Chapter 3: A Flurry of Emotions
One day at Twilight and Chase's castle, Nurse Redheart had come to pay a visit to the alicorn couple.
"Oh, Princess Twilight and Master Chase!" said Nurse Redheart as she, Twilight, and Chase were walking down the hall. Spike was walking behind them with a long scroll with Nyx following behind, "Everypony in the hospital is so excited for your visit today!"
"We're never too busy to visit sick foals," said Twilight.
"True," said Chase, "It's still hard to believe that little foals find me so popular."
"Oh, honey," said Twilight, "Of course you're popular with foals, they know about how you've defended other foals from bullies as well as saved the world many times from the Quinkan. Plus, Nyx talks about you nonstop when she volunteers there every so often. They can't wait to meet you!"
Chase chuckled as Nyx giggled.
"It's true, Daddy." Nyx said as she hopped beside her father's side, walking beside him. "Every foal at the schoolhouse worships you so much!"
"Well, I'm glad I can make their days just a little bit brighter," said Chase, "especially when they have to deal with illnesses."
"True," said Twilight, "I can't believe a whole class just came down with the horsey hives!"
"On school picture day, too," Nurse Redheart added. It was then the very class picture was shown on screen of all the little foals covered in red spots and looking miserable. Cheerilee just had a very uncomfortable look on her face as she looked at them nervously.
"Yeah. I'd never forget what happened from that day," Nyx hissed in concern as she recalled that the foals and fillies got horsey hives during the school picture day. She sighed in relief, "But more luckily that me and CMC are safe from getting it."
"Yeah. I hated to imagine seeing you in the hospital bed, Nyxie." Twilight said with a nod.
"As long as your daughter is safe from them, she'll be alright. Oh." Nurse Redheart sighed with concern. "The poor dears really do need cheering up."
"We'll do our best," said Twilight, "We'll bring snacks, my husband and I will read to them, and get them gifts."
"Food and presents always cheer me up," said Spike.
Nurse Redheart, Twilight, Nyx, and Chase all smiled and nodded in agreement. Twilight and Chase then escorted Nurse Redheart to the front door and opened it for the nurse pony to leave.
"We'll see you soon!" said Twilight as she waved goodbye.
"Buh-bye," said Nyx as she waved as well.
"All of us will do our best. Right, guys?" Chase said calmly, making the two young ones smile happily. He turned to Twilight, "So, what's the schedule we need to do today?"
Twilight cleared her throat and gestured to Spike as he looked at the scroll.
"Okay, if we want to be at the hospital by lunch, then we have three hours to buy get-well presents, borrow a book from the schoolhouse," Spike sighed in annoyance, "and pick up treats."
"I'm sure we'll get through it. The sooner we have everything in order, we will be finished with the chore." Chase said assuringly.
"It's a lot." Twilight said. "but if we stick to the schedule, I know we can get it all done."
Spike didn't seem so confident and it showed on his face.
"Yeah, knock on wood," said Spike bluntly.
Then there was some knocking at the front door.
"Huh, I wonder who that could be." Chase said. "Starlight is with Sokka and Fluttershy since they're helping her re-channel her magical power."
Twilight decided to simply open the door to find out. There before them were Cadance, Shining Armor, and little Flurry Heart.
"Surprise!" said Cadance and Shining Armor together.
While Flurry Heart was all cheerful and happy. Cadance and Shining Armor both looked frazzled and even their manes were very messy. Also, at least in Chase's eyes, they looked a tad mentally unstable. Nyx and Twilight both gasped as huge smiles appeared on their faces as Chase felt happy to see Flurry Heart.
"Oh, my gosh!" Twilight exclaimed as she hopped to the front of them while . She and Chase gently nuzzled their baby niece's face, "How's our favorite niece?"
Nyx squealed happily as she stood up and looked at Flurry.
"I'm so happy to see you again, Flurry! Remember me?" Flurry giggled happily as the baby hugged her face. She giggled as she grabbed and held Flurry up, "Yes, you do! I'm your favorite cousin!"
Nyx then gave Flurry a comfort and passionate hug, making the baby giggled happily and hugged her back. Twilight couldn't help but giggle a bit seeing how close her daughter and niece are, reminded of herself and her brother. Chase felt the same way with his siblings.
"I'm good!" said Shining Armor in a baby voice to make it sound like Flurry Heart, but the two alicorn knew it was him, "I was hoping my favowite aunt and uncle could watch me for a few houwrs."
"Hope you're not too busy," said Cadance as she and Shining Armor gave the alicorn family some pleading smiles.
"Actually, we kind of are-" Spike was then cut off by both Nyx and Twilight as they each put a fore-hoof over his mouth.
"Busy?" said Twilight and scoffed, "Would the best aunt, uncle, and cousin ever be too busy to spend time with this adorable little one?"
Shining Armor, Princess Cadance, Flurry and Nyx smiled widely and hopefully as Chase smiled amusingly. Spike showed his concern and uneasy looks while showing the document scroll.
"No!" Twilight said proudly.
"Sure, we do have things to do today," said Chase before smirking as well, "But as you've always said to me, Cadance. I now say to you. We'll make time!"
Cadance gave him a teary smile and wasted no time embracing him happily. Twilight just smiled at the touching moment. Spike just rolled his eyes.
He knew there was going to be trouble.
*Main theme*
A little later, Twilight was just holding Flurry Heart with her magic as she peppered her check with kisses and then blew a raspberry at her little tummy. Flurry Heart giggled happily. Chase chuckled at the sight of his wife playing with their niece.
"I guess you guys really love this, don't you?" Chase asked Twilight and Flurry as they nodded in agreement with him as the baby alicorn hugged her uncle's chest, making him hug his niece in return by wrapping a fore leg around her.
Nyx, Cadance, and Shining Armor just smiled as Spike had a weary look on his face while he stood behind Twilight and Chase.
"Hey, Flurry! We've got a surprise for you!" Nyx cheered happily. "Don't we, Mom and Dad?"
Flurry looked surprise as she turned to her aunt and uncle Twilight giggled as Chase chuckled and they nodded.
"Yup. We sure do." Chase confirmed.
"That's right. And it's just for you!" Twilight said happily.
Levitating and putting Flurry on her back, Twilight, Chase, and Nyx headed off to the storeroom. Twilight passed her niece to her daughter to hold and look after. She opened the door before levitating and putting a few presents before them with Chase helping his wife.
"Just a couple of toys that reminded me of Flurry." Twilight said amusingly. She giggled happily before looked at her family, "I'm excited to show you we've done some shopping for Flurry Heart."
Princess Cadance giggled.
"Oh-ho-ho, you guys are so sweet. You didn't have to do all that." Cadance said with a smile
Twilight blushed yet smiled happily.
"I know, but I can't help myself! Best aunt and uncle ever!" Twilight said happily.
"You got that right, honey." Chase said in agreement with his wife.
Flurry looked through some presents to see which one to open. She came across a polka dots present. She opened it to find a red dragon plushie. She found a pink and blue teddy bear too. She awed in surprise. She picked a blue one before facing her aunt and cousin. She made a growling noise before giggling happily.
"Woohoo! Nice one, Flurry! You guessed it right! They're bears and the dragon is from Daddy!" Nyx cheered happily, "Wanna play?"
Flurry giggled and nodded happily. Both Flurry and Nyx began playing their teddy bear dolls happily and proudly. Twilight giggled happily as she joined the fun by taking the bears away while letting them both chase after her around the foyer.
Chase smiled at the sight with a chuckle. The rest of the family laughed amusingly and happily to see Twilight and Nyx playing happily with Flurry.
"We'll just put Flurry's things over here, Twily and Chase!" Shining Armor called out.
"Uh-huh, totally," said Twilight in a rather distracted tone.
"I've got this, honey," said Chase, "You two have fun."
Flurry Heart then whimpered sadly.
"Aw, don't be sad, sweetie," said Chase, "I'll be play with you soon. Just gotta talk to your mother and father for a bit, okay?"
Flurry Heart smiled and nodded. Chase then walked up to Cadance and Shining Armor.
"Okay, I see her baby buggy," said Chase, "what else she got?"
Shining Armor then used his magic to hand over some baby food.
"Mashed peas, her favorite," said Shining Armor.
"And diapers," said Cadance as she used her magic to hand over one package of diapers, "Uh, extra diapers. Oh, and backup extra diapers. Heh." Cadance then handed over two packages of diapers and then added three more.
"Mashed peas, her favorite," said Shining Armor as he used his magic to hand over another jar of the baby food and then blinked, "Wait, did I say that already?"
Poor Chase and Spike were then buried alive under a pile packaged diapers and more than two jars of baby food. Spike was the first to poke out of the pile.
"Uh-huh," said Spike as a matter of fact.
"Oops," said Shining Armor as Chase poked out of the pile next.
"Gee, I don't think you packed enough diapers, Cadance," Chase remarked bluntly.
"Really?! I thought I packed plenty of diapers for..." Cadance said worriedly, blinked, and gave Chase a glare, "Oh for pony's sake! You and your sarcasm!"
Chase laughed and even Spike and Shining Armor snickered.
"Gotcha that time didn't I, Cady?" Chase teased with a smirk.
"Nevermind," Cadance remarked with an eye roll and then blinked again, "Oh, this is the most important thing of all - her Whammy." Cadance then used her magic to give Spike a tan colored snail with a green shell.
"I take it Flurry named it?" Spike asked with a smirk.
"Yup," said Cadance, "If she gets fussy, just give her the Whammy and she'll calm right down."
Chase hummed impressively.
"Well, that definitely might come in handy," said Chase. Shining Armor noticed that Twilight was still playing with Flurry Heart.
"You getting all this, Twily?" Shining Armor asked.
"Whammy. Got it," said Twilight. Chase just rolled his eyes and smiled.
"Don't worry," said Chase, "If she forgets, I got it all covered. See? I took notes!"
Chase held up a small scroll with writing on it.
"Good," said Cadance.
Twilight, Nyx and Flurry have finished their game. Three of them returned to the group. Nyx was having Flurry on her back while holding the dragon and teddy bears. The baby was playing with her toys happily.
"Where are you guys headed, anyway?" Twilight asked.
"You remember my friend from the royal guard, Spearhead?" Shining Armor asked as Twilight and Nyx walked up to them, standing between Chase and Spike. The four ponies just had blank looks on their faces.
"Honestly, all of your friends' names are very similar," said Spike.
"Yeah, don't you have a record name from the royal guard list to go through each name?" Chase asked with a curious look.
"Well, he has a pop-up art show at the Ponyville Cafe," Shining Armor explained, "and we decided to go at the last minute."
"We're not exactly art enthusiasts, but we could really use a day out." Cadance explained, giving Chase and Twilight a pleading smile.
"You mean "day"?" Spike corrected.
"That's what I said!" Cadance replied quickly as she looked about, "Isn't that what I said?"
"Mmm...Mm-mm," said Spike, shaking his head.
Twilight just smiled and nodded, and Chase just nodded with a knowing smirk on his face. Nyx giggled.
"Either way, are you two sure you can watch her?" Cadance asked.
It was then Flurry Heart started to suck on Twilight's ear. She hugged Nyx. She then cuddled the side of Chase's head and then sat back down on Twilight's back.
Just before Twilight and Nyx could respond, Spike cleared his throat while showing the scroll to them while Chase nodded in agreement about it. Both mother and her daughter sighed in disappointment as Flurry Heart hugged Twilight and squeaked cutely. Chase noticed their looks before he sighed.
"Like I said before, Cadance," said Chase confidently, "For you, we'll make time!"
"That's right, honey," said Twilight, "Have no fear! The best aunt ever and the best uncle ever have everything under control!"
Nyx giggled as she held Flurry Heart close to her.
"And don't forget her favorite cousin too!" Nyx said happily.
Spike just made a long face. Cadance and Shining Armor smiled, looked at each other, and then the former used her magic to pull Flurry Heart over to them so they could give the baby a kiss goodbye. Flurry Heart then flew back over to Twilight afterward.
"Thanks again, Twily and Chase," said Shining Armor as he and Cadance went to leave.
"Wait up! You're gonna need this." said Chase as he handed them both a small pouch of bits.
"What's that for?" Shining Armor asked curiously as he took the pouch.
"You both looked a bit frazzled," said Chase in a gentle but honest tone, "You might want to freshen up at the Ponyville spa before you head to the cafe."
Cadance and Shining Armor then looked at each other and sighed.
"That would be a good idea," said Cadance slowly, "We'll pay you back."
"Forget it," said Chase firmly, "Go have fun on your date and we'll see you in a few hours."
Cadance and Shining Armor smiled and nodded as they took their leave. The front doors had barely closed when Spike spoke up.
"Okay, let's grab that Whammy thing, and go," said Spike.
It was then Flurry Heart teleported in front of Chase, Twilight, and Nyx.
"Uh-uh!" Flurry Heart replied, shaking her head, and held her blue bear with her magic as she growled playfully.
"Oh, you want to pretend we're the bears," said Twilight, "I suppose we have time for a quick game."
"Do we, though?" Spike asked as he glared at Twilight, Chase, and Nyx.
"Yes, we do," said Nyx firmly before giving Flurry Heart a devious smile, "and we're hungry for a Flurry cookie! Grrr!"
Flurry Heart smiled as she flew for her life. Twilight then growled as well as the two alicorns chased after the baby pony, leaving the blue and red teddy bears behind. Chase smirked at the three girls having fun.
"Well, this should be interesting." Chase said with a smile.
"Hey! All right!" said Twilight as she growled like a bear, "We're gonna get ya!"
"Momma bear and her daughter are hungry! Grrrr!" Nyx added playfully. Spike tried to run after them, but stepped on the red teddy bear.
"Ugh!" Spike grunted and sighed annoyingly as he landed on his face and Chase stood next to him, "You both should catch her soon, 'cause we've got lots to do! Horsey-hives-covered foals counting on us, remember?"
"Yeah, come on, guys! We got a lot of work to do!" Chase said firmly.
"Got it!" Nyx and Twilight shouted together as they and Flurry Heart continued to fly about the foyer.
"I'm catching up!" Twilight called out, growing like a bear.
"You can't escape a hungry bear! Grrrrr!" Nyx added.
Flurry Heart looked back and squeaked as she increased her flying speed to get away. She then looked back again as Twilight and Nyx growled at her playfully. Nyx then whispered something to Twilight, who smirked in reply with her daughter as they disappeared from view. Flurry Heart then noticed that Twilight and Nyx were gone.
"Huh?" said Flurry Heart, wondering where her aunt and cousin went. The two alicorns then snuck up on her.
"GRRRRRR!" Nyx and Twilight growled to surprise her.
Flurry Heart whimpered as she covered herself up with her large wings and put a yellow bubble shield around herself as she floated down to the ground. Nyx and Twilight, with worried looks on their faces, landed as well.
"Oops," said Nyx worriedly, "Guess we overdid it."
"Uh-oh," said Twilight in agreement, "Sorry, bug. Did that scare you?"
Twilight then pressed her face against the bubble.
"It's okay," said Twilight, "It's just Auntie Twily!"
"And your friendly and lovable, cousin Nyx!" Nyx added as she pressed her face against the bubble as well.
Flurry Heart timidly removed her bubble shield and then stuck her tongue out at the two of them.
"Bleh!" said Flurry Heart as she blew a raspberry playfully at the both of them. She shook her head about while making funny faces. Chase laughed.
"You know, Flurry, you are such a silly little filly," said Chase, "and quite a magical one too."
Chase and Twilight then gave the alicorn baby a hug.
"Indeed," said Twilight, "You know, that was a pretty advanced spell for somepony your age. Looks like you're already taking after you Auntie Twily and Uncle Chase."
Twilight then gave Flurry Heart a wink. Flurry Heart, in the most adorable thing ever seen, tried to wink as well, but had some trouble doing so, and then just gave them both a smile.
"You are just too cute!" Nyx cooed as Flurry Heart giggled.
"All right, that was pretty adorable," said Spike bluntly, "But now..."
"We're running late." Chase added bluntly
"Okay, okay," said Nyx in exasperation.
"We know, Spike, we're leaving," said Twilight.
Flurry Heart then stood up on her hind legs when her stomach gave a grumble. Flurry Heart then clutched her stomach, feeling a little embarrassed at the rumbling.
"Looks like somepony is hungry," said Nyx.
"I just have to feed her real quick," said Twilight as she used her magic to open up a jar of baby food and went to feed Flurry Heart with a spoon.
Flurry Heart blew a raspberry and leaned away as the spoon came toward her mouth.
"Come on, Flurry," said Nyx as she tried to feed her, "Here comes the choo-choo train. Chugga-chugga, woo-woo! Going into the tunnel!"
Nyx then tried to put the spoon in her mouth, but then Flurry Heart used her own magic to grab the spoon away and then fling the baby food on it at the three alicorns.
"Whoa!" Chase shouted as he, Nyx, and Twilight leaned away just in time to avoid getting hit as the baby food splattered against a nearby wall.
"Why do I get the feeling Cadance and Shining Armor forgot to tell us something?" Chase pondered skeptically yet annoyed as well to his wife, daughter, and Spike.
Spike just crossed his arms and glared. Twilight just smiled sheepishly.
(Scene changes)
Once Cadance and Shining Armor had gotten a quick message and their manes cleaned and brushed, they headed over to the Ponyville cafe where the Art show was in full swing. Several ponies had come to examine his artwork. But, as Cadance and Shining Armor said before, they weren't very...artistically inclined. So at the moment, they were standing side by side as they examined what look like a cluster of shields and a spear that was bent badly out of shape. Cadance and Shining Armor couldn't help but make faces as they pondered, thought they understood, but looked at each other and frowned.
"Is this art or...a mistake?" Shining Armor asked his wife.
"I have no idea," said Cadance and then tried to perk up, "But who cares? We're not changing diapers." It was then a red sand colored stallion with two tones pastel blue mane and tail, wearing an apple red and pink patterned scarf appeared. This was Spearhead.
"Shining Armor! Cadance!" said Spearhead in a surfer's accent as he appeared between the couple, "How are the new 'rents?" Cadance and Shining Armor smiled.
"Gimme some hoof," said Spearhead, "It is so..." he grunted as he and Shining Armor shared a high-five, "...good..." He then offered a high-hoof to Cadance, who just used her elbow to return the gesture, which was strange since she and Mario exchanged high-hoofs with each other all the time, "...to see you dudes! Hey, thanks for coming." He then gave them both a tight hug at the same time.
"Of course!" said Shining Armor, "We're having a great time! Loving all the...art!" He then pointed to something nearby with a fore-hoof. Spearhead gave him a puzzled look while Cadance just smirked.
"Uh, that's a trash can," said Spearhead. It was then Amethyst Star went to throw something away and saw Shining Armor spotlighting the trash can. She backed away nervously, which made Shining Armor flinch at his mistake and possible embarrassment.
"So it is!" said Shining Armor quickly and sheepishly, "I knew that!"
"But hey, who's the say it's not art?" Spearhead replied, "Art can be anything that speaks to you. It changed my world. He then walked up to the foreground as Cadance and Shining Armor followed behind him.
"This is my latest piece," said Spearhead as he showed them a painting...that was completely all painted in black, ""A Thousands Nights in a Hallway"."
"Wow," said Cadance as she looked at the painting, "I guess nighttime in a hallway can be pretty dark."
"There is none more dark," said Spearhead in a very serious manner.
"Yeah. Totally," said Shining Armor in a baffled and also in the same surfer tone. Cadance just looked at her husband and rolled her eyes.
"We're just so happy to be here," said Cadance, "Usually we're covered in mashed peas by now."
(Scene changes)
Back at the Castle of Friendship, Twilight and her family have managed to feed Flurry Heart. Unfortunately for them, they and their dinning hall were covered by mash peas. Twilight and Nyx were embarrassed. Chase and Spike were annoyed by it.
"When they said mashed peas were her favorite...," said Spike when a glob of the baby food smacked him in the face.
Flurry Heart just laughed as she walked about in her seat Twilight had given her to sit and eat.
"...did they mean her favorite thing to decorate a room with?!" Spike finished angrily as he wiped the baby food off his face.
"Yeah! What did Cadance and Shining Armor think they were trying to do?! Make us feel humiliated?!" Chase asked sarcastically.
"Aw, come on, Daddy. That wasn't too bad!" Nyx said happily as she held Flurry up. They both gave innocent pouty looks, "Besides, we all did give Flurry a good lunch."
Flurry Heart then used her magic to chuck several globs of baby food at them. Behind them the wall and column was covered in the baby food. Flurry Heart just kept laughing and chucking baby food at them.
"Aw, come on, Spike," said Twilight, "That wasn't too bad."
"Yeah," said Spike sarcastically, "and we're only twenty minutes behind schedule."
"If we don't get down to business soon, we'll never make it to the hospital." Chase added with a glare.
Twilight blinked as felt her heart skip a beat.
"Twenty minutes?!" Twilight said in shock and then exhaled, "It's fine. We can totally do this."
SPLAT!
Flurry Heart then chucked some baby food at her face.
"Yeah, I'm beginning to think we don't." Chase remarked bluntly to his wife.
Twilight just chuckled sheepishly as Spike just rolled his eyes.
"We are in big trouble," Spike said quietly to himself, only to get another glob of food in his face.
(Scene changes)
Later, the three ponies and Spike quickly headed to Ponyville's only toy store, conveniently named Ponys'R'Us. Other ponies were busy shopping as Twilight, Chase, Nyx, and Spike entered the store. Twilight and Chase were each pushing their own shopping cart and Flurry Heart was sitting in Twilight's shopping cart.
"Okay, we just need to grab some toys and we are outta here," said Twilight.
"Works for me." Chase agreed with his wife.
"Me too." Nyx added in agreement with her parents.
The three ponies then walked down the aisles as they used their magic to fill the baskets with various toys into their own shopping carts. Flurry Heart watched at first, but then tried to get their attention by roaring like a bear. Twilight and Nyx smiled at her.
"You want to play, don't you?" Twilight asked, but then Spike got between the alicorn family and showed them the list.
"We get it!" Nyx snapped as she used her magic to push Spike and the list behind them.
"Well, I know a game that's even more fun!" Twilight said as she turned to her family, "And more efficient. Playing race karts!"
"Uh, honey…" Chase tried to advise, but it was too late.
Twilight trotted off while driving the shopping cart off. Her family followed them as well. And at the same time, they also brought down and collected couple of various toys. This made Flurry giggled happily for fun. Twilight and her family arrived at the counter. All of them panted in exhaustion.
"Yeah, never thought you had it in you." Chase added as he wiped the sweat a bit.
"Best aunt ever!" Twilight cheered happily. She levitated and put some toys on the counter. She felt her tail being pulled. She turned and found Flurry looked upset and sad. She sighed, "Hang on, Flurry. The race cart's taking a pit stop."
"Oh cheer up, Flurry," said Chase, "Your Aunt and Uncle just have things to do today. Just sit tight for a bit and we'll have some more fun. Okay?"
Chase then kissed Flurry Heart's fore-head as went over to give Twilight the bits needed to pay for all the toys. Flurry Heart then got an idea. Then, using her magic, she made the shopping cart roll away from the group.
Flurry Heart made the cart zoom ahead, weaving between ponies as they raced down the aisles once more. She kept giggling happily as the cart raced down the aisles. Then she was heading straight for a large display stand filled with plush toys.
THUD!
She crashed into the display of plush toys, burying the alicorn infant in a pile of plushies all over the floor. Spike, Chase, Nyx, and Twilight heard the crash and they, along with the salespony, rushed up to the mess.
"I'm not a detective," said Spike as he grabbed a plush toy to reveal Flurry Heart underneath it, "but I think we got a suspect."
"Huh?!" said Twilight in shock as she and Chase gave Flurry Heart a firm look. Flurry Heart looked worried.
Spike then pointed at the list once again and Twilight sighed.
"Well, we'd better get to cleaning," said Twilight as she put Flurry Heart on her back, "we've got no time to waste."
"Right, dear," said Chase, "Shouldn't take too long with two of us doing it."
Together, the two alicorns used their magic to put all the toys back on the display.
"Easy," said Chase as they all turned to leave.
"Thanks, but they were organized by color," said the salespony bluntly.
Chase and Twilight snorted. Flurry Heart just bit her lower lip innocently and tried not to draw attention to herself.
"Flurry," Chase groaned in agitation as he and Twilight put the toys back on the display according to color, loaded up the toys into a wagon and they were on their way to their next stop.
(Scene changes)
Soon they arrived just in time at the Ponyville schoolhouse. Despite the limit to their top speed, Twilight seemed to be satisfied.
"Yes!" Twilight panted as she and Chase arrived at the schoolhouse and she looked at her pocket watch, "We gained back a whole five minutes from running here!"
"Alright!" said Chase as she and Twilight shared a high hoof together.
"Yeah, but if you add that to the forty minutes we were already behind..." Spike added, "we're...fifty-five minutes behind!"
Twilight, Nyx, and Chase both replied by giving Spike a death glare.
"Spike, can't you just be more positive?!" Nyx asked sternly.
"I mean..." Spike stuttered with a nervous chuckle, "Yay, team?"
"Mm-hmm!" said Twilight in reply.
"Let's just grab a book or two and get going," said Chase as they all went inside building.
Once inside the schoolhouse, Spike was checking out some book shelves in the foreground, Cheerilee pushed forward a rolling bookshelf toward the alicorn couple as Flurry Heart just sat quietly in her baby buggy.
"Thanks for helping us out, Cheerilee," Twilight greeted calmly.
"Oh, no problem." Cheerilee said happily, "But I gotta say, I'm surprised you came to me for a book. Don't you have a huge collection?"
"Yes, but-" Twilight was then cut off when she heard the sound of Flurry Heart bouncing up and down in her baby buggy.
"Sorry, one second," said Twilight as she used her magic to make Flurry Heart be still. Flurry Heart gave an annoyed grunt and extended her fore-legs for some attention.
"Hmm, is there anything in here that would keep you busy..." Chase pondered aloud as he looked about the classroom.
Spike then climbed up the side of the baby buggy and held Flurry Heart's so called "Whammy" plushie. Twilight then held the toy with her magic and gave it to Flurry Heart. Flurry Heart quickly took the snail and hugged it.
"Sorry about that," said Chase as Twilight smiled sheepishly, "As big as Twilight's book collection is, we don't have anything a young foal can enjoy other than the ninja stories. And my wife insists we find something other than those books to read to sick foals."
Twilight just rolled her eyes before speaking up.
"Plus we didn't think the foals would be interested in The Unabridged History of Amulets in pony Latin," Twilight added.
"Yeah, it was good you came to see me," said Cheerilee, "How about the complete collection of Ponyville Fables and Stables?"
"Mmm, too long," said Twilight.
"Alien Alicorns vs. Space Pirates?" Cheerilee suggested next.
"Well, the science there is preposterous-"
Spike then appeared between Cheerilee, Chase, and Twilight.
"How about Burnferno, Warrior from Within?" said Spike, "It's about a handsome dragon warrior who slays evildoers with his breath and has snappy comebacks!"
"Oh, so he's basically you but with real muscles and just as big of an ego?" Nyx asked off screen.
"Hardy-har-har!" Spike replied indignantly.
Twilight giggled and Chase chuckled.
"Let's borrow that for you and keep looking," Twilight told the little dragon.
"Eh," said Spike as he sat down in the floor to read the first page or two of the book.
"What else?" Twilight asked as Cheerilee pondered and looked at the other side of her rolling book shelf.
Meanwhile, Flurry Heart was just playing with her Whammy a bit but then grew bored and tossed it aside. She looked to see Cheerilee offer Twilight and Chase another book, but the purple pony shook her head. Flurry Heart was now starting to feel ignored as well as bored. She looked around the room and noticed the blackboard that had some writing on it. Flurry Heart gave a giggle as she quickly teleported to the blackboard and got a piece of chalk. In the corner, Nyx had finished organizing a stack of books as she set them on the shelf.
"There!" Nyx said she turned around. "Sorry to keep you waiting Flurry, but you know Mommy books shelved in a certain… huh?!"
The pupils of Nyx's eyes stretched out and his jaw dropped when he saw where Flurry was and what the little filly was doing.
"Uhh...M-M-Mommy… Daddy..." Nyx whimpered as he tapped his wife's shoulder.
"Not now, Nyxie," Twilight replied and didn't bother to turn around.
"Uh, how about Gusty the Great?" Cheerilee suggested.
"Ooh, that was one of my favorites when I was a filly! Chase's too!" said Twilight, "We'll take it!"
Cheerilee noticed that Nyx looked uneasy, then winced when she saw that the young alicorn princess was staring at. She pointed at the sight with a shakey hoof and her teeth chattering.
"Mm, should I go with something more current...?" Twilight asked, puzzled by Cheerilee's face.
Chase saw this as he turned to what was going on and he became shocked.
"Honey, turn around!" Chase said firmly.
Twilight finally did and gasped. There was Flurry Heart, she had messed up all the writing on the chalkboard so she could draw pictures of herself, Twilight, Chase, Nyx, and Spike. For a baby, her drawings were pretty decent. They weren't just squiggles in but actual shapes and sizes that looked like four ponies and a little dragon.
"Ta-da!" Flurry Heart said happily. Twilight blinked and then glared at her daughter.
"Honey why didn't you-" Nyx looked her straight in the eye with a deadpan expression and raised an eyebrow, making Twilight go from looking stern to feeling sheepish, "Oh...you did try to tell us...heh...our bad..."
Twilight then sternly pulled Flurry Heart back into her baby buggy.
"Cheerilee, we are so, so sorry!" said Twilight, "I didn't even hear her leave!"
"Same here," said Chase as he looked at Flurry with a raised eyebrow, "I forgot our little niece here knows how to teleport."
Flurry Heart just looked rather sad and pointed at her picture.
"It's a nice picture, Flurry," said Nyx to her baby cousin in a gentle but firm tone, "but next time, you need to ask us if it's okay to draw on somepony else's blackboard."
Twilight then used her magic to grab an eraser and cleared the blackboard, much to Flurry Heart's disappointment.
"There, all clean," said Twilight as she finished.
"Great," said Cheerilee, "Now I'll just write it up again...!" She then picked up a piece of chalk, "With my mouth." Cheerilee then reluctantly got to work.
"Ehh..." Twilight chuckled sheepishly and got ready to leave.
"Alright, enough fooling around." Chase said with a firm look. "We've wasted too much time. Let's go."
Twilight nodded and they headed out of the schoolhouse. Spike followed behind with a long face, not bothering to pull the checklist out of his mouth until they were outside.
(Scene changes)
Back at the cafe, Spearhead led Shining Armor and Cadance toward a piece of artwork that was on the floor.
"Feast your eyes," said Spearhead as he showed the couple a painting of various random hoofprints, "This one's called "A Kitchen Guard's Journey"!"
"Oh..." said Cadance with lots of uncertainty in her voice.
"This remind me of the time Flurry got into the chocolate pudding," said Shining Armor, "and we found little chocolate hoofprints all over the carpet."
"That took forever to clean up!" said Cadance, "But remember how cute her little face looked when we caught her?"
"Yeah," said Shining Armor, "She was like "Uh-Oh!"" Shining Armor and Cadance both laughed.
"Whoa, art is so evocative!" said Spearhead as she gave himself a hoof-pump, "I wasn't even going for that memory! Score!"
(Scene changes)
Back in town, Chase and Twilight were pulling their wagon as quickly and safely as they could to their next location with Nyx riding on her father's back. Spike could tell the alicorn couple was looking rather overwhelmed.
"Honestly, Twilight and Chase," said Spike, "I don't even want to tell you how late we are. Should I just cancel our visit to the hospital?"
"What?! Cancel?!" Twilight exclaimed, "We can't cancel, Spike! The sick foals are counting on us! And the B.A.E. would never throw in the towel like that!"
"And the B.C.E won't let that happen either!" Nyx added as well
"B.A.E. and B.C.E?" Spike asked.
""Best Aunt Ever and Best Cousin Ever"?" said Twilight and then glared at her husband, "And I know the B.U.E. wouldn't throw in the towel either!"
"B.U...never mind, I figured that one out," said Spike annoyingly. Chase noticed his wife's glaring and then a determined look appeared on his face.
"You're right honey," said Chase, "If there's one thing I want Flurry Heart to know about me, even us, is that we don't let a few setbacks let us down. We don't go down without a fight and we'll get to that hospital one way or another!"
"I know we will, dear," said Twilight, "Besides, this errand is gonna be different."
"How do you figure that?" Spike asked.
"Because Flurry can play with the Cake twins and stay out of trouble! Best Aunt Ever!" Twilight cheered as she made herself and Chase charge ahead with Nyx holding onto her father's. Spike just glared and as the couple took off.
(Scene changes)
Once they were at Sugarcube Corner, Twilight wasted no time setting Flurry Heart next to Pound and Pumpkin Cake, who were just playing together. Pound was giggling to himself when he and his sister saw Flurry Heart. Flurry Heart felt a little shy, especially when the Cake twins gave her skeptical looks. Then Pound and Pumpkin each offered Flurry Heart a toy to play with, which helped Flurry Heart relax.
"Wonderful!" said Twilight, "They're friends already!"
"Twily, you are so clueless sometimes," Chase said to himself.
"Huh," said Spike, "I shouldn't have doubted you."
"Thanks!" said Twilight but then blinked, "Wait, you doubted me?" Spike just gave a nervous squeak in reply and shrugged his shoulder. Twilight then noticed that Chase was playing innocent.
"Honey, did you doubt me?" Twilight asked, demanding an answer.
"Uhh...oh! Look! Pinkie's at the counter," said Mario quickly, "didn't you want to discuss that idea you had on the way here?"
"Oh, right!" said Twilight, "thanks for reminding me." She then turned to Spike, "Spike, you watch Flurry. Chase, Nyx, and I will take care of everything else."
Spike gave the alicorn couple a salute. Twilight and Nyx rushed up the counter where Pinkie was waiting. Chase walked up to Spike and got into his face.
"Don't take your eyes off of them for one second! That's an order!" Chase said sternly and through his teeth.
"Yes, sir," said Spike nervously as Chase went to catch up with his wife and daughter.
"Hi, Pinkie Pie," said Twilight quickly, "How's it going? I need to pick up the cupcakes for the foals at the hospital! And can you do apology treats?"
"I'm good," said Pinkie and grabbed the box loaded with cupcakes, "Here they are. Of course I can!"
"You got that list ready, Nyx?" Twilight asked.
"Yeah, right here," said Nyx as she used her magic to bring out the list.
Twilight just chuckled and then turned to the pink pony.
"Do you still have a giant file on everypony's favorite treat?" Twilight asked.
"In my secret party planning cave!" said Pinkie. "BRB!"
She hit a button on the cash register to make a lever appear beside her. She then pulled the lever to fall down the trap door. It was then Pinkie appeared carrying a very tell stack of papers.
"Hee-hee!" Twilight giggled excitedly, "Remind me to tell you later how amazing you are. Cheerilee?"
"Eh, I am pretty awesome," said Pinkie smugly.
She then grabbed a sheet of paper to read Cheerilee's favorite treat.
"Cherry oatmeal cookies with yellow sprinkles," Pinkie replied.
"Great!" said Twilight, "Can you write "sorry" on them?"
"I've got a stamp for that!" said Pinkie as she took the stamp and printed a pony with a sad frown on Twilight's forehead.
Chase then used his magic to grab a paper towel and wiped the print off of his wife's forehead.
"Thanks, honey." Twilight said.
"Anytime." Chase replied back.
Back with the babies, Flurry Heart was just playing with some blocks. Despite Chase's warning, Spike was reading his list and not paying much attention to the three babies at all. Suddenly, Pound and Pumpkin started fighting over a balloon toy. Spike hadn't even noticed, but Flurry Heart certainly did. She quickly tossed a block at Spike and made grunts as she pointed to the fighting twins while standing on her hind legs, hoping Spike would do something.
"Hey, you guys! No need to fight!" Spike told them, but the two twins were determined not to share, "Uh...Hang on! I'm sure there's another one!" Spike then rushed to the toy box and started tossing toys about, "Ugh, no, not this one...Oh, that's cute..."
Flurry Heart just watched the cake twins fight with a worried look on her face, especially as their baby yelling got louder. Flurry Heart then used her magic to grab the balloon away from them and used it to tap the back of Twilight's head to get their attention.
"Hold on, sweetie," said Twilight, not turning around, "We'll play in a second."
Flurry Heart then bopped Chase's head. He looked back and noticed the two crying twins and Flurry Heart gesturing at them and the toy.
"Oh, I see," said Chase, "They're fighting over the toy. And where is..."
"Honey, Nyx and I need your help right now!" said Twilight, forcing Chase to turn around, "Spike can handle it."
Chase tried to protest, but Twilight put a fore-hoof over his mouth and pointed sternly to his list. Chase felt rolled his eyes, wondering why Twilight couldn't read the list herself.
Back with the babies, Flurry Heart was feeling disappointed that neither Chase, Nyx, or Twilight would help her. The cake twins were both bawling their eyes out. Flurry Heart then got an idea. She used her magic to disconnect the balloon and the basket and gave Pound the now deflated balloon while Pumpkin got the basket. The twins just looked at the piece of their toy as Flurry Heart smiled.
Pound and Pumpkin were not impressed and glared at the alicorn baby fiercely as they tossed the pieces away.
Flurry Heart cowered back fearfully.
Pound and Pumpkin charged at Flurry Heart. Flurry Heart quickly put up her bubble shield and flew away for dear life. Spike was still searching for the other balloon toy and hadn't noticed a thing. Same was said for Twilight and Pinkie. Chase and Nyx couldn't notice since Twilight wouldn't let them take their eyes off the list.
"The toy store," Chase said bitterly under his breath.
"Yes, the salespony at the toy store," said Twilight to Pinkie.
"Apple strudel cupcake with caramel drizzle!" Pinkie replied.
It was then Flurry Heart flew past a table loaded with cupcakes. The cake twins wasted no time chucking them at Flurry Heart. Flurry Heart yelped as she did her best to dodge and avoid getting hit by all the flying treats. The cake twins relentlessly continued firing the cupcakes all over the room. Pinkie was about to read another sheet of paper when an alarm sound went off from her mouth, winced, and ripped the paper in two. Twilight, Nyx, and Chase noticed.
"Oh, no," said Twilight, "You're making the same face Cheerilee made." Chase just had a deadpan face that could've rivaled Maud's.
"There's something really bad behind us isn't there?" Chase asked bluntly as he and Twilight turned around.
Twilight cringed as she saw the entire room was covered in cupcakes and frosting with Pound and Pumpkin cake sitting in the floor with blank faces. Flurry Heart was nowhere to be seen. Chase just kept his deadpan expression as he looked at his wife while Nyx felt worried.
"Ugh! Okay, I get it!" Twilight snapped, "You could've prevented this and I stopped you." Chase just snorted.
"I wouldn't have had to interfere if some dragon had been watching them like he was supposed to!" Chase remarked as he gave a fierce glare...to the cake twins.
Pound and Pumpkin just gave him squeaky and innocent smiles. Pinkie just had a weary look on her face, unsure of what to think about what had happened.
"Pinkie," said Twilight since she knew the pink pony was upset, "remind us what your favorite treat is."
"Mmm...the sampler platter," said Pinkie with a sad smile on her face.
"We'll take three of those," said Twilight wearily as Flurry Heart hovered beside Twilight.
"Why three?" Nyxretorted, "It doesn't take a genius to know Flurry Heart isn't fully to blame for this, if at all!" Nyx glared again at the Cake Twins, who just kept smiling innocently. But they did exchange nervously looks at each other.
"Well you know Pinkie eats enough treats for three ponies anyway," said Twilight, "We owe her that much for all of this." Chase sighed.
"These apology treats are gonna take a beating to our budget aren't they?" Chase remarked.
It was then Spike popped out of the toy chest holding a second toy balloon.
"Aha! Told you I'd find another one," said Spike as he turned around. He then gasped as the toy balloon deflated as he found everypony staring at him, especially Chase and Nyx, who looked furious.
"Didn't I tell you not to take your eyes off of them for one second!?" Chase snapped as he stamped a fore-hoof to the floor.
Spike just chuckled nervously to reply when a cupcake that had gotten stuck on the ceiling went splat right on top of his head.
(Scene changes)
Once they helped to clean up the mess, they were running once again to their next destination. Spike and Nyx were now clinging into the front of the baby buggy since Chase and Twilight had it coupled in front of them rather than behind. Spike held onto the front of the baby buggy since he couldn't run that fast and was holding a baby bottle in his claw.
"Uh...Twilight? Chase? Nyx?" Spike tried to ask.
"Out of the question!" said Twilight sternly, "We are not cancelling!"
"Not now or ever!" Nyx added angrily.
"We're gonna make it to the hospital or bust!" Chase snapped, "No thanks to you!"
"I said I was sorry!" said Spike, "Besides we..."
"It's going to be okay," said Twilight to herself as she started to panic, "It has to be okay! It's been so terrible so far it can't possible end up- blub-blub-blub-bulb-blub-Oh..."
Twilight was then cut off when Spike squired the bottle of baby formula into Twilight's face.
"Uh, sorry," said Spike, making it clear the squirting was an accident. Twilight just shook her head dry and sighed. Flurry Heart just tried to get the bottle from Spike.
"No, I needed it," said Twilight.
"And good timing too," said Chase , "She almost said the worst possible thing you can say regarding our circumstances."
Twilight went to protest but then sighed.
"Yeah, you're right," said Twilight, "it was on the tip of my tongue."
"Well, I was gonna say, we're here," said Spike as a familiar general hospital appeared in view.
Twilight and Chase both screeched their train to a stop so quickly that Spike went flying ahead a few feet and landed on his back. Spike also dropped the bottle from the sudden braking and Flurry Heart easily caught the bottle in her fore-hooves. Fortunately, Spike wasn't hurt and quickly stood up and recovered.
"We made it!" Nyx said happily and relieved.
"And we're only four-and-a-half minutes late!" Spike added, hoping the fact they recovered that much lost time would help the alicorn family feel better.
"Four and a half?!" Twilight, Nyx, and Chase exclaimed together.
Then the three ponies charged forward, making Spike smack into the front of the baby buggy again as the two ponies charged forward.
Within a minute, Twilight, Nyx, and Chase had unloaded their train, uncoupled the baby buggy, and headed to the room where all the sick foals were staying in. The foals were very happy to see the alicorn family. Chase and Twilight wasting no time handing the foals the toys while Nyx gave them the treats.
Then Twilight and Chase immediately took over with the reading of their favorite book, Gusty the Great, to the foals, who began to listen to the story attentively while holding either a toy or a cupcake. Even Spike was listening to the story along with the foals. This left Nyx alone to play with Flurry Heart. At first, Nyx wasn't having any problem keeping Flurry Heart busy. Once Twilight started reading her book, Nyx and Flurry were playing together. But as much as Flurry Heart loved playing with Nyx, she was getting rather tired of Twilight and Chase ignoring her all the time. Nyx could tell as Flurry Heart kept glaring and snorting at her parents.
"Flurry Heart, your auntie just has this bad habit of ignoring ponies when she's trying to do things, especially when Daddy has to keep her in line." said Nyx, "I'm sorry to say she does it with him too."
"Hmph!" Flurry Heart pouted, crossing her fore-legs angrily.
"I know it isn't right, Flurry," said Nyx, "and we'll make sure she knows it once she finished reading her book. So don't feel like she is being mean or doesn't care. Mommy and Daddy care about you and I do too! Now come on. Your cousin Nyxie wants to play with you!"
Nyx then went to tickle her tummy to make her laugh again, but Flurry Heart just swatted her fore-leg away and kept pouting. Nyx just glared at her for being mean.
""...and while nopony had ever tried to reach Cloudsdale on hoof"," Twilight read aloud, ""Gusty the Great was not deterred! She and her unicorn warriors marched up the hill. But suddenly they encountered..."." Spike and the other foals listened attentively and anxiously.
"What?!" Spike gasped, "What was it?!"
""It was the treacherous Grogar"," Twilight continued reading aloud.
Nearby, Nyx was still trying to find a way to play with Flurry Heart, but all the alicorn baby wanted to do was complain in baby talk about how Twilight was still ignoring her. Even holding her favorite whammy wasn't doing much good to calm her down.
""...and Gusty could tell he was ready for battle"," Twilight continued, ""Gusty called out to the unicorn warriors-""
"OW!" Chase then yelped as Flurry Heart angrily grabbed his tail and gave it a firm tug.
Twilight saw Flurry Heart glaring at her husband and her. Chase sternly made Flurry Heart let go of his tail.
"Honey, I thought you were playing with her, why did you stop?" Twilight asked Nyx sternly.
"I was playing with her!" Nyx snapped, "but she's tired of playing with me. She wants to play with you, Mommy and Daddy!"
Chase sighed before leaning toward the still glaring baby.
"Not right now, Flurry," said Chase, "These foals really want to hear this. So play with your Cousin Nyx for now."
The sound of a kettle whistle went off as Flurry Heart's face turned deep red. She then gave a loud scream and went into a temper tantrum. Nyx flinched at the sight. But neither pony noticed that Flurry Heart's kicking and screaming had sent her whammy flying out of the room and onto a random doctor's rolling cart as they walked past the room.
""We can fight Grogar together!"" Twilight kept reading as she and Chase completely ignored Flurry Heart's temper tantrum, ""and the Unicorn warriors shot magical beams into the clouds that wove into one! The beam, stronger than a thousand armies, shined down!""
As Twilight kept reading, Nyx tried to settle Flurry Heart down.
"Flurry, please take it easy," said Nyx gently, "I know you don't like that Twilight's ignoring you, but going to pieces isn't gonna make her pay attention to you. Believe me, I would know..."
Flurry Heart simply faceplanted the floor in frustration. Then Nyx noticed as she got back up that she started to make panicking noises and was looking around rather anxiously.
"Flurry, what's wrong?" said Nyx when she noticed her teleport to her baby buggy and was looking around. Nyx looked puzzled until he noticed something was missing.
"Wait a minute, where's your whammy?" Nyx asked as Flurry Heart gave a loud whimpered and continued searching around the baby buggy, "Alright, alright, just settle down, sweetie. We'll find it. Just don't go...Flurry!"
Before Nyx could tell her otherwise, Flurry Heart teleported over to one of the hospital beds where a filly was listening to the story. Flurry Heart quickly raised the pillow to look behind it and then let go.
"Flurry! Flurry!" Nyx said in a loud whisper as she rushed over to the little baby alicorn, but then she teleported from the bed to a dresser and popped out of the top drawer.
"Flurry, you need to calm down and stop teleporting," said Nyx in a gentle but firm tone, "And most importantly, don't leave the room!"
Flurry Heart teleported away from the dresser to the middle of the room and flew right out of the room.
""It wrapped around Grogar and pulled him to the ground"!" Twilight kept reading, clueless to what was going on with Flurry and Nyx, """Don't let him escape!" yelled Gusty"."
"Flurry, what did I just-" Nyx didn't finish as Flurry Heart teleported away as she flew into the hallway. This caused Mario to skid to a stop.
"Oh, no!" Nyx exclaimed, for now it was her turn to panic and began to sweat heavily. She had no clue where Flurry Heart could've teleported to.
Inside another room, a doctor was about to test the knee reflexes of an elderly pony wearing a green shirt. Flurry Heart then appeared, looked inside of the elderly pony's shirt and disappeared. The elderly pony hugged himself and suddenly felt very subconscious. Then in another room, Nurse Redheart was giving a stallion named Cherry Fizzy a checkup.
"Say "ah"," said Nurse Redheart.
"Ahhhhh-AHHHHHHH!" Cherry Fizzy exclaimed as Flurry Heart appeared, widening his mouth to look inside it before teleporting away once again. Cherry Fizzy just gave the nurse a glare. Nyx kept looking around room after room trying to find Flurry Heart when the little alicorn baby teleported in front of her. Nyx jumped back in surprise.
"Flurry!" Nyx called out as she chased after her.
She then flew into the air to chase after her. But, like the last time, Flurry Heart not only kept teleporting, but she was also flying past medical carts and overturning them. This left a mess that Nyx had to clean up quickly and continue her chase. Flurry Heart also flew past some other nurses and doctors, leaving them hovering in the air, which Nyx had to use her own magic to set them back down. Then Flurry Heart flew back to the same area and made them float again. Nyx quickly began to feel frustrated.
"Flurry!" Nyx grunted before chasing after her once more and leaving the floating doctors behind.
Back in the hospital room with the foals, Twilight was still reading her book with Chase sitting next to her and the two were completely unaware of what was going on.
Nyx flew in and hovered over to her mother.
"Mommy! Daddy!" Nyx called out, tapping her father's shoulder.
"What? We thought we told you to-" Chase stopped once he noticed Flurry Heart was gone. "Wait. Where's Flurry Heart?"
"She's lost her Whammy toy and she's about to turn the hospital upside down!" Nyx explained worriedly.
Chase became horrified before he facepalmed himself in frustration.
"Oh man!" Chase said angrily.
""Grogar was strong, for fear gave him power"," Twilight continued as Flurry Heart teleported back into the room and started making beds and ponies float into the air, ""and be broke through the bonds"!"
The other fillies and colts then yelped as they started hovering into the air.
"I know!" said Twilight, "So good, right?"
"Twilight, look up!" Spike called out.
Twilight finally did, just barely.
"Spike, you're floating," said Twilight casually before it finally clicked in her head, "You're floating!"
"So are you, Chase, and Nyx!" Spike shouted.
Chase and Nyx were floating in the air by Flurry Heart's magic. Twilight, Chase, Nyx, and Spike saw Flurry Heart making everything in the room float and move about in a panic.
"Flurry, honey, you need to stop this," said Twilight gently, "Put us down, please."
But Twilight found her request falling on deaf ears.
"She's not listening," said Twilight.
"Welcome back to reality, where all is not well!" Nyx retorted indignantly. Twilight sighed loudly.
"Ignoring our daughter has really come back to bite me hasn't it?" Twilight remarked to Chase.
Chase huffed.
"I would like to have a chat with you about why you keep doing that and how you brought me into it," said Chase and then gasped, "but we'll worry about that later!"
"Twilight, Chase, Nyx, look out!" said Spike as he and Chase pointed toward something in the distance. Twilight and Spike gasped when they saw a floating bed coming straight for them.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!" Twilight, Spike, Nyx, and Chase screamed as the three alicorns used their magic to catch the bed floating toward them and set it back down.
"Nyx, Chase, split up and double team!" Twilight called out.
"You got it!" said Chase as he and Nyx flew off to the other side of the room. Twilight then went to set down another bed, but then Flurry Heart appeared and made it float into the air again.
"Nopony panic! Everything's gonna be okay!" Twilight called out to the foals.
"Don't panic! Everything's under control!" said Chase to the foals as well as he tried to set down multiple beds at once, but then Flurry Heart came by and made them all float back into the air.
Nyx tried to make sure the beds stayed on the ground by keeping her magic on them, but Flurry Heart was able to overpower his magic and made the bed float back up anyway. Chase groaned loudly.
"Yeah...Sunburst you certainly did NOT limit Flurry's magic," Chase remarked to himself.
On the other side of the room, Twilight used her magic to place two bed down. Flurry Heart then appeared to make the left bed float up again and disappeared. Twilight winced as she tried to set it back down, but then Flurry Heart did the same to the right bed. One filly was very frightened to see her bed was floating upward, but then relaxed as Twilight and Nyx used their magic to set the bed back down.
But then Flurry Heart made it float up again and teleported away. Twilight tried to move quickly but Flurry Heart was making the bed float back up faster than Twilight could set them down. Chase was having the same problem as he joined up with his wife and daughter.
"Oh, I can't keep up with her!" said Twilight worriedly.
"Neither can I," said Chase, "I even tried holding the bed down with my magic and Flurry still made them float up."
"Oh, yeah," said Spike as he got an idea, "where's her Snoozle?!"
"Her what?!" Twilight, Nyx, and Chase said together.
"You know, her Whacky Whompy thing?" Spike tried to clarify as he searched inside of the baby buggy, "The snail?"
"Oh! You mean her Whammy!" said Chase.
"Yeah! Where is it?" Spike asked, "Cadance said it calms her down."
"I don't see it!" said Twilight.
"It's why she's making everything float," said Nyx.
"Huh?" said Twilight to her daughter in surprise.
"That's what I was trying to tell you!" said Nyx, "When you guys tuned Flurry out, she got so upset that she sent her whammy flying away and I don't know where it went! She's pretty much having a panic attack trying to find it. Just like you when you used to misplace your library books!"
"Oh, please don't bring that up!" Twilight said wearily when the foals screamed again from all the floating chaos.
Then Flurry Heart lifted a bed so quickly that it tipped to the side and made the filly fell out of it. Chase gasped and zoomed over with a pillow over his fore-legs to catch her.
"Gotcha!" Chase called out as he caught her just in time.
"Thank you," said the filly as Chase smiled to say you're welcome.
It was then Nurse Redheart came in to see how things were but was stood floating into the air the instant Flurry Heart flew past her. Chase joined Twilight and Nyx as they looked around the room, seeing all the floating beds and frightened foals. The alicorn family only knew one thing.
Their patience had hit its limit.
"Flurry Heart! Put us all down this instant!" Twilight, Nyx, and Chase shouted sternly.
Flurry Heart winced, tear up, and made her horn stop glowing. Everypony yelped as Flurry Heart's magic grip made them stop float and start falling. Twilight and Chase combined their magic to catch everypony so they, as well as the bed, landed softly on the ground below.
"Is everypony okay?" Twilight asked with concern.
The foals all nodded and replied together that they were okay. Nurse Redheart just nodded and collapsed into a pillow with relief. Twilight, Chase, and Nyx gave the group a smile, but then their smiles changed to stern looks as they approached Flurry Heart.
"Flurry, that was very, very bad!" said Twilight angrily, "You could've hurt somepony!"
"Yeah, what were you thinking, young lady?!" Chase asked sternly. "What you did was really dangerous!"
"Next time I tell you to stay put and calm down!" Nyx added in the same tone with her parents before she yelled, "You need to do what I tell you!"
Flurry Heart then burst into tears, put up her yellow bubble, and started to cry as she scooted away from Twilight and Mario. Twilight, Nyx, and Chase suddenly felt their anger melt instantly once Flurry Heart started crying and cowering away. Nyx bit her lower lip.
"Oh, sweet Celestia...I just yelled at Flurry!" Nyx said quietly in a tone filled with sadness and regret.
"Me too," said Twilight sadly.
"Yeah." Chase said as he tried to apologize to his baby niece. "Flurry, I'm so sorry. I was only trying to-"
But Flurry Heart scooted away fearfully.
"Oh, Flurry," said Nyx gently, "we didn't mean to-"
But Flurry Heart scooted away again and continued to cry.
"Sweetie, you don't have to be scared," said Twilight as she and Nyx pressed their faces against her bubble and smiled while Chase remained behind them, "It's just us, see?"
Flurry Heart shot them both a glare and scooted away again, whimpering and crying as she did so.
"Guys, I don't think I need to explain what she's trying to say." Chase said sadly to his wife and daughter as tears were pricking from Nyx's eyes.
"No, I get it," said Twilight sadly as she addressed the still frightened and upset baby alicorn, "You're scared of us. Because we both yelled at you like a pair of big scary bears."
Flurry Heart said nothing but just looked very upset and hurt as she kept her back against them.
"Flurry, I'm so sorry," said Twilight as she, Nyx, and Chase sat down, "I've been a terrible aunt today."
"And I've been an awful Uncle," Chase added sadly.
"And I've been a bad cousin too." Nyx added with her voice cracking.
"All you wanted to do is play," said Twilight, "and Chase and I have barely been able to pay you attention to you. I know your Cousin Nyx tried, but even if she couldn't spend as much time with you she should've either."
"No...I didn't..." Nyx whimpered as tears started streaming down his eyes, making Chase hold his daughter close to him gently. "I tried, but you want to spend time with the three of us, not just me...and I let you down."
"We both did honey," said Twilight gently before speaking to Flurry once more, "None of this is your fault. It's mine."
"Don't you mean-" Chase corrected gently.
"No. It's mine," said Twilight in a firm but gentle tone, "you and Nyx tried to help me by preventing some of the mischief she caused from happening and I ignored you both. Just like I did with Flurry. So much for being the best aunt ever."
"I'm not exactly feeling like the best uncle ever either, dear," said Nyx and sniffled, "I'm sorry I let you both down."
That made Flurry perk up a little as she glanced back at Nyx, who she saw was still looking very sad and crying quietly.
"We might not be perfect," said Chase, gently to his niece. "But the thing is true. We love you very much, Flurry."
"Yes, we do," said Twilight as she, Nyx, and Chase put a fore-hoof on Flurry Heart's bubble, "I hope you know how much we love you."
Furry Heart then looked back, giggled, dropped her bubble shield, and happily hugged Chase. Then gave her uncle a sad whimper to say sorry.
"It's okay, Flurry," said Chase, "I forgive you. Promise you'll listen next time so me or your Auntie Twilight have to raise our voice at you. We care about you after all."
Flurry Heart nodded as she pecked his cheek three times, making Chase chuckle.
"I love you too, sweetie," said Chase.
"And do you forgive your favorite cousin?" Nyx asked with a tearful smile.
Flurry Heart hugged Nyx as she wiped the tears from her cousin's eyes.
"Thank you, Flurry." Nyx said as she giggled.
Flurry Heart then gave Twilight a sad whimper as well.
"Oh, I forgive you," said Twilight and Flurry Heart dived into Twilight to hug her.
"I take it you forgive me too?" Twilight asked.
Flurry Heart honked cutely as she kissed Twilight's cheek and smiled at both her aunt and uncle. Chase couldn't resist another chuckle as he dried his eyes as Nyx giggled.
"Thanks, Flurry," said Twilight, "How about we head home?" Flurry Heart nervously gestured with a fore-leg to Twilight.
"After we find your Whammy, of course," said Twilight.
"Ah-hem," said a stern voice. Chase looked back and winced.
"Uh...honey? Nyx?" said Chase.
Twilight looked back and saw Nurse Redheart glaring at them sternly while tapping a fore-hoof on the floor. A few other doctors had arrived to glare as well, even Spike was glaring at them too.
"And clean up," said Twilight as she, Nyx, and Chase shared embarrassed chuckles and giggles with each other.
Flurry Heart then flew over to still stern looking ponies and landed before them. She gave them all a sad look, whimpered, and lowered her head sadly. It didn't take long for the doctors to soften their expressions as Nurse Redheart walked up to her with a smile on her face.
"We forgive you little one," said Nurse Redheart, "I believe this is why you were turning our hospital upside down?"
There in her fore-hoof was Flurry Heart's whammy. Flurry Heart squeaked with glee as she used her magic to pick up the toy snail and hugged it tightly. Chase, Nyx, and Twilight walked up to the baby alicorn.
"Thank you, Nurse Redheart," said Nyx, "Poor Flurry here got really anxious when she loses that snail."
"How can we ever thank you?" Twilight asked as she put Flurry Heart on her back.
"How about you and Twilight clean up this mess and we'll call it even?" Nurse Redheart suggested.
Chase and Twilight smiled in agreement.
(Scene changes)
Back at the cafe, Cadance and Shining Armor were finding out that all they could think about a certain little alicorn baby. They had approached a cake that had some very familiar colors for icing on top of it.
"This one kind of reminds me of Flurry's hair..." Cadance whimpered as tears built up in her eyes. The couple then approached a little gold statue that had a shield on it.
"Uh-huh," Shining Armor whimpered in agreement as he started tearing up as well, "And this one reminds me of Flurry too."
"How so?" Spearhead asked as he saw the now crying couple.
"It's small...like her!" Shining Armor croaked, feeling his composure slipping fast as he held Cadance close, "I-I can't do this anymore! Spearhead, this has been great, but-"
"Say no more," Spearhead replied, "My art has always spoken to me about what I love. But knowing that it spoke to you about what you love speaks to me."
"What...?" Shining Armor asked as he and Cadance had puzzled looks on their faces.
"Go to her," Spearhead told them. Shining Armor and Cadance didn't need to be told twice as they all but ran out of the cafe.
"We must look ridiculous falling apart like this," Cadance sobbed as they headed back toward the castle, "But...I don't care! I want my baby!" Shining Armor held her close for comfort despite his own tears.
"Me, too," said Shining Armor sadly.
"Hey, you guys alright?" A familiar voice said.
Cadance and Shining Armor stopped crying and noticed Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio walking up to them.
"Um...uh...hi, guys." said Shining Armor, feeling rather embarrassed as the four members of his family came up to them.
"We were just...uhh..." Cadance stuttered, trying to find an excuse for their minor meltdown.
"Having a date away from Flurry, left her with Twilight, Nyx, and Chase to watch, and now you're missing her something awful?" Sunray said all at once to his in-laws with a smirk on her face. Shining Armor and Cadance both felt their jaws drop.
"How...how did you...?" Shining Armor stuttered.
"We just passed Sugarcube Corner when Pinkie told us Twilight, Nyx, and Chase had stopped by to order some treats there," Jade explained, "She said Flurry was with them. We pretty much figured out the rest when I heard Cadance said she missed her."
Shining Armor and Cadance just looked at each other and sighed.
"We must look really silly to you guys right now," Shining Armor said wearily.
"No. We understand. How about we take you guys over there?" Trini proposed with a warm smile.
Cadance and Shining Armor grinned as Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio led them down the quickest path to the castle.
(Scene changes)
Back at the castle, Chase and Twilight were having the time of their lives playing with their niece and daughter. For the moment, Twilight and Chase were both chasing Flurry Heart and Nyx down the hallways.
"We're gonna get you!" Chase called out as Twilight and Flurry Heart giggled in reply. Flurry Heart then turned a corner and disappeared, but Mario and Twilight weren't worried since they both had determined looks on her faces.
"Now where did those two go?" Chase said in a teasing tone, "I was sure they came in here..." Flurry Heart and Nyx couldn't help but giggle from their hiding place and it was just loud enough to get the couple's attention, but they weren't in a rush to find her.
"Where did they go?" Chase pondered playfully.
"They have to be here somewhere, dear," said Twilight in the same tone, making Flurry Heart and Nyx giggle again. By now, both alicorns had found two rather suspicious lump in the side of the carpet.
"That's funny, I don't remember us having any bugs in the rug!" Chase said in an over the top tone.
"I guess you'll have to deal with it, dear," Twilight remarked, trying hard not to laugh.
"There's only one way to deal with a bug in the rug," said Chase.
Flurry Heart and Nyx smiled, but they were feeling a tad worried about what Chase was going to do. Twilight then used her magic to lift up the part of the rug Flurry Heart and Nyx were hiding as Chase rushed in and gently pinned Flurry Heart and Nyx onto their backs.
"Tickle monster!" Chase called out and stared rubbing the baby's side as well as his daughter's, "tickle-tickle-tickle-tickle-tickle!"
Flurry Heart and Nyx laughed themselves silly until Chase stopped tickling them so they could calm down a bit. Twilight then put Flurry Heart into her back while Chase did the same with Nyx and the two alicorns flew up toward the upper ceilings of the castle.
It was then that Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio entered the castle with Cadance and Shining Armor right behind them. The baby buggy and all the diapers were set to their right side of the double doors as the six ponies walked in.
"Twilight! Chase!" Antonio called out, "We're here! And we brought someponies home with us!"
"Flurry?!" Shining Armor called out as he and Cadance walked inside, "Where's our little foal?!"
Twilight and Chase saw them entering as they flew down to the ground with Nyx and Flurry Heart holding to them. Cadance wasted no time using her magic to pull Flurry Heart toward them.
"Oh, we missed you so much!" said Shining Armor as he and Cadance gave their daughter some loving chuckles.
Flurry Heart then hovered out of her mother's magic grip and flew over to Chase, hugging the back of his neck, hugged Nyx since she was still riding on her father's back, and then hovered over to Twilight and did the same. Cadance and Shining Armor looked a little hurt at seeing their daughter fly away from them and sighed together.
"But it looks like you had a great time without us," Cadance said sadly.
"Actually, not so much," Twilight replied, making Shining Armor and Cadance blinked, "Flurry got into some mischief, but it wasn't her fault. We shouldn't have agreed to watch her with such a jam-packed schedule. It was too much to juggle."
"Yeah, but Flurry taught us an important lesson today. Right, Nyx?" Chase asked his daughter.
Nyx nodded with a smile as she giggled.
"It turns out being the Best Aunt Ever and Best Uncle Ever isn't about spending the most time with our niece as well as Nyx spending time with her cousin, but spending quality time with her," Twilight explained.
"Well said honey," said Chase.
"And Flurry taught the both of us a really cool bear game, so I guess we learned two things," Nyx concluded. Cadance and Shining Armor smiled and laughed as Cadance put Flurry Heart into her baby buggy.
"Well, we definitely should've given you more of a heads up," said Shining Armor.
"Yes! From now on, we'll give you plenty of notice," said Cadance, "And I shouldn't have been so defensive when Chase and Nyx admitted they lost their temper with her. Flurry can push your patience to the limit sometimes and we should've given you a heads up about that too."
"Like how much she really enjoys mashed peas," Nyx added with a smirk. Cadance and Shining Armor smiled sheepishly.
"We'll...cover the bill if anything was stained," Shining Armor offered feebly.
"It's okay," said Chase, "I managed to get all the stains out. But we do appreciate the heads up in the future."
"Ooh, that would be great," said Twilight in agreement.
"Hey, what are you both doing next Tuesday?" Cadance asked the alicorn family.
Chase, Nyx, and Twilight both gave a surprised snort. Trini, Antonio, Sunray, and Jade cringed in surprise as well.
"For dinner, not to babysit," Cadance clarified as Flurry Heart fell asleep with her Whammy in her fore-legs. Chase and Twilight chuckled.
"I'll have to check with Spike," Twilight replied, "but I think we're free."
"So free." Nyx added with a giggle.
"Would you guys care to join us next Tuesday?" Chase asked Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio with a smile as the returned the favor.
"Sure. as long as Antonio won't get covered in mash peas." Sunray replied before he smirked at Antonio as he glared at his youngest cousin.
"Why do you always have to suspect it's gonna be me?" Antonio asked, annoyed.
"Knock it off, guys." Jade said amusingly as she, Trini, Nyx, Twilight, and Cadance giggled in amusement.
"Where is Spike, anyway?" Cadance asked curiously.
"He's still at the hospital reading to the foals," said Chase with a smile, "and he's making sure another...treat...we ordered for them got there safely."
(Scene changed)
Back at the hospital, Spike was enjoying himself as he read his story of choice to the foals. Even Nurse Redheart was in the room enjoying the story as well.
""The dashing dragon warrior breathed a scorching flame from his snout"," Spike read aloud, ""then chuckled to himself as he flew into the sunset. "If you can't stand the heat, don't fight a dragon","". Spike then jumped on top of a nearby hospital cart and posed.
"Hey, you kinda look like him!" a foal named Peach Fuzz remarked.
"Thank you!" said Spike, "Okay, now who wants more cake?"
"Yay!" the foals all cheered excitedly. There on another table was a giant three tiered cake with the apology sticker pasted on top of it.
Pinkie must have gotten a workout with that stamp today.
