Foals

by Scarheart

Rating: everyone
Tags: Princess Celestia, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Human, Other, Princess Luna, Original Character, Comedy
Length: 18220

After fifteen hundred years of patience, Princess Celestia finally is realizing her dream of motherhood. It's up to Luna to make sure the day goes smoothly and keep Twilight from doing something...rash. As for the future? Only time will tell.

Celestia has waited a long time for this. In order for her to be able to bear foals, she had to first give up her power and connection to the sun, as its weight had long ago caused tragedy in her younger years. She spent the centuries waiting for the perfect opportunity. The opportunity came in the form of Twilight Sparkle, the Bearer of the Element of Magic. Once she gave her former student and most recent addition to the alicorn ranks her power, she had a window of exactly one year to carry a foal to term.

Imagine her surprise when she found out she was expecting twins!

This is the story of the special day all those years had led up to and life in Canterlot terrorized filled with the pitter-patter of little hooves.

This is a story about Foals...

Pilot chapter of a series planned to be released this summer. I decided to enter this in The Most Dangerous Game Contest.

I need a nice bit of cover art for this... I guess I'll have to dust off the pad and break out the pencils!:twilightsmile:

MLP:FiM is the owned by Hasbro.
MLP:FiM was created by Lauren Faust.
All OCs are mine unless specified.

Published 2014-06-21 04:30:02 UTC
Last updated 2014-10-04 19:42:21 UTC

Zaniah and Antares (Revised)

Foals

MLP:FiM is owned by Hasbro.
MLP:FiM was created by Lauren Faust.
All OCs are mine unless specified.

Princess Celestia awoke from an old nightmare bathed in cold sweat. She shivered, the last of the dream lingering the cries of a tiny, helpless child lingering in her mind. Without a thought, her hooves were already on her swollen belly. She could feel movement in her womb and it quickly drove away her fears. A soft smile was followed by a sigh. Fifteen centuries was a long time to carry a painful memory. Shuddering in relief, she cried silently as she remembered what was lost so long ago. Oh, let this be the last tear shed! A glance towards the open doorway leading to her balcony told her she had some time before sunrise. A part of her wanted to go forward and greet the day as she had always, but she knew it was impossible for her to raise the sun now. It had been ten months and twenty-three days since she had last raised her old friend.

The pregnant mare composed herself, wiping away the old pains from her cheeks. “I have you two now,” she said to her foals. “Nothing can keep you from me. I promise.” Celestia found herself growing a smile as the last tendrils of the nightmare faded from the back of her mind. Hope rested beneath her heart and it warmed her soul thinking of it. Her worry was still there and had been since she was first aware of her expectant status.

“Sister?” came a familiar and welcome voice from the direction of her balcony. Behind the speaker trailed a warm late June breeze.

Celestia turned her head from where she lay. It still felt strange feeling the power of her sister outstripping her own after so many centuries of being the stronger of the two. She smiled at Luna. “It was the same nightmare,” she admitted, knowing what Luna was going to ask.

The dark alicorn entered without permission. She needed none and was always welcome with open hooves in her sister’s chambers. The Princess of the Moon, Ruler of the Night, darker half of the diarchy, and best sister in the world had been Celestia’s biggest supporter and had done everything she could to ease the burdens from the elder alicorn’s shoulders. In a sense, Luna became the sole example of power as Twilight Sparkle was still struggling to come to grips with the enormity of bearing the power of the sun within her form.

The stars in her ethereal mane twinkled through the vastness within as she smiled warmly. “That is all it is, ‘Tia. Nothing more than a bad dream. The past cannot harm you.” She came alongside Celestia’s bed and leaned in with a comforting nuzzle. “Good morning.”

“Good morning, Lulu,” Celestia said. “I might as well get up now. Lend me a hoof?”

“Of course.” Luna used her mane to guide her sister to the edge of her bed. Being pregnant made the elder alicorn feel ungainly. The younger noted Celestia still had a good amount of agility and grace in her movements. “Playing this for all it is worth, are we?” she asked with a grin.

“I would never do that,” lied Celestia blatantly with a smile. When she was to her hooves, she took a moment to groan and ponder why stallions shouldn’t have to suffer the indignity of pregnancy. Nothing made a mare feel lumpy more than having an ungainly weight hanging from her belly. She looked forlornly at her protruding sides and sighed. The novelty of carrying foals had long ago lost its novelty. Celestia simply wanted them out at this point. Her stomach was thinking of something completely different as it growled at her.

“Early breakfast?” Luna suggested mildly.

Celestia nodded and yawned. “Yes. Early breakfast.” Eating for three had turned the princess into a voracious eating machine. She was always hungry. At least she could have all the cake she wanted! A more important need came in the form of her bladder. One that had somehow shrunk in size over the past few months. Constant trips to the restroom had become a common theme for her. “First things first,” she grumbled as she made her way to her bathroom. The door swung closed in her wake.

“Remind me never to get pregnant,” Luna called after her.

After a few minutes, the Sun Princess spoke. “Luna?” Celestia’s voice muffled through the bathroom door.

“What is it, sister?”

“Don’t get pregnant.” The door opened and she emerged wearing a long-suffering look, but at least bearing one of relief.

Luna giggled at her sister’s expense, only to be rewarded with a rose-colored tail flicked in her face. The two mares went to get Celestia a snack before breakfast. There would be more after Twilight rose the sun and joined them for her own breaking of the fast.

The sun rose less than two hours later. Celestia suddenly found she could not bring herself to watch as it brought an unbidden pang of remorse. One simply did not give up an millenium or so connected to the fiery orb without the deepest regrets. Twilight had done a remarkable job in maintaining the established schedule for the raising and setting of the sun. The young alicorn had grown quite adept at her new and temporary duty. Her adherence to schedules had sung true to her habitual form. It drove Luna to be more punctual, which suited the dark alicorn just fine. At the end of twelve months, the sun would be returned to Celestia and everything would be as it should be. In the end, it was a small sacrifice to ensure the lives of the unborn.

The main breakfast followed shortly after, which meant discussing the matters of the day as well as other pleasant small talk. Little was on the docket for Celestia. The human ambassadors wanted to sit with the princess and discuss a few social concerns, but it was not considered anything serious. If anything, it was going to be another round of ‘Culture Shock and You’. The children of the Earth and children of Equestria and her world were still learning from each other. There had been a lot of stumbling lately. The past year had seen the first signs of the two worlds becoming linked with the appearance of the so-called World Bridges, 'trans dimensional wormholes' as described by human physicists. Luckily, nothing too serious other than the expected misunderstandings between cultures.

The theory was built around a star going supernova, but Celestia suspected Discord was behind the linking of dimensions. It was still being investigated. So far, all that could be assumed was the gates were stable and traffic moved freely, if limited between the two planets.

Luna was not happy with having them. Still, it was the Princess of the Night who cobbled together a delegation nine months ago to speak at the United Nations in New York City. Trying to find enough pony ambassadors to answer the requests from so many nations was still a work in progress. Though it was tempting to simply send the most irritable nobles away from Canterlot and to Earth, Luna set herself determinedly in seeking out ponies best qualified to act as good representations of Equestria.

Other than the always dicey topic of humans, the day was looking to be nothing more than petitioners in the morning, lunch at noon, more petitioners throughout the afternoon. There was going to be an open audience with some of the Earth ambassadors throughout the day as they would be mostly observing, should they choose to join the proceedings of the day. For the most part, they were still coming to grips with the fact magic did indeed exist. Dealing with it now on a daily basis had been amusing from Celestia’s standpoint. Watching her rule offered the men and women a chance to see how the princess acted towards her subjects. More than a few were suspicious of her true nature. They were incredulous of her long life span. The Princess of the Sun had expected this. She had spent many years examining the many facets of the human mind and was well versed in reading any sentient being from a simple conversation. Her wisdom and experience loomed like a mountain range before the host of humanity come to live and learn with the walls of her home.

Luna watched them all like a brooding hawk. Her trust was very hard to earn. Just ask the human named Michael Spriggs. Their friendship was an odd one if tentative. As of yet, no other human could pierce her distrust of their race unless they were under the age of twelve. She adored children of all species and even made time one night a week to gather them around and tell stories. It was a grand way for foals to make friends with the children of the human representatives from Earth and Luna encouraged this. The violent tendencies of humans were what set her on edge, but she felt there was few things more innocent than a child with a heart filled with wonder.

Celestia was confident with time she would win them over. She would worry the day Luna decided humans were no longer a species to be worried of.

Luna soon excused herself for bed and Twilight had a morning engagement with her friends. Celestia went to her throne room, waddling with stately grace to which she commented to one of her guards, “I swear, if I become any larger, I think I shall simply roll about the palace!”

Her voice was loud enough to force a genuine laugh from those within earshot of her exclamation It set the tone for her day and made the day seem that much brighter.

Celestia was happy. Despite the pain, the throbbing in her belly and loins, she was happy. Swollen and tired, she didn’t feel beautiful. She felt radiant! Giddiness tickled at her heart after so long of a wait in her vastly extended life. She glowed through her day, enjoying listening to her subjects as they came singly or in groups. Most were well-wishers. Some came simply to see their princess. She greeted them all, wearing a genuine smile. Nothing seemed to bother her, even if two accusatory voices spat at each other between two earth pony stallions. The moment the first pain struck was in the middle of hearing out a dispute between the two farmers in regards to property boundaries. She let out a little yelp of surprise. The two farmers started at her unintended interruption, their eyes shifting from her visage to the swollen belly she now had a hoof over. Their argument died in their throats as she cleared her throat professionally and willed the pain aside.

“Gentlecolts,” she said lightly, “It would appear the royal heirs find your arguments invalid.” Celestia giggled and let out a little breath. “Court is suspended for the day, my little ponies,” she announced loudly but kindly. Already a guard went unbidden to fetch her court physician. This day had been anticipated.

The two farmers both opened their mouths to protest, but thought better of it. The two Solar Guards at the base of the throne simply had to narrow their eyes and give a little frown as they each took a single step forward as a single entity. Bowing awkwardly to the princess, they were about to turn and leave.

“Hold a moment,” Celestia called down to them from her throne as she rose smoothly to her hooves. “I will still render my findings based on your dispute. I will have a survey team go down to your property to re-evaluate your property lines in three days. The cost will be split evenly between the two of you. You gentlecolts have three days to either resolve your property lines in private or have surveyors work to establish a new one.” She cast a look over to one of the royal court recorders who knew when to write a decree and when to simply annotate records of events. Faultless Pen was well-versed in the letter of the law. The unicorn smiled and levitated a freshly penned document for her. “Excellent. Make two more copies; one for each party in question.” She smiled at the two stallion farmers. “Gentlecolts, I bid you good day. I hope you two sit down and talk it out.”

They thanked her and quietly made their way out of the throne room, glaring at each other all the way. Celestia sighed then chuckled, shaking her head as she eased the soreness from her swollen legs. Daintily she made her way down the dais from her throne. Citizen ponies who had their chance to meet her snuffed suddenly more or less understood what was going on. The words ‘labor’ and ‘foal’ began to work its way from mouth to ears quicker than a ‘how do you do’. Those who were not as aware of their surroundings had their grumblings ceased as castle staff began to take their names down for rescheduling or perhaps even waiting until evening, when Princess Luna would hold her Night Court. Those who felt their grievances were important enough would certainly not mind the Princess of the Night hearing them out. For the most part, Equestrians were an understanding lot, if a bit stubborn. Some had no idea Princess Luna even held court at night.

The alicorn was considered the living embodiment of the sun, yet for the past eleven months, the aura of her power had been greatly muted. Her normally ethereal mane of bright morning colors was now a simple light pink, resembling the aftermath of Luna’s return from the moon a few years ago.

Thinking of Earth, Celestia had noted a few humans in the line of ponies waiting to speak to her. These were among her newest citizens. A year ago, such a thing would have been an impossible sight. Equally impossible was the presence of changelings here and there, walking openly and without disguises. It was a tenuous peace at best as relations were still in their infancy.

The American ambassador nodded politely to her, mouthing ‘congratulations’ as he had decided to spend the day observing Equestrian politics. He was far from the only one. The ambassadors to Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China, Japan, and a few other countries Celestia could not name off the top of her head rose respectfully as she passed by the section reserved for foreign dignitaries. They were as curious as the general populace as to how the Day Court was conducted. The past seven months had been interesting, to say the least. Already there were nearly a thousand humans in Canterlot alone, each one carefully screened and selected before making the odd journey from Earth to the world many had nicknamed Eden.

The ambassador to Saudi Arabia, a prince from the very large royal family of that nation made an odd and respectful gesture as she passed by. The princess nodded and smiled at him, sensing his good tidings in his spoken Arabic. The man had a neatly trimmed beard and wore traditional robes in a stark contrast to the suits and ties human dignitaries seemed to favor.

Already the castle staff was moving. Quietly and discreetly schedules were changed and preparations planned months ago were set in motion. Contingencies were in place. Notifications were dispatched. The princesses Luna and Twilight Sparkle would be among the first to be told.

Celestia was going into labor. She should have teleported to her chambers, but past experience concerning pregnancy and magic made her decision to avoid it as much as possible for the past eleven months an easy one. As it was, her connection with her beloved sun had been transferred to Twilight Sparkle, her former student and currently the most powerful alicorn in the world. Celestia had used about as much magic during her pregnancy as the common unicorn and even that was sparingly.

Guards fell in step behind her, following their princess in their typical stoic visages. The way was cleared with efficiency and politeness. It would not do to be rude, not while Celestia watched the corridors and doors before her. She could have walked these halls blindfolded. She knew her home like the back of her hoof.

There was a wink of magic and a flash of white and indigo behind her. Sensing a welcome and familiar presence, Celestia peeked over her shoulder to see a frazzled-looking Princess of the Night seemingly just awakened suddenly from a deep sleep.

“FOALS! MUST SEE! WHERE?” Luna blurted as she battled mightily the lingering remnants of sleep from her eyes. Her blue eyes sought out and found her pregnant sister. “‘TIA! NOW?”

A contraction hit. Celestia gave a little hiss of pain and inhaled sharply. “Oh!” she sighed and winced while managing a smile at her younger sister. “Luna, I need you awake and not as you currently are.” A massive white wing stretched out and over the smaller alicorn as she reached in for a comforting nuzzle. It had an immediate calming effect for the now hyperventilating Night Princess.

“My apologies,” said Luna through her blushing. She glared at the two guards meaningfully. They cringed from her. One of them swallowed hard. “I was awakened most rudely.” She returned the nuzzle, though poked gently at the swollen barrel of her sister. “Is it time? Truly?”

“Yes!” Celestia would have hopped from hoof to hoof in girlish glee, but her swollen joints made it painful to do so.

It did not prevent Luna from her own gleeful display. Acting several centuries younger than her age, she gave a short, excited scream and bounced up and down beneath her sister’s wing. Her excitement went untempered. Their roles reversed as suddenly the younger sister led the elder down the hall. It had been agreed no powerful magic would be used upon Celestia. This included teleportation spells.

Luna’s mane of stars and the night flowed like a meandering river under the light of the moon, pressing against her withers and shoulders as she began guiding her sister towards her chambers. They touched their cheeks together and both giggled like school fillies.

“How has it felt?” Luna asked Celestia as they journeyed through the vastness that was Canterlot Castle.

They could not help but notice the rapidly growing army of castle staff and guards pouring out of the woodwork. The efficiency of the ponies who worked directly for the diarchs was something to behold.

“From what the doctor has told me,” Celestia replied breathlessly, “it’s been perfectly normal, like any other mare. I simply have a much higher threshold for pain.”

“That goes without saying,” noted Luna dryly. “Where is Twilight?”

On cue, the youngest member of the alicorn family appeared, her backside facing Luna and Celestia, her mane and tail of perpetual twilight glimmering between night and day like an undulating breeze. The transfer of power from Celestia to Twilight had made the former unicorn larger, longer in the legs, and filled her with mind boggling power. The aura of her magic faded rapidly, leaving the all-too-excited young alicorn to jerk her head to the left and right, ears perked forward in alarm as she pawed nervously at the marble floor.

“I should have teleported right in front of them. My calculations were perfect!” she complained in exasperation. Her eyes were wide as they darted to and fro, causing some of those within her field of vision to flinch from her. “Where’s Celestia? Where’s Luna? WHERE’S THE BABIES??”

“Must be infectious,” Celestia noted to Luna, who looked away loftily.

“Be nice,” murmured the younger sister.

Hearing their voices, Twilight spun around on a back hoof. “Foals?” she demanded, her eyes wide and pupils narrowed to pinpricks. “Having now birthing?”

“Oh dear,” giggled Celestia. “Twilight?”

“Yes?” Twilight’s left eye twitched as she wore a massive grin best associated with the clinically insane.

“I’d like to have my foals in my chambers, rather than here in the halls,” she noted, trying very hard not to laugh at her hyperactive former student.

“Right!” Twilight nodded emphatically.

“Twilight?”

“Right!” The young alicorn beamed like a good puppy. Her head was still bobbing up and down.

“Your checklist. Did you bring it?”

“Right!” Twilight brightened. Checklist? Brilliant! It poofed into existence and unrolled between the three alicorns. The thing kept unrolling and unrolling, all the way near to the end of the corridor. Ponies yelped and hopped out of the way of the charging menace, following the path to its origins with disbelieving eyes. A purple princess was currently eyeballing the first item on her very long list with the eagerness of a starving wolverine on a salmon.

“First thing,” she read out loud, much to the amusement of Celestia and Luna, “go to the throne room and assume royal duties for the day in place of Celestia.” Twilight looked up and at her sister alicorns, eyes suddenly filled with horror. “The country is without guidance!” she practically shrieked. Her horn flared and she teleported without thinking. The list went with her, reeled in like a fishing line until the very end of it disappeared into the magic void with a resounding snap.

Celestia looked at the spot where Twilight had just been, trying very hard not to laugh at her former student’s tendencies to take something simple and turn it into a minor emergency. There was a mountain in the molehill, it would seem. “Luna? Do you think you could keep her from harming something? Namely the throne room. She might have a panic attack when she realizes there’s nopony there.”

“I suppose,” Luna lamented, not wanting to leave her sister’s side.

“She’ll be a terror to the human ambassadors,” reminded Celestia.

“You put her in charge of the Day Court specifically for this event,” countered Luna.

Celestia smiled. “I know.”

“For a month,” she pressed with an arched brow.

“Yes, I did, didn’t I?”

“I almost feel sorry for the dignitaries. Is not the king of the griffons coming to visit next week?” Luna gave Celestia a calculating look.

Celestia merely gave her a smile.

Luna broke into a broad grin. “You are evil.”

“I’m pregnant and filled with hormones,” said the white alicorn with a shrug. “Some decisions I make can’t be held against me.”

Luna sighed, “I shall make sure she does not bombard the court with those infamous checklists of hers.”

“She knows what she’s doing,” Celestia reminded her. “Just keep her on track and remind her she has ponies who can handle the details. All she has to do is sit on the throne and look important. I’m not disappearing completely, so let her know she can come to me if she has any questions. Don’t forget you’re also the other half of what represents Equestria. Make yourself available to her. Keep back, but also keep an eye on her. Let her know if she’s doing something she’s not ready for. Guide her as I would guide her. She may not want to rule, but she needs to be ready to act as a ruler should the necessity fall upon her shoulders.”

Another contraction reminded her where she was supposed to be.

“Very well, I shall make sure she does not cause too much pandamonium,” Luna announced as she drew herself up straight. “Will you be all right?”

“Yes, I’ll be fine, Luna,” Celestia told her with a giggle. “Go! I know you won’t be able to sleep now, but try and get some rest when you have a moment. It is still a while until sunset.”

“It will be difficult,” Luna admitted with a sigh. “Are you sure you will be fine?”

“My personal fears are justified, Luna. I still remember.” Celestia’s gaze flickered to the past, glazing over before snapping back to the present. “This isn’t then. This is the moment of life now. It won’t happen again. I’ll be fine. They’ll be fine,” she said as she offered her sister a nuzzle.

“Your Highness?” queried an approaching voice. Celestia looked up to see her doctor approaching. The pale green unicorn had been a busy stallion the past eleven months, being the first doctor in fifteen centuries to record the pregnancy of an alicorn. His name was Doctor Healing Smile. Behind him was his nurse, a blonde coated unicorn mare named Faithful Smile. They were married.

“Go, Luna,” Celestia said with encouragement in her smile. “Everything will be fine.”

Luna sighed reluctantly. “I shall go over the announcement with Twilight to keep her occupied,” she said thoughtfully, casting a glance at the ceiling before settling back on her sister. “Very well. Let me know if you need me, sister.” She nuzzled Celestia quickly.

“I will,” promised Celestia. “I Pinkie Pie Promise!”

Laughing, the Sun Princess gave Luna a responding nuzzle. Luna turned and trotted off, tossing a smile over her shoulder as she went to keep Twilight from over organizing the court. Law and order was one thing. Law and checklists, however was a tinderbox for revolutions!

“How are your contractions?” Dr. Smile asked professionally. He fell in step with his princess. His wife kept a clipboard at the ready along with a pencil. She followed in their wake. For the next several minutes, Celestia told him everything she had felt from the moment her water broke to the most recent contraction. There was no unusual pain, other than the birthing pains she had been told to expect. Dr. Smile listened intently. His wife scribbled away.

In minutes, they were entering the private rooms of Princess Celestia. Maids doing last minute changes in preparation for the coming foaling bowed and quickly made their exit. A pair remained behind to help the princess out of her regalia. After standing for several uncomfortable moments, her tiara and necklace were put away and her shoes were removed from her hooves. Smiles were worn openly and thrown without reservation at their beloved princess. Celestia returned their smiles with one of her own, mindful of the growing spasms deep within her. She wondered how long the laboring would last. There were stories of mares having eighteen hours of struggling before producing their foals. There were others of foals popping out soon after their mothers went into labor.

“Painkillers, your Highness?” asked Dr. Smile. “You wanted me to give you the option the moment you went into labor.”

As she settled into her bed made ready for this new and very alien challenge before her, Celestia shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. I’m set on keeping it natural.” The maids helped her in and made sure pillows were fluffed and their princess was comfortable. “Thank you, ladies,” she told them with a warm, dismissive smile.

They bowed and left.

Nurse Smile nodded in understanding. “As you wish.”

There was a flash of magic and a scroll suddenly appeared before the princess. As she made herself comfortable, Celestia broke the seal, noting with a smile from whom it had come. “Oh, Cadence,” she said with a smile. Unrolling the parchment, she read aloud the words of encouragement from the Princess of Love. “Dear Celestia. Waiting to hear wonderful news when the blessed moment arrives! All of the Crystal Empire awaits with bated breath! Summer is excited to meet her cousins! With love always, Cadence.”

The ruler of the Crystal Empire foaled herself not two months ago. Cadence had a filly she named Summer Song. Alicorns were literally popping everywhere! Celestia could not help but giggle at the end of reading her niece’s note. It had to be attributed to the melding of two worlds after thousands of years apart. The long-lived mare was sure of it!

“Very sweet of her,” Nurse Smile said, speaking up for the first time. Tossing her short light blue mane, she set aside her clipboard and checked Celestia’s pulse.

“She has always been a dear,” hummed Celestia until another contraction hit. “Oh!”

Dr. Smiles hunched over, examining with a critical eye for dilation. “Well, your Highness, it would appear your foals are in a bit of a hurry to come out and see you!” he chortled. The doctor began telling his wife what he was seeing and the mother to be was progressing quite normally. To a degree, he sounded almost disappointed, but not in a bad way.

“Steady breathing, Highness,” Nurse Smile reminded Celestia when she was done scribbling. “Is the pain too much?”

“No, not at all,” came the reply. Celestia might have been knitting for as calm and serene as she appeared. She was laying on her stomach, rising a bit on her back legs with each contraction. Her tail rose, flicked, almost anticipating what was to come. The forelegs were folded neatly before her and she was breathing normally. It took some effort to concentrate on a simple instruction of breathing steadily. “Leave me.”

It had always been her plan to birth her foals on her own, without aid. Her doctor had begged her to reconsider, but this matter was already settled the moment it became a thought in her mind. This moment was too special. She reassured him and his nurse they would wait on the other side of the door and she would call them if she needed to. She even agreed to a monitoring spell to look in on her, so long as she did not know where it was.

Celestia groaned, focusing her thoughts to what came instinctively to her. She simply let her body do the work, her muscles contracting and pushing when the moment demanded it. Between contractions, she focused on her breathing. The pain was unlike anything she had ever felt before. For a moment, it alarmed her. Steadying herself resolutely, she brushed her rising distress aside and felt a shift from within. The mare pushed and felt something open wider. She gritted her teeth and moaned, taking quick, short breaths. Idly she found herself wondering how she must look to the eyes of a casual observer. Certainly not very princess-like!

For what felt like an eternity, Celestia followed the ingrained need to push with each muscle spasm. Each time, she was rewarded with movement. Listening to her own breathing and the little sounds she made as she birthed, Celestia wondered why mares would subject themselves to this torture. Their resilience had to be legendary, she mused through a pained smile. Yet another contraction broke her musing. This one was a bit more serious. A fresh new wave of pain rode along with it and Celestia hissed in surprise.

“I hate stallions!” she groaned. Maybe I should banish all of them to the moon!

Luna sat quietly with Twilight, occupied with keeping the overly excited and fretting young alicorn focused on making a list for...well, it didn’t really matter what the list was for. So long as Twilight kept her frazzled mind focused on one of her more obsessive tendencies, there was far less of a risk to the castle in general. Twilight wondered why the throne room was nearly devoid of ponies. The question was voiced vocally and each time she repeated it, the octave would go up in her tone. This repeated until she was nearly in hysterics, her eyes pinpricks. A corner of an eye twitched as she was suddenly thinking everypony hated her.

“Twilight,” Luna began when the mulberry princess was starting to laugh insanely.

“Yes, we can all be such good friends!” Twilight rambled as she giggled. “They heard I was coming and abandoned me! They ran away, didn’t they? They don’t want Twilight, they want Celestia! Maybe I should become the Princess of the Neglected! Yeah! Forever alone!” She began her habitual pacing, head staring at the floor with set bewilderment in her eyes.

“Twilight,” Luna tried again, stepping warily closer. “Day Court was cancelled the moment Celestia went into labor. Please calm yourself!” She motioned for the guards to leave. They nodded and filed out quietly. An eye or two might have been cast with concern at the babbling living insane asylum now trotting back and forth in front of the throne. They might have been Celestia’s personal guard, but they had been warned to not give her younger sister any reason to make her cross with them.

Twilight stared at her. “Cancelled?” She gave the throne room another sweeping cast of her eyes before the realization struck. Her attention settled on a lone human in a plain brown suit scribbling notes. “What about him?” she asked loudly.

He looked up, a wiry human with round spectacles and a bad haircut. “Ma’am?” he squeaked, clutching his notebook to his chest. “I’m j-j-just a university st-st-student f-f-from England, t-t-trying to work on my th-h-hesis on Equestrian g-g-government and ap-p-p-plied law,” he babbled nervously. The poor fellow looked as though he had been so engrossed in his notes, he failed to notice Celestia had long since gone as well as almost everyone else.

“Oh, this is most fortuitous!” exclaimed Luna happily. She flared a wing out behind Twilight and guided the disappointed alicorn towards the trembling human. “Princess Twilight here is most knowledgeable on modern law in Equestria! I find myself steeped too far within the darker ages of administration and still find myself having to fall upon my advisors for their council in regards to matters of this age! Have you a name, human?” she asked imperiously.

The human nodded dumbly at her. “Uh, yes?”

She arched a brow at him, wondering if Twilight’s antics broke the poor fellow. “What is your name, human?” Luna asked gently, mindful the fellow seemed rather fragile at the moment.

“H-h-harold, ma’am,” he said, offering a weak smile. His pupils were pinpricks. “Harold Jamerson. I’m from Liverpool.”

“Very good, Harold,” said the Princess of the Night. “Twilight?” She turned to the alicorn who was staring at the human intently. Luna flinched, then rolled her eyes. “Perhaps you can explain our laws to Harold Jamerson?” she suggested helpfully.

The smile erupting from Twilight’s visage was—for lack of a better word—huge. “Oh, yes! I’d love to help you with that. What did you want to know, Harold?” She was before him like a vulture on a rotting carcass. Then, she remembered her manners as she more or less came to. “Oh, my name’s Twilight. Twilight Sparkle! Pleased to meet you!”

The poor fellow smiled weakly.

Luna heaved a sigh of relief. “Very well. I shall leave you to explain our laws. I should not say this, but I find theoretical discussion of the concept of law and its application rather boorish. Why don’t the two of you go to the Royal Library and have your discussion there?”

Twilight nodded at the dark alicorn happily. “That’s a wonderful idea, Luna!” She had calmed considerably by now. “Harold, would you like to see the castle’s library? It’s got everything you’ll need and I can help you with any research. I can also answer any questions you might have.”

The poor human could not refuse, his own eyes going round. “Really?” he asked almost reverently.

“Of course!” Twilight beamed at him. “Here, let me help you gather your things.” She began shuffling his paperwork with her magic. “I can also help you get better organized. Have you had a problem getting to certain papers in a timely fashion?” she asked him professionally.

“Well,” Harold replied as he stared at his floating papers with a mix of awe and disbelief, “yes, after a fashion. I get so caught up in my work, I tend to just put things down and not really pay attention to where, exactly.”

Luna noted his nerves had also started to settle. Though she appeared impassive, she was inwardly doing backflips and whooping it up in victory. All she showed was a knowing little smile as the two began chatting like fellow intellectuals. “Well, then,” she announced warmly to the two of them. “Why don’t you two get going?”

Twilight remembered the reason why she was here. “But what if Celestia has..?” her voice died as Luna’s hoof was suddenly on her lips, a wry smile to be had.

“I will be certain to let you know. As soon as it happens, I shall send somepony to fetch you when the moment comes.”

“Promise?” Twilight asked in a tiny voice, to which Luna nodded.

A mollified Twilight turned to Harold. “Shall we get going, Harold?”

The human nodded. “Yes, please!” he cried.

Twilight smiled and practically dragged him from the throne room with her magic and out the gilded double doors and onwards to the general direction of Canterlot’s library.

Luna watched them leave and only heaved a sigh of relief. She needed a drink. A good, stiff drink. Her sister was busy having her babies and Twilight was successfully preoccupied with helping a human learn about Equestria. Just as she had planned it. She had spent the past couple of weeks watching the human from a distance, even tabbing a couple of servants to watch him once she suspected he was nothing more than a university student and the nephew of the British ambassador. Harold would prove to be the perfect distraction for Twilight and keep her from too much mischief. He was going to be here for the next few months, so springing him upon the mulberry alicorn what not so much a matter of tact, but also a matter of necessity. Twilight Sparkle was the sort to find things to do in a moment of crisis, even if they weren’t the most logical of choices. Celestia was hoping to wean her from that and further her advancement as a princess of Equestria. Twilight had a long way to go and her former mentor thought putting her in (strictly supervised) charge of the Day Court would do wonders in her political development. Having successfully found a distraction worthy of the purple princess, Luna set about to gather Celestia’s advisors and go over everything with them.

A year of planning was already in motion. As soon as Twilight was gone, a servant trotted from one of the side doors and bowed to Luna. The pegasus waited expectantly for orders.

“Alert the press,” Luna said as she turned to him. “Release the announcement of my sister’s current condition.” He bowed and took to wing as another servant took his place. “Notify the kitchens. I need to eat something. I shall dine in the waiting room near my sister’s chambers.” The unicorn smiled and took off. Another came in. And another soon followed. The train of servants came and went, each one given commands. Luna’s mind was orderly and had everything lined up. Even so, she had a list she summoned with her magic. Ruefully she thought of Twilight the moment it appeared before it. It was nowhere near as detailed as Luna liked to allow for flexibility as events unfolded. To her, this day was unfolding like a battle and she treated it as such. Her generals were the headstallions and headmares of their respective positions in the castle, their soldiers the servants beneath them. As she began to make her way to the waiting room mentioned just moments before, a small army of pages followed; young colts and fillies to serve as runners should something come up. Satisfied everything was proceeding normally, the list disappeared with a flicker of her magic.

Luna had eleven months to plan this and was determined to see it all go smoothly for her sister’s sake. Besides, waiting around and twiddling her hooves would simply be maddening. So long as she kept her own thoughts preoccupied and had something to do, she reasoned the foals would be here before she knew it! It was a good, solid plan.

Her nerves told her otherwise.

Fifteen hundred years was a long time to carry a memory. As much as she tried to push a day long forgotten by all but two beings in the world, she could not fully drive the heartbreak from her mind. Though the sisters never spoke of the incident, Celestia’s nightmares pulled Luna into remembering the day vividly. In a way, Luna had to take the role of the consoling sister for a change, trying to soothe away her older sister’s fear of losing her children as she lost her first one.

She could only imagine the terror Celestia might be feeling at this moment. The thoughts of everything crashing down about her again as it did before had always left a bit of a haunted look in a place only Luna knew where to look. It had always been there. Though she gave up almost all of her power and was no stronger than the average unicorn, Celestia still held a sliver of doubt she would lose her foals.

Once she reached her destination, the little army of foals was set outside and given snacks while she found herself on her haunches and staring at a bowl of broccoli soup. Bits of mushrooms and celery floated in the broth. Bits of cheese had been sprinkled on top. A bottle of wine chilled in a bucket of ice off to the side.

Luna wondered if she truly was ready for this. She was not used to being put to the front. Like it or not, she was going to be the face of Equestria while Celestia was on maternity leave. She was far better suited for it than Twilight. The girl’s issues with obsessing over details placed her in no condition to be an effective representation of the Day Court, Luna imagined. She had nothing personal against Twilight, far from it! Twilight was as dear a friend to the Princess of the Night as she could ever hope to have.

She had no appetite as her nerves put butterflies in her belly. Still, Luna ate and took part in a half a glass of wine. As requested, the clock normally mounted on the wall in the waiting room had been removed. Luna hated watching a clock. Instead, she kept by the window, just out of the shafts of sunlight as she had her light lunch. Watching the shadows creep became a bit of a focus. Her soup soon disappeared, leaving an empty bowl. Luna nibbled absently on a cracker as a servant quietly entered and whisked away the tray, her eyes upon the lazily drifting clouds in the blue, blue skies. A few pegasi darted to and fro, most of them guards meeting overly excited citizens already gathering in the courtyard. The same balcony from which Twilight was introduced as the newest princess to Equestria would also be used to announce the birth of the royal foals.

Luna was going to give it. She already had a speech memorized.

“I hope I get to proclaim it,” she murmured, her mind slipping to dark thoughts. Suddenly furious with herself, she shook her head. “No! It will be a joyful moment! My sister deserves this happiness! I shall be happy to tell our little ponies of such glad tidings!”

She was very near her sister’s room. Near enough she could—if she paid very close attention—make out groans from Celestia’s bedchamber. Luna tried not to. She tried and failed, her cyan eyes fixed and staring at the wall. Quaffing the remnants of wine from her glass, she refilled it and sighed. “I should be in there with her,” she complained. Celestia wanted to do this the old way, in the same fashion her mother had told her ponies used to bear their foals.

Her thoughts shifted to the obvious question that had been asked for months. Who was the father of the foals? Celestia had kept her mouth closed on the matter, even though Luna applied her best efforts to pry the secret. She suspected Celestia had used some sort of powerful magic, perhaps even seeking out the aid of a powerful being such as Discord…

Were they his?

No, no! Luna shook her head at the thought, utterly reviled with the very idea! Discord had never shown any romantic interest in either Celestia or Luna as the notion appeared beneath his consideration. Celestia certainly put up with the draconequus only because he was supposedly reformed and could be a very useful ally when he wasn’t busy creating his brand of chaos. It was muted now, far less than the war found so long ago (he insisted to him, it was all just one running gag before they encased him in stone). If anything, Discord was the visiting uncle who overstayed his welcome long ago and could not be gotten rid of. This did not prevent him from possibly lending a hoof to Celestia’s search for a potential father to her offspring. Even he was not going to talk about it. Luna could only take so many pies to the face when asking.

“At least he used variety,” she muttered at the memory.

This still left Luna with the mystery as to who the father was. She fully intended to enlist the aid of Twilight in unraveling the truth from the web Celestia had spun about it. The elder alicorn simply refused to speak of it, though she did blush a time or two when asked. It was something to be solved, a challenge! Luna was determined to ferret out who, but at a later time.

So, she waited. The day crept along and she waited. The bottle of wine slowly became less and less weighted, its contents finding their way into the dark alicorn’s belly. Luna paced, counted the tiles on the floor, and paced some more. What books were in the shelves of the waiting room were perused, then set back as she simply could not focus enough to read. Every once in a while, she thought she would hear something...or not hear something from her sister’s room and her ears would perk in Celestia’s direction. Luna would stand stock still, even holding her breath. Realizing nothing was happening other than the continued labor, the princess would sigh in disappointment and continue working through her growing anxiety.

Finally, after what seemed an eternity, Luna did hear something!

It was a tiny little voice; a wail thrown into a fit of coughing before renewing its announcement to the world. Shortly after, there was another, slightly more forceful cry. The little voices were very faint through the wall, but Luna heard them.

Oh, she heard them! There was two! Just as Celestia said there would be!

Her ears perked again, swiveling before her head could turn to the wall in the direction of the little cries. “‘Tia!” she cried in her excitement.

Luna promptly tripped over the table as she made her way to the door. The magnificence that was the Princess of the Moon fell flat on her face, her rump pointed to the ceiling in a very ungraceful and unbecoming display. She swore she would turn anypony who burst in the waiting room and saw her like this into a toad! A big, fat, ugly toad!

Lulu, come see! Celestia’s voice called out weakly, but filled with pride within her sister’s mind. They’re beautiful!

Fortunately, no one seemed keen on checking on the Moon Princess while she righted herself. The sound of thundering hooves indicated a gathering just outside the royal chambers of Princess Celestia. Luna managed to right her inglorious self to something a bit more presentable and socially acceptable. With a huff and a sense of relief nopony saw her fall, she went out the door adjoining her sister’s room.

Mentally, she checked with Twilight Sparkle to see if Celestia had informed her student.

YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! Oh, Celestia, YES!

Luna could not help but laugh out loud.

Celestia cleaned her tiny bundles nestled protectively between her forelegs with her tongue, an ancient tradition no longer in use. She believed in bonding with her newborns as her mother had bonded with her in an age nopony could even possibly comprehend save for Luna. Certainly, she would let the doctor and the army of nurses outside her chamber doors to check the health of her foals, but for now, she would let no others near them. They were both pale, like her. One bore a variation of her mane color; her daughter while the other sported what would probably be a brilliant cobalt blue. Both were so tiny, trying to focus uncooperative eyes into a very large and very scary world.

Celestia hummed softly to them, letting them smell her and feel her warmth. She inhaled their scents and felt their little hooves bat feebly and with no control against her muzzle. She giggled, nuzzling each one gently. Her daughter was the spitting image of herself, she thought while her son reminded her a bit of his sire. His coat was only slightly darker than his sister’s, a ghostly gray. Carefully she inspected them and was very much surprised to find both her foals were alicorns. This elated her and was beyond her expectations.

They were so tiny and helpless!

Her heart melted again and again as she could not believe she was holding in her hooves her own flesh and blood despite the best scheming of those who would have delighted in her failure. She had given up so much and sacrificed greatly of herself. Her dream was realized! She was a mother! Not of one, but two foals!

“You two are so precious to me,” she said quietly to them, touching them again and again with a very gentle nuzzle for each. It was as if she feared at any moment they would disappear from her grasp and be gone forever should she blink. Yet here they were! Hers! Foals of her own! “You are as precious to me as all of Equestria,” she told them as happy tears formed in her eyes. “I love you both! Your mommy loves you both so much!”

Mommy. Celestia realized she was actually a mother now! Instead of the symbolism of motherhood as she had been for all of Equestria for too many centuries to count, the princess was an honest-to-goodness mother of two newborn foals!

The fruits of her labors squirmed and made little sounds through their tiny mouths. The colt tried to stare at his mother, his brilliant blue eyes unable to focus. Both foals would not be able to make out anything with their eyes other than colorful blurs for several days.

“Well hello to you, too,” Celestia said to him with a soft chuckle. “I think I shall call you Antares.” She jostled him gently and clucked her tongue against the back of her teeth. “As for you,” —she touched her muzzle to her daughter— “I shall call you Zaniah.” Celestia pulled back and regarded them with tired, proud eyes. “You are both the twin gleams in my eyes, beacons in my heart to place next to Equestria.”

She felt both Twilight and Luna appear in her room. They both entered with respectful steps and heads bowed in reverence to the scene of an impossible birthing. No other ponies had dared to enter this sanctuary, not without word from Celestia herself. Her invitation had gone to these two mares who had played major roles in allowing her to have her two little miracles. Despite knowing these two mares as two of her closest and dearest members of her family, immediate and extended; her wings reflexively went over her foals on pure instinct. Mares were naturally protective towards their foals. It was not unusual for a mare to ward off her husband from her foals the first few hours after their birth. This was one of the reasons it was recommended the foals be separated from their mother after birth mostly to stem such overprotective behavior. The pain caused by the process of a natural birth was theorized to cause the mare to want to (and even aggressively at times) protect the very source of that pain she went through all that suffering for.

“Tia?” Luna ventured warily as she noted those magenta eyes narrowing at her for a brief moment. “How are you feeling?”

Hearing her sister’s voice broke Celestia from her maternal stupor. “Fine. A little tired. Definitely happy,” she added sheepishly.

“Foals?” Twilight asked in the form of a blurt. A hopeful grin tugged at the corners of her mouth. Her eyes were fixed to where her former mentor’s wings crossed each other over her front legs and chest. Only Celestia’s eyes and top of her head could be seen as she peered over her feathers and at her former student.

Celestia blushed, feeling foolish for thinking she needed to conceal her babies. Slowly, with reluctance she pulled her wings back, cooing softly to the two bundles curled against her chest. The foals were already drifting off to sleep, quite comfortable against the fur and warmth of their mother. They had curled up next to each other into little white balls. Antares offered up a huge yawn before wriggling closer against his mother and sister, making tiny little sounds.

Luna and Twilight each gasped and caught their respective breaths at the adorable little scene before them.

“So tiny!” breathed Luna in awe. “They are perfect, sister. Well done!” she congratulated Celestia proudly, straightening herself regally and swelling up with a huge grin.

“Shh!” reminded the Princess of the Sun sternly. “Sleeping foals!”

Luna caught herself, covering her mouth with a hoof as she plopped on her haunches. A bashful smile uncommon for her quickly broke her facade.

Twilight spoke in a much quieter tone, though she was no less proud. “Oh, this is such a historical moment. I never thought I would see naturally born alicorn foals on the day of their birth. Simply amazing!” A pen and paper appeared.

Celestia gave her an intent stare, then rolled her eyes good naturedly. “Wouldn’t you rather hold one of them?” she asked shyly. “You can take notes later.”

The youngest alicorn’s eyes went wide. “Really? Is it okay?” She shuffled forward.

“Perfectly fine,” assured Celestia warmly.

“I get one, too!” declared Luna firmly. She was now hopping excitedly from one hoof to the next.

Luna had her speech prepared, having (with the help of Twilight) amended the original writing (two foals meant announcing two names). Hundreds of ponies had gathered in the castle’s courtyard. The press had their own section, some already taking pictures while others busied themselves with last minute checks. A few even tried to sneak closer to the balcony, but sharp-eyed guards firmly (some not too gently) reminded the reporters where they needed to be.

The nobility had their own gathering, a shaded area set up by their servants. The separation between them and the common everypony was made very clear with the tall, white partition set around them. They had been waiting for this announcement. Of course, not all of them were there simply to offer their support for Princess Celestia and her newborns. The royal foals had been the talk of the upper classes since the announcement she was expecting nearly a year ago. Even before they were born, there had been several proposals for arranged marriages. Some ponies saw this as an opportunity to become a part of the royal family. Luna and Celestia were soon to be flooded with arrangements for marriage.

Among the VIPs were the Bearers of Harmony, having messages delivered via a fast pegasus dispatch. Odd looks were given to these seemingly ordinary ponies as they were set among the nobles with full military escort. Why, one of them appeared to be nothing more than a farmer pony! Of course, it was a carefully guarded secret what the five mares represented. Fancy Pants welcomed them warmly, as he knew one of the bearers and was currently courting her.

The atmosphere was festive, very reminiscent of a carnival. Enterprising ponies were already working their way through the crowd selling memorabilia. Balloons were given to colts and fillies. A band played lively family-oriented music. There were even food carts. Random chants were started up in one section of the crowd. Some humans were mixed in the crowd, though they tended to cluster together and off to one side and near one of the walls.

Twilight had gone over Luna’s announcement several times, scrutinizing every word all the way up to the very last second. The Princess of the Moon had to pry her paper from the mulberry alicorn’s grasp, clearing her throat as she did so.

“Is it not to your satisfaction yet, Twilight Sparkle?” she asked her friend quietly and with an exasperated undertone.

Twilight cringed and gave a small laugh. “I’m so sorry! I just want it to be perfect and you write so well but you still have tendencies to write the way you used to speak.”

Luna laughed and smiled, bringing her friend in for a hug. Nopony was looking, so the normally stoic princess allowed herself a moment to show her appreciation. “I asked you to help me and you’ve gone beyond my expectations. Your meticulous ministrations to the details presented to you are a sight to behold, friend Twilight! I am pleased with your changes and will address Our subjects with this finished work. Now is the time to let me be a sister and announce to all the growth of the Royal Family!”

“Okay, Luna,” Twilight said. She was still very worried something might go wrong.

“Nothing will go wrong. Everything is perfect,” assured Luna as she straightened herself. With one final toss of her mane, she straightened and regally made her way to the end of the balcony and into the bright midday sun. Fanfare announced her presence.

As her appearance was made, there was a great cheer from the ponies below. Hooves stomped in their version of clapping, while the small group of humans added the odd sound of slapping their palms together. There was even a bawdy whistle thrown at her. Over the past few years, Luna had become more and more of a common sight. More ponies knew about her and their curiosity of her had naturally grown. Naturally, she was considered one of the great beauties of Equestria.

Several stallions (and a few mares) were mesmerized by the princess until somepony nearby smacked them for staring (wives glared at their affected husbands).

Luna held a hoof up, her form calm and bearing a small, proud smile. The crowd died down, all eyes turned towards her expectantly. Nearby a songbird poured its little heart out. Luna gave it a moment to finish, sure now she had the attention of all.

She took in a breath, and began to speak. “Beloved subjects! Friends from other nations! This day is a day of great tidings and unbridled joy! Not an hour ago, my sister, the Princess of the Sun Celestia, Mistress of the Sun and the Diarch of the Day brought forth into this world new life!”

A cheer rose from the audience. Luna counted internally to five, then held up a hoof. It was in her speech to wait. Behind her, Twilight listened, her ears perked as she gauged the reaction. She beamed.

“Princess Celestia bore not one, but two foals, a colt and a filly,” Luna went on, her gaze sweeping the audience as her voice swelled with pride. Her smile was growing wider and wider with each word she spoke.

More cheering erupted like a confetti volcano.

“Say their names!” cried out the voice of a random mare from the crowd. There was a rumble of agreement. Luna spied out the speaker. A mint green unicorn with golden eyes had risen on her back hooves, flailing her forehooves in the air. Brokenly, then growing in strength, they took up the mare’s cry in the form of a chant.

“Say their names!”

“Say their names!”

“Say their names!”

Luna loved every minute of it. She wanted to look over her shoulder and give Twilight an I-told-you-so look, but she kept in mind the image she wanted to always have before her subjects. Instead, she gave a controlled smile and basked. As much as she wanted to act like a sugar buzzed filly, being a pillar of royal pride took precedence. She flared her wings out, flaring as she dipped her head and closed her eyes. Luna waited until the chants broke down to a quiet hush. Murmuring voices drifted over the breeze and touched the dark alicorn’s ears. One flicked.

When she brought her head up with practiced grace and ease, Philomena, Celestia’s pet phoenix had appeared from a window and circled over the crowd. The beloved firebird called out her own joy before dipping her wings and settling on the balcony rail next to Luna. The dark alicorn smiled at the bird, who started preening herself.

“Two foals were born and two foals have been named by their noble mother!” she cried again to the crowd. “The colt is named Prince Antares! The filly is named Princess Zaniah!”

The euphoria exploded in the form of a joyful roar. They did not hear Princess Luna declare a national holiday to go with three days of festivities. Most already knew. She was merely making a formality. Sitting back, she simply enjoyed seeing her happy subjects and waved at those in the crowd who waved at her. Twilight came up next to her, grinning without any hint of reservation.

“I’m an aunt, Twilight,” Luna said to Twilight. “I think it should be a most interesting position to hold!”

The purple alicorn giggled.

“How was the speech?”

“It was very good, Luna! You kept it short and to the point. Ponies like that. The nobles might have expected something windier, but they’re full of hot air as it is.”

Luna chuckled. “There’s only one thing left to do, Twilight Sparkle.”

She replied, “Go mingle and greet the guests?”

Luna nodded, then flashed a small pile of photographs with her magic. “Partially. I go to show off the pictures of the foals! An aunt must let the world know how magnificent her niece and nephew are!”

“And cute!”

“Oh, yes. Most certainly cute!”

The two mares laughed and went forth to show off the still photos of the mother and her foals moments after the births.

Luna remembered something. "Twilight?" she asked.

"Hmm?" hummed the smaller alicorn.

"What did you do with Harold?"

Foals.

Two Journeys Begin...

Author's Note

This is unedited, beyond what I tried my best to correct. This is the rough draft and more of an exercise of what I have in mind for Foals. I think it's pretty sound and should open plenty of doors for future chapters.

Comments are welcome. If you don't like it, please, please tell me what you don't like and why. As a writer, I'm always looking for ways to improve.

Thanks for reading these notes! It means you finished this chapter! We'll see if I can put some more together..

Chapter I

unedited

Antares and Zaniah were not the most quiet brother and sister duo to have ever graced the face of Equestria, but neither were they the loudest. They were a day old and nestled comfortably in between their mother’s legs and against her barrel. They sported cloth diapers, courtesy of Celestia who had spent weeks practicing on life-sized foal dolls. She had not slept at all during the night, half-dozing and half inhaling their scents. Her children were her life now and she never felt happier.

Luna had announced their arrival into the world, though the twins could not have cared less. They had tried their hooves at standing soon after they were born. Celestia had taken herself from her bed and gently placed her foals on the floor. They wobbled, staggered, and fell often, but they eventually found their hooves. With flopping steps, they made their way to their mother, bumping into each other often as they made the staggering journey of twenty feet like a pair of drunken sailors seeking out their next ale house.

Every step they took, her voice was there, cooing and encouraging, a soft song in their newborn ears. Antares was already smiling up at his mother, not really paying attention to where his hooves fell. He stumbled often and his legs were prone to betraying him. His sister stared at the floor as though it was a bitter enemy, making mewling little cries and not at all happy with venturing into the unknown.

Before Zaniah could panic and break down into a fit, she was at her mother’s hooves, shivering from the horror of the journey. It had been so far! She cried and her mother was quick to soothe, nuzzling and snorting into the filly’s tufted little mane.

But, that had been the pinnacle of the evening yesterday and the tired trio were content to sleep on a clean bed made so by Celestia’s magic. With her foals now in the light of day, she lifted her self-imposed magical restrictions and to some relief. After a feeding Antares and Zaniah, Celestia had put to practice all that training in properly placing diapers on a foal with the confidence of a grizzled sergeant.

She only had to redo Antares’ diaper once.

So, the morning found her waking to her foals curled up against her belly and between her legs. A mighty alabaster wing was draped over them, hiding them from the outside world in a protective display as old as the pony race itself. Celestia had not slept a wink. Even as she had dozed, she remained alert, her ears swiveling to the slightest of sounds. Outside her chamber doors and in the hall was the occasional sound of hooves as the guards did their rounds. Other than that, the only disturbance to the silence was the sound of songbirds as they anticipated the coming morning. Recalling the past twenty-four hours felt like a lucid dream.

The first time she breathed in the scent of her foals.

The first sounds they had made.

The first time she had fed them.

Celestia was still tired, still worn, yet so incredibly happy. Remembering everything so vividly, she knew she needed to record everything for herself. With great tenderness she nuzzled her foals. Antares raised his own head and made a small sound, a foreleg stretching out and touching the bottom of his mother’s chin.

“You’ll be the adventurer,” she cooed softly with a small smile.

Antares yawned mightily and blinked owlishly up at his mother, his eyes trying to focus.

She pulled up, making a small frown as a thought occurred to her. When was she supposed to bathe her newborns? Pursing her lips, the princess scanned a section of her personal library specifically set aside for foal-raising. She was, despite her vast age, an amateur at this new line of work.

“Should I bathe you two now?” she wondered softly, pulling a book down to her for reference. The glow of her horn was nearly muted by the rays of the rising sun streaming through her windows. “Let’s see…”

It was true she had already cleaned them off using her tongue shortly after they were born. Some of the more modern suggestions mentioned using a tub and just warm water the first month, with special care in drying the umbilical cord stump. After leafing through the section she wanted, she hummed to herself, quirking an eyebrow.

“No, the old ways are the best,” she decided, quietly closing the book and setting it back where she had fetched it. Foals were quick to be on their feet hours after they were born, but when they weren’t standing (or in the case of Antares, running), they were sleeping. If they weren’t sleeping, they were nursing. If they weren’t nursing, they were going to be exploring a little bit further from their mother with each new day.

Since surrendering her throne to Luna and Twilight over the past year, Celestia had both been stressed and relieved the burden of rule was no longer on her shoulders. It had been her idea to begin with as she considered the number of mistakes she had made over the years. She needed a break. The alicorn needed to get back in touch with her ponies and remember what it was like to have hopes and dreams. She had so many centuries of steering Equestria in a certain direction, she was certain so many other things happened to negatively affect generations of her subjects. Perhaps such thoughts were unfounded, but she took the time from the throne to peruse court documents and legal intrigues over the years.

It gave her a different perspective and some nights she would sit with Luna and Twilight and go over transcripts when they had free time. Mostly, she scribbled notes and brought in court attorneys to go over some things she was not quite sure of. A few lawmakers were brought over for lunch with some of the lords and ladies of Canterlot to discuss matters of modernization.

It left her with much to do once her maternity leave was done. Four weeks of bonding lay ahead of her. The alicorn shook herself awake and nuzzled her sleeping foals one more time. Gently she removed herself from them, using her magic to hold them in place while she rose to her hooves. As silly as it felt to her, she did not want to let them out of her sight, but she was dirty and needed a shower.

There was a knock at her door and a dark blue head poked in.

“Sister?” called out Luna softly.

“I’m awake,” Celestia replied with a weary smile. “Do come in.”

The dark alicorn nodded with a smile and did as she was bidden, her eyes already locked joyfully upon her niece and nephew. “They did not take long to find their hooves, did they?” she commented as she stopped a short distance from the mother and her newborns. Her posture was submissive, asking permission to come closer. “Please, I want to hold them!”

Celestia laughed. “How about one better? I want to take a shower. Would you mind watching them while I get clean?”

Luna beamed at her sister. This would be the first time her sister allowed her to hold her foals. Oh, she had been the one snapping the pictures released to the general public, but Celestia had instinctively hovered over her foals and growled...growled! at Luna and Twilight.

It was the most adorable and terrifying things the Night Princess had ever seen.

At least her maternal instinct had subsided enough for her to feel relaxed enough to entrust her most precious possessions to her sister. Luna felt her heart leap in her chest as her smile grew and grew. She pronked lightly in place.

“I’d love to! Can I hold them while you shower, ‘Tia?”

Celestia rose to her hooves and climbed from her bed, careful to not jostle her dozing newborns. Antares grunted, suddenly denied his perfect warm and comfy zone. He wriggled closer to his sister and snuggled. Zaniah fussed, now aware the smell she knew was no longer right next to her. Still asleep, she curled with her brother.

“Go say hello to them,” Celestia told her sister gently. “They won’t bite.”

Luna approached, her mystical starry mane and tail swirling with her excitement as a gentle warmth filled her eyes. Lowering her head, she hovered her muzzle inches above the foals, taking in their details.

Celestia sighed happily, taking a slow walk to her shower. Before she disappeared, she gave one more glance over her shoulder, hesitated as she observed her sister with the foals, quivering her lower lip with barely restrained joy.

Antares was awake, staring at the strange, dark muzzle gently prodding him. He froze in place, staring at the flaring nostrils. A frightened squeak gurgled from his throat. This wasn’t a familiar smell! He began to look about for his mother, his eyesight still blurry. It would take a day or two longer for the foals to clear up their eyes. At least they were walking. Sort of.

Luna nickered and nudged the white foal with her snout, inhaling deeply. He responded in kind, nudging her back and sniffing with his little nostrils. Zaniah was jostled awake from the movement and became suddenly aware of the strange smell that was not Mother. She curled up into a tiny ball, her hooves over her eyes.

The alicorn thought it was the most adorable thing she had ever seen!

The Night Princess squee’d, smiling broadly as she darted in to get her niece’s scent. Gently she snorted and snuffled through the foal’s fur. Antares managed to wrap his forehooves over Luna’s snout and found it warm. He started hugging it, making his aunt to begin giggling. This brought Zaniah out of her little shell and the filly uncurled enough to offer up a curious sniff at the newcomer.

Both foals began to look for their mother, straining with little eyes and little ears and little noses. Where was mother? They both began to squirm on the bed, not at all feeling safe without their Great Protector to tell this strange gigantic dark thing to go away!

Like any other foal, Zaniah and Antares began to cry for their mother, much to the chagrin of Luna.

“No! Don’t cry, little ones!” she cooed, eyes widening in alarm. Though she was familiar with foals, she had very little experience with newborns. Which was to say, she had absolutely zero experience with them. She remembered some of the antics one of the Elements had done in a letter to Celestia from Twilight. “I am not drowning myself in flour for you,” she told the foals firmly.

Instead, she hopped up on the bed and curled herself around the foals, moving with such grace to be as subtle as a warm summer night breeze. Luna hummed at them as she settled and adjusted their bodies with her snout, maneuvering them on pure instinct. She introduced herself to them, exchanging scents and finding herself enjoying the experience very much.

Maybe this aunt thing was going to be a most enjoyable experience.

The warm comfy sensation returned to Antares, though it was markedly different. Firstly, this warmth was a bit firmer than Mother and the smell was new. But the wings and feathers were as fluffy and comforting. He snuggled against Luna’s belly, his chin resting on her barrel as he looked up at the alicorn with profound curiosity. Zaniah simply wriggled between Luna’s forehooves and went back to sleep as she tried to sink into the mare’s breast.

Antares, however, did not have sleep in mind. This new smell, touch...not Mommy...was still like Mommy. His little tummy growled and his instincts led him to root along this strange mare's belly.

Luna was too busy admiring Zaniah, thinking the colt was simply trying to get comfortable. Then, his little mouth made her freeze in the middle of cuddling her niece, her eyes going really, really wide, pupils going to pinpricks. A little muzzle found a stopping point and a little mouth was tugging on something hungrily.

“No! I can’t help you there!” she hissed. “Antares!”

He ignored her, still trying to get a snack.

“Antares!” she protested, beginning to panic.

Zaniah hiccuped a little cry of protest. It was like watching a small, adorable volcano on the verge of an eruption.

Luna shifted between watching the beginnings of an inexplicable cry foals always did for...well...reasons and the hunt for food. She shifted her hooves and nudged Antares away with a furious blush on her cheeks.

“Wait for a little bit longer and let your mother take care of that,” she pleaded with him as she began to lightly bounce Zaniah.

The filly only cried louder, which spurred Antares as he was denied a meal. Luna gathered him up alongside his sister.

“You didn’t do this for your mother, I’m sure,” she sighed, trying her very best to cease the wails quickly penetrating her delicate ears. She sang softly, “Hush, now, quiet now, it’s time to rest your sleepy heads.”

They kept crying.

“Please?” she begged.

Maybe a bag of flour would save her from this humiliation. Defeated! By her own niece and nephew!

She could hear her sister was still in the shower, but felt a pause coming from the room. A dripping white head with a pink mane plastered to it poked from the door. “Are you all right?” Celestia asked.

“Fine!” Luna called over the sound of crying foals. “Antares is hungry, I think. Zaniah is crying for some reason. They both want you.” I’m not ready for this!

“Oh!” Celestia wore a concerned look, biting her lower lip. “I’ll just be a little bit longer. I’ve still got soap in my tail. A few more minutes, Lulu?”

No! “Of course, ‘Tia.” Luna’s smile was weak.

Hearing their mother, Antares and Zaniah wriggled and scrambled, looking at her. Their eyesight wasn’t quite settled yet, but they could hear and smell Celestia. They cried and cried, fell to the floor like a pair of fuzzy white balls with flailing hooves, and ran as though a monster was on their heels.

“How lovely,” muttered Luna as her niece and nephew abandoned her. Profound relief shone through the shock at how quickly the foals moved. She felt a cold draft where the foals had been and made a sad face. These emotions shifted and changed in a few moments before settling on something she could only describe as loneliness.

As she watched the wet mother nuzzle her foals and having the immediate affect of calming them, she could not help but feel a pang in her heart.

...Maybe Celestia has something wonderful here...

Author's Note

Whelp, I put off on adding to this long enough. I haven't gone back over the pilot chapter yet, but it will be gone over in the near future. There are some elements I want to change in regards to it, so stay tuned.

For those who waited a long time for this, I apologize.

Chapter II

Princess Celestia did not leave her quarters for a week. She had her meals brought to her, giving her staff a moment or two to see the foals before sending them off to their other duties. This was a bonding time, important for any pony mother and her newborns. It was a time for them to find their legs as they were born to run. The spacious rooms were large enough for a foal to run about in circles. Antares and Zaniah found chasing each other an enormous amount of fun while their mother looked on proudly. The raspberries were endless when she cuddled them and her quarters was a place of boundless love. It would be months before the twins could speak, but Celestia was more than happy with their wide-eyed stares of wonder only broken by a smile or a sneeze. Snot bubbles were rampant while noses were always runny. The foals went through cloth diapers at an alarming rate.

Of course, not everything could stay this fun. There was a world out there and Celestia knew she would have to rejoin it.

There was several legal matters concerning Antares and Zaniah even an immortal princess eventually had to come to grips with. She didn’t mind them, having established a lot of the foundations of the modern laws a long time ago. By law, a doctor had to examine the foals and Celestia had made arrangements. The poor fellow made the foals cry when he held them as they were not used to the smell of a strange stallion, even with their mother there to comfort them. Luckily, they were too young for their immunizations and he declared them fit and healthy. Despite his impeccable bedside manners, the twins decided they did not like him and would not stop bawling until he left their mother’s quarters.

A lot of nuzzling went into quieting them. As well as lunch. Followed by a nap by all three.

It had been a week since Luna had her first bout of quality time with her niece and nephew, a week since the doctor came in on the heels of her departure. Celestia busied herself with paperwork and responding to the massive pile of letters from well-wishers. Cherilee’s class from Ponyville had collaborated to make an absolutely massive hoof-made card covered with glitter and colorful hoofprints, as well as the names of the foals who signed it. The lettering was as neat as a mass of foals between the ages of eight and thirteen could muster: WELCOME TO EQUESTRIA PRINCE ANTARES AND PRINCESS ZANIAH.

It suffered some damage when the mailmare delivering it slammed into one of the towers (rocking it) and had to be peeled off with the help of some concerned guards (a spatula may or may not have been used). The gray pegasus mare was dusted off, given a blueberry muffin, and sent happily on her way.

Onlooking humans were simply baffled by the whole scene. Those who had been living in Equestria were well aware of some of the odder things occurring on this world. Newcomers were offered their first example of the absurd realities of this dimension. Their congratulations were offered in a bit less self-destructive manner.

Celestia made sure her foals were still sleeping on her bed as she went through the letters and responded to each of them. It would take some time, but she found she enjoyed it. Of course, not all letters were of the positive sort. A few nobles found the courage (probably through strong drink) to openly question their place in the pecking order now that there were two more alicorns in the mix. Celestia made a mental note to thank her secretary for vigilance in screening such letters. Normally Passion Quill did go through her Lady’s mail and was quite good at it, but with the sheer volume caused for a few to slip through.

An army of volunteers had to be called in as the number of letters numbered in the thousands. It was discovered human fingers were perfectly adapted for the task of sorting through letters. Luna was not happy with allowing a slew of the bipeds into the castle, but her sister insisted the trust had to begin somewhere. Reluctantly the Princess of the Night relented, but assigned her Night Guard to watch over the sorters like a murder of crows over a dying deer.

Her mood lightened considerably when some of the humans brought their children.

For a good part of the week, during the few hours in the day she was awake, Luna played with the human children, being far less scary to them than she was to their parents.

By the end of the week, there was still a massive stack of mail to sort through, but Celestia needed to address the formal introduction of Antares and Zaniah to their nation. This meant a public event and letting the world come and see the twins. Of course, all of this had been arranged before the twins had been born and Canterlot Castle had undergone a transformation to rival the preparations for the Grand Galloping Gala. Months of planning was set in motion the moment the first cry had come from Zaniah (she was born first, her brother six minutes later).

Pinkamena Diane Pie was asked to host the party. All the nobles were invited.

Princess Twilight Sparkle, having assumed the duties of raising and lowering the sun, was more than eager to return Celestia her vast power. The day was to culminate with Twilight formally handing control of the sun back to her former mentor. The experience of sharing rule with Luna had opened the eyes of the young princess. Luna found herself in the unusual position of having the final word over the past years both refreshing and at times stressful.

The nobles did the noble thing of plotting and scheming against each other, as there was really nothing else for them to do. The noble caste had sadly fallen centuries behind the times and they were still trying to show there was more to them than wealth and power. There were negotiations for renewed trade agreements with other nations and of course there was the steady stream of travellers going to and from the World Gate.

Of course, Antares and Zaniah knew none of this. Their world consisted of their mother’s bed chambers. Their legs grew stronger during the course of the week and soon they were following Celestia every waking moment. It would be months before they could utter their first word, but for now the alabaster alicorn was content with their happy coos as they played around her hooves.

Other than Luna, the only other creature they met was the fiery pet of their mother, Philomena. The phoenix regarded the twins proudly, chirping happily at Celestia when the bird made her first appearance before her mistress since their foaling. The mischievous bird introduced herself first to Zaniah (because she was so shy) and then to Antares (nipping him gently on the snout until he giggled). Celestia clucked at the phoenix and told her to behave around the foals. Philomena agreed through a series of chirps and squawks with the air of playful innocence. Of course the bird would refrain from playing pranks on the foals!

She would wait until they understood the meaning of a prank.

“No, I don’t think you’re quite suited for foalsitting,” Celestia told her old friend with a chuckle. “Maybe one of these days when you actually grow up,” she added teasingly.

The bird huffed in mock indignation before rubbing her beak against the alicorn’s muzzle. She went to her cage and sat on top of it, watching the foals like a fierce watchbird. Since that first meeting, she was always shadowing the small family. Philomena took her duties seriously as a guard phoenix.

Celestia girded herself with a saddle made for carrying foals on her back, a gift from Rarity at the foal shower months ago. It was of practical design; a white basket trimmed with gold and magenta. Rarity knew of Celestia’s aversion to excess and avoided studding the saddle with gems. She instead went with intricate needlework, the pattern of the design leaning heavily towards a breathtaking sunrise in storybook form, as from the Legend of the Two Sisters. It was a homage to the alicorns: a tapestry of their rise and the love and protection they gave to their precious little ponies. Rarity was gifted in her craft to spare no detail, even if the saddle was meant to carry two little foals.

The straps were made of padded silk reinforced with spider thread to prevent stretching. Celestia could cinch it as tight as she liked from around her barrel or over her chest. If she so chose, Celestia could take her youngsters on flights as her wings were unhindered. It weighed next to nothing and felt like an extension. She could barely tell it was there. Antares and Zaniah could snuggle in it comfortably with room for growth.

They were introduced to the saddle, gently placed there by Celestia. For long moments the twins sniffed curiously at the thing, receiving reassuring words of encouragement from their mother.

As she let them get used to the thing with a giggling smile, she could not help but think of the immortality she had given up so she could carry her most precious possessions. True, as soon as Twilight returned control of the sun to her former mentor, her agelessness would continue. For twelve months, Celestia had been as mortal as any other mare. It had frightened her more than anything, but it was a sacrifice and risk she took for the chance at being a mother at long last. She understood how deep the spell ran into the very world of Equus, tapping into the very heart of the world itself. As she believed she was a child of this world along with her sister, she had to get permission from first the sun and then the earth to surrender her power to Twilight, if even on a temporary basis.

“I want more foals,” she whined softly as Antares looked at her and drooled with a smile. Zaniah buried herself in her mother’s mane at the front of the saddle. “Lots and lots more.”

Happy her family was securely in place, she set forth to meet the world and introduce it to her foals.

Of course, there was much to be done. Her office was a short trot away. No doubt a day of bearing foals had created a stack of paperwork even maternity leave could not stave off forever. Some of it was simply things she had to take care of and sooner was far better than later. At least she would have company while she sorted through the stacks. She had her secretaries and advisors, of course, but some things required her personal attention.

Once she was satisfied her foals were settled on her back, Celestia departed her personal quarters. She was surprised there was a pony waiting for her. The stallion was known to her, though for the moment the name escaped her.

“Good morning, Your Majesty,” he greeted her with a polite bow.

His name came to her. “Colonel Mustard,” she replied with a polite smile.

Colonel Mustard was an older unicorn stallion, his gray coat mixing with his silvery short mane. A pair of small bifocals rested on the bridge of his snout, nearly to his nostrils. He wore an expensive blue pinstripe suit. “I apologize if I appear as though I am stalking you,” he said briskly. “The matter at hoof could not wait and I simply had to see you the moment you emerged from your quarters.”

“Strange you decided to forgo the normal channels,” Celestia noted. “Did Blueblood put you up to this? I certainly don’t see either my sister nor Princess Twilight Sparkle allow you access to the Royal Quarters.” She smiled, but was irritated. The princess already knew what the noble wanted.

“Prince Blueblood voiced his concerns,” was all he offered.

“I’m sure he has,” replied Celestia as she adjusted her wings. Antares and Zaniah huddled together, staring at the strange stallion. The foal filly chewed on a strand of her mother’s mane. “I have papers to see to. Documents for registering my foals. I may be a princess, but I am also a citizen with civic duties and new responsibilities. Please get to the point of your visit. I have much to do today.”

“Of course,” smiled the noble. “The first issue the nobles will want to address is the legitimacy of your son and daughter. We are absolutely thrilled you have borne foals and expanded the prestige of the alicorn race.”

“Prestige is the least of my concerns,” noted Celestia through a forced smile.

“Ah, but not to the upper classes, Your Majesty,” he said. “Who is their father? Is he a noble or a commoner? Is he alive? If so, can the Council meet him?”

“No, you may not.” Celestia flicked her tail.

“But we must establish their bloodlines,” he protested as she moved past him. “You will lose the faith and trust of the Council.” Colonel Mustard followed after her hurriedly, yet managing to maintain an orderly appearance.

"I’m sorry, Colonel Mustard,” the princess told him patiently, casting him a brief glance. “It’s none of your business nor is it the concern of the Council. They are alicorns, as you can plainly see for yourself. They will see the generations of your family tree come and go. They are immortal and they will have their place in this world. They will serve Equestria as I have served her, hopefully better than my ministrations.”

“They still need to be recognized properly!”

“All in due time, Colonel Mustard. I admire your dedication to your duty and you are correct to ask, but there are some things that must be kept secret from even the most loyal of my subjects. In time, when I am ready, I will tell all of Equestria. For now, I wish to enjoy my foals and relish this new role I happily find myself in. May I please have that much?” She gave him the full brunt of a levelled stare, pausing long enough for the stallion to falter in his steps.

“O-of course,” he stammered, splaying his ears back. “I meant no offense.”

Her smile returned. It was warmer this time. “None taken. I promise I will take your words under serious consideration. Let me be a mother for a while before I resume my old mantle as princess.”

Author's Note

Okay! With royalty comes politics...even with foals.

I think this story is an excellent way to measure how much I've grown as a writer since I published my first story last summer. I'd like to think I've improved, but there's always room to grow.

Shorter chapters so I can spot my mistakes a lot easier.

Enjoy!

Chapter III

The issue with the nobles was, for the moment set aside. There were more important things to worry about. Like assuring a nervous nation of ponies Celestia was back. Her ethereal mane and tail, absent for over twelve months, now once again radiated her power.

Twilight Sparkle was relieved to have the burden returned to its rightful owner.

Since having her power restored, Celestia had to get used to what had once been old hat to her. In the unnerving time since no longer being in touch with the great fiery celestial object in the sky. Twilight was more than happy to return the sun to the Solar Princess. It brought to mind the human saying that it felt like putting on a favorite pair of jeans after a long diet.

Five days ago, she raised the sun for the first time in over a year. It felt like welcoming an old friend back.

There was nothing in the world quite like walking into a room and seeing the Princess of the Sun playing peek-a-boo with her foals on her bed. Antares and Zaniah were lying on their backs on the bed while their mother hid her face behind her hooves. Luna entered her sister’s quarters just in time to see Celestia reveal herself to her giggling colt and filly.

“Here’s mommy!”

A pair of shrieks told Luna the foals were really into the game.

“Where’s mommy?” Celestia covered her face with her hooves.

Antares and Zaniah waited with anticipation.

Celestia pulled her hooves away. “Here she is!”

The foals giggled. Antares spat up, oblivious to his mess.

In the week since Colonel Mustard spoke with her sister, the Council had gone strangely silent. The two sisters had discussed it, thinking there was more to the noble nosiness than a question of legitimacy.

Twilight was currently looking into it, along with her newest human friend, Harold Jamerson of Liverpool. His education into equine laws had extended to the nuances of court politics. He was finding the experience to be most enlightening.

Celestia noticed her sister’s entrance and grinned. “What brings you here?” she asked as she paused her game. Little hooves waved at her muzzle, batting her lips lightly as they sought for a hoofhold. Both wanted Mommy’s attention.

“What is it like?” Luna asked, completely forgetting the reason she had come. An ache had formed in her heart as she watched her sister play with her foals. “Having foals of your own?”

Celestia looked up abruptly from Antares and Zaniah. Her eyes fixed on Luna’s and she saw the wistfulness there. “Come. Pick one up,” she offered. “Aunt Luna must want some time with her niece and nephew.”

“I do,” admitted the dark mare wistfully.

“Sit with me. Have a foal in your hooves. We’ll have tea and talk about anything you want to.” Celestia patted the side of her bed unoccupied by either herself or the foals.

There was a moment of silence between the two sisters, broken only by the sounds foals typically made. Tea was brought by one of Celestia’s maids. Both princesses were served and the maid exited with a quiet bow.

“Was it worth it?” Luna finally asked. She winced the moment the question left her lips. Zaniah felt perfect against her chest, leaving a dark stain of drool. It tugged at her heart.

“If I could have foals every year, I would,” replied Celestia with a happy sigh. “It’s like seeing another form of myself living on in the life of another. I think we’ve forgotten that our little ponies are immortal, living on through the generations. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen old faces return. It gladdens my heart to think of them as my friends come back to comfort me through the blood of their descendants.”

Luna considered her sister’s words. “I think I can understand that. I feel...blessed to be a part of this. I know I love them both, sister. But the suffering you put yourself through…”

Celestia proffered a cup of tea to her sister. “Nothing can be done about the past. The lessons I’ve gleaned from it were harsh ones. I like to think I am a better pony for it.” She sipped her own, dismissing the frown on her sister’s face.

Luna did so and had Zaniah thrust into her grasp. The startled filly took a moment to recognize the mare and gurgled accordingly, drooling as she smiled. A happy coo followed and Luna found herself gently placing her nose in the foal’s chest. She inhaled the scent of her niece and whickered happily. She liked the smell of foals. Luna always considered herself a protector of her ponies. It swelled her heart to hold a precious little thing in her grasp.

Celestia looked on, smiling softly. She watched as Zaniah wrapped her hooves around Luna’s snout and made adorable foal sounds. “I’m so glad they’re beginning to bond with you,” she stated. “She was so frightened of you the first time you two met.”

“You intend to introduce them to their sister.” Luna commented quietly. She did not mind foal drool on her coat.

“Yes.” Celestia leaned over and gave her now dozing daughter a kiss to a temple. “Closure for myself. I was in a bad way then. It made me withdraw to myself and not see the pains you were going through.”

“When do you plan on going?”

“Soon, I think. I can’t put it off. I keep finding excuses not to go.” The elder sister sighed unhappily. Antares wriggled at her mood swing. “I’m afraid.”

“Do you wish me to come?” Luna shifted her bag legs. “I would like to come when you do go. Please?”

Celestia sipped her tea, considering for a moment or two. “Of course. I’d love to have you. We’ll make a family outing of it. Perhaps stop by Ponyville on the way back?” she suggested.

“Why Ponyville?” Luna gently rocked Zaniah. She sipped her tea. It needed more sugar, she decided.

“The human settlement has progressed over the past few months,” Celestia said as her sister went for the sugar bowl. “I would like to see how they’ve come along. Reports are one thing, seeing the growth with your eyes is something else.”

The smaller alicorn’s eyes darkened briefly, but she knew pony-human relations were in their infancy. She had to put the past behind her. “I am getting better,” Luna said to Celestia defensively as her sister read her face and frowned a little. “I shall make human friends, I promise.”

The sisterly smile returned. “You’re just being overprotective, Lulu.” It grew as she observed her sister was still fixing her tea. “Care for some tea to go with your sugar?”

“I’m fine, ‘Tia.” Luna sipped her tea. She had not intended to put so much sugar into her cup.

“Twilight is doing wonderfully in my stead,” Celestia noted. “She’ll make a fine ambassador to Earth.”

“What is it like having your connection to the sun restored?” Luna tilted her head to one side with curiosity. “I can’t imagine being without my celestial companion.”

“I felt...naked.” The Solar Princess felt her son curl up in her folded forehooves. She sipped her own tea. Celestia grimaced. “I felt on the verge of panic. Remember how I asked you to try and keep my dreams calm?”

Luna nodded. “I thought the disconnection might be the reason.”

“You know why I had to do it.”

“I remember. The sun is heavy and hot. Your connection to it makes your magic heavy and hot.”

“To have magic so great that one cannot carry a foal to term…” Celestia flickered to one of her worst memories. “I was so naive, so overconfident in my ability to control my power.”

“Celestia, please don’t do this to yourself.”

Antares stirred and whimpered. A hoof reached up and touched under his mother’s jaw. She responded by touching the bottom of her chin to his snout. Foals were sensitive to the mood of their mothers. The little colt was no different.

“Of course, you’re right. Both of you.” She smiled at Luna and nibbled playfully on her son’s mane. Zaniah shook her little mess of pink mane and yawned her indifference.

“So, how long do you suppose before they make their proposal?” Luna queried with a slight lopsided grin. She sipped her cup of sugar with tea.

“The nobles?” Celestia whirred in her thoughts, wavering her gaze on Zaniah before shifting to her son. “They’re trying to worm their way closer to the throne by arranging their foals in marriages with mine. They’ve got lawyers sifting through the dust of ancient law tomes, searching for a way to force me to arrange their futures.”

“You do not seem worried.”

“I am not. We live in modern times, not at the whims of any specific caste. I want to get us started towards a constitutional diarchy.” Celestia poured herself some more tea. She added a half a spoonful of sugar. “After looking at the human forms of government, I’m convinced Equestria is not functioning at a level to even compete with them financially.”

“Equestria still controls the Gate,” Luna reminded her sister. She sighed, “But you are correct. I have ‘done my homework’, as Twilight proudly noted just the other day. We need to modernize our industry. However, I refuse to accept the power sources the humans have employed the past hundred years on their world. We can harness magic and perhaps hydroelectricity.”

“Geothermal energy is in abundance,” Celestia reminded her.

She was glad of the change of subject. Prince Blueblood would be giving her an explanation soon enough. No doubt he was trying to do some damage control with his noble friends. The poor stallion had a hard enough time keeping them off her back, but the foals were blood in the water to them. They would not stand a chance with this outdated means of getting to her through her foals. It was not an evil thing they were doing, but they were trying to assert some control in the face of humanity and its ideals. Every since First Contact, the nobles were discovering humans regarding their class system as an ‘adorable antique’.

Humans were wary of unicorns and gravitated towards the earth ponies and the pegasus ponies. The Canterlot elite were discovering humans did not trust them, just as Princess Luna once distrusted the apelike creatures (she was getting better about it).

“Enough about what’s going on out there,” Luna chided. “Let’s go out and about and show Antares and Zaniah the world beyond the castle walls.”

“No guards,” Celestia decided.

Luna arched a brow. “No guards?”

“No guards,” affirmed the Sun Princess.

The smaller alicorn looked down at Zaniah. “Did you hear that? She said ‘no guards’.” The foal filly blinked her eyes as she heard her aunt’s voice directed at her. Rolling awkwardly, she readjusted herself, came fully awake and began to find her hooves. She made a loud shriek and hugged one of her aunt’s forehooves.

Celestia rolled her eyes and laughed. “I might forgo my regalia,” she mused as she set her tea cup aside. Gently she picked up Antares and put him with his sister. The alicorn rose to her hooves, sliding off the bed with the grace of a swan. “What do you think of that saddle Rarity made for me?” she inquired Luna.

“It is really rather quite nice,” Luna said. “Generosity managed to keep it simple without losing her touch. What do you think of it?”

Celestia grinned and batted her eyes. “Why, it makes me feel like a pretty mommy!”

Both mares giggled.

“I do like it. Far better than a stroller. Did you know each of the Elements had a hoof in its making? It was from all of the girls.” She was very proud of her saddle as she flared her horn. It appeared on her back, fitted snugly between her wings. The straps were already around her barrel and over her chest and shoulders.

“It does look becoming,” admitted Luna softly. With a nod from her sister, she picked up her nephew and niece, placing them in the saddle. “Fetching, actually.”

Celestia huffed and blew a raspberry at Luna. Antares and Zaniah followed suit as they parrotted their mother. The result was spittle and slobber all over each other. They did not seem to mind. Luna was smiling openly as she fetched a blanket and draped it over them. The saddle would keep it from falling off with enchantments Twilight had placed upon it.

“I’m glad the doctors declared the foals in good health,” Luna said as she tucked in the twins. They fought against her invasion, squealing some. Antares was especially feisty. “I’m surprised they have not surged yet.”

“I suspect it’s a little different for alicorns,” Celestia said, glancing over her shoulder. “It’s been so long, I don’t even remember my surges. I can barely remember yours. You turned my fur into dandelion fluff, as I recall.”

“It was my cookie.” Luna sniffed indignantly. “I do remember sneezing on you. Your fur went poof!”

“It did not go poof!”

“Did so!”

They stared at each other in mock anger before Luna’s cheeks puffed and she burst out laughing. Celestia joined in. The sisters nuzzled. Muffled sounds of foals settling in the saddle and beneath the blanket attracted their attention. Zaniah’s head was the first to poke through. She spat up for seemingly no reason and made a loud and excited shriek. Antares joined her and promptly began chewing the edge of the saddle’s basket. He drooled as he did so. Luna noted both twins did indeed drool in copious amounts.

“I really haven’t had a chance to see you much this past week. Too much going on. Are you acclimating well to the return of your magic?” Luna asked Celestia as she eyed the ethereal mane.

“I am. The ceremony was simple, thankfully.” Celestia tossed her head and began cleaning her foals with her tongue. They were so messy! “I was glad you were there. Cadence couldn’t make it quite yet. She’s not due for another week.”

“I want a photograph of her foal with yours.”

“I’d like that. Another one with all seven alicorns together.”

“Seven is a lucky number.”

“It is indeed.”

“What of the Council?” Luna asked.

“They’re afraid, Lulu. They think they are becoming irrelevant with the changes in the world around them. Blueblood will not let me down. He’s a snob, but he’s a very good pony. His house has always had close ties to ours. I trust him to quell the concerns of the Council.”

“They need a purpose,” Luna realized.

“They will find one. A beneficial one. There is plenty of time.”

Author's Note

I'm actually taking notes, learning from other writers on the site. I want to get back to focusing on the foals. Celestia needs some closure with her past.

Next chapter: A visit to a shrine...and a grave. An appearance by the M6. Maybe not all of them. Human children interacting with pony foals!

Keeping it light and fluffy! Enjoy! This story is a wonderful break from the darker fics I have. I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I do writing it.

As this is unedited by anyone other than myself, it's probably rife with evil typos...Kudzuhaiku is rubbing off on me...good author. I'm shortening the chapters due to Kudz's work. Just more exploration of writing styles. Check that writer out!