Welcome, My Little One

Chapters

Mother's Day
Welcome Home
Family Time
Home Sick
Back To Canterlot
Happy Graduation!
'Til Death Do Them Part
The News
Big Heart, Little Body
Goodbye Dad, Hello Daddy
A Seed In The Patch
One Last Time

Mother's Day

Welcome, My Little One: Mother's Day

"I love you... I love you so much..."

Twilight Sparkle held the small pegasus foal in her hooves, cradling it like a small gem, smiling with tears gently streaming from her eyes.

"I never thought you'd be so beautiful when you were born... Oh, you have your father's mane... And his coat, too... But you still have your mother's eyes..."

Twilight was exhausted from the procedure that brought her foal into the world. Her voice was small and timid, but full of love. She was a mother. A happy mother with a healthy foal.

"I'm gonna let us rest for a little bit, but when we're all rested up, then I hope you'll like to meet my friends. Would you like that?"

The foal yawned, snuggling up in its blanket, closer to its mother. Twilight giggled.

"Oh, they're just gonna love you." Twilight paused for a moment. "But I want you to know that no other pony could ever love you as much as I do. And I'll always love you the same, from your birth, to your first steps, to your first day of school, all the way until you're as big as me, and then some. And you're so big already..."

There was a knock on the hospital door.

Twilight immediately perked up, careful not to wake her foal, she gently called, "Come in!"

The door cracked open, and a white-coated mare peeked in.

"Greetings, my faithful student."

"Princess Celestia!" Twilight squeed in delight, still careful to keep her voice low. "Please, come in! Just be quiet, though." Twilight looked down at her foal and smiled. "He's sleeping..."

The door slowly shifted open, and Princess Celestia trotted in, carefully closing it behind her. She trotted up to Twilight's bed, seating herself on the floor next to it. She smiled in wonder at the foal and her mother.

"He's wonderful, Twilight." Princess Celestia gently nuzzled Twilight's forehead. "He looks just like his father. Where is he, by chance?"

"He's out getting some things for home to make sure we're comfortable." Twilight smiled at the foal. "He said he wanted to make sure that we were as snug as he could make us."

"He's going to be a great father," Princess Celestia said.

"He already is," Twilight replied. "I couldn't ask for better for me, or for our foal."

"What is his name?" Princess Celestia asked.

"We don't know yet." Twilight's expression turned thoughtful, but the smile and the tears never left her face. "We didn't wanna try to name him until we really put good thought into it. And Flash has just been so busy lately that we haven't gotten to talk about it..."

"Well, I can arrange something." Princess Celestia smiled. "I will relieve him of his duties for a while. He deserves to be at home with you, and this little one."

Twilight smiled at Princess Celestia. "Thank you, Princess Celestia... I wish I could be more excited about that, but I'm just so tired... And I'm too happy to sleep."

"Well, trust me when I say this," Princess Celestia continued, "I've heard several stories from your parents about how much they didn't sleep when they had you. You gave them so much joy that they didn't sleep for days. I hope that doesn't worry you."

Twilight held her foal closer to her chest. "If making sure my foal was happy and healthy meant I never could sleep again, I wouldn't regret a single moment of it."

Princess Celestia nodded. "Good. That's a sign of a truly good mother. I'll leave you to rest. If you need me, I'll be nearby."

"Thank you..." Twilight said as Princess Celestia began to leave. "Princess Celestia?"

"Hm?" Princess Celestia turned back around.

"I just wanted to ask you..." Twilight's face blushed red, and another tear fell from her eye. "Would it be okay if he calls you 'Aunt Celestia'?"

Princess Celestia smiled. "I would be honored for him to call me that."

Twilight smiled again, a deep light of love in her eyes, love for her foal and her mentor. "It's just... I think you deserve to have a part in our family. If it wasn't for you, I might still be locked up in my library with all of my books for friends."

"I wasn't the one who gave you your friends," Princess Celestia said. "I only gave you the opportunity to make them. It was you who found your friends. And after all you've been through, I'm glad to know that they're still with you."

"I couldn't ask for anypony better," Twilight agreed.

"Now you get some rest," Princess Celestia said. "I'll tell your friends to come see you when you're ready."

Twilight smiled again, resting her head on her pillow. "Thank you, Princess Celestia..."

"My pleasure," Princess Celestia replied. And with that, she trotted out of the room, careful to close the door gently.

"That was your aunt," Twilight said to her foal. "She's one of the ponies that loves you, too. If it weren't for her teaching me when I was just as small as you, I'd never be good enough to raise you like I can now. I just know you two will have so much fun together."

There was another knock on her door.

"Come in!" Twilight called quietly.

The door opened, and Applejack was standing there in the doorway, a look of friendly compassion on her face.

"Hey, there, sugar cube," Applejack said. "Mind if ah c'mon in?"

Twilight smiled. "Of course not, Applejack. Just please be quiet, though. I don't wanna wake him."

Applejack trotted into the room, and gently closed the door behind her. She trotted over to Twilight's bed and stood where Princess Celestia had been just moments before. Applejack took off her hat, holding it to her chest.

"He's one fine lookin' fella, ain't he?" Applejack said.

"Yeah," Twilight said, her eyes focused on her foal. "He looks just like Flash. You can't see it, but he has my eyes."

"Well, ah'm sure he has yer brain, too." Applejack smiled. "He'll grow up to be one smart lil' colt."

Twilight giggled. "Thanks, A.J., but I think he'll be even smarter."

"Aw, shucks, that ain't even possible." Applejack and Twilight both giggled, and the foal stirred in his blanket, yawning again before curling up deeper into the blanket.

"He's jus' like when Apple Bloom was no bigger than an apple herself," Applejack said. "Lil' rascal always loved th' lil' apple scraps Pinkie'd make. Never ate much 'fore she tried one o' those."

Twilight giggled. "Flash thinks he'll start liking daisy petals. He said that's what he liked when he was a foal. His mother would pull them off for him, and slip them onto his tongue. And he'd laugh, saying he thought it was just the funniest thing for no reason."

"Well, he might jus' take after his dear ol' mother, and eat nothin' but books." Applejack smiled, and Twilight just giggled.

"Well, ah'll leave ya be," Applejack said. "Y'all make sure he stays nice an' cozy, alright?"

"I will, Applejack," Twilight said. "Thanks."

Applejack placed her hat back on her head, and trotted back for the door. She gently opened it, and turned around back to Twilight one more time before she left.

"Ah'll have Pinkie wait outside. She'll be bouncin' of th' walls if ah let 'er in here. You okay with that, sugar cube?"

"That'd be nice, Applejack," Twilight said. "Just tell her I'm resting, and can't talk much."

"Ah'll do that. Take it easy, Twilight." Applejack trotted out of the room and closed the door.

"That was Applejack," Twilight said to her foal. "She's one of my best friends, and she's probably gonna be the one making sure you're well fed. She makes really great food with apples. And when you can start eating solid food when your little teeth grow in, I'll ask her to make you one of her special apple turnovers. Would you like that?"

The foal shifted in it's sleep, letting out a small murmur of comfort. Twilight smiled again.

There was another knock on her door, a much gentler one than before. Twilight called them in.

Rarity trotted into the room, closing the door behind her, and trotted over to where Applejack had just been. Rarity looked over come with tears, but there was a gentle smile on her face.

"Hey, Rarity..." Twilight said, with tears forming at the corners of her eyes at the sight of her friend. "I'm glad you came to see me."

Rarity rubbed a tear from her eye with her leg, sniffling. When she spoke, her voice was thick with tearful joy. "Well, it wouldn't be very ladylike of me if I didn't come to see this little bundle." Rarity gently nudged the blanket to better cover the foal's head, and the foal shifted it's head to do the same. Rarity pulled her head back, and her smile never wavered an inch. "He's absolutely beautiful..."

"He is..." Twilight agreed. "He loves the blanket you made him. He hasn't opened his eyes once since he was wrapped in it."

"Anything to make sure he's resting," Rarity said. "Sweetie Belle wanted me to tell you that a sleepy foal is a happy foal."

Twilight giggled. "Tell Sweetie Belle I said thank you." Twilight paused for a moment. "Is this what it was like when Sweetie Belle was born?"

"Oh, heavens, no," Rarity replied, a sense of humor in her voice. "Sweetie Belle was wide awake when she was born. I wish she was as sleepy as this little one."

Twilight smiled. "Yeah, he's just so peaceful... I can't wait to hear his first words."

"Sweetie Belle's first word was 'sis'," Rarity said. "I hope this one's first word is, 'mama'."

"Flash says it'll be, 'daddy'." Twilight smiled. "He calls him his pride, and I call him my joy."

Rarity brushed away another tear. "Do you know what I feel? I feel pride for you, and joy for your foal." Rarity sniffed again, and her voice became thick with tears. "I'm so proud of you, Twilight..."

"Thank you so much, Rarity..." Tears ran down Twilight's cheeks again. She wished she could hug her friend and never let go.

Rarity blinked tears from her eyes, and smiled. "I'd best be going. I don't want to start bawling in front of you and your foal. But promise you'll let me visit you often?"

Twilight smiled again. "I'd love that, Rarity. I'd love that very much."

Rarity smiled again, tears falling like rain from her eyes. She quickly trotted out of the room, careful when closing the door, and Twilight heard Rarity's crying as she trotted away.

"That's Rarity," Twilight said. "She makes very wonderful dresses, and she made your special blanket. She'll be the one who'll help make your blankets so you can sleep nice and cozy when I take you home. And I think you'll really like her sister. You're gonna get to grow up with her and her friends. I know you'll love them. They're so nice, and playful, too."

This time, there was no knock, just a gentle turn of the knob, and a slow opening of the door as a yellow pegasus timidly peeked her head in.

"Um... Twilight? Are you in here?"

Twilight giggled lightly. "I'm in here, Fluttershy. Don't be scared, the bad stuff's already over."

Fluttershy trotted into the room, taking a little longer than the other ponies to close the door, as well as to trot over to Twilight. Twilight smiled at the timid pegasus.

Fluttershy looked like she'd been crying, but there was a very tiny smile on her face. "Um... Um..." Fluttershy didn't know what to say.

"It's okay, Fluttershy," Twilight said. "You don't have to worry about what you say, just be loud enough for me to hear you." Twilight didn't have to tell Fluttershy to be careful not to be too loud around the foal.

"Um... H-he's..." Fluttershy paused. "He's nice..."

Twilight smiled. "He really is," she said. "I was wondering, though... Would you maybe wanna watch him sometime when Flash and I are busy? I know you're great with foals."

Fluttershy looked up at Twlight, and down at the foal. "Um... O-okay..." Fluttershy murmured. "I... I would like that... Alot..."

"Yeah, I think he will too." Twilight smiled down at her foal. "He'll be in good hooves. I think he'll like to play too, so be thinking of some really fun games you can play with him okay?"

Fluttershy paused, then replied, "O-okay..." Then, her small smile faded, and she almost started to cry.

"What's wrong, Fluttershy?" Twilight asked. "Why're you crying so much?"

"I-I'm..." Fluttershy stammered. "I'm... Just... Happy for you... I don't know if I could do it... I'd be so scared..."

"Actually, I was scared, Fluttershy." Fluttershy looked up at Twilight. "I've never been so scared in my life. Having a foal is such a big thing for me. I wasn't sure what was gonna happen. But now that all the scary stuff's over, I've never been so happy. I hope one day you'll know what it feels like. There's nothing like it."

Fluttershy sniffled. "Th-thanks, Twilight... I... I hope so too..."

"You're great with foals, Fluttershy. I think you'd be better at it than any of us." Twilight smiled at Fluttershy, and she just smiled back.

"Um... Are you tired?" Fluttershy asked.

"Exhausted," Twilight said. "Having a foal really took alot out of me."

"Oh, um... I'll just let you sleep then..."

"You don't have to leave if you don't want to."

Fluttershy just turned back and smiled. "I-I know... I just... Um..." Fluttershy paused.

"You just what, Fluttershy?" Twilight asked.

Fluttershy didn't respond. She just quickly kissed Twilight on the forehead, and ran out of the room at an unbelievable speed. She stopped at the door to gently open it, and took off down the hall. Twilight just laid there, a blush and a look of surprise on her face. Then, she just smiled.

"That was Fluttershy," she told her foal. "She'll be looking out for you while your daddy and I are busy. She's a really nice pony, and she loves foals. I know she'll take good care of you. She has lots of animals, too, so you'll get to see so many cute animals while you're there. She even taught one of her birds a lullaby to help you sleep." Twilight smiled, a tear falling down her cheek again. "I'm very grateful that we have her in our lives."

Twilight didn't see the last pony in the doorway, since Fluttershy left it open, but when Twilight noticed her, there was a smile on the pony's face.

"Hey there, egghead," Ranbow Dash said.

"Hey, Rainbow," Twilight replied. "You can come in. Just close the door, and keep your voice down so you don't wake him."

Rainbow Dash gently closed the door, and trotted to the same spot that Fluttershy had just been standing in moments before. She had a look of compassion on her face, much past the brash look she always had.

"So it's a 'him', huh?" Rainbow Dash asked. Twilight nodded, and Rainbow Dash smiled. "Well, he didn't come out too bad, now did he?"

"He came out perfect," Twilight said. "He's handsome, just like his father."

"He been asleep since he came out?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"No," Twilight replied. "He was crying alot when he did. Doctor said that mean't he was healthy." Twilight blushed. "Now can we please not talk about how he 'came out' anymore?"

Rainbow Dash blushed too, and let out a nervous giggle. "Yeah. Sorry." She paused. "He looks alot like Flash."

"He does," Twilight said. "He has his wings and everything. He has my eyes, though."

"Cool," Rainbow Dash said. "Too bad we can't see 'em."

"Not yet," Twilight said. "He's been asleep for hours. I dunno when he'll wake up. The doctors gave him some medicine to help him sleep. I don't know how long he'll be sleeping for."

The foal yawned again, and Rainbow Dash couldn't help but tear up as she smiled.

"He's so awesome..." Rainbow Dash squeaked out.

Twilight smiled again. "Thanks, Rainbow... You think you'll wanna teach him how to fly when he's big enough?"

Twilight expected Rainbow Dash to say something like, "If he can keep up, sure.", but she didn't. Instead, she said. "I'd love to, Twilight. I'll make sure he's safe and sound when he's with me. Won't be a scratch on him."

"I trust you, Rainbow," Twilight said. "I know he'll have a wonderful time when he's with you. He might even start calling you Dashie."

Rainbow Dash smiled, tears coming to her eyes. "I have no problem with that at all. He'll just make the name twenty percent cooler!" Twilight and Rainbow Dash both giggled.

"Thanks, Rainbow... I know he'll have a good teacher. After all, you did teach me."

"Wasn't easy," Rainbow Dash said. "He'll probably learn faster, since he was born with Pegasus in his blood!"

"Yeah, that's true... Maybe you can get him into the Junior Flyer's Academy?"

"I'll have to pull some strings, but I think I can do it," Rainbow Dash replied. "In fact, I should do that right now! You don't mind me leaving you so quickly, do ya?"

Twilight smiled. "If it's for my foal, not at all."

"I'll be there before you can even spell your name," Rainbow Dash said. "Real happy for ya, Twilight. You're gonna be an awesome mom, I just know it." Rainbow Dash flapped her wings, lifting her off the ground. "See ya later, egghead!" Rainbow Dash flew out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Twilight smiled after the blue pegasus. "That's Rainbow Dash," Twilight told her foal. "She'll be teaching you how to fly, and one day you'll be racing with her for trophies and medals. I know you've got some competitive spirit in you. Your father loves competition. Maybe you can race with him, too. I'm sure he'd love that very much."

Twilight curled her foal gently into her chest, holding him like if she even let go for a moment, he would be gone. And to her, it felt like he would be. "I love you so much..." She said. "I can't wait to see you grow up, but I wish you'd be like this forever. Time stops for nopony, but I'm gonna cherish every moment we have together. It's gonna be hard. I'm a busy pony, and so is your father, but you've got plenty of good ponies to look after you. And no matter what, I'm still your mother, and I'll make sure that you are my number one priority in everything I do." Twilight closed her eyes, and kissed the foal on his forehead. And when she opened her eyes again, she noticed something on the bedside table.

It was an envelope, still sparkling with magic.

Twilight picked up the envelope, and noticed a few written words on the front.

To our dear and beloved Princess

We hope to see you home soon

It was from her family. From her mother and father, her brother, Shining Armor, and her sister-in-law, Cadence. Twilight smiled at the envelope. Although it was sad that her family was unable to visit her in Canterlot while she was in recovery, as was procedure for the protection of the Princess, they had still found a way to tell her that they were thinking about her. She opened the envelope, and read what was inside.

Dear Twilight,

We thought you'd like what we've written in this letter. It's an old lullaby you used to love when you were a foal. We thought yours would love it as much as you did. There's an old tale that if you sing it to your foal every night, it'lll grow up to shine as brightly as the stars, and live as long as the sun and moon themselves. We hope they enjoy it.

With eternal love,

Mom, Dad, Shining Armor, and Cadence

With you my child,

My life is made whole.

With you my child,

My love warms you in the cold.

With you my child,

No matter how far,

With you my child,

You'll see me in the stars.

With you my child,

What greatness you have in store!

With you, my child,

I will love you like

I've never loved before.

Twilight had tears running down her cheeks by the time she finished the letter. When she finally set it down on her bedside table, she curled up with her foal, and held him tight. Her smile never wavered, as never did the love in her heart.

Twilight Sparkle knew her love for her foal was as eternal as her life.

Before she drifted off into sleep, she whispered, "Welcome, my little one..." Her eyes began to close. "Welcome home..."

Then, finally, snuggled up with her foal, Princes Twilight Sparkle drifted into sleep, her mind filled with thoughts of what the future of motherhood had in store for her and her foal.

Welcome Home

Welcome, My Little One: Welcome Home

Two days after the birth of Twilight's foal...

The hospital was just opening for the day, when four ponies trotted in.

"Excuse me, nurse. Where is Princess Twilight staying? We're her family."

The nurse at the front desk of the hospital pointed down a hallway away from the reception desk. "Right that way, Miss Sparkle. In the room at the far back."

"Thank you very much," Twilight's mother said. She trotted toward the hallway where the Nurse had pointed, followed by Twilight's father, her brother, Shining Armor, and Cadence, her sister-in-law. After about of day of recovering from the birth, the hospital finally allowed Twilight's family to visit to see the foal. Twilight tried to convince the doctors to let them visit earlier, but they insisted that she rest. And, finally, Twilight's family was going to see the new member of their family.

Twilight's mother knocked on the door, but didn't say anything. She waited for a response, but it never came. She knocked again, and there was a murmur from the other side. It sounded like a pony just waking up.

"Come in..." Twilight's voice came from the other side.

Twilight's mother smiled, and gently opened the door.

"Good morning, honey..." she said.

"Oh..." Twilight smiled across the room at her mother. "Good morning, mom... Is everypony else here, too?"

Twilight's mother didn't answer. She just smiled, and pushed open the door. Twilight's father, Shining Armor, and Cadence all trotted in, with wide smiles on their faces and compassion in their eyes.

Twilight rubbed sleep from her eyes, and smiled. "Hey, everyone..."

"Hey, honey..." Twilight's father said.

"Hey, Twiley..." Shining Armor said next.

"Hi, Twilight," Cadence said last. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired..." Twilight replied. "Really tired..." Twilight curled her foal back up to her, with him still curled up deep in Rarity's blanket. "But the foal's doing just fine. If he was awake, I think he'd be happy to see you."

"Well, we're really happy to see him," Twilight's mother said. She trotted over to the side of Twilight's bed, and gently kissed her on the forehead. Twilight blinked sleep from her eyes, and kept her tiny smile. "And I'm so proud of you, Twilight. We all are. How does it feel being a mother?"

"I imagine it feels the same way as when you had me," Twilight said. "It feels amazing. I think I'm the first princess in Equestria's history to have my own foal."

"I don't think Princess Celestia or Princess Luna ever had foals, but their mother had them." Cadence giggled. "Sorry, Twilight. You're not the first, but I think you'll be one of the best."

Twilight giggled. "Thanks, Cadence..." She looked down at her foal. "Do you think you and my brother will ever have a foal of your own?"

Cadence and Shining Armor both blushed, and glanced at each other.

Finally, Cadence replied, "Erm... Not yet, Twilight. We haven't really thought about it much."

Shining Armor only nodded.

Twilight's parents were both staring at the couple with expectation, so Shining Armor changed the subject.

"So, um, Twiley... When's the hospital gonna let you check out and come home?'

"I dunno... They said they wanted me to stay resting here for at least another day, and to make sure the foal's healthy enough to leave." Twilight looked down at her foal. "I'm not too upset about that, though... I kinda like being here. Just me and my foal." Twilight giggled. "Flash said he'd make sure I was sick of him when I got out, he'd be caring for me so much!"

"Well, that's the sign of a good father, Twilight," Twilight's father said. "When you were born, I refused to leave your mother's side for days. When Shining was born, your mother passed out from exhaustion. She didn't wake up for hours, and she didn't have the energy to do anything for days. I was so worried about her that I made sure I did everything I could for her when you were born."

"So..." Twilight paused. "He's scared for me?"

Twilight's father chuckled. "Not quite, Twilight. He's just never had a foal before, so he's doing his best for both of you."

Twilight smiled again. "Oh, good. The last thing I want is for him to be worried about me. I've got plenty of good ponies to make sure we're okay."

"And speaking of plenty of good ponies," Cadence said. "Has Spike come to visit you yet?" Twilight's ears and expression immediately perked up.

"Spike!" Twilight's voice was soft, but concerned. "Oh, I completely forgot about him. I hope he's okay."

"I'm sure he's fine, Twilight," Cadence reassured her. "I'll check in on him when we leave today. I'm sure he'll be waiting for you the second he hears you're coming home."

Twilight's muscles relaxed, and she settled back down into her pillow. "Thanks, Cadence. Can you make sure he's been taking care of the library? He's probably had a lot to keep up with without me..."

"I'll do that, Twilight." Cadence thought for a moment. "Do you want me to make sure he's been taking care of himself too? He's probably been worried sick about you."

Twilight giggled. "That'd be nice too. I don't think you'll need to, but he's never been through something like this before."

"So I heard Princess Celestia herself came by a couple days ago," Twilight's mother said. "You must've been very excited to see her."

Twilight smiled at her foal again, thinking about what she'd asked of her mentor. "I was. And I asked her if she wouldn't mind if our foal called her 'Aunt Celestia' when she grew up."

Twilight's whole family smiled, holding back a laugh. "Princess Celestia's gonna be an aunt?" Shining Armor asked. "That's gonna be a good story to tell to the guards."

Cadence nudged her husband, a hint of amusement in her voice. "No it won't be, Shiny."

Twilight's mother smiled. "Take it easy, you two." She turned back to Twilight. "Now you promise me you'll bring this little one by to visit his grandma once in a while?"

"I will, Mom," Twilight replied. "You can bake cookies with him during Hearth's Warming Eve and everything." The whole family shared a quiet laugh.

There was a knock on the hospital door, then it opened as a nurse with a blue coat and light blue mane tied into a bun trotted inside, holding a clipboard.

"Excuse me, but I'm going to need the family of the foal to leave for a few minutes. We need to run a few physical tests on the foal."

"Just a moment," Twilight's mother replied. "We'll be right outside if you need us, Twilight." She kissed Twilight on the forehead, then the foal.

"Thanks, Mom," Twilight replied, smiling again. "We'll see you soon."

Twilight's parents, Shining Armor, and Cadence all trotted out of the room past the nurse, who closed the door behind them. She trotted up to the bed beside Twilight, placing the clipboard on a small table next to Twilight's bed. Then, she trotted back to the door, and opened it.

"You can bring it in now," the nurse said. The door opened, and a doctor with a yellow mane and blue coat, wearing glasses and a white lab coat brought in a large, metal pole on wheels, carrying a few I.V. bags on hooks, and a heartbeat monitor hooked up to the side. The nurse took the equipment from the doctor, and rolled it over to Twilight's bed, then picked up her clipboard as the doctor trotted over to Twilight.

"Good morning, miss Sparkle," the doctor said. "I'm Doctor Hay Bale. I'm here to ask you a few questions, and the nurse will be administering an I.V. and your heart monitor. The I.V. will remain until you leave, but the heart monitor will be taken on and off periodically so we can record if it changes. Are you alright with that?"

"Does my foal need one?" Twilight asked. The doctor shook his head.

"No. He is perfectly healthy. This is for you just to make sure you're getting enough fluid. You'll feel like you have less energy while you have it, and we recommend you get plenty of rest when we let you go tomorrow."

Twilight nodded. "Okay. Go ahead." The doctor nodded, and stepped out of the way to let the nurse move to Twilight's side. She picked up a small Velcro band from the monitor stand, and wrapped it around her upper leg. The nurse turned the monitor on, A thin, green line appeared, and started to jump periodically with Twilight's heartbeat, beeping periodically. Then she picked up the small tube that connected to the I.V., and placed it against Twilight's leg, and picked up a small needle from a sleeve on the tube. Twilight flinched her leg back at the sight of the needle.

"Wait... Will this hurt?"

The doctor smiled. "It'll only pinch a bit. The tube has a numbing agent on it, so you won't feel it under your skin."

Twilight nodded, and held out her free leg, since her other was occupied with her foal, and shut her eyes. The nurse placed the tube back against Twilight's leg, positioned the needle, and poked into her skin. Twilight flinched, and the heartbeat monitor picked up slightly. The nurse slipped the tube into Twilight's vein, and grabbed a small roll of surgery tape from the steel rack. She pulled off a small piece with her teeth, tore it off, and placed it over the spot where the tube when in. Twilight sighed and opened her eyes.

"There," the doctor said, and the nurse pulled a pen off her clipboard, and placed it against a paper on the clipboard. "Now that that's over, how are you feeling?"

"Just tired," Twilight said. "But my strength's been coming back over the last few days."

"Good, good," the doctor said. The nurse briefly wrote something down on her clipboard. "How has your foal been acting?"

"Well, he's been sleeping alot," Twilight replied. "He's opened his eyes a few times, and he notices me when I talk to him."

The nurse wrote something else down. "How has he been handling the formula he's been fed?"

"He's kept it down," Twilight said. "I've had to give it to him in smaller amounts than what the doctors told me to so he doesn't choke, but he's taken all of it every time."

The nurse wrote something down again. "Good," the doctor said. "That will be all for now." The nurse clipped the pen back to her clipboard. "We will check in on you again later today, then one more time before you leave tomorrow."

"Sounds good," Twilight said, her voice already heavy from the I.V.

The doctor smiled. "Rest well, miss Sparkle," he said. "I hope you and your foal have a very happy life together.

"Thanks, Doctor," Twilight said, her eyes already halfway shut, and her voice soft. The doctor nodded, and trotted toward the door, followed by the nurse. As soon as they left, Twilight's family came in once more, only to find that Twilight was already asleep.

"Aww, isn't that cute?" Cadence said. "Twilight's asleep with her foal."

Nopony else said another word. They all just smiled at the foal and his Princess mother.

The next morning...

Outside of Twilight's library, a purple baby dragon was pacing back and forth in anticipation. He'd received a letter from Princess Celestia that Twilight was doing well, and that she would be returning that day. Spike hadn't seen her for days, and he was worried sick about her, until Cadence brought him the news that both Twilight and her foal were healthy and happy. Soon, his worry turned to anticipation, as Twilight would finally be coming home.

Spike stopped pacing as a purple form appeared at the end of the path leading to the library. Spike hadn't noticed her arrive, but as soon as he did, he stopped in his tracks. Twilight was standing there, a smile on her face and a foal in her hoof, still wrapped in Rarity's blanket. Spike smiled, and ran forward to Twilight, jumping into her chest and hugging her.

"Welcome home, momma Twilight," Spike said.

"I'm so glad to be home," Twilight replied. "Now let's go inside. I wanna get him settled into his crib."

Spike let go of Twilight, saluted, and ran to the door to open it for Twilight. "After you, Princess."

Twilight smiled again, and trotted down the path and through the door, Spike slipped in after her, and closed the door. He turned around to see Twilight trotting up the stairs toward her bed, and setting her foal into a wooden crib with a purple canopy over the top and a purple cushion inside next to her bed. Spike ran up with her, and pulled himself up the front of the crib to see inside. The foal was still fast asleep, curled up in it's blanket, breathing lightly as it got comfortable inside of it's new bed. Spike couldn't help but smile, and wipe a small tear from his eye.

"He's great, Twilight," Spike said. "Kinda makes me think of how you felt when you raised me."

Twilight smiled. "Funny you should say that, Spike. This is actually the same crib you slept in when I was raising you." Spike just smiled at Twilight when she said that, and then looked back at the foal.

"When do you think he's gonna wake up?" Spike said.

"He woke up a few times, but the doctors said he should be as active as ever tomorrow," Twilight answered.

"Oh, I can't wait!" Spike said, letting go of the crib." Maybe he can help me manage the library when he's older!"

"Only if he wants to, Spike," Twilight said. "You know that right?"

Spike thought for a moment. "I can at least be his first playmate, right?"

Twilight giggled. "Maybe, Spike. Just maybe."

Spike jumped onto Twilight's back to get another look at the foal. "What's his name?" He asked.

Twilight smiled one more time before she answered.

"Northern Lights."

Family Time

Welcome, My Little One: Family Time

"He's grown up so fast, Twilight."

Spike and Twilight were sitting together out on a hill in Ponyville Park, watching Northern Lights and Flash playing catch with a hoofball together in an open field. Northern Lights was now six years old, and had grown to a third the size of his father.

"He has. Almost too fast," Twilight said. "But you've grown too, Spike."

Spike had nearly grown by half of his original size from when Northern Lights was born. His voice had dropped a couple of tones, and his body had grown more definition.

"Yeah," Spike agreed. "I'm not a little baby dragon anymore. I kinda wish I still was. We had a lot of good times when I was younger."

Twilight smiled, and gave Spike's cheek a brief, affectionate rub. "We still do have a lot of good times, Spike."

"I know," Spike said. "I just don't like thinking that just six years ago, I was waiting for you to come home like I bet Northern Lights would do today. He's kinda like the new me back then."

"Oh, don't say that Spike." Twilight gave Spike a quick, reassuring hug. "Northern Lights is my foal, but he'll never replace you. You'll always be my number one assistant."

Spike smiled at that. "Thanks, Twilight." He sighed. "I just don't like thinking about how I won't be around forever. There's gonna be a day when I gotta go fly back with the other dragons. I just hope you'll be alright without me."

Twilight smiled again. "I will be, Spike. I'll miss you every second of my life, but you have to grow up someday. So does Northern Lights." Twilight looked back at her family in the field. "But I don't regret having either of you."

Spike smiled again. "I know this is gonna sound kinda weird, but I couldn't have asked for a better mom." Twilight smiled, shooting Spike a loving glance. "I would've asked for Rarity, but I'd probably would've had a crush on you instead." Spike cringed. "Ugh... Awkward." Twilight and Spike both laughed.

Twilight took that moment to think back for a minute.

Six years. It had already been six years. Northern Lights had already grown so much, but he still had so much more to do. He still hadn't learned to fly yet, and he didn't have his cutie mark. Twilight remembered the first day she got her own cutie mark. Her first day in Celestia's school for gifted unicorns. She wondered if Northern Lights would accomplish as much as she did. Although, she did hope that he wouldn't have to have the fate of Equestria put into his hooves. Twilight had experienced that several times, and she'd been glad for the experiences that they were, but she just thought that wasn't what she wanted for her foal.

"What do you think he's gonna be when he grows up?" Spike asked.

Twilight thought about that for a moment. "You know, Spike, I don't know. He says he wants to be a Wonderbolt, but almost every Pegasus in Equestria's wanted that when they were a foal. He might join the weather team, but he might get one of the many jobs available to anypony." Twilight just placed one front hoof over the other. "I just hope that whatever he does, he's happy."

"Did you think you were gonna own a library when you were a foal?" Spike asked.

Twilight thought about that, along with all she had been through, and smiled. "I didn't think I was gonna do anything that I've done when I was a foal, Spike. I never thought I'd own a library, be a personal student to Princess Celestia, save Equestria countless times with my five friends, travel to a strange world where I first met my husband." Twilight paused, then she smiled. "And, of course, I never thought I'd raise a baby dragon that looks up to me as a mother."

Spike smiled again, and quickly hugged Twilight's neck. "Thanks, Twilight. I'll never forget that."

Twilight returned the hug and closed her eyes, letting the moment between her and her number one assistant drag out for a moment. When she finally opened her eyes, she saw Flash standing in front of her, smiling, along with Northern Lights standing on his back with a hoofball wrapped in one leg.

Twilight stood up, and levitated Spike onto her back. "Hey, you two," she said. "You have fun?"

"Northern Lights here was wondering if he could play with Spike for a bit."

Northern Lights started jumping up and down on Flash's back, mumbling something that sounded like "yeah!" several times.

Twilight looked back at Spike. "I dunno. You'll have to ask Spike yourself, Northy."

Northern Lights spat the hoofball from his mouth, and jumped off of Flash's back. "Wanna pway wif me, Unca Spike?"

Spike smiled, and jumped off Twilight's back, picking up the hoofball. "Alright, you little scamp. Go long!"

Northern Lights cheered, and ran off into the field. Spike ran off after him, and Flash had laid down on the grass next to Twilight.

"I'm so glad Northern Lights has a playmate like Spike," Twilight said. "I've never seen Spike have so much fun with another pony."

"Yeah, I'm glad, too," Flash agreed. "But I still hope that one day, he'll be friends with other ponies, too."

"Oh, I'm sure he will," Twilight said. "He's so friendly with every pony he meets. And he's not obsessed with books like I was, so I don't think he'll be hiding in some house far away from here like I was."

"We've both done things we hope he won't do, Twilight," Flash said. "All parents have. He's gonna have things he won't wanna pass on, too."

"We just gotta give him more things he will want to pass on, right?" Twilight asked. Flash smiled.

"I think your smarts is gonna be one of those things," he said. Twilight smiled at that.

Twilight was about to say something, when she heard Spike yell, "Touchdown!" from across the field. Twilight and Flash looked over to see the dragon holding his hands straight up in the air, while across the field, Northern Lights was jumping up and down, squealing in happiness with the hoofball in his hooves.

"Looks like Spike's got a few things of his own to pass on," Flash said.

"I guess I raised him right," Twilight replied. "Now, he gets to help me raise Northern Lights. And Northern Lights doesn't seem to mind that Spike's a dragon."

Flash nodded. "Guess Spike really is like an uncle to him. I'm glad you let him call Spike that."

"Well, Spike's part of our family, too," Twilight said. "He's lived with me since he was just a baby, and he looks up to me like a mother."

"So what's that make me to him?" Flash asked.

Twilight thought about that for a moment. "I dunno," she finally said. "You should ask him sometime. I'm sure he wouldn't mind telling you."

"Yeah, I will sometime," Flash said. "Maybe not soon, though. It'd seem kinda sudden. One day, though, I will."

Twilight nodded. She thought that Spike looked up to Flash like a step-dad. Spike had known Flash for a big part of his life, and Spike probably looked up to Flash in some way or another by then. Flash had married the closest thing Spike had to a mother, so step-dad just kinda made sense.

Twilight thought about that for a moment. Two ponies who met in some distant universe and a dragon that Twilight raised herself all caring for the same foal.

"You know. Flash," Twilight said. We have a really strange family."

"What do you mean?" Flash asked.

"If you were Northern Lights, wouldn't you think it was kinda weird that your parents met in some other dimension, your mother is immortal, and your uncle is a dragon?"

Flash thought about that, then smiled. "Yeah, we've got one messed up family." Flash shuffled over to Twilight, and put one leg over her haunches, pulling her against him. "But it's our messed up family."

Twilight's smile in that moment was warmer than any others she had since the birth of Northern Lights. Her family was different from most others, but she was happy with different. Perfectly happy with it.

"And I love our family just the way it is," Twilight said.

"Me too," Flash agreed.

And Twilight's "different" family would share that love for many years to come.

Author's Note

Yes, I know that this chapter is shorter than the others, but there was just less to pack into it. It's still good, right? Right?

... Right?

Home Sick

Welcome, My Little One: Home Sick

It was about midnight. Twilight was fast asleep in her library. Flash was next to her in their bed next to the window on the second floor. Northern Lights, who was now twelve, was fast asleep in his bedroom, which was added in under the stairs to Twilight and Flash's bed. Spike, who was now slightly bigger than Twilight, had gotten a bigger bed, which was placed in the library on the first floor. He was snoring loudly, his tongue stretching down his cheek and onto his pillow, leaving a pool of saliva where it touched. His wings had finally grown, and they stretched off of his bed and over the side. His snoring was so loud that he didn't hear Northern Lights open his bedroom door and trot up the stairs to his parents' "room".

Twilight didn't hear it either, until she felt something gently touch her shoulder.

"Momma?" said a small, timid voice. Twilight murmured as she began to wake up.

"Momma, are you awake?" the voice said again. Twilight rolled over, and half opened her eyes. Her vision was blurred, but she could just make out a small, blue-tan blur. She blinked, bringing her vision into focus. What she saw was Northern Lights, staring back at her with baggy eyes and cold sweat on his forehead.

Twilight murmured as she sat up. "Northy? What's wrong? Are you okay?"

"No," Northern Lights replied, holding a hoof to his stomach. "I can't sleep. My tummy hurts."

Twilight stretched, and pulled back the covers, stepping down next to her foal, careful not to wake Flash.

"Let's go down to the kitchen, Northy," Twilight said. "I'll get you some water, and see if I can find something to fix that tummy ache, okay?"

"Mhm," Northern Lights murmured, and turned around toward the stairs, hopping down them one at a time, since he wasn't big enough to trot down them yet. Twilight took one last look at Flash, who was fast asleep. Then she yawned, and went down the stairs after Northern Lights.

When she reached the bottom, she trotted past the still-sleeping Spike, and went into the kitchen. She activated a spell with her magic, and ignited a few candles on the walls of the kitchen. When the room was lit, she saw Northern Lights sitting in a chair at the dining room table, his head resting on one foreleg on the table, his mane ruffled from sleep and sweat, and his tail curled over his stomach with one hoof holding it in place, covering his cutie mark of the arctic lunar aura, also known as the northern lights.

Twilight trotted over to her foal, and placed a hoof on his exposed forehead. It felt warm. Very warm.

"Oh, my goodness, Northy," Twilight said. "You're burning up." Northern Lights just groaned under his breath. Twilight thought for a moment before she responded. "Lemme get you some water, and I'll find something for your tummy and that fever."

Twilight trotted over to the cupboard, opening it and levitating a glass out. She brought it over to the sink, levitating the glass under the faucet, and turning the knob with her magic. The glass filled up with cold water, and she turned the faucet off when it filled to just below the brim. She brought the glass back to Northern Lights, and he grabbed it out of her magic with both hooves.

"Make sure you drink it all," Twilight said. "You need liquid to make up for all that sweat."

Northern Lights just murmured, raising the glass to his lips, swallowing the water with tiny mouthfulls. When he finished the water, he set the glass on the table, and rubbed one foreleg across his mouth to clear any stray drops.

"Thanks, momma," Northern Lights said.

Twilight smiled, despite the pity she felt for her little one. "Feel a little better?" she asked. Northern Lights gave a tiny shrug. Twilight picked up the glass in her magic, and levitated it over to the counter without even taking a hoofstep. She felt his forehead again, and her face turned to worry. "Oh, Northy, I'm so sorry you're feeling so bad. Would you be able to sleep if your tummy didn't hurt at least?"

"I guess," Northern Lights said. "The water helped."

Twilight smiled. "Good. Hopefully it'll help your fever, too, and you'll stop sweating so much. You haven't thrown up at all, have you?" Northern Lights shook his head. "Do you feel like you're going to?" He shook his head again. "Alright. I'll get you some more water. This time, try to just drink as much as you can. You don't have to drink it all if you can't. Okay?"

"Okay," Northern Lights murmured. Twilight trotted back toward the sink, picking up the glass from the counter top, and filling it again. She turned around again, only to see Spike in the doorway from the library, with one hand on the doorframe and the other rubbing sleep from one eye.

"What's all the noise in here?" Spike asked, squinting from the candlelight.

"Hi, Uncle Spike," Northern Lights said. "Sorry for waking you up."

Twilight brought the glass of water to Northern Lights, speaking as she gave it to him. "Sorry, Spike. Northern Lights has a stomach ache and a fever. I was just getting him some water."

Spike lowered his hand from his eye, looking the sick foal over. He raised his eyebrows. "Jeez, you don't look so good, North. I'm glad you woke me." Spike stepped over to the table, taking a seat in the chair next to Northern Lights. "You didn't find one of Twilight's potions and think it was apple juice, did ya?"

"Spike," Twilight said in a scolding tone.

"No," Northern Lights replied.

"Hm." Spike reached his hand out and placed his hand on Northern Lights' forehead, then recoiled and shook his hand like he'd burned it on something. "Whoof. That can't feel good." He paused. "Tell you what, we'll get you back in bed and I'll get you a little something for that stomach ache, and Mom can get you a damp cloth for your forehead. Sound good?"

Northern Lights nodded. "Thanks, Uncle Spike."

"Aw, you don't have to thank me," Spike said. "Helping ponies like you's just what I do." Spike picked up Northern Lights, cradling him in one arm, and grabbed the glass of water with his free hand. "Now let's get you back to bed."

Twilight couldn't help but smile as Northern Lights curled up against Spike, both of them smiling as well. Spike carried Northern Lights back into his room, the light from the kitchen shining through the doorway. Northern Lights' bedroom looked fairly close to that of Rainbow Dash's. Wonderbolts merchandise hanging on the walls, with a small bed with a Wonderbolts blanket, a nightstand with a lamp, and a dresser against the wall.

Spike placed Northern Lights into his bed and pulled the blanket back over him. He set the water glass on the nightstand just as Twilight trotted in with a blue damp towelette. Spike walked out of the room as Twilight set the rag on the nightstand, and adjusted Northern Lights' pillow with her magic, pulling it under his head as he half-opened his eyes to look at his mother. His eyes were drowsy, but there was a tiny smile on his face.

Spike came back into the room, with three purple berries cupped in his hands. He knelt down next to Northern Lights. "You know what these are, North?" Northern Lights shook his head. "They're called belly berries. Dragons use them when they get stomach aches when they start developing fire breathing. They work just as well on ponies."

"I'm not gonna breathe fire though, right?" Northern Lights asked. Spike chuckled, and Twilight just smiled.

"I don't think so," Spike said. "But if you feel a hiccup coming, just try not to let it out toward anything made of wood." This time, Northern Lights gave a tiny laugh.

"I won't, Uncle Spike," Northern Lights said.

"Good," Spike said, picking up a berry from his palm. "Now open wide." Northern Lights closed his eyes, and opened his mouth. Spike placed a berry in Northern Lights' mouth, and he chewed and swallowed it. They repeated that process with the other two berries until Northern Lights swallowed the last one.

"Thanks, Uncle Spike," Northern Lights said. "My tummy's feeling better now."

"Great," Spike said. He picked up the towelette from the table and placed it on Northern Lights' forehead. "Now get some sleep, okay?"

"Okay," Northern Lights said. He yawned before curling up under his blanket. "Goodnight, Uncle Spike. Goodnight Momma. I love you." Twilight and Spike both smiled.

"G'night, buddy," Spike said. "Love ya too."

"Goodnight, Northy," Twilight said after. "I love you too."

Northern Lights yawned again, and his breathing slowed as he finally fell asleep. Twilight and Spike left the room, with Spike closing the door behind them. When he turned around, Twilight was smiling at him, and he smiled back.

"Hey, it was the least I could do," Spike said.

"That's not why I'm smiling," Twilight replied.

Spike walked back to his bed, flopping onto it on his back, staring up at the ceiling. "Then what are you smiling about?" he asked.

"You called me Mom earlier," Twilight answered. Spike sat up.

"Sure I did," Spike said. "You've always been a Mom to me." Twilight didn't answer. She just trotted up to Spike, and kissed his forehead. They both smiled.

"Goodnight, my little Spikey-Wikey," Twilight said.

"G'night, Mom," Spike said back.

Twilight trotted to the entrance of the kitchen just as Spike got back under his blankets, and extinguised the candles with another magic spell. Then, she made her way back up to her bed, and curled back up under her blankets next to her husband. And as she began to fall back asleep, her, Spike, and Northern Lights were all smiling,

And, on top of it all, so was Flash.

Author's Note

Special thanks and loving condolences to Darthvalgaav for recommending a chapter like this. I must say, my friend, the d'awwws are strong with this one.

Back To Canterlot

Welcome, My Little One: Back To Canterlot

It was fifteen years after the birth of Northern Lights. In fact, it was fifteen years and one day. Northern lights had just turned fifteen the day before, but he was as hyperactive as ever. Flash had been called away to Canterlot to serve in the Royal Guard a month before, so Twilight promised to bring Northern Lights to Canterlot for a visit. They took the train to Canterlot, and when they arrived, Flash was waiting for them at the station. Northern Lights had seen his father waiting on the platform when they arrived, and he was one of the first off the train. When Twilight got off, she saw Northern Lights jump into his father, hugging his neck.

"Dad!" Northern Lights yelled as he jumped into his father. Flash laughed.

"Hey there, buddy," Flash said as he hugged his foal. He set him down, and Twilight joined them. "Happy birthday, North. How've you been?"

"Great!" Northern Lights said. "Mom got me a Wonderbolts necker... Um... Neck..." Northern Lights tried to pronounce the word.

"Neckerchief," Twilight said.

"Yeah, that!" Northern Lights reared up his head, showing off the blue cloth with the Wonderbolts symbol stitched into it, and a yellow lightning bolt pattern wrapping around the border. Northern Lights lowered his head, still smiling. "Mom says it came from a real Wonderbolt outfit!"

"Really?" Flash said, then looked at Twilight. "How'd you get one of those?"

Twilight scuffed her hoof on the concrete platform. "Rainbow Dash did me a little favor. She got it from an outfit of one of the Wonderbolts who retired. They gave her the outfit, saying they wanted her to keep it. Something about how they owed her a favor or something."

"Ah," Flash said, then looked back to Northern Lights. "Very cool." He smiled. "How 'bout we go pay a visit to your Aunt, and we'll go out for a while and catch up, eh?" Northern Lights' face lit up.

"Yeah!" Northern Lights jumped a couple times in joy.

Flash smiled as he turned toward the road to the castle, patting his back. "All aboard!" he said, and Northern Lights jumped on his back.

Twilight quickly hugged Flash, careful with Northern Lights, and Flash hugged back. When they let go, Twilight spoke.

"I missed you," she said.

"Missed you, too," Flash replied, and they began to head for the castle. "So how's Spike?"

"He's been great," Twilight said. "Just keeps getting bigger. Been a real help around the house, though."

"He still get letters from Princess Celestia?" Flash asked.

"Oh, of course," Twilight replied. "He's still my number one assistant. He's getting big, though. Kinda sad wondering how long he'll be able to stay."

"I wouldn't worry about that just yet," Flash said. "He's still here, and that's all that matters."

"Yeah," Northern Lights said, to the surprise of his parents. "I'm gonna miss Uncle Spike too, but I'm glad he's still here, so he can still play with me when I get home!" Twilight and Flash looked at each other, and smiled.

"That's a good way to look at it," Twilight said. "I bet Spike would say the same thing."

Northern Lights smiled just as they were approaching the castle. Two guards were standing out front. They nodded to Twilight as they approached, and saluted when they saw Flash.

"Captain," one of the guards said. "And your Highness."

"Good morning, soldier," Twilight said with a smile.

"At ease," Flash said next. "Is the Princess here?"

"Yes, sir," the other guard said. "She's expecting all three of you." The two guards pushed open the doors.

"Thank you," Flash said. "As you were."

The guards didn't respond again. They stood, still as statues, and closed the doors behind the family as they entered.

Inside stood Celestia's throne. At the base were two more guards, but no sign of Luna. Twilight wondered why that was, but her thoughts were interrupted as Celestia descended her throne. Northern Lights jumped off of Flash's back, and ran forward, jumping up to hug Celestia.

"Aunt Celestia!" Northern lights shouted as he hugged his Aunt. Celestia giggled.

"Well, hello there," she said. "Oh, my, how you've grown." She set Northern Lights down. "So what's this I hear yesterday was your birthday?"

"Yeah!" Northern Lights said. "Mom brought me here to see you and Dad!"

"Well, I'm very glad to see you," Celestia said. "I'm very sorry for keeping your father here for so long, but I'm sure your mother has been taking good care of you."

"It's okay," Northern Lights said. "I get to see him all day today, and Mom's been the best Mom ever!"

"That's great to hear," Celestia smiled. "Now run along, and go have fun with your Dad. I'd like to spend some time with your mother so we can catch up."

"Alright, buddy," Flash said as he approached with Twilight. "The Princess has spoken. So how's about you and I catch up over ice cream, eh?"

"Yeah!" Northern Lights leaped back onto Flash's back. "Let's go, let's go!" He hopped up and down on Flash's back.

"Whoa, easy there," Flash said. "I'm old, remember?" Northern Lights was too excited to listen. Flash just smiled, rolled his eyes, and took his foal out of the castle toward Canterlot, leaving Twilight and Celestia with the two guards. As soon as her family left, Twilight hugged her old mentor with the same happiness she felt as though it were her first day of teaching again.

"Welcome back, my faithful student," Celestia said. Twilight was smiling as she let go of her teacher.

"Thanks, Princess Celestia," Twilight said. "I'm so glad I get to see you again."

"Me, too," Celestia smiled, and turned toward a hallway that led into the castle. "Come, we'll talk more in my study." She began to trot into the hallway, followed by Twilight. They didn't talk as they went, since Twilight was deep in thought. She had one of those looks, and Celestia could tell.

Twilight was thinking about all the things she remembered from the castle. The old banners, the guards, the library most of all. Nothing semmed to have changed over the years. Twilight knew that no matter how much the world changed, her home away from home never would.

While she was deep in thought, Twilight came back to her senses as her muzzle collided with the door frame that led into the study.

"Ow!" She put a hoof to her throbbing muzzle, and groaned in a nasal-pitched voice. She looked to her left at Celestia when she heard her talk.

"Careful," Celestia said with a smile. "Alicorns still can't walk through walls."

Twilight just kept rubbing her muzzle as she entered the study. Celestia followed after, closing the door behind them. Twilight had taken a seat on one of the cushioned couches, and Celestia took one across from Twilight.

"So where should I start?" Twilight asked, letting go of her muzzle.

"Let's start with you," Celestia said. "How have you been doing?"

"Really good, actually," Twilight said. "You were right. Having a foal is one of the best things that's ever happened to me."

"Good, good," Celestia said. "Is spike still getting my letters?"

"He is," Twilight said. "And speaking of him, he's getting really big. He's growing just as fast as Northy."

"That's to be expected," Celestia said. "You've done a very good job in raising him. How has he been with Northern Lights?"

"Oh, he's been great!" Twilight replied. "Northy looks at Spike like an uncle. I asked him why he didn't say stepfather, and his answer was that Spike wasn't old enough to be. I guess that makes sense from his point of view."

"Whatever he calls him, I would bet that Spike thinks he's the closest thing he's ever had to a son," Celestia said. "It certainly sounds like Spike's treating him as such."

Twilight thought about that for a moment. She never thought about Spike being a fatherly figure to Northern Lights. But Celestia was right. He certainly acted like a father toward Northern Lights. She decided not to bring it up, since it seemed Flash didn't mind.

"So now I have to ask," Celestia continued. "How is Northern Lights?"

"Oh, he's wonderful," Twilight said. "He's growing up so fast, and he's so smart, now, too. He's really competetive, always racing with Flash, and he likes to wrestle and play ball with Spike. I tried to get him into books, but he fell asleep with Flash and Spike halfway through the history of Ponyville." They both giggled at that. "He's absolutely amazing."

"I'm so glad to hear that, Twilight," Celestia said. "You know, Luna and I talked that night when I visited you at the hospital. We were worried about how well he'd turn out. An Alicorn and a regular pony having a foal was just unheard of. The fact he's grown up so well is amazing."

"Wow," Twilight said. "I never thought of it that way. I mean, he seems like just any normal Pegasus."

Celestia smiled. "He's no normal Pegasus, Twilight. He's very special. All ponies are in their own way. You'll truly realize that one day."

"Oh, I've realised that already," Twilight said. "Just not done finding out how special."

There was a knock at the door to the study. A guard opened the door, and stuck his head in.

"My Princess," he said. "Luna has requested you in the tower." Celestia nodded, acknowledging the guard, and he left.

"Sorry, Twilight," Celestia said. "Family calls." She got up from the couch, with Twilight following after. "And besides," she said as she opened the door. "I think your family's waiting for you, too."

Twilight smiled, and hugged her mentor one more time. "Thanks, Princess Celestia. I'll try to visit you again before we leave, okay?"

Celestia nodded as they entered the throne room. "I would like that very much. Now run along." Twilight smiled, and darted for the exit. "Have fun!" Celestia called after her.

"I will!" Twilight opened the door, and waved back at Celestia. "Goodbye, Princess Celestia!" And with that, she was gone.

Princess Celestia smiled after her student. "Goodbye, my faithful student. May you and your family be safe and happy for years to come." She turned and headed for the stairs to the tower, smiling to herself.

Twilight made her way back to Canterlot, spotting her family at a table in the Daisy Cake ice cream shop. Northern Lights was halfway through a chocolate cone, and Flash had a vanilla hazelnut cone, also half eaten. Twilight trotted inside, causing the bell on the door to ring. The server behind the counter tipped his paper hat toward her.

"To o' the morning to ya, Princess," he said. "What can I get for ya?"

Twilight smiled. "Strawberry rhubarb in a paper bowl, please." The server tipped his hat again, and went to work. Twilight took a seat on the chair next to Northern Lights, and gave him a quick hug. He smiled, and so did Flash.

"So," Flash said. "Did you have fun at the castle?" Twilight glanced out the window at the Princesses' castle, and smiled one more time.

"I did," she said. "And I'm glad we came."

Happy Graduation!

Welcome, My Little One: Happy Graduation!

It was about nine o'clock at night. Twilight was reading a book in her library bed, the moon shining on the pages of her novel. She glanced out the window when she heard a pony approaching from outside, looking over her reading glasses to see a shadowy figure approaching the library. She immediately knew who it was.

Twilight jumped from her bed, leaving her book and reading glasses on her bed. She raced down her stairs, and threw open the front door to see Northern Lights standing on the other side, a proud smile on his face. Twilight immediately jumped forward, hugging her son around the neck.

"Happy graduation day, Northy!" Twilight said, pride flowing through her body.

"Thanks, Mom," Northern Lights, who was still dressed in the black robe and cap he was given at his graduation, returned the hug. "Sorry you weren't at the after-party."

Twilight let go of her son. "Well, I didn't think your friends would be very nice to you if they saw your mother following you around all night. Now come inside, it's cold!"

Northern Lights rolled his eyes, still smiling, and trotted inside. Twilight closed the door behind him, just as he was taking off his graduation cap, and throwing it on the kitchen table.

"So?" Twilight asked. "Did you have fun?" Twilight said, taking a seat at the kitchen table. Northern Lights was rummaging through the fridge in the kitchen.

"Sure did," Northern Lights said, grabbing a carton of orange juice from the fridge, grabbing a glass from the cabinet, filling it, and taking a seat at the table with Twilight. "And don't worry, I didn't drink too much."

Twilight gasped. "Northern Lights!" she said sternly.

Northern Lights laughed, downing half of his orange juice. "I'm kidding, Mom," he said. "You know I don't do that. Although, Dad said he thinks him and I would have a good bonding experience over a few pints."

Twilight rolled her eyes. "You know I'm not gonna let that happen. Just because you're a grown pony now doesn't mean you're not still my little colt, and I'll be darned if I let you go out and do something stupid with your father." Even though Twilight made that clear, she was still smiling.

"Hey, you never know," Northern Lights said. "I might meet a pretty mare, and settle down with her a year later. Dad said that's how you two got married."

Twilight blushed, jumping to her own defense. "T-that is not true!" Twilight said. "Your father and I were married after I met him in some kind of parallel universe!" Twilight paused. "On second thought, I think your father's explanation would probably sit better with other ponies."

Northern Lights laughed. "You know I don't care how you two met. My uncle was a dragon, for cryin' out loud!"

"Yeah," Twilight said with a little amusement in her voice, but her face fell when she said it. Northern Lights caught on.

"Oh," he said. "Um, sorry about that, mom."

"You don't have to be sorry," Twilight said.

Northern Lights was apologizing since Spike didn't live with Twilight anymore. Spike had grown to nearly his full size and flew away to live with the other dragons two years before. Northern Lights and Flash were both heartbroken, but not as much as Twilight. She was in the most pain out of all of them. She cried for hours, and didn't sleep, eat, or visit Canterlot for days. Spike promised he'd come back to visit when he could, but Twilight still missed him with all her heart.

"No matter how big your Spikey-wikey gets, I'll always be your number one assistant."

Twilight had that sentence stuck in her head ever since Spike flew away on that clifftop that day. Even though Twilight was devastated, she made sure to keep an open place in her heart for her number one assistant.

Northern Lights knew that Spike was a sensitive topic for Twilight, but he couldn't help but keep the memory of his uncle alive. And he made sure to keep Twilight's spirits up by reassuring her that Spike was fine, and that he was out there somewhere, thinking of her. Twilight appreciated it, but she still wished Spike could be back to his tiny self, when he could still fit in the library and sleep by her bed every night. Occasionally, Twilight would receive a letter in her mailbox, since Spike wasn't around to cough them up, and open it to find a picture of Spike, fully grown and having fun with a group of his dragon friends, with things like, "Miss you, Mom", scribbled on the corner. It brought a tear to her eye every time, and she cherished every one, keeping them on a cork board in her kitchen.

Twilight found herself staring at the collage of pictures of Spike, smiling. She finally came back to reality when she saw Northern Lights was staring too.

"Yeah," Northern Lights agreed, even though Twilight didn't say anything. "I miss him too."

Twilight sniffed, and changed the subject. "Hey, don't let this get you down on your special day, Northy. How about we talk about how proud of you I am?"

Northern Lights smiled. "I dunno. How 'bout we talk about how I'm totally gonna hang this in my room?" Northern Lights held up a sheet of paper, with his name signatured on the front of a decorated cover. It was his diploma.

"Oh, my gosh, Northy!" Twilight said. "It's perfect. I can't wait to see it in a frame."

"Yeah, I don't think that's the first thing Dad would say. He'd probably say, 'Sure, you can hang it up in your room! As soon as you go out and buy your own house already.' Not that I have a problem with that." Northern Lights smiled, and looked around. "Speaking of that old timer, where is he?"

Twilight was about to answer, when the front door opened, and Flash trotted in. "Honey, I'm hooome!" he yelled.

"Welcome home, Flash," Twilight said. "Looks who's back." Northern Lights turned around and waved at his father.

"Hey, there's my grown stallion!" Flash trotted to the table, giving Northern Lights' head a hard, playful rub. "Did ya have fun at the party?"

"Sure did, Dad," Northern Lights said. "Can't remember much, since I kinda had too much to drink, but I think I got some poor mare pregnant."

Twilight gasped. "Northern Lights!" she said again. Northern Lights and Flash both laughed.

"Hey, that's your influence, not mine!" Flash said. Twilight just rolled her eyes.

"When did you two get so immature?" she asked. The two stallions just kept laughing.

"A-anyways," Flash said when he finally calmed down. "What'd you really do?"

"Not much," Northern Lights replied. "Just kinda enjoyed myself with my friends. Couldn't have asked for a better night. Well, except for coming home to you two, so I could show you this!" Northern Lights held up his diploma. Flash gave it a quick look-over, and smiled.

"Nice," Flash said. "Really proud of you, buddy."

"Thanks, Dad," Northern Lights said. "Wasn't easy. Surprised I didn't meet some pretty mare in high school, like you met Mom."

"In a parallel universe," Twilight added.

"In a parallel universe," Northern Lights echoed.

"Eh, not everypony gets the chance to do that," Flash said, his voice humorous. "You'll meet the right mare some day. Remember what I always taught you."

"Yeah, I remember," Northern Lights said. "Always say she looks nice."

Flash smiled. "And?"

Northern Lights smiled, rolling his eyes. "Love her more than Celestia's sun is bright."

"That's my colt," Flash said.

Twilight smiled. "Well then," she said. "So how many times were you lying when you said I looked nice?"

Flash looked hurt, but in a sarcastic way. "What? I'd never lie to you about how you look, my beautiful wife!" Twilight gave him a look of expectance, and he smiled. "I never lied, Twilight. You'll always be beautiful, and not just because you'll never age a day."

Twilight smiled. "Northy, don't expect your future mare friend to always be as beautiful as me, okay?"

Northern Lights looked confused. "Are you saying you want me to call my own Mom beautiful?" He stuck his tongue out, gagging. "That's just gross, Mom."

The whole family laughed, sharing a moment together like the many they had over the years.

Twilight's laugh had gone down to a giggle. "Wow," she said. "I can't believe you're already a grown pony. You're just growing up way too fast."

"Yeah," Northern Lights agreed. "I can hardly believe it myself. Feels like just yesterday I was racing with your friend, Rainbow Dash."

"I remember the days I used to come get you from Fluttershy's house," Twilight said. "You always loved her ferrets. And you were just so cute when you played with them."

"Oh, you mean Chip?" Northern Lights asked. "I remember him. He was my favorite."

"Chip was a girl, Northy," Twilight corrected him.

"I was a foal, Mom," Northern Lights smiled. "I don't think I was smart enough to know what my favorite ferret was."

"You know what my favorite memory is?" Flash said. "The day we took you to see the Wonderbolts."

"Oh, yeah!" Twilight said. "It was your birthday, and when they found out I was one of the princesses, they offered to take you up to the starting line for a race."

"Yeah, it was my birthday," Northern Lights said.

"They let you win, too," Flash said. "If it was me up there, I would've left you in the dust."

"Oh, please," Northern Lights said. "I'd take you on any day of the week!" The two stallions laughed together, and Twilight just smiled.

"That's if you could catch me first," Twilight said. Both of the stallions looked at her. "What?" she said.

"I'm sensing a challenge," Flash said.

"Challenge accepted, then," Northern Lights said. He downed the last of his orange juice before heading for the door. "Middle of the night, or not. I don't need light to beat you." Twilight and Flash followed him just as he opened it. Twilight went first, but Flash stopped when Northern Lights started talking again. "So, Dad, I was just thinking. Wanna help me hang my diploma in my bedroom?"

Flash chuckled. "The only thing I'm gonna help you do is move out." He trotted out past his son.

"See, Mom, I told ya!" Northern Lights said. "

All three of the family members laughed as the front door of the library closed, leaving it, and the memories inside of it, behind for just a little while. Even though they would only be gone a few hours, the memories inside would always be there, waiting for them to return home to all the years that went by.

'Til Death Do Them Part

Welcome, My Little One: 'Til Death Do Them Part

It was the happiest day of Northern Lights' life.

He was dressed in a perfectly tailored black tux suit, a black bowtie tied at his collar, and a white corsage pinned to the vest. But most noticeable of all, he was holding hooves with the most beautiful mare he had ever met.

The mare was dressed in a light brown silk dress with her trademark light blue hankerchief tied around her neck. She had a cream-white colored coat with a light blue-white mane and eyes. Her cheeks were spotted with freckles, and a light smile was plastered on her face. Her name was what Northern Lights described as simple, but beautiful. Poppy.

Northern Lights and Poppy met a few months after Northern Lights graduation, in an alley of all places. Was gonna ask what she was doing alone in an alley, but was cut off when she started squealing, running from the alley at unbelievable speed. When he finally calmed her down, she said she was just surprised, and didn't wanna be seen resting in a back alley. Then, they began to start a conversation.

Not only did her cute country attitude stick out to Northern Lights, but the way she approached her stuck out even more. When Poppy met Northern Lights, he found out something that he didn't hear often: She didn't open with the fact he was the son of royalty. Most of the time, when Northern Lights met new ponies, they would mention the fact he was royalty and be immediately interested in that alone. Northern Lights once said, "She was the first mare I actually had to work to get. It's nice for once." Northern Lights always wanted to find a mare that could see him as just another simple pony out on the town. While Poppy seemed perfectly comfortable talking to the son of a Princess, which in itself was almost unheard of, but she seemed to almost be testing Northern Lights. Northern Lights was shifting uncomfortably halfway through the conversation. He just wasn't used to being spoken to like he was a normal pony, not to mention by another pony that wasn't in his family.

Long story short, they hit it off immediately.

Northern Lights asked for her address, only to find out that she didn't have a home. She was a wanderer. taking time to rest wherever and whenever she could. Northern Lights was surprised to find out a homeless pony didn't even say a word about money or help from a royal figure. So, since she didn't ask, Northern Lights offered. He offered to give her shelter at the library with Twilight, Spike, Flash, and him. Graciously, she accepted. They got her cleaned up and comfy, and made sure they had everything they need. Usually, it was the job of the Royal Court to help ponies who were struggling, but Northern Lights insisted that "this one was special". And here they were, still together, trading vows in front of many adoring ponies, including the proud ponies that Poppy now called her family.

The two of then stood under a gilded crystal arbor that outlined the doors to the royal chambers.

Twilight was watching the whole scene from a pew set up in the foyer of the royal palace. Flash was sitting next to her, the two of them in spots reserved from a room crowded with ponies. They were both dressed just as formal as Northern Lights. Twilight wore a lavender dress and a necklace with a small amethyst jewel, and her hair was tied up into a bun. Flash wore a suit similar to Northern Lights, but it lacked a corsage, and his mane remained the same.

"He looks so handsome, doesn't he?" Twilight quietly asked her husband.

"Sure does," Flash replied. "They look like us, don't they? When we had our vows?"

Twilight giggled quietly. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I think today's a little better than that."

Flash chuckled. "I see how it is."

Twilight gave him a nudge with her leg. "I said just a little!"

Flash smiled again. "Yeah, I'm just pullin' your leg. Now pipe down, they're starting."

This time, Twilight just smiled.

The chamber doors began to open, and Princess Celestia stepped out. The crowd began to applaud and cheer. The doors swung shut, and Princess Celestia silenced the crowd with a flare of her wings.

"My dear little ponies," she said. "We are gathered here today to lawfully wed two ponies in holy matrimony. In accordance with tradition, they will now be asked to exchange vows." She turned to the mare. "Poppy, do you take Northern lights to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"Ah do," Poppy said. Her voice had a thick southern accent, and her voice had a hint of humor in it when she was happy.

"Very well." Princess Celestia turned to Northern Lights, and Twilight immediately perked up. "And do you, Northern Lights, take Poppy to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do," Northern Lights said.

"Very well," Princess Celestia said. "Then repeat after me." Northern Lights repeated the vow as each phrase was given to him.

"I, Northern Lights, take Poppy to be my wedded wife. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, to protect and to love as long as I may live, so help me by my word."

Poppy repeated a similar vow. "Ah, Poppy, take Northern Lights t' be mah wedded husband. T' have and t' hold, in sickness an' in health, t' honor an' t' guide as long as ah may live, so help me by mah word."

"Excellent," Princess Celestia said. "Now, who has the ring?"

A voice rang out from the large open doors at the back of the fowyer.

"I have the ring!"

The voice was loud and deep, as if it had come from a large being. Which, in fact, it did.

In the open doors of the sanctuary stood a dragon. It was walking on all four legs, with a ring that would fit ona normal pony's hoof in one claw. Compared to the dragon, it was like a pebble.

The dragon began to enter the sanctuary, carrying the ring down the center aisle toward the Princess and the couple. He held out the ring to Northern Lights, bowing his head in honor. Northern Lights took the ring in one hoof, and the dragon pulled his claw away, taking a few steps back down the aisle. He took a moment to angle his head down to Twilight in the front row, and she rubbed the dragon's beak with one hoof.

"Hey there, Spike," Twilight whispered. "I'll meet you outside later, okay?" The dragon nodded, and backed out through the door, keeping his head just outside to watch.

"Thank you, Spike," Princess Celestia said. "Now, please present the ring." Poppy held up her hoof for Northern Lights, who took it in his own, placing the ring around her hoof. Northern Lights bowed his head, and smiled.

"For you, my liege," Northern Lights said. Everypony in the room laughed quietly, and Princess Celestia just smiled. Twilight smiled and rolled her eyes in the front row.

"Very good," Princess Celestia said with a smile. "Now, does anyone have an objection for why these two should not be wed?"

"I object!" Twilight gasped as everypony in the room turned around to see a brown pony waving his hoof around, a clever grin on his face. Princess Celestia was about to speak when Northern Lights facehoofed.

"Overruled, Rockslide. Now sit down, you idiot." The brown pony snickered and slumped back into his seat. He leaned in to whisper to Poppy and Princess Celestia. "Sorry, I'll pull his ear or something later."

Poppy giggled quietly, and Princess Celestia just nodded.

"Very well," Princess Celestia said. "Now, if there are no more interruptions, I think we're ready to seal the vows. Northern Lights, please take the hoof of your bride." Poppy held up her hoof with the ring, and Northern Lights took it in his own. "Good. With the power invested in me dearly, I now pronounce you, Poppy and Northern Lights, husband and wife. Northern Lights, you may kiss your bride!"

Princess Celestia took a step back as the married couple leaned in and sealed their vows with a kiss. Twilight was already clapping by the time the rest of the room joined in. Tears streamed down her face, but a smile as plastered on her face like it'd been there forever.

And, ever since she had Northern Lights, it had been there since.

---

About an hour after the wedding, the reception had begun. There had been an outdoor reception area set up for it. Awnings, tables, and chairs were set up all around. Everypony from the wedding was there, all talking and congratulating the bride and groom.

Everypony except Twilight.

She was nearby, in an open spot, laying in the grass. Next to her was her beloved assistant, Spike.

"It's been too long, Twilight," Spike said.

"It has," Twilight replied. "The family missed you." She paused. "How long did the other dragons say you could be away?"

"I've got until tomorrow night to start flying back. They said they'd give me a day to catch up."

"It'll be great. Norther Lights missed you." Twilight shuffled her legs to readjust herself closer to Spike. "I hope you don't mind, but I asked Northy if he could met us up here so we could have a little time to ourselves. Do you think that's too much?"

Spike smiled. "Not at all."

Twilight returned the smile just as Northern Lights was coming up the hill. Twilight stood up, but Spike didn't. Northern Lights approached Spike first, and Spike reared up to hug him with one large arm.

"I missed you, Uncle Spike," Northern Lights said.

"Missed you more, buddy," Spike replied. Northern Lights smiled, let go of the hug, and turned to Twilight.

"It's good to have the family back together, eh?" he asked his mother.

"It certainly is," Twilight answered. "I know you wouldn't want to see me do this in front of your friends, so I decided to do this here." She suddenly hugged her son, and started to tear up. "I'm just so proud of you, Northy."

Northern Lights smiled, returning the embrace. "Wouldn't have made it this far without you two. And don't worry about my friends. I'll get a leash on 'em or something. Oh, speaking of other ponies, I was thinking." He paused, smiling. "What if I told you that in about a year, you're gonna meet a new pony or two, and they're gonna call you 'grandma'?"

Twilight gasped, and her smile brightened. "Northy, you're gonna-"

"We are," Northern Lights said. "I'll have a couple little ones of my own. Can't be that hard, right? I mean, you did raise me."

Spike chuckled, and Twilight gave his shoulder a gentle nudge with her hoof. "Stop it, Northy. You're just still mad I never let you get a puppy."

"I'm not mad," Northern Lights said, then smiled. "I had Spike, didn't I?"

"Watch it, buddy," Spike said with a smile. "Just because I was fetching for Twilight all my life doesn't make me a puppy."

"How about the time you went through that mirror to get back Twilight's crown and-"

"That was different!" All three of them shared a laugh. As it died down, they spotted Flash and Poppy coming up the hill.

"You ain't ditchin' me yet, are ya?" Poppy asked with a smile.

"Not just yet," Northern Lights said. "You're not getting away from the ol' ball and chain."

"That's my boy!" Flash said, and Twilight shot him an amused warning glance. "What? If you love 'em, you gotta keep a leash on 'em!"

Twilight and Poppy both rolled their eyes. "At least Northy knew when somepony had their eye on them. Took you a whole year for you to figure it out!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Flash said, waving off the comment with one hoof. "I just wanted to see how long I could dangle my looks in front of you."

"Break it up, you two," Spike said with a hint of humor in his voice. "I don't wanna have to break it up again."

"Don't you have some books to pick up, Spike?" Twilight asked.

"You know, this is the first time I wouldn't mind doing that," Spike said. Twilight and Spike both shared one more smile.

"Well, ain't this heartwarmin'?" Poppy said. "Ah hope ah'll be seein' a good deal of y'all."

"Spike's leaving tomorrow," Northern Lights motioned one hoof at at the dragon. "He might stop in for holidays or something."

"So that's 'is name, huh?" Poppy asked. "Spike. Pleasure ta meet ya."

"The pleasure is mine, Poppy," Spike replied. "Northern Lights needs a good pony to keep him in line." Poppy giggled.

"Don' worry. Ah'll keep a tight leash on 'im." The family shared another laugh with their newest member.

"Alright," Flash said. "What's say we get back down there and stop hanging out up here like a bunch of hermits?"

"Hey!" Twilight said. "Just because I spent all my time in the library-"

"Calm down, calm down." Flash put a leg over her shoulders. "If I were Spike, I would've loved to spend the rest of my life in that library. And honestly, I hope I do."

Twilight giggled, giving him a gentle nuzzle. "Good. That library isn't going anywhere."

"And, thank Celestia," Spike started, "Neither are we."

And with that, the family made their way back toward the party to cherich another memory that would last for years to come.

Author's Note

I know, I know. It's been a while, but I'm finally back! Hope you guys enjoyed this next heartwarming chapter, and I'll be doing my best to get more out soon! Comment appreciated!

The News

Welcome, My Little One: The News

A few months after the marriage of Northern Lights and Poppy...

A hospital waiting room.

Northern Lights, now just past his full growth, pacing back and forth across the tile floor.

Twilight sitting in a waiting room chair, watching her son with growing uneasiness.

"Northy, could you please sit down?" Twilight asked. "You're making me nervous."

Northern Lights didn't respond, and kept pacing.

"Northy?" Twilight asked. Again, no response. She raised her voice. "Northern Lights!"

Northern Lights stopped dead.

"I know you're nervous," Twilight said, "But pacing is just gonna make it much worse."

"I can't help it, okay?" Northern Lights replied. "I just don't like the idea of Poppy being in there alone." He was about to start pacing again, but instead heeded his mother's warning and took a seat next to Twilight, who put a hoof on his shoulder.

"Just take it easy, okay?" Twilight said, gently. "I was just as worried as you when I found out I was pregnant. I bet Poppy's just as nervous too, but you need to let her find out on her own."

"But what if it's," Northern Lights paused. " 'Bad news'?"

"Don't think like that, Northy. I guarantee that when you go in there, you two are going to be hugging each other so hard, you'll be laughing through your tears. And it might not just be one foal. It might be two, or three. You never know."

Northern Lights smiled a little, but his ears fell. "That's only part of what I'm nervous about. I'm just uneasy without Dad being here, y'know?"

"He said he'd try to make it, Northy. He could be here any minute." Twilight shifted a sideways glance toward the door to the room that held Poppy. "But you know how demanding his job is. The only reason I'm here is because Princess Celestia insisted, since I'm your mother."

Northern Lights paused, then changed the subject. "What do you think it's gonna be?"

"I don't know," Twilight replied. "It's like I said, you never know until it's time. Poppy might not have even asked. If she didn't, then don't you ask either. She might want it to be a surprise, and it's always up to the mother to know. But what I can tell you is that no matter what it is, you'll just be happy to know that it's alive and growing as we speak." She waved her hoof to one side. "It could be a colt." She waved her hoof to the other side. "It could be a filly." She raised her hoof straight up. "It could be one of each, or two of one." She put her hoof back down, looking at Northern Lights. "But I know that no matter what it is, you'll be so excited to finally see it, that you won't be sleeping for a while." Twilight giggled. "In fact, you might not be sleeping for a while after you see it either."

Northern Lights let on a bigger smile at that. "Lemme guess, 'cause they're gonna be crying for hours on end for a while?"

Twilight didn't giggle at that. "Not quite. That's only a small part of it. It's a mix of happiness, determination, and worry. You'll be happy that you finally are a father, determined to make sure the foal, or foals, stay healthy and happy, and worried because of all the things you think will go wrong. It's not always likely, but it's good to make sure, just in case."

Northern Lights shuddered. "You're making me nervous, Mom."

"That's a good thing," Twilight said. "This should be one of the most nerve-wracking things to happen to you in your entire life. You're going to want to use up every ounce of your energy to make sure they're healthy and happy. And Poppy, too. She's gonna be exhausted from the birth, and is gonna have to stay a couple nights in the hospital. They probably won't let you stay in the room with her overnight, but you'll be happy knowing that she'll be warm and cozy, curled up with a little blanket holding the love of her life, and yours. And when you finally see them the next morning, it doesn't matter that you're a pegasus, you'll feel like you could soar higher than you ever have. There will be tears, and if you start bawling, just try not to cry on the foal, okay?"

Northern Lights finally laughed, quietly, at that, giving his mother's shoulder a gentle shove. "Well I'm telling you, I'll be sure to be the tough ol' stallion that Poppy expects me to be."

Twilight smiled. "And I'm telling YOU," she gave him a shove of her own, only a little harder, "That if it somehow comes down to that, your wife won't mind at all. Being tough doesn't mean you never cry. Being tough means you're not afraid to cry in front of other ponies. Trust me, the happiness of having a foal is overwhelming. So just remember: I'll be right in the hall if you need your momma to come cradle you until everything's okay."

Northern Lights' cheeks brightened, but he couldn't help but smile.

The door to Poppy's room opened.

"Mister... erm," the bright red nurse stammered, looking down at her clipboard. She looked up, and adjusted her glasses. "Northern Lights?"

"That's me!" Northern Lights said, flying from his chair and rushing up to the nurse. "Is she okay? Did we find out how many there are? Tell me everything! Please! I'm so nervous it's killing me!"

The nurse didn't even flinch at his outburst. In a flat tone, she said, "Please come in so you can see your wife." With that, she trotted back into the room, her clipboard in hoof. Northern Lights cast a nervous glance back at his mother, who smiled and waved him on with an encouraging flick of her hoof. Northern Lights put on a small, nervous smile and trotted in, shutting the door behind him.

Twilight shot out of her chair and ran up to the door, standing up on her back legs to get a look inside the room.

She saw Northern Lights standing at the side of a hospital bed, with Poppy sleeping soundly in it. Northern Lights had a confused expression on his face. Twilight was confused, too. Why would Poppy be sleeping at such a big moment?

Only, it turns out, she wasn't sleeping.

She was laying there, silent, her side slowly rising and falling.

Northern Lights cast a confused glance at the nurse, and it looked like he asked her a question. The nurse didn't respond, just bowed her head and left through a side door without another word. Northern Lights, now in a full state of confusion, gently shook Poppy's shoulder.

She didn't respond.

He shook her again.

She tensed.

Northern Lights asked a question.

Her head bowed, then shook.

Northern Lights froze, then laid his head down on his wife's shoulder.

Then, silently, he began to cry.

Twilight's hoof instinctively found her muzzle, holding back a gasp. She turned away from the door, afraid to enter, and ran to the end of the hall, collapsing under a painting hung on the wall of fillies playing in a garden.

And she, herself, began to weep.

She didn't need to ask questions. Her motherly instinct told her everything she needed to know.

She heard a dinging noise from down the hall. The elevator.

She heard hoofsteps approach her, as well as a voice that sounded like it was miles away. Her weeping drowned out his questions.

Flash was intercepted by a nurse. He began asking questions, and the nurse began to speak. Twilight's cries, as well as the blood pumping in her ears, blocked out everything but a few of the nurse's words. And the words tore her heart to shreds. Just before she heard Flash's own cries, she heard the words:

Bad signs...

Strange symptoms...

Test results...

Uterus cancer...

Spread to placenta...

Tissue removed...

Nothing we could do...

So sorry...

From that day forward, Twilight's heart, and the hearts of her family, would forever bear the scars that would stay with them forever.

But worst of all, Twilight was right.

Northern Lights wouldn't be sleeping for a while.

Author's Note

I'm sorry, everyone.

But I learned the hard way that life can't be happy forever. Our greatest expectations become our biggest losses. Our most threatening fears become our most deniable truths. And no matter what, we all have to go through tragedies in our life. But, most of all, it's how we rise above them. It's like Twilight said: "Being tough doesn't mean you never cry. Being tough means you're not afraid to cry in front of others."

"Death is life's most painful truth, and grief is its dreadful shadow." - Delta 727

Big Heart, Little Body

Welcome, My Little One: Big Heart, Little Body

Poppy was heartbroken for days. She spent hour after hour crying, or simply sitting in painful silence, staring out the window and wondering what she had done to deserve such a punishment. What she had done wrong. Northern Lights spent most of his time with her, telling her constantly that everything would be okay. That they would figure something out. While with each other they tried to find a way out of their troubles, to everypony else both were seemingly oblivious to everything but Poppy's grief. Flash had volunteered for a job for the Royal Guard outside of Ponyville to take his mind off of what had happened, since he couldn't bear the idea that there was nothing he could do to help his devastated family. But perhaps the pony who was hurting the most was Twilight.

Twilight had never lost a foal. She had never experienced a miscarriage, or known anypony who did. The mere thought that her son had lost his first foal had ripped out a part of her being that could never be replaced. Northern Light's wife was declared infertile, unable to birth a foal ever again.

This hurt Twilight the most because she felt like it was a personal attack on her as a mother. She knew the joy of having her own foal, and she hated knowing that her own son would never know what that was like.

Northern Lights would never have his own little one.

At least, not one of his own bearing.

One night, about a month after the miscarriage, Poppy said she was going out for a while. Northern Lights, thinking she was still going through grief, didn't question it. He asked Poppy if she wanted him to come along, since it was a little concerning that she was going out alone at night, but she said she was going on her own to take care of some important business. Northern Lights thought this was strange, since she left with a small picnic basket over her shoulder. But still, he didn't stop her as she left. Troubled, Northern Lights went to the only pony he knew he could ask anything when it came to mares.

Northern Lights asked Twilight to stop by his home, a small cottage about two miles from Twilight's library, so they could talk. Willingly, Twilight came along. They barely said a word on their way back, but as soon as they arrived at the cottage and sat down at the dining table, Northern Lights opened with a very surprising question.

"Do you think Poppy still loves me?"

Twilight was taken completely by surprise, and, not much to the help of Northern Lights' concern, she was speechless for a moment. Finally, when she gathered her thoughts, she said what no mother would ever say.

"I don't know, Northy."

Northern Lights paused, then sighed as he deflated. "At least you were honest with me."

"What I mean, Northy," Twilight went on, "Is that being your mother might give me the ability to know what you're feeling from time to time, but I can't read the minds of other mares. They're complicated as it is when it comes to relationships, but everypony reacts to pain differently, and I don't know how Poppy's reacting."

"She's been spending most of her time "all by her lonesome", as she calls it," Northern Lights replied. "I think this is the first time she's left the house in weeks. I'm getting really worried about her."

"She might just need some time to collect herself." Before Northern Lights spoke up, Twilight went on. "Before you ask, which I know you're going to, I don't know. This is really hard for her, and I don't know how long it's going to take her to recover from the grief and shock. But what makes you think she doesn't love you anymore?"

Northern Lights shrugged. "She barely talks to me, she turns me away whenever I try to bring her food or something, and I can't even remember the last time she said she loved me." Northern Lights looked up at his mother. "What if she's afraid to love anypony? What if she's so afraid of going through that again, she's turned off something in her mind that stops her from loving another pony?"

Twilight immediately responded. "Poppy would never do something like that."

"How do you know?"

"She just wouldn't."

"But what if she did?"

"You're overreacting, Northy."

"I'm just saying I think she lost more than one part of her that day-"

Twilight slammed her hoof on the table.

The room fell silent.

Twilight's head was bowed, her eyes hidden beneath her mane. "Northern Lights." She gritted her teeth. "Don't you ever think that Poppy would give up on you. You will always be a part of her, and she will always be a part of you. If you start thinking like you've lost her, then you already have." Twilight looked up, tears in her eyes. "I won't let you lose somepony like that. When you two were married, she promised that she's love you no matter what. You need to trust in her, and trust that she still loves you, and no matter if she does or not, you love her unconditionally. Understand?"

Northern Lights was shocked at his mother's actions, but not at her words. All he could do was nod.

"I can't hear you," Twilight said.

"I understand."

"Thank you." Twilight sighed, and took her hoof off the table. Then, she slumped over. "I'm sorry you had to see me like that. I just get like that sometimes when things really get to me. There were too many times in my life where I almost gave up, but one of those times won't be on you. This is a very sore topic for me, but do you remember all of my friends from the Elements of Harmony?" Northern Lights nodded. "They were like sisters to me, and I had to watch every single one of them slowly pass away. But they all told me similarly the same thing: Don't give up. Just because they're gone doesn't mean that I'm alone. The other elements were put under my responsibility, but none of them would matter if I felt like our relationships were over just because they were gone. No matter what, you will always have that bond with Poppy. No matter where she is, she'll always be with you." Twilight pointed a hoof straight at Northern Lights' chest. "In here." Twilight took her hoof away, and Northern Lights wiped a tear from his eye.

"Wow, Mom. That was..." Northern Lights chuckled. "Really cheesy."

Twilight smiled too. "Did I get my point across?" Northern Lights nodded again. "Then I'll be as cheesy as I wanna be." Twilight was about to go on, when something unexpected happened.

The front door opened.

Poppy came in, the picnic basket still in hoof. But most unexpected of all, there was something on her face.

A smile.

"What're you so happy about?" Northern Lights couldn't help but tease his wife. She didn't respond. She simply closed the door, trotted to the table, set down the basket, and looked right at Twilight.

"Twahlight," Poppy said with an evenly flat, yet slightly upbeat, tone. "Ah didn't know you were droppin' by fer a visit."

"Actually, I'm not visiting," Twilight replied. "Northern Lights asked me to come."

"Well ah'm glad. Ah had a surprise fer him, but ah'd be happy fer you t' see it too."

Northern Lights' cheeks turned bright. "Poppy, I thought you said you didn't want to-"

"Ah don't mean that, Northy!" Poppy cut him off. "Ah mean somethin' ah've had planned fer a little while, but ah jus' didn't have th' courage t' do it. Ah really hope ya don't mind. Ah've been savin' up some money, and..." Poppy paused.

"And?" Northern Lights urged her on.

"Well, ah sneaked it out in this here basket, an' brought somethin' a lil' more special home." Poppy picked up the picnic basket, set it on the table, and turned it towards Northern Lights. And when she opened the flap, Northern Lights' whole world changed in an instant.

So much, that he couldn't even shed a single tear. All he could do was stare in awe as his jaw practically hit the floor.

"What is it?" Twilight asked, a little loudly.

"Shhh," Northern Lights said, a smile plastered on his face. "She's still asleep."

At that moment, Twilight nearly jumped out of her chair.

As calmly as she could, she stepped down onto the floor, trotted around to the other side of the table, and lifted herself up on the back of Northern Lights' chair.

And...

Over his shoulder...

She could see into the picnic basket.

Only, it wasn't a picnic basket anymore.

It was a cradle.

Nestled in the picnic basket in the same blanket she had given Northern Lights so long ago was...

A small.

White-green.

Foal.

"Her name's Evergreen," Poppy whispered. And that's all she could say before Twilight had to leave, so that her crying wouldn't wake Northern Lights' own little one.

And as she ran outside to cry, she didn't notice something far above her head.

That night, it seemed like the stars shined just a little bit brighter than they ever had before.

Author's Note

I'm back, everyone!

And yeah, I know last chapter was really depressing, but I decided that there was still a chance to save this wonderful family. Yeah, it's depressing that Northern Lights didn't get to have one of his own like his mother did, but you know what?

This is still just as picture perfect.

Delta 727

Goodbye Dad, Hello Daddy

Welcome, My Little One: Goodbye Dad, Hello Daddy

Six months after the adoption of Evergreen...

Another hard time was affecting the family of Twilight Sparkle.

Flash Sentry, after years of service in the Royal Guard, and years of devotion to his beloved family, had passed away.

He was given an honorary funeral, set up free of charge by the Royal Guard, and his whole family was in attendance, including Poppy. Even Spike had flown out for the occasion.

It was hard on Spike. It was hard on Poppy. It was even harder on Northern Lights.

But it was the hardest on Twilight.

Twilight had spent about an hour by herself to cry before she promised herself that she would take care of her family in their time of mourning. She had already spent the miscarriage of Northern Lights and Poppy's foal crying by herself, and she agreed that from now on, no matter what, she would be there for her family when times were harsh. About a week after the funeral, Twilight grew concerned when she had visited their home, only to find that Northern Lights and Poppy took Evergreen out for a while. While it just seemed like a normal family outing, Twilight knew they wouldn't be leaving for fun a week after such a traumatic time. They left because they were taking some time to clear their minds.

When Twilight found them in the park, she saw them sitting on a park bench, Northern Lights holding a sleeping Evergreen in his hooves. Poppy was with him, a straw sunhat shading her from the heat of the late-summer day. When they noticed Twilight approaching, Poppy welcomed her with a smile, but Northern Lights was a little more reserved.

"Hey there, you three," Twilight said as she approached.

"Well if it ain't miss Twilight herself," Poppy replied. "What brings ya here?"

"Oh, nothing much, Poppy." Twilight looked around at the scenery around her. The fountain flowing in the middle of the park, the many ponies strolling down the cobblestone paths, the trees growing green all around. "Just out for a little stroll."

"Well, what a coincidence," Poppy said. "So're we! Guess i's jus' the real nice day."

"Yeah," Twilight said almost obliviously. She found herself staring at Northern Lights, who was staring down at his adopted foal. "How're you holding up, Northy?"

"Huh?" Northern Lights looked up at Twilight, almost as if he'd forgotten she was there. "Oh, um, I'm doing alright, I guess." Twilight was not convinced. In fact, she felt a pang of pity in her gut.

"Poppy, could you give us a moment?" she asked.

"Ah sure can!" Normally, Poppy would be a little more hesitant about going off on her own away from Northern Lights when they were out together. But she knew that her husband and his mother needed a moment to talk, and she was happy to comply. Northern Lights barely reacted as his wife strolled off towards the fountain, and his mother took her place.

"Hey, Northy," Twilight said.

"Hey," Northern Lights replied very nonchalantly.

"How's this little bundle been?" Twilight gently pushed a strand of Evergreen's mane out of her face. She yawned as Twilight did so, and Twilight and Northern Lights couldn't help but smile a little.

"She's been alright," Northern Lights said. "You know, you lied to me a while back."

"What?" Twilight's blood ran cold.

"You said I wouldn't be sleeping for a few nights after I had a foal." He looked up at his mother. "You didn't tell me the whole truth. I'm not sleeping during the day either." He smiled, and his mother couldn't help but giggle.

"Yeah, I guess I forgot to mention that." She looked away toward the ground, and smiled. Almost instinctively, she looked up toward the fountain, where Poppy was resting on the concrete edge of the structure. "What about Poppy? Was she telling the truth?"

"I guess so," Northern Lights replied. "She was pretty worried about me after Dad passed, but now she's starting to perk up a bit. For me and Evergreen, I imagine."

"I know it was hard, Northy." Twilight placed a hoof on her son's shoulder. "But I bet he's watching you right now, and do you know what I think he would say if he was here right now?"

"I can think of a few things," Northern Lights said, smiling at the thoughts. "But what do you think?"

"He would say, 'If you miss me so much, then you better make sure that little filly's first word is 'Daddy'. And then, I want you to remember everything I taught you every time she says that word.'."

Northern Lights looked up at his mother, tears in his eyes, but a smile on his face. "And I bet he would say, 'Tell your mother I'll still be handsome when she sees me again.'." Twilight smiled, rolling her eyes.

"Stop it, you," she said. "You know that's not true."

"Is that why you're blushing?" As Northern Lights said that, the pink on Twilight's face grew brighter as she placed a hoof on one cheek.

"Okay, maybe your'e right." She put her hoof down as the brightness, but not the smile, faded from her face. "But especially remember what I said. Every time she calls you that, you remember all the times you called him that. And then you'll know that love and pride he felt every single day for you. It's gonna be hard not having him around for a while, but soon you'll start to feel a little more comfortable knowing that even though you don't see him, he sees you. And I want your daughter to know the same thing when your time comes. But for right now," Twilight looked down at the foal in Northern Lights' hooves, gently petting her mane as she slept, "I want you to make sure this little one can remember you when she has a little one of her own. And when she does, you'll put it up as one of the top moments of your life."

Northern Lights listened to the whole talk with tears in his eyes and an evergrowing smile. "Stop it, Mom," he said. "You're gonna make me cry all over my child."

"I can take her for a second, if you need me to," Twilight offered.

"Is it because I'm crying in public and it's not very stallion-like to be holding a foal while I'm crying in front of my mother?" Northern Lights asked with a hint of humor in his voice. "Or is it because you're a sucker for foals?"

Twilight gave her son a look that said, "What do you think?" Northern Lights just rolled his eyes as he gently placed his sleeping foal into his mother's hooves.

"Thanks, Northy." As she looked down at the little foal, Twilight's smile softened, the way only a mother's instinct could make her smile. "I remember when you were this tiny. You used to squirm when you slept. I wish you were as peaceful as this one is."

"Enjoy it," Northern Lights said. "The only time I can get her to sit still is when she's asleep. I dunno how much you'd like her when she's awake."

"Makes you wounder how they can keep you up so late, doesn't it?" Twilight asked.

"I got a theory together already," Northern Lights replied. "They're like energy vampires." He started moving his front hooves in a scooping motion toward his body. "They just sap your energy from you a little at a time, so they have all the energy you have to offer, but they leave you absolutely drained, hour after hour. Kids are so easy to figure out."

"Well, look at you, the expert," Twilight replied. "Now you just need to figure out how they can eat so much."

"Shhh." Northern Lights placed a hoof against Twilight's muzzle. "That's my secret personal project." The two of them shared one last giggle before they got back onto the subject at hand. "I just wish Dad could've at least been here for her first birthday."

"Did you find out when her first birthday is?" Twilight asked.

"I wish," Northern Lights replied. "The adoption center didn't have any records of anything. She was left on their doorstep without even anything to keep her warm. She didn't even have a name when Poppy adopted her. In fact, Poppy named her as soon as she signed the dotted line. I'm glad she did. The mom should get to name the foal, right?"

"Well, not always," Twilight replied. "Usually the parents agree, but I think she made a good choice."

"Me too," Northern Lights said. "Now for her birthday, we just decided to make it the day we adopted her."

"That's perfect, Northy," Twilight said. "If you think about it, it kinda is her birthday. Ponies are first held by their parents on their birthday. So that works out perfectly." The tiny foal in Twilight's hooves started to squirm, and its eyes started to open. "Oh. Good morning, little one. Did you sleep well?" The foal looked confused for a second, looking over at her father, who gave her a compassionate look. She looked back up at Twilight again, and smiled, holding her hooves up toward Twilight as she started to giggle. Twilight did too as she started to nuzzle the little pony, who giggled even more.

"Aww, look," Northern Lights said. "She likes you!"

"Not as much as I like her," Twilight replied, lifting her muzzle and looking down at the little pony. "Isn't that right, honey?" The foal's front hooves shot up toward Twilight, and it let out a high-pitched squeal of happiness, only widening the other two ponies' smiles.

"Well, look at that," Poppy said as she returned to her family. "Y'all look like yer havin' a nice time."

"Evergreen woke up to her nap to meet a nice new friend," Twilight said.

"Is that so?" Poppy asked, stroking the little pony's cheek. "Are ya havin' fun with Miss Twilight, Evergreen?" The pony just squealed again, reaching for its mother. Poppy looked at Twilight, who smiled as she gently hoofed the little pony back to its mother. "Well, ah'm glad y'all had a good time. Ah think we'd all love it if ya stopped by ta see her once in a while."

"I'd love to," Twilight said. "And I'm sure Flash will be right at my side the whole way there. He wouldn't want to miss a moment with Grandpa's little filly."

"Just make sure he holds the door for you when you come over," Northern Lights said. "I don't want him to forget everything he taught me."

"I'll make sure I kick him a bit to remind him." Twilight giggled. "You guys have fun." She held a hoof over her forehead. "I gotta get out of this heat. You don't mind if I hug you in public, do you Northy?" Northern Lights just smiled, and leaned over to hug his mother. Twilight gratefully returned it, quickly gave another hug to Poppy and Evergreen, and waved as she flew away to leave the couple to relax.

It was growing into the evening as Twilight reached her residence in Canterlot. She sighed to herself, feeling her spirit already returning. She opened the door with her magic, and stepped inside. She looked at the open door.

"Thanks, Flashy," Twilight said as she stepped inside. And without any more influence from Twilight, the door gently closed behind her, leaving her in the twilight-lit home, safely tucked away for the night.

Author's Note

Not much to say for this note. But all I gotta say is I thought I'd give you a little update on that little foal. I'm gonna keep this story going, and I'm gonna try to make sure you guys don't get bored with this story. I hope you enjoy this update, and as always, criticism is greatly appreciated!

Thanks, y'all.

~ Delta 727

A Seed In The Patch

Welcome, My Little One: A Seed In The Patch

"I can't believe she's gone..."

Forty-five years. That's how long Northern Lights had known his beloved wife, Poppy. As the years had flown for Twilight, so did the years for Northern Lights. And now, almost sixty years after Northern Lights was born, Poppy had passed away. And today was the funeral.

Twilight was at his side for nearly the entire time. She knew the pain of loss when it came to a marriage, and she was one of the only ponies that Northern Lights knew that felt the same pain he did. Her consoling didn't take the pain away, but it did help to dull it. They now found themselves back home in Twilight's library, Northern Lights' childhood home. They sat at the kitchen table, Northern Lights with an untouched glass of water. Twilight sat across from him, the sadness on Northern Lights' face mirrored by her own.

"I know it's a hard thing to grasp, Northy, but you'll see her again one day. I'm sure of it." Twilight couldn't help but smile at her next thought. "I bet she's with your father right now, and they're smiling down on us, thinking, 'quit cryin', you two. We're still right there with you. Now sit up and save us a big ol' hug for when you get here."

A smile cracked onto Northern Lights' face as he sat up, staring up at, or through, the ceiling. "I don't care if you're all the way up there," he said almost to no one in particular, "I'll still whoop your flank, you old stallion."

Twilight giggled. "I'm sure Poppy will do that for you."

Northern Lights sighed through a smile, and a little bit of sadness crept back into his eyes. "I'm getting too old to be alone." It was true that Northern Lights was old. His mane was beginning to grey, and his skin in his face was just barely sagging.

"An elderly heart is a brittle one," Twilight said. "You should definitely be sad that she's gone, but don't let it break your heart, or you'll never get it back." She smiled, placing a hoof on Northern Lights'. "And besides, you can be darn sure that I'll always be with you until the day you're right up there with them."

"Thanks, mom," Northern Lights said. "I guess that's one perk that you're an Alicorn." He frowned. "I know this sounds bad, but I wish you wouldn't be here forever."

Twilight's expression dropped, then she nodded. "Equis needs me here, Northy. But I promise that if you floated right down from the sky and gave me a big warm hug, I'd still feel it. That's something, right?"

Northern Lights got up from the table, trotted over to his mother, and embraced her. "I'll do that, but I think you'll be sick and tired of them by the time that happens."

Twilight giggled, returning the hug. "That'd be wonderful, Northy. You only have a little while left here, but I want you to make the best of every moment. I've had a wonderful life, especially with you, but I'd trade in my own crown to keep you here just a little longer."

Northern Lights let go of his mother, and pulled his chair closer to her. "I know, but you know how impatient Poppy can be. And Evergreen's just like her mother. When she left the funeral today, she'd sat on a hill for the longest time. I've never seen her sit so still in her entire life. She never liked to wait for things, but it was almost like she was waiting for a mother to come back."

"So what did you do to comfort her?" Twiligh asked.

Northern Lights shrugged. "I sat up there with her, let her rest her head on my chest, and waited right there with her."

"What did you tell her to do when you move on?" Northern Lights didn't answer. "I'll tell you what you should tell her. Stay strong, live her life to the fullest, and if she ever needs someone for comfort, I'd always be glad to tell her about how you used to wear your Wonderbolt blanket as a cape and jump on the bed yelling-"

"I wanna be a Wonderbolt when I grow up, Momma," Northern Lights finished. Twilight just smiled. Northern Lights never became a Wonderbolt, but he got to meet them on several occasions due to Twilight's royal position. After Northern Lights finished her sentence, Twilight leaned over to hug him again.

"You'll always be my little Wonderbolt, Northern Lights," Twilight said.

"I might never fly as high as you did, Mom," Northern lights said, "but I'll always try to fly higher than I did the day before."

"That's my little one." Twilight kissed his forehead.

There was a knock at the door.

Twilight looked up suddenly. She wasn't expecting a visitor, but Northern Lights was. He got up from the table, and opened the door. Just outside, in the dimming light of the evening, Evergreen stood on the doorstep. Evergreen was now about the same size as Twilight, going on about twenty years old. She'd earned her Cutie Mark several years back, two pine trees, one shorter than the other, pressed closely together. She had a small green cloth wrapped around her hoof. It was a lucky cloth that belonged to Poppy, who wore it around her neck every so often, saying the green meant Evergreen. "So y'all will be close to mah heart as long as ah wear it," she would say. Northern Lights gave it to her as something to remember her mother by.

"Hey, Dad," Evergreen said. "Can I come in?"

Northern Lights smiled, then turned his head toward his mother. "I don't know," he said. "It's not my house."

Evergreen smiled, rolling her eyes. "Can I come in, Aunty Twilight?" Evergreen asked. She had a very thin country accent, just a fragment of what her mother's voice used to be. She referred to Twilight as "aunty" since Twilight looked young enough to be her aunt, and Twilight just didn't enjoy being called anything that so much as rhymed with old.

"You're always welcome in my home, Evergreen," Twilight replied. Northern Lights bowed, holding out his hoof as to say, "right this way". Evergreen trotted past him and took a seat at the table. Northern Lights closed the door, and sat back down in his original chair, but didn't move it an inch away from his mother.

"How are you, Evergreen?" Twilight couldn't help but ask.

"I'm alright," Evergreen replied halfheartedly. "I really miss my mother, but she's in a better place."

"She's up there keeping your old grandpa in line," Northern Lights said.

Evergreen smiled, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, yeah?" she asked. "And which one of you thought of that one first?"

Northern Lights rolled his eyes over to his mother, and Twilight rolled her own eyes, raising one hoof.

"Guilty as charged," she said.

"We'll that's what I thought." Evergreen gently patted Northern Lights on the head. "There's no way this old stallion could think of something that smart at his age."

"You watch it, missy," Northern Lights said through a smile, "or I'll show you how smart I can be."

"Aaanyways," Twilight said, "what makes you say that's smart?"

"Someone's gotta keep that cocky old cahoot in line." All three of then shared a laugh. Poppy always used to call Northern Lights' father a "cocky old cahoot".

After their laughter died down, Twilight couldn't help but ask, "So what brings you here tonight, Evergreen? Just feeling lonely?"

"Actually, I have something to tell you guys." She smiled, but rubbed her cloth-wrapped leg nervously.

"You're pregnant!?" Northern Lights looked shocked.

"Northern Lights," Twilight warned, giving him a gentle shove. But Evergreen shrugged.

"Not exactly," she said.

Before Northern Lights spoke up again, Twilight asked, "What do you mean?"

She lifted her hoof onto the table, and pulled on the cloth with her teeth. It came free, and underneath was a gold ring wrapped around her hoof.

A wedding band.

Both her father and grandmother stared in awe.

Evergreen giggled and shrugged, "For the record, I said yes."

Northern Lights finally snapped to his senses, dashing around the table to hug his daughter. "My little girl's getting married!" He couldn't contain his excitement, but still managed to let go of his daughter before the questions came flying. "Who's the lucky stallion? Is he handsome? Did he almost have a heart attack beforehand like my dad di-" Twilight quieted him down with a hoof against his muzzle. Twilight smiled, raising an eyebrow. Northern Lights got the message. Calm down. He sighed, pulling his seat up near his daughter. He sat down and said, "I'm very proud of you, Evergreen. I just know you're gonna make him the happiest stallion in the world."

"Thanks, Daddy," Evergreen said. Northern Lights teared up a little. He loved it when Evergreen called him Daddy. "The wedding's in about a month. I'l certainly be expecting you two in the front row." Evergreen turned to Twilight. "You think Spike'll show his big head at the reception?"

"I'm sure he will," Twilight replied, "if you ask him nice enough."

Evergreen smiled, and turned back to her father. "His name's Permafrost, Dad. He's a real sweet stallion. You've met him before, remember? Dark blue mane, lighter blue body, snowflake Cutie Mark?"

"The one I threatened to beat with your mother's purse if he so much as looked at you the wrong way?" Northern Lights asked.

Evergreen giggled, and nodded. "That's him."

Northern Lights smiled, raising an eyebrow and leaning toward his daughter. "Has he?"

"If he does, I'll set him right real quick so things don't get ugly, okay?"

Northern Lights crossed his front legs, the smile never leaving his face. "I don't knooow, I think I'd like to have a little heart to heart with him before you get married."

"As long as your answer's yes," Evergreen said, "you can talk to him as long as you like."

Northern Lights shrugged a little more dramatically than needed. "Eh, I'll consider it."

Evergreen leaned over and hugged her father. "Thanks, Daddy." Her father returned the hug, but didn't respond, simply kissing her on the forehead. Evergreen let go, and leaned back in her chair, and she had a nervous smile, her eyes shifting from side to side as if there was something else she was afraid to say. Northern Lights leaned his head onto his hoof, supporting it on the table.

"Whaaat is it?" he asked.

"Well, um," Evergreen started, re-wrapping her cloth around the hoof without the wedding band, "It's getting kinda late, and I don't wanna walk all the way back to my home in Manehattan. So is it okay if I..." She trailed off, an expectant smile on her face."

Northern Lights smiled, crossing his front legs again. "No," he said simply. Twilight tilted her head, puzzled.

Evergreen shrugged, her smile becoming a little more genuine. "Guess I'm sleeping in the park tonight." She got out of her chair and headed for the door. Twilight's face became increasingly full of concern. "I'll scream as loud as I can if somepony tries to kidnap me, but you never know. It might not be enough."

Northern Lights chuckled as he got out of his chair, trotting over to the door and opening it.

"Let's go home," he said. Evergreen smiled, and trotted out the door. Northern Lights turned to his mother. "G'night, Mom. I'll come back and visit you tomorrow. Mind if I bring Evergreen?"

"That's the only reason you're allowed back in this house," Twilight said with a smile. Northern Lights returned it with one of his own.

"Goodnight, Mom."

"Sweet dreams, my little one."

Northern Lights trotted out the door, closing it behind him.

Twilight got out of her chair and trotted to the window. She stood up on her back hooves, placing her front ones on the edge of the window frame. She watched as Northern Lights and his daughter trotted down the path back into the heart of Ponyville. She smiled, wiping a tear from your eye.

"I told you you'd have a little one of your own someday. And she's beautiful, Northy."

She kept watching, tears in her eyes, as their silhouettes disappeared as the sun dipped behind the horizon.

Author's Note

No, this story ain't dead! I'm back y'all!

Sorry I've been gone for so long, guys. This is still my most popular story to date by far, and I want to keep the audience happy. I don't know when I'm gonna be wrapping up this story, but it's gotta end somewhere. I'll keep working with this, and if you guys love this story, don't stop telling me! This story warms my heart as much as yours. I wish that, like Twilight, it could really last forever. But, thankfully, the love you guys give this story does. So here's to you guys, the wonderful fans that keep me coming back to give you all the heartwarming fun you can take.

With love,

~Delta 727

One Last Time

(Before I begin this chapter, I have a song that I need you to have at the ready. Do not listen to it yet. Simply pause it until I say to play it. You will understand why later. Here is the link. Thank you.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70VlAyEUXYM&index=1&list=PLYtig8PQNsNFC_L3MpbaJBL40fWnKCZFI

Welcome, My Little One: One Last Time

"I love you... I love you so much..."

Twilight Sparkle once again found herself in a hospital, holding tightly to her little one. Only this time, it was much different.

Northern Lights, Twilight's dear son, now lay in a hospital bed. Frail and fragile, he had grown old and was beginning to whither away. His mane had gone nearly completely grey, his skin was sagging off of his bones, and the life seemed to have drained from his eyes. His hoof was holding on to his mother's, not daring to let go.Twilight's sobs were only matched by the beeping of the heart monitor connected to her son.

"I know you do, Momma." Northern Lights' voice was dry and weak, only a trace of the energy it once had remaining. "And that's all that matters right now."

Twilight's eyes met her son's, and she was able to force a small smile. "That's all that ever mattered, Northy. And when you see your father and your wife again, I want you to tell them that I love them too."

Now, Northern Lights smiled. "I'm sure you'll get to tell them yourself some day. But I suppose I can pass on the message." Twilight tried her best to smile through her tears, but it cracked with each sob. "Hey, c'mon now," Northern Lights continued, raising one shaking hoof to his mother's eye to wipe away a tear. "No mother should ever know what this is like, I know, but hey, think about it. You've gotten to love your kid a heck of a lot longer than most mothers get to. That's a plus, right?"

Twilight sniffed back her tears. "If there's one thing I've learned as my time as a member of the Elements of Harmony, and my time as a Princess, it's that love could last forever if it's allowed to. But who's to say I'm ever going to stop loving you?"

"That's the spirit," Northern Lights said. He coughed a couple times, and sank back into his pillow. "Man, getting old stinks. I don't know how you put up with it."

Twilight forced a giggle at that. "Cadence said that 'age before beauty' always was a joke, and that Alicorns were living proof. And the same went for you. When you were born, you were the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. And no matter what, you'll always be that little foal laying right there beside me."

"That's what it was like when I saw Evergreen," Northern Lights said. "She was beautiful, almost as beautiful as her mother. She still is, I'm sure." Northern Lights managed to look up enough to look his mother in the eyes. "Can you promise me something?"

"Of course, Northy," Twilight replied.

"Can you look after her for me? I told her not to come here and see me like this. It's not how I want her to remember me."

"Of course I can." Twilight brushed a strand of hair out of Northern Lights' eyes. "She'll be safe and sound as long as I'm here, I promise."

"Thank you so much, Mom." Northern Lights coughed again. "She means the world to me."

"I know," Twilight replied. "She's a big part of my world too. But you'll always be the world to me." She sniffled, and the tears started to fall again.

Northern Lights sighed with a smile and closed his eyes, his voice lowering to a whisper. "I love you, Momma."

Twilight closed her eyes, and nestled her muzzle against his shoulder. "I love you too, my little one." She began to cry again, but the sobbing had stopped. "Forever and always."

Beep...

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-click.

Three days later...

"Twilight?"

Princess Celestia had not seen Twilight since the funeral of her son, and shehad begun to get worried. She herself could only understand the pain that Twilight must have been feeling, but she had thought that Twilight would be looking for consolance by now. She knew that mourning alone would only hurt her more.

When she opened the door to Twilight's library, it was very dark, the only light coming from a candle slowly burning on the wall halfway up the stairs. She noticed that the door to Northern Lights' room under the stairs was open. She approached the door, and peered into the darkness.

Northern Lights' room was relatively left as it was when he moved out. His same old bed with its Wonderbolts blanket, a few posters, a bedside nightstand and lamp, a dresser, and a blue rug. As Princess Celestia squinted, she could see a purple mass in the middle of the rug, simply sitting with a glass of water next to her. Sorrow flooded her heart, and she had to hold herself back for a moment to collect herself before she spoke.

"Twilight?" she said again. Her only response was a faint sniffle. Without another word, she slipped into the room and laid down next to Twilight, facing her. She gently nuzzled Twilight's shoulder for a moment, and Twilight turned to look at her. Her eyes were red with tears, and she looked drained of hope. Princess Celestia's heavy heart fell right into her stomach. "Oh, Twilight," was all she could say.

"I know, Princess Celestia," Twilight replied. "I'm not doing so well. It's like I've been sick for all this time. I'm-" she paused as she tried to think of a word.

"Heartsick," Princess Celestia finished.

"Yes," Twilight replied. "It's like it's broken and sick at the same time. I just don't know what to do, Princess Celestia." She turned back to stare up at a picture of Northern Lights as a foal, posing with the Wonderbolts, hanging above his old bed. "I miss him so much."

"I know it's hard, Twilight, though I cannot say I know your pain fully." Princess Celestia turned to look at the photo herself. "I've never had children of my own, but I always feared I would know the feeling of losing you one day. While the time has been prolonged, it still lingers over me-"

"Huh?" Twilight cut her off. "Did you say 'prolonged'?"

"Yes, Twilight," Princess Celestia said absent-mindedly. Then it came to her. "Oh, you did not know that you-"

"Aren't immortal?" Twilight's eyes were locked on Princess Celestia.

Princess Celestia sighed. "I am afraid so." She looked away from Twilight again, this time looking at a photo of Northern Lights and Twilight posing together on a balcony at the Canterlot castle. "As you can imagine, Alicorns are not immortal. Luna and I once had a mother ourselves, but she has passed on, just as all ponies must one day. And Luna and I must one day bear descendants to take our place one day. But you, Twilight, are different." She turned back to Twilight, who hadn't moved an inch. "You are still a pony at heart. We gave you the wings and the power of any normal Alicorn, but you are still in part a normal pony at heart. Your life is prolonged, but not as long as us. You may not grow old, but you will pass on as all Alicorns must. I dread that day still, but I can assure you that there are great things waiting for you on the other side."

Twilight was frozen. Her thoughts were a mix of happiness and sorrow. Happiness for the joy of seeing her son again one day, and sorrow for knowing that her mentor would still have to see her pass away. A sob escaped her lips, and a few tears ran down her cheeks. She couldn't hold it any longer, She jumped up and into Princess Celestia's chest, pressing herself there and letting the crying come free. Princess Celestia wrapped one leg around Twilight, and simply held her as she cried until Twilight finally spoke through her sobs.

"I'm sorry, Princess," she whispered.

"No, no, Twilight, please," Princess Celestia replied, gently pushing Twilight back into a sitting position and looking her in her teary eyes. "You have nothing to be sorry for. I am happy for the time we've had, and for the time we still have. But this isn't completely what it is supposed to be. You belong with your son in the next life, and I promise that when you get there, you can be sure that one day I will return to you just as you will to him." She wiped a tear from Twilight's eye, and Twilight sniffled. Princess Celestia simply smiled. "You are a wonderful pony, and Equestria is lucky to have you. Don't cry for me. I know you'll be somewhere better. I've seen it."

Twilight sniffled again, wiping away a few more tears. "You've... You've seen it?"

Princess Celestia smiled and stood up. "Come with me back to Canterlot. I have something very special to show you." She very carefully helped Twilight to her hooves. "That is, if you're ready."

Twilight nodded, and Princess Celestia led the way out the door. But before Twilight left, she turned to the photos of Northern Lights in his room. She spotted one in particular: a picture of Northern Lights as a young foal, barely a newborn, cuddled up in his crib and wrapped in the same blanket that now adorned his bed. His eyes were closed, and he had a warm smile on his face. Twilight smiled through her tears, gently kissing one hoof, and placing it against the picture carefully.

"I love you, Northern Lights," Twilight said. Then she slowly backed out of the room as if Northern Lights was still right there, sleeping soundly, and she was trying not to wake him. She slowly closed the door, and kept one eye looking through the crack like she always would, making sure he was perfectly safe before she closed the door. Her smile never left as she closed the door, leaving Northern Lights to sleep soundly for the last time.

"We're here."

Princess Celestia had brought Twilight to a room in Canterlot castle that she had never seen before. It was a small room deep under the castle, with walls made of the same cold stone and a bare floor. But inside was an oval mirror, beautifully gilded with a golden frame. What Twilight didn't realize was just how special this mirror was.

"What is it?" Twilight asked.

"It's your chance to see your little foal one last time in this world," Princess Celestia replied. Twilight's eyes instantly snapped to the Princess, but before she could blurt anything out, the Princess went on. "Hush, Twilight. I need you to listen carefully." She turned to Twilight, and her voice turned very serious. "You will be able to see him and all of your friends and family once more, but only once more. After this, you cannot come back and see them again. The living are not meant to speak to the dead, but we are only able to bend these rules a little bit. Therefore, you are also limited on time. I recommend that you say your greetings to your family and friends again, but do your best to say whatever you need to say to Northern Lights. This will be your last chance until you pass away as well. And you are not to mention a word of this to anypony, not even Cadence or Luna. They are perfectly aware of the existence of this and Cadence has already used her time to visit your brother once more. This mirror is forbidden to be seen by normal ponies, and therefore if you are to so much as whisper it in a pony's ear, you will be punished greatly. Do you understand?"

Twilight took a minute to think long and hard about what the Princess told her, about her decision, and about what she would say. After very careful deliberation, she shook her head to clear her thoughts. She knew what she wanted to do, and she couldn't let her emotions get in the way of it. She nodded.

"Good. I will connect you to the other side, and I will leave. I do not want to rush you, but do not linger any longer than you feel you need to say what you need to. Please, stand back." Twilight took a few steps back toward the door, and Princess Celestia began to concentrate her magic. Her face contorted slightly as she did so, and her horn began to glow. Finally, it lit up in a flash, and her eyes sprang open. They were glowing white. The surface of the mirror began to glow as well, and grew so bright that Twilight could not longer see a reflection in it. After Princess Celestia's magic was concentrated for a moment, it began to calm down, and the light both in her horn and eyes and in the mirror began to fade. But the reflection in the mirror did not return. Instead, there came an image that almost brought Twilight to tears. As took in what she saw, she heard the door close behind her as Princess Celestia left.

She saw all of her old friends, the Element-bearers, her parents, Shining Armor, Flash Sentry, Poppy, and Northern Lights all together in an open meadow. The sun was shining, and she could see a village in the background, where the spirits of her friends and family must have lived. The ponies she saw were about the same age as each other, the same age that Twilight still looked herself, and they were all playing or talking among themselves or other friends and family they knew themselves.

Twilight had to hold back her tears as she saw her son again. He was laying with Poppy in the grass, talking happily with her. Poppy was wearing a straw sun hat, and her old handkerchief was tied around her neck. She was so focused on her son that she did not notice that one pony had seen her.

"Twilight!" Pinkie Pie screamed. Before she could even react, the pink pony was right up against the surface of the "glass". She was scrabbling against it and yelling at a mile a minute. Things like "I can't believe it's you!" and "I missed you!" and "Is Sugarcube Corner okay?" until finally she was pulled back by Applejack, who was just as happy to see her. All of the other ponies took notice, and they were all looking up at her, talking all at once and asking all sorts of questions.

Twilight giggled as a few tears ran down her face. "Hello, everypony. Mom. Dad. Applejack. Rarity. Pinkie Pie. Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy. Shining Armor. Flash. Poppy." She paused on the last name, smiling harder than ever. "Northern Lights." They all gave their greetings in turn.

"Hello again, dear."

"Hello, honey."

"Howdy, Sugarcube."

"Hello again, darling."

"I should've made a batch of cupcakes!"

"Hey again, Egghead."

"U-um, I'm very happy to see you again Twilight." She was the one having the hardest time fighting back tears.

"Good to see ya, Twiley."

"Princess Twilight, and my dear wife." He winked smoothly, sniffing back tears.

"Well if it ain't mah favorite in-law!"

"Momma..."

Twilight nearly broke when she heard that word again. She simply sniffed back her tears and straightened up with a smile. "I'm sorry I have to be so brief, but I don't have a lot of time. Princess Celestia has let me come and see all of you like this because it's a great privilege granted only to Alicorns. I just wanna say, I still love all of you and I have some bittersweet new. I get to come there with all of you one day." There were a few gasps of surprise and a little cheer from her family and friends. "I know, it was a surprise to me too. It turns out that Alicorns don't live forever, and since I used to be just a normal pony, I don't live as long as normal Alicorns, so I'll be moving on before Princess Celestia and Luna still. While it's sad to know that they still have to see me pass on, it's wonderful knowing I get to come there one day." There came a few more comments such as "that's great news" and "don't keep us waiting too long" and "don't worry, we're not going anywhere anytime soon". She was almost overwhelmed by this, but she remembered what she wanted to do. "I hate to cut this time so short, but I don't have long. I just wanna say I love all of you so much, and I can't wait to come see you again. But I need a favor from all of you. Well, almost all of you." She looked over all the expectant, teary-eyed faces looking at her from the other side of the mirror. "I would like these last few minutes alone with Northern Lights." She expected several protests, but not one spoke up against it. Many of them said they would happily oblige, and said it was wonderful seeing her again.

Northern Lights was almost in awe. He was overjoyed on the inside knowing that his mother was asking ponies she hadn't seen for years to cut their time short just for him, and they all completely understood. He simply sat there staring as Twilight said her individual goodbyes and farewells to each one of her family members and friends, who all left one at a time until only Northern LIghts remained.

"Hey, Northy," Twilight said, tears welling in her eyes.

Northern Lights stood up and trotted over to stand just across from his mother. "Mom..." was all he could say. He pressed a hoof against the shield keeping them apart, and Twilight put hers over his.

"It feels like you're right in front of me again," Twilight said. "If only I could just touch you again." Northern Lights was speechless. He was on the verge of tears. "I know this is all a bit of a surprise for you, but it was a surprise for me too. You have no idea how happy I am to see you again."

"It's so hard to believe that I died right in front of you not an hour ago."

"An hour?" Twilight was befuddled. "It's been days here."

Northern Lights managed a small chuckle. "Well, look at that. Maybe you won't be gone as long as I thought. A few years, and maybe you'll be here to celebrate Hearth's Warming Eve."

Twilight smiled. "I would love that, Northy. But I would love nothing more than to be there with you, even for just a day."

"Well, you always taught me about patience," Northern Lights said, "So I guess it's my turn to teach you. Just take it day by day, and know I'm thinking of you all the time."

"I'll be thinking of you too. You won't leave my mind for a second."

"Don't," Northern Lights said in a very serious voice. Twilight was caught by surprise, but Northern Lights went on. "I don't want my memory to be in your mind so much. I want you to live your life without you being sad for me all the time. Just remember all the good we had, and think about all the more good you can still have. I love you, Mom. And I just want you to remember that you love me too. Not that you've lost me for now. Promise me you won't be sad for me anymore." Twilight couldn't say a word. "Promise me."

"Cross my heart, hope to fly," Twilight started, her voice hoarse from tears.

"Stick a cupcake in my eye," Northern Lights finished, placing his free hoof over one closed eye. "Now no more tears. I don't want to cry yourself dry because of me."

"No more tears," Twilight said. "But I have enough love for you that's bigger than any sadness with ever be."

"Me too, and that's a promise too."

The mirror's color faded a little, then returned.

"I don't have much time left." Twilight's smile faded a little.

"Alright, don't freak out," Northern Lights said. "You're just gonna burst into tears again if it's too sudden. I just wanna say I love you, and me not being there will be a lot easier to swallow if you just remember that I'm thinking about you every time I go to sleep. And when you're about to sleep, think of me. Then we can say we both did it. That's how I got through Poppy passing away. You'd be surprised how close you feel to somepony when you do that."

"I will, Northy. Every night. I promise." Twilight smiled as she remembered something. "And speaking of sleeping, I think I have something you're going to love."

"What's that?" Northern Lights asked, a bit puzzled.

"A new lullaby." Northern Lights' smile faded, and tears began to well up. "Would you like to hear it?"

Northern Lights paused, then sniffed back his tears. "More than anything."

"It's not the one I sang when you were a foal. It's a new one that Poppy taught me, one that she said the ponies at the orphanage sang to Wintergreen and all the other orphans there. I think you'll understand why when you hear it. Are you ready?" Northern lights sniffed, tears already welling up, but he nodded. What Twilight didn't know was that Northern Lights could have sworn that Twilight and Poppy both had the same loving tone when they sang that was so identical, he had Poppy sing it again every night as a memoir of his mother. With that, Twilight began to sing.

(Please play the song now, and read along with the lyrics as it plays.)

Wandering child of the earth

Do you know just how much you're worth?

You have walked this path since you're birth.

You were destined for more.

There are those that will tell you you're wrong.

They will try to silence your song.

But right here is where you belong

So don't search anymore.

You are the dawn of a new day that's waking.

A masterpiece that's still in the making.

The blue in an ocean of grey.

You are right where you need to be.

Poised to inspire and to succeed. You'll look back and you'll realize one day.

In your eyes there is doubt

As you try to figure it out

But that's not what life is about

So have faith

There's a way.

Though the world may try to define you

It can't take the light that's inside you.

So don't you dare try to hide

Let your fears fade away.

You are the dawn of a new day that's waking.

A masterpiece still in the making.

The blue in an ocean of grey.

You are right where you need to be.

Poised to inspire and to succeed.

You'll look back and realize one day.

You are the dawn of a new day that's waking.

A masterpiece still in the making.

The blue in an ocean of grey.

You are right where you need to be.

Poised to inspire and to succeed.

Soon you'll Finally find your own way.

Northern Lights was crying by the end of the lullaby.

"I love you, Northern Lights."

"I love you too, Momma."

The reflection faded, and Northern Lights was gone.

The time was up, and it was time to move on.

But despite the departure,

Their time was not yet done.

Because there would be a day

When she would once again say,

"Welcome, My Little One."

Author's Note

Thank you all so much for coming on this journey with me. This story was one of the best I've ever written, and I'm so happy you all loved it so much that you encouraged me to come as far as I have. I don't have many completed story, but this one deserved a wonderful ending. Again, thank you all so much for your love and support, and may you all one day know the joys of having your own little one.

From writer to dreamer to creator,

~Delta 727