Every morning when I wake up, I thank every deity I can think of for what I've got. I have amazing friends, a caring family, a mentor whom I can look up to, a wonderful job as a Princess, two beautiful children... and the greatest husband ever.
Said husband was currently trying his best to get out of bed without waking me up, although he had failed miserably. I rolled over and coughed, startling him as he was trying to put his trousers on, then giggled as he fell to the floor in a heap.
"Good morning, Geo," I said sweetly. "Did you have a nice trip?"
"You're hilarious, you know that?" Geo replied dryly, his voice muffled by the fact he was talking into the floor. He rolled over and stood up, getting his trousers on in the process. "I was going to go and make you breakfast in bed as a surprise — but after that, I might not bother now." He stuck his tongue out at me.
"Breakfast in bed?" I parroted, to which he nodded. "Aww, you're so sweet... but we both know you haven't got the heart to not do something for me, once you've told yourself that you will."
Geo sighed. "Curse my loving nature," he replied. "I guess I'll make you breakfast in bed." He chuckled. "Besides, I think it's safe to say that you're going to need all the energy you can get."
"Oh?" I looked at him with half-lidded eyes. "Our anniversary isn't for another six months... but if that's what you want, then—"
"I wasn't talking about that," Geo interrupted. "What I was actually referring to is the fact that our friends are coming over today to spend some time with us — as well as watch Rainbow Dash give a certain alicorn some flying lessons."
"Oh." I giggled sheepishly and blushed. "I forgot about that." I sighed. "Do you really think I'm ready for flying lessons?"
Geo sat down next to me and pulled me in for a hug. "Of course I do," he said. "There hasn't been anything that you weren't ready for, Twi. Chrysalis, Sombra, becoming a Princess... or becoming a mother." He looked over at the door and raised his voice slightly. "You two seem to be forgetting that just because the glass on the door is frosted, that doesn't mean I can't see you."
There was a moment of silence before the door opened, revealing Azure and Evening. The two of them entered the room and walked over, clambering onto the bed between Geo and I.
"Morning, Mum!" they said in unison. "Morning, Dad!"
Geo ruffled their manes. "Morning, kids," he said. "Care to tell your old man why you were eavesdropping on us?"
The two of them shuffled nervously. "We heard mummy asking if she was ready for flying lessons," Evening replied. "She sounded as though she was a bit scared."
"I'm not scared, sweetheart," I replied. "Just... worried."
Azure hugged me. "Don't be worried, mum," he said. "Me, dad and Evening will be there cheering you on!" He paused for a moment. "Oh, and so will Uncle John, Auntie Applejack, Uncle Ace, Auntie Pinkie, little Chocolate, Uncle Haywick, Auntie Fluttershy, Uncle Spark, Auntie Rainbow, Uncle Spike and Auntie Rarity!"
I smiled. "You're right, dear," I said. "I feel a lot better now."
"Good to know," Geo interjected. "Because Dash and the others will be here soon." He stood up, holding Evening, and began walking out of the room. "Time to get showered, fed and watered!"
I giggled, then picked up Azure and followed him.
"And where do you think you're going?" Geo asked. "I'm pretty sure I told you I was making you breakfast in bed."
"Maybe some other time," I replied. "Besides, the last batch of pancakes you made for me tasted suspiciously like the ones Pinkie and the Cakes make over at Sugarcube Corner."
Geo chuckled sheepishly. "Did they?" he murmured. "Well, I guess where I get my pancake making skills from is a mystery that we shall never manage to—"
"But, Daddy," Evening interrupted. "You burned the first load of pancakes you made for mum. That's why you went—"
"How would you like ice cream on your pancakes, sweetheart?" Geo gave Evening a kiss on the cheek. "Oh, wait a minute, only quiet little fillies get ice cream. Can you be quiet for your old man?"
Evening made a zipping motion with her forehoof and nodded. Geo looked at me one more time — then grinned like a madman, beating a hasty retreat out of our bedroom and down the hall with our daughter holding on to his neck for dear life.
"Husbands."
"Sisters."
Azure and I both spoke in unison, rolling our eyes. Realising this, we both giggled and shared a nuzzle, then quickly followed our respective husband and sister to the kitchen.
Because Celestia forbid that Geo blows something up... again.
***
Four fires, several tubs of pancake mix, a bin full of blackened horrors and a whole array of magically muted swearing from Geo later, our little family was finally tucking into breakfast.
"So, Twi," Geo said, swallowing a mouthful of pancakes. "How do you think you're going to do today?"
"I don't know." I shrugged. "It might turn out to be the greatest lesson ever, or somepony – probably me – might get hurt."
Azure looked up from his plate. "Why do you need flying lessons anyway, Mum?" he asked. "You flew fine that day you became a Princess, all the way around Canterlot with Dad on your back."
"That was just dumb luck," I replied. "Dumb luck and maybe a little bit of magic to help me get off the ground."
"But you can't use magic all the time," Evening suggested. "That's why Auntie Dash is coming over to teach you."
Geo nodded. "That, and using magic was cheating." He shook his head. "Always remember, kids, cheating is wrong."
"But you cheated with the pancakes, Dad." Azure frowned.
Geo's mouth turned into a thin line and he looked around the room for a moment. "You're allowed to cheat at cooking," he said defensively. "But not at other things, like tests or flying."
Azure seemed unconvinced. "But asking the castle staff to make something for you doesn't exactly count as doing it you—"
He was cut off by the sound of the door opening, followed by several steps on the carpet as our friends walked in. Geo quickly shot to his feet and rushed over to greet them.
"Morning, folks!" he said eagerly. "I was wondering when you'd get here!" He turned to John and Applejack. "How about you, AJ? How are you getting on now that you know you're pregnant?"
After Geo and I were coronated, John and Applejack took us – as well as the rest of our friends – aside, whereupon they dropped the bombshell that she was pregnant. It took us all by surprise, but at least we were happy that they were finally joining the Parent Club.
"I'm fine, sugarcube, thanks fer askin' me," Applejack replied. "An' Junior here is doin' even better."
"That is correct." Doctor Haywick sidled up next to her. "Her last check-up was yesterday, and both she and the foal are well."
Applejack nodded at him, a gesture Haywick returned before he made his own way inside and began talking to Azure and Evening.
"That's good to hear, Applejack. But the real question is..." Geo turned to look at Ace, who was standing nearby. "Are you okay?"
Ace thought for a moment, then gave him a thumbs up. "I'm feeling a lot better now that Pinkie and I have had a chance to make things right," he said. "All that time I spent alone in my lab made me realise that I was putting my love for science above my love for my family." He shuddered. "Call me crazy if you want, but I could have sworn I heard a voice in my head during my time down there. It kept telling me to do horrible things to ponies everywhere. But, thankfully, Pinkie's re-appearance at the lab silenced it." He chuckled meekly. "Then again, I was probably going stir crazy due to the fact I only had my robots for company."
"And now you'll never be alone again, Acey." Pinkie nuzzled him, then looked at Geo and I. "Thanks again to you and the others for talking me around. I can't imagine what might have been had I stayed angry at him for the rest of my life."
"Best not to think about it," I said. "Come on in and get something to eat — we're in for a hard day."
"What's this 'we' stuff?" Rainbow Dash grinned as she walked past me and sat down. "You mean that you're in for a hard day."
"I probably am, Rainbow Dash," I replied. "But you're the one who is going to have to deal with my constant failures until I manage to get a hang of this whole 'flying' thing." I returned her grin with one of my own. "Do you think you've got the patience?"
That was enough to wipe the grin off her face, turning it into a sheepish smile as she turned around to join the conversation that was now taking place at the breakfast table.
"Don't worry, Twilight," Spark Plug assured me. "Rainbow Dash means well, and I think we can both agree that she won't tell you you do anything if it means putting you in danger."
"You're right, Spark," I replied. "I have every faith in her abilities as a teacher — it's my own ability as a student I doubt." Spark Plug nodded in understanding and joined Dash at the table. I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked at my husband. "What do you think, Geo? Am I getting worried over nothing?"
"There are two things that I am thinking right now," he said. "First of all, I think that you are indeed worrying over nothing. Sure, learning to fly will be hard, but you'll have your friends and family there to support you every step of the way."
I let out a sigh of relief and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you," I replied. "Now, what is the second thing you're thinking?"
Geo looked at me, and then looked at the table.
"I'm thinking I need to go and order more pancakes."
There was a pause, and then we both laughed heartily before going to join our friends at the table. I was still worried about what lay ahead, but I knew that Geo was right.
With my friends and family supporting me, I was confident that I would be flying in next to no time at all.
