Of Shooting Stars

Of Shooting Stars

Chapter 3: Parenthood

The clock softly ticked from the bedroom nightstand, announcing the slow march of time. Rainbow watched from their balcony doorway as Twilight prepared the space. Twilight sparked her horn and laid a quilt out. Tucked in the corner, a record player and a bucket with a cool fog rising from within. As the sun sank ever lower in the night sky, Twilight stabbed a bottle into the bucket with a crunch.

Rainbow let out a low hum. Certainly, this had the hallmarks of a wonderful evening. Good wine, music, and great company, but one thing nagged at her. She cocked an eyebrow just as Twilight set two glasses on the quilt. "So—uh—you know that ice will be melted by the time we’re done getting Light and Spike to bed, right?" She asked with her sights running all around the balcony.

When Rainbow finally paused on Twilight once more, Twilight met her gaze. Upon her face rested a small knowing smirk—hinting she had some scheme cooked up. It was a look she knew all too well, but she pressed her concerns. "And the wine will be warm?"

"Oh, I think it will be perfectly chilled by the time we get to it." Twilight giggled behind her hoof.

Rainbow rolled her eyes and turned back into their bedroom. "Fine, don’t tell me," she said, shaking her head.

"It wouldn’t be a surprise if I did." Twilight trotted past, levitating the alarm clock from the nightstand over for just a moment and then returning it. "I can’t spoil all the fun."

Just then Twilight wrapped a wing around Rainbow’s side, placing her in a snug grip. "It’ll all make sense." She then tugged her towards the bedroom door.

"You could spoil some of it." Rainbow’s ears folded back in protest. "I’ve got drills tomorrow, you know?"

"And?" Twilight raised an eyebrow.

"So I can’t stay up too late getting drunk." Rainbow narrowed her eyes. "Spitfire was already steamed at me for missing prep yesterday."

Twilight brushed Rainbow’s concerns to the side with a wave of her hoof. "Trust me, you’ll get to bed at your usual time." She giggled again and darted for the door. "Now, hurry and get to the dining room before it’s too late. And keep away from the windows until after Light's in bed!"

As Twilight bounced like a filly in a candy store, Rainbow raised an eyebrow again. "You’re acting weird."

"I told you, It’ll all make sense later!" As Rainbow drew closer, Twilight grabbed her by her rump and pulled her out the door, slamming it behind them. "Now move it!" She said, pointing down the hall.

Rainbow rolled her eyes, but relented, following Twilight’s mark. It was clear she wasn’t sharing her plans, so that left Rainbow at Twilight’s mercy. Well—admittedly there were worse mercies to be at. Twilight was good at schedules, even if this one seemed impossible. Somehow they were to get through dinner, play with Light, calm her down for bed, see Spike off, and then fit a date in before they had to turn in themselves? Just thinking about it made Rainbow’s eyes feel heavy from exhaustion.

That would take a miracle.

As she turned the corner into the dining room, her heart dropped. Chaos, pure and simple as Spike leapt up, catching a pan mid-air while three others whirled about in a vortex. And sitting in the whirling center of the magenta and metal maelstrom was Morning Light, laughing hysterically. Spike landed, barely enough time to duck, when one pot slipped free of Light’s magical grasp only to crash into the wall. Reflexively Rainbow pinched her eyes and let out a low groan. "Did I say miracle? Make that impossible," Rainbow muttered.

“Alright!” she bellowed once she managed to look back upon the scene. “Light, pick up these pans so we can get ready for dinner!”

Once dinner was done, Light wiped clean after the ensuing mess, and the filly burnt off some of her boundless energy, Twilight carried her to bed and tucked her in. With her lovable bundle of mischief whisked away, Rainbow took that as her chance to finish cleaning up the still disastrous dinner table. Red sauce splatters and thin noodles caked the table and floor in a disturbing arc around Light’s seat. She sighed and reached for the cold, soggy dishrag still resting on the table. “How the heck does she make such a mess?” Rainbow remarked, pushing the noodles off onto Light’s plate before taking the whole mess into the kitchen.

After tossing the waste into the garbage, Rainbow dropped the plate into the sink. She let out a sigh. Every inch of her body was numb to the point she was about ready to collapse. Heavy eyes lazily moved around the plate stopping at the red splotches as she slid it under the running faucet. Once the plate was mostly clean, she turned off the water and left it there. Twilight’s faint voice yelled at her to actually wash it rather than just rinse it in her mind, but she was too tired to care.

She slinked back into the dining room and grabbed the rag once more. This time she turned her attention to the flood below Light’s seat. She bent down and scooped the stray bits of tomato sauce and noodles into a pile. “How did she get it so far under the table?” she asked nobody. As her foreleg stretched, she felt the ends of the table digging into her back.

“Rainbow?” a voice suddenly asked.

Rainbow jumped at the sound, smacking her head on the impossibly hard table’s underside. While her head shook and pounded, the table didn’t even an inch did it budge from the impact. Soon a weak whine slipped out as she slowly reached for the back of her head. The cold and damp rag slapped her hair and sent a chill down her spine. “Now I’m going to smell like spaghetti…”

She glared at the source of the voice. Twilight’s legs stood in the doorway, her upper body blocked by the table. Head throbbing and another two or three hours standing in the way of a good night’s sleep, Rainbow let loose a groan.

Twilight made her way across the room, the soft whispers of a chuckle following her. When she was next to Rainbow, she helped her up. “Are you alright?” she asked, a mixture of concern and mild amusement on her face.

“I’m fine,” Rainbow hissed with a scowl. She was well aware she shouldn’t be mad—it was her own fault, after all—but Twilight’s barely contained laughter didn’t help.

“Oh, don’t be like that.” Twilight’s voice was sweet. She cupped Rainbow’s cheek in a hoof and put a smile on her face. “We’ve still got a date yet.”

Rainbow closed her eyes and took a deep breath. This was the moment—the last chance she had to put her hoof down. “Listen, Twi—” When she opened her eyes again, they weren’t in the dining room, but their bedroom. The fading sparks of magic surrounded them, and Twilight boasted a bright smirk.

“This took a lot of planning, but I think you’ll enjoy it.”

“No, Twi! Listen!” Rainbow put her hoof on Twilight’s shoulder, forcing the taller mare to look her in the eye. “I’m tired. By the time we’re done with this date, I’m not going to get enough sleep to be up and make it to the training grounds in time tomorrow.” She furrowed her brow. “Let’s do this some other time, please?”

Twilight’s smirk didn’t fade like Rainbow expected it to. On the contrary, it grew wider. “Dashie, last night I said I wanted us to make more time for each other.”

“Yeah, and I’m sorry, but I don’t think it’s going to work tonight. It’s too late—”

Twilight put a hoof over Rainbow’s mouth. “No, we’re going to do just that.” Twilight glanced to the dresser. With a light of her horn, she opened the drawer and pulled a scroll from inside. “I really meant make time.”

Suddenly the scroll unraveled, and the text glowed with a sky-blue hue. The light pouring from the letters shone brighter until it spilled out, wrapping the two mares in a ball of light. In a flash, the ball faded, but they yet stood in their bedroom. As eyes wandered around, Rainbow noticed something was different. Rather than the dark of night, the room sat in an orange cast like dusk.

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. Just as she opened her mouth, she heard Twilight’s voice, but not from the mare in front of her. Muffled from the other side of the bedroom door, she heard, “Now move it!"

“Wait, are we—”

“Yup,” Twilight said with a giggle. She lept through the air, and with only a single flap of her wings, extended her jump. A few more feet and she softly landed in the balcony doorway. “I spent all day planning this time loop. I used the base Starlight made before she became my student and this is what I came up with!”

Rainbow stared at Twilight. “You’re crazy, Twi…” She gazed for a moment longer, taking in the alicorn’s playful demeanor before cracking a smile. “And I love you for it. Why didn’t you tell me this sooner? I was worried I was only going to get like four or five hours of sleep!”

“That’d have ruined the surprise,” Twilight said, beckoning Rainbow.

The door behind Rainbow called her attention for just a brief moment. On the other side, her past self and Twilight had their entire evening ahead of them. It was almost exhausting to imagine, but she didn’t have to—in fact, she already had. Turning back to Twilight, she folded her ears back with a pleased expression before striding over to join her wife. “I guess this is a pretty sweet surprise.”

She plopped down on the quilt Twilight had laid out hours previous—or perhaps moments ago—and held out her hoof. Twilight pressed her own onto Rainbows and sat down next to her. “Hope you don’t mind the spaghetti stains on my coat, Princess.”

“Only if you can ignore the ones in my hair,” Twilight retorted with a slight chuckle. After a moment, she glanced over to the record player. Her horn lit up, and she set the contraption to play.

“So, watch the sun go down with some music and wine?”

“Something like that.” Twilight glanced back and closed the door behind them. Just as she turned forward, the sun finally slipped below the horizon, turning the vivid orange into a satisfying violet blending into a breath-taking deep blue overhead.

Just then, a white streak shot across the sky. Rainbow’s eyes lit up, and Twilight gave a self-satisfied smirk. “I may have also asked Luna to do me a favor.” She rested her head against Rainbow’s, letting out a soft moan.

As another streak flashed by, Rainbow cozied herself deep into the crook of Twilight’s neck. “I’d love to see what kind of date you can plan on more notice.”

Another soft moan escaped from Twilight, this time in agreement. "The last time we sat out like this I think we were freaking out about being parents," she added, rubbing her cheek into smaller mare’s mane.

Rainbow snickered. "And ended with us fucking on my balcony."

"Oh, I was such a virgin back then!" Twilight joined her in laughing.

"You wish," Rainbow corrected. "Because you were totally pregnant."

“Yes, I know. I meant metaphorically a virgin—you know, naive?” Just thinking back on it almost felt like a tidal wave crashing down on her. The memories swelled until there were too many to count. Telling Rainbow, their spur-of-the-moment date on her balcony, their friends finding out, all of Ponyville discovering, telling their families—the nostalgia flood swept over her more and more by the moment. Suddenly she let out a groan. "Gosh, who’d have thought four years could make me feel so old."

“I’m sure your second growth spurt didn’t help.” After a flick of her ear against Twilight’s nose, Rainbow smirked. “But, yeah, a kid’ll do that to you.”

“A kid, marriage, becoming royalty, multiple Equestria-ending catastrophes—not to mention watching your rise to the Wonderbolts.” Twilight stretched her back, as though just thinking about it made her tired. But before a yawn manifested, her ears perked up “Wait, are you saying I’m alone in feeling old?”

Puffing her chest up, Rainbow laughed. “Of course! I’m still in my prime.” Confidence oozed from a self-satisfied grin resting on Rainbow’s lips.

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Says the pony who was exhausted a moment ago.”

"Come on." Rainbow jabbed her side. "Time flew by in a flash and you know it. No way I could feel old when it all feels like it happened yesterday"

"Time really does fly by." Twilight loosed a chuckle then glanced at the bottle she had prepared. With her magic, she delicately poured two glasses and passed one off to Rainbow. Silently she took a sip, her eyes turning skyward for the dazzling light display. Lines of white still zipped across the sky like fireflies.

As she stared up, her body loosened and she leaned harder on the mare next to her. “I think it went too fast."

"Yeah?" Rainbow asked, already halfway through her glass.

"Yeah, since I think we were too busy and missed moments like this." Spreading her foreleg out across the balcony—Ponyville and the sky by extension. "Moments for just the two of us."

"What? Dates? We went on one last Summer Sun Celebration."

A moment of silence fell as Twilight took a deep breath. "Yeah, through a crowd, which turned into a photo op and autograph session. Not to mention cutting it short because Pinkie couldn’t watch Morning Light all afternoon."

Rainbow cleared her throat. "Looking back, that wasn’t a great date." Rainbow tipped back her glass, letting the sweet wine slip effortlessly down into her gullet. Once the glass was empty she let out a sigh and held it out for Twilight to refill. "Remember right after Light was born when we still lived in the library? We stayed up to read until after midnight."

With the wine bottle in her magic, Twilight poured Rainbow another glass. "That’s what I’m talking about. I miss that."

Rainbow let out a soft moan in agreement.

“We had so much more time back then,” Twilight said as she giggled into her wineglass. “That was before I had all these princess duties, and you had all these Wonderbolt events.”

A sudden laugh nearly caused Rainbow to choke on her wine mid-sip. “And you were complaining back then that they didn’t treat you like a real princess!”

Twilight fought a groan trying to escape her throat. “Oh, Celestia, I wish I realized they were easing me into this job.”

Just then Rainbow stretched her wing up and placed it over Twilight’s back. “And didn’t somepony tell you that?”

Twilight pressed her cheek into Rainbow’s mane. “And didn’t that somepony also tell me it was—and I quote—‘bullcrap’ they didn’t let me do more? It’s easy to say that after we moved into the castle. I mean, we just had a foal, a wedding, Tirek attacked—It only made sense Celestia and Luna were letting me adjust to the role gradually.”

“Too bad you didn’t notice it back then.” Rainbow tipped her glass back once more. “I’d say I told you so, but we know I’m not one to gloat.” Even Rainbow couldn’t hide her dumb smirk as she glanced up at Twilight from the corner of her eye.

“You? Gloat?" Meeting Rainbow’s gaze, Twilight smirked back. "I’d never marry such a braggart. My little Dashie’s the most humble pony I know,” she said with a laugh.

Hours passed before they knew it. Idly sipping—or in Rainbow’s case guzzling—glasses of wine while soaking in the brilliant display. The record, the only semblance of a clock, neared its end. Rainbow and Twilight turned their eyes upward for a barrage of streaks that lit up the night sky almost like the moon itself. As the music playing reached its crescendo, matching perfectly to the meteor shower finale. Once the music died, so, too, did the shooting stars.

Twilight stretched her wings and back before standing up. “Tonight was nice.”

Joining her on her hooves, Rainbow mirrored Twilight in stretching. “It doesn’t have to end just yet.” She raised an eyebrow with a motion of her head towards the bedroom door behind them.

With a playful twitch of her ears, Twilight pressed a hoof to her chin. She let out a low hum as her eyes danced from Rainbow to the door. “It’s awfully late. What about work tomorrow? Don’t you have to leave early?”

Twilight’s sugary sweet tone took the strength from Rainbow’s legs. With almost snake-like movements, Rainbow strutted right up to Twilight and pressed her neck to the alicorn’s chest. “Oh, yeah,” she admitted, adding a ditzy laugh. “I’m so tired, I think I might need somepony to tuck me in.” With a swish of her tail, she swatted Twilight’s side.

Suddenly Twilight’s cheeks flushed. She cleared her throat and quickly turned her gaze out over the balcony.

“Remember who’s the queen at the teasing game, Twi,” Rainbow said, sticking the tip of her tongue out.

“Y-yeah,” Twilight replied. “You always do it better…”

With a puff out chest, Rainbow polished her hoof on her coat. “Damn straight. Now, why don’t you get that sweet butt of yours in bed so we can end this night right?”

Twilight pinched her eyes shut. “Hold on. As much as I’d love to right now, we can’t.” After a moment she cleared her throat again. “Well, not yet.”

Rainbow raised an eyebrow.

“We have to wait for the past versions of us to travel back in time first. Otherwise, it’ll be bad news.”

Silence filled the air for a moment before Rainbow glanced back at the door. “So, how long will that take?”

“I…” Twilight sighed. “I forgot to put a clock out here.”

“So no clue then?”

Twilight nodded.

“Well, that’s just—” Suddenly Rainbow was cut off. A flash followed by a familiar twang sound came from inside the bedroom.

A muffled voice—one she recognized as Twilight said, “This took a lot of planning, but I think you’ll enjoy it.”

“Perfect timing,” the Twilight next to her whispered. “Maybe I can tuck you in after all.”

“No maybe’s about it.” Rainbow stuck her tongue out again. “We were quick enough that we didn’t spoil the mood.”

Before long, another flash came from inside the room, and with it, the voices vanished. The two mares looked at one another. Ears turned up, Twilight leaned in. As adorable as it was to see Twilight listening in on their own bedroom like a foal, Rainbow still rolled her eyes at the sight. She smacked Twilight on her flank with her wing, causing the alicorn to jump. Once she had her attention, Rainbow motioned towards the door. “We already know we’re gone in there. We lived that part.”

After a moment, Twilight frowned. “True, but it’s still kinda nerve-wracking.” She rubbed her side, before igniting her horn and opening the balcony door. Just a crack at first, drawing a groan from Rainbow. The pegasus strolled up and threw the door opened to reveal the other side.

“See?” Stepping inside their bedroom, Rainbow spread her foreleg wide.

Twilight furrowed her brow. “Nothing wrong with being cautious.”

With a knowing nod, Rainbow said, “Yeah, those brains of yours are why I married you.”

With that Twilight’s face flushed. “Really?”

“One of the reasons.” Rainbow looked back at her, flashing a smile. When Twilight shrunk slightly under her gaze, Rainbow motioned towards the bed with their head. “So get into bed.”

With that, Twilight stepped into the room as well. Eyes glued on her wife, she slowly walked across the room with calculated steps. Flashing a seductive smirk, and chest puffed out so she stood tall, Twilight gave a small, authoritative giggle. “Ordering a princess, are we?”

Rainbow dropped low, slinking across the floor in Twilight’s hoofsteps like a predator. “Technically I’m a princess too, you know.”

Finally at the edge of the mattress, Twilight placed her hoof daintily on the sheets. “Oh, right. Pardon me, your highness. I’ll do exactly what you say,” she said with a sweet helplessness in her voice.

When Twilight climbed onto the bed, Rainbow bolted in after her, pinning Twilight on her side. “Why did I marry such a tease?”

Twilight glanced back, and stuck out her tongue, “Don’t they say, ‘you are what you eat?’”

Rainbow bit her lower lip, hoping it may halt the spreading grin across her face, but to no avail. “I don’t think they meant eating pussy when they said that, smart ass.”

Feigning a gasp, Twilight covered her mouth. After a short pause, she raised an eyebrow. “Birds of a feather then?” Suddenly Twilight’s wing curled up and brushed Rainbow’s side.

“Oh, you are so going to get it.” Sparing Twilight not even a second to react, Rainbow jumped up, throwing open the mare’s hind legs, and with a swift flap of her wings, dropped down squarely between the gap. Just at the edge, almost touching the fur on her muzzle, Twilight’s swollen nethers greeted her. Her prize now laid bare, a single juice trail traced its way down Twilight’s thigh until melding into her fur. A perfect sight telling Rainbow just what she wanted to know—anticipation.

“I was hoping to get it, Dashie,” Twilight murmured in a sweet cadence. Her hips swayed back and forth as Twilight worked herself deeper into the mattress, and spreading her legs wide. “As much as I love our back and forth though, I think I’m ready for the main course.”

“Funny.” Rainbow laughed, the burst of hot air making Twilight squirm more. “I was thinking the same thing,” she said before pushing forward. Wrapping her lips around Twilight’s sex, she licked up the length of her slit. As her tongue glided between Twilight’s slit, juice collected, coating her tastebuds in her lover’s intoxicating flavor.

Like a dam bursting, memories flooded forth with the nostalgia-inducing taste washing over her mouth. Synapses fired. At once all her sexual encounters with Twilight pushed to the forefront of her mind. Rainbow closed her eyes and let her years of expertise pleasing the alicorn take hold. As though it were second nature, she expertly ran her tongue along Twilight’s most sensitive spots, only pulling her attention from the mare’s silky folds when her clit dared to poke free.

Twilight squeezed down on Rainbow’s tongue. With a flex of her muscles, her clit poked free from its confines. Rainbow struck, wrapping her lips around the delicate nub and softly suckling like a newborn foal. Twilight whimpered, all legs fidgeting uselessly against the onslaught, but Rainbow wasn’t done yet. Using the polished front of her forehoof, she traced up Twilight’s soaked slit—nearly bumping her own chin—then worked back down settling in a steady pace.

Whimpers turned to moans as Rainbow continued. Twilight’s poor clit throbbed in Rainbow’s grasp—torn between eagerly embracing the attention or returning home for a short breather. No option was offered, however, as Rainbow continued tongue-lashing the sensitive bulb like a tiny ice cream cone.

Any second now she’s going to start begging me to—

Twilight arched her back. “D-Dashie, please!” she cried out.

Victory. Rainbow loosened her grip, and Twilight’s clip darted back to safety. A thin trail—a mixture of saliva and love juice—yet connected Rainbow’s parted lips to Twilight’s pussy, and she pulled her soaked hoof back. Briefly, her eyes met her lover’s before diving down between Twilight’s lower lips once more. She pressed her muzzle firm, far enough inside to spread Twilight’s folds. Presenting her tongue once more, she caught a stray fluid strand before licking up then down the length of her lover’s cunt.

Probing deep, prodding between every crevice she came across, Rainbow pleasured Twilight. A symphony of moans spurred her on while an intoxicating bouquet filling her nostrils engulfed her senses. The sweet aroma dulled her mind, filling her thoughts with the moment at hoof. Only Twilight mattered—pleasuring her, basking in her, appreciating every moment.

Rainbow’s face burned. Deep in her chest, her heart fluttered. Maybe it was the alcohol or the reminiscing that evening, but something about this was different than it had been. Never had she wanted Twilight so bad—to touch her, please her, drown in her—at least not in a long time.

Slowly it hit her. Like a shock to her head that radiated forward, shifting subconscious thoughts to almost tangible, as though she could grasp it in her hooves. It was something they had been missing. In fact, it was what Twilight said before. Time together—just the two of them.

In other words, romance. Rainbow felt her cheeks burn hotter. That’s seriously cheesy, but damn if it’s not true.

“Dashie,” Twilight murmured.

Rainbow opened her eyelids, flicking her gaze up her lover’s barrel to meet Twilight’s.

“Do you want to use that spell?”

Between Twilight’s burning cheeks and glossy eyes, no uncertainty existed in those words. By “that” there was only one thing Twilight meant, and for that, she already had an answer. As she lifted her head, Rainbow drew her tongue up Twilight’s quivering slit, glossing over her exposed clit, until only a saliva strand connected them both. She gazed into Twilight’s eyes with a laxed look for a moment before finally closing her mouth. “No,” she said simply before dipping down between Twilight’s legs once more.

“Are you sure?”

A soft moan, reassuring her, was all Twilight got in response.

“I mean, you could give me a blowjob, and then I could—” she was cut off by a sharp moan leaping from her throat as she threw her head back. The ceiling was all she stared at for a moment, panting while the pleasure continued to surge through her body. “Are you still mad over what I said last time we used it?”

Rainbow shook her head. “I mean, that wasn’t cool, but I just want this right now. We don’t need a dick every time, you know?”

Twilight turned her gaze back down to a mess of rainbow-colored hair between her legs. “No, I guess we don’t.” She bit her lower lip. “This is fine—” Twilight stopped, shaking her head “—great, actually. We should do this more often.” Another jolt shot through Twilight, her hind leg twitched in response. “I get what you’re saying. We have been relying on it a lot lately.”

With more attention focused back on her most sensitive parts, Twilight’s body tensed from Rainbow’s ministrations. As she swirled her tongue around the mare’s clit once again, she knew Twilight was getting closer. Short, shallow breaths filled the space between them, punctuated with soft moans like a choir heralding the impending climax. Only a bit longer, and Rainbow would push her over the edge.

“D-Dashie, I’m…” Twilight's voice trailed into a sweet whimper. Her head arched back, body going stiff as her eyes drifted closed.

Just then a loud creak came from the bedroom door. “Mom? Dad?” a groggy voice called.

In a blur, Rainbow dove next to Twilight. Twilight pinched her legs closed and laughed nervously as she sat up. "L-Light? What are you doing out of bed, sweetie?"

Twilight spied Rainbow—face buried in the pillow—out of the corner of her eye. A muffled groan came as she desperately dried the juice from her fur.

When Twilight looked back to the doorway, Light had taken a few more steps into their bedroom. "I had a bad dream," she said with a sniffle.

"Bad dream?" Twilight questioned before clearing her throat.

Rainbow peeked from her pillow. As Twilight struggled to sit up, Rainbow knew a battle waged—motherly instinct to comfort their child versus biological need struggled for supremacy over her body. The alicorn’s face was still flushed, her legs still shaking, but most of all, the soaked mess between said legs and the smell accompanying would surely raise odd questions. That was no state to help their daughter. And despite the burning in her own body, Rainbow placed a hoof on Twilight’s foreleg.

Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Twilight nodded.

"Bad dream?" Rainbow echoed. She lept from the bed and walked over to the trembling filly. In the time she had entered the room and Rainbow had gotten up, Light dropped to her haunches and clutched a small blanket firmly to her chest. "What kind of bad dream?"

"There was a big, scary monster after me…" Light sniffled once more. Just looking at her, Rainbow fought an urge to chuckle. She had the most serious face a filly in her situation could muster with a stern glare holding back a fountain of tears.

"Well—" Rainbow began "—you’re in luck.” Wing extended, she scooped up Light and placed her on her back. "Your dad’s a pro at dealing with monsters." As soon as Light was on Rainbow’s back, she wrapped her forelegs around her neck and pressed her cheek into Rainbow’s fur. "So how about I go make sure there’s no monsters in your room and I tuck you back in? That sound like a plan?" she asked, strolling to the door with a puffed out chest.

A response came as a weak mumble and a nodding against her skin.

Just before she left the room, Rainbow turned her head to meet Twilight’s gaze. She mouthed the words “I’ll be back” and exited. After a short stroll down the dark hallway, they arrived at Light’s bedroom. Rainbow tapped a crystalline lamp next to the filly’s bed and let her climb down onto the sheets. A soft glow filled the room revealing toys scattered around Light’s bed, a rocking chair next to the light, and a small bookshelf. Besides those commonplace things, hide nor hair of a monster stood out.

Rainbow cocked an eyebrow at the still serious filly as she sauntered around the toddler’s bed. “No monsters,” she said slyly. But before Light could open her mouth to protest, Rainbow craned her neck down under the bed. “Not down here either.”

When she rose again, Light locked eyes on the closet across the room. Rainbow smirked as she crept across the bedroom like a lion stalking its prey. “Maybe—” she flung open the door “—one’s in here?”

Not a moment later, Rainbow gasped. “No way!” she said. “It’s—”

“I knew it!” Light yelled, covering her eyes with her blanket. “It’s a monster!”

“No, it’s your teddy bear!” Rainbow tossed a small navy blue stuffed animal across the room with her teeth.

It landed right in front of Light as she dropped her hooves for just a peek. When she saw the star-pattern covering its dark blue coat, she snatched it up and squeezed it tight to her chest. “My ursa!” she cried, gleefully.

“What was that doing in there?” Rainbow asked, cocking her eyebrow once again.

“Spike…”

“Don’t blame Spike,” Rainbow scolded as she moved back to the bed.

Light shook her head. “No, we were playing and he locked the big bad ursa up its cave.”

“Oh.” Rainbow feigned amazement as pushed Light down onto her back. “So you two went on an adventure without me, huh?” As the filly giggled, Rainbow pulled the cover over her and gave a small kiss to her forehead.

Once tucked in, Light narrowed her eyes seriously at Rainbow once more. “She was being bad and fighting.”

“So she had to be put in time out, right?” With Light tucked into bed, Rainbow sat back in the rocking chair behind her.

Light nodded. “Are you and mom still spatting?” the filly asked with an all-too-innocent cadence. An unwavering blank expression on her face matched her tone in a way only a child could manage.

For a moment Rainbow simply stared into Light’s naive face. When she realized the question wasn’t going away, she took a deep breath. “Did mom tell you we were ‘spatting’?”

Light nodded.

Jaw clenched, Rainbow fought the rising urge to yell at Twilight from their child’s bedroom. But as she stared down into Light’s still steadfast expression, she felt the urge dying. Vaguely Twilight’s words from the previous night echoed in her mind—that Light knew they fighting. Another moment passed as she let out the breath she took. “We’re not fighting anymore. So don’t worry about it.”

She smiled for her daughter and reached for a book off the shelf. “I’ll read you a story and then you can go to sleep, okay?”

Light nodded, a small smile on her face.

With a long sigh, Rainbow stepped back into the bedroom. Twilight lay where she had left her, though now with her nose buried in a book and the light on their nightstand now on. Not even uttering a single word, she returned to her side of the bed and collapsed.

Silence remained while Twilight finished her page. Once she was done, she glanced over as Rainbow lay with her face in a pillow. “Is Light tucked in?”

“Finally,” Rainbow said, turning her head to face Twilight. “Did you want me to finish where I left off or—”

Twilight cleared her throat. “I wasn’t sure how long you’d be—” she set the book to the side “—so I finished myself when you left and got ready for bed.” After a few moments without a response, she cracked a small, nervous grin. “You’re not mad, are you?”

“No,” Rainbow replied, her eyes closing for a bit longer than a blink. “I’d probably done the same.”

“Did you want me to—”

Rainbow laughed. “Reading a filly ‘Golden Locks and the Three Ursas’ three times in a row kinda kills your sex drive.” She nuzzled into her pillow, eyes weighing heavy.

Nodding along with what Rainbow said, Twilight couldn’t help but laugh as well. “Kids certainly know just the right time to strike, right? I wouldn’t trade it for the world though.”

Sitting in Light’s room, reading, drained any energy Rainbow had left, and without lust keeping her going, exhaustion was all that remained. She could easily drift off to sleep, but yet one thing had stuck out to her. Now that she had a chance to reflect on their evening and Light mentioned they had been fighting, the pieces almost fit too perfect. While talking of their halcyon days as a fresh couple, Twilight mentioned she missed that—missed them.

“Hey.” Rainbow flicked her eyes up to Twilight one last time. “Did you want to have another kid so we’d spend more time together?”

Silence again as Twilight stared back down into Rainbow’s eyes. She swallowed a lump in her throat, and then took a deep breath. Finally, she chuckled nervously. “That’s—uh…”

“Twi…”

Suddenly Twilight looked down to see Rainbow’s hoof on her own. She then pinched her eyes shut. “I don’t know…”

“You don’t know?”

“I don’t.” When Twilight opened her eyes, she turned her gaze towards the floor. “It’s complicated. I want another foal because I feel like our family isn’t complete yet.”

“Yeah, and to ‘complete’ it will take me away from my job, lay up a princess for a few months, and put a ton of stress on everyone in the house.” Rainbow rolled her eyes as she listed reasons.

“I know,” Twilight replied, narrowing her eyes. “I get it.”

Rainbow squeezed Twilight’s hoof, drawing the mare’s gaze back to her. “I’m not saying your reason’s bad. It just makes a bit more sense to me now.”

“So you’re considering it?”

“Earnestly thinking about it. Like you asked.” Rainbow rolled her eyes and tugged the blanket over her body.

“What about your reasons why you don’t want to?” Twilight asked, and swiftly answered with a growl. But before Rainbow could bark at her for breaking a promise, she raised a hoof between then. “I’m curious. If you’re earnestly thinking about my proposal, I should earnestly consider your issues with it.”

The low growl turned into a groan. “I feel like we’re going to see the same issues we had with Light. Ponies still say something to us when we’re in Canterlot or outside of Ponyville. I don’t think it’s safe.”

Twilight let out a single laugh. “Rainbow, that’s ridiculous. Unicorns know that—”

“Most pegasus and earth ponies don’t understand it.” Rainbow furrowed her brow. “I don’t want to paint a target on our backs by drawing attention, and you’ve got a few enemies out there who would be happy to take aim.”

Twilight sat silent for a moment.

Softly, Rainbow caressed Twilight’s foreleg. Her eyes fell to the mare’s side. What looked like annoyance before now rang clear—worry. “Keeping what we’ve got safe should come before having another kid, I think.”

“I don’t think that’s an issue…” Twilight finally muttered. When Rainbow’s hoof stopped, Twilight placed hers atop it. “But it’s also a good point to keep in mind.”

As those soft words of validation graced her ears, Rainbow ran her hoof through Twilight’s fur once more. “Good night, Twi.”

Twilight smiled and turned off the light. As she slipped down into the covers she turned to face Rainbow. “Good night, Dashie.”

“I love you,” Rainbow muttered back before drifting off to sleep.