Luster Bluster
Starlight Glimmer and Sunburst the unicorn stood outside the rather large baby room at the back of their modest Ponyville home. Though they both had a fair amount of success and privilege given the responsibilities they shouldered, the pair had chosen to live well within their means. Though that attitude of buying only what they needed, and never touching their savings seemed to end where their daughter began.
For inside the several day old foal’s room were more toys then Starlight Glimmer had ever played with as a child. The room was bigger than any of which Starburst had even as a young adult, and the air was positively charged with magic. Protection charms, anti scrying wards, and even a complex system of spells meant to save the foal in case of a biological attack were all in place.
The room practically doubled as a bunker, albeit one with a mobile, and a crib in it.
“Isn't she cute?” Sunburst asked, the stallion pushing his glasses up his nose.
Starlight sighed happily, bags under her eyes still present despite being home for a few days at this point. “She sure is,” murmured the new mother.
“You know if you would have asked me even five years ago if I would ever have a foal of my own I would have probably laughed at you,” Sunburst remarked.
“And if you had asked me that ten years ago I probably would have just scoffed at the mere notion of such a thing,” Starlight added.
“But now though? Now I don't think I’d give this up for the world,” Sunburst stated, leaning against his partner, who eagerly returned the gesture.
“Not even for a pair of wings,” whispered the mare.
Sunburst smiled, and wrapped a hoof around the other pony’s shoulder. “I’m so glad we took all that time to make sure everything was perfect. Even if it was a bit of a headache to fire proof every inch of the house.”
“And make sure that nothing short of the moon falling on us could harm her,” Starlight Glimmer stated.
“True,” Sunburst chuckled. “Did you ever hear anything about that paper you published about our little baby room?”
“Ahh yes, ‘Why Starswirl’s Third Law is Garbage,” Starlight exclaimed. “I never bothered to see what anyone thought of it but Twilight mentioned it made quite a splash in the enchantment scene.”
“We did make sure the fourth level spell lattice was harmonious right?” Sunburst inquired.
Starlight rolled her eyes. “We did that two weeks ago, remember? Right after we fireballed the kitchen in order to stress test the fire proofing.”
“And before we bought three years worth of diapers,” Sunburst exclaimed.
“I thought it was only a year?” Starlight replied, recoiling from the stallion and shooting him a look.
“It was at least two years,” Sunburst claimed, only to frown. “But now that we’re thinking about it maybe we should check the supply, just in case.”
“Good thinking,” Starlight agreed.
The two ponies hastily trotted over to the closet located in their child’s room. Throwing it open, they gazed past the emergency formula, thirty four extra blankets, fifty two spare pillows and three disassembled cribs. To the bottom shelf that contained dozens upon dozens of packages of diapers, each one marked as hypoallergenic, sanitized, and enchanted to have the perfect fit no matter the age or size of the baby.
Activating the inbuilt counter placed upon the shelf itself, a bright one hundred and four popped up in pink numbers.
“Thats how many weeks worth of supplies we have right?” Sunburst inquired, scratching his head. “I can't remember if we set it for days, number of diapers, or weeks.”
“I think its weeks, though the extra dimensional space might be acting up. Let me check it,” Starlight declared, her horn glowing briefly as a scanning spell washed over the shelf which was deeper than their house was wide. “Everything is working as intended and it should be weeks.”
“So that's two years then,” Sunburst concluded.
“Yup,” Starlight declared.
Together the two stared at the closet for several long seconds, their bodies becoming rigid, and a thin line of sweat running down Sunburst’s face.
“Hey Starlight?” He asked.
“Yes Sunburst?” She replied.
“Do you want to maybe check everything again?” Sunburst asked somewhat nervously.
“Absolutely. Let's start with the siding,” Starlight replied.
“Good idea. I was just thinking what might happen if the house was attacked by something like an ursa minor,” Sunburst remarked.
“Or an ursa major,” Starlight replied.
Sunburst gasped. “You're right, and the Everfree is right there!”
“It's definitely a possibility,” Starlight exclaimed.
“You’re right,” Sunburst stated. “I’ll get the focus crystals, and textbooks. You start checking our spell work.”
“I’ll meet you out there,” Starlight declared.
Starlight Glimmer flicked up the welding mask she wore and glanced over to her husband expectantly. “Well? How did it hold out against a thaumatic assault of over six hundred Starswirl’s?” She asked.
“Fairly well,” Sunburst declared, glancing down at a strange square device he held that had two long antennae sticking from it. “Everything stayed within expected parameters.”
“What exactly were our expected parameters again?” Starlight inquired.
“A fluctuation of between five and ten thaums,” Sunburst replied.
Starlight’s gaze narrowed, and she stared at the wall she had been casting magic at for the last half hour. “That's not good enough. If something weighing more than fifteen tons hit the roof the entire building would be brought down.”
“Do you want to reinforce the basic shielding more?” Sunburst inquired, running a hoof through his beard. “If we tied the houses’ natural defences into the leylines beneath the town our home should be able to harness enough magic to cast a fifth level shield spell in less than three picoseconds.”
“That's only ever been theoretical!” Starlight declared in a shocked tone.
“So was weaving more than thirty different enchantments together,” Sunburst countered.
“Right again dear,” Starlight exclaimed. “So, how do you want to do this then?”
“You’re better at channelling the raw magic necessary to connect us to the leyline. I’ll act as the flow regulator and allow you to use my own stores of mana if necessary,” Sunburst declared.
Starlight nodded grimly. “Then it's a plan.”
“Right,” Sunburst declared, nodding back.
Starlight flipped her helmet down, and began to channel another spell, her magical essence forming into a band of thick teal energy. A second later and Sunburst’s own unique aura wound around it before plunging into the earth in front of them. The earth rumbled, the air filled with the scent of burnt ozone, and the whole world just kind of faded into the background.
A few minutes later, a certain purple alicorn descended from the heavens, gliding to a stop a few feet from the intensely concentrating ponies.
“Ahh I knew it was likely you two who were the cause of this disturbance. Do you have any idea how much magical energy you’re putting out?” Twilight asked in a slightly irritated tone. “Why I wouldn't be surprised if every unicorn between here and Canterlot has a horn ache due to the powers your screwing around with.”
The pony tapped her hoof impatiently, waiting for a response which never came.
“Are you even listening to me? This can't be good for your…” Twilight frowned, and leaned closer, glancing at Sunburst’s face. “Great, you’re in a magically induced scrying trance. I guess I’ll just leave you a note and head on my-”
The cry of a child coming from inside prompted Twilight’s ears to perk up. “Oh someone isn't enjoying the horn ache. I suppose I could just disrupt your spell…” Twilight grinned to herself. “Or I could use this opportunity to play with the cute baby.”
A second later and neither parent had their magic disrupted, so it was safe to assume what Twilight had chosen to do.
Starlight wiped the sweat from her brow as she walked back inside, the evening sun painting the house in a deep orange color. “That was quite something. Great work with that mana severance spell right at the end. Who would have thought the natural ley lines would have such a backlash?” Starlight exclaimed.
“We were trying to force the strongest source of magic in Equestria to power our shield spell…” Sunburst murmured.
“Speaking of which, maybe we should check on Luster. It has been a while,” Starlight offered.
“Excellent thinking dear, let's do that right now,” Sunburst agreed.
As they approached the baby’s room the parents quickly realized that they were no longer alone in their house. A soft, gentle and very familiar voice was coming from their child’s room.
“What is Twilight doing here?” Starlight whispered.
Sunburst shrugged. “I have no idea.”
The pair gently prodded open the door and peered inside their child’s room.
“-and try not to think too poorly of them,” Twilight continued, whispering softly to the baby she was gently rocking against her chest. “Your parents mean well but can be a little silly sometimes. This is just one of those times they didn't stop to think about the thaumatic disruptions their spell was putting out.”
“Hey!” Starlight whispered.
“She's right you know,” Sunburst remarked.
Starlight wilted slightly. “I mean yeah but it still stings.”
“I know they love you more than anything else in the world and wouldn't have given you that nasty horn ache if they stopped to think about what they were doing,” Twilight murmured, smiling down at the foal who cooed gently.
Starlight winced. “I wasn't even thinking about that.”
“Me neither,” admitted Sunburst.
“Don't you worry. I used to be just like them and in time they won't be quite so neurotic around you. They are also terrible at hiding, and couldn't keep their voices down if their lives depended on it,” Twilight whispered, glancing up at the door to the room.
“Used to? Just last week I had to restrain you because you were planning on going back in time and ensuring that you didn't give the gryphon ambassador that awkward hug,” Starlight declared, jabbing a hoof at the other mare.
“Shhhh,” Sunburst implored.
Twilight giggled, and leaned down, gently setting the now sleeping foal back into her crib. “Listen to your husband Starlight. Don't you know you should leave sleeping babies lie?”
Starlight grumbled, crossing her hooves over her chest.
Sunburst elbowed his partner in the side. “Don't be like that,” he muttered before turning to Twilight. “Thank you by the way.”
Starlight sighed. “Yes, thank you Twilight. Sorry if I was a bit upset. I can be a bit overprotective.”
“It's fine Starlight, I don't mind lending a hand,” Twilight exclaimed, smiling gently. “Besides, it takes a village to raise a child.”