Author's Note

So sorry for a late update! Wanna read the comic strip for the end of this chapter?

http://eremikashipper.deviantart.com/art/Trust-Comic-628072962

Also, can anypony guess who Firework's sister is? The comic strip spoiled it btw, so click at your own risk.

Giving Love a Second Chance

“We can't do anything but wait...”, Twilight said sadly.

“That's not good enough!”, Rainbow yelled, tears appeared in her eyes as she said this.

“Dashie...”, Soarin pulled her close in a tight hug, as Rainbow cried softly, hiding her tears from her friends.

“Look ya'll...we can't dread the worst. I know what the doctor said sounded grim but...it's not over yet”, Applejack pointed out, although she looked worried.

“Applejack's right, we should all calm down and stop expecting the worst”, Rarity agreed.

Twilight's ears folded back, her own unborn foal was kicking like crazy, sensing her mother's stress.

“Twilight...?”, Cadence asked, worriedly.

“I need to take a walk...”, Twilight said, softly. Her voice sounded cracked, as she walked down the hall, needing a breather.

Cadence looked worried, watching her go.

Twilight walked down the hospital hall, she didn't even want to think about it. But the very possibility kept haunting her.

What if...something happened to Fluttershy? Or to her foal? Or...to both of them? Twilight closed her eyes, shaking her head.

That couldn't happen. It wouldn't.

She then opened her eyes, her ears perking.

Pinkie Pie was in the hospital play room for foals, with Winter and Skylar. Skylar flew around the room, as Pinkie tried to grab him.

“Get down her, young colt!”, she yelled, reaching for him. Winter played quietly with the toys on the floor, unable to fly yet.

Skylar flew fast, as other foals in the room watched in amazement.

“Darn it! Skylar!”, Pinkie leaped up again, but missed him.

When suddenly magic froze Skylar.

The foal frowned, still flapping his wings rapidly, but not moving.

Twilight's eyes grew wide then, seeing it was Firework.

“Come on little guy, you've caused enough ruckus”, Firework gently gave Skylar to Pinkie with his magic.

“Hey, thanks!”, Pinkie smiled.

Twilight entered the room.

“Seriously?!”, was all she could say. It was starting to feel like he was stalking her. Firework blushed, his ears folding back.

“Oh, Princess Twilight”, he greeted.

“Are you following me?”, Twilight accused, frustrated.

“Of course not, silly! Firework's a Volunteer here at the hospital! He foalsits for everypony here!”, Pinkie explained.

Twilight blinked, looking at him.

“I've always loved foals, so I volunteer here twice a week to help out. A hospital can be a pretty stressful and scary place, and while their parents deal with whatever they're here for, I keep the foals in here where it's quiet and they can play”, Firework explained.

“Firework! That white Pegasus is hogging the dollhouse!”, complained an Earth Pony filly, pulling at his mane.

“Well remember sweetie, she's a lot younger than you. I think I can find you a new one in the closet”, Firework said softly.

Twilight's ears folded back, watching how good he was with the foals.

Firework opened the closet door with his magic, and found another dollhouse.

“Yay! Thank you!”, the filly played with it.

“Firework! The wheel broke!”, cried a little Unicorn colt.

“Let me see”, Firework used his magic, and repaired it.

“Awesome! You're the best!”, the colt cried, happily. Firework smiled softly, he then blinked, seeing a filly was off to herself, tears in her eyes, an Earth pony.

“Hey, what's wrong sweetie?”, he asked gently.

“I'm worried about my little sister, Firework...mommy and daddy seemed so worried when they brought her here...”, the filly replied tearfully.

“Hey, she's going to be okay, sweetie. As long as she has such a loving big sister as you”, Firework assured her.

The filly looked at him, as Firework wiped her eyes with his hoof.

“She'll be better in no time, kiddo. Keep your chin up”, he said kindly. The filly smiled softly, nodding.

Twilight's eyes softened, she even felt touched.

“Firework...you're really good with kids...”, she admitted. Firework's ears folded back, looking a little embarrassed.

“They're a lot of fun”, he said softly.

“Do you...have any? You're so good with them....”, Twilight asked.

“No...I never have. But I always did want a family”, admitted Firework, blushing.

He then blinked.

“Hey...why are you here? Are you sick?”, Firework asked, worriedly then.

“No, it's not me. I'm here for a friend, Fluttershy”, replied Twilight softly.

“Can I ask what's wrong with her?”, asked Firework.

“She's...having her foal today”, Twilight replied, simply.

“That's wonderful!”, Firework started to smile, but he saw Twilight's grim look.

“Is...something wrong?”, he asked, worriedly.

“It's not going very well. The doctor was vague but...it didn't sound good”, Twilight replied, looking away.

“Vague, huh....that's never good”, Firework admitted, worriedly.

Twilight looked down sadly, a heavy lump in her throat.

Firework looked worried, quiet at first.

“Does she have a husband?”, he asked softly.

“Yes, he's with her”, replied Twilight.

“They love each other, right?”, Firework asked.

Twilight blinked at his question.

“Of course they do”, she replied sternly.

“Then, I'm sure she'll be okay”, Firework said. Twilight blinked, confused.

“How can you be so sure?”, she asked.

“This may sound cheesy, but...I believe if two ponies love each other enough, anything is possible”, Firework replied.

Twilight starred at him, what he said reminded her of Shining Armor and Cadence, and how they defeated Queen Chrysalis with their love.

“It's not cheesy at all...but still, Fluttershy's always been so fragile. What if she...”, Twilight couldn't finish her sentence, not wanting to believe it.

“Hey...she'll be okay”, Firework assured her softly. Twilight looked down, wanting to believe him, but she felt so scared for her friend.

“Twilight!”, Rainbow Dash suddenly flew in the play room.

“Rainbow? What is it?”, Twilight asked, urgently.

“Fluttershy had the foal...”, Rainbow replied, breathlessly.

“She did...?! I'm coming...!”, Twilight quickly followed Rainbow.

“Hey! Wait for us!”, Pinkie shouted, carrying Winter, while Skylar flew alongside her. Firework stayed with the foals, but looked concerned about the whole outcome.

“Well?! Talk to me, Rainbow! Is she okay? What about the foal?”, asked Twilight, urgently.

She couldn't go any faster than trotting, being with foal. Rainbow flew above her.

“I don't know! Right when we heard the foal crying, I zoomed out to get you!”, replied Rainbow, worriedly.

Rainbow and Twilight made it back to the waiting room.

“Is Fluttershy okay?!”, cried Twilight, anxiously.

The doctor backed up again, being practically mobbed by them all.

“Calm down, everypony”, he said.

“Well!? Is she okay or not?!”, Applejack demanded, urgently.

“Everypony relax. Fluttershy has successfully foaled a healthy filly”, the doctor replied.

“A filly?”, Twilight's eyes lit up, her ears folded back.

“Oh my goodness!”, cried Rarity, happily.

“A filly!”, Pinkie cheered, happily.

“But...they're both okay, right?”, asked Rainbow, worriedly.

“I won't lie to any of you. It was a very difficult foaling. Fluttershy is very weak right now, and she'll take longer to recover than normal. But she will be okay. However...”, the doctor explained.

“However...?”, Cadence asked.

“I've already told her and GoldenFeathers. It's best she doesn't have any more foals...it could be fatal to her”, the doctor said.

“I see...can we see her?”, asked Twilight, worriedly.

“She needs her rest...for now only one of you can go in”, the doctor replied.

They all hesitated.

“You go in, Rainbow Dash”, Twilight said, kindly.

“Are you sure?”, asked Rainbow, she was actually sweating with worry and distress for her friend.

“You've been more worried than any of us, sugarcube. Go on”, Applejack assured her.

Rainbow Dash smiled relieved, she followed the doctor to Fluttershy's room.

“Only a few minutes, she really needs her rest”, the doctor advised the pegasus.

“I understand”, Rainbow said softly, she gently pushed the door open.

“Fluttershy...?”, she asked quietly. She then froze, her breath catching in her throat.

Fluttershy was hooked up to all kinds of medical machines. She had an IV in her front left leg, and she also had an oxygen mask on.

There was also a heart monitor on, it beeped steadily.

“Rainbow, it's okay, you can come in”, GoldenFeathers saw her. His hoof was bandaged, like Soarin's was.

Rainbow entered slowly, worried.

“Fluttershy...?”, Rainbow whispered, worriedly.

“She's already asleep”, GoldenFeathers said softly. Fluttershy was limp, she looked extremely exhausted.

Her mane was a bit of a mess, and she was soaked in sweat. GoldenFeathers kept dabbing her face with a cool wet cloth.

Rainbow smiled softly, she gently held Fluttershy's limp hoof.

“You did it, Fluttershy...”, she said softly. She gently stroked her friend's mane, feeling a mix of worried and proud.

Fluttershy was always like a little sister to her.

A couple hours later, Nurse Red Heart led the group to the window to see into the nursery where the filly was.

They had to walk passed Fluttershy's room.

Twilight paused, she peeked in, seeing Fluttershy was awake. She and GoldenFeathers were nuzzling close.

“I can't believe she's here...”, Fluttershy mused, weakly.

“You did wonderful, baby girl. I'm so proud of you”, GoldenFeathers said sweetly.

The two nuzzled softly.

“We're a family now...you, me...and AngelShy”, Fluttershy said softly.

Twilight felt tears in her eyes. Their love was so true...so beautiful.

Her ears folded back, as she followed the rest.

“Where is she?! Where is she?!”, Pinkie looked around the nursery through the window, anxiously.

“Right there...it's obvious”, Twilight smiled, seeing.

“Wow! She looks so much like Fluttershy!”, cried Rainbow.

“Oh..so beautiful!”, beamed Rarity.

“Aw...well I'll be...”, Applejack took her hat off, fighting back tears.

Among the newborn foals, a yellow one stuck out. The Pegasus filly yawned. She had yellow fur like her mother, only it was a little darker.

She had a light pink mane and tail, and she had her father's golden eyes.

“She's so beautiful”, cried Twilight.

“Makes you excited for your own filly, doesn't it?”, Cadence smiled softly. Twilight's ears folded back, tears in her eyes.

“It does...”, she admitted, as she looked at her swollen belly, lovingly.

“So...everything okay?”, Firework asked, as he walked over. Twilight's ears perked at his voice.

“Firework...”, she said.

“Yep! All's good!”, Pinkie then went inside, and leaned over AngelShy.

“We need to celebrate your birthday, AngelShy! You were just born today!”, Pinkie cheered.

Red Heart shushed her, glaring.

“But...”, started Pinkie.

Red Heart threw her out then.

“Just like Pound and Pumpkin all over again”, chuckled Applejack.

“I'm glad”, Firework said kindly. Twilight looked down softly.

“Can we talk...?”, she asked then. Firework blinked, surprised. But he nodded, smiling.

The two walked out. Cadence blinked, surprised with the rest.

Firework and Twilight walked outside, in the front yard of the hospital.

“I'm glad your friend's okay”, Firework said softly.

Twilight looked down.

“Firework...I know you like me. And I...”, Twilight closed her eyes then, looking away.

Firework was quiet, he was blushing, but there was a worried look in his eyes.

“I...I like you too. But...I'm too scared. I don't want to be hurt again. I don't want my foal to get hurt!”, Twilight cried.

“Princess, I understand how you feel”, Firework said softly.

“How could you possibly understand?!”, Twilight cried, looking at him, as he walked passed her, unable to look at her.

“I should have told you this when we first met...”, he started.

Twilight blinked, listening.

“When I was just a colt...my older sister and I were constantly pushed by my father. Black Blood. He was the most powerful Unicorn in FillyDalphia. Everypony idolized him”, Firework went on.

“And...your mother?”, asked Twilight carefully.

“She died after giving birth to me”, Firework replied, grimly. Twilight's ears folded back.

“Her death...my father blamed me for it. So he pushed me and my sister, day and night, to be as powerful as he is. When we didn't live up to his expectations, he beat us...”, Firework revealed.

Twilight's heart sunk, she even felt light headed at Firework's confession.

“He abused us physically and emotionally. He broke us down mentally. We were too scared to tell anypony. Finally...when my sister was old enough, she ran away, leaving me behind. I heard she relied on boasting constantly, and became a show off. She learned that of course from our father...”, Firework continued.

If Twilight hadn't been so shocked about learning all this, she would have realized who Firework's sister was.

“I finally ran away, but I was just a colt still. I hadn't even earned my cutie mark yet. I traveled to Canterlot...but I was so scared, and hungry...I didn't have the courage to continue. I was going to return to my father...”, Firework said.

“But then...I saw a Unicorn filly. She was so beautiful...and she already had her cutie mark. She was so talented at magic, I'd never see anything like it. She sparkled...she made making your dreams come true look so easy”, he continued.

Twilight was silent, as her eyes grew bigger and bigger.

“I didn't want to stop looking, I watched her perform amazing spells under the watchful eye of Princess Celestia. I got so excited, I actually conjured up fireworks by accident. And...I got my cutie mark”, Firework revealed.

“That filly...was you Twilight Sparkle. You inspired me to set out my own dreams, and you even helped me get my Cutie mark. Without even realizing it...”, Firework said.

“What...?”, Twilight was speechless. This was uncanny...they were connected, ever since foals. Soul mates...

“I never wanted to see you suffer the way I did...when I found out what happened..I couldn't believe it”, Firework said.

He gently held his hoof out to her then, facing her.

Twilight hesitated at first.

“I want to see you shine again, just like that filly I saw all those years ago. I...I love you Princess. Please...trust me”, Firework said gently.

“Firework...”, Twilight slowly held his hoof then.

He was gentle with her, as they looked into each other's eyes.

“I don't expect you to trust so quickly after what you went through. But you helped me trust and believe again...let me do the same thing in return, Princess Twilight”, Firework pleaded.

Twilight's ears folded back, as she blushed.

“Just...call me Twilight”, she requested softly. Firework smiled softly, blushing.

He gently pulled her a little closer, as their eyes kept looking into one another.

“I love you, Twilight...”, he mused.

“I know we haven't know each other long...but I can't deny it. I love you...but, it feels different than with Flash. It feels...real”, Twilight admitted, blushing.

“But...you know this foal isn't yours. Could you still love her...?”, Twilight asked, worriedly.

“Are you kidding? Of course I could...she'll be as beautiful, talented and kind as her mother”, Firework said sweetly.

Twilight's ears folded back, as her heart skipped a beat. Flash never said anything like that to her. He was never sweet or gentle to her.

“Oh Firework...”, Twilight blushed, smiling softly.

Firework gently stroked her mane, and the two inched closer. They closed their eyes, and felt their lips press against each other, in a soft but loving kiss.