The Best Possible Outcome

The Best Possible Outcome

Chapter 1

“...therefore, if there exists an infinite amount of universes, then we must accept there are also an infinite amount of outcomes. There are no constants, no tried and true laws, no inevitabilities we’re all bound to. So to answer to your question, my little pony, a pessimist will think of all the ways things could go wrong, and an optimist will think the opposite. But because happiness is subjective, a smart pony could, theoretically, determine what series of events generates the best possible outcome.”

- Starswirl the Bearded, Special Guest Lecturer at the School of Friendship

Twilight Velvet and Night Light’s third foal was a filly.

She was a cute little unicorn with a coat the same blue as her father’s and a mane the same gold as his eyes, but everything else she took after her mama. She was born healthy and without trouble, but the doctors kept her an extra day due to the color of her eyes. They were the palest violet you’d ever seen, so pale they looked almost grey. Fortunately, the tests showed she could see fine, so after one final examination, she was allowed to be taken home.

Velvet and Night decided to call her Remedy.

Remedy was a quiet baby for the most part. She was fine so long as she knew others were around, but the second she thought she was alone, she’d scream bloody murder. It took a few months to get her over this bad habit, but once Velvet and Night got her sleeping by herself in the nursery, that seemed to be the worst of it.

Remedy stayed healthy otherwise, too. She ate well, slept well, and Velvet and Night weren’t worn out caring for her at all. In fact, tending to her re-kindled a spark Velvet and Night had forgotten, and every time they looked at their new daughter, their hearts soared that much higher.

So six months later, when Velvet’s heat was right around the bend...

“I want to try for twins,” said Velvet.

Night looked up from his newspaper. “Why-honey, this-is-so-completely-and-totally-unexpected. And-here-I-thought-that-was-all-just-dirty-talk. Did that sound convincing enough?”

Velvet sauntered up to his recliner. She climbed atop his lap and straddled him before pulling him into a tender kiss. “I already talked to Celestia and Luna. They said they could get us some fertility medicine.”

Night nuzzled Velvet’s neck. “How about that? It’s almost like they were planning on us wanting more.”

Night’s warm exhales on her throat were like gasoline on a fire. “I-I know you were on the fence about this before… are you—”

Night silenced her with a kiss of his own. He squeezed her thick rear like clay, his long cock already rising between them. Velvet moaned and kissed back with equal fervor, her lips hungry for his—

“W-Wait,” Night suddenly said. “If we really are gonna try for twins, we should probably go get those drugs. I can already smell the heat on you...”

Velvet whined. Her nethers had felt empty all day, that familiar hunger becoming more and more incessant. “Errrrrrrgh… what time is it?”

Night glanced at the clock. “Ten-thirty.”

Velvet looked out the dark windows, the lights of Canterlot Castle twinkling in the moonlight. “Luna’s holding court right now. I could probably...”

Night didn’t even need to think. “Go. I’ll stay with Remmy.”

Velvet pulled him into another kiss, this one deeper and laced with tiny moans before teleporting away. An instant later Night left alone in the living room, mane and coat tousled, breathing hard, staring at nothing with his stallionhood at full mast. He shuddered as it gave a twitch, a bead of pre already at its tip.

“...We’re gonna need a bigger house.”

***

“AH!” Velvet arched her back under Night’s weight. “H-HARDER! HARDER!”

Night snorted. He pulled back and buried his cock in her with a wet THWAP, working up a steady rhythm as another peak approached. He chomped on her scruff and yanked to hear her angelic song again, and soon he was pumping yet another hefty load of enhanced seed into her.

Velvet was insatiable. The medicine had ignited an inferno inside her, a burning firestorm that only Night’s seed could quench, yet as soon as he put it out, it flared right back up again just as strong. She wasn’t sure how many times already he’d cum inside her, all she knew was that her legs were locked in place, he was atop her, inside her, and—oh, he was already starting up again, his rock-hard size eager to fill her up even more!

Velvet’s eyes flicked to Remedy’s baby monitor on the nightstand. She could just picture Night’s seed taking root, new life embedding itself in her nourishing walls. They were going to need another monitor pretty soon, and if they were lucky, two...

***

The grocery store was a zoo. Velvet was convinced she was cursed to always pick the busiest times, which was why she usually let Night handle the shopping. Thank goodness Remedy didn’t mind crowds, as the last thing Velvet wanted was to be the stereotypical mother shopping with a wailing yearling. Ponies of all shapes and sizes murmured in a dull roar around them as
she waddled through the aisles, her wide, pregnant middle swaying slightly with every step.

The subtle attention was what Velvet enjoyed the most. Teenage colts sneaking peeks, stallions of all types checking her out, their gazes lingering on her huge baby belly. Yes, mares and gentlecolts, she had more than one in there, and they were both big and healthy as can be. She made sure to put extra sway in her step for them, knowing their eyes were on her heart-shaped rump and large breasts bulging within the nursing bra.

“Let’s see…” Velvet glanced through the list Night had written for her. “Pineapple, carrots, frozen peas, hay fries, shampoo, fetlock trimmers, toilet paper, cocoa butter, mouthwash, blueberries, pickles, peanut butter, cereal, beets, cabbage, ice cream, olives...”

“Mum-ma!” Remedy pointed to a display of oranges. “Num-num!”

Velvet looked where she was pointing. “Yes, you like oranges, don’t you?” She gave Remedy an eskimo kiss. “You gobble them up like candy!”

Remedy giggled. “Num-num!”

Velvet paused to let some ponies go by before putting a few oranges in a bag. She also pulled a toddler’s juice box from her saddlebag, which predictably, contained orange juice. “Here’s num-nums for you, sweetie.”

Remedy’s eyes lit up. She snatched the juice box and immediately began slurping away.

“What a little cutie!” said a passing mare. She waved to Remedy, who merely stared with bright eyes. “What’s her name?”

“Remedy,” said Velvet to the newcomer. “She’s fifteen months old.”

The mare giggled. “D’awww, I remember when my daughter was that young. Is she your first?”

“My third, actually.” Velvet patted her gravid womb, teeming with life and giving her a maternal glow. “Four and five here are due in a couple months.”

The mare gasped, though in a good way. “You’re having twins?!”

Velvet snickered. Of course she’d had to suspect—at forty-seven weeks pregnant, Velvet’s barrel looked like she’d swallowed a pair of watermelons. “A boy and a girl.”

The mare squee’d and danced in place. “I’d always wished I’d had twins! And you look so good, too! Congratulations!”

Velvet beamed. She relished the warm weight inside her, a constant fullness swirling around with a pleasant buzzing. She’d managed not to bump into anypony today, but there’d been times in the past where her billowing paunch had grazed a few passerby. Fortunately, her thick, silvery coat was like a built-in cushion. “Hubby and I are excited, too.”

Velvet continued her shopping at an easy pace. Remedy looked all about as they went, snuffling and burbling occasionally saying simple sentences. Her noise drew the positive attention of shoppers around them, and by extension Velvet, many doing double-takes upon realizing how big she was. She didn’t mind, of course—a pregnant mare in their last trimester with twins did tend to draw attention.

Velvet was passing the baby aisle when she felt one of the twins kick. She and Night had already stocked up on plenty of supplies, but if their last discussion was any indicator, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to have more...

***

The twins’ names were Eventide and Morning Star. The girl was Eventide, and the boy was Morning Star. They were indeed twins, but aside from both being unicorns, they couldn’t have looked more opposite. Eventide was dark indigo with a three-toned mane of deep oranges and soft purples, Morning Star was pure white with a solid, rust-red mane. Eventide’s eyes were sky blue, Morning Star’s were dark green. Eventide’s features took more after Night in general, but Morning Star took more after Velvet, and so on.

“At least we’ll be able to tell them apart,” Night had said upon seeing them.

Evie and Morny, as they came to be called, were born twelve months and six days after they were conceived. Their labor window was a blissfully short three weeks this time, with Evie coming out first and Morny following minutes later. They’d been allowed to come home quickly with a clean bill of health to be greeted by the rest of the family.

Evie and Morny’s preferences were quite similar. They woke and fell asleep at the same time, liked and disliked the same foods, got sick at the same time, had similar reactions to things, and even had liked the same brand of teddy bear. They did eventually show signs of individuality, but Night and Velvet often joked that if they didn’t look so different, it’d be impossible to tell them apart.

“Did you have trouble getting them to sleep?” Velvet asked one evening as Night crawled into bed.

Night shook his head. “They zonked out soon as they hit the mattress. Those dreamcatchers are godsends.”

Velvet snuggled into him as he took his usual role of big spoon. “Mmm… you sure you wanna be the one checking in on them again tonight? You don’t have to keep doing it...”

Night kissed her ear. “You did the heavy lifting all of last year. It’s my turn to pull my weight.”

Velvet shivered. She didn’t know why, but his breathy murmurs never failed to stir the coals in her belly. It’d only been a few months since the twins were born, but Celestia’s labor spell sped up recovery time. She made sure the soundproofing spell on their room was still good.

Night kept kissing her. He moved down past her ear, travelling down her jawline and down to her neck. Velvet’s tail twitched between them, her marehood growing wet as she wiggled her plush rear. Night stroked Velvet’s sides to feel her hips… those luscious, amazing, foalbearing hips… her breaths grew shallow as he traced her pulse with his tongue, pressing her teeth to her skin—

“Let’s have another,” Velvet breathed.

Night smirked. “I thought you’d never ask.”

Velvet moaned. She pushed her rear more against him, already feeling his pride growing against her back. There was no hesitance, no doubt or fear in her mind, only the desire to grow their family.

Night hugged her tighter. He’d been smelling hints of her estrus all day, and it’d been a battle not to pounce on her. He adjusted his hips to free his cock, and the movement caused a gust of warm air to escape the covers. He caught a thick whiff of her then, the scent making him nicker low and deep, and Velvet winked against him, hard.

He was penetrating her in seconds. Her smooth walls welcomed him like an old friend as her marehood swallowed inch after delectable inch, his great size bulging her tunnel to shape. Another precious little life would soon to be added to their clan, another foal they’d love with all their heart. He wasn’t sure which of them wanted this more, but either way, they both welcomed it with open arms. Would they have a boy or a girl this time? They didn’t know which they wanted more...

Velvet couldn’t believe how fast she’d tightened back up. She could feel every millimeter of Night spreading her, his size pushing deeper no matter how hard she squeezed. He always made her so full… so very, very full, and then even fuller once he seeded her womb! She swore that amazing fullness lasted the entire time she was pregnant, and it only intensified as the months went on.

Ten minutes later, Night was cumming inside her. He was ready for round two in less than a minute, but this time he went slower, drawing things out to the breaking point and then filling her more than ever. Soon they were standing up so he could mount her, and it was here they stopped making love... and started fucking each other silly.

Night railed her as if he were in a trance. He pounded Velvet into the mattress again and again,
a lust-crazed stallion addicted to his mare’s sexy sounds. Velvet certainly made no shortage of them, yelling, groaning, whinnying, goading, screaming, even begging him not to stop. Night’s stamina never faltered, the Age spell’s side effect stronger than ever, his balls refilling to pump her full once more within seconds of shooting their load.

Now they definitely needed to see about that bigger house…

***

“How about this one?” said the contractor, showing them a floor plan and some photos. “Three floors, five bedrooms, four bathrooms. Optional amenities and luxuries can be added, of course.”

Velvet and Night looked over the blueprint. It had your typical Canterlot-style decorations like sweeping rooftops and elegant lattice work, as well as a layout of how the rooms were set up. It’d look nice on the land they’d bought.

“Only five bedrooms?” Velvet said with a frown. “That’s it?”

The contractor blinked. “Right! Silly me, I keep mixing you up with my earlier clients. Your coat colors are quite similar, heh… Give me a second…”

Velvet rested a hoof on her melon-sized belly. This contractor may have been one of the best, but was he ever a scatterbrain. She could only hope he was more organized when it came to the building.

“I should tell probably tell you,” he said while rummaging through a cabinet. “No matter what kind of house you’re looking for, it’s not going to be finished by the time your new one’s born.”

Night shrugged. “We’ll be fine for a while. Our two oldest are out of the house, and we can keep the new one in our room until the new place is built. Worst case scenario, the twins bunk with Remmy while the new one goes in the nursery.”

“But we can’t do that forever.” Velvet leaned back in her chair to the foal wasn’t pressing on her bladder. “We’ve already decided we want more after this one, and we’d like all the kids to have their own room. That means we need a large, practical house that’s easily expandable.”

The contractor snickered. “Understood. When’s your labor window start?”

Night put an arm around Velvet. “Sixteen weeks. We’re hoping it won’t be a long one, so hopefully we’re looking at five months.”

Velvet paused to take another large helping from the bowl of trail mix the contractor had offered. “This stuff’s really hitting the spot! Do you have any more?”

The contractor didn’t look up. “You can just have the box. It’s in the drawer by the window.”

Velvet magically opened the drawer and floated over the box in a whizzing blur.

Night examined the label as she ate. “LIke that stuff, eh? Guess I’ll be picking you up some of that stuff in the future.”

“Along with more quinoa!” she said between bites.

Night rolled his eyes. “Yes, yes, more quinoa. With Shining you craved relish, with Twily you wanted saltines, with Remmy you wanted watermelon, with the twins it was olives, and now you’re inhaling quinoa. Pregnancy cravings make no sense.”

Velvet nuzzled him. “Loooooooooove you~”

“A-HA!” The contractor held up a rolled up blueprint. “I knew I had it in this drawer! Yes, indeed! There aren’t a lot of clients out there interested in expandable houses for growing families, but I’m the one who likes building them. Do be careful looking this blueprint over, though—it’s the original copy.”

He came over and rolled out the plans for Night and Velvet to see. They leaned forward for a good look...

The first thing about they noticed was the blueprint didn’t have the washed-out look that came from repeated use of the Copy-It spell. The crisp, fresh lines looked like they’d been drawn yesterday, the only evidence otherwise being the date in the corner. There were no photos attached, but the specs were listed as four floors, fifteen bedrooms, and twelve bathrooms. There were also three dining rooms, four dumbwaiters, three kitchens, two studies, an apothecary, a giant recreation room, and a myriad of other rooms that could be used for just about anything you could think of.

“The setup’s designed to be easily expandable, just like you’re wanting,” said the contractor, pointing to the notes in the corner. “You could add a few more rooms, another floor... or even an entire new wing! You could make this house the size of a castle!”

Night and Velvet were speechless. The longer they looked at the plans, the more and more their faces lit up. They looked to each other with open-mouthed smiles, then as one, turned back to the contractor.

“We’ll take it!”

***

Their sixth foal was born five weeks into her labor window, and amusingly, Velvet’s water broke while she was taking a shower (easy cleanup)! Aurora Fade was the name they originally wanted, but when they told it to the nurse, he misspelled it and put down ‘Aurora Fae’. Night and Velvet were going to have it fixed, but the longer they thought on it, the more they felt ‘Fae’ felt like a better fit, so they decided to keep the goof.

Fae had a plush grey coat like Velvet’s, a beautiful two-toned mane of dark, dark purples, and eyes a striking color of blue. It immediately became apparent she was a night owl, as while she slept with ease during the day, it was a battle to get her to sleep at night. Night and Velvet finally had to cave and hire a nanny so they wouldn’t be up with her all the time.

Speaking of their new house, it was finished a few months after Fae was born. The land they’d bought was farther up the mountainside in the nicer part of Canterlot, complete with a spectacular view of the castle to the west and the Canterhorn Valley to the south. The land was also big enough that they could expand the house fivefold if they really wanted, as well as add multiple floors with just as much footage.

“I like it!” said Princess Celestia upon coming to visit one day. “Plenty of space, but not decadent or excessive. I think you’ll be very happy here.”

Velvet sipped at her tea. “We like it, too. The kids are adjusting, but they’ll get there.”

Celestia glanced around the living room, which had some pictures and decorations on the walls, but still felt pretty bare. “How are they otherwise? The kids, I mean.”

Velvet set her cup down. “Fae’s eating well… but she still doesn’t sleep at night. Has the night in her blood, it seems... You can see why we wanted a bat pony for a nanny.”

Celestia’s eyes twinkled. “I hear Lulu’s already quite taken with her.”

Velvet smiled. “It’s funny. Fae’s been extremely skittish around strangers, but when Luna came by to see her, she was calm and quiet as a mouse. She didn’t even fuss when Night and I even left them alone together for a bit.”

You could almost hear the gears turning in Celestia’s head. “Is that so?”

Velvet looked to their right, where they could just hear Night reading the rest of the kids a story. “Evie and Morny are talking more, although Evie moreso than Morny. Morny’s your typical colt, more active and prefers games and toys and whatnot. It can be hard to keep him still at times… And as for Remmy, she very well may be the most mellow child I’ve ever seen. She’s not shy, but she just doesn’t make a lot of noise for whatever reason. We have to keep an eye on her when we go out because of it—she has a habit of wandering off.”

Celestia nodded. “I assume she’ll grow out of that. What about Twilight and Shining?”

Velvet laughed. “Still writing weekly. Twily’s coming up tommorrow to put new wards on the house, and Shining and Cadance are expecting foal number two in a few months. No news if it’s another alicorn like Flurry, but after their adventures with her, I think they’d prefer a normal child.”

Celestia laughed as well. “Flurry Heart’s certainly kept them occupied. It seems they were right to be concerned about having enough time to be parents.”

Velvet got an odd smile at this. “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that. I’ve a feeling they’ll space their children out, but I’ve no doubt they’ll wind up with a big family. I’ve seen the looks in their eyes when they’re around our new ones.”

Celestia’s smile grew. “Speaking of which… I was going to wait until Night was done reading, but Lulu and I looked into the matter you both asked about over Hearth’s Warming.”

Velvet sat up straighter. “And?”

Celestia smoothed out a wrinkle on the couch. “It took some collaborating with some old friends, but together we devised a special ritual just for you and Night.” A scroll popped into existence at Celestia’s command. “If you really would like to try for triplets and beyond, this procedure will significantly raise your chances, as well as give both your bodies a significant boost in various ways. It’ll also make pregnancy much safer, but I should warn you—there’s a chance the ritual could merge with the Age spell. That means the effects will last as long as you choose to remain young—”

“YES!” Velvet leapt from her chair and caught Celestia in a bone-crushing hug. “Yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes!”

Celestia nearly had the wind knocked out of her. “Deja… vu...”

Velvet giggled like a schoolfilly into Celestia’s chest. “Can you use it on us right now? Please say you’ll use it on us right now!”

Celestia patted Velvet’s head. “In a moment, Velvet. Before that, there’s something else I want to give you, something you’ll need to manage your growing family.”

Velvet looked up at her. “Oh?”

Celestia’s horn flashed again, and a thick, ancient tome appeared upon the coffee table. It was weathered and worn with yellowed pages, and the cover was made of dark enchanted wood with metal straps. The book had no visible title, but it did have some kind of faded symbol on the front.

“Of all the things needed to raise a foal,” Celestia said. “The most important is time. Time to give attention to their development and needs, time to provide love, guidance, protection, and friendship. The time needed for just one foal is taxing, and the more foals you have, the more your time will be divided.”

Celestia floated the book up to reveal the faded symbol: a blue spiral with four stars around the edges. The aged scent of old parchment hit Velvet as the book flipped open, the Old Equuish script as crisp as when it was penned.

“You’re already enjoying the effects of one of my old teacher’s ‘forbidden’ spells,” Celestia said with a smirk, “but you’re going to need more if you want to keep down this path. What say we put aside those ridiculous cultural taboos that’ve cropped up the last millennium, and Lulu and I show you what time-space magic can really do?”

***

“So you’re Twilight’s friendship student!” Night said, shaking the pony’s hoof. “Why, it seems like just yesterday she was moving down here to Ponyville. Times certainly do change, don’t they?”

Starlight Glimmer forced herself to smile. “I guess you could say that. After all, lots of things are capable of changing... right?”

“Honey!” Velvet called from the other room. “Where’d you put Fae’s pacifier?”

“Blue bag, middle pouch!” he called back around the corner. “Heh, kids. Lots to pack, lots to prepare. Twilight did mention she had brothers and sisters, right? She’s forgotten to tell ponies that in the past.”

Starlight gulped. Speaking of forgetting to mention things, Twilight hadn’t said how tall her father was. Or how handsome, goodness… The only thing she’d mentioned was—well, let’s just say Starlight wasn’t worried about Night’s safety. “Sh-She did, yes. You have a very pow—loving, very loving daughter, sir.”

“Rawr!” Spike dashed by with Remedy on his shoulders. “The valiant heroine storms into battle on her dragon steed!”

Remedy cheered. “We’ll save you, Sir Bunnylot!”

Night cast a quick Locate-it spell on Remedy as the duo skidded around a corner. “So, Starlight, where are you from? Twily tells us this is your first Summer Sun Celebration in Ponyville.”

Starlight winced. “Er… Sire’s Hollow. I wouldn’t be surprised if you hadn’t heard of it, it’s pretty—”

“Yep! I’ve been there,” Night said without pause. “My parents used to take me camping around there when I was really young. Around Lake Whinnytonka, right?”

Starlight blinked. “Wow, I’ve never met anypony that’s heard of Sire’s Hollow before. Most ponies think it’s by the Hollow Shades!”

Night shrugged. “I probably wouldn’t recognize it if I went there now. I haven’t been up there in over fifty years!”

Starlight got a dull look. “Trust me, I doubt much has changed.”

“Hey, Dad?” Twilight said, entering while carrying several pieces of luggage in her magic. “Why is one of these duffel bags filled to the brim with radishes?”

Night sighed. “Let’s just say your mother’s been getting the munchies before bed.”

“Shiniiiiing!” Cadance walked in behind Twilight with a three-and-a-half year Flurry Heart. “Ugh, did any of you see where he went? I have Skyla’s bottle!”

Flurry Heart laughed. “Daddy and baby sister are playing hide and seek!”

Night pointed to the bathroom, where he’d seen Shining take the four-month-old Skyla along with the diaper bag. “I think Skyla needed a change.”

Cadance’s eyes flicked to room in question. “Hmm... can one of you watch Flurry? If I don’t feed Skyla now, she’s not going to want to go to bed.”

Night’s horn glowed as he picked up a giggling Flurry. Cadance immediately swept over to the bathroom, where upon the door opening, they heard the faint coos of an infant.

Night deposited his granddaughter on his back. “You’re all full of energy now, sweetpea! Weren’t you all sleepy on the ride down the mountain?”

Flurry hugged his neck. “Auntie gave me some cookies!”

“I gave you fig newtons, Flurry.” Twilight came over and booped her nose. “Have you ever had figs before? Figs are a kind of fruit.”

Flurry smacked her lips. “Fig cookies!”

Starlight put a hoof behind her head. “It, uh... seems like you’re all pretty busy getting settled. I can excuse myself if need be—”

“You must be Twilight’s student!” Velvet said, walking in with a triple stroller. “I’m Twilight’s mother, Twilight Velvet. Nice to meet you!”

Starlight stared. Meeting Night had been a surprise, but Velvet was another matter altogether. She was a veritable avatar of maternity, her huge silvery barrel like a taut, fertile drum. Said barrel was wide as the doorframe while extending down to her knees, yet there was no visible redness, no stretch marks or large veins to be seen. Velvet’s thick, lustrous coat and mane were the most beautiful Starlight had ever seen, so full and healthy Velvet almost glowed, and her smile was so warm it immediately set Starlight at ease.

“Wow...” Starlight came over and shook her hoof. “Welcome to Ponyville, Mrs. Velvet! Er… it is Velvet, right? That’s what Twilight said to call you.”

Velvet’s gait was slow and steady as she turned the stroller so Fae and the twins could see. “I’ve always gone by that. Not really sure why—it’s just one of those things.”

Starlight was finding it hard to focus on Velvet’s face. Her eyes kept wanting to drift southward, to marvel at the size of Velvet’s expansive barrel, where Starlight knew four healthy foals slept safe and sound. Velvet’s legs bristled with muscle as a result of carrying such a great weight, yet even though her belly was the size of a prize-winning pumpkin, she didn’t seem worn out at all.

Butterflies fluttered in Starlight’s gut. A sudden pang throbbed in her empty womb, and a quiet voice whispered in the back of her mind, reminding her of a certain orange stallion she still wrote...

Starlight coughed and looked to the three children in the stroller. “And these must be your other kids! Let me see if I can guess who’s who… Morning Star’s the only boy, so that’s easy, Aurora Fae’s the youngest, so she’s the small one, which that means Eventide’s the one on the far right!”

Velvet raised her eyebrows. “Impressive!”

Fae, Morny, and Evie said nothing. They merely stared back at her with blank faces.

Night chuckled. “I see Twily gave you the rundown. Did she give you a full-on lecture on House Sparkle genealogy, too?”

Twilight blew a raspberry at him. “I only went back three generations, thank you very much.”

Flurry Heart saw the trio, as well. She fluttered down and scampered over to them. “Morny! Evie! Let’s go play with Remmy!”

Morny gasped. “Flurry’s awake!”

Evie looked up to Night and Velvet. “Can we?”

Night and Velvet met eyes, only to shrug.

“No magic without one of us around, okay?” said Night.

“And stay on the first floor,” Velvet added.

Quick as lightning, Morny and Evie jumped out of the stroller and zipped down the hall laughing and calling for their older sister.

Flurry turned to Fae. “You wanna play, too?”

Fae, who was holding an opossum plushie, squeezed it tighter and shook her head.

“She’s a little young, sweetpea,” said Night. “Maybe next time we get together.”

Flurry wilted, but only for a second. She gave Night one final hug before to take wing after her aunt and uncle.

Twilight pouted. “No fair. I wanted to be the one she likes best.”

Night put an arm around her. “Kids will be kids, Twily. Give her a few years.”

“Mrrrrhhh…”

Starlight pawed at the floor. “Sooooooo… how was the train ride down? Not too bumpy, I hope.”

Velvet yawned. “I honestly couldn’t tell you. We had dinner right before we left, and I ate so much I fell into a food coma as soon as we left the station.”

Night laughed. “A common side effect of eating for five. But Vel’s had other drowsy spells with this pregnancy, not all of them food-related. It’s been a pretty constant theme.“

Velvet rolled her shoulders, her great paunch just swaying with the movement. “I’ll take sleepiness over migraines and nausea anyday.”

Starlight realized she was staring again. She blushed and looked away before anyone noticed. “I-It’s pretty amazing you’re expecting quadruplets. How far along are you?”

Velvet beamed. “Forty-nine weeks. Technically my labor window starts today, but my doctor wants me to go a bit longer to make sure all four of them are ready. I’m on anti-contraction meds until then.”

Night smiled just as wide. “Buns aren’t quite done baking yet. Real soon, though.”

Starlight’s jaw dropped. She tried to form words, but all she managed was to babble and stare.

Twilight snickered. “I knew your reaction would be priceless.”

Velvet stood up straight and tall. “The worst thing I’ve had to deal with is the drowsiness, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Some pregnant mares can barely sleep at all!”

Twilight rubbed her chin. “It’s too bad most alertness spells aren’t safe for pregnant mares. I suppose it’s only an issue for another month or so... and then there’ll be a much more obvious reason why you’re tired all the time, heh.”

“Oh, don’t be a spoilsport,” Night said. “It’s not like Vel and I won’t have help! The new nannies will be at home waiting for us as soon as the babies are born.”

Velvet sauntered over to Night, her warm belly brushing against him as she kissed his cheek. “I appreciate you thinking of me, Twily. It’s a little late to try and do something now, but if the same issue comes up the next time around, we’ll send you a letter.”

Somehow, Starlight’s eyes got even wider. “...N-Next time?”