It was eight o’clock in the evening at Canterlot. Princess Luna had taken over the responsibility of the moon and its stars while Princess Celestia had returned to the chambers for sleep. Over in the Crystal Empire, Princess Cadence was laying on the bed, heavily pregnant, with Twilight Sparkle for company who was passing the time star-gazing with the telescope she had brought.
As Twilight was calling out the odd name of each passing star in her star-charts, Cadence sat quietly, rubbing her hoof across her stomach. Her and Shining Armour’s foal was due soon, and due to his work schedule, they rarely had time to be with each other these days, but Twilight had promised to be by Cadence’s side so that she wouldn’t be lonely. She had also packed the Emergency Hospital Supplies for Cadence, ready for the big day, which both her and Shining had been very grateful for since they knew they wouldn’t have enough time for it, and that it would break Twilight’s heart if she was left out of planning something as big as preparations for a new foal.
As Twilight was talking about the alignment of stars forming over in the Horsehead Nebula, Cadence then felt a slight twinge in her stomach. Her sudden moan caught Twilight’s attention and she turned around. “Are you okay, Cadence?” she asked quickly.
“I’m fine Twilight.” said Cadence smiling, “It was just a small… AAHH!!” she gave out a painful cry, just as she could feel warm liquid forming underneath her.
“Oh my Gosh!” said Twilight, looking frantically around the room and walking in circles, “The foal’s coming, the foal’s coming!” She stopped every few paces to perform the breathing technique Cadence has shown her to calm down and she ran for the door, opened it and shouted down the corridor, “SPIKE!!”
Twilight’s room was only a few doors down from Cadence’s and Shining Armour’s, so it didn’t take Spike long to shuffle quietly into the room, his eyelids drooping down and yawning slightly, “What is it?” he grumbled.
“Cadence has gone into labour!” Twilight shouted, “The foal’s on its way!”
Spike was wide awake now, “Are you sure?! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh! What do we do? How she’s getting to the hospital?”
“Spike, calm down and listen!” said Twilight, putting her hooves on Spike’s shoulders. “Now look, I’m going to take Cadence down to the hospital, I want you to write a letter to mum and dad, let them know what’s happening, then write two more letters to Princesses Celestia and Luna, and try and find Shining Armour and send him up after us.”
“Yes Twilight.” said Spike saluting, and he ran back down the corridor and into Twilight’s bedroom. Twilight ran to the side of Cadence’s bed, used her magic to open the wardrobe door and levitated a brown leather bag with gold joined up lettering saying ‘Emergency Hospital Supplies’ stuck on it. “It’s alright Cadence.” She repeated reassuringly, as she led her out of her bedroom.
Soon, Spike was running in around the castle in a blind panic. He had sent the letters to Twilights’ parents and to the princesses and now he had to find Shining and tell him the news. However, he had completely forgotten how large the Crystal Castle was and time was slowly running out. Sometimes, he found himself in a corridor he had already been through before, and as he stopped to catch his breath outside the throne room for the third time, he looked out of a nearby window and saw the clock tower; he had already wasted 45 minutes running around in circles. As he turned around to search again, his face made contact with something metal, which knocked him off-balance and he landed on the cold crystal floor. He looked up to see two light blue eyes staring down at him. “What in the world of Equestria is wrong, Spike?” asked Shining Armour, a stern expression on his face, “I’ve been having guards informing that you’ve been running up and down the…”
“Cadence…labour…baby…” Spike gasped on the floor.
Shining eyes widen slowly, “What did you say?” he said slowly.
“Cadence is about to have the baby.” Spike clarified simply as he picked himself up.
“WHAT?!” Shining shouted and he turned quickly around and galloped up the corridor, Spike running behind him. When they reached the bedroom, Shining Armour burst through the doors and found it empty. “Where is she?” he demanded as Spike panted into view.
“She and Twilight have already left for the hospital.” said Spike, gasping for breath; he was not used to all this running. “That was about 50 minutes ago.”
“50 MINUTES?!” shrieked Shining, and he pelted past Spike and ran down the corridor, until he spotted one of his guards patrolling, “Solider!” he shouted and the guard stopped and turned to salute him, “I need you to get me a chariot and get me over to the Crystal Hospital.”
“Ah yes, I did hear the news sir, and may I be first to say…” began the guard smiling, but then stopped when Shining bellowed, “DO IT!!” and he quickly ran down the corridor and disappeared.
“Well, thanks for telling me, Spike.” said Shining as he took off his armour and began handing it to Spike, “Take these back to my room and get back to…”
“I’m coming with you.” said Spike suddenly.
Shining looked down at the dragon, “Spike, I really don’t think that it’ll be…”
“No!” said Spike, stamping his foot down, “I’ve been left out of too many things in the past, I am not missing the birth of the royal baby.”
Shining tried to think of a counter argument, but it was no good; he did agree that Spike had missed out on many events in the past, and he looked determined not to be left out again. He rolled his eyes and nodded, just as the guard had returned. “The chariot is ready, Captain.” he said, and lead Shining and Spike outside where a gold chariot, pulled by two Pegasi was waiting in the courtyard. Shining Armour and Spike climbed aboard and the guard took the armour out of Spike’s claws and as it pulled away he shouted, “And congratulations sir!” as the chariot took off into the sky.
Meanwhile in the Crystal Hospital, Cadence and Twilight were already in the delivery room. Cadence was wearing a white hospital gown, and was sitting up on the bed, breathing in and out slowly. Twilight was sitting next to her, holding her hoof. “It’s alright Cadence.” she kept saying, “The specialists are on their way, the gas and air is set up and in a few hours, you’ll have a brand new baby, you’re going to be a mummy, and I’ll be an auntie, oh sweet Celestia, I’m gonna be an auntie!” and she picked up the gas mask, turned the valve of the gas cylinder and began breathing heavily.
“Twilight, I’m the one having this foal, why are you getting so nervous?” Cadence chuckled as she tried to get comfortable.
“Because I haven’t prepared for this yet!” gasped Twilight as she pulled off the gas mask, “I haven’t planned what needs to be done, how I should act, an appropriate time table for feedings, I was going to see if there was a book on the subject, but…”
“Twilight, I appreciate your help, I really do.” said Cadence as she put her hoof on Twilight’s shoulder, “But I think me and Shining should try and handle the foal on our own first, if we do need help, you will be the first pony we’ll come to.”
Twilight smiled as Cadence moaned as another twinge came. The doors then opened, and Celestia and Luna walked quickly in; both were wide awake and looking urgent. “How is she, Twilight?” asked Celestia.
“I’m just…fine Aunt Celestia.” said Cadence as another small contraction happened.
“We have taken the liberty of bringing the Royal doctor with us.” said Celestia and the door opened and a stallion with a grey mane and spectacles walked in. “This is Doctor Cation.” she said to Twilight as he bowed his head low to her, “His family have treated us for centuries.”
“And it is a pleasure your majesty to help deliver this foal.” said Doctor Cation as he bowed to Cadence, “I’ll be the second pony in our entire family to deliver a royal baby. My ancestor had actually been by the side of Queen Faust herself when she gave birth to the Princesses.”
Celestia and Luna shrugged their shoulders, embarrassed, when a large strong and stern looking mare walked in; the matron, “I do apologise your highnesses,” she said in a booming voice, “but we only allow one pony by the bed, now where’s the father?”
“He’ll be here soon.” said Twilight as Cadence started panting.
“In that case Doctor, the specialists have arrived, and so has the midwife.”
“We’ll wait outside for when Shining Armour comes, and we’ll send him in.” said Celestia to Cadence. She gave her a small hug and she, Luna and Twilight went outside, but as they were about to close the door, they could hear the sound of somepony skidding across the floor. Then from around the corner, Shining Armour came slipping and sliding down the corridor, Spike right behind him.
“Am I late?” he panted, but there was no time for explanations, as Twilight then pushed Shining through the open door into the delivery room.
“Where in the gates of Tartarus have you been?” Cadence gasped as Shining entered.
“I haven’t long had the message.” said Shining as he sat down in the chair next to her. “How is she, doctor?” he asked Doctor Cation.
“She’s doing fine, sir.” said Cation, just as the door opened again, and a group of three ponies entered. “The specialists are here, now we can prepare for the delivery.”
“Have the contractions been timed?” the midwife asked as she walked in.
“It’s every three minutes at least.” Doctor Cation told her.
“Is that good?” asked Shining.
“Yes, it’s a good sign.” said Doctor Cation, “Now nurse, set the monitor up and we’ll measure the foal’s heartbeat.” Shining and Cadence were now breathing calmly, then Shining got up and headed out the door and saw the princesses, Twilight and Spike sitting on the seats in the corridor, getting quite nervous looks from passers-by.
“Is everything alright?” said Celestia, standing up urgently.
“Yes, Cadence is fine, the baby’s fine, they’re just monitoring its heartbeat now.” said Shining as calmly as he could. He then looked at Twilight, “Can you believe it Twily? In a few short hours, we’ll be going home with another addition to the family.” Twilight smiled and nodded nervously as Shining ran back into the ward. She then looked up at the clock that was hanging up on the wall and saw it was nearly half-past nine.
By half past one, the hospital was quiet. Celestia and Luna were sitting up straight, awake and ready, Twilight was giving nervous glances at the door to the delivery room and Spike was trying not to fall asleep, by constantly banging his head on the wall behind him whenever he was beginning to feel himself get drowsy.
In the delivery room, Cadence was breathing very fast now, sweat was forming on her brow, Shining stood next to her with his hoof on her shoulder, while Doctor Cation was listening to the baby’s heartbeat. “How much longer is this going to take?” Shining asked nervously.
“Nature has to run its course Mr Armour.” said the midwife.
“But it’s been three hours since the last contraction. Don’t you think we should wait until he’s ready?”
“The baby will let us know in due time.” said Doctor Cation, however the words has just left his mouth, when Cadence began screaming in pain, he then backed away a little to get ready, “Come on, your highness, push!”
Cadence started pushing; it was pain like she had never felt before. After two minutes, she stopped and tried to breathe normally. “Shining…” she gasped and Shining leaned in close to her, but she then grabbed his fur tightly and held onto him, “Don’t you dare come near me again!” She growled savagely, “You’ve done all this to me!”
“Well, you did ask me.” said Shining sweetly, but her grip on his fur tightened.
“Well, don’t you do anything I ask of you again!” Cadence screamed as another contraction happened and she let go of Shining’s fur.
“I suppose they’re all like this.” Shining said nervously to the midwife. She shook her head.
At quarter to four, Spike and Twilight had fallen asleep in their seats. Celestia was still awake and Luna was pacing up and down the corridor. “How long must we wait, sister?” she asked Celestia.
“I am sure it will not be long, Luna.” said Celestia and she motioned for Luna to sit back down, when another scream filled the corridor.
“Keep pushing your majesty, you’re doing fine.” said the midwife as she dabbed Cadence’s forehead, “The contractions are beginning to come more frequently.”
“I know, I’m the one having the contractions!” Cadence cried out as she began to feel another one coming. “Shining, hold my hoof.” she shouted and Shining quickly held her right hoof in his, however as she began pushing, she tightened her hold on his hoof, which started to go red.
Shining’s screams of pain were added to the noise, which rang down the corridor and when she had finally let go, he was soon nursing his hoof in the corner of the room. “I am in so much pain right now.” he said to himself, but he then realised what he had just said, and looked nervously over his shoulder to see everypony, including Cadence with fire in her eyes, staring at him. “Not that my need is more important than yours darling…” he said quickly to Cadence, but she still glared at him with gritted teeth.
“Keep breathing your highness, the head is in position.” said Doctor Cation, loudly, “One more push!” Cadence then grabbed both of Shining’s hooves and crushed them as hard as she could as she pushed. Their screams echoed through the corridors again, until another noise joined in; the cry of a newborn baby.
The foal lay asleep in Cadence’s arms, wrapped in blankets. Shining and Cadence looked down at their child, feeling like they had just conquered the impossible. “It’s a baby, Cadence.” said Shining, his voice shaking and tears forming in his eyes.
“Really?” smiled Cadence, crying slightly, “I’ve been thinking what that swelling was. I love you Shining.”
“I love you too Cadence.” said Shining as they kissed. He then ran out to see Celestia, Luna Twilight and Spike sitting up and awake, looking anxious. “We’ve done it!” he said as he started to cry.
“Our congratulations, Shining Armour.” said Celestia as she and Luna bowed.
“What is it, Shining?” Twilight asked eagerly.
Shining said nothing; he just stood there, bobbing up and down grinning. “It’s a baby Twily!” he said, his voice going up an octave with excitement.
“No, I meant is it a filly or a colt?”
Shining then stopped bouncing and paused for a second. “Hang on.” and he rushed back into the delivery room. His mind had completely blacked out the moment the foal was born and hadn’t heard what the sex was. “Cadence, is it a filly or a colt?” he asked quickly and Cadence pulled back the blankets slightly and the grin returned to Shining’s face.
“It’s a colt!” he said proudly as Twilight hugged him.
Soon Cadence and Shining thanked the medical team, and were waiting for a cup of tea to come when the midwife led the party in. Shining took the foal carefully out of Cadence’s forelegs and turned to address the princesses. “Everypony, let me introduce you to our little Knight.”
The foal was a white unicorn like Shining, and his mane had the same light yellow-gold colour of his mother’s. Celestia looked down at him, and nodded proudly. “He looks perfect.” she said quietly.
“More precious than any star in the sky.” said Luna, her eyes filling with tears.
“Twilight?” said Cadence, “Do you want to hold him?”
Twilight looked nervously at the bundle Shining was holding, but she slowly moved forward and took it out of his hooves. The foal’s eyes opened slightly to reveal two lavender eyes, which stared up at her. Twilight could feel the tears forming in her eyes as well. “Hello Knight.” she said quietly, “It’s me, your Auntie Twilight.”
Knight closed his eyes and nuzzled closer to her and fell asleep. Twilight kissed him on the forehead, but she then paused, her face suddenly dead-panned.
“Is something wrong, Twilight?” asked Spike.
“I think my first lesson for being an aunt, should be how to change a diaper.” said Twilight as she handed the baby over to Cadence, flapping her hooves slightly in front of her.
Everypony chuckled and they decided to leave Shining and Cadence with their son. They bid them goodnight and left. Shining and Cadence to another look at Knight and couldn't help but feel that, at this moment, they were the luckiest parents in all of Equestria.