Queen Twilight Sparkle descended the steps of the Canterlot Castle entrance hall. Two important visitors had just arrived at the castle.
"Welcome to Canterlot, Emperor Shining Armor and Empress Cadence." Twilight bowed to her brother and his wife.
3 years ago, Princess Celestia announced that the time had come for her to leave Equestria and go to the world where all ponies go at some stage, The Great Beyond.
It was Celestia's last day on Earth that Twilight Sparkle and Flash Sentry were married. After the vows had been said and the rings had been exchanged, the ancient pony formally announced that in a few hours time, she would be ascending. She then announced that Twilight and Flash would be the new rulers of Equestria.
After the coronation, she went to the Royal Sanctuary where she used all of her magic to bring herself to the spirit world permanently.
Princess Luna stayed behind, since she was sealed away in the moon for 1,000 years, it was only fair that Luna could stay in Equestria for another thousand years.
A few months later, Princess Cadence and Shining Armor informed Twilight that they had decided to split the Crystal Empire from Equestria. Once the split was made official, Cadence and Shining Armor became Emperor and Empress of the Crystal Empire, and Shining Armor became an alicorn.
"A pleasure to be here, Queen Twilight." Cadence also bowed respectfully, as well as Shining Armor.
"It's been so long since you two have been here, I can't wait to show you the new Harmonic Garden!" Twilight beamed excitedly.
"Harmonic Garden?" Shining Armor asked.
"Twilight told me about it in one of her letters." Cadence explained. "After the coronation, she uprooted the Tree of Harmony from the cave underneath Everfree Castle and brought it here to be re-planted in a lovely garden."
"That's right." Twilight smiled. "The garden is inside a huge greenhouse, it's decorated to equally show off each of the six Elements of Harmony."
"Fascinating." Cadence replied, she was clearly very interested in this garden, as was Shining Armor too.
Twilight led the Imperial Couple to a greenhouse at the back of the castle. It was absolutely huge! The roof was half the height of the castle itself.
A beautiful garden was kept inside, it was divided into seven parts. Six of them were shrines dedicated to the Elements of Harmony. In the very center of this stunning garden, the Tree of Harmony was standing tall and proud, glimmering as beautiful as the day it first sprouted.
"It's beautiful, Twilight!" Cadence admired some flowers growing inside the Shrine of Kindness, they were a most beautiful mixture of yellow and pink.
"The greenhouse took no time to build, and on the day the Tree of Harmony was replanted, every single seed we had already planted a couple days before sprouted straight away.
Shining Armor was looking at a stone water feature at the back of the greenhouse, the water from it poured into a trail dug into the ground to create an artificial stream running through the garden.
"So, who's idea was this?" The Emperor asked his little sister.
"Well, I was the one who came up with moving the Tree of Harmony to Canterlot, but it was Applejack and Fluttershy who suggested  we dedicated an entire garden to it." Twilight explained.
"And I was the one who approved it." Everyone turned to see King Flash Sentry standing in the doorway of the greenhouse, looking quite spiffy in his crown and robe. Flash Sentry an alicorn when he was crowned King of Equestria.
"There you are!" Twilight smiled as she trotted over to her dashing husband. "I was looking all over for you!"
"Did I not tell you that Rainbow Dash asked me to observe the Royal Guard's training session today?"
"I don't think so." Twilight searched around in her head, trying to remember if Flash had ever told her.
"Hey Flash, I haven't seen you since the last Continental Summit, how's my one and only brother-in-law doing?" Shining Armor casually greeted the King. Before Twilight and Flash's wedding, Shining Armor was Flash's mentor as a Royal Guard, and the two became good friends. When Flash became King and Shining became Emperor, the two agreed that they should only use formalities when in public.
"Oh fine, Twilight and I have had our hooves full for a while, what with Twilight being-" Flash was cut off by Twilight quickly pinching his mouth shut with her magic. She looked nervous.
"Are you ok, Twilight?" Cadence asked.
"What was Flash about to say?" Shining Armor also questioned the Queen.
"Oh, nothing important. It's just that.. um... has an important speech tomorrow, yeah, and he uh.. needs to rest his vocal chords."
Cadence and Shining glanced at each other. They knew better than to question Twilight when she was stressed, so they decided to leave the subject.
"One second, I just want to talk to Flash.. alone!" Twilight dragged her husband into the hallway and closed the doors into the conservatory.
"What were you thinking!? You know I don't want to tell them yet!" Twilight scolded Flash.
"Why not?" Flash asked.
"Because if Shining Armor knew about it, he would freak out! I need to find the right time to tell him!"
"Twilight, my speech tomorrow is about that! If you don't tell Shining Armor before I officially announce it to the world, he'll freak out even more."
Twilight looked down, knowing Flash was right.
"Remember Cadence and him got married? You didn't even know they were engaged until you got the invitation. You were ticked off, right?"
"Yeah.. I was." Twilight sighed. "You're right. I'm going to have to tell him. But not now, I want to get him alone first."
"Good, I'm sure he'll be totally fine with it." Flash smiled.
"Come on, let's get back out to them." Twilight opened the doors again as the two walked outside to greet Shining Armor and Cadence.
"Well that was quick. When Cadence and I argue it normally lasts an hour." Shining chuckled.
"What? We weren't arguing!" Twilight gasped.
"I'm kidding, Twily." Shining laughed again.
"Oh.."
"How about we go see the rest of the castle?" Cadence proposed. "I hear you've expanded the Royal Library."
"Oh, yes I have!" Twilight snapped out of her nerves and smiled. Books always did that to her. "Follow me ladies and gentlemen!"
Later that day, after dinner, Twilight led Shining Armor into one of the drawing rooms and shut the door.
"What did you want to tell me Twily?" The emperor asked.
"Well, it's something I've been wanting to tell you for a while, but I want to tell you before anyone else besides Flash knows..." Twilight turned to face her brother.
"What is it?"
"Well, Shining Armor... I'm....
"What!? Did you just say you're... you're..." Shining Armor was in disbelief at what Twilight had just told him.
"Pregnant, yes. I just told you that." Twilight answered her brother. "I'm going to have a foal."
Shining Armor fought hard not to collapse on the floor then and there. His little sister was pregnant!
"How could this happen?" Shining asked himself.
"You were in school for that day in health class, Shining Armor. I think you know how this happened." Twilight answered the question.
"No, obviously I know how it happened, I just didn't think something like this could happen to early. I mean, Cadence is a good ten years older than you, and we still haven't had a foal."
"Some ponies are just different. Flash and I decided that the sooner Equestria has a new prince or princess, the better. So we.. um.. y'know.." Twilight explained.
"But we all know for a fact that Equestria isn't completely out of danger, Twilight. Back when you lived in Ponyville, you faced some thousand year-old super villain, like, every other week. What if something happened to the most important pony for Equestria's future?" Shining Armor worried.
"You worry too much. Rainbow Dash has trained the Royal Guard to be the very best possible. We have the best military in the continent, and Canterlot Castle is almost impenetrable."
"Yeah, nothing says impenetrable like having the front door of the castle plopped down in the middle of one of Canterlot's busiest streets."
"This castle is over a thousand years old, you know that wasn't by decision!" Twilight snapped.
"I never said it was!" Shining Armor yelled back.
"Is everything ok in here?" Flash opened the door and walked in. "I heard yelling."
"Yes, dear. Everything's fine.." Twilight glared at her brother, who still had a look of anger on his face.
"You sure? It sounded a lot like you were fighting."
"We're fine!" Twilight gritted her teeth, trying her best to keep a smile on her face.
"I think I'll turn in for the night." Shining Armor walked out of the room. "Good night, you two."
"You can tell Cadence if you want to." Twilight called down the hall to her brother.
"Whatever!" Shining walked down the hall.
"Is everything ok, Twilight? Shining Armor seemed a little.. uncomfortable last night." Cadence walked out to Twilight's balcony the next morning. Twilight was just sitting at the edge, watching the clouds.
"Twilight?" Cadence said again. This time, Twilight turned around.
"Morning, Cadence..." Twilight sighed.
"Are you alright?" The Crystal Empress asked her dear sister-in-law.
"Did Shining Armor not tell you?" Twilight asked.
"Tell me what?" Cadence asked.
"I'm pregnant."
"You are!?" Cadence beamed with excitement. "That's fantastic Twilight! I'm so happy for you!" Cadence smiled in delight.
"Glad you're taking the news better than Shining Armor did." Twilight sighed again.
"Is that why he was so upset? Is that what's up with you?"
"When I told him, he freaked out. He had himself convinced that some big bad guy was gonna pop up out of nowhere and do something to the baby."
Cadence began to chuckle. "Twilight, you know how over-protective Shining Armor is. He was just shocked. What would you say if you found out I was having a foal?"
"I'd be happy or you, Cadence." Twilight answered. "I certainly wouldn't get all super freaked out and worry about everything. I don't do that."
Cadence glared at Twilight.
"I don't!" Twilight giggled. "Ever since I became Queen of Equestria, I knew I couldn't freak out about little things, I mean, I still do sometimes, but most of the time I need to control it. What if I set the entire Royal Guard on an illegal immigrant? Or had some sort of magical meltdown just because I didn't file some paperwork on time?"
Cadence laughed. "I'm sure Shining Armor's calmed down. Come on, Flash's speech is starting soon. I'm guessing it's about your news and I think you should be there for it.
"Ok, just give me a minute." Twilight trotted into her and Flash's bedroom. She picked up her crown, the same crown she had been given for the Summer Sun Celebration of 1001 ACLR. She followed Cadence down to the balcony where Flash was about to make his speech, announcing to the world that there was life growing inside of Queen Twilight Sparkle.
