Twilight and the Spartan Stallion 2

Part 1: Prologue

Spartan huffed the last of the cool air from his nostrils. The sun was retreating from the sky and beyond the horizon, the late autumn chill was setting in. Setting his wood axe down beside the door, he wiped his hooves accordingly and stepped into the Golden Oaks library. “I am home!” the sandy-coated stallion called in his powerful bronze bell voice. The library was silent. He frowned, checking and stoking the fire in the hearth. Winter was coming soon, he wasn’t going to have a cold house when he had reams and reams of fresh firewood. Taking off his crimson cape-scarf and hanging it on a little peg, he called again. “Twilight! I am home!” Usually his wife would come and poke her head from whatever library corner she was in. He leaned his head into the basement doorway, shouting down to her lab. No answer. His brow furrowed into a battle-worn scowl. “Twilight?” he called up the stairs. The bedroom door was ajar, with only darkness beyond. He cantered slowly upwards to find her.

Twilight Sparkle lay spread out on their big bed, fiddling with something between her hooves. She looked troubled. Her mane was disheveled, and she had the look of a mare that had been worrying all day. Spartan knew that look. His companion only ever got it when something had made her have one of her little episodes. “Oh, welcome home Spartan.” She saw him push the door open, half-smiling in an uncertain way.

The handsome, barrel chested stallion was not amused at this. “What has my wife laying in cold moonlight when there is a fire in yon living room?” he said. With an unhappy male gurgle he clambered up onto the bed with her and lay on his belly. His body was warm, musky with the scent of a working stallion. His body heat comforted Twilight. She leaned and shoved her head up under his strong chin. He nuzzled her intimately with a frown. “Well?” he pressed a bit.

“W-well, you see…” Twilight fiddled with her hooves a bit, then passed a tiny plastic object over to him. He peered at it, and she looked at him expectantly. There was a long silence. He blinked a few times, studying it. It was long and white. The end was tipped with something yellow, and the very top of the tip had stained itself blue. There was a little window with two plus-signs in it. The object didn’t register to Spartan in the slightest, much less its meaning.

“You… ran out of ice cream bars?” he took the stick in his mouth as though to taste it and she SNATCHED it away with a nervous giggle. Her poor anachronistic husband… he ran into things every day still that he had no concept of. This was certainly not something that you put in your mouth.

“W-well, it’s uhm… it’s uhm…” Twilight’s ears turned back, and her face reddened so deeply that Spartan could still see it in the silvery beams of moonlight in the room. He cocked his head at her with concern. “I mean, we… and then I… and we didn’t use a…” she gulped aloud, unable to say it.

The ex-soldier had had quite enough of this. He cleared his throat with a loud harrumphing sound. Sidling over until they were pressed together, he threw a powerful arm around her. She was half-tucked under him. Twilight made a little mewling sound, pressing up against him for comfort. “Twilight,” he said soothingly. His deep, masculine voice tickled her ears and she gave a pleasant shudder. “What is the matter?” he purr-gurgled at her in his lion-ish way, rubbing his velvety muzzle up and down her mane. “Tell me. Please.”

“I-I’m… pregnant.” Twilight finally got it out. She looked up at him with soft eyes, gauging his reaction. He stared at her for a long time, blink-blinking. “Oh Spartan, I mean-!” She wilted further. She knew it! She knew it was too soon! She wasn’t ready, he wasn’t ready and… and…!

“YES!” he boomed, thrusting a hoof skyward. Twilight oof’d when he crushed her to himself. “Wonderful! That did not take long at all!” The purple mare flushed, mumbling something shyly. Didn’t take long?! Was that really his— “Wonderful news, beloved!” he boomed again, wuzzling her up and down rapidly.

“Y’-you’re happy about it?” she said, ever the worrying mare.

“Of course I am!” Spartan scoffed, rolling his eyes and embracing her again. “I did not mount thee so often right after our wedding for FUN you know!” she gave him a look and the warrior coughed a little, looking to one side. She smirked at the slight red on his cheeks. “W-well… maybe a little for fun. Some fun.” He amended. She found herself giggling at him. A great weight lifted from Twilight’s shoulders. She’d been alone when she’d found out. She’d suspected, but the ‘Find Out’ stick from the pharmacy had confirmed it. She’d spent all day and all evening wondering how Spartan would react. Were they already ready to start a family. “Mine bloodline and thine shall mingle beautifully!” he kissed her. Really, really kissed her. She whimpered happily as he turned her on her back and laid on her, stroking her mane while he kissed her. Twilight melted in his embrace while the powerful stallion loved on her and stroked her and praised her for her fertility. “Ohh! Just wait! Her Shining Immortal Majesty shalt be proud! And thy friends! Even the harliquinn!” he paused at the mention of Pinkie. “Hrm, I shalt barricade our lower windows so she does not break in to throw one of her maddening parties.” He rubbed his chin with a slight growl, looking at the ceiling like Pinkie might be there right then.

Twilight giggled softly, her eyes moist and relieved. She had the look of a young mare that knew she was going to be a mother. The look of a mare that had a wonderful husband, whom she knew would always be there to support her. The pregnancy had frightened her, but… but Spartan was there. They would be fine, right? Of course. They were both responsible adults, and they had nice jobs and a home and… and well, a foal soon. She smiled, looking down and touching her abdomen in wonder. Turning her head coyly, she kissed away his growly thinking. “I think we’ll have to let Pinkie throw me a foal shower, at least. Something small. Just close friends.” She stroked his virile mane over and over comfortingly. He smiled down at her.

“Our son shalt have all of my strength, and all of thine beauty.” He decided it would be a colt right then, as some fathers tended to do. “All the mares will want him.” He nodded in a sagely way. How could his sex appeal and Twilight’s sex appeal NOT combine to make something ungodly sexy? His son would be quite the stud! Grinning in satisfaction at the thought, Spartan went about sidling down and nuzzling her still-flat belly. Twilight chuckled, shaking her head. “Dost thou hear thy sire, foal? Thy father is a warrior from a forgotten elite herd, and thy mother one of the most powerful mages in Equestria. Thou shalt be a killing machine!” he chuckled, grinning from ear to ear.

“Spartan!” said Twilight crossly, scowling. As thou she would let their foal just run around killing things! This was not the dark ages! “Don’t say such things!”

“I jest, beloved.” Spartan amended, leaning down and quietly kissing her belly. Twilight squirmed a little, relaxing back. “But just think,” he returned his attention to the foal that was still forming. “Thou will certainly have some strange and powerful blood. I can only imagine what sort of pony thou shalt be. An earth pony with my chest? A unicorn with thy mother’s mind? Hmm!” he wuzzle-wuzzle-wuzzled the purple mare’s belly and she laughed aloud, squirming and tugging on his ears.

“It’ll be eleven months, just like any other mare, Spartan.” Twilight said. “I confirmed it only today.” She turned on her side as he flopped over next to her. She watched him tug on the sheets until they were both covered. “Everypony is gonna be happy for us, right?”

“If they are not, they are not worth keeping around ourselves.” Spartan snorted. Twilight rolled her eyes. Gruff, rough thing. She loved him. He started to snuggle up against her for sleep, but she honked his nose with a firm hoof. “H’ut?” he honked a little, cocking his head.

“Shower. You stink from working all day.” She told him.

“I am already in bed. I feel not like moving!” He argued, sticking his tongue out playfully. He suddenly glowed purple and tumbled out of the bed by his wife’s will, crashing to the floor. “Oomph!?”

“Shower.” She said tartly, smirking and fluffing her pillow some. “Your pregnant wife says so.” She giggled, lying on her back. He opened his mouth to argue, then closed it and scowled at the floor. Then he opened his mouth again, but closed it once more. There… there wasn’t an argument to counter that! ‘My pregnant wife says so’ just… just… it was ironclad!

“Ph-f-f-ft.” he shuffled his lips with a horse-like snort, turning about to go shower and groom. Flicking his tail at her as he went, he cast her a loving smile before disappearing into the bathroom.

Twilight waited until she heard the water come on, then lay her head down with a content sigh. She curled up with a pillow, already holding her still-flat belly. A foal. A little one, just her and Spartan Shield. Was she ready for it? Was anypony’s parent ever ready for it? Probably not. She would have so much research to do, to get ready for parenthood—rearing a foal— schooling— medical needs— proper food and nutrition. So much to do and worry about. She was going to make such a long list it was not even funny. Well, a little funny. Twilight found herself smiling fondly, flicking her eyes at the cracked bathroom door. She watched the steam pour out, listening to the shower run. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to be a mother yet, but she and her husband would have time to prepare. They would do okay, the purple mare knew. She sighed again. So much sighing. It felt good to sigh, in an aching sort of way.

But, Twilight didn’t feel the glowing blue eyes watching her from the darkness outside her balcony window. Whatever it was flew away with a quiet buzzing. The shower drown out the sound of its flight, and the armored creature retreated southward to report to its queen. The desired event had begun, now was the time to set things in motion.

=-----=-----=-----=-----=

11 Months Later…

=-----=-----=-----=-----=

Spartan Shield paced nervously back and forth, grumbling and kicking at the tile a bit. It cracked. The little gaggle of ponies in the waiting room watched him. The mane six (Twilight aside), and Big Macintosh were all present and eagerly awaiting the news of the foal’s birth. “Thou art certain I cannot be there?” he turned and demanded of Applejack again.

“Now Spartan, y’all dun need’a be in that delivery room fer all the screamin’ and blood and mess.” Applejack said less than delicately. The farmer had helped birth many farm animals, this was just another to her in a way. It was Twilight, yes, but birthing was birthing. It was only natural, and it wasn’t a huge deal to her. They were all looking forward to meeting the little one, no doubt, but the birthing itself had rules to follow. That meant no stallions around. “That there’s mare’s work, and ain’t no pony who calls himself a him got any business in there. S’mare’s business, givin’ birth.” That didn’t make the stallion feel any better, and he resumed his scowly-faced pacing. “Besides, Princess Celestia is in there with her, holdin’ her hoof and watchin’ over the wholllllle thing.”

“I should be in there, holding her hoof and watching over her hole-thing!” he made a lewd gesture to Applejack’s… bits, showing how he’d completely misunderstood what she’d just said. “Tiz my hole-thing to worry over and something is coming out of it today!” Applejack face-hoofed with a groan. Rainbow Dash BURST into wild laughter, leaning on a blushing Fluttershy. Pinkie Pie was strangely silent, sitting quietly in her chair.

“Darling,” Rarity snickered rather scandalously behind her hoof, containing herself. “As soon as the foal is born, I’m sure you’ll be the first pony in there, don’t worry!” she tried to comfort him as well.

Spartan heaved a deep, nervous-looking breath. “My son shalt be healthy, and nicely sized.” He told himself. They tilted their heads at him. “He shan’t be sickly, or misshapen, or anything of the sort.” He scrubbed at his mane a bit. Spartan Stallions, as history told, were very picky about their foals. It was not beneath them to discard misshapen, sickly, or too-small foals on a hillside to die. That tradition lived on in him, and it was making him very nervous. He didn’t want to think of such things, but the idea haunted him. Big Macintosh rose and halted Spartan’s pacing, fixing him with a silent smile. Spartan eyed the stoic pony with a frowning, distressed look. “Things will be fine? My son will be fine?” it came out like a question.

“Eeyup.” Big Mac said, nodding twice. Spartan sighed, long and loud, resting his forehead on Big Mac’s massive red chest. He felt at ease there, with the only stallion he knew he could count on. The two of them knew Spartan was attracted. In the old eras, Spartan Stallions were open in their ways of love for both wife AND fellow male warriors… though Big Mac did not feel the same way. But, it didn’t keep the red stallion from being supportive on the big day of the foal’s birth. He tousled Spartan’s mane, then perked his ears when the floor shook a bit.

Everypony looked around, alarmed. There was a mild vibration again, and a crack worked its way across the ceiling. A trio of nurses and a technition burst into the waiting room. “Yeah there it is.” Said the techinition, lighting his horn to mend the crack. “She’s more powerful than any I’ve seen!”

“What’s happening?!” Spartan demanded.

“Er, there’s a mare giving birth down the hall. Her magick is runnin’ a little wild, we’re makin’ sure nothing bad happens to the building—there!” he pointed and mended a stair-step crack when the hospital vibrated again. The two nurses scampered out into the hall with him, and flashes of magic kept going off. Everypony looked at each other. The building shuddered a third time, and a wailing cry carried down the hall.

“She is in pain still! It’s been hours!” Spartan roared, turning and galloping to the birthing room. The others in the waiting room dashed after him, shouting for him to stop. The broad-chested warrior turned several corners, weaving this way and that to follow Twilight’s birthing cries. The hospital of Canterlot was massive. When he came to a four-way intersection, the screaming suddenly stopped. He screeched to a halt, and everypony caught up with him.

“Spartan! Y’all can’t go just runnin’ off like that! There’s sick ponies here!” Applejack scolded him. He wasn’t listening though. His ears perked back and forth as he tried to find his wife by sound. There was a little, feminine shriek and he turned left. “Oh, applesauce!” the farmer mare groaned, rushing after him with the others.

Suddenly, Spartan screeched to a halt. Everypony behind him crashed into a comical pile of hooves and groaning. He could hear it. Somewhere nearby, a foal was crying. A new foal. A tiny, tiny foal. “Twilight?!” he called aloud.

Celestia’s great head poked out into the hallway, her smile pleasant but tired. “Shhhh, Spartan. Come.” She gestured. The stallion rushed, galloping as everypony else tried to untangle themselves.

“I shalt teach him to hunt! And to fight! And to show the mares just enough of his backside to--!”

“It is a filly.” Celestia chuckled.

“A filly?!” Spartan blanched. “Wh… why that’s not much use at all!” he said. Celestia affixed him with an immortal frown. “Er.” He said, cocking his head embarassedly. He kept forgetting gender roles really didn’t exist in this era. He’d really, really wanted a son. Perhaps he and Twilight could try again? It was not hard to have more foals. A filly, though? Hrm. “I shall need to teach her to un-stallion any unwanted males…” he scratched his chin, scowling at the floor thoughtfully. “Perhaps sickle training… throwing knives? No no, too small…”

“Spartan.” Celestia nudged him rather scoldingly.

“Right!” he barreled into the room. Twilight lay exhausted and sweaty on a hospital bed. There was a little bundle perched in her arms, squealing and squirming about. Spindly little legs were flailing this way and that, and she was smiling tiredly. “Twilight.” He said, approaching quickly to nuzzle her. She coo’ed softly at the newcomer, and she tilted the bundle to show him.

She was beautiful. A sandy-colored little unicorn with bright purple eyes and a pink-streaked mane. “She looks like you, Spartan.” Twilight husked softly, exhausted. “Isn’t she wonderful?”

“The eyes are yours, beloved. Beautiful eyes.” Spartan whispered, kissing her face. Leaning, he pressed his broad muzzle up to the filly. The child fretted, not knowing what the massive object was. She whimpered, wrapping her tiny, tiny arms around it and burbling in distress. Spartan nuzzled lightly, breathing warm breath onto her. The foal squealed a little, squirming and burbling more. The big thing was friendly! She liked it. He took the bundle gingerly, unwrapping it. He inspected the filly, up and down. He checked her eyes and her tail and felt the firmness of her horn with his nose. The infant squealed a bit, and Twilight waited as patiently as she could. "She's... perfect." he smiled warmly, kissing the foal's belly and wrapping her again. Twilight rolled her eyes a little, taking her back with a relieved sound. Turning, Spartan darted out to the hallway. “Everypony! Come! Come meet my daughter!” he said, joy written on his face.

The herd filed in to meet the new filly. There was talking, laughter, congratulations passed around. Twilight held her daughter the whole time, nuzzling and laying kisses. The newborn fretted, smecking and suckling at her mother’s nose. She was hungry. Turning on her side quietly, Twilight lowered the bundle so the filly could untangle herself. Before everyone’s eyes, the foal tottered about on long legs and fell on her face on the bed. “D’awww!” said the group when she bleated in frustration. Spartan used his nose to push her along. Twilight cocked her legs back so her daughter could nurse. She nosed back and forth, trying to find mother’s teat. When she did, she was inseparable, feeding herself eagerly. Twilight blushed, pulling the sheet hallway over the foal so she could have some privacy.

“She’s pretty cute, Twi. What’s she called?” Rainbow Dash wanted to know.

“Did you pick out a cute name?” Fluttershy wanted to know too.

“My wife would not allow for Spartan Sparkle, despite it having a great ring to it.” Spartan shield chuckled, kneeling by the bed to mind the foal. Twilight shook her head with a tired smile. “Nor for Twilight Shield. She said it was too obvious.” The tired mare nodded again. Her husband was not especially creative despite all his battle knowledge, leadership skills, and strength. “So, we decided not to name her until she was born.”

“Well?” Celestia asked, smiling kindly.

“Well, she was just born, give us time to think!” Spartan snapped. The foal flinched a little, and he leaned to purr over it. The deep vibration of his soothing voice calmed the child and she went back to nursing. “I shall need to be quieter, perhaps…” the stallion mumbled mostly to himself. Rarity snickered a little, and Pinkie nodded silently.

“We’ll name her before we take her home. We’ll think of something.” Twilight whispered, her voice dry. Spartan leaned to the bedside table, getting her a drink. Twilight drained the glass, leaning back and relaxing on the many pillows. “Ahhh…” she sighed out. “I-If you guys don’t mind…?” she said softly, looking about at all of them.

“Right. C’mon ev’r’pony. Let’s get some lunch or something so Twilight can rest.” Applejack said. “C’mon Spartan.” She said, touching his shoulder. Spartan wheeled about to shout something at her. How DARE she try to pull him from his wife and new foal?! “Ahem, hint-hint?” Applejack nodded to the new mother. Spartan turned about. Twilight had fallen asleep where she lay, weak from birthing exhaustion. The foal was feeding herself still, not wanting to go anywhere. The purple mare instinctively curled, making a little pony nest and holding her daughter. Spartan debated for a moment, biting his lip.

“I’ll stay. I’m good with foals.” Pinkie said rather calmly, seeing Spartan’s hesitance. “I foalsit all the time, and this hospital is full of nurses and stuff.” It was a strangely placid tone, but it seemed even Pinkie Pie could be humbled by the miracle of life. It was refreshing to see her NOT bouncing off the walls for once, but he would not be swayed so easily. Spartan Shield opened his mouth to deny her. “Shhh.” She lifted a hoof, pointing. The filly was done feeding herself, and had curled up. Living outside her mother was exhausting! She’d hidden her tiny nosie under one of Twilight’s back legs, sleeping quietly. Pressed up against her mother’s undercarriage, she felt safest.

“I think you could use some air anyway, Spartan.” Celestia smiled gently. “You were so stressed out in the waiting room. Perhaps just a quick lunch, and we’ll come right back? You can even bring Twilight something. I don’t think she’s eaten all day.”

Spartan’s ears perked a bit. Ah, of course. His mate did need something to sustain after something as wracking as the pain of giving birth. “True. A quick luncheon then.” He turned about, scowling at Pinkie Pie. “Harlequin! Guard my wife and child. If anypony disturbs them, smite them with… whatever it is you smite with.” He couldn’t really describe Pinkie’s defiance of the laws of physics but he knew she was very, very dangerous. Though she unsettled him greatly, she was Ponyville’s premiere foalsitter. If anything went wrong she was there, and the hospital staff was there. That made him feel a little better.

Everypony filed out, murmuring happily about the new little one. As their hoofsteps faded, Pinkie Pie went and sat on a nearby chair, watching Twilight and the foal. Now and then a nurse would wander by, and after fifteen minutes or so they were left completely alone. The purple mare would need a few hours rest before she would be ready to move and leave the hospital to take the foal home.

Pinkie Pie’s eyes flickered green, and she grinned from under her eyebrows. The others would not find the real Pinkie Pie, tied up and unconscious in the hospital bathroom, for hours. (Even physics-defying pink mares could be smote by a quick jab to the base of the skull, after all.) By then, the fake would be gone with both Twilight and the foal, leaving nothing behind but an empty hospital bed and an open third-story window.

End of Part 1 Next Chapter: Bargaining Chips Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 34 Minutes