two - backdated to this morning

[armore]

[Somewhere, somehow, a journal opens.

Okay fine, in Fluttershy's room. There is a crackling sort of buzz from somewhere near as her resident Joltik, and a tiny little yawn. Some combination of the unfamiliar sounds wakes Shining Armor up... which leaves him to find that for the second time in a period of less than a week, he is in unfamiliar surroundings. This time he's surrounded by plants.

And in bed. With a yellow mare who he doesn't know (wait no! his mind protests, it's Fluttershy, the pegasus who Cadance chose as her bridesmaid!) and two... tiny foals. The filly blinks big blue eyes up at him sleepily.]

Daddy?

[She had such a tiny little voice. Shining Armor stared down. The little male unfurled his tiny wings in a stretch and made a face at her.]

Starrrr.

Uh. I don't think....

Comments

[3_butterflies]

Thanks...?

Um, ours... I probably should get around to asking their names. One of them has Star, I think.

[doublethefun]

[anything with 'star' in it is a great name. She might be a biased in that respect, though.]

Ah, yes. Thou hast two foals, yes? [wince]

[3_butterflies]

A boy and a girl, a unicorn and a pegasus.

[doublethefun]

I am not envious in the least, I must admit. Thou wilt have thy hooves full.

[3_butterflies]

It won't be so bad... I've helped out with the Cakes babies.

[doublethefun]

[oh gosh, somepony with experience. Congratulations, Fluttershy. You are now the pony to go to if the answer can't be found in a book.]

Who are the Cakes?

[3_butterflies]

They're bakers in Ponyville, Cup Cake and Carrot Cake. They have twins too, a pegasus and a unicorn. I love babysitting for them.

[doublethefun]

Thou art eminently suited for this task, I see.

[a pause. Wincing.] Fluttershy, how does one say 'no' to a foal without triggering a flood of tears?

[or is it just her innate skill at scaring kiddies?]

[3_butterflies]

Well, you can try and explain why you need to say no... But sometimes, you just have to be firm. They may not like it, but you're the adult, and you know what's best. They won't hate you for it... A foal's mind can change really easily, and they'll get over it.

[doublethefun]

[sits there quietly for a moment, digesting this] That is certainly a relief to hear.

[eheh] I have very little experience with children.

[3_butterflies]

That's all right... nopony's perfect with their first time with foals. You're allowed to make mistakes.