The child of Hearth's Warming.
Well over a year had passed since Princess Twilight Sparkle married Flash Sentry, dubbed the new Prince of Friendship by his wife’s side, and now they were expecting their very first foal, which was expected to be born any day now, and what a time too, it was almost Hearth’s Warming.
Friendship Castle was all decked up and looking just as beautiful as ever, thanks to Twilight’s friends. “Well, what do you think, Twilight?” Rainbow asked as she and the others all presented the decked roomed.
Garlands were draped over all the windows with flowers. Lovely strings of lights were hung like streamers in-between and pretty pine trees in pots all around and sprayed with fake snow.
“I think its looks wonderful.” Twilight remarked, “But you know I could’ve helped you.”
“Nothin’ doin’, Twilight.” said Applejack “You heard the doc, you gotta take it easy now if you wanna make a safe delivery.”
Twilight sighed. It had gotten so boring the past two weeks and she was told by the doctor to stay bedridden for the final stages of her pregnancy and avoid serious and stressful work.
She patted her large stomach, “Just the same, I’ll be glad see this baby born.”
Pinkie Pie leapt with glee, “Ooh, I can’t wait to see the new baby. I can’t wat to play with it, and teach it to bake cakes, and how to sing and throw confetti, and… and… AND…!!”
“Pinkie Pie, calm down.” said Fluttershy “The only thing that baby will care about most is eating and sleeping, as well as getting lots of love from its mother.”
Twilight smiled at that remark, but then she looked worried, “Do you really think I’ll be a good mother?”
Rarity gasped, “Why ever would you say that? You are a wonderful pony, Twilight. You’re an excellent friend and you mean well to all.”
Spike hopped up to Twilight’s side, “Twilight, you always great care of me, and you were just a little filly. Plus, you have read a whole load of books about it.”
Twilight smiled lovingly at him, and stroked the back of his head, but then she gasped, “Ooh…!” and clutched her stomach, which alerted the attention of everyone in the room. “It’s time! IT’S TIME!!!” Pinkie cried
Flash Sentry burst right into the room, “It’s time…?! Is the baby coming?!”
Twilight shook her head and chuckled, “It’s not time. I just felt a little kick.” She then looked at Spike, “What’s his time?”
Spike checked a stop watch, “Looks like a new record.”
Flash had been anxiously awaiting for the arrival of the baby, and now these days, any time Twilight so much as rolled over funny he spring up and rush about thinking it was really time.
Twilight sighed and shook her head, “You really need to take it easy.”
Her husband sighed as he walked over to his wife, “I just can’t help it. I mean… I’m going to be a father! I just want everything to go perfectly fine, and…”
His wife used her magic to levitate him closer to her face, “You’re cute when you care.”
“Honey, not in front of the others…!”
Twilight giggled and pulled him closer still, “Let ‘em look.” and she kissed him deeply, which the others, even Spike awed!
A few days passed and it was actually Hearth’s Warming eve, but all Twilight could do was stay in bed as she was told, while every other pony got to play in the snow outside. Spike and Flash stayed with her to keep her company, and to be ready in case she would suddenly go into labor.
“I have never been so bored in my life!” Twilight groaned. “I’ve read all my books, I’ve signed all my documents, and I’ve had three naps today.”
“Maybe she should’ve had three more.” Spike whispered to Flash. Flash agreed, but Twilight heard them, “Very funny!”
Flash and Spike both took it calmly, as they were told Twilight’s mood swings would fly; a typical reaction for a pregnant mare, which even Twilight was aware of. “Oh, I’m sorry if I’ve been hard on you two.”
Flash pecked his wife on her head. “It’s okay, besides you should enjoy all this rest while you can. Soon none of us will be able to get much rest around here, what with the baby crying a lot.”
“Oh, I’ve already thought of that.” Spike said, and he put on a cute little pair of earmuffs. Twilight and Flash thought it was cute, and Twilight rolled over groaning.
“Twilight?!” cried Flash.
“It’s not time.” she told him.
Spike didn’t have to have his earmuff off to understand what had just happened, and he shook his head pitifully, while Flash could just sigh. He really wanted to meet his son or daughter very much, and he didn’t know how much longer he could stand the wait.
Twilight however was thinking how wonderful it would be, to have a baby in her life, start a family of her own, teach it about the joys and magic of friendship and serve as an heir to her friendship throne.
She began to sing a small song in her mind…
Oh, baby! I’m gonna have a baby!
I cannot wait to give it all my love
Oh, baby! I’m gonna have a baby!
It’ll be the cutest brightest child that you’ve ever heard of.
Oh, baby! When I have my baby
Then there’ll be so much friendship and much joy to give
And, Oh, baby! When I have my baby…
I’m gonna love and care for so long as I live.
The years will come and go by
And my baby and I…
Will do many things, yes.
So whether it be a boy girl,
To mean it’ll mean the world,
My little Prince or Princess…
Someday, my baby will also have a baby
And then it won’t be a baby anymore
But in my heart, it’ll always be my baby
…Forevermore
She smiled as she slept, and her husband pecked her cheek. Making her flinch softly and warmly, and he would have jumped thinking it was time again, but Spike put his hand to him and shook his head.
It wasn’t until after sundown that Twilight’s friends came to visit her and check on her and wish her a Happy Hearth’s Warming. “How are you feeling?” Fluttershy asked. “Wide awake, I can’t sleep a wink, what with this overgrown stomach in my way.”
“Well that and you’ve been sleeping a lot anyway.” Rainbow pointed out.
Twilight sighed, “Still, thanks for coming over.”
“Ah, shucks, its Hearth’s Warmin’.” said Applejack “A time for friends and family.”
“And besides, you’re about to start your very own family.” said Rarity “We all wish to be there for you, Twilight.”
Twilight smiled, but suddenly she felt very strange and held her stomach. “Oh…!”
“What, another kick?” asked Pinkie.
Twilight began to look fretful, “No! It’s not a kick… this is it! I feel it! The baby’s coming! It’s really coming!!”
The ponies all snapped and began to rush about in panic. “THE BABY’S COMING!! THE BABY’S COMING!!” Pinkie shouted.
Spike came out of his room dragging his blanket behind him, rubbing his sleepy eyes, “What is going on here!”
“Spike, the baby is coming!” cried Rarity.
“Oh, is that all.” Spike yawned, but then he snapped to his senses, “IT’S TIME?!” and it was double confirmed as he noticed how tense Twilight looked and how she was breathing heavily a she sat upright in bed.
“It’s time?!” Flash cried as he burst into the room, and his wife shrieked “It’s really happening! The baby’s coming!”
Flash began to panic and rushed to Twilight’s side. “Honey…! Honey! Take it easy, remember: breathe slowly.”
Twilight began to breathe calmly, just like she was taught.
“I’ll go get the doctor!” cried Rainbow, and she flew out the window like Lightning.
“I’ll go boil some hot towels.” said Fluttershy.
“I’ll write to Twilight’s family.” said Spike and he dashed off to write and send the letters off, but there was very little for the others to do but stay by Twilight’s side as she continued to breathe. It wouldn’t be long before the real pain began!
Soon the doctor had arrived, Rainbow Dash literally flew him form the hospital straight to Twilight where he examined her, “Yes. It’s definitely coming, but it will take a little time.”
“Time?! What do you mean?!” Twilight shrieked as a painful contraction passed.
“We need to wait for the baby to get to a certain stage, it could take a few hours.” replied the doctor.
“I can’t take this suspense!” cried Flash. The others couldn’t take it either.
“I’m sorry to do this to you all,” the doctor said “But could you please wait outside. I need to work in near-privacy.”
“Yes, we understand.” said Rarity, and she and the other ponies and Spike went off, but Flash was the only one allowed to stay, as he was the father.
The ponies were all forced to remain in the main room, sitting around the map table. The hours seemed endless, and they were all growing stressful as Twilight’s screams echoed from down the hall as she suffered from more contractions.
Poor Spike rocked back and forth nervously, and had tears of worry in his eyes. Fluttershy decided to comfort him, “It’ll be alright, Spike.” She said as she held him close “I’ve seen so many animals have babies, and they all turned out okay.”
Spike wiped his eyes, “I just hate that she’s in so much pain, and I can’t be there for her.”
“We all feel like that, Spike.” said Rarity “But Twilight is in good hands, and I’m sure she’ll feel happy knowing that we all care for her.”
The others all agreed, and Spike felt a little better.
Still, the hours seemed endless as they all waited, and waited. Some of them paced and fluttered around the room, and, eventually falling asleep, right at the table…
…Only to be awoken much later by the faint and distinctive sounds of a the mewling cries of a newborn baby foal!
“The baby’s here! THE BABY’S HERE!!” Pinkie cried for joy, but she was hushed by Applejack, “Take it easy, girl.”
The doctor came down, wiping his hooves with a damp cloth and looking exhausted, but he smiled proudly and informed the gang, “It’s a boy!”
The friends all expressed their joy and excitement as they chattered away.
“It’s a colt!” cried Rainbow.
“Twilight has a son!” squeaked Fluttershy!
“Can we go see?” asked Spike.
“Not just yet, son.” replied the doctor “But I’ll call you the second you can come in.”
“Thank you.” said Rarity, and the doctor went off to tend to Twilight leaving the others all so happy and excited for Twilight and Flash.
Soon, the doctor allowed the friends to come in and visit, but only for a short while as Twilight needed to rest and so did the baby.
Twilight looked much frazzled. Her mane was messed up slightly and she looked as if she had been through a tough battle, and yet, she was smiling ever so livingly as she held in her hoofs a bright yellow Unicorn colt with a soft brown mane, and mulberry eyes like hers and a strong looking muzzle like his father’s.
“Aw…” said Pinkie, and all the others awed as well looking down at the little guy. “He’s so cute…!” cooed Fluttershy.
“Yes, isn’t he precious?” agreed Twilight.
“What’s his name?” asked Rainbow.
“We talked about it a lot.” said Flash “His name is Midnight Spear; A little of his mother’s name and a little of my job as a knight. That and he was born on midnight exactly”
Twilight smiled up at him, and her husband hissed her on the mouth, and then they both gazed down at their little son. “And to think, he’s born on Hearth’s Warming.” said Twilight.
“Gosh, that must make him extra special.” said Spike.
Twilight smiled at him, and the rest was all spent looking down at the little bundle.
Twilight actually managed to heal quickly after giving birth. She wanted to share her new baby with the world.
When the sun came up, Princess Celestia and Luna came to visit Twilight and offer their blessings to the child, and Twilight’s family came along.
“Wow! Look at this little guy.” said Shining Armor, and his nephew looked at him with a big brave smile, “Guess he knows his uncle already, huh?”
Cadance couldn’t help but giggle, and she cooed to Flurry Heart “What do you think your little cousin, huh?”
Flurry and Midnight began to coo, babble and touch hooves together.
Velvet Sparkle and Night Light thought it so sweet that their grandchildren were getting along already.
“It is time, Twilight.” Celestia said, opening the curtains to the terrace where a crowd of ponies from all over had gathered, after hearing the news that spread overnight about the newborn!
Princess Twilight, dressed in her best dress and crown, and her husband by her side, dressed in his best armor, both looked at each other and walked out onto the terrace, and Twilight held the baby up in her hooves for all to see.
The land thundered with applause and cheers for little Midnight, and the sun shined through the snowy clouds on a beautiful Hearth’s Warming day.
What a day! What a gift! What a child!
