“YESSSS!”
 
Firework was jumping off the walls. Today was the day. Finally, after months of waiting, he was no longer the baby of the family. It was only a matter of time before he’d meet him…his new baby brother. He could hardly wait!
 
”I hear them! They’re home!” Lightning Bolt exclaimed, zipping towards the door with Firework not far behind. By the time they got there, their parents had already come in. Their dad was busy unpacking their overnight bags, while their mom simply stood in the doorway, smiling down at the bundle pressed to her chest.
 
“Momma! Lemme see him!” Firework jumped up at his mother, eager to see the new baby.
 
“Hey boys,” Rainbow Dash lightly ruffled the colts’ manes, sounding calmer than usual. She held the bundle out so they could see the baby’s face. “Meet your new sister. Her name’s Paint Swirl.”
 
”Whoa! She’s so tiny!” Lightning gasped, standing up to get a better view of the filly. For Firework, however, something didn’t line up.
 
”Don’t ‘cha mean brother?”
 
Rainbow chuckled. “Nope, she’s a girl. You guys wanna sit and hold her?”
 
She’s a girl…
 
Firework froze, those words ringing in his ears. All his hopes, all his dreams of having a baby brother to play with, came crashing down. Instead, he had a sister. A tiny, weak, sister. And he wasn’t having any of it.
 
”B-but I wanted a brother!”
 
“Sorry kid,” Rainbow Dash replied. “We can’t decide these things, ya know. Sometimes you get what you get.”
 
“WHY?” The colt wailed, tears welling up.
 
Rainbow hesitated, searching for an appropriate response. “Because I said so, that’s why!”
 
“Take it BACK! I wanna brother!”
 
”Firework, you already have a brother. Besides, you’d miss her if she went back.”
 
”Yeah!” Lightning piped in. “I dunno about you, but I like her!”
 
But nothing could soothe Firework now. He collapsed on the floor, kicking and screaming in a mess of tears. “I DON’T WANNA SISSY!”
 
“Firework Phosphorous Flare!” Rainbow scolded. “You have a sister, and that’s final! We could have lost her, so you better be glad she’s home alive!”
 
“NO!” Firework shrieked. “S-she’s weak and ugly! Brothers are COOLER!”
 
Rainbow scowled and clutched her baby defensively. “If you’re gonna act like that, go to your room! You’re grounded!”
 
The colt stomped up to his room and slammed the door, still crying angrily. What did Mom and Lightning even see in that wrinkly little baby? He would never love that filly, not when he wanted a brother. He wouldn’t even care if she disappeared forever, as long as he got a little brother. He wouldn’t miss her anyway, right?