Peppermint Swirl

~Chapter Two~

~Laughter Among Family~

Peppermint walked down the hall, her hooves clicked and clacked on the cloud stone floor. Click, clack, click, clack. The doors of the palace hospital were in sight. Stopping at the doors she said to herself, from this point on when I see my new siblings I must be all I can be to show them that they are going to have the best big sister in the world! Opening the doors with a gold covered hoof, she entered. Greeting here with warm words the receptionist at the front desk.

“Welcome Princess, I take it you would like to see your mother?”

“Yes, I would. What room is she in?”

“She is in room 279, that's in the new section, and Princess please be careful with that ice cream cone.”

“I will, thank you.” Peppermint replied.

In her magic, Floating beside her head, was a cone of her favorite Ice cream. It was Mint Chocolate Chip. She cantered down the hall. Her gold shoes clicked and clacked on the cloud stone floor.

Click, clack, click, clack.

Her surroundings were Plain white cloud walls. Each door was adorned with a medal plate that had a number on it.

“275 … 276 … 277 … 278 … and here we are, 279.”

She moved her hoof and gently opened the door.

Her hooves clicked on the floor as she stepped inside.

Looking around she saw her mother sleeping gingerly. Her mane full of sweat and exhaustion present.

Are mares always this tired after having foals? She thought to herself.

She cringed, directing her attention off her tired mother she focused on her new siblings. She stared into the crib. Laying inside were two cute foals. One a colt and the other a filly.

The colt was blue in color and had a dark brown mane with light brown streaks.

“Your coat looks like daddy's” she whispered smiling.

The filly light purple in color and had a light pink mane.

Both wings and horns adorned their bodies.

“I am sure you two will grow into fine royals. I will be their to help you the whole way. I love you little siblings.” she said turning.

As she turned to walk away the clicking of her gold shoes woke the two foals. They began to fuss. Not knowing what else to do Peppermint began to sing her lullaby. While singing she was startled by her father gently touching her flank. She had forgotten her ice cream was still in her magic and it fell to the floor. Still startled she stepped back onto it and slipped. The force of her body crushed the cone and it splattered all over her flank, tail, mane and muzzle. Her lullaby long forgotten all five ponies were now laughing. This made peppermint happy and it felt good to laugh and share the laughter. A bright flash on her flank interrupted their laughing and her father uncovered the source.

“Well would you look at this! My daughter I believe your talent has been revealed.”

Turning her still ice cream covered head she saw a small image of a ice cream cone with little brown swirls on her flank. Upon seeing this something in her mind clicked and a thought occurred to her. This is what I am meant to do!

“My gift is laughter!” She announced happily.

With no room to jump around she quickly excused herself. Stepping out into the hall she gave a silent, “yahoo!”

~Later that day~

Celestia and Luna were in a quite room playing a rather heated game of chess when a scroll bearing a mint green ribbon appeared in front of them. Curiosity over coming their senses, they quickly opened the letter and began to read.

Dear Princesses Celestia and Luna,

I Princess Peppermint Swirl cordially invite you to my Cuteceanera Party.

The party will be held here in Cloudstale castle tomorrow afternoon when the sun is one mark passed its highest.

As I am sure you have already found out my brother and sister have been born and you are welcome to visit them.

Your dear Friend,

Princess Peppermint Swirl

Ps. I know this is Ironic since I am already fifteen.

“She got her cutie mark!” they said in unison.

“I wonder what it is?” Celestia said smiling.

“I can't wait to see her!” boomed Luna in her royal voice. Excitement so evident.

“Don't be so loud were not addressing a crowd.” Celestia said covering her ears from the intense noise.

Early the next morning peppermint was bouncing around the ball room placing streamers of every color she could find. Balloons decorated every entrance and column. On a long banquet table there were drinks, snacks and a large cloud cake.

With everything set up there was just one more thing she had to do. She had to attend to the large line of pegasi suitors that were lined up out side the court room. When news spread throughout the kingdom of her coming of age, stallions jumped at the opportunity to ask for her hoof. So many stallions lined the castle grounds that her father told them all to come back the next day.

~P.~P.~S.~

“No!, none of them are right. I want to fall in love not just take some random stallion off the street. Coming to impress me like this is just a waste of time!” Peppermint yelled to her father.

“Darling you must choose somepony, you can't become a queen unless you make the step to finding a suitable partner to rule with you.”

“well each and every one of those stallions had greed and bit signs written all over their faces. Their not asking me because they want to love me. They are asking me because they want the rich life that comes with being a royal.”

“Like I said you have to choose somepony.”

“I will father, I will it just takes time I only got my cutie mark yesterday.”

Peppermint replied.

“If I may interrupt?” her mother asked.

“Yes mother?” peppermint said turning to face her.

“Well darling, your father is right but as I recall when it came time for me to choose I made your father wait Three years before I answered his call for my hoof.”

“Really?” Peppermint looked between them in disbelief.

“In the mean time while you contemplate your decision I would like you to go and renew our food treaty we have with the earth kingdom.”

“But why me? Can't you go like you always do?”

“I will be unable to go dear, but somepony has to.”

“But why me? I don't know if I can I mean I am just a princess and I never go anywhere with out you guys!” Peppermint started to panic.

“This will be a good way for you to practice being a queen.” her mother said hugging her. “now I believe that your friends will be here shortly shall we all go down to greet them?”

“yes.”

~P.~P.~S.~

Standing before the solar and lunar princesses was a rather tall and slim Peppermint. It had been awhile since they had seen her and she had grown quite nicely.

“Hello Peppermint.” they said in unison.

“Hello!” she replied cheerfully. “it really has been too long.” she said coming up to them.

“Yes it has.” Celestia said smiling.

“You both look amazing, you must tell me what you use in your manes.”

“Actually you might find this ironic and a bit funny but we use peppermint oil” Luna said hesitantly.

“ha! That is funny I should try that I have never seen manes so smooth.”

The rest of the afternoon was lively, Celestia discovered her undeniable love for cloud cake and Peppermint and Luna chatted up a storm. They all danced to their hearts content.