“They all tucked in, Sweetheart?” Tempest asked and Pinkie Pie nodded.
“Yes. Comet was very fussy and Velvet kept wanting to play with things. Wisteria wasn’t a problem, she fell right asleep as soon as she was in the crib.” Tempest laughed.
“Sounds like Wist.” The unicorn and Pinkie Pie made their way down the hall slowly.
“Did Fizzle and Berry get to bed well?” Pinkie asked, curious about her twins. Tempest nodded.
“Yes, but they both seemed very intent on sneaking out to play with those firecrackers.” Tempest rolled her eyes in annoyance. “I’ll be going back to their room in a couple minutes to make sure they’re actually there and not off running about.” Pinkie Pie let out a laugh and silence followed.
“Uhm…Tempy?” Pinkie Pie lowered her voice and her walk came to a brisk stop.
“Yes?” Tempest asked, suddenly concerned.
“Should….Should I talk to Twilight? You’ve seen her after the pregnancy. I mean, fudge, you saw her while she was pregnant! She was miserable! And now all she does is lock herself up in that library….doing Celestia knows what. She needs to at least hold Wisteria! I know it’s only been a week but I don’t want her growing up thinking Twilight doesn’t love her….” Pinkie Pie looked down as Tempest put a hoof on her wife’s shoulder.
“Hey. It’s okay. You’re right. But I don’t doubt that Twilight doesn’t love her she’s just….conflicted. Her child was cursed to live her life watching everyone she cares about die….I’m sure she’s scared to face that….” Tempest sighed, uncontently. They both bowed their heads at each other.
“Thanks, Tempy. I’m gonna go talk to Twilight….” Pinkie Pie spoke softly, slowly making her way down the hallway.
“Do you want me to go with you?” Tempest asked, a genuine tone in her voice.
“No, no. I’ll do this myself. You know how Twilight is. She freaks out when multiple ponies tell her what she’s doing wrong. Better if it’s just one on one for this. But thank you, Honey.” Pinkie Pie smiled at the unicorn and nodded at her.
“Alright, Pinks. Goodnight. I’ll see you in the morning.” Tempest grinned softly, turning her back on the pink earth pony. Pinkie Pie nodded with a smile.
“Night, Love.” Pinkie Pie watched Tempest round the corner before turning and heading to the library.***Pinkie Pie gently knocked on the door of the library.
“T-Twilight?” She greeted, strangely scared for some reason.
“Yes?” Twilight’s voice echoed on the other side of the door, emitting a sigh from Pinkie Pie. She frowned. Twilight sounded….tired.
“I’m coming in….” Pinkie Pie warned, slowly opening the door and walking in. It was so immensely dark. How long had Twilight been in here?
“Do you need something, Pinkie?” Twilight asked, a slight tone in her voice. It wasn’t obvious, but it was there. Pinkie Pie sighed, lifting her head up.
“I’ll be frank, Twi. You’re….doing something….not right. And I wanna help you, I really do. But you need to talk to me. Please.” Pinkie Pie said with big eyes, receiving no look in return. Twilight kept her back to Pinkie Pie with what it seemed to be, anger.
“And what is it exactly that I’m doing wrong.” Twilight questioned, sounding more like a demand than an inquiry. Pinkie Pie took a step forward. She was hesitant to speak, but….she knew she had to say it.
“Wisteria. You were miserable for months….I know. But….she’s your daughter Twilight. I know you’re scared-”
“I am not scared!” Twilight screamed, suddenly standing and facing Pinkie Pie dead in the eyes. “I am disgusted! I’m sick to my stomach! I’m revolted because I had to curse of one of my children for the safety of Equestria and my family! That I basically gave her life away! One of my children will be immortal and I won’t even live to help her! She will grow up with the knowledge that she will watch everypony around her die!”
“Which is why we will help her ease into it!” Pinkie Pie yelled back, taking Twilight by surprise. “She’s my child too! You think I haven’t thought about it? While you ignore your children hiding in your library, I take care of them and then I cry myself to sleep every night since their birth! Tempest has been comforting me while you’ve been in here brooding!” Pinkie Pie felt the tears welling up in her eyes as she stopped to take a breath. Twilight practically fell back on her haunches in surprise and sudden guilt.
“Pinkie….I….I didn’t….” Twilight began.
“No! Let me finish!” Pinkie Pie cut her off, stomping her front hoof, tears falling. “This behavior is unacceptable! You’re a mother of six other children! This isn’t new ground- raising a child. It isn’t Wisteria’s fault that a curse was placed on her, and it wasn’t yours either! But you need to stop taking it out on her….it’s going to be hard. But we need to be there for her. To make sure she’s loved and she understands. And if we’re all there for her and give her our support….she’ll be okay….do you know how I know, Twilight?” Pinkie Pie asked, stepping forward to Twilight, lifting her wife’s chin up to look her in the eyes. “Because she has your blood in her. She’ll be strong, I know. It’s going to be extremely difficult, raising an immortal alicorn. But I know we can do it. But….I need you. She needs you. Please, Twilight….just hold her.” Pinkie Pie blinked away her tears, and sat beside Twilight, pulling her wife into a warm embrace. “I’m here for you, Twilight….but….I need you to do this. Please….I love you so so much, Sparkle. I always have. And I always will. Do you remember my vow?” Twilight’s tears streamed down her face as she looked up at Pinkie nodding.
“No matter how many fights, or how many bad things happen to you, to me, or to others, I will always love you. That’s….that’s what you said.” Twilight coughed softly, tears falling quicker.
“And it was true. I will always love you. And so does Tempest.” Pinkie Pie gently stroked the back of Twilight’s mane, causing the alicorn to break, falling into her wife’s chest, sobbing and apologizing.
“Pinkie, I’m so so sorry….!” Twilight cried, her sobs sounding more like screams than crying. Pinkie Pie silently hushed her, gently rocking and caressing the mare.
“It’s okay Twilight. I know it’s hard….”
“We’re going to outlive our baby, Pinkie….how am I going to that. How….how are we going to do that?” Twilight hiccuped, her eyes red with pain. Pinkie Pie pulled her wife’s face up from her cheeks to reach hers.
“We’ll figure it out. But for now….you need to hold her. Okay…?” Pinkie asked, looking at Twilight with one of the most genuine expression she’d ever given. Twilight nodded, still hiccuping silent sobs. Pinkie Pie pulled her wife’s head back up, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. “I love you Twilight.”
“I love you too, Pinkie.” Twilight spoke softly, laying down beside her wife with soft exhales.
“Now….let’s go to bed….”%%%%