The Parents

The Parents

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Two Weeks Later (Week 25)-

“Okay, that should be everything.” Gleaming tossed back her mane, idly pacing back and forth in the apartment. “Could you read it all back to me, Spike?”

Spike, who was reclining on Gleaming’s back with a quill and parchment, took a moment to check his work. “Okay, you’ve checked the availability of local real estate. You’ve drawn out a list of accountants, banks, and book publishers, and marked their locations on a city map. You’ve got a pamphlet listing out all the holidays of the Crystal Empire, given the Guard full descriptions of Mom and Dad, added them to the list of VIP’s, and alerted the castle staff. Mom and Dad’s medical and financial records have been sent to us by dragonfire, with the medical stuff being sent to the Royal Physician. Lastly, Dad’s welcoming gift isn’t ready yet, but Mom’s is, and you’ve got it wrapped and sitting over on the coffee table.”

Spike rolled up the parchment and stretched his arms. “I think that’s everything, Gleam-Gleam. Although I still think you don’t need to prepare this much.”

It was just Gleaming and Spike in the apartment at the moment. Cadance was holding afternoon court, and Twilight had gone down to meet Twilight Velvet and Night Light at the train station. Gleaming was doing last-minute rundown to make sure everything was in order, and Spike… well, he didn’t get to see Gleaming much, so they were trying to spend more time together.

Gleaming sighed. She looked out the south window, where a set of train tracks was visible off on the city’s edge. There was a sliiiight hiccup in all of this, in that Gleaming and Cadance had kind of... forgotten to tell Night and Velvet their plan to have kids. They hadn’t found out until the official nationwide announcement, and much like Twily had been miffed about the wedding...

“Trust me, Bud,” Gleaming said. “I do.”

“If you say so,” Spike said. He fidgeted a bit, adjusting his position on Gleaming’s back. He really liked this new, larger maternity brace she’d gotten. Much more comfortable to sit on than the other one. “But I still think Mom and Dad will wanna look up this stuff themselves.”

Gleaming shrugged. “Dad likes it when he has options. Mom really likes lists. If they’re considering moving up here, there’s gonna be a lot of logistics. This’ll make it easier on them.”

Spike chuckled. “I suppose. Though I gotta say, it’s pretty funny seeing you do the same thing as Twilight. I guess it runs in the family.”

Gleaming couldn’t help but smile. “There are worse tendencies.”

With Nightmare Night passed and more holidays on the horizon, the Crystal Empire was now in full festive mode. The castle was currently decorated in an autumn motif, with crystals of gold, maroon, orange on every corner, and by every light. Being farther up north, the days had gotten noticeably shorter (down to about nine hours of daylight currently) and because of this, the streets of the Empire were enchanted with a special spell, one that let them reflect both starlight, and moonlight. This meant that at nighttime, the city streets glowed with an astral brilliance, giving the city a dreamlike, ethereal feel.

Spike scooched forward, his claws brushing against the silky thickness of Gleaming’s mane. He’d been apprehensive about riding her, but Gleaming grabbed him in her magic and plopped him atop her before he could protest. He couldn’t say he minded (she was comfier than Twilight) but it did surprise him that even with five foals, his added weight didn’t faze her at all.

“Hey, are you okay?” Spike asked. He gave Gleaming a gentle squeeze. “You seem a little tense.”

Gleaming didn’t reply right away. She focused on her reflection in the window, similar, yet so very different. Gone was the rugged chin, athletic frame, and bulky legs. Gone was the intimidating presence, the edge in her stony gaze now soft and warm. Gone was the firstborn son of House Sparkle, protector and renowned hero of the Equestria.

And in his place… was...

“I guess I am,” Gleaming admitted. A hoof drifted to her swollen middle, giving it a gentle rub. Her first growth spurt was only finally winding down, and while the overall results were quite pleasing. She’d put on another sixteen pounds, and crept up another half-inch in height. And all the while her belly had just kept on expanding... widening... burgeoning as her precious foals grew. Gleaming’s last fundal height measurement had measured eighty-six centimeters, and while so much extra weight and mass should have slowed her down, she actually felt good—no, scratch that… she felt great.

“I’m just not sure how they’re gonna react,” Gleaming said. She pawed at the ground. “They haven’t seen me like this, and I don’t want them to freak out. That’s all.”

Spike shook his head. “They’re not gonna freak out, Gleam-Gleam. The worst they’ll do is lecture you, and then get over it like they do with everything. Besides they’re getting grandkids, remember? I think that’s more important than you being a mare for a little while.”

Gleaming’s mane fell over her face, her voice falling to a whisper. “But what if I want to stay a mare?”

Spike blinked several times. “…what?”

“I’ve been talking it over with Cady.” Gleaming reached up and felt her muzzle, running a hoof along its sleeker, smaller outline. “I can’t really explain it, but something about all this just feels… right. I’m not sure I want to go back to the way I was, anymore.”

Spike listened with an unreadable expression. He could tell there was more, so he waited until Gleaming was ready to continue.

“It started with little things,” Gleaming said. “I’ve been happier overall, and it’s been cool to see things from a different perspective. I’ve been able to relate to Cady better, we do more things as a couple, and almost everypony in the castle’s been really nice to me.”

Gleaming felt a fluttering as one of the foals kicked. She was starting to be able to tell them apart, recognizing their movements and places they liked to be. That had been the crystal pony colt, who tended to kick harder (and more frequently). “My special talent is protecting others. We all know that. But as time’s gone on, I’ve been getting really, really strong feelings of satisfaction from it. Like, you have NO idea how good I feel, pretty much all the time, now! Before, it was a vague feeling, mostly because I was working to protect the Empire, but now that I’m pregnant, it’s more… intimate, I guess? I don’t know if there’s a word to describe it.”

Gleaming glanced over at the coffee table, where her tiara and gorget lay. “I dunno, Spike. This just feels like who I’m supposed to be.”

“Okay, hold up a sec.” Spike said. “First off, who exactly have you told about all this?”

Gleaming frowned. “Uh… Cady, obviously. She’s all for it, of course. Annnnnnd I just told you, so… yeah.”

Spike raised an eyebrow. “That’s it? Not even Twilight?”

“I’m not fully decided, here,” Gleaming said simply. “I’m still trying to work this all out.”

“But why tell me?” Spike asked. “I’m just a kid! And no offense, but aren’t you gonna go with what Cadance says, no matter what the rest of us want?”

Gleaming swivelled her head so that she and Spike were face-to-face. “I still care what you have to say, Bud. Whether you realize it or not, you, Twily, Mom, Dad… you all have huge impacts on my life! Cady is certainly a factor, but she’s not the only one who has a say.”

Spike pursed his lips. He wrung his little claws for a while, his eyes flicking back and forth. “So you’re telling me because… you wanna know what I think.”

“Yes.”

“About you staying as a mare after you have your foals.”

Gleaming nodded.

Spike snorted, a tiny puff of flame escaping his nose. “You can be such a dummy sometimes, Gleam-Gleam. I want you to be happy! If staying as a girl is what you wanna do, then stay as a girl. It’s not like I’m gonna love you less, or something.”

Gleaming’s heart skipped a beat. She cocked her head slowly, as if she were seeing the little dragon for the first time.

“Spike...”

“I mean, come on!” Spike continued. “What’s it matter? You’re still my big bro—er, sister. I’m not gonna forget that just be—GAH!”

Gleaming whisked Spike off her back and pulled him into a fuzzy hug, nuzzling the ever-living daylights out of him.

“You are the best little brother,” she murmured, planting a kiss atop his head. “Never, ever, ever lose that heart of yours, okay?”

“Ack!” Spike wriggled and squirmed. “Too much fluff!”

Gleaming smothered him for a bit longer before finally relenting and putting him down. Spike immediately made a show of brushing himself off and acting annoyed, but he didn’t move away from her, either. And when she started walking over to the kitchen, he immediately followed after.

“I still think Mom and Dad are gonna need some time to adjust to the new me, though,” Gleaming said. “Like you did when you first got here. Remember?”

Spike rolled his eyes. “So I was a little weirded out at first! But you showed me that you’re still you, and everything was fine! And honestly? Now that I’ve had time to think about it, you doing all of this has honestly been pretty cool. You’ve basically become Supermare! Oooh, oooh, no! Better yet! Supermom!”

Gleaming froze. The M-word echoed in her mind, over and over like a broken record. She was still for several seconds, until she looked down at Spike like he’d just given her the last piece of the puzzle.

“Supermom.”

Spike smiled, showing off his pearly white fangs. “Yeah! Gleaming Shield, the Mightiest of Moms! Princess by day, Superhero by night! Protector of the meek! Avatar of mercy! Something… something, something, more cool words... I don’t know. Just pick out a bunch of heroic-sounding stuff from the comics. That’s what I do.”

Gradually, Gleaming smiled as well. She went over to the refrigerator and began pulling out some snacks, grateful that they’d recently restocked things. “Okay, so I’m Supermom. What are my superpowers?”

Spike hesitated. “Oh! Um… good question.” He folded his arms and tapped his chin. “Hmm… well, you obviously have super strength and stamina, seeing as you were just pacing with me on your back for like a half-hour, and you don’t look tired at all. Are you tired?”

Gleaming shook her head. “I get around fine, my magic’s fine, and the kids don’t bother me all that much. My stamina’s kept up because of the magic infusions, and the other spells Twily cast on me. I’m basically built to be pregnant.”

Spike idly tapped his claws on the floor. “Let’s see then, what else? Oh, you have super-strong magic, because, well… you’re you, and super healing because of all of Twilight and Cadance’s spells, like you just said! Oh, it’s made your magic feel all toasty and warm, too... and there’s so much of it, now! You’re practically a nice, cozy furnace now. I love it!”

Gleaming licked her lips as she filled a few plates with munchies for herself, along with another, smaller plate for Spike. “Furnace? Nah, I’d say I’m more like an oven.”

Spike grinned. “Because of those ‘buns’ you’re baking, right?”

“You got it.”

Suddenly curious, Spike came up to Gleaming and felt her stomach. Even through the thick maternity brace, he could feel its constant heat, both physically, and magically. Her womb was absolutely ginormous from his perspective, taking up the bulk of his vision and then some, and he could feel its heavy weight, moving steadily with Gleaming’s breaths, rocking the foals in time with her beating heart.

Gleaming felt Spike’s touch and glanced down, noting his expression of awe. “It’s pretty surreal, isn’t it?”

Spike gently stroked the curve of Gleaming’s belly. “Yeah…”

Gleaming smiled. “You excited to be an uncle?”

Spike swallowed hard. “I-I think so… but I mean, what do I do?”

Gleaming closed the fridge and made back for the living room, gesturing for Spike to follow. “You won’t have to worry about much for the first few years... unless you decide to stick around, then we might enlist you for baby watch. When they’re older, though, just be yourself! Show them who their Uncle Spike is, and let them get to know you.”

Trailing close behind, Spike watched Gleaming clamber up onto the couch and lay down with a small grunt. The weight of her paunch sank deep into the cushions, it’s bulk shifting slightly before molding back into a maternal shape. Spike hopped into the chair beside and got comfy, then reached for a comic on the coffee table.

“I haven’t been around babies all that much,” Spike murmured. He flipped open the comic and searched for where he’d left off. “Do you think that they’ll like me?”

“Are you kidding? Of course they will!” Gleaming floated his bowl of snacks over to him (agates and amethysts sprinkled with powdered emeralds) and pulled out a book of her own. “You’re gonna be the coolest uncle ever, Bud. They’re always gonna be happy to see you.”

“Heh.” Spike took the bowl and began eagerly munching away, his attention quickly drawn to his favorite costumed heroes. “Uncle Spike… I kinda like the sound of that.”

Later-

Knock-knock-knock.

“Okay!” Gleaming snapped her book shut and got up in a flash. “That’s them. Here we go!”

Spike laughed from his chair. “Think I’m gonna stay out of the way. They’re gonna be all starry-eyed over you.”

“Probably,” Gleaming agreed. She took a deep, calming breath. “Come in!”

The front door opened, and in walked a beaming Twilight carrying a scroll in her magic. Not far behind her at a more leisurely pace were two middle-aged unicorns, one a stallion, the other a mare.

“And here she is!” Twilight said to them, gesturing to Gleaming. “Ta-daaaaaa!”

Gleaming waved sheepishly.

“Hi, Mom. Hey, Dad.”

Night Light was tall and slim, with a neat, azure mane and a calm, stoic demeanor. His coat was the color of a summer sky, and his cutie mark was a pair of crescent moons. His piercing amber eyes were like a hawk’s, and they drilled into Gleaming as he examined her in excruciating detail.

“Well, now.” Night’s voice was low and deep, its smoothness holding a quiet power. “Look at you.”

“Oh, Honey!” Twilight Velvet dashed forward, pulling Gleaming into a hug. “My gosh, you look beautiful! Are you feeling okay? How’s everything going? Twilight told us you were doing well, but this is—wow!”

The mares of House Sparkle tended to be above average physically and magically. Twilight Velvet was no exception to this, and as the matron of the House, she’d done her best to maintain her image. Velvet was a natural beauty, shapely and sleek, with a full, silvery coat and a two-toned mane of purple and white. She was as tall as Night Light, easily able to loom over most mares with ease, and the rigors of bearing two foals had left her with a curvy form. Her cutie mark was a trio of three simple, lavender stars, set upon her wide, ample hips.

Gleaming blushed. She let her mother circle around her, examining and taking in her genderswapped form. “Thanks. I’ve been keeping to the regimen they gave me, so things have been pretty steady so far.”

Velvet looked Gleaming up and down, fussing and prodding. “You feel warm… you’re not overworking yourself, are you? Ah, you’ve got a maternity brace on! Good, good. I was going to suggest one. Oooh, and you’ve let your mane grow out! I like it!”

Gleaming fidgeted. “Ah, thanks. It was Cady’s idea.”

Velvet put her hoof on Gleaming’s middle, really taking in how large and wide it was. “My goodness, Shining—”

“Gleaming,” Twilight said.

“...Gleaming, yes.” Velvet squinted, mouthing the name silently a few times. “Not even six months in, and you’re bigger than I ever was! Good thing you’re as tall as me, eh? Or else your bump might be dragging on the floor.”

Gleaming furrowed her brow. She took a closer look at her mother, realizing with a start that they were indeed exactly the same height. That was unexpected.

“Y-Yeah...” Gleaming kept her expression neutral. “It’s a good—AH! MOM!”

Velvet had lifted up Gleaming’s tail to examine her nethers. “Hold still. I wanna see.”

“You could ask, you know!” Gleaming growled, her cheeks now really aflame. “Jeez!”

“Oh, are we ASKING each other things, now?” Velvet’s voice took on a slight edge. “And here I thought we were just DOINGthings, leaving everyone else to find out via national announcement.”

Gleaming pursed her lips. She chanced a look at Twilight and Night, but all she got back were glares and swishing tails.

Gleaming slowly hung her head. “I’m… sorry.”

“Hmph.” Velvet looked over Gleaming’s backside, noting both the physical changes, and the magic holding them all place. “Your teats are already starting to fill out, dear. It’s early, but it still wouldn’t hurt to go out and get some bras, just in case. Unless you and Cadance already have?”

Gleaming shook her head. “Not yet.”

“Is she here, by the way?” Twilight asked, looking around the apartment. “Cadance, I mean. Or is she still down at court?”

“Still at court,” Gleaming said. “Likely for another hour, at least.”

Twilight tapped her chin. “That means you haven’t had your second infusion for the day, right?”

Again, Gleaming shook her head. “Did you wanna do it?”

Twilight nodded, trotting closer. “I haven’t shown Mom and Dad the Rainbow Power thing yet.”

Night’s expression brightened. “Oh, you’re going to show us now? Great!” He took Twilight’s parchment, producing a quill and ink. “Some of my colleagues are curious, and I promised I’d take a few observational notes.”

Night was a researcher at Canterlot University, focusing primarily on astronomy-related topics. He’d never been much for speaking, grading, or delivering presentations, so he tended to focus more on individual efforts.

“Colleagues, my ass,” Velvet muttered. She moved away from Gleaming, going over by the couch. “You’re just not convinced that this new power of hers is—”

“RAWR!” Spike leapt from the chair, glomping Velvet in a tacklehug. “I gotcha, Momma!”

Velvet let out a whinny of surprise, nearly bolting before realizing...

“Is that my special little dragon?!” She lifted Spike up in her hooves. “Why, it is! You silly goose, were you hiding over here?”

Spike laughed, happily hugging her neck. “I wanted to surprise ya.”

“And you certainly did.” Velvet kissed his cheek, holding her foster son in a tender embrace. “Oh, I missed you...”

Twilight and Gleaming smiled fondly at them. They watched for a bit longer before returning back to what they were doing, with Twilight widening her stance and spreading her wings.

The flare of energy was palpable. Gleaming shivered as Twilight glowed with ardent light, incandescent like a living flame. Her wingtips shifted color, her hooves shone with sigils, and her mane and tail went ethereal, their four colors melding into one another. Her prismatic magic swept around Gleaming, enveloping her in its serene embrace, and with an extremely pleasant feeling, it gradually seeped into her body.

Velvet’s eyes grew to the size of dinner plates. “Oh, my…”

Spike snickered. “Pretty cool, huh?”

Night trotted around Twilight, taking care to keep his distance. His rugged jaw was clenched as he took notes.

“Harmonic, that’s for certain,” he muttered. “Yet carries an arcane signature… definitely thermodynamic…”

Gleaming let out a long, relaxed sigh. The incredible feeling was bubbling up inside her, rejuvenating and filling her reserves filled to the brim. There was a definite difference between Twily’s and Cady’s magic, but it was like the difference between your two favorite foods. It swirled about inside her, fusing with her essence and increasing her power, and her eyes fluttered closed as she savored the feeling.

A moment later, Twilight quelled her magic and returned to normal, grinning. “There you go! That’s about the same amount Cadence gives you, right?”

Gleaming reopened her eyes, now just a teensy bit brighter. “Mmm, you gave me a little more, but I’m not complaining. I’ve been feeling like I could use a bit extra, lately.”

“That’s not surprising.” Twilight folded her wings. “In a typical pregnancy, the arcane needs of the fetus change from week to week. I imagine the same is happening here. You might also be acclimating to the repeated infusions, increasing the amount of magic you can hold overall.”

“Can confirm!” Spike called from Velvet’s back. “Gleam-Gleam has more magic! And it’s so warm, too! I was just telling her earlier; she feels like a big, cozy furnace!”

Velvet blinked. “‘Gleam-Gleam’?”

Twilight hummed in thought. “Notttttt totally sure on that one. I still haven’t looked into that...”

“What’s this, now?” Night asked. “First I’ve heard of this.”

Twilight turned to him. “Spike can feel the magic of any pony he’s linked to. For example, mine is ‘bright, big, and alluring,’ isn’t that right, Spike?”

“Yup!” Spike said, laughing. “Kinda like a big bug zapper.”

Everyone (save Twilight) chuckled at this.

Twilight scrunched up her face. “It is not!”

“It totally is!” Spike said. “Well, save for the zapping part, but it does have this…I dunno, ‘magnetic’ feel to it? It makes me wanna stay around you.”

Twilight didn’t know how to reply to that, so she just continued on. “There are some obvious positives to this, such as being able to detect magical anomalies, but I’ve yet to determine what things like temperature and luminosity mean. He says that Gleaming’s magic feels ‘warm’, and that mine is ‘bright’, but what does that mean? Does a dragon’s interpretation of the metaphysical correlate with our understanding of the physical?”

Night returned to note taking, his quill strokes light and faint. “There aren’t many ponies who could help you answer that, dear. Quite frankly, it’s embarrassing how little we know about dragons.”

“Embarrassing and frustrating,” Twilight said with a grunt. “I swear, one of these days I’m just gonna pack up, make for the Dragonlands, and make them tell me everything I want to know. Maybe then I’ll understand the significance of feeling like a bug zapper.”

“And you’ll take me with, right?” Spike said.

Twilight winked at him. “You’ll be my Royal Ambassador.”

Spike flexed and did a heroic pose. “Awesome! Ooh! Can I get some cool armor, like Rainbow has?”

“Anyway,” Gleaming said. “That was nice of you to fill in, Twily. Thanks.”

“Isn’t that a drain on you?” Velvet asked Twilight. “It seems like it would be.”

Twilight laughed. “According to my calculations, I’d have to give eight-point-six-two times that amount, two times a day before I started feeling a deficit.”

“Interesting,” Night said. “So you’re really not giving her that much magic… or... do you just have that much to spare?”

Twilight put a hoof behind her head. “U-Um… well… heh-heh… y’know…”

Smirking, Night ruffled her mane. “That’s my girl.”

“But you’re not the one doing these regularly,” Velvet pointed out. “Are Cadance’s magic levels able to keep up with it?”

Twilight drug a hoof along the floor, her expression pensive. “You know? It’s strange. I’ve been monitoring her magic levels as well, and from what I can tell, the drain is actually stimulating her. A month ago, her magic measured at eighty nine hundred Mordenkainens, and now, it’s over nine thousand! It’s almost as if her magic is a muscle, and doing these infusions is the equivalent of a workout.”

Gleaming shivered. Oh, Cadance’s infusions were a workout, alright…

Night frowned. “That’s… unheard of.”

“I know,” Twilight said. “But barring some sort of unknown variable, that’s what seems to be happening. I can’t really explain it.”

Night looked to Gleaming. “Do you have any thoughts?”

Gleaming shrugged. “Cady’s special talent is Love. She has a kingdom that adores her, a caring mate devoted to her, an extended family that’s accepted her, and now a quintet of foals on the way. I’m not surprised she’s more powerful. Haven’t you grown from your studies on Friendship?”

And just like that, Twilight and Night were left speechless.

“Ha!” Velvet threw back her head. “She’s got you there!”

“I…” Twilight worked her jaw a few times, as if she was chewing on her thoughts. “Hadn’t… thought of… that.”

“Quite.” Night tapped his quill against his cheek. “And if that’s true, then theoretically…”

Turning, Gleaming trotted back over to the sitting area, where she began clearing off the coffee table. “Not all explanations are complicated, guys.”

But neither one of them heard her. The gears were turning fast in their heads, ideas and postulations forming at the speed of thought. A familiar spark was in their eyes, an eager, almost manic look in their faces.

Velvet saw all this, and promptly facehooved. “Urgh, like father, like daughter… Gleaming, Sweetheart?”

Gleaming looked up.

“I think a theorystorm is moving in.” Velvet gestured to Twilight and Night, who were quietly muttering to each other, each of them writing on a piece of parchment. “What say we leave them to their madness, and we go out for a bit? We can get you some things, and I can see the city.”

Gleaming thought about that for all of two seconds before nodding and grabbing her regalia. She’d been inside all day, and a walk about town would do her good.

“Coming with us, Bud?” Gleaming asked Spike.

Spike nodded. “Of course! Who else is gonna keep you two in line?”

Gleaming stuck her tongue out him. “Real quick, then...” She cleared her throat. “OY, TWILY!”

Twilight’s eyes flicked up.

“I don’t have much parchment up here.” Gleaming tapped her hoof on the floor, pointing downward. “However, I happen to know your lab was restocked this morning...”

Twilight let out a delighted squee. There was a magenta FLASH, and just like that, both she and their father were gone.

Spike breathed out a sigh of relief. “Thank you. Was half worried I was gonna get roped into that...”

“Nah. You’re with me today.” Gleaming slipped on her golden circlet, shoes, and necklace. “Oh, right… hey, Mom? Before we go, I have a present for you.”

Velvet regarded her. “You do, eh?”

Gleaming jerked her head at the wrapped box on the coffee table. “Let’s call it a ‘Sorry For Not Telling You I Switched Genders and Got Pregnant’ present. I would’ve gotten a card, too, but it turns out they make don't those.”

“Now who would’ve thought?” Spike said dryly.

Velvet chuckled, floating over the box and inspecting it. It was a medium-sized box, and was decently heavy. Now intrigued, Velvet opened it to see what was inside.

Inside was a second set of regalia, crafted of silver and set with beautiful amethysts. The shoes came up to the pastern before becoming like coils that circled halfway up the shin. The necklace was flawless, glittering like pure liquid, it’s gem cut into the symbol of their House. Lastly, the circlet was thin and spiraling, its three fine points set with the birthstones of her children.

Velvet nearly dropped the box. A hoof flew to her mouth, taking several steps back as Gleaming floated the finery out.

“You’re royalty now,” Gleaming said, indicating the pieces she herself wore. “Twice over now, with Twily. I think it’s about time you got something to show your status.”

“You mean WE think,” Spike said, folding his arms. “I gave you the idea, remember?”

Velvet stared agape at the jewelry, her eyes going watery. She had no words as the necklace was gently fastened around her neck, her hooves were fitted, and the crown was placed upon her head. A large mirror moved in front of her, letting her see how she looked, and when she saw…

“You look great.” Gleaming came around to stand beside her, softly nuzzling her cheek. “Then again, you always do. Sorry I didn’t tell you about all this earlier.”

Tears fell from Velvet’s eyes as she turned and hugged Gleaming, her precious firstborn.

“Oh, my baby…” Velvet murmured over and over. Softly she stroked Gleaming’s mane, holding her tight and sure.

Gleaming smiled and hugged her back. “Yeah, Mom. It’s me.”

The Commercial District was on the western side of the city, only about ten minutes’ walk from the palace. It was a bustling place at all times, filled with ponies of all kinds coming and going as they bought and sold their wares. Various other northern races could be spotted here and there, including moose, deer, and even the occasional griffin, but by and large, equines were the dominant majority.

“What’s going on over there?” Velvet asked. She pointed to a large, crystalline building that loomed over them. An entire side of it was marked with glowing runes, and there were construction notices posted all around.

“That’s one of our main hospitals,” Gleaming said, following her gaze. “We’re gonna be doing a pretty major addition to it.”

“It’s for Luna’s batpony program!” Spike said. He’d switched back over to Gleaming’s back, and he was waving at ponies here and there that recognized him.

“Luna’s…” Velvet laughed. “Right, right. I forgot the Empire’s involved in that.”

The three of them were making their way down the street with a few guards around them, mostly to prevent a crowd from gathering.  Gleaming and Spike tended to garner their fair share of attention whenever they went out, and Velvet’s new attire was drawing some curious stares, as well.

“Yeah, we weren’t expecting it to blow up like it did, but hey.” Gleaming shrugged. “I guess the Empire’s got baby fever.”

“With you setting the trend,” Velvet said, smiling. She indicated Gleaming’s tremendously round barrel. “I still can’t get over how big you are… and at only six months! You’re certainly keeping those little foals fed, aren’t you?”

Gleaming snickered. “I’ve been trying.” She shut her eyes a moment, savoring the feel of the warm, internal weight swirling about inside her. The fact that her belly had almost doubled in size over the last five weeks wasn’t lost on her, nor was that it was only going to steadily get bigger, and bigger, and bigger…

“I think Gleam-Gleam enjoys it,” Spike teased. “This is like, the ultimate excuse for pigging out.”

Gleaming rolled her eyes. “I still have to stay in shape, you know.”

“Well, you’re doing a good job,” Velvet observed. She looked her daughter over, taking in the overall state of her body. There was some padding on her, but it was the healthy sort, a firmness to her weight that spoke of the muscle beneath. Aside from her baby bump, her hips, thighs, and rump were wide and supple, the smooth, taut skin enriched by lotions and oils. Her toned legs were like iron—unyielding as they carried her on a smooth gait, assisted by her ever-present maternity brace. Her neck and face remained thin and shapely, with full, rosy cheeks and vibrant, blue eyes, and her plush coat and mane were like heather, soft with a lustrous sheen.

“You really are beautiful,” Velvet murmured. “I’m sorry if I seemed insincere at first, but you really, really are. You actually look a lot like your grandmother, Starlight Glow. She’d be tickled pink to see you if she were still around.”

Gleaming didn’t remember too much about her maternal grandmother. She’d passed away from surgery complications when Gleaming was very young, but apparently, she and Gleaming had always been similar, both in looks and personality. Now that Gleaming was a mare, the resemblance was even more uncanny. Genetics were funny that way.

Gleaming walked a little closer to her mother, her voice going quiet. “So… you’re okay with all this? With me being a mare? Being pregnant?”

“Honey, you’re mine.” The statement was simple, but it meant so much. “I carried you. I gave birth to you. I spent countless nights rocking you to sleep. I changed your diapers, fed you, raised you, watched you grow. I will always, ALWAYS love you, and nothing you ever do, say, or decide will change that.”

Gleaming’s heart skipped a beat. She’d had so much trepidation about this, on what her mother might say. Her horn flashed with a quick privacy spell.

“S-So… ngghh…” Gleaming struggled to keep her voice steady. “S-So if… I-I wanted to stay as a mare… for good… y-you’d be okay?”

Velvet pursed her lips. She contemplated that question for several seconds, thoroughly mulling it over. They walked for a while down the street in silence, the crowds flowing around them like water in a stream.

“If you’re actually asking if I’d disown you, I’m tempted to smack you upside the head.” Velvet’s tone was harsh and withering, and it immediately made Gleaming wince. “To even consider that your father and I are that narrow-minded is an insult to everything we’ve done for you, and quite frankly, you know better.”

Gleaming suddenly felt very small. She didn’t understand why, but her mother’s voice always cut to the core. “I-I’m sorry! I was j-just afraid—”

“Think about your own children,” Velvet cut in. “If one day, one of them tells you they’re transgender, what will you do? Is it going to matter?”

Gleaming was taken aback. “O-Of course not! No! Why would that change anything? They’re still my kids! I’d be a damn hypocrite if I had a problem with that!”

To which, Velvet responded with a calm look. “Unconditional love, Sweetheart. It’s the love between siblings, mates, parents and their children. Am I going to scrutinize your decision? Of course. That’s what I do. But it doesn’t mean I’m going to stop loving you. I’m not sure where you even got that idea in the first place!”

Subtly, Spike leaned forward to whisper in Gleaming’s ear. “Told ya.”

Gleaming suddenly felt her throat go tight. She had to cough and look away, her eyes feeling warm as her mane fell over her face.

“I-I th-think…*sniff*... think I just needed… t-to hear... th-that...“

Velvet’s eyes went soft. “Maybe you did.” She patted Gleaming’s shoulder, her eyes flicking down to her daughter’s bulging middle. “We’ll just blame it on hormones, okay? Now, tell me exactly why you want to stay as a mare.”

So Gleaming told her. She told her about the happiness she’d felt, the contentment, how everything had just seemed to click. She talked about the new level of camaraderie she’d been having with Cadance, and how their love life had been so much better since all of this started. Velvet was quiet through most of it, only asking a few questions for clarification, and by the time Gleaming was finished, her expression was placid and pensive.

“You’ve given this some thought,” Velvet said. They crossed a street together, making for a maternity clothing store. “And I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised being pregnant is triggering your special talent like crazy. You always were a protector.”

Gleaming made a small grunt. “I just like keeping other ponies safe.”

“And you’re quite good at it.” Velvet took the lead, making her way inside the shop. “I suppose my main concern is that if you do this, it’s for the right reasons. Fortunately, from the sound of things, that’s already the case. Some ponies may need time to understand, but if you present it in the right way, I think you’ll have more supporters than opposers.”

Gleaming followed in after her, taking note of the shop’s intentionally wider doorframe. It was in the back of her mind, but she was already thinking that in a few months, some pathways might become an issue. “That’s kinda what Cady said. She’s offered to handle the announcement, but… I sorta feel like I have to make this one myself.”

The shop was roomy and spacious, with mannequines showing off maternity outfits for all seasons, occasions, and stages of pregnancy. Accessories and baby clothes were also plentiful, and the store was done in colors of blue and pink. There weren’t a ton of ponies around this time of day, but the ones that were definitely were shocked to see the two royals walk casually into the store.

“Mmhmm.” Velvet glanced at one of the store signs, walking towards the western side of the shop. “What does your sister think?”

Gleaming bit her lip. “Erm…”

“She doesn’t know yet,” Spike spoke up. “Barely anypony does. I only found out right before you and Dad came, and—ow!”

Gleaming flicked Spike with her tail.

Velvet looked back at Gleaming.

“This is a recent development!” Gleaming blurted. “I haven’t really had time to make the rounds with telling ponies! I’ll tell her, I just need the right opportunity!”

Velvet just sighed and shook her head. “That opportunity may never come, dear. Between both of you being Princesses, Cadance, research with your father, and Twilight’s new marefriend vying for time, you’ll be hard pressed to align the stars.”

Gleaming did a double take. How did Velvet know—right, the Nightmare Night party. Twilight and Rainbow had gone public, then. But wait, had that been how...

“Did Twily tell you beforehoof?” Gleaming asked. “About her and Rainbow?”

Velvet laughed. “Has Twilight ever been good at keeping secrets from me and your father?”

Gleaming snorted. Okay, so she should’ve figured that one.

The three of them got to the part of the store where the bras were located. There were various kinds, all in various shapes, sizes, colors. The intent of a bra, like most maternity accessories, was to be as subtle as possible, blending in with a pony’s coat and not drawing attention to itself.  The idea was also to provide support so one’s breasts didn’t bounce and swing around willy-nilly (embarrassing and unbalancing). Mares pretty much only needed bras for the final weeks of pregnancy, as well as for the year they were nursing, but as Twilight had said some weeks earlier, they were likely going to magically kickstart things so they could, erm… stockpile.

Gleaming mentioned this to Velvet as they browsed.

“Not a bad idea,” Velvet said, nodding. “When were you thinking of starting that? In a month or two?”

“Probably,” Gleaming said. “Not really sure. I’m guessing it’ll depend on how much milk we’re gonna need.”

Velvet looked up at the ceiling, sucking on her teeth. “You’re gonna need a LOT in the beginning. Babies need feeding every few hours the first few months, and the more breastmilk they get, the better. Seeing as you’re gonna have five little mouths to feed, I’d start collecting milk pretty soon. Just use a stasis spell so it’ll keep... oh, and in the beginning, your milk is gonna look like this thick, fatty, yellow stuff. Do NOT throw that out. That’s called colostrum, and it’s what you give the babies first.”

That word rang a bell in Gleaming’s memory. She was pretty sure either Talia or Cady had mentioned that as well at some point, but the emphasis now was appreciated. “What about formula? Should I use that at all?”

Velvet walked in between the racks with a trained eye, her silver hoofshoes making soft thuds on the cheap carpet. “When I was pregnant, my doctor always told me to use the natural stuff as much as possible. Occasionally I’d use formula if I was in a jam, but for the most part, I didn’t bother. You and Twilight never liked it that much, anyways.”

“What about me?” Spike asked. “What did I eat as a baby?”

Velvet snickered. “Talc, mostly. You smelled very nice after meals.”

Gleaming remembered those days. Spike’s surprise addition to the family had been… harrowing, but thankfully, nopony had gotten hurt. It was about a year and a half later that Spike came to permanently live at their home, but even long before that, Velvet had been spending a good deal of time with him and Twilight at the castle.

“Here, these should fit you.” Velvet pulled out a couple white bras and held them out to Gleaming. “You’re going to want about five or six pairs, give or take.”

A twinge of reservation struck Gleaming when she actually laid eyes on the garments. They looked like bulky, oddly-shaped panties.

“I, uh…” Gleaming rubbed one of her legs. “I don’t actually know a whole lot about bras ‘n’ stuff.”

“There’s not much to know,” Velvet said. “The baseline enchantment is to keep your teats from leaking, although more and more these days have spells to soothe irritation, soreness, that kind of thing. I’ve also heard there are some that’ll flat-out make your breasts invisible, though I think that’s just silly.”

Gleaming silently agreed. It was part of the ‘look’ to have big, full teats, heavy and swollen with milk. To have them not there would be… odd.

“Cup size varies from mare to mare, but this should be good to start.” Velvet double-checked the tag, then nodded to herself. “You’re going to outgrow these, guarantee it. We should probably get you some bigger ones, as well.”

Gleaming dubiously eyed the bra. It already looked pretty big to her. But then again, if things continued the way they had been…

“Hey, did you grow any taller when you were pregnant, Mom?” Gleaming asked. The words fell out her mouth before she could stop them. “Or were you always this height?”

Velvet gave her a blank look. “Erm, taller? Uhm… I don’t… believe so? I mean, I’ve always been tall, dear. It runs in the family. Made it rather difficult to find a date until your father came along…”

Gleaming exhaled out her nose. Should she say something? She wasn’t entirely sure about this yet, and she didn’t want to get her mother’s hopes up. Spike knew already and was indifferent, but his point of view wasn’t quite the same.

"You and Twilight actually have tallness on both sides, you know,” Velvet continued. “Night’s potential never manifested very strongly, but your uncle Vigil, now he’s a lanky one. Twilight was never very tall, either... until she became an alicorn, that is. Now, I swear she’s taller every time I see her.”

“Hehe.” Spike giggled into Gleaming’s mane, apparently reading her thoughts. “Tell her. She’ll freak.”

Gleaming chewed on her lip. Well, she’d already dropped one bombshell today. What was one more?

“Why do you ask?” Velvet said. “Have you grown? Besides sideways, I mean. Might actually be a good thing if you have. Give the foals some more room in there.”

Gleaming took a moment to make sure the privacy spell was still in place before choosing her words. “I’m not going to do this explanation justice, but basically, my doctor does a lot of work with genetics, and she thinks there’s a strong chance that I could… follow in Twily’s hoofsteps, if you catch my drift. She’s not sure how, or when it might happen, but the pieces seem like they’re all in place.”

Velvet’s reaction was not what Gleaming expected. Instead of freaking out or exclaiming in joy, she simply returned to browsing the racks, concentrated on her task.

“You’re just now realizing that?” Velvet picked out a few more bras, holding them up side-to-side. “Honey, your father and I came to that conclusion the week after your sister’s coronation. We’ve actually got bets going on when it’ll happen!”

Spike started laughing so hard he nearly fell off Gleaming’s back.

Gleaming’s jaw about hit the floor. “What?!”

“Your father thinks it’ll be flashy and all at once—like some great threat arises, and you wind up being the hero of it. Like Twilight’s was.” Velvet chose the left bra and put it to the side, forming a small stack beside her. “But I don’t think so. Twilight’s growth has been in sudden spurts—explosive leaps and bounds, and whatnot. But you? Your growth has been gradual. A steady progression that’s never stopped, or slowed down. One of you has always arrived before the other, but eventually, you both always get to the same place.”

Velvet turned and winked at Gleaming, a coy smirk on her face.

“I see no reason why that would change.”

Gleaming’s mouth felt dry. Words failed her as Velvet hummed to herself, picking out several garments that she liked. Eventually, she had a good dozen of various sizes that she gave to Gleaming, then nudged her along to the fitting rooms, switching Spike over to her back.

“Come on, I want you to try these on. We can make adjustments if we need to later…”

Later-

“So you’re really thinking of moving here?” Gleaming asked.

The three of them had stopped at an ice cream parlor after shopping, and were now sitting outside beneath a canopy at a small table, enjoying their respective treats. The sun was already going down, and the streets were starting to give off a comforting glow.

“I think it’s the right thing to do,” was Velvet’s reply. She played with her orange sherbet, scraping at it with her spoon. “Your sister has her own life down in Ponyville, and even though she has a marefriend, I don’t see her settling down. She’s going to be all over Equestria, busy as a bee, barely even any time to sleep. That’s how she’s always been.”

“Tell me about it,” Spike groused. He took a big bite of his emerald parfait, getting a bit of chocolate syrup on his nose. “And she loves it, too! That’s the craziest part!”

“Manners, Spike,” Velvet said. She paused to take a napkin, wiping off the syrup of his face. “We don’t talk with our mouth full.”

Spike gulped down his bite. “Sorry.”

“So you want to be up here with me, Cady, and the kids,” Gleaming said. She had the biggest bowl of ice cream by far, almost a tub, really, and she was wolfing it down with gusto. “Is that it?”

For the third time that day, Velvet’s eyes flicked down to her daughter’s womb, her thoughts racing back to times long past. “You three grew up so fast. You’ve all done so much; more than I ever could’ve dreamed! I couldn’t be prouder, but… sharing you all with the world so quickly has had drawbacks. Sitting alone with your father on Hearth’s Warming. Picnics for two on the Summer Sun Celebration, watching other families play together in the park. Birthdays gone by without a peep. And worst of all, always coming home to an empty house, filled with nothing but memories and dust.”

Velvet put her hoof atop Gleaming’s. “Your father and I want to be a part of your lives again. I can still hardly believe you’re having foals of your own, but here we are. Night and I want to see our grandfoals grow up to be heroes, like you three, and if it means we have to move, so be it. And besides, it’s not like we have much tying us down. I can write my books anywhere, and your father is SICK and TIRED of Canterlot University, let me tell you. He’s wanted to go somewhere else for years.”

Gleaming dwelt on those words. She gave Velvet’s hoof a squeeze, her gaze drifting out into the streets. There was a fountain in a square nearby, the top of it depicting an ancient leader of the Crystal Empire in a heroic pose. A few fillies and colts were playing tag around it, their bubbling laughter echoing off the tall buildings.

“I guess I’m a lot like you,” Gleaming said softly. “I’m okay with you coming up, I just wanted to make sure it’s for the right reasons. I’d say wanting to be with your grandfoals qualifies, and I’m glad you and Dad want to be a part of their lives. I’m sure Cady will be glad, too.”

Velvet’s smile grew. She leaned forward, kissing the top of Gleaming’s brow. “I’m looking forward to it. Now it’s just a matter of figuring out the logistics.”

“Way ahead of you,” Gleaming said. She produced the scroll she and Spike had been working on earlier. “Spike and I thought you’d appreciate some suggestions.”

Velvet’s eyes lit up. “Oho!” She took the scroll and scanned it over, her lips moving silently. “Well, look at you two! This will definitely help! Thank you!”

Gleaming shot Spike a smug grin, which he just rolled his eyes at. “I assumed you’d rather have a place of your own rather than be in the castle,” Gleaming said. “Although we can certainly arrange that if you’d prefer...”

“No, no,” Velvet quickly said. “You’re right. Night and I aren’t suited for that. We’ll stay in the castle for the holidays, but past that, we’d really be better off somewhere quieter. Somewhere with an active community, and a nice balcony for your father’s stargazing. He’s been quite insistent about that...”

Gleaming thought for a moment. “I’ll have to double-check, but I think I know a few places. Lemme see, I think I’ve got that map in my bags… here we go!”

She spread the map out on the table, where a few spots were already circled with various notes.

“Okay, the first one is right over…”