Pandora

Chapter 3

Twilight Sparkle yawned loudly. Being rushed out first thing in the morning to wait for a train was just as appealing as it sounded but, an order from the Princess was still and order from the Princess. Twilight's head lowered to her chest as she dosed lightly.

“Here you go.” Twilight's head lifted back up, only to have a Styrofoam cup shoved under her nose “Sorry I didn't have time to brew a pot back home.” Spike's purple and green clawed hand was holding the cup.

Twilight's purple aura surrounded the Styrofoam cup of liquid caffeine. It smelled nowhere near as good as the stuff that Spike had imported from Prance, but, it would have to do for now.

Spike took a swig of his own coffee and his long snout curled in disgust, his long whiskers stiffened in distaste, “Bleck! Remind me to never stay out late again.” He forced himself to drink the entire cup of coffee.

“Agreed” Twilight said after she took a sip of her 'coffee' her muzzle matched her reptilian sibling's “Blegg” She shuddered after another sip, finally just chucking the half full cup into the trash can sitting only a few feet away.

“So...” Twilight said after a few moments or silence, “How was your night?” She asked a teasing tone slipping into her voice.

Spike's cheek scales turned a deeper purple and he sighed, tiny red hearts popping around his head “Fantastic” He breathed out, his green ear frills twitched in joy. “I wanna marry her” He was suddenly serious, the hearts dispersing.

Twilight smiled “I know” She stood and walked closer to the water dragon “You only tell me twice a day. You should ask her.” She sat down next to him.

“I need to find the perfect gem before I do that! That's the only Dragon tradition that I like after all,” Spike said. Twilight's grin widened even more, the tradition he was talking about was one that they had found while reading some books from the Crystal Empire's basements. When a dragon finds another dragon they want to spend their life with they go on a gem hunting spree, when they find a worthy gem they present it to their chosen mate. The gem would be worn to show that they were taken and happily mated. A fairly similar tradition was done among ponies. They would have their Cutie Marks formed into some form of jewelry and would be worn to show engagement.

“I wonder if I could find some crystals in an underground cave.” Spike started to rant about how underwater crystals and gems were probably both beautiful and delicious. “Twi! You gotta let me go to the ocean sometime!” He shook his sister, his green eyes wide with excitement.

“You can go anytime you like Spike. I'm not holding you back” Twilight said softly.

“Oh! Right! Heh heh, sorry,” Spike laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head nervously “Old habits sis... Oh, hey Applejack,” His gaze shifted from Twilight's eyes to over her shoulder.

“Howdy Spike, howdy Twi!” Both siblings were thankful for the distraction.

“Howdy Twi! Howdy Twi!” A little voice echoed out before either adult could answer. Tiny orange wings buzzed as Apple Cox floated to Twilight's side. “Howdy Twi!' He yellped and landed on the lavender pony's back.

“Hello Coxxy, did you do your homework last night?” Twilight asked the little colt on her back.

Apple Cox blinked at her and a grin spread across his face “Nope!” He squeaked happily, his wings buzzed loudly in delight “Aunt Shy helped me with it this morning” He said.

“This morning huh? You must have been up early then” Twilight said with mock amazement.

The little orange colt blinked at her again, his grin widening... a look that was common on Soarin's face. “Aunt Twi... nine in the morning is hardly early!” He cackled out and floated over to spike's feet, playing with the dragon's long whiskers.

Applejack snorted as her friend moved toward her, ears pinned to her head “Such a nice kid ain't he?” She asked, her green eyes shimmering in amusement.

“Shut up.”Twilight muttered halfheartedly, not really meaning it. “Smart ass, just like his father” She said flatly.

Applejack laughed out loud this time. “Oh I know, trust me.” She threw a fore hoof around her friend's withers “Don't feel too bad though,  I get it all the time from both father and son.”

“Soarin' still home sleeping?” Twilight quipped. She pulled back from the Earth pony.

“Of course” Applejack sighed “Can't really blame him though, he just came back from a tour, you know how physically demanding those are.”

“Are you bringing Cox to Canterlot?” Twilight asked after a short pause.

“No, I figure one foal and a pregnant mare would be enough, Apple Bloom is going to watch him for the afternoon, then hand him off for a day with his daddy.” Applejack answered, her ears lowed as she stared at her son.

“How did you know Spectrum was coming with us?” Twilight asked.

“That little guy is only two weeks old, and it's Rainbow Dash were talking about.” Applejack deadpanned.

“Ah, right. Logic, I'll lean it.” Twilight grinned.

Applejack laughed and leaned on her friend “Fluttershy and Big Macintosh will be here in a little bit, they left after I did.” She said, here eyes reflecting worry even though a smile was on her muzzle.

“Hey girls!” Blue feathers drifted down as Rainbow Dash touched down in front of the Unicorn and Earth pony mares. A dark blue sling was wrapped tightly around her neck, inside her son's light blue newborn eyes stared up in amazement at her.

“Hey Rainbow! Nice to see ya outa' your house!” Applejack stepped forward to peer into the sling, keeping clear of Dash's front hooves. “Hey little fella!” The bright blue newborn eyes turned toward the new voice “Ooooh! I can't wait to see what color his eyes'll settle on!” Her hind hooves shuffled in excitement.

“Magenta of course!” Rainbow Dash's back straitened and her neck and head lifted in a boasting pose.

“He'll have the Apple family green, you just wait” Applejack shot back playfully.

“Pffff” Dash snorted “He already has freckles, what more 'Apple' does he need?”

“He has a rainbow mane”

“His primary feathers are yellow”

“And tail!”

“I don't have green eyes sis,” Apple Bloom literally walked through the play argument between her sister and rainbow friend “or freckles” she made a bee-line to Spike, greeting him with a soft “hey” and a swift lick on the top  of his snout.

Applejack pouted and dropped the subject, glaring at her friends when they both started laughing.

When the laughter died, Twilight, Dash, and Applejack sat in a circle talking and laughing. Throwing the occasional coo at the foal around Dash's neck.

“Did you tell Caramel I'm sorry by the way? I didn't mean to almost dislocate his jaw.” Dash asked after calming her son's soft fussing.

“Oh! He's fine! You know him, not much of a care for anything,” Applejack waved the guilty look Dash had on her face. “and he's loving the attention from Bon-Bon and Lyra”

“How did that bastard get lucky enough to get two mares again?” Rainbow dashed asked, flinching slightly when her son cooed. “Er.. Jerk I mean.”

“It was an experiment on their end. They wanted to try a stallion... The experiment didn't end,” Twilight answered “and now they're one happy family”

“Bleck” Dash stuck her tongue out “Gross”

“You asked” Twilight shrugged “wasn't experimenting the reason you ended up with Apple Spectrum?”

Dash's cheeks lit up. “W-well, with alcohol.” She looked down at the green, red, yellow, and orange mane in the sling. She smiled, a smile that a mother gave her children “This past year was tough... but I love this little guy, so I won't complain, can't complain actually.”

“It's a dern shame you and Braeburn didn't work out though...” Applejack trailed off.

Rainbow Dash's tail swished in annoyance, “I thought we were done with this,” she snapped. “We tried, it didn't work, we're still friends. Drop it”

“Dash” Twilight tried to quiet the argument, magenta eyes turned to burn into her.

Applejack put her hooves up. “Sorry, sorry!” The three fell into silence. Neither of them knew where to take the conversation.

Luckily for them, they didn't have to, “AJ,” Apple Bloom cantered over to the trio, “Fluttershy” She said and turned her head back toward where she was previously standing.

The butter colored Pegasus in question was leaning heavily on Big Macintosh. Her pink mane was pulled into a braid and a soft smile was on her face as she talked to Spike.

“Fluttershy!” Rainbow Dash flapped her wings and lifted from the ground, swooping over to her childhood friend. “Oh my gosh!” She looked her friend up and down. “Lookit you! I thought I got big!” She leaned up and nuzzled Fluttershy's neck in affection.

“Oh yes” Fluttershy nuzzled back “You can't expect much less from twins though.” She shied her face away under her loose bangs.

“Y’all okay?” Applejack asked, acknowledging her brother with a nod.

“Y-yeah, I'm fine” She flinched and her hind legs shuffled slightly “They're kicking hard today” She muttered softly. Apologizing just as softly when Big Macintosh rubbed against her side.

Twilight stepped forward, “I'm so sorry about this Fluttershy!” She stared up at her taller friend, guilt taking over her expression. “Really I am! I told Celestia to leave you guys out of these.” Her ears and head lowered.

“Don't you worry about it none sugarcube!” Applejack answered for her sister-in-law “We'll always be by yer side! No matter what.”

That didn't make Twilight feel any better. Bitterness was on her tongue, but she didn't say anything. The train whistle kept her from saying anything anyway. Today had been full of lucky saves like that. “Let's go,” She said and turned toward the train station.

Bidding farewell to Spike as she passed, she boarded the train, closely followed by her friends. She decided to write off her bad mood as lack of caffeine... the ache beneath the base of her horn was another symptom of caffeine withdraws.

Half of the train ride was sat in awkward silence. Occasional hushing coming from Rainbow Dash  when she comforted her son, and the shuffling of Fluttershy's hooves on the cushioned seat in discomfort.

Twilight had her face smooshed against the window, staring in dread at the castle. The feeling grew as the train moved closer. Her trance was interrupted when pricing wails came from Rainbow Dash's corner of the car.

“Oh! No, no, nonononono! Spec!” Dash was laying on her side, curled around her little colt. She sat up slightly, the tips of her long rainbow mane tickled her son's face, only resulting in angering the crying foal further. Little limbs flailed and the cries slowly escalated in sound.

“What's wrong?” Twilight pulled her face away from the window to look back at the mother and son.

Dash's eyes darted back and forth nervously “He...He's hungry.” She said, her cheeks  turned red slightly.

“Well, feed him then” Applejack said, her voice slightly muffled from her Stetson hat, which had been placed over her face in preparation for a nap.

“He-here?” Magenta eyes continued to dart around.

“Where else?”

“Buh-”Apple Spectrum wailed in anger “Shhh...shhh.” Rainbow Dash leaned back over the colt, her wing set over his back. Her eyes kept landing on Big Macintosh nervously.

The large red Earth pony sighed and stood from his spot next to his wife “Ahm goin' for a walk. You ladies want a drink while I'm gone?” Getting noes from all around he left.

As soon as the car door shut Dash let Apple Spectrum squirm his way down to his meal. When he was settled in, a cyan wing settled back over the nursing foal.

The other three mares sighed in relief when the cooing and drinking sounds replaced the wailing. Dash giggled softly, her voice raspy she said “I'm so glad Big Mac is good at taking a hint.” She said through her giggling.

Applejack pulled her hat off of her face and sat up “Yeh yern't being very subtle RD.” She moved to take her brother's place next to Fluttershy, she let the Pegasus mare lean on her.

“He would have left if you asked Dash” Fluttershy said softly, lowing her head onto Applejack's shoulder in exhaustion.

Dash didn't answer, just watched her son with a happy smile on her face.

Twilight, thankful for the silence again, turned her face back to the window. She sighed so softly and closed her eyes and let herself fall into a light sleep,

“Twi” A short time later a hoof landed on Twilight's shoulder and gently shook the sleeping pony awake. Her lavender eyes blinked open to focus on her rainbow friend “We're almost there.”

“Thank-”Twilight yawned “-You” She pulled away from the window and stretched her front hooves out in front of her sighing in relief when her back popped.

“Y’all right?” Applejack asked from the seat across from her. She had Apple Spectrum curled in the crook of her foreleg. The little colt was flailing his legs, this time in joy and excitement.

“Yeah, just didn't get much sleep last night.” Twilight's voice strained as she stretched her back again “Fell asleep after Spike got home, I assume that was late, so I spent half the night just staring at the back of my eyelids.”

“Yick. I feel ya there. Although... Spec did sleep pretty well last night... oddly” Rainbow Dash settled down next to the drowsy Unicorn.

“What...”Twilight started after a short pause “What is it like... being a mother?” She wasn't specifically speaking to anypony in the train car.

“Amazin'”

“Awesome”

“I-it's hard to explain though.” Fluttershy pushed herself up onto her hooves. “Really, one word answers are the only way to explain it and yet...at the same time it doesn't” Big Macintosh smiled and nuzzled into Fluttershy's neck as she spoke. Dash and Applejack nodded in agreement.

“You'll feel that someday, Twi” Applejack handed the multicolored little colt back to his mother. “You just gotta find the right stallion... be it a partner for life or just a drunken fling.” She laughed when one of Rainbow Dash's hooves punched her in upper shoulder.

Twilight smiled “Yeah... I guess” She said, not knowing what else to say.

“Speakin' of drunken flings,” Big Macintosh suddenly said. “Braeburn is going to be in town next month to help with bucking season. And to see you an' Spec o' course.” He turned toward Dash “Got the letter a few days ago, been meanin' to yell ya”

“Awesome! You hear that Spec? You're gonna see your daddy.” Spectrum was lifted up and brought down slowly in a gentle and slow bounce. “Maybe big sis Scootaloo can watch you so he and I can get into a drinking contest,” she said laughing along with her little son.

Applejack rolled her eyes, while her cousin and best friends didn't work out in a romantic relationship, they sure did click as great friends. Which was, of course, great for the little foal they parented. No hatred or awkwardness would hinder their views on how and where to raise the child between them... yet.

“Thinking of having another one?” Applejack snarked, smirking at the look she was given.

Dash scowled and her tongue shot out in a mocking face “No! Too early... Next year however” She laughed at the dirty look on Applejack's face. Fluttershy and Twilight joined in Dash's laughter and Big Macintosh shook his head in amusement.

The last few minutes of the train ride were filled with banter and laughter. It felt good... acting like nothing was wrong

The train pulled into the station and let out a loud hiss as the pressurized air left it. The three mares and stallion hung back so that they were one of the last groups off of the train. Less of a hassle and less shoving.

Stepping off of the train, after making sure Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash both made it off alright, Twilight walked smack into a vibrating blur of pink. “Guh!” She landed on her back when the pink thing attacked to her. “Pinkie! Can't breath!”

“TWILIGHT!” Pinkie didn't let go. “Oh my GOSHGOSHGOSH!! I haven't seen you in soooooooo long! I know we all got together when little Speckey was born. But STILL! That's forever and a half!” She bounced off of the Unicorn and started leaping back and forth as she ranted happily.

Powder blue magic surrounded Twilight and she was back on her hooves “Pinkie, dear, you simply must calm down.” Twilight turned to grin at the white Unicorn that had helped her.

“Rarity!” Twilight said happily. Pinkie was bouncing and talking to Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash. “How are you” Twilight asked nudging her cheek against her friend's.

“Oh... As well as I can be I suppose” She turned her head to look behind her hind legs. “Jasper, come out and say hello darling.”

“Oh! You brought Jasper with you?” Twilight's excited expression fell into a concerned one. “Will he be alright?”

“His Doctor said that fresh air would do him good. Come say hello to your Aunt Twilight.”Rarity said to her hind legs.

A small... Fairly small for his age, young colt stepped from behind Rarity's hind legs, he had a lanky dark blue mane and bloodshot green eyes. The dark powder blue around his eyes make them look more sunken in than they actually were. His face was flushed and he had small amounts of foamy sweat on his brow and around his mouth.

“Hello Jasper.” Twilight lowered herself to the foal's eye level “I haven't seen you since you much younger”

A soft cough left the colt's mouth and he turned his face away, hiding his face in his mother's foreleg.

“His Doctor said that getting away from the city would improve his health exponentially... so we are going to move back to Ponyville.” Rarity said softly “Fancy Pants just has some last minute things to do here in the city, then he will be able to work remotely.”

Twilight nodded. “It'll be great to have you back in town and to see him more often.” She smiled down at Jasper “And to see you get better of course”

Rarity smiled sadly “ That's what we're hoping” She looked down at her sickly son, she could feel the fever radiate off of him as he stood in a daze against her leg. “We should probably get going” Rarity raised her voice so she could be heard by the rest of the group.

After a short greeting to each other, the group of mares and one stallion started their trek to the Canterlot castle. Besides stopping briefly to drop Jasper off with his father, they didn't allow anything to stop or distract them.

Anxiety grew in Twilight as she walked toward the looming castle. She didn't include herself in conversation around her, she was too busy wondering what awaited the group of ponies.

“Twilight Sparkle.” The herd stopped. Twilight looked up to the stallion that said her name, relaxing a great deal when she saw Princess Luna's personal guard standing before him.

“Midknight Blade” Twilight nodded “You're up early... or late.”

Midknight snorted and splayed his dark purple and blue wings and laid one over Twilight's back “...Late indeed, both sisters would like to see you.” he turned his head to look at the rest of the group. “Shining Armor and Miss Cadance will be here to escort you to where you need to go.” He drawled lazily and nudged the pony under his wing forward.

As they walked in silence, the sense of dread increased in tenfold, the dark wing over her not doing it's job in comfort. “What... is going on?” She finally asked, her voice shaking in fear.

Midknight's head snapped down to her in surprise. Why was she terrified? “What's the matter? Oh sweat Mother Faust, I knew Luna should have written to you as well.” He brought his hoof up to rest it on his scarred muzzle “Trust me Tiny Twi, it's nothing too serious...Well, we don't think it is. You'll see.” He nudged her forward again.

“Why did she say she needed the Elements then?” Twilight resisted the escorting wing

“It was mostly precautionary... Luna and I seriously doubt that we'll need them.” Midknight sat heavily, he brought his hoof up and lifted Twilight's chin “Listen to me Sparkle Butt, nothing bad is going to happen. They're not sending you out to save a forgotten land from a fallen king, no nasty bugs to take care of, and no rampaging night princess... most nights anyway. Trust me Twilight.”

Twilight stared into usually lazy golden eyes, they were serious and sincere. “Just precautionary?” She asked. The horse in front of her nodded. Twilight's entire demeanor relaxed and she almost fell over. “Applejack is going to kill me.”

Midknight laughed. “I'm sure she'll forgive you for dragging her pregnant sister-in-law out here. It is for you after all Tiny Twi.” He stood back up, draped his wing back over her back, and started waking again.

Twilight had to gallop slightly to keep up with the horse leading her down the hall, “you don't think she'll be mad?”

“Hell no.” Midknight slowed his pace -he always forgot that those with shorter legs have a hard time keeping up with him- “A little miffed maybe, but not angry. She got to see her other friends as well right?”

“How is it that you seem to know them better than I do?” Twilight asked, she knew he was telling the truth, he always did, that didn't stop her from being annoyed though.

“judge of character Sparkle Butt. Need to have it to be in the position I'm in today.” Midknight answered lazily, his tongue popping out teasingly.

“And how is courting Princess Luna going?” Twilight quipped. Almost feeling guilty at the cringe that Midknight gave in response.

“Well... not very well, she's totally oblivious...but...”Midknight sighed softly. “It's probably better that way... less pain for her when I pass.”

Now Twilight did feel guilty, her ears pinned themselves to the back of her head. “I'm sorry” She apologized softly. She knew exactly how he felt, fearing what would happen to both Celestia and Spike when she passed... What would happen to Spike when his own mate-to-be passed.

Midknight led her to a large familiar door, the throne room door. He raised his hoof and knocked a few times. Dark blue magic surrounded the handle and the door sprung open...

...Crying? “Is that a foal?” Twilight asked. Before Midknight could answer, the same dark blue magical aura surrounded her and she was lifted into the air “Guh!” Not used to the sensation of being the one carried by magic she flailed slightly.

Twilight was placed... none to gently, onto the ground in front of both the Princess of the Sun and the Princess of the Moon, between them sat a wooden cradle. “Yes, Twilight Sparkle... It is” Luna waved her guard off, he smiled and ducked out of the room.

Twilight rose to her hooves and peered into the cradle. “Who's-” She cut herself off when she saw the foal. “Discord?” She recoiled and fell onto her back.

“Yes! Exactly!” Celestia's wings shot open in aggravation. “I told you Luna” She said sharply glaring at her dark sibling.

Luna rolled her eyes “Yes sister, it is his magic.” She turned back toward Twilight -Who had picked herself up- “But, she is not him.”

“How... are you sure?” Twilight asked, not sure how to ask that without being rude. She peered back into the cradle. The little... Little tiny thing stared up at her with unfocused pale yellow and baby blue eye. Somehow, Twilight knew the color of the foal's eyes would settle on red. “It could be a disguise?” she asked not really believing herself.

“Discord, a master of disguise yes, but, he would never. Never take the form of a female entity, never be able to in the first place, you know that better than anyone” Luna said “Magic doesn't work like that, and you know it.” She turned toward her sister “And so do you.” her voice was sharp.

Celestia turned away, her eyes angry and conflicted. “We need someone to take care of her.” She finally said.

Twilight's ears perked toward her old mentor's voice... shit, she knew exactly where this was going. “Why me? She asked before either Princess could actually ask.

Celestia flinched, had she become so predictable to her former student? Calling this a lesson wouldn't even cut it... not anymore. Calling on the excuse of the Elements was getting old... even to her.

“Because, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna started “In addition to our normal excuse of having the elements... most of them close, but also because we trust you.” She said

Celestia nodded, not sure if adding anything would actually help or not.

Twilight sighed. “I have no idea how to teach an Alicorn about their magic, nor do I know how to fly.” She said. What was she getting herself into? Was it the hormones crying out for a foal to nurture and raise? Or... did something click when she looked at the little filly. She looked down at the foal.

“That is where I come in” Luna smiled. “Midknight blade and I will -once she's old enough of course- pick her up three nights each month.” Twilight barely heard her... what was it about this foal?

“Why night?” Twilight asked briefly looking up then locked her eyes back onto the unfocused eyes of the foal in the cradle.

“Because if she is anything like Discord, which she will be magically... We will... want to keep her away from other ponies. She could potentially transform some potted plants into some chaotic creations.” Luna answered.

Twilight smiled softly, the little foal cooed at her quietly and yawned. Closing her eyes, showing off her dark colored eyelids and white lined brows “I'll do it” She found herself saying finally.

“What will you name her?” Celestia summoned a contract of adoption.

Twilight hesitated, and mentally went through all the names she dreamed of naming a potential foal, none of them fit of course. She wracked her brain for other names, but one name kept repeating itself louder and louder. Maybe it was magic

“Pandora”