pegasus that can’t fly.”
The two fillies did their signature Bump Bump Sugarlump Rumb and cackled as Scootaloo buried her face in her hooves, sobbing quietly.
Sunset had had enough of this. Nopony makes her sister cry.
“Mommy!” she shouted, cupping her hooves to her mouth.
Twilight and Mrs. Cake, who’d been having a conversation about who knows what, both turned.
Twilight’s eyes widened when she saw Scootaloo crying.
The two mothers walked over, worry on their faces.
“What’s going on?” Mrs. Cake asked, a very concerned look on her face. “Why is Scootaloo crying?”
“Cos dey wewe being mean!” Sunset declared, pointing a hoof at the two earth ponies, who’s smirks had faded ever so slightly.
Twilight glared at the two of them. “Would you two mind explaining to me why you felt the need to make my daughter cry?”
If the situation hadn’t been so serious, Sunset would have laughed at how fast their smirks completely vanished, only to be replaced by looks of shock and fear.
“Y-your daughter?” Silver Spoon squeaked, shrinking down a little in Twilight’s glare.
“Yes,” Twilight said, her voice firm. “My daughter. I adopted Scootaloo several days ago.”
“But... why?” Diamond Tiara pressed, her fear seeming to be pushed aside by her need to act in the better. “She can’t even fly. What good’s a Pegasus that can’t fly?”
“Actually, she will be able to fly, since she had the surgery while she’s still a foal,” Twilight said, her glare focused on Tiara now, who whimpered in fright. “And, since she is my daughter and since I am a princess that also makes Scootaloo a princess.”
Their faces looked like Discord had just blown up every piece of reality around them.
“Y-you mean we...?” Silver Spoon trailed of, my mouth quivering.
“You just made a princess cry? Yes,” Twilight snapped, her horn sparking for just a second.
“I’m very ashamed of you, girls,” Mrs. Cake said, her glare almost as harsh as Twilight’s. “I think, unless your behaviour improves, you should be banned from Sugarcube Corner until further notice.”
They both looked like they’d had the world ripped out from under them.
“No fair,” Silver Spoon whined.
“Just because we teased that blank flank?” Tiara asked, outraged.
Twilight's glare intensified and they went silent.
“I will be speaking with both your parents. Expect to hear about this when you get home. Now go!”
The two fillies fled so fast they left dust impressions of themselves in the air that lasted for several seconds before fading away.
Twilight’s face softened as he turned and picked up Scootaloo,cradling her and hushing her.
Sunset looked at the twins. They had triumphant looks on their faces, which she shared. Those two were going to get what they deserved for making Scootaloo cry.
Twilight sighed as she walked into the living room of her library.
After the incident Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon had caused, Scootaloo had been too upset and they’d had to cancel the playdate.
Now the girls were fast asleep, though Twilight could still faintly hear Scootaloo sniffling, even from all the way down here.
“Guess it coulda gone better, huh?” Spike asked, taking a seat next to Twilight.
She nodded, not looking at him. “Scootaloo was so upset she wouldn’t go to sleep for ages. They really hurt her feelings, Spike?” That last sentence had come out in anger as she turned to him.
He nodded. He was just as angry too. Those fillies were like his little sisters.
There was a loud knock on the front door.
Spike got up to answer it. When he returned, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon’s parents were with him, the two fillies hiding behind their respective parent.
“I’m very sorry for my daughter’s behavior, your highness,” Filthy Rich said, bowing to Twilight, who’d gotten up when she’d seen who their guests were.
For the second time in recent days, Twilight didn’t correct the use of her title. In this situation, it seemed it was right to go by her title instead of her usual namesake.
“I must also apologize for my daughter’s despicable behavior too, princess,” the mare Silver Spoon was hiding behind said, bowing as well.
She was Silver Spoon’s mother, Gold Digger. She was a beautiful mare with a golden-yellow coat and green mane and the same eyes as her daughter. Twilight knew she was a model, but that was all she knew.
Twilight gave a small nod. “I assume they’ve been punished for their actions?”
Both parents looked at each other, then at Twilight.
“Forgive us, your highness,” Gold Digger said, standing tall. “But, after each receiving your letter explain exactly what our children did, we’ve both talked about it and agreed a normal means of punishment will not do in this circumstance.”
Twilight raised an eyebrow. “What kind of punishment do you feel they deserve?”
Filthy Rich cleared his throat. “I’ve become aware that you’ve been reading book from the Castle of the Two Sisters. Would there happen to be a spell regarding learning a lesson without a cutie mark?”
Twilight blinked, then nodded. “There is.”
“What?” both fillies cried, they’re eyes wide with horror.
“You can’t take away our cutie marks!” Silver Spoon cried, running to stand in front of her mother and clinging to her forehooves.
“If you do that, we’ll be less than those vagabonds who do have them!” Diamond Tiara cried, doing the same with her father.
Both parents looked down sternly at their respective daughter.
“You need to learn you’re not superior to anypony,” Filthy Rich said, pushing his daughter towards Twilight.
“And losing your cutie marks will make you understand that,” Gold Digger said, doing the same with her daughter.
Both fillies shook as Twilight towered over them.
“Will- will we get them back?” Silver Spoon squeaked.
“Only when you’ve truly learned your lesson,” Twilight said, her horn glowing with an intense light. “Once you’ve learned that lesson, your cutie marks will return.”
"Wh-what lesson is that?" Silver Spoon stuttered, her eyes wide with fear
"That is something you will have to learn on your own."
Both fillies tried to run, but Twilight’s magic had created a barrier, stopping them from leaving.
Twilight focused on the spell, reciting the words for it in her mind, weaving them into her magic.
Pain caused to others To thee shall be done. Thy mark shall return When the lesson is won
There was an enormous flash of purple light and the fillies screamed.
When the light faded everything seem normal, save one critical detail.
“We’re blank flanks!” both fillies cried in horror, staring at their flanks, now barren of a cutie mark.
Twilight nodded to Filthy and Gold, who nodded back and motioned for their daughters that it was time to leave.
“NO!” they cried, running to Twilight and clinging to her forelegs.
“Please, Princess Twilight, give us back our cutie marks!” Silver pleaded, tears in her eyes.
“We can’t go to school tomorrow as blank flanks!” Diamond Tiara cried, though her eyes were clean of any tears. “We’ll no longer be the most popular ponies anymore.”
“You should have thought of that before you hurt my daughter,” Twilight said, none of the kindness in her voice that she was known for, even when speaking with fillies and colts who’d done something wrong. “Maybe this time you will learn from your mistakes.”
With that, their parents pulled them away from Twilight and carried them kicking and screaming out the door, which closed behind them.
Spike glanced at Twilight as she started to relax. “Remind me never to get on your bad side.”
Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon sulked as their parents led them til they could see the school.
“Now, behave yourself today, Tiara,” Filthy Rich said firmly.
“And don’t you lash out at any of the other fillies and colts just because you’re being punished,” Gold Digger said, giving her daughter a stern look.
Both fillies gave small nods and their parents walked off, leaving the two to their day of schooling.
Once their parents were out of sight, Diamond pulled the dress she’d worn at her Cute-ceañera out of one of her saddlebags and Silver Spoon did the same.
They quickly got them on, checking that the adjustments each had made overnight ensured nopony saw their blank flanks.
“No matter what anypony says today, we act like nothing happened,” Tiara said firmly and Silver nodded.
The two walked into the classroom, acting as they always did, stuck up and better than everypony else, because they were.
But as they caught sight of Miss Cherliee, the smugness they always had vanished. She was giving them a very cold look.
“I know what happened yesterday, girls,” she said, her voice even, but not hiding the disappointment. “Take your seats and don’t cause any trouble, okay?”
They both nodded and walked to their desks, ignoring the chatter of their classmates.
So focused were they on keeping themselves from being noticed that they didn’t see Dinky Hooves had accidentally left a pair of scissors sticking out of her desk while she’d gone to chat with the other CMC members.
As they each passed Dinky's desk a loud ripping sound came and they both froze, not daring to look at their flanks.
The classroom had suddenly gone eerily quiet.
Shaking, both fillies looked behind them to see a tare on each of their dresses where Dinky’s scissors had cut into them. The part underneath that was now exposed... were where each filly’s cutie mark used to be.
It started small at first. Then it got louder and louder until the whole classroom was filled with a chant. A chant the two fillies had so often thrown at every other pony.
“Blank flanks! Blank flanks!”
They both backed to the edge of the classroom as their classmates surrounded them, pointing and chanting the horrible phrase they had been so well known for using everyday.
“Blank flanks! Blank flanks!”
“Shut up!” Diamond Tiara shouted, her nostirals flaring, yet this only made the chants grow louder.
“Blank flanks! Blank flanks!”
Silver Spoon crouched on the floor, her hooves over her head, tears streaming down her muzzle as the words cut into her over and over.
“BLANK FLANKS! BLANK FLANKS!”
“SHUT YER YAPS!”
Silence fell as everypony turned to who had spoken.
Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Dinky were all glaring, not at Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, but at the rest of the class.
They moved until they were standing in front of Silver Spoon, who just stared at them in confusion as her tears slowly leaked from her eyes.
Apple Bloom looked around at each member of their class.
“Ya’ll’re makin’ fun o’ D’amond Tiara and Silver Spoon fer no good reason!” she said, looking like somepony had just insulted a member of her family.
“We’ve got a great reason!” Button Mash said, nodding his head. “They’re always teasing us. It’s about time they learned what it’s like on the receiving end.”
“An’ then yer no better than they are,” Apple Bloom snapped back, making him flinch.
“Just because they don’t have their cutie marks anymore doesn’t mean anypony can just make fun of them for it,” Sweetie Belle said, holding out of hoof to help Silver Spoon back up.
She took it, still looking utterly bewildered as to why they were helping her.
“Ha! Like we need you to help us,” Diamond spat at Apple Bloom, not even thanking her for stopping the chanting. “We can handle ourselves just fine, right, Silver Spoon?”
She got no response. She turned to see Silver was looking at the ground, an ashamed look on her face.
“Silver!” Diamond shouted, but still she didn’t respond.
Now it was Dinky’s turn to give her classmates an ear-full. “My mommy always says you should treat everypony like your best friend. Like family. I know they haven’t done that, but does that mean we have to mirror them?”
Everypony looked down at their hooves. It was hard to not feel bad if Dinky Hooves was telling you off, especially when she mentioned her mother.
“An’ hwhat righ’ da any o’ ya’ll have to tease them about bein’ blank flanks?” Apple Bloom asked, looking at several ponies in particular, each who didn’t have their cutie marks either. They lowered their head in shame.
Apple Bloom then turned to both Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara, the latter not even looking at her and huffing as she stuck her snout in the air.
“Would ya’ll like to try an’ be friends?” Apple Bloom asked, holding out a hoof.
While Diamond Tiara batted it away without a second glance, Silver Spoon hesitated, looking unsure.
“We’ll do what we can to help you get your cutie marks back,” Sweetie Belle smiled.
Again, Tiara acted as if she had heard nothing.
But Silver Spoon gave a small smile and took Apple Bloom’s extended hoof.
“Okay.”
“WHAT?”
Diamond’s voice reverberated around the classroom, making everypony, including Miss Cherliee, who had not intervened because Princess Twilight had asked her to let things play out naturally today, to flinch.
Silver Spoon cowered behind Dinky as Diamond Tiara glared at her like a mad bull would a red rag.
“You’re going to be friends with them?! They’re blank flanks! Commoners! Vagabonds! Farmers! Losers!”
Apple Bloom stepped in front of her, blocking her path. “Maybe,” she said, her voice as firm as Applejack when she was telling somepony off, “but at least we’ll be her friends, no matter hwhat.”
Diamond was about to retort, when she noticed everypony was glaring at her.
She sniffed. “Whatever.”
She went to her desk, not looking at anypony.
Silver Spoon stared at Apple Bloom, a slight bit of confusion still on her face.
“What did you do that?” she asked, blinking. “Why did you help?”
Apple Bloom smiled. “Eazy. Cuz yer just like us now. Why not help out somepony the same as yerself.”
Silver Spoon smiled.
Apple Bloom was right. She was just like them. Sure, her family had more money, but that didn’t make them any better than Sweetie Belle’s family, Apple Bloom’s family or even Dinky’s family. They were all the same.
There was a bright flash and everypony gasped.
“What?” Silver asked, looking around in confusion.
“Silver,” Apple Bloom said, pointing. “Yer flank.”
Silver Spoon looked to her flank. Her cutie mark was back!
No. Wait. It was different this time. The silver spoon was back and it was the same as before, but behind it was a small sun with a smiling face.
She turned to her new friends, her smile as wide as her face would physically allow and they smiled back.
Twilight was reading Daring Do and the Griffon’s Goblet to Sunset and Scootaloo, both of whom were listening with glee written on their faces, when a knock at the door made them all pause and look to the door.
Twilight ease herself up, walked to the door and opened it with her magic.
Standing outside were Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Dinky Hooves and, to Twilight's surprise, Silver Spoon, who Twilight saw had her cutie mark back, but with a smiling sun behind the spoon now.
Silver Spoon was smiling like she’d just had the best thing in her life happen to her, which, Twilight suspected, she had.
“I’m one of the Cutie Mark Crusaders now,” Silver Spoon said, showing her cape with pride. “I got my cutie mark back, but they made me a member anyway.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Twilight smiled. Then she frowned. “Where’s Diamond?”
Silver sighed. “She didn’t learn her lesson. And when her dad heard how she acted at school, even when Apple Bloom and the others tried to help us, he decided to take her on business with him. He thinks that might help her see.”
“We can only hope,” Twilight said, then give a sly smile. “I take it you didn’t just come here to tell me this.”
Silver shook her head. “No. Can I see Scootaloo, please?”
Twilight nodded and moved aside so Silver could walk into the house.
She watched Silver go up Scootaloo, who was looking slightly worried.
It warmed her heart, but also made her the tiniest bit annoyed as she saw Sunset giving Silver a look that said, “You hurt my sister, again and you’ll be sorry”.
“I... I wanted to apologize for what I said yesterday, Scootaloo,” Silver said, bowing her head. “It was wrong of me and cruel and I never should have done it. Can you forgive me?”
Scootaloo looked up at her for several seconds, a frown on her face.
Then she smiled. “Sure. S’long as you down’t do it agawn.”
Twilight put her two fillies to bed. It had been a long day and they were tuckered out.
She was glad Silver Spoon had learned her lesson so soon. She hadn’t really wanted to use that spell on her and Diamond Tiara, despite her anger to how they’d treated Scootaloo, but she’d known it was the right thing to teach them what they needed to know.
Now Silver Spoon had not only learned her lesson, ending the spell, but she was one of the Cutie Mark Crusaders and had many new friends, including Scootaloo.
“Goodnight, my little fillies,” she said, kissing her daughters on their foreheads.
“Goodnight, Mommy,” Sunset said, her eyes half closed.
“G’night, Mama,” Scootaloo said, yawning.
The two curled up next to each other and fell asleep.
Despite her having gotten another crib so they didn’t have to share, Scootaloo and Sunset had insisted they share.
Twilight didn’t object. It meant they wanted to bond more as sisters and if that was what her daughters’ wanted, who was she to disagree.
“G’night, Spike,” Twilight said as she got into bed and blew out the candle.
“Night, Twi,” Spike’s tired voice said from the darkness.
He looked around the room and noticed Twilight was not there.
Glancing down, he saw a note lying by his basket with his name on it.
Spike picked up the letter, unfolded it and read:
Spike,
Went to get some more supplies. I’ve decided we should go see my parents the day after tomorrow. I have also sent word to Cadence and Shining to let them know we’ll be there so they can see their nieces.
While I’m out you’re in charge. I’ve left a bottle of milk for Sunset in the fridge, just heat it up a little before feeding her (this is if she wakes up before I get back).
Scootaloo will be an easier matter, since she drinks formula. Follow the directions on the back of the can and thing’s should be fine.
Will be back soon,
Twilight
Spike put the letter down and gulped. He wasn’t ready for this. He’d never had to watch both fillies before, only Sunset. Could he handle this?
The knocking from downstairs got louder and Spike headed down, so whoever was knocking would stop and not wake up the girls.
They were almost always cranky if you woke them up, which he understood. Sleep was a wonderful thing. Having it interpreted was very unpleasant.
Spike opened the door just as another set of knocks, even louder than the others, started.
Standing outside was an Earth Pony stallion with a grey coat, with a brown mane and green eyes. His cutie mark was a form of some kind.
“Can I help you?” Spike asked, being polite as one suddenly woken up less than a minute ago can be.
“Is Twilight Sparkle here?” the stallion asked gruffly.
The way he spoke triggered something in Spike’s mind he didn’t quite understand, but put him the slightest bit on edge.
“Yes,” he nodded slowly. “She’s out right now, by I’m her assistant. How can I help you?”
Didn’t I ask that as soon as I opened the door?
The stallion glared at Spike for some reason. “I am Firm Hoof. I run the orphanage just outside of town.”
Spike nodded. He didn’t quite understand what was going on, or why somepony form the orphanage was making a house call, but it had to be important, right?
“It has come to my attention that Twilight Sparkle found one of our runaways several days ago and has yet to return her.”
Something clicked in Spike’s mind. Scootaloo. This pony was asking about Scootaloo.
“Well, yeah,” he said, raising an eyebrow. “She’s been taking care of Scoots since then. Does that really matter?”
Firm’s nostrils flared. “Does it matter? Does it matter? I don’t care that she is a princess. She has to follow the rules, just like the rest of us.”
Spike’s confusion grew at this response, but Firm Hoof went on.
“While I do not have any wish to bring a filly who obviously will never be adopted back into my care, she is in my care and the law states she is my responsibility!”
Spike’s confusion skyrocketed. “What in the hay are you talking about? Twi adopted Scoots days ago. She sure hasn’t said anything about sending her back and never would. She loves Scoots.”
“Forgive me if I find that hard to believe, dragon,” Firm gave Spike a “I So Do Not Believe You” look, saying “dragon” as if it was an insult, “but I would know if one of the brats in my care was adopted that long ago. Especially one as worthless as that filly.”
Spike felt a small burst of rage at hearing somepony call his niece/little sister worthless.
“Well, she has been adopted, so you can go,” Spike said through clenched teeth, beginning to close the door.
Firm pushed it open, knocking Spike back. “Out of my way, dragon. I’m getting what I came for.”
Spike felt a little dizzy from his scrape. When Firm had forced the door open he’d tumbled and hit his head on one of the bookshelves.
He shook his head when he heard hoofsteps going upstairs.
Getting up he hurried after Firm, grabbing his right-hind leg when he reach him, trying to pull him back.
“You’re breaking an’ entering! Stop!”
“Pike?” two small voices called from the door just a few metres in front of them.
They entered the room and Firm looked around, trying to find Scootaloo. When his eyes fell on the crib, he kicked Spike off of his leg, making him smack into the wall and walked over to the crib and looked in.
Sunset was sitting in front of Scootaloo, glaring, while Scootaloo was cowering behind her little sister from the stallion looking down sternly at them.
Firm turned to Spike, who shook his dizziness away and glared at him. “Why is Scootaloo a foal? How did that happen?” His voice was angry.
“Long story short, Discord,” Spike said, trying to run, but wobbling from his internal balance still not back to normal from two smacks to the head in a period of two minutes.
Firm grunted. “Great. Another foal to feed. Like I enjoy changing diapers.”
He leaned into the crib, gently pushing Sunset out of the way and picking up Scootaloo by the scruff of her neck and lifted her up.
Both fillies screamed, Sunset reaching through the bars of the crib, her eyes brimming with tears, Scootaloo flailing, trying to break free of her captor's grip.
Firm walked out before Spike got a hold of his balance.
Once his balance was back, Spike got up and scurried down the stairs to find Firm several hooves away from the door, which must have closed in the wind while they’d been upstairs.
Spike latched onto the same hind leg as before, trying to hold Firm back a bit longer. He’d use his fire, but now he might hit Scootaloo and he couldn’t risk her getting hurt.
“Let go, you fiwfy dragon!” Firm shouted, his words muffled by the filly flailing around in his teeth’s grip.
The door opened on its own. “Spike, what’s all the nose—?”
Twilight stopped, her eyes wide at the scene before her.
Spike could imagine how this looked. A strange stallion in her house, Scootaloo in his mouth and Spike holding onto one of his hind legs.
Twilight’s eyes narrowed. “Just what are you doing with my daughter?”
Firm blinked. “Yer daher?”
“Told you,” Spike said, keeping a grin of satisfaction off his face due to the atmosphere of the situation.
“Yes,” Twilight nodded, her tone firm. “My daughter. Who are you and why are you here?”
“He says his name is Firm Hoof,” Spike stated, since he knew Firm wouldn’t be able to pronounce properly with Scoots in his mouth and he had to make Twi see exactly what was going on before Firm Hoof tried to leave again. “He says he’s from the orphanage Scoots came from and is here to take her back.”
Twilight’s attention snapped so fast to Firm, Spike felt him flinch.
“Put my daughter down, now, Mr. Hoof,” Twilight said, her voice even, but her tone menacing.
Before Firm could respond, Twilight’s horn glowed. Scootaloo vanished in a flash of purple light and reappeared on Twilight’s back, where she clung tightly to her mother’s neck.
“Hold it right there!” Firm shouted, taking a step forward. “I don’t care if you’re a princess; you can’t just go taking a filly out of my care and get away with it!”
“I legally adopted Scootaloo several days ago, Firm Hoof,” Twilight glowered at the stallion, her eyes narrowed to slits. "She is my daughter."
Firm scoffed. “Your slave tried to fool me with that same lie. Do you think I came down in the last rain shower?”
Spike bit down on Firm’s leg, creating a loud scream from the bitten pony, but was then kicked off. He managed to stay upright this time and glared at Firm, his fangs bared.
How dare he call him Twilight’s slave? How dare he?
“Spike is my assistant and practically my own son, Firm,” Twilight’s voice was full of rage. Her horn glowed and a piece of parchment appeared in front of the stallion’s face. “And, as you can see from this legal document, Scootaloo is indeed my daughter and if you try to take her away I will charge you with kidnapping a member of the royal family and have you arrested!”
Firm Hoof spent several seconds going over the parchment, the glared at Twilight. “I still don’t believe you about this being a legal document and what in tartarus do you mean a member of the royal family? That brat’s an orphan we took in several years ago and has proved to be nothing but a waste of space all her stay.”
Twilight’s mane almost ignited like it had the first day she’d been in Ponyville. Spike could just see the ends of the hairs sizzle.
There was a flash of purple light and Twilight teleported right in front of Firm Hoof, their muzzles up against each other.
“First of all, don’t curse in from of my daughter!” she snapped, her eyes boaring into his. “Second, since I am a princess, as my daughter, Scootaloo in turn becomes a princess herself! Leave now, Firm Hoof, before I have you arrested from breaking and entering, disturbing the peace and attempting to kidnap my daughter and a member of the royal family!”
Any and all toughness Firm Hoof had had before vanished in the close glare of Twilight and he ran out as fast as his hooves could carry him.
Spike stomped over to the door and slammed it shut.
He turned back to see Twilight comforting Scootaloo, who’d peed herself in fright, no doubt thinking she was going to be taken from her family forever.
Before the dragon could say anything however, the sound of wailing from upstairs reminded him; Sunset was still up there and, as far as she knew, her big sister had just been taken away from her.
Twilight seemed to read Spike’s mind, because she flapped her wings and flew upstairs, Scootaloo held in her forehooves.
When Spike got upstairs and into Twilight’s room, she was still comforting Sunset, who was in an embrace with Scootaloo, both with tears streaming down their muzzles.
Spike sighed and hoped Twilight wouldn’t leave him alone to look after the two for a long while. This first time had been an absolute disasters and sure as Celestia didn’t want to ever repeat it again.
Sunset screamed with laughter as Twilight blew raspberries into her stomach.
Scootaloo was on the floor next to her, laughing as her sister’s laughter.
“Mmm, num-num-num, tasty filly!” Twilight said, before blowing another raspberry into Sunset’s stomach.
“Otay! You won, Mommy! You won!” Sunset cried out through her laughter, tears streaming down her face.
Twilight and the girls lay down, breathing loud sighs.
Scootaloo chuckled. “Dat was fun, Mama.”
“Can we pway again?” Sunset asked, rolling over onto her mother’s stomach.
Twilight chuckled. “Maybe another time, girls,” she said, slowly getting up and levitating the two foals onto her back. “But, for now, it’s time for bed.”
“Aww, Mama!” Scootaloo whined, pouting.
“Can’t we stay up a widdle wonger?” Sunset asked, her eyes pleading, right before both sister yawned loudly.
Twilight shook her head. “No. We’re going to Canterlot tomorrow to see your grandparents and your aunt and uncle. We all need to be rested and ready.”
“Otay,” they said sleepily, rubbing their eyes with their forehooves.
As Twilight lowered her fillies into their crib they cuddled up next to each other and went to sleep.
Twilight smiled, kissed them both goodnight and went to bed, checking that Spike was already in bed (he’d gone to bed at least two hours ago while they’d been playing), turned out the light and went to sleep
“Ooh, when will they get here?!” Twilight Velvet said for the umpteenth time as she paced up and down the living room.
“Mom, stop worrying so much. Twily will get here at 11:30 exactly. You know she’d never be even a second late,” Shining Armour assured his mother from the couch where he sat, his wife on his right and his and father his left.
“Yes, dear, stop fussing. You’re acting as if these are your daughters we’re waiting to see instead of our daughter’s,” Night Light said, looking up from the newspaper he was reading.
“How can I not fuss?” Velvet turned to her husband, her face a mixture of worry and excitement. “Our little Twily’s bringing her daughters here today. We’re grandparents, Night. We have grandchildren!” Her eyes were sparkling.
Cadence chuckled. “Please, mother. Don’t worry. We’re all just as excited as you are.” She gave her husband the slightest nudge in the ribs. “Though I am surprise Twilight’s the first with children.”
Shinning gave a nervous chuckle.
There was a knock at the door, saving him from further discussion.
Velvet nearly leaped to the ceiling at the sound.
Shaking his head, Night Light put his paper down, got up, walked to the door and opened it.
Standing outside was Twilight with Spike standing next to her, a foal carrier/saddlebag combo strapped to her back, two foals sitting in the straps on her right-side, sound asleep.
“Hello, Dad,” she smiled and embraced her father.
“Good to see you, honey,” he replied.
There was a loud squeal and before either could respond, Velvet had shoved her husband aside and pulled her daughter into a bone-crushing hug.
The two foals on Twilight’s side stirred a little, making sounds of unhappiness.
“Mother!” Twilight gasped, barely any oxygen having gotten to her lungs before her mother’s vice-like grip encased her. “You’ll wake them!”
Velvet let go of her daughter and smiled sheepishly. “Sorry, honey.”
Twilight, after regaining her breath, smiled and walked inside.
“Twily!” Shinning smiled as he and Cadence got up and walked towards her.
Twilight levitated the saddle bag/foal carrier combo and gently lowered it and the foals to ground.
She embraced her brother then turned to her former foal-sister/sister-in-law/cousin.
“Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake. Clap your hooves and do a little shake,” they whispered, going through their usual greeting, then giggled.
“So, these are your little gems?” Cadence asked as Twilight levitated the foals out of their straps and a small soft blanket out of one of the saddlebag pouches.
She folded out the blanket, making sure it was perfectly flat, then gently lowered the foals onto it, where they instinctively curled up next to each other.
Everypony present D’aaawed at how cute they were.
“So these are Scootaloo and Sunset Shimmer,” Velvet said, standing next to her daughter and smiling down at the sleeping foals.
“Shimmer-Sparkle,” Twilight corrected her mother. “She insisted on the hyphen.”
Velvet gave her daughter a puzzled look. “She insisted?”
Twilight softly face-hoofed. “I explained this in my letter, mother. Both Sunset and Scootaloo aren’t really foals. They were turned into foals by some magic even Discord didn’t know he’d left behind until Sunset activated it. Despite their physical age their minds are far older. Though that doesn’t stop them being so cute.” She giggled as Sunset yawned and snuggled a little closer to Scootaloo.
“Which is older?” Cadence asked, her eyes soft as she looked down at the sleeping foals.
“Scootaloo,” Twilight nodded. “She’s a year older than Sunset.”
“So Sunset got a mother and a big sister,” Shinning chuckled. “Does she get along with her BSBFF?”
Twilight giggled. “Yes. They both insist on sleeping in the same crib. I’m not looking forward to when they’re too big to share.”
“I can imagine,” Velvet said, glancing at her daughter. “When you were a foal you always wanted Shining to sleep in your crib with you.”
“You did?” Twilight and Shining blushed as Cadence gave them a warm smile. “That’s so sweet.”
Shining coughed. “So, how exactly did this all happen?” he asked, trying to change the subject.
The next half hour was spent with Twilight explaining everything that had happened almost a month ago. About how she’d found Sunset in the Everfree Forest and watched her turn into a foal right before her eyes, learning that Sunset was from the human world, how she’d taken her in and decided to become her mother after learning Sunset was an orphan, how she’d found Scootaloo in an alley as a foal after Discord had tricked Scootaloo into drinking tea made with the last of the berries that turned Sunset into foal and how things had been going since the four of them (counting Spike) had become family.
When she was finished, Velvet was crying, tears drenching the fur on her face.
“Those poor dears,” she sobbed, blowing her nose in a hoofkerchief . “To be orphans at such young ages. How horrible. And Sunset was cut off from her entire world?”
Twilight nodded sadly. “That fact that she arrived years after the Sunset from this world went to hers was big enough of a shock, let alone the fact that it’s still fifteen moons before the portal opens again. Now she’s a foal, there’s no chance she can go back.” She gave a small smile. “Though she’s said she wouldn’t want to anyway, now.”
“I can see why,” Cadence said, wiping a fear tears of her own away and looking to the small foals as they slept, unaware of what was being talked about around them. “Here she has a loving mother an older sister. There... it sounds like she had nothing.”
“Well, she did,” Twilight shook her head. “Though the other Sunset Shimmer clearly doesn’t mind that life, from what I could tell when I went there. She’s made a life for herself there.”
There was silence for a few moments.
Then the sounds of stirring turned everypony’s attention to the blanket.
The two foals sat up, rubbing their eyes and looked around, puzzlement on their faces.
They turned to all the adults and baby dragon and Sunset asked, “Mommy, where are we?”
Chapter 13 Family Time _____________________________________________________________________
Both foals blinked, glanced at each other, then smiled.
Twilight and her family walked over to the foals and smiled back at them.
At that moment, gurgling noises sounded and both foals blushed.
“Someponies hungry?” Twilight asked and they both nodded sheepishly, covering their faces with their forehooves .
“Come on, everypony,” Velvet said, ushering the others out and following them. “Let’s give them some alone time.”
Twilight lay down and Sunset went straight to a tent and began suckling. Twilight put a wing over her daughter, giving her some privacy, despite everypony having left the room.
As Sunset nursed, Twilight noticed Scootaloo was looking at her oddly. There was an uncertain look she was wearing that Twilight couldn’t place.
“Scoots?” she asked softly and the foal looked away, blushing. “Is something wrong?”
“I... um...” Scootaloo seemed to be worried about something.
“Honey, what is it?” the mother asked, giving her a warm smile. “You can tell me.”
“Pwomise you won’t teww anypowny? Not ewen wainbow?”
Twilight nodded. “I promise, honey. I won’t tell, not even Rainbow.”
Scootaloo sighed and looked away. “I feew wike you wuv Sunset mowe dan me.”
Twilight was shocked. “Honey, I love both of you exactly the same,” she said warmly, keeping the shock from her voice. “Why would you think I love either of you more than the other?”
“You’w cwoser too her,” she replied, a few tears welling in her eyes.
Twilight shook her head and her voice became a little bit firm. “Honey, I love you both as much as the other. There are no favourites in this family.”
“Weww den...” Scootaloo’s blush grew stronger, not meeting her mother’s eyes. “Can I—? Can I...?”
“Yes, sweetie?” Twilight was a bit worried now. Whatever was troubling Scootaloo, it seemed big.
“CAN I NURWSE FWOM YOU TOO?” Scootaloo cried, then put her hooves over her mouth and looked away.
Twilight blinked. “But, you don’t need to nurse, Scoots. Why would you...?”
She trailed off as it dawned on her. Nursing was a strong bonding experience between foal and mother. She was doing that with Sunset... while Scootaloo was left out. She thought Twilight didn’t love her as much because she wasn’t sharing the same bonding time her mother was sharing with her little sister.
Twilight smiled. “Come on, honey. It’s lunch time.”
Scootaloo turned back to her mother, tears still in her eyes as she stared blankly, obviously not believing what she’d just heard.
Twilight chuckled and levitated Scootaloo closer, moving her wing before coving both her daughters and lowered her to her free teat.
Scootaloo, seeming to realize she wasn’t dreaming, clamped down on the teat. A few seconds after the warm milk from her mother went down her throat, she started suckling quickly.
“Whoa, easy, Scootaloo. Slow down,” Twilight said, putting a hoof gently on Scootaloo’s head. “If you drink too fast you’ll get a tummy ache.”
Scootaloo did as she was told and started whimpering happily as she suckled, making Twilight smile warmly.
“Now, it’s only until I start weening Sunset, okay?” she said, stroking her eldest daughter’s mane. “When she starts weening, you’ll have to do the same, alright?”
Another whimper was her answer and Twilight lay her head down and waited as her daughters drank their milk.
From the other room, Twilight’s family watched through a crack in the door.
Velvet cooed as she watched Twilight start nursing Scootaloo.
“I don’t quite understand why Scoots wanted to nurse when she doesn’t need to,” Shinning said, an eyebrow raised.
“She wants to be closer to her mother and sister,” Cadence replied, sighing contentedly as she watched Twilight nursing her daughters. “I think it’s sweet.”
“It is sweet,” Velvet nodded, tears rolling down her cheeks. “It makes me miss when I’d nurse Twily. She was such a sweet filly.”
Night Light wrapped a hoof around his wife’s shoulder. “We could try for another, if you want to, dear?”
Velvet turned to her husband, the look of wanting to raise another foal in her eyes. “Really, honey? But, I’m not sure I can bear a child again.”
Night Light smiled. “So? We’ll adopt. I’m sure we can find a foal at the orphanage in need of a loving family. And Twilight knows mare who can help you with being able to nurse again.”
Velvet hugged her husband. “Oh, honey! You’ve just made me the happiest grandmother in the world.”
Night Light chuckled. “A mother and a grandmother. You’re quite the multitasker, aren’t you, Velly?”
She playfully nudged him in the ribs and they all returned to watching as Twilight fed and bonded with her daughters.
After about twelve minutes, both Sunset and Scootaloo seemed full and moved away, big smiles on their faces as they mother sat up.
As Twilight burped her daughters, her family returned, warm smiles on their faces.
“You were watching, weren’t you?” she asked as she patted Scootaloo’s back, waiting for the burp.
They all looked away, blushing.
She smiled. “Just don’t do it again, okay? That’s private time.”
They all smiled sheepishly.
“Sorry, honey,” Velvet said, walking over and nuzzling her daughter. “I just couldn’t help but watch my little Twiley and her foals. And, well, once I started watching...”
Twilight chuckled. “Understand, mother. Bet I stirred a few memories, huh?”
Velvet blushed again, answering the question in ways words couldn’t.
At that moment Scootaloo burped, then cuddled into her mother, content in a way only a foal can be.
Everypony Daaa’wed as Twilight gently lowered her eldest child onto the mat next to her sister.
Then came something that probably would’ve happened as soon as the girls had woken up if they hadn’t needed feeding. Presents.
Twilight’s father gave both fillies a jumper, each with the cutie marks of all ponies present.
Her mother gave them each the latest Daring Do book. Since she was good freinds with the writer A.K, Yearling since junior high, she’d gotten two pre-release copies for her two granddaughters, both signed by A.K. Yearling herself.
Cadance’s horn glowed and a clear crystal bracelet appeared around Sunset’s left forehoof while a cyan crystal version of Rainbow Dash appeared in front of Scootaloo, who squealed in delight. The mane and tail even had rainbow colours like the real deal.
Scootaloo grabbed it and started playing happily with it.
Twilight turned to the alicorn of love, an eyebrow raised. “Is it wise to five my baby daughter a crystal doll? You know how easily it could break, right?”
Cadance gave a gentle smile. “Don’t worry, Twilight. Those are made from special crystal designed so foals can’t break them. They also have a spell that stops them from swallowing them,” she grinned, seeing the question in Twilight’s eyes as she glanced at Sunset’s bracelet.
Satisfied with the information, the mother joined her family in watching the fillies playing around for a while with their gifts. After a while, she got the girls to put down their gifts and levitated Scootaloo and her sister into the baby carrier, which she then levitated onto herself, tightening the straps with her magic.
“Shall we go?”
Everypony nodded and they all headed out.
They’d planned on walking around Canterlot, just enjoying a family outing with the girls.
As they walked through the streets, many ponies stopped and Daaw’ed as they watched the two foals bouncing happily in their carrier.
Eventually they reached Pony Joe’s Doughnut Shop. It wasn’t a fancy establishment, but the family all had fond memories of the place and Twilight couldn’t help noticing Sunset squirm a little in her straps, both from excitement and nervousness.
Sunset had told Twilight how she’d known a guy name Joe in the other world who’d had a doughnut shop too. When she’d learned from Twilight that there was a pony version on him in Equestria, she’d been delighted, knowing, once she could keep down solid foods again, she’d be able to enjoy something from her last children, even though she was in a whole other world.
As they entered, the scent of the delicious pastries washed over them, making them all, especially the foals, sigh.
“Twilight,” Joe called from the counter, making all heads of the patrons currently in the store turn and gasp as they saw three members of the royal family entering such a humble place.
“Good afternoon, Joe,” Twilight smiled as she led her family to a spare table, then walked over and placed their orders.
“And who’re dese little ones?” Joe asked, noticing the foals in the carrier after having written down their orders. “You foalsittin' fer somepony.”
Twilight chuckled. “Actually, Joe, these are my daughters.”
Twilight realized her mistake the moment the last word had left her lips.
All chatter stopped and the shop went dead silent.
Joe was starring open-mouthed, which made the two foals giggle, though they did it quietly.
“Yer... a mother now?” was all Joe could managed, though Twilight could see at least fifty questions flashing in his eyes, trying to all come out at one and failing in doing so.
Twilight nodded and, realizing the situation she’d unwittingly created, turned to address the store at large.
“I thought the papers would have already known this, but I will say it now. These are my daughters, Scootaloo and Sunset Shimmer-Sparkle,” she declared with an air much like Celestia, or she at least hopped.
A few seconds of silence. Then a huge rouse of applause came from everypony in the store, all congratulating their princess on having children.
Cadance stood up and calmed everpony down after a few minutes and they all returned to what they were doing, though their chatter was now on a whole other topic, each conversation the same one.
“Well,” Joe chuckled as the chatter returned to normal volume. “Congrats, Twi. Who’s the dad?”
Twilight shook her head. “I adopted both of them, Joe. There’s no stallion involved in this.”
Joe looked surprised for a second, then gave a warm smile. “Just like a princess to give a chance to two foals in need of one. 'Specially when that princess is you, Twi. So, what would the little princesses like, or can’t they eat my delectable treats yet?”
Twilight gave a small shake of her head. “Sorry, Joe. Scootaloo’s the only one who can keep down stuff other than breastmilk, and that sadly doesn’t include anything you have. Though I can guarantee they’ll be very happy when they can and lvoe everything you've got.” She winked.
“You bet!” Scootaloo grinned, looking up at the menu on the big board above Joe’s head.
He blinked. “Did she just...?”
“Answer you?” Sunset giggled. “Yes. She did.”
He stared blankly. “They can already talk? How old are they?”
“One yeaw, fwee monfs, one week,” Scootaloo said, holding up a hoof.
Joe stared dumfounded at the fact the foals had not only told him their age, but that they’d answered as if knowing what the conversation was about.
“I’ll explain later, Joe,” Twilight chuckled. “Let’s just say, my daughters are a lot smarter than the average foal.”
“So I can see,” Joe nodded, moving to fill their orders, while still looking dumbstruck.
After they’d all, save the foals, enjoyed some of the delicacies that you could only get at Joe’s shop, they got up to leave.
As they were leaving, Twilight hoofed Joe a long roll of parchment she’d had Spike write while they’d waited for the orders, telling him to write a summary of everything that had happened since Sunset had come to Equestria.
With a nod confirming he understood it would take too long to explain in person, and his store probably wasn’t the best place to do so and that he’d have to wait read what she’d given him until after work, they all left.
As they all made their way back to Twilight’s parents’ house, both foals sleeping soundly as they bounced in their carrier, Spike suddenly belched a green flame and a scroll with both Celestia and Luna’s seals flopped into his hands.
Twilight took the parchment and read it out loud:
My dear Twilight,
I know you came to Canterlot to visit your relatives and introduce your daughters to them and them to your daughters, I must ask you on behalf of my sister to come to the palace.
Something has happened that will interest you and I cannot aid my sister with the advice you can.
Please inform Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armour that their presence is requested too.
I am sorry for interrupting your time with your family, but Luna would very much like your help in this matter that arose only just last night.
Your princess,
Celestia
PS. Bring the girls with you. I know this will interest them as well.
Twilight finished reading and turned to her family.
“I wonder what could be so important that Princess Luna needs all three of your at the castle so urgently that she’d request it while you’re all here?” Velvet pondered, putting a hoof to her chin.
“I don’t know,” Cadance said, shaking her head. “But she wouldn’t have asked if it wasn’t important. I do wonder why she thinks girls will like to see this, though.” She rubbed her chin as well, deep in thought.
Twilight nodded, rolled up the scroll and stored it in one of the saddlebag compartments of her attire.
“I’m very sorry about this, you guys,” Twilight said to her parents, giving each of them a hug. “We’ll be back as soon as we’re done, okay?”
Night Light chortled. “Honey, we knew when Cadance and Shining got married that we’d have times like this. We fully understand, your royal duties for Equestria come first.”
“We can wait til the five of you come back,” Velvet nodded, smiling like any proud mother would.
Twilight sighed. “Thank you, mom and dad. We’ll return as soon as possible.”
With that, the three adult ponies, plus the two foals riding coach headed off towards the palace, each all wondering what Luna wanted to show them all.
Chapter 14 Another Playmate _____________________________________________________________________
“Welcome, your highnesses,” the royal guard bowed, then saluted. “The Princesses have been expecting you. If you will follow me.”
They all followed the Pegasus stallion down the halls, passing several other guards standing guard throughout the castle, all of whom bowed as they passed.
They all expected to go to the throne room, but were surpsied when they walked passed it and saw neither princesses in there. So where were they?
When the guard leading them stopped and bid them farewell, they were standing in front of the doors to Luna’s personal chambers.
Save Sunset, they all glanced at each other.
What could be so important that Princess Luna had to meet them in her personal chambers?
Twilight took a breath and knocked several times.
The doors opened to reveal Princess Celestia, who smiled when she saw the five of them.
“Thank you all for coming,” she nodded to each in turn. “They’re inside.”
They’re inside?
The five all looked at each other in confusion. Was somepony else privy to this meeting between royalty?
They entered room with its night, moon and stars decoration theme with a few shades of blue reminiscent of its occupant.
Twilight took note of something right away. Several items similar to what she’d purchased after taking in Sunset were laying strewn on Luna’s bed.
A box of wet wipes, a pacifier and a diaper for a foal the same age as either of her daughters.
She raised an eyebrow. What?
She felt a nudge on her shoulder and glanced at Cadance, who was on her left.
Cadance was staring at something that wasn’t the bed.
Twilight followed her gaze and saw a closed door to another room that, from the last time she’d visited Luna’s room for a meeting between herself and the princess of the night, she had not seen there before.
Her confusion rose.
“Come,” Celestia smiled, nodding towards the door.
Twilight and the others followed, Celestia opening the door with her magic.
When they entered, Twilight was more confused.
It was like Luna’s room... expect that it looked like a nursery.
The walls and ceiling had the same night, moon and stars decoration theme and shades of blue, but there were baby toys, a changing table and a small mat near a toy designed for a foal to play with as they fall asleep.
In the centre of the room was a dark-blue crib with a star mobile hanging above it. Standing at the crib was Luna with a look Twilight had never seen her wearing before. It was maternal. The look of... a mother?
Twilight led the others to the crib, where Luna looked up, held a hoof to her lips and pointed down.
They all looked in and gasped.
Laying in the crib, sound asleep, sucking on a forehoove was a tiny black alicorn foal.
Her mane was a deep-blue, deeper than Luna’s fur.
Something else that caught Twilight’s attention was the foal already had a cutie mark. It looked liked the moon... and eerily familiar.
Twilight’s eyes widened. “Is that...? It can’t be... Nightmare Moon?”
Luna nodded, but she was still smiling.
Twilight turned to Celestia, as did her brother and Cadance, all with shocked looks on their faces. Scootaloo too, had a shocked expression, though Sunset looked more confused than shocked.
Celestia chuckled. “I suppose we should explain.”
“Allow me, sister,” Luna said, moving away from the crib and standing next to the sun goddess. “It was my spell that caused all this to happen in the first place.”
Twilight had suppress an eye twitch at how calmly the two of them were talking when the very thing that had separated the two of them nearly a thousand years ago was laying in that crib.
“Then could you two please explain before Twilight has a stroke from restraining herself?” Shining Armour asked, a hint of anger in his voice.
Celestia was just finishing putting away several documents she had had to go through with several nobles that had wanted to build several large buildings. Unfortunately the land they wanted to build on was part of Sweet Apple Acres, thus she’d had to spend four hours explaining to them why they could not build there.
It should have taken only half an hour at the most, but the nobles didn’t seem to understand that just because the Apple Family owned the land and used it for farmer and raising animal, didn’t mean the land wasn’t being put to good use.
Celestia finished putting away the last document and let out a heavy sigh. It had been a long day and it wasn’t even noon yet.
As she got up to head for her personal study for some well-needed realaxation, there was a knock on the throne room doors.
Sighing, knowing it was probably a message of something to do with the delegate from the Griffon Empire that were coming for a visit, she turned to the door, clear her throat and called, “Enter.”
When the door opened it was a brown coated Earth pony mare, with a green mane and a group of stars for her cutie mark.
She was one of Luna’s maid, which caused Celestia to raise an eyebrow.
“Your highness,” she said, bowing. “Your sister wishes to speak with you. It is in regards to Princess Twilight Sparkle and her children.”
Celestia’s confusion rose. Twilight and her foals? Why did Luna want to speak with her about that?
She nodded a 'thank you', to which the maid bowed again and left.
Celestia’s horn glowed and in a flash of golden light she teleported from the throne room, reappearing in front of Luna’s chambers.
She knocked on the doors, which was followed by Luna’s voice calling, “Enter.”
Celestia frowned. There was something in Luna’s voice. She couldn’t quite place it though.
The doors glowed with her magic and she walked in. To her surprise, Luna was not in the room.
“Luna?” she asked, turning her head and pausing when she saw a door she knew full well hadn’t been there before. She had studied the blue prints for the castle long before it had been built and the door in question had not been on the plans.
Hesitantly, Celestia walked to the door, opening it with her magic.
When she entered, she stopped dead in her tracks.
It was as if she had walked back into her sister’s room, expect looked like a foal was living in it.
Luna stood in the middle, using her magic to finish putting a mobile of stars in place over the crib.
“Luna?” Celestia asked, raising an eyebrow. “Why have you created another room, one that looks like it is meant for a foal? Are you planning on adopting?”
Luna gave a small smile. “No, sister. You are half right. I will soon be caring for a foal.”
Celestia narrowed her eyes. “And how exactly are you going to do that, sister? I do not recall you having a suitor.”
Luna sighed. “Hath thou already forgotten the spell mother taught as before she left us?”
Celestia blinked. That spell? Why? And how? Didn’t it require a male to still be present?
“Sister,” Luna said, taking a step forward. “After I watched over the dreams of Twilgith Sparkle and her children, I realized I have longed for a foal of my own. A child to raise and teach. You have Twilight, she has her daughters... but what do I have?”
Celestia almost choked on her own breath. “I— I do not have Twilight,” she stuttered, taking a step back without knowing what.
Luna snorted. “Please, do not insult us, sister. We have seen how you look at her. Though you did not give birth to her and she has another mother that did, you are the one who cared for her whilst she was your student. She is the closet thing to a daughter you have ever had.”
Celestia didn’t retort. She couldn’t. Everything Luna said was completely true. She thought of Twilight as the daughter she never had. She had been so proud when Twilight had become an alicorn, saying she was a teacher, pleased her student had succeeded.
But in truth, she was happy because she knew her daughter would not fade away like all the others she had cared for during her long life time.
Celestia cleared her thoughts with a shake of her head. “I still do not see how you plan on having a foal with that spell, Luna,” she said, trying to gain control she had lost the moment she had entered the room. “Doesn’t that spell still require a male to be present at the time of its casting?”
Luna shook her head. “Only if one wishes to even the chances of either gender being what the foal is.”
Celestia cocked an eyebrow. “You mean to say you want it to be a filly?”
Luna’s smile was her answer. Then she did something Celestia hated, because she could never resist it. Luna gave her the puppy dog eyes.
Celestia sighed. Why did she have to look? If she hadn’t she could’ve refused. But not now.
“Very well, Luna,” she gave another sigh. “But you do realize this foal will be your responsibility? I will help you, but it is you who must still raise her.”
Luna nodded viciously, the biggest grin Celestia could ever remember seeing on her face. “Yes, sister. You have our word. We will be the best mother that hath ever been a mother.”
Luna walked up to Celestia and they both touched their horns together. Though the spell could have easily been cast by either one of them on their own, for what Luna want, a filly, the both of them working together not only made it more likely that the foal would be female, but with combined magic, it would be an alicorn.
Celestia knew that if she didn’t help and Luna had a child that was not immortal like them, she would one day mourn the loss of her daughter to the point she could end up becoming Nightmare Moon again.
She did not want that and would do whatever it took to ensure that being of evil never returned to this plain.
The spell began and magic started to swirl around them, both light and dark working together.
As they increased the magic, Celestia wondered what Luna would name her foal. How far had she planed this? How long had she planed this?
With her thoughts elsewhere, it wasn’t until Celestia heard her sister’s terrified yelped that she saw what was happening.
The magic at the tip of their horns had become a blue far darker than Luna’s. Only one had that darkness.
“Sister, what do we do?!” Luna cried, her eyes wide with panic. “I don’t want my foal to be possessed by that thing!”
“And it won’t!” Celestia declared, her voice firm. “Hold tight, sister. This will not be easy.”
Celestia and Luna both increased the magic they were producing into the spell.
There darkness wavered, then strained, then shimmered.
There was an enormous flash of white light and they both collapsed to the floor, exhausted.
Once they had regained some strength, the two sisters stood up and looked around.
There was no sign that the Nightmare had returned. Luna was herself and the sun was still in the sky, Celestia could feel it.
They both relaxed, then lifted their heads when they heard the sound of quiet breathing.
The princesses turned to Luna’s side and both their eyes widened in shock and horror.
Laying next to Luna’s left foreleg, sleeping, was a foal that looked like the very thing they had just tried to stop.
Celestia’s first instinct was to destroy it, her horn glowing, charging a spell.
But as she looked at the sleeping foal she stopped, her magic dispersing.
Even if it was the creature that had taken her sister away for a thousand years, she could never bring herself to hurt a foal.
As if on cue, the foal yawned, opened its eyes and looked up at Luna, who stared down at it, her mouth still hanging open.
Where Celestia expected to hear Nightmare chuckle and then turn into an ungoddessly horrifying form, the foal gurgled, holding its front hooves up at Luna.
Both princesses blinked.
The foal Nightmare Moon continued to gurgle up at Luna and started trying to stretch higher. Then it started whimpering.
Celestia watched the look of shock in her sister’s face slowly turn to tenderness. Luna lowered her head until she was eye level with the foal.
“Nightmare? Do you remember me?”
The foal’s answer was a happy coo as it grabbed her face and gave a wide smile only foals could give.
Luna smiled. Her horn glowed as she straightened up and sat on her haunches, the foal being levitated by her magic and lowered into her forehooves.
Once in her forehooves it gave a loud yawn that almost sounded like “Mom” and curled into Luna’s fur, falling back asleep.
Luna glanced at Celestia, who had a perplexed look on her face. “That is not how I expected her to react. Especially now that she is a foal.”
Luna looked down at the foal in her forelimbs. “Sister... I don’t think she remembers. She would not be able to fool me. I know her.” Her voice lowered. “... I was her.”
Celestia looked like she wanted to say something, then looked away. Even after all this time, that matter was one they still could not bring themselves to talk about fully.
“You’re sure,” she asked after a few minutes.
Luna’s horn glowed and a blue-light passed over the foal. She looked to her older sister and nodded. “She has no memory.”
Celestia face melted into a smile. “Then I see no reason as to why you cannot raise her, Luna.”
The night princess look up in shock. “How did you—?”
Celestia chuckled. “When it comes to the younger ones, you can’t hide your emotions, little sister.”
Luna blushed, then gave a small smile. “Thank you, sister. For... well...”
Celestia held up a hoof. “No need, Luna. Though I think we might need to give her a new name, don’t you?”
Luna looked down at the foal and smiled. “Yes. A new name, for a new beginning.”
Twilight turned back to the crib at the sleeping foal.
Now that she had heard what had happened and weatched the contented look of the crib’s occupant... she had to admit, she was very cute.
“So, what’s her name?” Cadance asked her aunts.
Unlike Twilight and Shining, she hadn’t become angry of fearful when she’d figured out the foal’s identity. She knew, if her aunts had kept her, there was a good reason.
Luna walked back over to the crib and gently moved a hoof through the foal’s mane. “Evening Tides. Eve, for short."
Shining Armour blinked. “Um, why Evening Tides?”
Luna looked to him and chuckled. “I am her mother and the princess of the night. She is my angel of the night.”
“I think I understand,” Twilight said, putting a hoof to her chin. “The moon moves the tides of the ocean. When your daughter’s old enough, you’ll have her join you in creating the night.”
Luna nodded. “Astute as ever, Twilight Sparkle.”
“Did you want her to play with my daughters?” Twilight asked and felt her two foals wriggle in anticipation of the possibility of playing with another foal, this one an alicorn.
Luna gave a sad smile. “Not today, Twilight Sparkle.”
Twilight felt a bit disappointed, something she knew her daughters felt from how they slumped and didn’t move.
“Maybe soon, little ones,” Luna said, her smile warm again, which made both foals happy as well. “But, in truth, she is less than a few hours old. I think she should simply rest today.”
Twilight nodded. “Understood, princess.”
They made to leave, then a thought occurred to Twilight and she stopped, turning back to Luna. “How are you feeding her?”
Luna gave a wry smile. “You know just how, Twilight Sparkle.”
They and the two foals in the carrier giggled.
“Very well, princess,” she said, as they turned to leave. “We look forward to meeting for a playdate. Maybe while we’re still in Canterlot. The girls and I will be in town for a few more days.”
Luna nodded. “That would be wonderful.” She returned to the crib and watching her daughter with a contented smile.
As they walked out of the castle they discussed this new development.
“Just how many more princesses is Equestria gonna get?” Shining joked. “Counting the princesses, you four and Eve, that’s already seven.”
Twilight giggled. “Maybe my friends will become the next princesses,” she joked.
“Hmm,” Cadance said in mock interest. “The bearers of the Elements of Harmony all becoming princess?”
They all laughed, even the foals as they headed back towards Twilight’s parent’s house.
“Tag! You’w it!” Sunset giggled, tagging Eve on her side and then started crawling away as fast as her little hooves could take her.
“Oh, you down’t tag a pwincess widout paying da pwice!” Eve playful growled, crawling after the unicorn.
Scootaloo saw Eve was it and started crawling in the opposite direction.
Her movement, however, caught Eve’s cat-like eyes and she changed her target to the orange Pegasus.
Twilight and Luna watched with warm smiles as their foals played with each other, crawling around on the padded floor of Twilight’s old (now foalproofed) room.
Though their daughters could understand each other, all Twilight and Luna heard from Eve was foal-talk.
“I cannot thank you enough, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna said, turning to the younger alicorn and giving a small yawn. “Eve has proven that while she loves my night as much as I, she also loves the day. Again, I thank you for extending your stay in Canterlot and foalsitting her for me. I needed the sleep, dearly.”
Twilight chuckled. “Not a problem, Luna,” she said as Scootaloo just avoided a tag from Eve. “She’s a wonderful little filly. You’re very lucky.”
Luna gave a small chortle. “So are you, Twilight Sparkle. I know your daughters love you very much.”
Twilight blushed and looked away.
At that moment a knock came from the front door.
“I’ll get it,” Twilight said, turning and heading downstairs.
It had been almost two weeks since she’d arrived in Canterlot. She’d only meant to stay for just under a week, introducing Sunset and Scootaloo to their relatives and go.
However, two days before they were planning to leave, Luna had asked if Twilight would mind foalsitting Eve for a while.
Luna loved Eve dearly, Twilight could tell when she’d first taken in the way Luna looked at her after she’d heard the story of Eve’s creation. But Luna had been having trouble sleeping because Eve kept wanting her to play with her during the day, when Luna usually slept through most of the day so that she could perform her Night Duties when evening fell.
Twilight had agreed all too happily. She was thrilled to give the girls some time to spend with their new cousin.
Eve had made both Twilight’s daughters’ jealous at first.
It turned out, like Pound and Pumpkin Cake, Eve, despite only being a foal was able to fly and use her magic.
Both her daughters had gotten very pouty about that and even tried to do the same, but to no avail.
After a stern talking from Twilight, all three had agreed to not fly or use magic, so as not to make any one of them feel less important than the other.
Not that that stopped Eve using her magic and flying to get out of feedings or diaper changes.
Twilight reached the door and opened it with her magic.
Standing outside was one of the Royal Guards. He was a brown-coated Pegasus with a blue mane. That was all Twilight could make out since the rest was covered by the golden armour.
“A letter for you, Your Highness,” he said, pulling a scroll out from under his wing and letting it go into Twilight’s magic.
She nodded her thanks and he departed back to the castle.
“Who was it?” Luna’s voice called from Twilight’s room.
Twilight teleported back to the room, the letter still floating next to her head.
“One of the Royal Guards,” she said, opening the letter and scanning it quickly. “He... gave me this letter!” her voice had risen in smugness and glee at the same time.
The foals all stopped, turning to the older mares at the sound of Twilight’s voice, curious expression on their faces.
“What does it say?” Luna asked, noting Twilight’s eyes growing bigger, filling with a few tears, then her smirking as she read through the letter. “It must be good to warrant that kind of a reaction from you, Twilight Sparkle.”
Twilight turned to her, nodded and then started reading out loud.
Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle,
This letter is to inform you of the immediate and permanent termination of the employment of one Firm Hoof.
At your request, we called an investigator to go undercover and observe Firm Hoof’s behavior.
Sufficed to say, what she learned firsthoof and witnessed the horrible care of the foals of the orphanage.
Many foals were beaten for no real reason and any problems the foals had, whether they be trivial or a serious injury, neither Firm Hoof, or indeed barely any of the staff gave the slightest notice, leaving the children to fend for themselves.
Sadly, two foals (Sweet Dreams, a unicorn filly and Gentle Skies, a Pegasus colt) at now in the hospital in critical condition. We're still unsure as to what happened to them and the doctors are uncertain at this point if they will survive.
Firm Hoof’s behavior in particular was beyond horrifying. He even beat several fillies and colts because he blamed them for your daughter Scootaloo’s running away from the orphanage to be adopted by yourself.
As such, he and all those who cared so little for the foals in their care have been sacked and banned from ever setting hoof in any orphanage or any establishment where young foals are looked after ever again.
Firm Hoof himself was sued for all his has, for his crimes were beyond expectations, though he seemed to take that as a compliment.
He now is serving a fifty year sentence in prison, with no chance of bail.
We must thank you for all you did. The orphanage is in far better hooves now and the children are no longer cowering in fear, but playing around and happy. Several were adopted just this morning because of their cherry moods.
Forever in you debt,
Caring Heart, new manager of Ponyville Orphanage.
There was silence as everypony took in what the letter meant.
Scootaloo started to sniffled, rubbing her eyes.
“Scoowawoo?” Sunset asked, crawling over to her sister, who hugged her, sobbing.
“I knew dem,” she whimpered, her tears soaking the back of Sunset’s coat. “Dey wewe my onwy fwiend dere. Dey even hewped me wun away.”
Twilight lowered the scroll, walked over to her daughters and pulled them into a hug.
“I’m so sorry, Scootaloo,” she murmured as the Pegasus buried herself into her mother. “I wish I’d known. I could’ve done something. Maybe find them some parents. Or adopt them myself if it had come to it.” She gave a small smile. "How about, when we go back, we visit them? Would you like that?"
Scootaloo sniffed, nodding her head into her mother's fur. “Tank you, Mommy,” she whispered.
Twilight noticed she called her “Mommy” instead of “Mama”. She must be hurting so much right now.
After a while, Scootaloo calmed down.
Luna decided it was time to leave.
She lifted Eve onto her back, all her things already packed into the night-blue saddlebags she was wearing.
She said her thank you again to Twilight for taking care of Eve for so long and was on her way, Eve gurbling in foal talk, waving her hooves in the air as her mother flew off.
“Well, girls,” she turned to her own daughters as they stood by her forehooves. “It’s time we left as well.”
“Wha bout gwan’ma and gwan’pa?” Sunset asked, cocking her head.
Twilight sighed. “They knew once Luna took Eve back we’d have to head out too. We only stayed because Luna asked me to look after Eve for a few days. Spike already went back home two days after Eve arrived. Don’t worry,” she winked, levitating a scroll from under her wing, “we’ll leave them a note. They’ll understand.”
She levitated the scroll onto the living room coffee table, then levitated the girls’ foal carrier onto herself, all their things already packed and, finally, levitated the girls into the straps and securing them.
With that, she walked out, closing and locking the door behind her and headed off towards the train station.
Upon arriving, Twilight got three tickets, along with a Daaa’aaw from the ticket master aimed at her daughter and headed for the platform the train to Ponyville was waiting.
Just as they were about to board the train, however, a voice called out, “Yoour Highness!”
Twilight paused, turning to see Filthy Rich walking towards her, a very she looking Diamond Tiara hiding behind him.
She felt Scootaloo wiggle in discomfort and heard a cute snort from Sunset.
Twilight nodded as he stopped in front of her. “Hello, Mister Rich. What brings you to Canterlot?”
“A business meeting, very boring, trust me on that,” Rich replied, waving a hoof. “However, I was wondering if you would look after Diamond for a few days, Your Highness. If it isn’t too much trouble, that is,” he added hastily as Twilight raised an eyebrow. Twilight looked to Diamond Tiara, who eep much like Fluttershy would and hid more behind her father.
Twilight noticed Tiara’s tiara was different from the last time she’d seen the rude filly. Back then it had been silver and pink. Now it was silver and blue.
“Not sure why I’m curious, by what’s with the new tiara?” she asked, wondering why she bothered asking the question in the first place.
Diamond eeped again and somehow hid even more behind her father.
Rich sighed, shaking his head. “She learned her lesson. Her Cutie Mark came back.”
“Was there a difference to it?” Twilight knew Silver Spoon’s Cutie Mark had changed when she learned her lesson and was curious what changes Diamond’s had gone through, if any.
Rich sighed again. “Yes,” he said rather flatly. “Ironically, it is something we thought she’d gotten over shortly before she got her Cutie Mark last time.”
Twilight raised an eyebrow. This was curious, for sure. What could her lesson have been that she would be acting like Fluttershy?
“Diamond, come out,” Rich said, chuckling slightly. “It’s Princess Twilight, not Nightmare Moon.”
Twilight had to suppress a giggle, as did her daughters. If only he knew the foal formally known as Nightmare Moon was in Canterlot at this very moment, probably taking a nap in her nursery in Canterlot Castle.
Reluctantly, Diamond walked out from behind her father, an ashamed look on her face.
Twilight noticed her Cutie Mark looked the same as her current Tiara as opposed to her old one. Was that the only change? Silver’s change had been far more obvious.
“Your Highness, would you place cast an illusionary spell around us, so other do not see?” Rich asked, his voice earnest now. “One that will make other ponies thing we are still just chatting.”
Not quiet understanding why he’d ask that, Twilight cast the spell, ensuring none but the five of them would see what was really happening.
Rich nodded to his daughter. “Go ahead, Diamond.”
Looking like the she was scared the world would fall around her, Diamond Tiara sat on her haunches, lifted her forehooves to her tiara and removed it.
At once something changed. Twilight could no longer see Diamond’s Cutie Mark, for it was covered up by a bright white diaper.
She blinked. What?
Scootaloo burst out laughing and Sunset sneered.
“You weaw diapees?!” Scootaloo cackled, tears streaming down her muzzle. “Wow. And youw wewe makin fun owf mwy bwank fwank? Bedder a bwank fwank at youw ashe dan a dipeed one! ”
Tiara just sat there, tears welling in her eyes, her lips quivering.
“Girls!” Twilight's stern tone made Sunset’s sneer and Scootaloo’s smile and laughter halt.
They both looked up as she gave them both firm glares.
“Apologize, now!”
“What?” Scootaloo said, her eyes going wide. “Why?”
“Did you like it when Diamond Tiara was saying you were worthless?” she asked, her tone still firm, but now angry too.
“No!” Scootaloo said, her brow furrowing. “I haded it!”
Twilight raised an eyebrow. “So how do you think Diamond feels right now, with you laughing at her and Sunset sneering at her.” She gave Sunset a quick glare and the unicorn winced.
Scootaloo seemed to understand what her mother was implying, because she sighed and muttered, “Sowwy, Tiawa.”
Twilight smiled. “There. Was that so hard?”
Scootaloo’s only response was to cross her forehooves, pouting.
“So, what exactly happened?” Twilight asked, curious as to why Diamond had to wear a diaper when she wasn’t a foal like her own daughters and why she was wearing a tiara that must have an illusionary spell on it so nopony saw the diaper.
Rich then explained that, during one of his meeting in Fillydelfia, some older fillies had ganged up on Tiara, calling her a worth blank flank and destroyed her tiara.
They had scared her so much that she’d wet herself.
Luckily Rich had been coming by at the time and stopped everything. Unfortunately for all the older fillies involved, he recognized them because employed either their mothers or fathers and they’d be hearing about this when they all got home.
He’d then bought the new tiara in hopes it would cheer her up and at first, it did. When she put on the new tiara, Rich had gasped, pointing to her flank.
Her original Cutie Mark had returned. But as she took the tiara off, it vanished. They’d learned the tiara had an illusionary spell on it, making all see something aside from her blank flank.
Shortly after, Rich had learned Diamond had somehow lost control of her bladder and become incontinent. So, despite her protesting, he’d gotten her some young filly diapers so she wouldn’t keep making messes.
To make her feel better, he’d gotten a unicorn who’d been in the meeting to alter the spell on Diamond’s tiara so that it would hide her diaper and let everypony just see what was underneath.
Once that was done and Diamond put on the tiara, her diaper seemed to vanish, even though she could still feel it.
Her joy had only grown when her Cutie Mark appeared, only to lose all that joy when she realized what her Cutie Mark meant, seeing it was the same as her new tiara.
Twilight blinked. “So... her mark represents the thing that hides her diaper?”
Rich nodded as Diamond put the tiara back on her head and her diaper vanished from sight.
“Now, could you answer my early question, Your Highness?” Rich asked, glancing at his daughter. “And don’t you have something to say, young lady?”
Diamond looked up at the two foals who’d taunted her and Twilight could tell from the look in her eyes that she thought she’d deserved. “Sorry for being so cruel to you, Scootaloo,” she said, her voice quiet and full of shame. “You’re not worthless. You’re a better pony than I’ll ever be.”
Both adults and the two foals blinked.
Twilight glanced at Rich. “You didn’t make her say that last bit, did you?”
He shook his head, just as shocked.
Diamond started sobbing and Twilight pulled her into a hug.
“Don’t think that, okay, Diamond,” she said quietly. “What you did was horrible, true, but that does not make you less of a pony than my daughter, understand?”
Diamond nodded into Twilight’s fur and hugged her a bit tighter.
Twilight looked to Rich. “Don’t worry. I’ll look after her til you come back to Ponyville.”
Rich nodded. “Thank you, Your Highness. All her things are already on the train.” He walked closer and took his daughter, giving her a final hug. “Be good, okay, my little princess?”
She nodded, giving a small whimper.
They broke apart, Rich nodded once more to Twilight and headed out of the station.
“All aboard,” a conductor shouted. “Next stop, Ponyville.”
Twilight turned to the very sad-looking Diamond Tiara.
She wrapped a wing around the small filly. “Come on, Diamond. Let’s head home.”
Diamond gave a small nod, not really seeming to be paying attention.
They boarded the train and took their seats in a regular carnage. Even though she was a princess, Twilight would rarely travel first class if she could help it.
She expected Diamond Tiara to have something to say about it, but she remained silent, just staring at the floor.
Wait. How did Diamond have a ticket for the train when she'd not gotten one after Twilight said she'd take her in for a few days? And why did her father say all her stuff was already on baord.
Twilight grinded her teeth. Filthy Rich had planned this from the beginning. He'd known she'd take her and prepared without bothering to check first.
She sighed, leaning back. This was going to be a long ride home.
“Ponyville!” the conductor shouted as the doors opened.
Twilight turned to the small filly next to her, laying into her side, who had fallen asleep during the ride.
Twilight gently nudged Diamond and she stirred.
“Come on, Diamond. We’re home,” the alicorn said, getting up, focusing her magic and levitating all their luggage.
She’d spent at least half the trip looking for Diamond’s luggage that Rich had put on before getting her to actually agree first.
There was a lot of luggage, considering she was only taking Diamond in for a few days until her returned.
The two ponies trotted out onto the platform and headed out, across the town towards the direction of Twilight’s library.
As they walked, small yawns came from the foal carrier as Scootaloo and Sunset woke up, stretching.
“We home?” Sunset asked, looking around as she and her sister bobbed up and down with each of their mother’s steps.
Twilight nodded, then noticed Diamond was looking extremely anxious.
“What’s wrong, Diamond?” she asked, concerned as to why she was so worried.
“Ya know, azide fwom you hawing t’ weaw diapees,” Scootaloo snickered, but a glare from her mother silenced her.
Diamond looked to the ground. “What if somepony from school sees me?”
“Um, dey won’t,” Scootaloo said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Is Toosday. Dey’re aww in schoow wight now.”
“Don’t worry, Diamond,” Twilight said, wrapping a wing around the anxious filly. “You don’t have to tell anypony yet. You can do it in your own time. Or not at all if you want.”
Diamond’s response was a small nod.
When they entered the library, Spike was waiting for them.
He blinked in confusion when he saw Diamond and frowned.
“Why’s Diamond Tiara here?” he asked, clearly trying to act interested, but Twilight noticed the angry growl in his tone.
Diamond apparently noticed it too, because she squeaked and hid behind the purple alicorn, trying to make herself as small as possible.
“It’s good to see you too, Spike,” Twilight said, hoping her tone told him she’d noticed and wasn’t pleased. “Filthy Rich caught up with us at the train station before we left and asked if I’d take care of Diamond for a few days while he finishes some business in Canterlot.”
“And you said “yes”?” Spike asked, clearly not pleased to know the Earth Pony would be staying for a while.
Twilight nodded, her expression firm. “Yes. And before you start on her, Spike, she learned her lesson.” More than I even wanted her to.
Spike glanced at Diamond’s flank and noticed her Cutie Mark.
“Whatever,” he said, turning away and walking further into the library, not noticing the difference between her new Cutie Mark from her old one.
Twilight looked down to Diamond Tiara, her face soft. “Do you want a hoof unpacking?”
Diamond shook her head. “I’ll be fine.”
Twilight led her to the spare room, leaving Diamond’s luggage by the bed as two small foals’ tummies rumbled and headed back to her own room, to give the girls their feeding.
When Twilight had left the room, Diamond Tiara went back out and headed for the bathroom. She could still remember where it was from when she and Silver Spoon had convinced Scootaloo and her friends to bring them along to Twilight Time.
She went to the sink, turned on the water and splashed her face.
After drying her face, she turned around, only to see her reflection in a full-body mirror hanging on one of the walls and saw her Cutie Mark.
Tiara glared at her reflection. “You deserve this, you know,” she said to it, pointing a hoof. “You never stopped, did you? Oh, no, you just had to keep making fun of everypony. You were always so much better than them.”
She snorted.
“You were never better than them,” she said, her face pulled back in a snarl. “They were the ones always better than you. You don’t even remember what your special talent is, do you? No, of course you don’t. When you got your Cutie Mark the only thing that matter was that you had yours, while everypony else didn’t.”
She walked up to her reflection, and looked away, before looking back again.
“You deserve this new Cutie Mark. It shows you’re just daddy’s little princess. Only popular because you’re family’s rich and that makes you oh so much better than everypony else.”
She sniffled, letting her tears fall from her eyes, trail down her cheeks and pool on the floor at her hooves.
“You never deserved any of the good things you got,” she sniffled again. “You did your best to embarrass Apple Bloom at your Cute-ceañera, you insulted Granny Smith on Family Appreciation Day at school, you turned Babs Seed against her own cousin, you made fun of Scootaloo’s not being able to fly just so you could win a stupid competition, tricked the CMC into letting the fact that Twilight teaching them herself go to their heads and made sure it blew up in their faces and then made Scootaloo after she became a baby cry just to have a little fun.”
She stomped her hoof and glared at her reflection.
“You got off easy. You deserve far worse for what you did! The fact that you’re now stuck wearing diapers for the rest of your life in nothing compared to what you should have had happen to you.”
She lay down on her stomach and closed her eyes, her tears streaming down her face.
“You’re nothing, Diamond Tiara. Just a filly lucky enough to be born into a rich family. Nothing more.”
Twilight and the girls looked to the door of the room as they heard Tiara insulting herself.
The girls had stopped suckling when shortly after she started and were looking uncomfortable, no doubt ashamed for how they’d treated Diamond Tiara before in Canterlot and after getting home.
Twilight sighed as she looked to the door.
Oh, Diamond Tiara, she thought, shaking her head. Is that really what you think of yourself now? Nopony is nothing and I think you’ve been through more than enough. Why can’t you see that?
At that moment there was a knock from the door.
Twilight looked to her foals. “I’ll be back in a little, okay?”
They nodded, not really hungry anymore as Twilight got up and went door stairs.
She got downstairs to see Spike waving goodbye to a brown Earth Pony stallion and closing the door, holding a letter in his left claw.
“Who’s the letter from, Spike?” she asked as he got came over to her and noticed his was frown in confusion.
“Filthy Rich,” he said, giving the letter to her.
Twilight frowned. “Odd. It hasn’t even been half a day yet,” she said as she opened it and started reading. “Why would he...?”
She trailed off, her eyes widening at what she read.
Dear Princess Twilight,
If I’m right you should be receiving this letter hours after we met in Canterlot Station.
I am afraid I have run into trouble with one of my business partners and have in a way lost control of my company.
I will be able to get it back, eventually, but I have to go around to several different cities, including Manehatten, Fillydelphia and even Trottingham to regain back control of the company.
However, this means I cannot take my daughter with me. I have no idea how long this will take me and that is no way for a filly to live.
So, until my return I have given you legal guardianship of my daughter until further notice.
I also cannot afford to pay for any of Diamond’s expenses, so I do hope you will be able to manage on your own.
I will try to ensure I handle this as swiftly as possible, but even at my best, and that is if I am extremely lucky and celestia is watching over me, it will most likely take me at least six months, maybe seven.
Hope things are going well, please give my love to Diamond,
Filthy Rich
“Uh, Twilight? Twilight?”
Spike was nervous. Twilight was staring at the letter, her left eye twitching erratically.
Twilight teleported out of the library, reappearing on the top of the mountain where Fluttershy had stopped that dragon from blanketing Ponyville in smoke while it was sleeping.
“DAMN YOU, FILTHY RICH, YOU UNDER HOOFED SNAKE!” she shouted, using the Royal Canterlot Voice, her shouts echoing across the sky all the way to Canterlot.
After she’d calmed down she teleported back to the same place in the libaray she’d been before, to find Spike standing there, waiting, the letter in his right claw.
He nodded. “Totally understand why you did that.”
Twilight sighed. At least it explained why Diamond had so much luggage. She was going to be here for a long time.
“Um... Y-your Majesty?”
Twilight and Spike looked up to see Diamond standing at the top of the stairs from the bathroom, tears in her eyes.
“I-if you don’t want me here, I... I understand,” she looked down as she started walking down the stairs. “I’ll just find somewhere else to stay until my daddy gets back. Maybe somewhere in the Everfree will be okay.”
Just as she was about to reach the door, Twilight extended a wing, blocking her path.
Diamond looked up at her fearfully, thinking she’d done something to upset Twilight even further.
Twilight sighed, then gently wrapped her wings around the shivering filly, and held her in her hooves.
“Diamond, while the way you father got me to foalsit you until his return was... It could have been handle better, don’t think that means I’ll not keep my word.”
Diamond looked up at Twilight, her eyes begging for forgiveness that she still didn’t seem to know she didn’t need.
“I promise I’ll look after you until he returns,” the alicorn told her softly, moving a strand of Tiara’s mane from her eyes.
Tiara sniffed. “Pinkie Promise?”
Twilight smiled, let go of Tiara and started the motions, “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”
Tiara lunged into Twilight, catching her off-guard. The force knocked Tiara’s tiara off her head as she held onto the purple mare, sobbing into her fur.
“Y-you— You really mean it?” she managed to make out.
Twilight smiled and put her hooves around her, closing her eyes. “Of course, Diamond. I am one of your princesses after all. I couldn’t just abandon one of my subjects when they need me, could I?”
Tiara sniffled. “Thank you.”
Spike picked up Diamond’s tiara. “Why do you even wear this thing? What kind of pony needs to...?”
He trailed off as he looked at Tiara holding onto Twilight, sobbing into her fur, her diaper now visible without her tiara’s illusionary spell once more.
“Oh...”
After a while, Twilight pulled away from Diamond and looked to the stairs.
"Diamond, I need to finish feeding the girls," she said, stroking Diamond's mane once. "Will you be okay unpacking? Spike can help you?"
Spike was about to protest, but a look from Twilight shut him up before he even spoke.
Tiara hadn't noticed Twilight's look at Spike, she'd been rubbing her eyes at the time.
"No. I'll be okay," she said, looking up at the older mare and gave a small smile, the first Twilight had seen since meeting up with her and her father. "I'll be okay on my own."
"Okay," Twilight said, getting up and heading back towards her own room. "I'll leave you to it."
Spike and Tiara stood in the living room in silence for a few minutes, niether moving or saying anything.
"Um... here," Spike said, breaking the silence as he passed Tiara's tiara back to her.
She took it, placing it on her head and her diaper disappeared.
"Thanks," she said in a small voice.
"Yeah, whatever," Spike said, folding his arms as he looked away. "And I'll help you unpack, okay?"
Tiara said nothing but slowly made her way to the room Twilight had given her, Spike following behind.
Spike and Diamond Tiara were silent as they unpacked her things.
Spike glanced at the Earth Pony as she opened a suitcase that made her tear up a little.
Curious, the baby dragon went close enough to see what was inside without making it obvious he was looking.
The whole thing was full of things for a foal... only bigger.
There were many diapers sized for a filly Diamond’s age and some bottles of foal powder.
Spike felt guilt as he remembered how he’d acted towards Tiara when she’d first arrived and even a little earlier.
Part of him said she was right when he’d heard her telling herself off in the bathroom, telling herself she deserved everything she’d gotten.
But another part of him, the part Twilight had helped raise to be kind towards others, told him she’d been through more than enough.
This was enforced in his mind as he saw the look on her face as she stared down at the offending diapers that marked the rest of her incontinent life.
He sighed. “Tiara?”
A small noise from her was his only response.
He sighed again, scratching behind his next. “Listen... sorry about what I said earlier.”
Tiara slowly looked to him, giving him a sad look that said she wished she could believe him, but didn’t.
Spike lowered his claw and looked firmly at her. “I’m serious, Tiara. If Twilight thinks you’ve been through more than enough, you’ve been through more than enough. Stop tormenting yourself like this.”
Even from what little time they’d been in the room together, thanks to her ealier scolding herself in the bathroom, he knew she was punishing herself, even after the spell had been broken and she’d gotten her Cutie Mark back.
Spike had to stop himself wincing when he realized the cure for the spell was almost as bad, if not worse.
Tiara was silent for a bit, then she looked to the baby dragon, tears in her eyes, “Spike?”
“Yeah?” he asked, bracing himself for whatever might happen next.
“Can I have a hug?”
Spike blinked for a second, the walked over and pulled her into a tight hug.
Diamond Tiara started weeping as she held onto him, her tears wetting him, but he let it pass.
When she’d asked, it had come out as a squeak. He’d been around long enough to know that particular sound in a pony’s voice. It was a sign they were about to breakdown if you didn’t help them.
After a few minutes, they pulled away, Diamond wiping a few stray tears from her eyes, a small smile on her face.
“Thanks. I needed that.”
Spike nodded. “Let’s finish unpacking, huh?”
Ten minutes later, they were done and Spike led Diamond back downstairs into the main room and pulled down a book for Diamond to read.
She thanked him, opened it and sat down on Twilight’s couch and seemed to enjoy the story.
Spike went over to another shelf and took down a Daring Doo book and started reading it.
Just as Daring was about to escape Ahuizotl for the umpteenth time, there was a knock on the door, pulling Spike from his reading.
With a groan, he put the book down, got up and went to answer the door.
He’d been so focused on the story, he didn’t noticed that a certain Earth Pony was still sitting on the couch, engrossed in her own book, unaware that somepony would see her the moment Spike opened the door.
Spike opened the door to find Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Silver Spoon on the other side, the latter of the trio with a book in her saddlebag that they’d borrowed the previous day.
“Let me guess,” Spike said, folding his arms. “Didn’t find anything that could you two get your Cutie Marks, huh?”
Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes. “It’s so frustrating! What we missing? I know we can find our talents, but nothing we do seems to work!”
The sound of something thumping to the floor made the three fillies look up over Spike, said dragon turning around, his eyes widening as he remembered a certain somepony he’d forgotten was still in the room.
Diamond Tiara sat on the couch, her hooves still in the position as if she were holding the book now lying on the floor.
Her pupils had shrunk to pinpricks, her lips quivering as the three stared at her, their eyes wide.
“I... I’ll see if Princess Twilight needs any help with the foals,” she stammered and made to run.
In her hast, she stepped on the book she’d dropped and slipped, falling onto her back.
The sound of something clattering on the floor, made Diamond’s heart stop.
Slowly, she looked above her head.
Sitting a few metres away... was her tiara.
Still as slowly as before, she lowered her head and looked down at her waist. Her diaper was clearly visible.
“Um... what... what’s Diamond Tiara doing here?” Sweetie Belle asked, cocking an eyebrow.
“An’... why’s she we’rin’ a diaper?” Apple Bloom asked, looking just as confused.
“Uh...” Spike said, trying to think of something to say, but his mind had suddenly gone blank. Pretty sure this isn’t how Twi or Diamond wanted anypony finding out.
Tiara’s eyes started watering as she stared down at her diapered rear, thinking that, maybe if she stared hard enough, they’d forget it was there, that she was there.
Silver Spoon took a step forward.
Diamond reacted at once. She rolled onto her side and stood up, getting ready to run.
Before she could, however, Silver suddenly lunged at her.
She winced, shutting her eyes as she prepared for the worst.
After a second, she noticed she wasn’t in any kind of physical pain.
What was more, something warm was around her, something the size of a filly.
Not only that, there was a new sound.
She recognized this sound. She’d been making it ever since that day she’d been cornered by those cruel young mares, resulting in her current life.
It was... sobbing?
She opened her eyes and realized Silver Spoon had pulled her into a tight hug, tears streaming down her eyes.
“Diamond,” she sobbed, her voice shaking a little. “Wh-where have you been all this time? I know your dad took you with him... but why’d you go for so long?”
Diamond Tiara was stunned. “You...? You missed me?”
Silver nodded, nodding moving as she held her long time friend since they’d been little.
“But... I treated you so badly,” Diamond still wasn’t quite sure what was happening. “I treated you like dirt after you agreed to be friends with Scootaloo’s friends. How...? How can you possible still like me? I’m horrible. I don;t deserve any kindness.”
Now Diamond was sobbing, though she made no move to hold Silver Spoon, not thinking she had the right to.
“Stop!” Silver pulled away, giving Diamond a firm look that made the pink pony gasp. “Did you learn your lesson?”
Diamond nodded. “Yes, but...”
“Then why should I not want to be your friend again?” Silver interrupted. “If you learned it, then that’s all. We both were acted like foals. Let’s leave it at that and move on. Please?”
Diamond gave a shaky smile. “R-really?” Then her face fell. “But... what about them?” she asked, looking at the two ponies still standing in the doorway, then looked down. “Do...? How can they ever forgive me?”
There was the sound off hooves clopping on wood and Diamond was suddenly in a group hug.
“S’long as yer not the same D’amond Tiara from last tahme, we forgive ya,” Apple Bloom said.
Sweetie Belle nodded. “Yeah. We forgive you.”
Diamond couldn’t respond.
She’d expected all three of them to treat her like the dirt she’d treated all of them. She’d been sure they’d want to make her life miserable. Well, more than it already was.
“Thank you,” she whispered, just enoying the warm embrace of the ponies around her.
After a few minutes, they all pulled away and sat down in a circle.
“Why are you here, Diamond?” Sweetie Belle asked, her confused look from before returning. “Why aren’t you with your dad? Didn’t he come back with you?”
Diamond’s ears drooped and she looked down. “No.”
She then explained what she’d known from what her dad had told her. How somepony heartless pony had almost stolen her dad’s company from under him, how he now had to go from city to city to get control back and how Twilight had agreed to take her in until her dad came back.
Apple Bloom frowned, putting a hoof to her chin. “But... why’re ya’ll we’rin’ a diaper?”
Diamond sighed and explained the events that led to her re-earning her Cutie Mark.
After she finished, Sweetie Belle’s horn glowed with its green aura, the same glow encasing Tiara’s discarded tiara and floated it back to its owner, who put it back on her head.
Instantly, her diaper vanished from sight and they all saw her Cutie Mark.
“So... you’re Cutie Mark is the tiara that helps you hide your diaper?” Silver asked, looking upset for her friend’s situation.
Diamond nodded.
“Well, I’m glad to see you all handled this maturely.”
They all turned to the stairs to see Twilight walking down them, Scootaloo and Sunset riding on her back.
“You really mean it?” Sweetie Belle asked, looking shocked.
Twilight nodded. “You certainly handled it more maturely than two small foals I know.” She turned and gave her daughters a look that made them look away, shame clear on their faces.
“Sowwy, Tiawa,” they said together, their voices filled with same guilt that was apparent on their faces. “We shou’na been so mean.”
Diamond smiled. Maybe things wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Not long after, the three fillies had to leave to head home, but each wished Tiara luck and told her they’d back to their homes, each needing to finish the homework they’d been given by Miss Cheerlie.
Diamond Tiara felt a lot better than she had earlier.
Not only had her only known friend forgiven her for what she did, but she’d gained new friends in Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.
Diamond was about to return to the book she’d been reading before the CMC had arrived, when she noticed Twilight was putting her foal carrier back on and frowned.
“Um, Your Highness?” she said, cocking an eyebrow. “Are you going somewhere?”
Twilight turned to Diamond and nodded. “We’re all going to the hospital.”
Diamond’s confusion grew.
“Um, I don’t mean to sound like the old me, Your Highness,” she replied , indeed, sounding more like her old, rude self, “but... I don’t need to go to the hospital. There’s nothing I can do about my bladder.”
Twilight shook her head. “That’s not why we’re going, Diamond.”
Diamond cocked her head. “Then why?”
“To visit Scootaloo’s old friends from the orphanage.”
Twilight thanked the mare at the front desk and headed towards room 322 in the recovery wing, Diamond Tiara following beside her, looking a little uncertain whether she should be here or not.
Twilight could sense the unease from the filly, as well as the unease from Sunset and the worry from Scootaloo.
These were the two only friends she’d ever had in the orphanage and for all they knew, they might be horrified by what had happened to the two of them.
As Twilight walked into the shared room, she extended her wings, preventing the younger of her company from seeing.
The sight hurt her heart.
Two small ponies were lying in the beds, looking like they’d been trhough worst than Sombra.
The first bed held a pink unicorn filly. Her mane was a bright blue, like the ocean. Her mane was gone in several places, as if it had been torn out. Her right forelimb was in a cast and sling.
Twilight shivered as she saw a large chuck of the poor thing’s horn tip was gone, looking as if it had been ripped off.
In the other bed was a small Pegasus colt with a light-blue coat and a white mane. He also had a foreleg in a cast and sling, only the other foreleg. His mane was okay, but his wings...
Twilight shuddered.
His right wing was gone, only a small bandaged stump showing where it had been left and the other looked badly damaged, wrapped in bandages and gaws.
Along with these other injuries, both young ponies had many cuts and bruises.
Twilight had to stop herself from sobbing as she took in the poor state the two were in.
“Mama!” Scootaloo’s voice pulled Twilight back to reality as the little Pegasus tried to push the lavender wing obstructing her view away. “Let me see!”
Twilight grimaced and slowly lowered her wings, letting all three younger ponies see what she had.
Diamond and Sunset gasped in horror.
Scootaloo just stared, tears welling in her eyes.
“Oh! Your Highness?”
Twilight turned to see Nurse Red Heart standing behind them, some gaws on a tray she was carrying on her back.
She was staring at the alicorn with great surprise. “Wh-what are you doing here?”
Twilight sighed and pointed at hoof at the two unconscious foals in the beds. “They were my daughter, Scootaloo’s best friends, back the orphanage. When we heard they were here...” she trailed off, letting Red Heart fill in the blanks.
“I understand, Princess,” she nodded, gently pushing passed Twilight, trotting up to the bed. She set the tray down and started removing the bandages around Gentle Skies’ remaining wing, to replace the bandages.
The young colt stirred and slowly opened his eyes.
“Good afternoon, Gentles Skies,” Red Heart said, her voice gentle and calm. “How are you doing today?”
“Better,” he said quietly, wincing as he moved the stump once the bandages were off.
Another stirring came from the other bed and filly opened her eyes, then sat up slowly.
“And how about you, Sweet Dreams?” Red Heart asked, quickly turning to her before returning to her work on Gentle Skies’ stump.
“Been worse,” she said in a slightly hoarse voice. She tried to use her magic, but her horn just fizzled a little. “Good thing I wasn’t planning on being a magic user my whole life.”
A sniffling sound drew both young ponies attention to the four standing in the doorway. Most importantly...
“Princess Twilight Sparkle?!” they both cried, their eyes growing to the size of dinner plates.
Twilight chuckled a little. She’d had a feeling that would be their response.
“Hello, my little ponies,” she said, stepping up to beds, Diamond following behind. “You are Sweet Dreams and Gentle Skies, correct? My daughter has been wanting to see you.”
They both blinked, confused. “Your daughter?”
Twilight chuckled and turned a little to her right, revealing to the two foals in the carrier.
Both young ponies frowned confused. They didn’t know the foal with the yellow coat, but the one with an orange caot and purple mane looked familiar.
“Hey, guys,” Scootaloo said, foicing a smile as her tears ran down her face.
“I know you from somewhere,” Sweet Dreams said, putting her good hoof to her chin, frowning. “But I don’t remember ever seeing a foal like you at the orphanage. But you still seem familiar.”
“Well, she is a lot smaller than when the three of you were last together,” Twilight said, giving a warm smile. “Back then, she was about your age.”
The two ponies glanced at each other, confused by the princess’s comment. Then their eyes grew wide again and they both turned to the small orange foal, their mouths hanging open.
“Scootaloo?”
Scootaloo blushed. “Yeah. Hey guys.”
Both seemed at a loss for words.
“But— What— Huh?” was all they could manage.
Twilight had to hold back her chuckles. Even Nurse Red Heart was doing her best not to snicker.
Twilight explained the events after they’d last seen Scootaloo. It took a while, since they kept interrupting every few minutes, but about a quarter of an hour later, she’d told them everything.
“Wow, Scoots,” Sweet Dreams said, smiling. “You really got the best mom possible.”
“We’re happy for you, Scoots,” Gentle Skies said, grinning. “Out of all us orphans, you deserve the princess as your mother the most.”
Scootaloo looked down, tears in her eyes as she sat on Twilight’s lap alongside her little sister. “I’m sowwy.”
“What for, getting a family before we could?” Dreams asked, shaking her head. “No need, Scoots. We’ll find our family when we find them. You just got yours sooner.”
“Plus, you get to grow up with your family,” Skies added, winking. “You're starting from a foal. It’s almost like you never needed adopting in the first place.”
Scootaloo still looked upset. “B-but Fiwm Hoof huwt you becawse o’ me,” she sniffled, letting her tears fall. “If you han’a hewped me, you wou’n be hewe.”
“Don’t, Scoots!” Skies said firmly, sahking his head. “If this is about my wing, it was a lost cause long ago. They just didn’t care enough about us. you’re not to blame for any of this. Yeah, Firm Hoof beat us worse than usual after we helped you escape, but that just meant we got more of the beating we would’ve gotten later anyway. He was a jerk.”
“You’re not to blame for how we got like this, Scoots,” Dreams said, smiling. “This was all Firm Hoof and those heartless caretakers at the orphanage. It not for the few nice ones, none of us would’ve survived this long.”
Scootaloo calmed down and smiled.
“Well, you won’t have to worry about that any longer,” Twilight said proudly. “Firm Hoof and all his cruel associates have been fired and much kinder ponies are now running the orphanage.”
They both nodded, grinning.
After that, Scootaloo told her friends all about her new life as Twilight’s daughter.
They both laughed and cooed, mainly because she was so cute and it was hard for them not to D’aaaaw at Scootaloo’s foal talk slurs.
At one point the sound of triplicate hissing came and Twilight knew it was time for two foals and a young filly to be changed.
Diamond had blushed immensely as Twilight changed her along with the foals, but said nothing.
Twilight saw no reason for her to be embarrassed.
She couldn’t help it. This was out of her control, meaning it was nothing to be ashamed of.
After an hour it was time the four ponies to leave and Twilight, after letting Scootaloo hug her friends, levitated both her daughters back into the carrier.
“Yes?” Twilight turned her neck to look back at the small unicorn.
“When we get better, can we foalsit Sunset and Scootaloo sometimes?” she asked, the look of wanting something badly strong in her features.
Twilight chuckled. “As long as you get permission from the caretakers first, you’re more than welcome to foalsit, both of you.”
They both punched the air with their good hoof shouting, “Yes!”
Twilight, her daughters and Diamond chuckled and headed out.
When they got back to the library it was close to dinner time. Luckily, Spike had already prepared dinner.
Gem-filled dishes for himself, including ruby and hay sandwiches and a few opals for desert, while the pony dishes were several salads and a few dandelion sandwiches.
As they sat down, Sunset and Scootaloo sitting in their seat, looking annoyed that they still couldn’t eat the things all those around them were eating, Twilight noticed Tiara was looking at her sandwich with a little hesitancy.
“Is everything okay, Diamond?’ she asked and all looked to Diamond, who winced at the attention she’d attracted.
She nodded, too her sandwich in her hooves and took a bite.
Several chews later, she suddenly stopped and started crying.
“Diamond?” Twilight moved a wing over her, while Diamond continued to sob. “Is something wrong?”
“Hey, I didn’t make it taste bad, did I?” Spike asked, genuanly worried if he’d done something accidently, to cause Tiara to start crying after only a few bites.
Tiara turned and buried her muzzle into Twilight’s fur.
“It— It’s not that,” she whimpered, shaking her head.
“Den wha is it?” Sunset asked, rasing an eyebrow.
“This is the first time,” Tiara sobbed, sniffling to stop her nose running, “I ever knew... food could taste so good.”
Confusion went throughout the kitchen as all present let out a loud, “Huh?”
Scootaloo scratched her head. “But, down’t you haw aww dose pewsonal chefs? I tought dey were da bes’ coowks in Equestwia?”
“I think I understand,” Twilight said softly, stroking Tiara’s mane. “You and your father don’t often get to eat meals together, do you, Diamond?”
The filly shook her head.
“After all that happened back at the hospital, you felt like you’d finally gotten to feel what a family’s like again, didn’t you?” Twilight’s voice was soft and gentle. Being a mother for so long now had helped her learn how to deal with young ponies in a she never had known before.
Tiara nodded.
After Tiara had calmed down they finished dinner, Twilight fed Sunset and Scootaloo, bathed her daughters and took them up to bed while Diamond bathed herself in the shower.
Her foals had barely touched the mattress of their crib before they were both sound asleep.
Twilight levitated a blanket onto them and went back downstairs.
Tiara was slipping on her new diaper, tapping it the sides down.
Twilight was impressed she was doing this on her own. Maybe it was her way of trying to keep her independence strong.
“Ready for bed?” the alicorn asked as she walked in.
Tiara nodded and got into bed, letting Twilight levitated the covers to her chin.
“Um... Your Highness?” Diamond asked, a little hesitantly.
“Twilight, Diamond,” the lavender mare corrected her. “There’s no need to use my title. Twilight will do just fine.”
“Okay... um, Twilight,” she said, looking down. “Taking care of me til my dad gets back isn’t a burden on you, is it?”
Twilight blinked, then shook her head, smiling. “No, Diamond. It’s not a burden. I’m happy to look after you while your dad’s away. Stop worry and enjoy the things you can, okay? If you do that, life will be a whole better than you could ever imagine.”
Tiara looked unsure, but then sighed and nodded. “Okay, Your High— I mean, Twilight. I’ll try.”
Twilight nodded and turned to leave. “That’s all I ask. Good night, Diamond Tiara.”
Tiara yawned. “Good night... Twi... light.”
Twilight gently closed the door, so as not to wake the sleeping filly.
She returned to her room, glanced at her sleeping daughters, then got into bed herself.
As she turned out the light, Spike’s snoring told her he’d already fallen asleep.
Chuckling, she laid down, closed her eyes and fell into a peaceful slumber.
Chapter 19 - Foalsittin' Can’t be any harder than Farmin’, right?
“Tink it’s gowing otay at schoow?” Sunset asked Twilight as she levitated a few scrolls she’d been reading back onto a shelf.
The two foals were sitting in their playpen, watching as their mother went about her task of keeping the library in perfect order.
It had been two days since they’d retuned to Ponyville with their new house guest, Diamond Tiara.
Tiara hadn’t wanted to go back to school, knowing the other children were likely to hate her and ostracize her because of what she did in the past, not to mention she was petrified her wearing diapers would be found out.
Twilight had reminded her that, even if that was the case, Diamond had Silver Spoon and Apple Bloom to back her up and protect her should anything go wrong.
This boasted her confidence, as well as a spell from Twilight that ensured only Diamond would be able to take off her tiara, so it wouldn’t fall off randomly and reveal her diaper unless she wanted to.
Twilight finished organizing the library and turned to her daughters, smiling. “I’m sure everything’s fine. Now, how about we enjoy some nice quiet reading while—”
“Twilight!”
The three ponies turned as Spike ran into the room, panting.
“Wat’z up, Spike?” Scootaloo asked, raising an eyebrow.
“You got a—” Spike’s explanation was cut off as he belched and a scroll appear into a flicker of green fire.
“It’s from the princess,” Twilight said, removing Celestia’s seal and opening the scroll. “I wonder what...” she trialed off as she read.
“Um... Mommy?” Sunset asked, noting as her mother’s right eyebrow started to twitch. “Is somefing wong?”
“ARGH!” Twilight shouted, throwing her head up, startling the others. “I cannot believe him. Urg, that good-for-nothing, self centered, colt of a stallion! It’s been over a year, why won’t he just let this go already?”
“Uh, who you tawking bout, Mama?” Scootaloo asked, feeling a little confused.
“Prince Bloodblue!” Twilight shouted the name like it was a curse word. “That idiot is still, after all this time, trying to get Celestia to agree to invaded and destroy Ponyville!”
Both foals’ eyes went wide.
“Why does he wan’ dat?” Scootaloo demanded angrily. “Dis’s our home! Why’s he wanna destwoy it?”
Twilight rolled her eyes. “Oh, because some horrible law breakers destroyed the Grand Galloping Gala and his honor demands that all six be brought to justice.”
“Those six would be you mother and the others,” Spike answered the question on the foals’ minds before they could ask.
“But, why’s he wanna destwoy Ponywiwwe?” Sunset looked very cross. “Wha’s ouw town ewer done ta him?”
Twilight rolled her eyes again. “Because Ponyville is harboring the evil ponies that ruined his honor and the only way to make up for that is for the whole town to be banished.”
“Banished?” both foals squeaked, their eyes wide.
Twilight’s angry subsided and she smiled warmly. “Don’t worry. I’ll go to Canterlot and help Celestia stop Blueblood. At the very least, we can prevent him from trying this in the future. He’s yet to learn how hard it is to debate with Twilight Sparkle.”
“But, you can’t take the girls with you,” Spike said, turning to her. “And I’m coming with you, so I can’t look after them while you’re gone.”
Twilight blinked and her eye twitch returned. “I— I gotta find somepony to foalsit the girls and Diamond while I’m gone.”
“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight shouted as she flew towards the cloud mansion.
As she landed outside on the balcony, she heard the sound of talking.
“You’ll come and watch whenever you can, right?” Rainbow’s muffled voice said from the inside.
“Oh, of course I will,” the unmistakably quiet voice of Fluttershy said shortly after. “I just hope I’ll finish up with Barry Bear’s cubs before it starts.”
Twilight knocked and silence fell.
“C-come on in,” Rainbow’s voice called, sounding nervous.
Twilight opened the door and saw the two pegasi standing in the middle of the hall, both of them supporting blushes.
Twilight noticed Rainbow was wearing a Wonderbolt uniform. if she weren't so frantic right now, her brain would be able to process why that was, but at present, not so much.
“Um, right,” she shook her head and focused. “Rainbow, I need to go to Canterlot to deal with something that could affect the future of Ponyville. Can you look after the girls while I’m gone? Knowing Blueblood, it'll be a week at the most.”
Rainbow shuffled her hooves. “Sorry, Twilight,” she said apologetically. “Spitefire and Soarin got sick and me and some guy name Swift Strike have to fill in for them.”
“Oh,” Twilight said, realizing why Rainbow was wearing the uniform now.
Since she’d become a member of the Wonderbolts Reserves, now that two Wonderbolts were out of commission for a while, she’d be filling in.
“I’m really sorry, Twi,” Rainbow said, putting a hoof on her shoulder, then winking at Scootaloo, who giggled. “Trust me, if not for this, I’d be more than happy to look after Squirt and Sunset here.”
“I’m sorry too, Twilight,” Fluttershy said, stepping forward. “Barry the Bear’s wife is giving birth to her cubs in a few days and I’ve gotta make sure she's comfortable enough and that the birth goes well.”
Twilight sighed. “That’s okay, Fluttershy,” she said, turning around. “Thanks anyway, girls. I’ll see you later.”
She flew off again her mind wandering.
They couldn’t either. She’d spent the last half hour looking of somepony to look after the girls while she was in Canterlot.
Rarity had a massive dress order to fill and Pinkie Pie was off in Trottingham for... well, the Cakes hadn’t been able to tell her too much about the why, but, considering this was Pinkie, that wasn’t much of surprise.
Twilight landed and sighed.
How was she going do this? She couldn’t leave the girls alone, but she couldn’t take them with her and she needed to go to ensure Ponyville continued to exist.
“Uh, Twilight?” an unmistakably accented voice said from behind her.
Twilight turned to see Applejack standing there, an empty basket on each side of her saddlebag. She was looking at Twilight, her head cocked to one side.
Twilight sighed. “Yes, something is wrong, Applejack. First I get tricked in looking after Diamond Tiara until her father can get back by her father, not that I’ve any problem with looking after her, since she learned her lesson, it just would've been nice if he'd been straight forward about it, but now I’ve got to go to Canterlot and deal with a stuck-up prince who wants to destroy our town just because he feels his honor was offended at the Gala and is too self-centered to think passed that or just let it go, but I can’t take the girls with me, but I can’t leave them alone, but nopony seems free to look after them while I’m gone so I don’t know what to do!” she finished as a shouted.
She took in a huge breath and face-hoofed. “I just wish I knew what to do.”
Applejack thought for a moment, then smiled. “Ah’ll look after ’em.”
Twilight looked at her, blinking. “You...? You would?”
Applejack became nervous at the look on Twilight’s face.
Before she could do anything, Twilight leaped forward and pulled the farm pony into the more powerful bone-crashing hug she’d ever felt.
“Oh, Applejack!” she cried, spinning the poor mare around. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!”
“Twilight!” Applejack gasped, her face turning the slightest shade of blue. “Ah can’t... breath!”
Twilight let go off the earth mare, chuckling sheepishly. “Sorry, AJ. Um, are you sure you can handle looking after them for a week?”
Applejack, after regaining her breath, smiled. “Ah’m sure, Twilight. How hard can it be? Foalsitting can’t be any harder than farmin’, right?”
“Sunset, Scootalo, get yer flanks down from there this instant!” AJ shouted, trying in vain to grab either of the foals as they zipped through the air.
It had been less than two hours and she was struggling already to keep the foals under control.
How had it gotten to this?
Twilight left, leaving more lists than the farm pony had through she’d needed to, explaining how to look after the girls while she was away.
“Not to worry, Twi. I got this handled.”
She couldn’t believe she’d said that. It sounded so stupid to her now.
For reasons she couldn’t understand, Scootaloo had, for whatever reason, suddenly become able to fly and Sunset’s magic had started working.
Now both foals were flying, by wings and magic, around the library while the poor earth pony tried her hardest to get them down.
“How does Pinkie do this with Pound an’ Pumpkin?” she wheezed as the foals flew over her head again. “I was wrong. Farmin’ ain’t got nothin’ on this.”
She just noticed Sunset float into the kitchen. Her green magical aura surrounded the front of the fridge, which opened, revealing multiple bottle of milk.
“I left enough milk in the fridge for the girls while I’m gone. It should be just enough to tied them over until I get back,” Twilight’s words echoed in her mind.
Maybe they’ll be hungry and settle down after this? she thought desperately. Oh, please, Celestia, let them settle down after they’ve eaten.
An orange blur shot passed the farmer’s head, followed by a crashing and several screams.
Applejack ran into the kitchen and her eyes bugged out.
Scootaloo and Sunset were sitting on the floor, covered in milk.
Around them, on the floor, were all the bottles Twilight had left for the girls spread across the kitchen floor.
Oh, sweet Celestia! she started shifting from one hoof to the other, her mind panicking. What am Ah gonna do now? Twilight said Sunset still can’t drink formula yet. How can I feed them if there’s no more...?
Her eyes widened. “Zecora!”
She ran into the living room, strapped the foal carrier onto her back, ran back in to the kitchen, put both foals into it, strapping them in securely and ran out, headed for the Everfree Forest.
“Zecora!” Applejack shouted, banging her hoof on the door to Zecora’s hut.
From within the hut came, “Come on in, Applejack, my friend. What is this situation you need my help to amend?”
Applejack pushed open the door, panting from running all the way from Twilight’s library.
“Zecora, Ah need yer help,” she said, looking around worriedly. “Ah told Twilight Ah’d look after her foals while she’s dealin’ with some hoity toity prince in Canterlot, but now all the milk she left for the girls is spilt and Ah don’t know how Ah’m gonna feed ’em.”
Zecora paused, putting a hoof to her muzzle, thinking.
“To my knowledge, there is nopony like that you can ask. However, there is a way, if you are up to the task.”
“What is it?” Applejack asked, her eyes wide with hope. “Whatever it is, Ah’ll do it! I prmosed Twi Ah’d look after ’em. Ah’ll do whatever Ah need to keep that promise.”
Zecora smiled. “You need the foals to drink? Do not worry. I have a way to bring you away from this disaster’s brink.” She walked over to a shelf and pulled down a small vile of a green liquid, walked back over and hoofed it to Applejack. “Drink this potion and you will have no need for fright. You will be able to nurse the same as Twilight.”
Zecora nodded. “You said you would do anything, did you not? Or is that something you have already forgot?”
Applejack gulped.
Well, Ah did promise to do whatever Ah had to ta take care of them. Her eyes softened. ’Sides, at least it’ll feel a little like I’ve got my own foals.
Applejack drank the liquid, gagging a little at the taste and at once felt her body changing, preparing her to feed foals.
“Thank ya, Zecora,” Applejack smiled, reaching into her bag for some bits. “How much do Ah owe ya?”
“Do not think of it, Applejack, my friend,” the zebra said, waving a hoof. “I was happy to help this situation amend.”
Applejack smirked. “Ya’ll just repeated what ya said before Ah came in, didn’cha?”
Zecora just shrugged and gave a sly smile. “Maybe I did, maybe I did not. But are there two here whom you have forgot?”
Applejack gasped and looked to the foals at her sides. Both were still covered in milk, sound asleep.
She chuckled. “Guess Ah’d better head back ta the libarary for when these two wake up. They’re gonna be mighty hungry. Thanks again, Zecora. Yer a lifesaver.”
As she walked out, Zecora called, “Farwell and have a good day, dear Applejack. I hope the foals enjoy their snack.”
Applejack chuckled. If Ah remember how Ma’s milk tasted when Ah was a youngin, Ah’m sure they will.
Scootaloo started buzzing her wings and Sunset’s horn glowd with its green aura. Both of them lifted out of the pen, but a glare from the farm pony made them drop back to the floor of pen.
“I realize ya’ll’re happy to be flying, scoots and ya’ll’re happy to be usin’ yet magic, Sunset,” she said, shaking her head, “but that don’ escuse ya’ll for doin’ whatcha did.”
She pointed a hoof to the kitchen.
“Because ya’ll were acting like the little foals you look like, ya destroyed all the milk yer ma left for ya while she’s away. And ya’ll just were wrong ta act the way ya were. Ya’ll know better than that.”
Both foal’s ears dropped and they looked down. “Sowwy, Abbleja’,” they mumbled.
The farm pony smiled. “Now, give me a minute and Ah’ll give ya yer lunch.”
Both foals looked at her with confusion.
“But you jus’ said we destwoyed all da miwk,” Scootaloo frowned. “How’w you gonna feed us?”
“I have a way,” the mare smiled, turning towards the kitchen. “Jus’ gimme a few minutes and ya’ll be enjoying lunch—”
“But I’m hungwy now!” Sunset said, frowning.
“I know, jus’ gimme a few and then—”
“ No!” Scootaloo said loudly, buzzing her wings and flying up out of the playpen. “We wanna eat now!”
AJ frowned. I wonder if they always act like foals when they’re hungry. Then again it is well passed the time on Twilight’s list to feed ’em. Maybe that’s got somethin’ ta do with it.
Suddenly both foals started crying and AJ’s resolve broke. just like when Apple Bloom got like this when she was a foal, they'd never stop til they got fed.
“Alright, alright,” she said, hushing them. “Ya’ll won’t have to wait.”
Both foals’ eyes sparkled.
Sunset’s horn glowed and she lifted out of the playpen and landed in front of Applejack, next to her big sister.
Applejack blushed. “Now, this might feel a bit weird, since Ah’m not yer ma.”
The foals frowned, cocking their heads.
She lay down and showed them her teats, now fully ready to feed little foals.
They both continued to frown.
“I know it’s weird,” Applejack began again. “But Ah needed to find a way to feed ya and I wasn’t thinking to far so Ah—”
She gasped and looked down. Both foals were eagerly suckling from her, not seeming the least bit fussed.
Guess s’long as they’re gettin’ fed, they don’t mind too much, she thought and lay her head down, waiting for them to finish. After a few moments, Applejack gave warm smile. So this’s what it’d be like if I had ma own foal.
Her smiled fell and a few tears slid down her muzzle. If I could have a foal, that is.
“Abbleja?”
Applejack turned to see both foals had stopped suckling and were looking at her, worry on their cute faces.
“ What?” she asked, trying to smile.
“Why’w you cwying?” Sunset asked, looking sad.
“Ah— Ah’m not,” she said, shaking her head, before her usually “Ah’m Lying” twitch took over.
“Abbleja,” Scootaloo looked down, then back at the farm mare. “Pwease teww us. I down’t wike you sad.”
Applejack couldn’t help it. The innocence of a filly was too much for her tender heart to ignore.
A few minutes later the two foals were sitting on the couch with Applejack, who didn’t meet their eyes.
“Ah s’ppose Ah’ll try’n keep it short,” she said, then sighed. “A few days ago, while ya’ll were in Canterlot with yer ma, Ah wen’ ta the doctor.”
“Why?” Sunset looked suddenly worried. “You weren’ sick, were you?”
Applejack shook her head. “Nah. I’m perfectly healthy, sugarcube. Comes with livin’ in the Apple Family. We’re rarely sick cuz we keep to a healthy, stable diet, includin’ apples,” she winked, causing them to giggle. “Nah, I was there for another reason.”
“Why?” Scootaloo asked.
Applejack sighed. “Ah was worried about somthin’, so Ah asked the doc ta examine me an’ tell me if Ah could... Ah could...”
She went quiet and both foals looked at each other worriedly. They’d never seen Applejack so sad before, and Scootaloo had known her a lot longer than Sunset and she could still vouch she’d never seen the farm pony so sad before.
“You couwd wat?” Scootaloo asked, her voice quiet.
Applejack sighed. It was a mournful sigh. “Ta see if’n Ah could have a foal o’ ma own.”
“... An', can you?” Sunset asked, though both foals felt they knew the answer.
Applejack shook her head, took off her Stetson and put it down on the couch’s arm. “No. Doesn’’ ma’er what Ah do, ’cordin’ ta the tests, ma chances o’ bearin’ a foal is practically none.”
There was quiet for a few minutes as the meaning of that last sentice hung in the air, sinking into the foals’ minds.
“Is... Is dat why you wan’ed to foawsit us?” Sunset asked, looking up at the farm mare.
She nodded. “Ah just wan’ed to know how Twi fel’, even if only a li’l, cuz Ah know Ah never will have ma own foaw.”
Applejack started sobbing, tears leaking from her eyes and felling onto her knees.
Both foals looked at each other. They didn’t like seeing the farm mare like this. she was always strong, and never faltering. To see the strong earth mare like this... it hurt them.
They crawled up to her, onto her lap and hugged her around the waist.
Applejack gasped in surprise and looked down at the two small ponies holding her close.
“If you wan’,” Sunset said, looking up at the sobbing farm mare, “tiw ouw Mommy comes back, we’ww caw you “Momma”. Otay?”
Applejack looked from Sunset to her big sister, who nodded. Both foals had tears in their eyes. Applejack’s hurt was hurting them.
“Sure,” AJ pulled the two of them into a hug and held them close, small smile on her muzzle. “And Momma AJ look after you both just like her own.”
After a few minutes, the broke the hug and Scootaloo giggled. “Youw miwk tas’ diffwent fwom Mama’s.” She giggled again.
Her sister joined her. “Yeah. Youw miwk tas’ wike abbles.”
Applejack chuckled. “Ah though’ it migh’. Don’’ right know why, bu’ all mares in the Apple Family have milk tha’ taste like apples. Guess we got apple juice running in our veins.”
Both foals giggled uncontrollably. It was too funny. The idea of every single mare in the Apple Family having milk that tasted like apple caused them to burst out laughing and Applejack joined in.
Applejack leaped up in fright, sending the foals flying into the air.
Luckily, Scootaloo started buzzing her wings and Sunset covered herself in her aura before they fell and remained airborne.
Pinkie Pie had suddenly appeared next to Applejack out of nowhere, her smile as wide as ever.
“Pinkie Pie, what in tarnation are you doin’ here?” Applejack asked, her breathing still higher than usual. “Weren’t ya’ll at some party in Trottin’ham?”
“Yeah! That was a great party!” Pinkie bounced in place. “I just got back and my Pinkie Sense told me you were looking after Twilight's foals, so I came over to see how you were doing and you’re doing great!”
“Uh, thanks, Pinkie, Ah guess,” she muttered.
“You and Twily are gonna make the cutest couple,” Pinkie chirped.
“Well, Ah guess we would— wait, what?” the farm pony’s eyes went wide.
“Well, you will, when you get married, anyway. Oh, can I host the party? OH, it’ll be great. Even better than the one I threw for Shining Armour and Princess Candance’s wedding,” Pinkie rambled.
“B-b-b-b-but Twi and Ah ain’t even gone on a date,” Applejack stammered, her face beat-red. “Shoot, I don’t even know if she goes for mares like Ah do. And what in Celestia’s name makes ya'll thank we’re gonna get married?”
“Easy,” Pinkie grinned, bouncing in place. “My Pinkie Sense told me two of my bestest friends who aren’t of the same race right now are gonna get married and we all know Rarity’s got a thing for Fancy Pants and they’re both unicorns and Rainbow and Fluttershy have been together, since, like, forever and bedsides, they’re both Pegasuseseses. And I know I’m not getting married anytime soon, so that just leaves your and Twilight. Congratulations!”
“Ah— Ah— Ah—” Applejack stammered, her brain not able to think beyond that single word for some reason.
“Wow, is that the time already?” Pinkie asked, lifting her right foreleg, which suddenly had several dozen watches on it. “I gotta get back to Sugarcube Corner to help the Cakes with the twins. Well, later, girls. Glad to see your wings and magic working. Later Applejack. Let’s talk more about the party later.”
With that, the pink mare bounced out the door that had been closed a second ago and closed behind her.
Applejack was silent for a long time, her mind still trying to process what had just happened.
Pinkie had said she was getting married soon, to Twilight, of all ponies.
Sure, she knew Twilight was a lovely mare and she'd been curious about whwether she and Twilight could be a thing, but she'd never really thought about it and here Pinkie was, saying the two of them were going to get married?
How would that even work? She was just a regular Earth Pony. Twilight was an alicorn princess. Was it even allowed?
“Um, Abbleja’?” Scootaloo asked, giving the older mare and cocked eyebrow stare. “Does tha’ mean you’w gonna be ouw Momma for weal? Uh, Abbleja'?”
Applejack didn't hear the foal's voice anymore.
She felt her herself sliding to her side and the world started going black.
Her brain had absorbed too much information too quickly and it couldn’t take it. The last thing she saw was the two foals giving her weird looks before she blacked out.
“I asked the foals, but they were talking so fast and baby-slurring their words I couldn’t understand them.”
Applejack slowly opened her eyes.
She was lying on the floor, surrounded by several ponies. It took her a few seconds to realize it was her sister and all her school friends.
“Wha...? What happened?” she asked as Silver Spoon and Sweetie Belle helped her sit up.
“Dunno,” Apple Bloom said, shaking her head. “We got here an’ found ya lyin’ on the floor an' Sunset and Scoots crying. They were worried ’bout ya, sis.”
“What happened?” Diamond Tiara asked, shifting her back legs a little anxiously.
Applejack shook her head to clear it and thought She’d been feeding the foals, talking to them about why Apple Family mares’ milk tastes like apples... then Pinkie Pie had been there and then...
Applejack blushed as she remembered. Pinkie Pie had said she and Twilight were going to get married. All the information at once must’ve been too much and she’d fainted from shock. That had to be it.
“It’s... It’s nuttin’ t’ worry ’bout, Apple Bloom,” she said in a slightly tired voice. “Nuttin’ ya’ll need to worry ’bout.” Yet.
Apple Bloom looked like she wanted to press further, but Diamond started heading to her room, causing the farm filly to blush.
Applejack noticed this and gave a small smirk. “What’s up, li’le sister?”
Apple Bloom traced a circle with her hoof. “Diamond used her diaper an’... well...”
Applejack nodded. Twilight had told her Diamond preferred to change herself, so she said nothing more and turned her attention to the tiny unicorn and Pegasus that were clinging to her front leg, tears running down their cheeks and smiles on their muzzles.
The farm mare bent down and nuzzled them. “Sorry if’n Ah scared ya’ll.”
They just giggled and went from clinging to her leg to hugging her muzzle.
Applejack and the fillies started giggling too.
Their giggles were stopped as Diamond returned, however, saying, “Weren’t we meant to visit Scootaloo’s friends in the hospital?”
Applejack lifted her head, the foals still hanging on, cheering as they were given a small ride. “Ah almost fergot. Thanks, Diamond Tiara.”
“Can we come too?” Sweetie Belle asked, a wide smile on her face.
Applejack was unsure about that as she lowered the foals into their carrier and strapped it onto her back. She knew Twilight had brought Diamond and Sunset along the last time she’d taken Scootaloo to see her friends, but was it a good idea to bring so many fillies with her? She felt this was a private matter between Scootaloo and her orphanage friends.
She looked to the Pegasus. “Scoots? What do ya think?”
Scootaloo put a hoof to her muzzle, wearing a pondering expression. She was clearly being serious, but the sight was too cute for the older ponies not to Daaa’w at.
After a few seconds, Scootaloo nodded, smiling. “Wong as dey don’ make too much noise, otay?”
The other three fillies cheered, though Applejack noticed Diamond’s face pale a little.
She frowned. Was she worried about something? What, and why?
The excitement from the other fillies drew her attention and she put Diamond’s reaction out of her mind for now and followed the girls out, closing the door behind her and headed towards the Ponyville hospital.
Applejack glanced at Diamond Tiara as they neared the wing Nurse Redheart had told her Scootaloo’s friends were in. The filly had become surprisingly quiet. Sunset too. Both of them hadn’t said a word in the last two minutes and had been very quiet on the walk to the hospital.
What was going on? Scootaloo looked a little apprehensive, but that was reasonable, since these were her friends from the orphanage. So why were Diamond and Sunset acting this way?
They entered the room the two young ponies were using and gasps came from Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Silver Spoon and Applejack in unison.
The pink unicorn filly Applejack recognized as Sweet Dreams from what Twilight had told her had her right forelimb in a cast and sling and a large chuck of her horn missing. Even though she was an Earth Pony, Applejack couldn’t help but shiver as she looked at the spot where the horn’s tip was missing.
The small Pegasus colt with a light-blue coat she recognized as Bright Skies also had a foreleg in a cast and sling, only the other foreleg and seeing that his right wing was gone, only a small bandaged stump showing where it had been left made her stomach plummet.
This must have been why Diamond and Sunset had been acting the way they had. They'd been worried about how the rest of them would react to this. Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Silver Spoon were all standing stock still, their eyes wide with horror and sympathy.
Applejack, while hurting for the two young ponies, also felt a pit of anger deep inside of her. Somepony had actually done this to two innocent children? That was sick! How could anypony be that twisted that...?
"Hey, Scoots!" Sweet Dreams called, waving as she noticed the group, then grinned. "Who're these guys?"
Applejack wasn't sure when she'd gone from the entrance to the side of the unicorn's bed, but she suddenly found herself there as Scootaloo answered, "Dweams, Skies, I'd wike you ta meet my fwiends, Abble Bwoom, Sweetie Bewwe and Siwew Spoon."
Bright Skies frowned. "Wait. As in, the same Silver Spoon who tormented you and your friends?"
Silver looked down, shame etching itself onto her face, Diamond doing the same.
Scootaloo just closed her eyes, pouting. "Dat's aww in da past. Siwew and Diamond awe fwiends now."
Skies eyed the pink and grey fillies, before nodding. "Okay, Scoots. I'll trust your judgement. Last time I didn't... well..." He moved the stump that used to be his wing. "Ya told me not to and because I didn't listen, I grounded myself." He smirked. "Bet old Firmy thinks damaging it so bad it had to be removed was punishing me, making me unable to fly anymore. Guess I beat him to the punch there, huh?"
Scootaloo glared at him. "Dat's not funny, Bwight." She sniffled. "You can't fwy and it's aww because I didn't—"
"No, Scoots," Bright shook his head. "Stop blaming yourself for my stupidity. You told me not to try that stupid stunt. I didn't listen and look what it got me in the end. But that is all my fault, not yours. It never will be, so don't blame yourselfor a colt's idiotic mistake, okay?"
Scootaloo wiped her nose on her hoof. "Otay."
For the rest of the day they stayed, Applejack listening to Scootaloo and her two oldest friends reliving their time at the orphanage together, all the times, good and bad, that they stayed together, stood up for each other, telling the other four fillies every detail. It was enough to make the farm mare cry, hearing what the three had been through.
When it came time for them to leave, Sweet Dreams and Bright Skies both wished them all a goodnight and they all headed out, the cmc heading to their on homes, while Applejack headed for Golden Oaks Library.
When they got back, Applejack feed the foals, changed their diapers and put them to bed. With that done she was able to sit and think about what she'd been through that day. First she'd had to become a nurse maid because the foals had destroyed all the milk Twilight had left behind, then Pinkie dropped that bombshell about how she and Twilight were gonna get married (she blushed just thinking about it) when they'd never even dated before and she had no idea if Twi even like mares that way and then she met those two brave, beautiful children, the ones who'd helped Scootaloo escape that horrible orphanage. Sure, it was under new, much kinder management now, but at didn't mean it hadn't been a horrible place before.
A few tears came to Applejack's eyes as she thought about what life would hold for those two now. The sad fact, and she knew it from hearing Scootaloo talk about it, was that when ponies went to adopt, they'd choose the foals with no problems before thinking about those that were different. And Sweet Dreams and Bright Skies were definitely different now. Dreams' magic would be weak, with her horn broken and Skies wouldn't ever be able to fly with a missing wing. They'd probably be left in the orphanage all their lives, waiting for the right family to come and never getting to experience the closeness of family.
"Ah... Ah wish Ah could do somethin'," she whispered to herself, slumping into Twilight's couch. "If only Ah..." she trailed off as a thought came to her. She shook her head. "Nah. Ah couldn't. Ah mean... Ah ain't no mama. I couldn't.... could Ah?"
She thought about her own family. Apple Bloom would be overjoyed if she got two new relatives, Big Mac would be proud to be able to call himself an uncle. But Granny Smith... Granny had always told Applejack how important it was to keep the family traditions, that meant not using magic or wings to get the harvests in (not that she'd complained the times the others had helped, though. That wasn't a regular thing, since the family generally didn't need any outside help) which begged the question as to how she'd feel about a Pegasus and a unicorn helping with the harvests.
After all, Dreams' magic probably wasn't strong enough anymore to lift to many apples off the trees without straining herself and Skies wouldn't even be able to get into the air without his other wing and, from the stories she'd heard from those two and Scootaloo, they'd worked their leg muscles hard, back at that orphanage.
"Well, no harm in askin', Ah guess," she murmured, then yawned. It had been a long day. She got up, went and had a quick shower, then went to bed in the guest bedroom. Twilight had said Applejack could sleep in her bed if she wanted to, but the farm mare didn't think that would be very polite, so she'd stick with the guest bed and leave the door open in case the girls woke up in the night for anything.
"Ah know it's a bit sudden, but Ah wanna help those poor kids," Applejack finished.
It was the two days later and she was at Sweet Apple Acres. Apple Bloom playing with the foals upstairs while the adults talked about what Applejack had suggested. She'd been thinking about it since the day she'd met the two ponies and hadn't been able to shake it. She wanted to help them, to give them a good home, one where their disabilities wouldn't be looked on with pity, but seen as badges of honour, for they'd gotten them while helping a friend in her time of need.
Big Macintosh remained silent, his face as stoic as always, while Granny Smith looked at Applejack with a firm expression.
"Now, Applejack," she said, her voice firm (not a good sign) "ya'll understand what yer saying ya wanna do, dont'cha? These ponies will be yer responsibility. Ain't no turning back, neither. Once you adopt them, they're yers fer life."
"Granny, Ah know that," Applejack said, shaking her head. "Ya'll didn' see 'em. After hat they've been through, what they did for Scoots, Ah feels it's the least Ah can do. She's Apple Bloom's friend, it makes me feel like we owe 'em, ya know.
"Eeyep," Big Mac nodded, a small smile crossing her face.
Granny Smith sighed, cracked her neck and nodded. "Alright, AJ. Ya'll have my permission ta adopt these little ones." She wore a firm expression. "But Ah espect, them ta follow the rules and traditions o' this family. Ah ain't having no magic causing a hullaballoo or no fancy shmancy flyin' round here, ya got it?"
Applejack nodded, a slight grimness entering her eyes. "Ah can promise ya, Granny, they'll buck just like Earth Ponies." Not that they'd be able to any other way, she thought sadly.
Applejack stood outside the Ponyville Orphanage, looking around. There were some fillies and colts running around, laughing and playing, seeming without a care in the world, though the mare could see some faint bruises on a few, no doubt remains of what they'd all been through at the hooves of Firm Hoof and his horrible followers.
However, seeing the younger ponies all happy, running around and laughing, made her happy. The orphanage was a good place now, where those without families were treated with care and love while they tried to find new families.
Applejack took a deep breath and blew out. She'd left Sunset and Scootaloo with Pinkie, who was sitting the Cake's twins today as well. She didn't want Scootaloo to know about this, not yet. It was to be a surprise.
Applejack walked through the gate, causing a few fillies and colts to stop and watch her as she moved to the entrance and went inside. Sitting a the front desk was a mulberry Pegasus mare with a white mane and tail, blue eyes and a kind faced.
"Hello, ma'am," she said politely as AJ stopped in front of the desk. "And how may I help you today?"
Applejack smiled, extending a hoof, which the mare shook. "Howdy, my name's Applejack. Ah was wonderin' if'n Ah could adopt two o' the. Little ones in yer care?"
The mare's smile widened. "Oh, yes. Of course you can. We're always happy when one of our little ones find new families. Do you have anypony in mind, or would you like to meet them all first? Oh, I'm Caring Heart, by the way, the new manager of the orphanage."
Applejack shook her head. "No need, Miss Carin'. Ah already know the two youngins Ah wanna adopt."
"Oh?" Caring looked a little surprised. "Who?"
"Sweet Dreams and Bright Skies," Applejack said simply.
For a second, Caring Heart looked shocked, then her face broke out into a huge smile and, before Applejack knew what was going on, the Pegasus had reached over the desk and pulled her into a bone-crushing hug.
"Oh, thank you, thank you!" she sobbed as Applejack felt her lungs hurting from the pressure keeping them from getting any oxygen. "I've been so worried those two would never find a home after everything they've been through. Thank you so much, Miss Applejack."
"Sure, sugarcube," Applejack barely managed to gasp. "Now, could ya'll let go so that Ah can breathe and those two don't lose their home before they get it?" Her last words come out in a rusted kind of way do to the lack of air in her lungs.
"Oh!" Caring Heart let go and Applejack took in long, strained breaths as she tried to get the much needed oxygen into her lungs. "Sorry about that. Um, shall we get started on the paperwork, then?" she asked, a sheepish grin on her face.
Half an hour later, the papers were all filled out and everything accounted for. Sweet Apple Dreams and Bright Apple Skies were now official Applejack's children and members of the Apple Family. After a brief packing of all the few belongings the two children had in their respective rooms (though that wasn't much, since Firm Hoof hadn't let them keep much during his time as manager) Applejack bid Caring Heart farewell and headed out to Sweet Apple Acres. She had a few more things to go over with Granny Smith and Big Mac in regards to where the two new members of their family would be sleeping before she'd head back to Sugar Cube Corner to get the foals and then go to Ponyville Hospital to tell Sweet Dreams and Bright Skies the good news.
Though Applejack was scared, this was a really big step she was taking, becoming a mother, she wasn't going to back down. These children needed a home, a good, loving, caring home, and that was exactly what the Apple Family was going to give them, and she would be the best mother she could be to them, of that, she promised to herself.
“That should do it," Applejack said, smiling as she looked around the room.
It wasn't a big room, in fact, til now; it was just one of the spare rooms for when they had guests over. But, despite it not being big, it would do. It hadn't been furnished with much, just some sky wallpaper and a red carpet on the floor. Two beds had been placed in the room, taking up a bit of space, but not so much that the room felt like there wasn't any room around the beds. There was a dresser table and a walk-in closet.
Big Mac stood next to her on her right, Granny Smith on her left. "Are you sure puttin' those two in the same room is a good idea?" the elder mare asked, glancing at her granddaughter. "There's gunna come a time when those two won't wanna be together." Applejack nodded. "Trust me, Granny. While normally havin' a filly and a colt stayin' in the same room might be a bad idea, Ah know those two will much happier stayin' together, than stayin’ apart. They always were in the orphanage and Ah know they'd feel anxious, bein' in a new place without each other."
It had taken them a fair amount of time, but they’d gotten the room ready for the two newest members of the Apple Family.
Applejack grinned and turned to head out, stopping and thanking the two for helping her.
Granny just grinned. “Ah wish Ah could see their faces when ya tell ’em. Ah may have been hesitant ’bout this, but Ah know yer doing somethin’ good, AJ.” She chuckled. “An’ Ah get ta be a great grandmother while Ah’m still young. He-He!”
Applejack and Big Mac exchanged glances and chuckled along with the old mare, before AJ went out and headed back towards Sugar Cube Corner. It was late afternoon, but she knew she’d have enough time to visit her new children before visiting hours were over.
Scootaloo frowned as Applejack brought her and Sunset (Diamond Tiara was at a sleepover with Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Twist and Silver Spoon) into the hospital. The farm mare was hiding something, something big. She could sense it. The way AJ kept looking up, a small smile on her face.
A few moments later they arrived in Sweet Dreams and Bright Skies’ room. Dreams’ horn had finally been fixed, though you could clearly see the cracks where it had been broken off.
Skies’ bandages around his stump were gone, showing skin where light-blue fur was yet to grow over again.
Both young ponies smiled as the three came in and waved.
“Hey, Scoots, Sunset, Miss Applejack,” Dreams said as Applejack took the two foals out of the carrier and placed Sunset on Skies’ bed and Scootaloo on Dreams’.
Applejack wore that smile again. “Ah’d say ya’ll don’ gotta call me Miss Applejack, Dreams.” She looked to Skies. “You neither, Skies.”
They both looked puzzled, before Skies spoke. “Are we meant to call you Mrs Applejack? Er, wait, that doesn’t sound right.” Applejack chuckled, then closed her eyes. “Now, after ya both are better, Ah’ll take ya home, okay. Nurse Redheart says ya should be allowed outta bed in a few days.”
Both ponies’ ears droop. “Oh, okay,” Dreams murmured. “Will you bring Scoots to come visit us from time to time?”
Applejack snickered. “Ya’ll have ta ask Twilight ’bout that when she gets back.”
Both ponies and their foalified friend slumped, looking down.
“Though Ah s’ppose ya’ll can go visit her yerselves when ya chores on the farm ’re done.”
All four ponies looked to her, saying, “Huh?”
“An’ who knows, maybe Twi will bring Scoots around for visits.”
Scootaloo cocked her head in confusion. “Abblejack, what’we you tawking about?”
Appplejack’s snicker became a warm smile. “You two won’t be going back ta the orphanage when ya get outta here.”
Dreams and Skies looked at each other in confusion, then looked to Applejack. “Why?” Skies asked, slight worry on her face. “Did they kick us out or something? I thought Firm Hoof was gone and they got a nicer pony to manage the place?”
Applejack chuckled. “Ya don’ gotta go back cos ya’ll have a home at Sweet Apple Acres now.”
They still looked confused, though Scootaloo and Sunset’s eyes widened. “You mean dey—?”
Applejack nodded and smiled at the filly and colt in turn. “Welcome to the family, you two. Yer Apples, now.”
Dreams’ eyes widened, while Skies still looked confused. “But, I don’t think Granny Smith could adopt us. She’s too old.” Applejack nodded. “She didn’t. I did.”
Dreams’ eyes brimmed with tears, before she lunged forward and wrapped her good leg around Applejack’s neck. “Thank you!” she sobbed. “Thank you so, so much... Mom,” she whispered the last word.
Skies’ eyes widened as it dawned on him what Applejack meant. “Y-you mean we... we have a...?”
Applejack turned as best she could to him while not pulling out of the hug Dreams was giving her, tears soaking the orange mare’s coat and said, “Yeah, surgarcube, ya do. I adopted you both yesterday. Yer both the newest members of the Apple Family.”
For a second, Skies looked like he was about to cry, but then he coughed, rubbing a hoof over his eyes. “J-just got some dust in my eyes. Makes ’em water.”
“Sure, son, Ah understand,” Applejack said, knowing from dealing with Rainbow Dash that some pegasi were too stubborn to just admit that they were crying.
Suddenly, she realized what she’d just called him. Son. She’d called him her son so casually and... it felt right.
The two foals were cheering and laughing, congratulating the two ex-orphans on their new family.
Applejack got to stay a lot longer than last time, now that the patients she was visiting were her family. Still, the time came when she had to bid her new children goodbye and headed out with the two foals.
She briefly stopped at the front desk, asking just how long until Sweet Dreams and Bright Skies could leave the hospital. Nurse Tenderheart smiled, “Another day or two, dear. After that, you can take them... wait.” She looked through paperwork, looked surprised for a second, then smiled. “Yes. Two more days and you’ll be able to take your children home, Miss Applejack.”
“Just Applejack, if’n ya don’t mind, Tenderheart,” Applejack corrected. “Like Rarity, Ah feel a lot older than Ah really am when other ponies call me “Miss”, 'nless is a business thing.”
Tenderheart nodded. “I understand. Have a good even, Miss— I mean... Have a good evening, Applejack.”
Applejack tilted her Stetson. “You have a good evenin’ yerself, Tenderheart. Later.”
With that, she walked out, the two foals in the carrier bouncing and laughing with each bounce.
Applejack arrived back at the library a few minutes later. She fed and burped the girls, then got herself something to eat, bathed them and put them to bed.
After a little debating, Applejack got into Twilight’s bed, so she’d be close to the foals if they woke up during the night and went to sleep, thinking about how excited those two young ponies were as they laid in their hospital bed, knowing that, when they got out, they wouldn’t be going back to the orphanage, but to their new home, with their new family.
Over the next two days, Applejack visited her children and told them about their new family. They’re mouths dropped when they learned just how big the Apple family was. They’d gone from having no family, to probably the biggest family in all Equestria!
When the day finally came for Dreams and Bright to be let out, Applejack came without Scootaloo or Sunset, having left them with Pinkie Pie.
It was very late in the afternoon and she was walking alongside her the two young ponies, both of whom were being pushed in wheelchairs by Nurse Redheart and Tenderheart.
Bright had said he wanted to walk himself, a sign the Earth Pony recognized right away as the stubbornness of pegasi, just like she had seen in Dash many a times over, about wanting to act as if they weren’t as banged up as they looked, which Applejack knew he was all too well.
Dreams shook her head as the Pegasus pouted while they were pushed trhough the hospital and entered the lobby.
“Seriously, little brother, you don’t have to act so tough,” she said, shaking her head, then wincing as it hurt a little. She still hadn’t fully recovered yet and the reattachment of the piece of horn she’d lost had been giving her headaches, which Doctor Stable had said was because her magical energies were realigning themselves in her horn.
“Hey, stop calling me “little brother” like that,” he said, shooting her an angry glare. “You haven’t been my big sister for long, you know.”
“Now, that’s enuff, you two,” Applejack said firmly, yet softly.
The two younger ponies stiffened for a second at the sound of the tone, having heard it many times before, shortly followed by some very physically painful memories, before remembering that it wasn’t Firm Hoof or one of his lackeys (as both Rainbow Dash and Bright had taken to calling them when referring to those who’d sided with how Firm Hoof ran the orphanage), but Applejack and that she wasn’t just some random pony, but their mother.
Applejack was a little saddened when she saw the two stiffen at her firm tone. They must have been through worse than she thought for just a firm tone to make them freeze in fear.
They reached the lobby, where the nurses let the two young ones get out of the wheelchairs. They struggled to stand for a few moments, wobbling as they got use to only standing on three legs, but righted themselves eventually.
“Now, they’ll need to rest for a few more days, though they won’t have to remain bedridden anymore,” Nurse Redheart explained to Applejack, giving her a large yellow file, which the mare proceeded to place in her saddlebags.
“Got it,” she nodded, glancing at the two younger ponies, who smiled at her, to which she smiled back.
“Also, they’ll have to take these pills with each meal for the next couple days,” Tenderheart said, reaching behind the front desk and giving her two bottles of blue and yellow pills, one marked unicorn, the other Pegasus, “to ensure their injures heal completely.” “Got it again,” Applejack nodded, bagging the bottles. “Anythin’ else Ah need ta know ’efore we go?”
Redheart shook her head. “Everything you need to know is in that folder.”
“Okay then,” the farm mare tilted her Stetson. “Well, thank ya kindly fer takin’ good care of ’em, ladies.”
Bright just looked away, a bored expression Applejack had come to learn from Dash on his face. “Yeah, thanks for, ya know.”
Applejack couldn’t help but chuckle. She had a feeling he and Dash would get along just fine when they met up, though since Dash was still away performing with the Wonderbolts, that meeting would have to wait.
“Come on, you two,” she said, starting to head for the door. “Time to see yer new home.”
Both of their faces brightened and they hurried as best they could after her, staying close, Dreams calling one last goodbye to the nurses, who waved back chuckling.
When they got outside the hospital, both young ponies gawked at the large stallion standing in front of them. He had a red coat, a short-cut blonde mane and tail. His eyes were a slightly lighter shade of green than Applejack’s and his Cutie Mark was half a green apple.
At once, his size intimidated the two younger ponies, reminding them of the ponies that had always beaten them at the orphanage. Applejack took notice of their quivering and nuzzled them both. “It;s alrigh’. This here’s my big brother, Big Mac, yer uncle. And don’ you worry none. He may be big, but he actually a big softy, ain’t that right, Big Mac?” she finished, looking up at the stallion.
“Eeyep,” he nodded, giving a small kind smile to the younger ponies. Then he frowned at Applejack. "Hey!" They both glanced at each other, then at their mother, who nodded and they relaxed a little, then giggled at Big Mac's response to the underhoofed comment.
Big Mac was hooked up to a cart, the kinds they used to carry their goods to market or for delivery. Today, however, it was being used as transport for two ponies who couldn’t walk on four legs again just yet.
Once the two were settled into the cart, Big Mac headed off in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack following alongside the cart.
After a few minutes, they arrived at the farm. The Pegasus and unicorn couldn’t help but stared, open mouthed as they saw the hundreds upon hundreds of apple trees that lined the fields they were passing, before they looked at the approaching farm.
Big Mac walked through the gate and kept walking until he stopped outside a large red barn.
Dreams and Bright glanced at each other, confused. They’d thought the first place to stop would be the house. Were they not meant to go into the house? Was Applejack making them sleep in the barn?
“Come on, you two,” the farm mare’s cheery voice cut into their trains of thought. “The s’rprise is inside.”
They glanced at each other again, before getting out the cart and walking into the barn. It was dark. Both young ponies suddenly felt uneasy. This kind of thing had happened before to them, back at the orphanage and it never ended well for them.
It always started with walking into a dark room, then, they’d find themselves surrounded by either the bullies or the ponies running the place and would wake up the next day, bruised and battered.
Suddenly light exploded into the barn, blinding them as a cacophony of voices shouted “SURPRISE!”
They were about to bolt, even though their eyes had yet to adjust to the light, to escape the ponies about to attack them, when they realized there hadn’t been any malice in the shouts. They’d been... happy.
Their eyes finally adjusted to see the barn was filled with ponies, a hooful they recognized, like Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, Scootaloo and Sunset, but there were a lot of other ponies too.
They could see an alabaster unicorn mare with a curly dark-purple mane and tail, a yellow Pegasus with a long pink mane and tail, two ponies they recognized as the town bakers, the grey Pegasus that was the mailmare they’d talked to once when they’d gotten the chance, who was standing next to a brown Earth Pony wearing a green tie, a mint-green unicorn with a lyre, practically the whole town as far as they could tell.
And standing in front of them all was a pink Earth Pony they recognised as Pinkie Pie, for who didn’t know Ponyville’s premier party pony?
The barn was covered in balloons, streamers and everything you’d need for a party, including foods the two young ponies had never gotten to eat back at the orphanage.
And, on the wall at the far back of the barn was a large banner that said “Welcome Sweet Dreams and Bright Skies to your You Were Orphans, But Now You’re Not Because You’re Members of The Apple Family and Congratulations on Getting Out of Hospital Party” in big yellow letters.
Applejack smiled as she watched her sister and the rest of the Cutie Mark Crusaders welcoming Bright and Dreams into their club, giving each of them a cape like theirs.
At first the two had been anxious around so many ponies, as if expecting at least one of them two attack, but had eased after a while and started enjoying the party.
“Not bad, “Mom”.”
Applejack turned to see Rarity standing next to her, holding a cup of punch in her magic and holding another out to Applejack. She took it, smiling. “Thanks, Rare. Ah just hope Ah c’n give those two a good home, be the ma they deserve, ya know?”
Rarity nodded, sipping daintily from her cup. “Trust me, Applejack, you are going to be a wonderful mother. Frankly,” she lowered her voice, a saddened look coming to her face, “I think what you did was for the best. I hate to say it, but nopony would have adopted them, not without knowing their story. They would have just glanced at them and brushed them aside.” She sighed. “It’s a shame certain ponies a like that.”
A look of shame crossed her face.
“Rarity?” Applejack was worried by that look.
“I... I’m ashamed to say that... I would probably have been one such pony, had I not been told by yourself about what happened to them.”
She didn’t meet the farm mares eyes.
Applejack blinked, then shook her head. “Rare—”
“How can I call myself bearer to the Element of Generosity when I’d do something so selfish?!” she wailed dramatically, yet at a volume that only Applejack heard, before Rarity’s fainting couch appeared and the unicorn fell onto it.
The farm mare shook her head, walked up and put a hoof on the unicorn’s shoulder. “Listen, Rare, ya’ll feel horrible about that and that’s a good thing.”
When Rarity stared at her with a wide, horrified stare, she elaborated.
“What Ah mean is, ya’ll know those thought ’re wrong. Other ponies who woulda just left those two behind wouldn’a thought twice ’bout it, even if they heard after about what they’d been through. Sure, they’d feel guilty ’bout it fer a while, but they’d never do nuthin’ ’bout it neither.”
Rarity sobbed, looking up at Applejack. “And how do you know I wouldn’t be like that, myself?”
“One, o’cos yer my friend and two,” Applejack smirked. “I know ya’ll’d through a big fit and run straight to the orphanage an’ adopt ’em yerself without even thinkin’ ’bout it.”
Rarity blushed, looking away before she sighed and nodded. “Yes, Applejack. I probably would, without even thinking about it at all.” She blushed deeper. “I mean, where would they have even slept?”
Applejack chuckled.
Hours later, the party finally came to an end. The sun was starting to set and everypony started heading home, wishing Applejack and her new son and daughter good luck as they left.
Once everypony was gone, Applejack and her family turned to the two newest members of their clan. Both was lying against some of the hay at the back on the barn, Apple Bloom lying right next to them. All three were fast asleep, exhausted from the party.
Scootaloo and Sunset had been taken to bed an hour ago, having fallen asleep. Granny Smith had taken them, so Applejack could spend more time with her new children.
The three adults chuckled, Big Mac walking over with Applejack and picking up and hoisting Apple Bloom onto his back, while she hoisted Dreams and Bright onto hers.
They went inside with Granny Smith, parting as Big Mac went to Apple Bloom’s room, while Applejack went to her foals room, gently laying them into their separate beds.
She smiled as she watched the two young ones sleeping. They looked so cute she couldn’t help but smile wider. She leaned down and kissed each of them on the forehead. Bright scrunched his nose, causing Applejack to have to stifle a chuckle. Even in his sleep he was a stubborn Pegasus. He’d fit right in.
Dreams, on the other hoof, shifted a little when she was kissed and murmured, “Night... Momma.”
Applejack’s heart melted at that and she couldn’t help but nuzzle the little filly, before slowly tiphoofing out the door. She looked at the two of them, smiling, her hoof on the door. “Right well, you to, and welcome to the family.” She closed the door and all was quiet in the Apple Family house.
Chapter 23 - Home Coming (WARNING! SLIGHT RAINBOW ROCKS SPOILERS!)
Sunset rolled over and looked at her sister as she snoozed. She couldn’t help but smile. She loved having a sister. For all her life as a human she’d been an orphan, with no place to really call home or even any friends.
Yet, her being turned into a pony had not only given her a sister, but a mother. Twilight had to be the best mother she could have ever asked for. She was kind, smart and magic.
Sunset couldn’t help always thinking about that phrase, “you can choose your friends, but not your family”. Ironically enough, she’d proven that wrong. She had chosen her family and she wouldn’t ever change her mind about it.
A yawning caused her train of thought to derail and she saw her sister opening her eyes.
Sunset smiled. “Mownin’ sis.”
Scootaloo blinked sleepily, a small smile on her face. “Hey, sis.” She yawned again and pushed herself up, stretching her legs and wings. “Wondew when Mama’s coming back?”
Sunset sat up and nodded, then frowned, looking down.
Scootaloo noticed her sister’s frown. She crawled over and nuzzled her. “Hey, what’s wong?”
Sunset sighed, looking to the Pegasus. “Do you tink Mommy might go back dere?”
Scoootaloo raised an eyebrow, confused. “Back whewe?”
“Da hooman wowld,” Sunset said, wiping a few tears from her eyes.
Scootaloo hugged her little sister and nuzzled her again. “Hey, hey. It’s otay. Mama wouldn’t send you back.”
Sunset shook her head. “Dat’s not what I meant.” She sniffled, then looked to Scootaloo. “I dweamed she went back dewe and she was fighting twee monstuws.”
Scootaloo frowned. “What kind of monstuws?”
Sunset buried her face in the orange shoulder offered. “Dey... Dey kinda wewe wike da siwens. Monstuws fwom da hooman wowld dat sing others to theiw... theiw...”
She didn’t— no, she couldn’t— say it, but Scootaloo had lived on the streets long enough before becoming Twilight’s foal to know what she was implying and held Sunset closer.
“It’s otay. It was just a dweam, wight?”
Sunset only sniffled. She wouldn’t tell Scootaloo, but the dream had felt so real. She’d seen Twilight as a human, with what looked like human versions of Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Vinyl Scratch, a dog that had looked a lot like Spike, if her were a dog and not a dragon and even the other version of herself.
Her dream had ended before she’d seen how things had gone, but she’d seen three creatures blasting them with a dark magical sound wave. It had been really scary.
Scootaloo and Sunset watched from the porch as Applejack taught her two new children about Applebucking. They both were happy the two ex-orphans had been given a home. As former orphans themselves, they knew how painful it was to not have a family and how wonderful it had felt when they’d finally gotten one.
Scootaloo couldn’t help but snicker when Bright Skies extended a wing during one of his buck, disturbing his centre of balance and causing him to flop.
She knew she shouldn’t laugh (she always cringed when she looked at where his missing wing used to be, since a Pegasus’ wings were an extension of themself, and to lose even one of them was like losing a part of your soul), but Bright made it too easy to laugh. He didn’t really seem bothered by the loss of a wing.
True, she’d known him since the orphanage and he’d been even worse at flying than she’d been, but he’d also never seemed that interested in flying, so it was almost like he didn’t care he lost a wing. It was like nothing had happened.
As she was thinking this, she couldn’t help noticing Sunset twitch and start looking around.
“What’s up, sis?” she asked, cocking her head.
“I sense Mommy!” Sunset’s eyes were as wide as the smile on her face, a smile that quickly took over Scootaloo’s face too.
They both started looking around, trying to spot their mother from the sky, searching for a lavender dot amongst the wide blue.
Suddenly there was a flash of purple from in front of them and an exhausted sigh was heard, immediately followed by dual cries of, “Mommy!”
Both of them shot forward (Scootaloo using her wings, Sunset her magic) and tackled the purple Alicorn that had just appeared in front of the house.
The sudden tackle knocked the still jetlagged mare over and they lay in a pile for a few moments, the two foals cooing and nuzzling into her chest.
When Twilight finally realized what was going on, she smiled and wrapped her hooves around her two daughters. “I missed you, girls.”
Scootaloo suddenly pulled away, looking around in confusion. “Whewe’s Spike?”
Twilight blinked, then shook her head. “Really?” Her horn glowed and Spike appeared right next to them. However, he seemed to have been running for some reason and, not able to stop himself from the sudden location change, continued and slammed into the closed front door of the Apple family house.
This caused the foals to giggle like crazy, while Twilight gave a small chuckled, getting up, holding her daughters in her wings and walking over the dazed dragon.
Spike shook his head and looked up to see Twilight standing over him, a cocky smile on her face.
He rolled his eyes and got up. “Yeah, yeah, I know. Don’t rub it in.”
Scootaloo cocked her head. “What’s he tawking about, Mama?”
Twilight shook her head, chuckling again. “I’ll tell you later. Then she blinked. Wait. Scootaloo, you just flew! And Sunset, you just used magic!”
“Howdy, Twi. Good ta have ya back.”
They turned to see Applejack walking towards them, a smile on her face. Apparently the ruckus they’d made had caught her attention.
Twilight smiled and nodded to the farm mare. “Thanks, Applejack. It’s good to be back.” She let out a long, exhausted sigh. “You have no idea just how good.”
Applejack cocked an eyebrow. “How come?”
At that moment the two younger ponies came over and froze when they saw Twilight, their eyes going wide in awe.
The lavender mare smiled. “Oh, these must be the filly and colt you adopted, am I right?”
The two younger ponies gaped, causing her to chuckle.
Applejack looked to the lavender mare. “And just how did ya’ll find out Ah adopted two little ones?”
Twilight gave a coy smile. “Celestia has been observing the orphanage for some time now, since Firm Hoof’s discharge. And Luna was watching over the dreams of all fillies and colts within the orphanage to make sure they didn’t have nightmares leading to them waking up and thinking Firm Hoof was still in charge.”
Applejack nodded. “Makes sense.” She frowned, looking her friend (she tried not to think future wife because of what Pinkie said) and noticed just how tired she looked. A glance at Spike showed he looked just as tired. “What happened up in Canterlot, anyway? Looks like it was mighty tiring fer you two.”
Twilight rolled her eyes. “Oh, you have no idea, Applejack. Let’s go inside, I’ll let the others know I’m here and then I’ll explain. And you can tell me just when my foals suddenly started flying and using magic.”
“... Thus, with all the evidence I have provided to all present, I assure you that to remove Ponyville in any sense of the term would be to rip out the very centre of the stock exchange throughout most of Equestria and the lands beyond. This would result in the total structural collapse of the Equestrian economy and the downfall of the whole kingdom,” Twilight concluded, taking a long gasp and using her magic to point at several of the many diagrams she had been presenting with over the last four days.
The room she was standing in had once been, and on occasion was still used to plan battle strategies, however for the last week or so it had been converted to a debating room on whether or not Ponyville should be destroyed, with her fighting for against.
Those throughout the room all looked at her, the majority with expressions that said they whole-heartedly agreed. Nobles and dignitaries, along with Celestia, Luna, Cadance and Shining Armour were among them and voiced their agreement.
However, there was one pony who did not agree, if his posture of his forehooves folded across his chest and the frown on his face were any indication.
“Well, Prince Blueblood?” she asked, setting the stick she had been using to point with down on the table. “Can you honestly tell me you still wish to destroy Ponyville, when it will leave hundreds of ponies homeless and destroy our very economy?”
The alabaster stallion snorted, tossing his head up, his blonde mane flipping up as he did so. “Ponyville still needs to be destroyed.”
Twilight’s jaw dropped, while the rest of those in the room all stared at the stallion as if he were mad.
“Are you serious?!” Twilight’s eye twitched as her calm tone turned to one of shock. “Even after all that you have listen to, for the last four days, you still want to destroy Ponyville!?”
He nodded. “If we do not, the reputation of the Royal Family remains at risk of dishonor. We must arrest the ponies responsible for what happened at the Gala and punish the town that dared to harbour them.” He smirked. “Besides, it isn’t as if anypony important happens to be there. Nothing but worthless ponies come from that town.”
Twilight’s eyes narrowed and her body glowed with her magical aura. “My daughters are in Ponyville, Blueblood, one of them even having been born there. Are you saying my daughters or not important, worthless?”
He then glared at the Alicorn, his tone becoming aggressive. “You dare to speak to me like that? You dare to not address me by my title?” He slammed his hooves on the table, meeting Twilight’s glare. “If not for that spell, you would still be the lowly unicorn mare you always were. You do not deserve the title of princess and those daughters of yours are nothing but trash and deserve to starve when their pathetic excuse for a town is finished, like the lazy, good-for-nothing wastes of space they are!”
There was a sound like the sound barrier being broken and all around the table were thrown against the wall, the table disintegrating.
Twilight’s eyes were pure white, flowing with the magic deep within her as she hovered in the air above the cowering form of Prince Blueblood.
“YOU DARE! YOU DARE TO INSULT MY CHILDREN!” she bellowed in the Royal Canterlot voice, her mane and tail flowing with the excess mana trying to escape her body. “MY DAUGHTERS ARE A BILLION TIMES MORE THE PONIES THAN YOU WILL EVER BE, BLUEBLOOD! YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO THE ROYAL FAMILY!
WHILE CELESTIA AND LUNA RUN THIS KINGDOM AND MY BROTHER AND PRINCESS CADANCE RULE OVER THE CRYSTAL EMPIRE, WHAT DO YOU DO? ALL YOU EVER DO IN BOSS OTHERS AROUND AND ACT AS IF YOU ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PONY IN THE WORLD!”
She flew up, right to his face.
“WELL, GUESS WHAT! YOU’RE NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT PONY, INFACT, YOU’RE PROBABLY THE MOST USELESS! EVEN I DON’T HAVE A KINGDOM TO RULE, AND YET I HAVE DONE FAR MORE FOR EQUESTRIA IN MY SHORT TIME AS PRINCESS THAN YOU HAVE IN YOUR ENTIRE LIFE!”
The wind started to grow stronger and she glowered down at the unicorn.
“IF YOU EVER INSULT MY DAUGHTERS AGAIN, I PROMISE YOU, BLUEBLOOD, THAT YOU WILL WISH YOU HAD NEVER BEEN BORN!”
An alabaster hoof sudden placed itself on Twilight’s shoulder. She turned to glare at the pony it belonged to, but saw it was Celestia, who was giving her a firm, yet understanding look.
Slowly, Twilight calmed down, the winds blowing through the room slowly down as her magic dissipated.
She landed on the ground, her mane and tail returning to normal, as well as her eyes and the glow fading from her body.
As soon as things had calmed down, Blueblood pointed at Twilight, his eyes focused on the taller Alicorn. “Did you see that, Auntie! She’s mad! And you heard her! She threatened me for no reason! She’s insane! Banish her to the moon!”
Celestia’s expression, which had remained the same as it had when Twilight had looked to her, suddenly turned dark, causing the unicorn to cower.
The much taller Alicorn stood over him, glaring down, her wings extended to their fault length.
“Blueblood,” she said, not with the Royal Canterlot Voice, but in a tone that clearly made him wish she was using it as a chill visibly ran down his spine. “I have held on to hope that you would become a better pony, learn to see others and treat them as you would wish to be yourself.” Her eyes narrowed. “However, it is now clear, from hearing you not only insulting another member of the Royal Family, but also the callous way you would willingly condemn hundreds of ponies to being homeless that I see you require a stronger teaching on what life is truly like.”
“B-bu-b-but, Auntie—”
Her eyes made him stop. “Do not call me that. You no longer have the right.”
His eyes widened. “What?” his voice was barely a squeak.
Celestia looked like she was in pain, but also had anger behind her pain. “Prince Blueblood the Third, for your actions against your fellow ponies and your treatment of even the Royal Family itself, I hereby strip you of your title.”
His eyes went wide with horror and he flung himself at Celestia’s hooves. “Please, Auntie, NO! Don’t—”
“As of this moment, your belongings, accounts and houses are withheld,” Celestia continued, not even listening to him. “You will be left with whatever money you have on yourself and are forbidden on bane of banishment to set hoof within the castle or any of your homes unless with express permission.”
She turned as tears streamed down his eyes, but there was anger mixed with the horror and sadness. “Why? Why am I being punished because of those commoner?!” It was more of a demand than a question. “I have done nothing wrong! They are the guilty party, not I!”
Celestia bowed her head, sadness clear in her posture. “This shall not be lifted until you can prove to me that you have learned what it truly means to be a part of this family. Guards!”
The doors to the room opened and several Royal Guards walked in, all of them pausing for a second as they took in the state of the room and Blueblood lying on the floor, glaring and crying as he looked to Celestia.
“Take Blueblood and escort him out of Canterlot. After that, leave him to his own devices.” She looked over her shoulder at the unicorn. “For your sake, Blueblood, I hope you will not do anything foolish.”
The guards nodded, walked over to Blueblood and began dragging him out of the room.
“Wait! Stop this! Do you know who you’re touching, you filthy peasants!” he shouted at the guards, his voice clear as he was led away. “Take your dirty-ridden hooves off me! Stop! I order you to stop! Celestia’s gone mad! Do not listen to her! She is...!”
His voice faded away and Twilight slumped, exhausted beyond anything she’d after felt.
Celestia walked over to her and gave a weak smile. “Tired?”
She nodded, her eyes drooping. “If it’s alright with you, Princess, I think I’ll just go back to Ponyville, get my daughters and sleep.”
Her mentor nodded, an understanding smile on her face. “Very well, Twilight. I hope the next time we meet, when the dignitaries from Maretonia visit the Crystal Empire, it will be under much better circumstances.”
Twilight nodded, lit her horn and vanished in a flash of purple.
Twilight yawned as she finished her tale and rubbed her eyes with a hoof.
She and her friends were all gathered in the Apple Family’s living room.
Rarity huffed. “Well, about time he learned his lesson. I doubt he’ll even last a day in the real world, that pompous windbag.” Applejack nodded, her expression firm. “Darin’ ta call our town worthless. The nerve alone make me wanna find that no good stallion and buck him one upside the head.”
Pinkie Pie also had an out of the ordinary frown on her face, her hooves folded across her chest. “Anypony mean enough to say two sweet innocent little fillies like Scootsy and Sunny should starve doesn’t even deserve a “Best of Luck” party, which he’d need.”
Twilight nodded, then looked down at her two foals. They were sleeping sounding against her barrel, having fallen asleep during her tale after enjoying a nice meal from their mother.
She then looked around the room and sighed at the lack of the two pegasi she’d expected to see. “I still can’t believe Dash and Shy aren’t back yet.”
Applejack nodded. “Well, Dash is still fillin’ in fer Spitefire and Fluttershy wouldn’t miss a single show Dash’s in even if it killed her.” She chuckled. “Smitten pegasi, always an interestin’ thing.”
Twilight nodded, then yawned again and got up, lifting the sleeping foals onto her back with magic, then holding them in place with her wings.
“I think I’d best get home, girls. It’s been a long week and I really need some rest.”
There were murmurs of agreement, before Pinkie raised a hoof. “Why was Spike running when you teleported him.”
Twilight smirked as the baby dragon blushed furiously. “Let’s just say Spike’s learned never to go snooping in the kitchen when they’re busy and leave it at that.”
After all chuckling at the baby dragon’s embarrassment, the others all agreed, said their goodbyes, then went on their way. When she and Spike had returned to the library, they went inside, upstairs and to bed right away, even though it was only mid-afternoon. They were really tired and a long afternoon nap sounded like a wonderful idea.
Twilight decided to let her daughters sleep with her this time and laid the two of them on either side of her, wrapping a wing around them and blew out the candle, wondering what other insanity could be waiting for her when she awoke.
Extra Author Note
again, a big thank you to Princess Glitzy for the cover art. i couldn't have asked for better and an aspecially huge thanks to all of your for enjoying my first ride on the writing a foalfic express with me.
Twilight tickled Sunset’s belly as she and the girls mild around in the throne room to her new castle.
It had been less than a day since they had defeated Tirek and the castle had grown from the box that came from the Tree of Harmony. Twilight and the others had yet to get her settled into her and the girls’ new home.
Diamond Tiara had almost fainted when she learned she’d be living in a castle until her father returned to Ponyville. Thankfully, she had learned enough to know she shouldn’t rub it in and was simply taking in stride.
Currently they were moving all of what they’d been able to salvage from the remains of the Golden Oaks Library and sorting through them, namely the books.
Spike was sitting on his little throne with Scootaloo in his lap as they read one of his Power Pony comics together.
“Excuse me, Princess?” Twilight looked up from Sunset to the white and lanky Earth Pony pulling a cart full of books. “Where do you want all these books from Princess Celestia?” he asked, indicating to the cart.
Princess Celestia, after seeing Twilight’s library in ruins, had offered to help replace the books she’d lost when Tirek destroyed the library with ones from Canterlot.
“The library,” Twilight stated matter-of-factly, pointing a hoof to her left. “Third door on the left.”
“Even this one that’s glowin’ an’ vibratin’?”
The question caused Twilight and the girls to look to see a book right at the top of the pile in the cart indeed glowing with a pink light and vibrating every two seconds.
Twilight took it in her magic and levitated it over, opening it, taking note of Celestia’s Cutie Mark on the front cover, whilst the stallion decided to make himself scarce and went to put the rest of the books in the library and living the princess and her friends and children to whatever they were doing.
As Twilight opened the book, the others coming closer to learn more, Sunset’s eyes widened at the other side of it that was now within her eyesight. It was her Cutie Mark. Well, the one she had before she became a foal, anyway. What was that doing on this book?
“What is it, Twilight?” Fluttershy asked as Spike came over, putting the Pegasus next to her unicorn sister.
“It looks like... a message to Princess Celestia from my friends at Canterlot High,” Twilight said, her voice filled with shock.
While Scootaloo frowned in confusion, Sunset’s breath caught in her throat. Her mother had told her how she’d been to the human world and met the version of her that came from this one and how, when they’d last spoken, that version of her had learned the error of her ways and promised to be kinder.
But she’d also explained how the world’s were separated. How could a message get through from that world to this one if that was the case? A foal she may now be, but Sunset’s mind was still as active and intent as when she had been older.
“How is that even possible?” Rarity asked, voicing the very question Sunset had just posed to herself.
“I have no idea, but...” Twilight said as she read the message on the pages, “it sounds like they need my help.”
A few minutes later they were all gathered in the castle library, where Twilight informed them how the beings the other Sunset describe sounded like the Sirens and explained their history.
It was shortly after this that Pinkie Pie gave a reasonable explanation... at least that’s what Sunset thought she did, as to how the book was connecting the two worlds.
Twilight had had the mirror moved to her castle as soon as the business with Tirek had been settled, seeing as she intended to visit the human world again when the portal opened, none of the other princesses finding a reason to refuse her.
Within moments, Twilight had constructed a set of machines of sorts around the mirror and, upon placing the book above the mirror, the portal opened.
“Mommy, I wanna go, too!” Sunset cried, realizing she could actually visit her original home world again sooner than she’d thought.
“Me too!” Scootaloo cheered, flying up from the floor, her wings buzzing. “I wanna meet dis hooman Wainbow.”
“What, the pony one ain’t go enough for ya?” Dash joked, and Scootaloo blushed, eliciting Dawws from all present.
“Don’t suppose we could join ya this time around?” Applejack asked one they’d all recovered from the cuteness.
Twilight gave a warm smile. “Better not. It could make things pretty confusing if Canterlot High suddenly had “two” of all of you.”
The other mares all looked at each other, before nodding and murmuring their agreements.
Then Twilight’s expression became firm, yet warm at the same time as she looked to her daughters. “And no, you two can’t come with me.”
“Aww!” they both said, Sunset looking disappointed, Scootaloo angry, the latter replying with, “Why not?”
“If these girls Sunset talk about in her message are indeed the Sirens, I don’t want to risk either of you being hurt,” she explained, coming closer and nuzzling them. “Okay?”
“Okay,” they both replied, Sunset still looking sad about not getting to see her old world again and Scootaloo in angry reluctance.
“But I still get to go, right?” Spike asked, stepping forward. “There isn’t another one of me at Canterlot High and you never know when you’ll need your trusty assistant.” He gave her a hopeful look.
“MmHm,” Twilight nodded, walking towards the girls again.
“Yyyyes!” Spike punched the air.
“Hey! No faiw!” Scootaloo pouted, glaring at the baby drake. “Why’s Spike get t’ go an’ we don’t?!”
Twilight sighed, shaking her head. “Scootaloo, in that world, Spike’s a dog. If the Sirens do pose more of a problem, he will be able to get away a lot easier. If you two come, you’ll both turn into baby humans, losing your wings and Sunset her horn until we returned through the portal.”
Scootaloo’s eyes widened at the thought of losing her wings and wilted, whimpering.
Twilight gave her a reassuring smile and pulled her close, nuzzling her cheek. “I won’t be gone long, I promise. Once the Sirens have been defeated, we’ll be right back.” The Alicorn proceeded to nuzzle Sunset as well, before hugging all her friends, Pinkie holding the hug for a few extra seconds.
Twilight walked back over to Spike and smiled at him. “Ready, Spike?”
The drake cracked his knuckles, then did some leg stretches before getting into a running position like one would in a track team race and saying, “Ready.”
With that, the two ran forward, Spike entering the portal before Twilight.
Sunset waited a few moments, during which the mares conversed, wondering just what kind of dangers Twilight would meet when she arrived in the other world.
Looking at Scootaloo, she noted a firm expression on the Pegasus’ muzzle, before she turned to her and nodded. Sunset was a little surprised, seeing how she’d gotten so anxious about the idea of losing her wings, even if only for a while, but understood what her sister was saying and nodded back.
The two waited until the girls were deep into their conversation, before Sunset lit up her horn, engulfing herself in her aura and Scootaloo buzzed her wings.
Before anypony could stop them, they shot off into the portal, the girls realizing all too late what they’d just allowed to happen and knowing, it could make things more problematic for Twilight, couldn’t go after the mischievous duo.
All pleasantries aside after the group hug, Twilight said, “And I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news about those new girls.”
The others all lost their happy expressions, for them to be replaced with uncertain ones.
However, before anyone could voice their concerns, Spike noticed the edge of the portal shimmer and pulled Twilight’s leg and pointed.
The confusion of the former pony was shared with the other girls for only a moment, before two things shot out of the portal, crying out in alarm.
Twilight, realizing from the voices at once who they were and cried out, “Catch them!” in a voice suddenly filled with panic.
This sudden change in Twilight’s mood prompted the girls to act, each hurrying to ensure they’d be in the line of fire for what had just come through.
Rainbow caught the orange blur, falling back onto Pinkie and Fluttershy, them dropping onto their butts.
Sunset caught the yellow blur, falling back onto Rarity.
Twilight looked frantically between them all, before sighing with relief, before her expression hardened as she looked at the two new arrivals.
One was an orange-skin girl with a crop of purple mane and purple eyes, wearing a diaper and a yellow shirt.
“What in the world?!” Sunset cried, her eyes wide as she lifted the one she’d caught. She was staring at the yellow-skin baby girl with a mixture of red and yellow hair that made it look like it was aflame, green eyes and wearing a diaper and orange shirt. “This... this is...”
The baby was looking back at Sunset with equal shock, though mixed with a confusion of anger and thankfulness.
“Whoa. What’s with the babies?” Rainbow asked as she got up and held the one she’d caught out, getting a good look at her, before squinting her eyes. “And why does this one look like a baby version of the squirt?”
“Never mind that,” Rarity cried, having gotten up from under the shell shocked Sunset. “Why does this one look like a baby version of Sunset?”
That caused all the others to turn to the flaming haired teenager, only for their eyes to widen as they saw the startling similarities.
“What did I tell you two?!” Twilight almost shouted, glaring from one baby to the other. “It could be dangerous! I told you to wait with the others.”
“But I wan’ed ta see dis wowld’s Wainbow!” the orange baby shouted, wiggling a little in the rainbow-haired girl’s grip, the baby flexing her fingers and wiggling her toes. “Dese’we weiwd.”
Twilight gave an exasperated sigh. “As if explaining these without them here wasn’t going to be hard enough.”
It was then that Rainbow gaped at the lavender girl. “Whoa, Twi. When’d your boobs get so big?”
The other girls all looked to her, even Sunset, who’d been focused on nothing but the baby version of herself in her grasp, all their eyes widening at the sight of Twilight’s chest, Twilight looking slightly surprised herself when she glanced down.
Her chest was about two to three times as big as it had been the last time she’d been at Canterlot High. Her confusion only lasted for a second, however, before she closed eyes, nodding to herself. “Guess it makes sense.”
“Makes sense?” Applejack stared, gobsmacked at the rack Twilight now sported. “How in the hay does that make sense?” she punctuated this with a finger pointed at Twilight’s chest.
“Weww, how ewse could Mama feed us tiw we can dwink fowmuwa?” the orange one said nonchalantly.
There was silence for several moments, before the girls all looked to Twilight, then her chest, then babies, before their eyes widened and all shouted in unison, “MAMA?”
“And that’s pretty much how I became Scootaloo and Sunny's," whom they all decided to call Sunny instead of Sunset whilst they were there to avoid confusion "mother and how our lives have gone since then,” Twilight finished. They’d found a small corner at Sugarcube Corner to talk without interruption so Twilight could explain her parenthood to the two babies sitting in her lap.
When several kids had asked why Twilight had two babies with her, Rarity had jumped the gun before Twilight could try to explain and had told them she was looking after them for some friends. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon had rudely stated that, if Twilight was being entrusted to look after someone else’s children, even if she’s a princess, she shouldn’t just bring them along to other worlds for visits, before leaving, Applejack having to hold Rainbow back from going after the brats to give them the what for.
Still, Fluttershy was one of the first to be taken by the little ones, cooing and playing with them during the conversation.
“But, how can you possibly be a mother, darling?” Rarity asked, glancing at the babies and animal lover at play. “You’re the same age as us, are you not?”
Twilight’s expression became sheepish and she rubbed her shoulder. “Well, actually, I’m over twenty.”
“What?” everyone aside from the older Sunset Shimmer gasped, their eyes wide.
The other Equestrian turned human shrugged. “Don’t ask her or me to explain it. Despite being more than twenty by Equestrian physics, when we came through the portal, we became a lot younger human wise.”
“So, ya mean yer both really adults?” Applejack asked, her mouth slightly agape.
Sunset nodded. “But that’s only in technical terms. In this world, we’re both just teenagers.”
To change the subject, Twilight talked to them about the other things that had gone on in her life, aside from becoming a mother, like how she was looking after her world’s Diamond Tiara whilst her father was away and how her Tiara had changed for the better.
“Two bad you can’t get ours to ship up,” Applejack commented snorting. “Sometimes that girl really doesn’t know when to keep her trap shut.”
After a bit more discussion, Pinkie informed them about the party for all the contests in the Battle of the Bands and how, since The Dazzles would be there, it’d be the perfect time to get to them without suspicion, Twilight agreeing that it would be the best time to use their magic to stop them once and for all.
Whilst they talk, Sunny and Scootaloo looked at each other. Since becoming sisters, the two had developed a type of communication that, if their mother had tried to figure it out, would have ended up as drained and stressed as when she’d tried to figure out the Pinkie Sense.
It with this type of talking without talking that they spoke with now. It was one that didn’t require words to understand. Sunny could feel something was wrong with their mother’s idea, that something else needed to be done.
However, neither baby was sure how to convey this to the older girls.
They were now sitting on the front steps of Canterlot High with the rest of the girls whilst Twilight paced in front of them, wondering out loud why their magic hadn’t worked and defeated The Dazzles, who’d turned their failure back on them, making the whole school turn against them. Now every student competing in the Battle of the Bands had it in for them.
The two babies occupied themselves with investigating their bodies again. Scootaloo was still fascinated by her new body, even if she couldn’t fly anymore and was as grounded as she used to be before she’d become a foal.
Sunny, however, was loving every moment of having a human body again. Sure, she couldn’t use her unicorn magic anymore, but she felt it was a small price to pay to experience this again.
She played with her toes, loving the feeling of having them again. She’d miss them once they returned to Equestria and she regained her hooves, but at least they could come and go when they wanted now.
“Come on,” Twilight’s voice, as well as her arms wrapping around and lifting the two pulled them from their inner thoughts as the lavender girl began heading towards the stairs to the school, Spike right on her heels.
“Where’re you goin’?” Applejack asked, her voice filled with confusion.
Twilight stopped, turning around to face the six girls again. “Well, the last time we were here, Spike and I spent the night in the library. It might be a little uncomfortable for the girls, but I’m sure we’ll manage.”
Pinkie Pie zipped up next to Twilight, startling the babies. Seemed this world’s Pinkie was just as much into suddenly moving at impossible speeds as the pony one. “Are you crazy?” she cried, before pulling them into a hug, squishing the babies against the two girls’ chests. “We’re besties now.” Then, as she somehow lifted Twilight up so the held girl’s legs wiggled in the air behind her, she cheered, “Slumber Party at my house!”
Sunny was awakened by the sound of the door to Pinkie’s room opening and sat up from the small cot she and Scootaloo had been put into after it was set up in Pinkie’s room.
Both had almost questioned why Pinkie had supplies for babies in this world, before they remembered that their world’s Pinkie usual foalsat the twins for Mr. and Mrs Cake. The same obviously applied for the human Pinkie, who’d not only had diapers and baby powder and cream at hand, but also two cute one-piece snuggy pajamas. Scootaloo got to where a blue one with lightning bolts on it, whilst Sunny got a pink one with, ironically in her opinion, unicorns.
As she opened her eyes and looked towards the door, ingoring the sounds of the girls sleeping, one of them neighing in her sleep and one meowing, Sunny saw the older Sunset walking out hesitantly. Curious, Sunny climbed out of the cot, it really wasn’t that big or high, and crawl out after the other one.
She waited in the hallway for a while, hearing her mother’s voice from the kitchen as well as the older Sunset’s. After some time, and Sunny seeing Pinkie Pie’s sister, Maud’s human self walk by leaving a trail of chips, the older Sunset came back into the hallway. She blinked when she saw the baby waiting in the hallway.
“Sunny?” she asked, before pausing, shaking her head. “This is still weird.”
Sunny nodded, looking up at her older counterpart.
Sunset shifted, scratching behind her neck. “Listen,” she said, kneeling down to Sunny’s level, “I’m... really sorry about... well, taking your whole life away from you.”
Sunny looked down, her expression somber. “When yoo did dat, I was wost in da Ewefwee. I di’na know what was going on ow why I was a pony.”
Sunset sighed, looking away. “I swear, I never thought that spell would cause you to not only end up somewhere other than just the other side of the portal, but also so many years into the future.”
Sunny just sighed, shaking her head. “How did yoo get awong wid my fostew famwy?”
Sunset blushed, looking away again and scratching her head nervously. “We... kind had a falling out and got bumped to the next family. In the end, though, I just set out for myself. I’ve met up with them all that I could and apologized for my actions, but I haven’t gotten any new family to stay with.” She gave a sheepish smile. “I’m usually spending each week at Applejack’s. Her family have a lot of room and, after things with the Fall Formal, not to mentioned every thing else I did were... sort of fixed, they let me stay. Apple Bloom still gives me the cold shoulder, but Granny Smith and Big Mac seem understanding enough about it.”
Sunny nodded, then looked up at Sunset. “I wan’ed ta teww yoo sometin.”
Sunset gulped, bracing for it.
Sunny gave a small, warm smile. “Tank yoo.”
Sunset blinked. “Uh, what? You’re thanking me for taking your life away from you?”
Sunny shook her head. “No. I’m tanking yoo for sending me ta Mommy. I wuv hew. If not fow wha’ yoo did, I wou’na have Mommy ow my sistew.”
Sunny crawled a little forward, struggled to stand on her two feet and hugged Sunset as best she could.
Sunset was taken aback by this, but, after a few moments, let a smile come to her face. She gently pick up the baby, holding her close and went back to Pinkie’s room.
Twilight shook her head, a warm smile on her face as she watched Sunset chasing after Scootaloo through the air.
“Are they always this… rambunctious?” Starlight asked as she walked into the room.
Twilight chuckled. “Yep. Scootaloo getting her Cutie Mark probably has helped with her mood, though, admittedly.”
She looked up as the foals shoot past her, the three coloured shield with a feather within a lightning bold obvious on the little foal’s flank.
“Never thought foals Scootaloo’s age could get Cutie Marks, but I guess there’s a first time for everything,” Spike glanced up from the comic his was reading in his cushion on the other side of the library.
The last couple months had been eventful to say the least.
After Twilight and Spike had returned with the foals from Sunset’s world, a map had sprung up from the floor in the room with their thrones. It had led them to Starlight Glimmer’s village, where she’d been forcing ponies to give up their Cutie Marks under the guise it was for their own good and had done the same to Twilight and her friends… until Twilight brought up the fact she was a mother and, by forcing her to stay in the village, Starlight would’ve been forcing her to give up her own children, which would not only be cruel, but it would not make Twilight equal to the other mother’s in town, all of whom had spoken up on the princess’s behalf at the idea.
Starlight had faltered, but while she’d agreed Twilight shouldn’t be separated from her children, didn’t want to give her her Cutie Mark back and let her go get them.
The townsponies had risen up and helped the princess and her friends, Starlight fleeing in anger.
When she returned, invading Twilight’s castle, she almost cast a spell that would’ve allowed her to go back in time and stop Twilight and the others from gaining their Cutie Mark connection.
However, it was the quick actions of Twilight’s daughters, distracting Starlight by flying around her head, that gave Twilight the time to get the spell away from the mare and give her a very solid reason why it was cruel to do what she was about to do.
Had time been altered, Twilight would never have become Scootlaoo and Sunset’s mother, meaning Scootaloo would’ve been left in the cruel care of Firm Hoof and Sunset might very well have died in the Everfree, being a foal unable to defend herself.
That had been an eye opener for the unicorn and her will crumbled at the idea of ruining other foals live just because of her own past.
Twilight, in light of learning Starlight’s reasons for her village and trying to get revenge in such a dangerous way, offered to take her own as her pupil to teach her about friendship.
Starlight had definitely had some bumps along the way, but now things were going places and seemed to be working out for her. She had rekindled her friendship with Sunburst and made friends with Maud Pie and, surprisingly, of all ponies, Trixie.
“So, how’re things going with Sunburst’s duties as a Crystaler?” Twilight asked as the unicorn mare sat down at the table opposite her.
Shortly after taking Starlight on as her pupil, Twilight had become an aunt, Cadance and Shining Armour having given birth to their own daughter, an Alicorn, of all things.
Thankfully, though things started disastrously for everypony due to Flurry Heart not realizing her power levels, Sunset and Scootaloo, being babies themselves, had been able to talk with their new cousin… though not before Flurry Heart unintentionally destroyed the Crystal Heart.
Thankfully, Sunburst had figured out how to repair the heart using the very ceremony the ponies had intended to perform anyway, Shining and Cadance making him Flurry’s Crystaler as thanks.
Starlight chuckled. “It was a bit tricky for him at first, your niece is more rambunctious than your own daughters, but, thanks to Thorax, he’s been able to keep her in check.”
The Changeling in the empire had been quite the surprise, but after Spike had vouched for him, the Crystal Ponies had been willing to give him a chance and he was living up to it.
Their reminiscing of recent events was cut short by a loud knocking at the front doors.
The group of five paused in all they were doing, looking to each other with confusion.
“Girls?” Twilight looked up to her daughters. “Were either of you expecting company?”
The foals shook their heads.
“Diamond Tiawa was gonna come owew wid da Cwusadews an’ Swiwew Poon, but dat’s not tiw watew,” the little Pegasus shrugged.
“An’ Fwuwwy wa’n’ ’upposed to come tiw ness week,” Sunset frowned, rubbing her chin. “Wight?”
“Why is that pink filly living with you again?” Starlight asked as they all headed out of the library and into the main hall.
“Her father is away on business and he left her in my care,” Twilight said, sighing. “I’m glad Discord was kind enough to cure her. I’ve never seen her so happy.”
Discord had recently come over and cured Diamond Tiara of her little problem, so she no longer needed diapers… well, mostly. He’d cured her, but she was still having to retrain her body. Only at night, though.
They reached the double doors and Twilight opened them with her magic… revealing an Earth Pony and Pegasus who looked oddly familiar.
It was Scootaloo’s words that stunned everypony.
“Mommy?! Daddy?!”
The two ponies looked up, their eyes widening at the foal hovering in the air.
“Well I’ll be a three tailed bandicoot,” the Earth Pony said in an Austnieghlian accent. “That Zebra wasn’t lying. Scoots really is still a foal and there really is another princess.”
“Scootaloo!” the mare cried and the foal shot into her hooves, the two embracing each other.
“I… but… huh?!” Spike looked between everypony while Twilight’s eyes were widening in recognition.
“It’s true then?”
Behind the two ponies were another Earth Pony and Pegasus, these two both mares.
“I don’t understand,” Twilight shook her head, looking between the first two. “Caring Heart’s files said the four of you died a long time ago.”
A scoffing from behind drew everypony’s attention to the second Pegasus mare. “Yeah. Had we known what an asshole he was, we never would’ve left Scootaloo in his care. Not surprised he didn’t give her the proper information.”
“I… think we all could use some context here,” Starlight said, feeling very confused and out of the loop.
“It’s still so strange,” Mane Goodall said, watching the orange foal flying around the room with the unicorn foal. “She looks only a bit younger than when I last saw her.”
“So, let me get this straight,” Starlight said, rubbing her forehead. “You both have been alive this whole time, all these years, but were trees?”
Holiday nodded as she sat on her brother’s right. “After my brother and his wife stopped sending letters, I went looking for them m’self. I thought I could handle it.”
“And when my wife didn’t come back, I panicked,” Lofty shook her head, angry with herself. “If I hadn’t been, I might not have rushed Scootaloo’s care. I should’ve sent her to one of my relatives.”
“And that bastard clearly didn’t bother to contact them when you didn’t come back yourself,” Starlight frowned. “Talk about disgusting.”
“He was getting more bits if Scoots was an orphan,” Spike gritted his teeth. “Creatures like him only care about money, they don’t care who gets hurt.”
“So, you got this strange disease called Swamp Fever and it turned you all into trees?” Twilight looked worried. “How’d you return to normal?”
“Well, to be honest, ya majesty,” Snap Shutter said, rubbing the back of his neck. “We don’t rightly know. One moment Mane an’ I were holding out hooves out to each other, trying to hold hooves before the transformation was complete, next thing we know, we’re flopping to the ground, perfectly healthy, with m’sister an’ her wife only a couple yards away.”
“And we would’ve come back sooner, but we had to help this baby sphinx who’d been nearby,” Mane said, glancing up at her foal. “She’d been cursed by Swamp Fever as well while out looking for her mother. We knew her mother was likely gone, so we helped her get back to her home in Somnambula. Poor thing.”
“So… what happens now?” Spike asked, looking between the ponies, then up to his little sisters, who’d stopped in mid-air and were listening in, looking worried. “Are you going to take Scootaloo away from us?”
Mane and Snap looked at each other, before shaking their heads.
“Your majesty,” Mane said, smiling at her with the look of an understanding mother, “we were hoping you wouldn’t mind keeping Scootaloo in your family.”
Twilight blinked, before shaking her head. “Of course she can. I think of her as my daughter. Why wouldn’t I let her stay in the family? But… what about you two?”
Lofty chuckled. “Who’d have ever thought our family could be so big and confusing? And now we’re connected to royalty.” She gave a loud laugh.
“You see, our job requires us to be away for a very long time,” Mane said, looking to the princess. “If Scootaloo had a home for when we’re away, it would mean so much. And, you are her mother now as much as I am, Princess Twilight. I couldn’t take her away from you now.”
Twilight smiled warmly and nodded. “I’ll handle the paperwork. I’m sure the princesses won’t mind.”
“So, Scootaloo has two mothers now,” Spike said, blinking, before grinning. “Cool.”
“Um, what was that about a baby sphinx again?” Everypony looked to Starlight, who had a very puzzled look on her face.
The four newcomers blinked, before all laughing.
“If not for those farmer parents, I don’t think we could’ve kept her calm throughout the whole trip,” Lofty laughed, shaking her head.
Twilight blinked, cocking an eyebrow. “Farmer parents?”
“Thanks fer understandin’, Granny,” Applejack said, smiling as she watched her foals working in the orchard.
Having had a bit of training from Twilight and Starlight, Sweet Dreams had learned how to use her magic despite her broken horn and was using said magic to pick apples.
Gentle Skies had learned how to use his one good wing to propel himself at an angle when bucking tries, making up for the lack of Earth Pony strength due to him being a Pegasus by increasing his speed with the air drag.
Granny huffed. “When Ah said Ah expect them ta honour the Apple Family traditions, I never meant they couldn’t use their traits, ya dang fool.” She chuckled. “Honestly never expected ya ta give me mah great grandfoals afore yer brother.”
The two chuckled, before a bell rang from the house.
“Soup’s on, everypony!” a mare’s voice called.
The four walked back to the barn, where the unicorn mare was waiting for them.
“Glad I’m not the only unicorn in the family now,” Dreams smiled, causing the mare to blush.
“Sweet Dreams, Big Mac and I have barely been dating for a few months,” Sugar Belle chuckled. “I think it’s a bit soon be thinking of marriage.”
They all laughed, heading into the kitchen, when a knock at the door caused them all to pause.
“Dang nabbit,” Granny frowned, walking over to the open the door. “What in tarnation do ya want at this time o’ the—?”
Her sudden halting of words caused them all to come out to see what was wrong, only for several of the ponies’ jaws to drop.
Standing in the doorway were two Earth Ponies.
The newest Apples blinked in surprise, looking to a nearby picture, then back to the door.
“B-Bright Mac?” Granny asked, her voice quivering. “B-Buttercup?”
The two embraced the old mare, tears falling down their muzzles.
“Those are our grandparents?!”
The two looked over Granny’s shoulders to the two non-Earth Pony foals, their eyes widening to make the looks of their three own foals.
That night, not an eye was dry in the Apple Family Farm.
20 YEARS LATER
“I dunno, Auntie,” the Spike coloured child said as he walked with the adult Pegasus. “I still…”
“Listen, Emerald Breeze,” Scootaloo said, smiling down at her nephew. “You need to stop doubting yourself. You are the first dragon/griffon hybrid ever. You’re the embodiment of your parents’ separate cultures.”
“Two cultures that started out really bad when it comes to friendship,” the little hybrid grumbled.
Scootaloo frowned, stopping and shaking her head. “That’s not what I meant. Yeah, your parents’ people didn’t have the best start, even after mother became the ruler of Equestria and brought all the races together, but you were and still are the bridge that solidified the griffons and dragons becoming true friends. You helped those who wanted cross species relationships to work out to pluck up the courage to give it a go.”
Emerald remained silent for a moment. “I…” he gave a small smile. “You’re right. Can’t believe I let Knuckle Head’s words get to me.”
“Oh, his mother’s gonna have some words with him, trust me,” the two looked up as Sunset walked down the hall, her hair slung to the side and a barrette the shape of her Cutie Mark in her hair. “Diamond is hardly one to let her foal get away with something like that. I just got a message from Gentle Skies.”
“Really?!” Emerald was shining with excitement now. “What’s Uncle Skies up to?”
Sunset smirked. “That artificial wing is doing him well. Gallus says he’ll be second in command in no time.”
And Eve should be over around dinner time. She’s visiting her mother today, so might be a little late.
The two waved to Councillor Trixie as she led a little griffon past them, before waving as they noticed their mother showing her personal student the school.
Equestria had entered its new age and it was glorious. They had a family that grew more everyday and they all loved each so much.
