Work Text:
The cry of one of her youngest jolts her wide awake. Her wings spread far out, ready to shoot her out towards her newborn children. Specifically one of them. Without thinking, without batting an eye, Glimmer teleports across her room and to one of the little bassinets. Inside is her newborn son, wide awake and crying. His sky blue eyes are brimming with tears.
“Shh, shh baby boy,” Glimmer whispers. She bends down and scoops up the newborn, holding him close to her chest. The Queen rocks him as she walks around. “What’s wrong, Micah?”
He and his twin sister, Mira, ate not that long ago. Plus, the younger twin does not need much to fill up his small belly. No way can he be hungry. His diaper definitely is not in need of changing either. Most likely, her son has either had a nightmare, which makes her wonder what goes on in the mind of a newborn, or just needs to be held. Both are quite likely. Whatever the case, it will take time for him to calm down.
Mira remains sound asleep, already showing signs of being a heavy sleeper like her Mama. Hopefully she will stay in her world of dreams. No need for two crying newborns. Besides, there is someone else who has to go back to bed.
“Is Mikey okay?” Adora asks from the bed. She already is sitting up, feet planted on the ground.
“Yeah. Just the usual,” Glimmer replies. The Queen walks back to the master bed, sitting down besides her wife. She shifts Micah in her arms so he uses them as a small hammock. While his cries have softened, tears still cover his eyes. “Little guy sure likes to make a fuss.”
“I take it Mimi is still out like a light?” Adora asks. She brushes fingers gently against the small bit of dark, violet hair her son sports.
“Yes. As should you.”
“How can I? And what if both of them are crying?”
“I can get my mother. Or AJ. You know she wants to help when she can. You need to be resting.”
“I hate it…” Adora sighs. “I hate feelings like crap! Half the time, everything feels horrible and I hate it when I don’t feel like getting out of bed. I want to help, I want to be with the twins! I don’t want you to shoulder both of them. We are a team!”
Her wife sniffs. Her eyes, almost identical to her young son’s, have their own tears. Glimmer wraps one of her wings around Adora’s body, pulling her close. When in reach, she places a peck on the blonde’s temple. “Hey. It’s okay. Have you forgotten? You did so much for the past, what? Eight months? And not to mention, when I was recovering after AJ was born, you would always jump out of bed and get her to stop crying. No wonder why she is your little shadow.
“You need the rest so then you can care for Mira and Micah. Don’t push yourself, Starlight. It’s not good for anyone. And you never have been a night owl so you shouldn’t worry about when they wake up at this hour. You got the morning and I the night. That was the deal. I got this.”
Adora sniffs again, resting her head on Glimmer’s shoulder. “Thank you…I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about.” Violet eyes flick down to her son. He coos softly, sparkling irises no longer covered in tears. Micah stares up at his mothers, hands waving around with no mission in mind.
Adora smiles softly before sticking out her index finger. Micah’s own, tiny, and chubby digits wrap around it. “You really just wanted to be held, huh? Guess you get that from me,” she whispers. “Your Mama is great at that.”
“Don’t sell yourself short.”
“Nah. You give the best hugs, no questions asked.”
Micah yawns, his eyes beginning to flutter shut. Adora mimics her son. Glimmer feels her wife’s body becoming heavy. She encourages Adora to sleep and catch up on the rest she needs. After some debating, the blonde gives Glimmer a kiss and lies back down on bed. It does not take long at all for her to be out like a light. Glimmer sighs in relief, happy that one of the two members of her family will be dead to the world for a while. She looks down at the small life form in her arms.
Her son is asleep, yes. Glimmer, however, knows all too well the moment he is tucked back into his bed it will only be a matter of time before he wakes. So to ensure he will sleep through the rest of the night, she keeps him nestled in her arms. A smile forms on her face at the sight of her son. The memories of when her eldest was new to the world flashes in her mind. She was bigger than the twins. While she fussed to be held, much like her brother, she adhered to a schedule much easier.
And then there is Mira, who is still dead to the world. The young girl can be stubborn and refuse to eat if not in the mood. Not because she isn’t hungry, no, her mothers know she is hungry. They hear their youngest daughter’s stomach growl all the time. Mira just is stubborn beyond belief. Part of Glimmer wishes both the twins were like Harper, who could gobble a bottle down no problem.
Still…at the end of the day, she doesn’t care. Seeing Micah fast asleep in her arms, oblivious to the world around him, it reminds her of everything good in the universe.
"You know, I have to thank you for waking me,” Glimmer whispers. She stands back to her feet, continuing to rock her son. “I was having a nightmare. One about horrible, terrible things that happened long before you were born. I hope you never, ever have to face the same things your mothers, aunts, and uncles had to face. You and your sisters deserve to grow up in a peaceful world. Just remember, though, we’ll always be here for you. No matter what.”
After a couple more minutes of gently rocking Micah back and forth, she places her son back in his bed. Glimmer tucks him in and goes as far as to turn on his mobile that plays a soft lullaby. Finally, the queen places a tender kiss on his rosy cheeks. “Sweet dreams, my little prince.”
Adora takes a stroll through the courtyard, enjoying the warmth from the summer’s sun. Being cooped up since the birth of the twins has been a drag. With the world not scorching for once and some clouds in the sky, taking Mira and Micah out should be fine.
Plus, it might do the twins some good. A change of scenery.
Micah rests on her back, his head almost propped up on her shoulder. Once in a while, Adora checks up on her son. The newborn sucks away on his yellow pacifier, a star at the center, as he watches the world around him. She wonders what goes on in that little brain. Everything around Micah is brand new. It must be amazing.
Meanwhile, resting up against her chest, staring up with the icy blue eyes Adora dawns as She-ra, is Mira. Her youngest daughter refuses her own red pacifier. Whenever offered, she'll take it at first before spitting it out and crying. Angella has said that when Glimmer was a child, she had the same habit for a couple months. Adora hopes that is the case and not for the reason that lurks in her mind.
The thought Mira might have inherited Adora's strong weakness to magic. A curse of being a First One's—magic can kill the blonde. Ever since she broke the sword, the way she has channeled She-ra's powers, having found her own way to turn into the warrior princess, it has become a struggle. Even after several years of knowing this fact, there are times Adora forgets her little problem and remains as She-ra too long and collapses, barely able to move, breathe, or think.
The pacifiers used have magic embedded within. Something to help soothe infants more with the relaxing spell. Neither Harper nor Micah had this problem. At seven and half, the eldest has already shown her connection to the Moonstone and has been practicing to hone her skills. Micah and Mira are far too young to know if either they will connect to it or have spellcaster powers like their great aunt and grandfather.
Or, none at all due to the First One's genes within.
A hand brushes the soft, black baby hair on top of Mira's head. It would be ironic if this is the case. Magic afterall is what helped create each of their children. A common spell that if both parties give some sort of DNA (like a bit of blood) can be used to have children of their own. One that was carefully done this time around to allow Adora to have the twins. Though, if she is being honest, it didn't help much as she was sick a lot. She doesn’t like to remember how many times she was stuck in bed or in the bathroom.
But now the thing that created Mira, gave her life, might harm her in ways Adora does not know.
"I hope this is a phase," Adora says. "I hope you are magical like the rest of your family. It sucks being non-magical. Besides," she rubs her daughter's back, one without any wing marking. "You deserve something."
Something catches her eyes. Adora watches as one of the many crystal butterflies that spend their time in the gardens of Brightmoon Castle flutters by. This one looks made up of shining emeralds. The insect lands near Mira's right eye. Icey eyes widen as she gasps in surprise.
Adora chuckles. The blonde carefully nudges the creature to stand on her own finger. Their wings shine in the bright sunlight.
"Though," she continues to speak to her daughter, "at the end of the day, it doesn't matter. If you're magical or not, if you are like me or not, you're still special. I know you will grow up to do amazing things and make me proud. No matter what, your family will be here to support you, always."
Adora places a soft kiss on Mira's head, whispering an ' I love you' in First One's, before continuing her walk.
"Brings back memories, huh?" Castaspella says. In her arms, she holds her grand niece, feeding her her lunch. "Do you remember Glimmer this tiny?"
Angella lets her eyes flutter shut for a moment. Her time between reality and falsity continues to leave her brain scrambled. After all these years, there are things she still cannot recall and probably never will. But this isn't one of them. The former queen remembers the feeling of holding her daughter for the first time. How much love filled her heart as she started into Glimmer's violet eyes. How much she wondered who her daughter would become.
"I do," Angella replies. She reopens her eyes and looks at her grandson. Micah makes a fuss about eating, having only taken half his bottle. She sighs as she tells him, "You usually finish this. Gotta eat up to be big and strong!"
"Let me try something."
Castaspella places the bottle down, much to Mira's displeasure. With her free hand, she creates a small rune. Flicking her wrists, small balls of colorful lights begin to circle around Micah. The newborn's eyes widen as he watches them.
With the spell complete, Angella tries once more to feed her grandson. This time, he begins to drink his milk. The former queen snorts. "Wanted lunch and a show."
"He's a funny little guy. Just like his grandpa," Castaspella muses. She returns to feeding Mira. "How long do you think Adora and Glimmer will be sleeping for?"
"Not long enough. Those two have their hands full with the twins and need the rest. I wish they would come to us more."
"I know what you mean. They are both stubborn in their own right. They probably think since Harper wasn't that bad, two shouldn't either."
"Hopefully they'll learn soon enough that isn't possible."
The lights around Micah begin to dim as he finishes his lunch. When Angella removes the bottle, ready to burp her grandson, he begins to hiccup. Both she and Castaspella (who is burping Mira) laugh.
"I hope these two stay little for a while, I miss having ones this young in the castle," Angella starts. She begins to see if Micah needs to be burped. "But, I cannot wait to see who they become. Harper will become queen but what about these two?"
"Maybe sorcerers like me and Micah? I would enjoy teaching them magic that isn't connected to the runestones."
"They always could be like Adora, learn how to fight to protect those they love. Or none of the above. Only time will tell."
Castaspella suddenly makes a noise. "Well there is one thing that makes me wish they were older.."
Angella turns her head. Castaspella holds Mira out. The newborn has a small amount of spit on her chin. The rest is on her great aunt's shoulder. The former queen can't help but chuckle, earning her a glare from her sister-in-law.
"I'll go get a napkin."
Harper doesn't quite know what to make of her sister and brother. Alone with them as her mothers step outside for a bit, the princess watches them with sharp eyes. While they each lie in their small rocker, Harper definitely doesn't want anything to happen to them.
Though, she wishes they were a little more interesting. The two-toned blonde haired girl sighs. Harper has younger cousins, plus she remembers when her best friend's little sister, Sandra, was born. It took a while for them to grow up and be able to play. Why did she think her siblings would be different?
Harper sighs, really wishing to have a playmate right about now. Mira and Micah don't even laugh yet when she makes funny faces or messes with her magic. With everyone so busy with taking care of two babies, she has been left alone a lot to her own devices. When she is not helping her mothers, finding things to do has become difficult.
She narrows her sparkling, violet eyes. "You guys are boring," Harper huffs. "I can't wait for you two to be less boring."
Her siblings each yawn, their blue eyes fluttering shut. Harper can't help but yawn too. "I'm gonna go read. Your big sister has to learn everything she can about being a queen."
She gives each of their rockers a small shaking, hoping the moment will lull the duo into slumber. Set, Harper crawls over to where her book is. The History of Brightmoon. Putting her glasses aside, the princess picks up from where she left off.
Though, she doesn't make it far. With Mira and Micah sitting on her hearing side, Harper hears them suddenly whine. She snaps her head up and squints. In the blur of her vision, she can see them both brimming with tears.
"I thought you two were gonna sleep!" Harper walks back to them, giving them a rock again. Slowly, the twins begin to nod off again. Happy, the princess goes back to her spot. However, the moment she plops down, her siblings wine again.
Harper groans, walking back to them. The moment she reaches Mira and Micah, they stop. She raises an eyebrow. Her sister and brother are still rocking. Why are they crying? She gets an answer quickly.
As she begins to step away, the twins whine again. "Oh?" Harper stops. The moment her eyes land on her siblings, they stop. "I see."
Before doing anything else, Harper nabs her book before plopping down between the twin's rockers. No cries at all. Mira and Micah slowly drift off into sleep, making Harper smile.
"Big sis will watch over you. Don't you two worry." Harper decides to place a kiss on each of their heads. "I'll always protect you, no matter how boring or annoying or stinky or whatever you are."
…
And this is how Adora and Glimmer find their three children. The twins fast asleep in their rockers and their oldest on the ground, fast asleep as well. A smile breaks across both queens' faces, loving the sight of their children dreaming together.