A Princess with a Heavy Wish

I awoke once again to the ch-Zion crying. I nuzzled him softly a for a few moments until he calmed down to a slight whimper. Just then I had realized I had fallen asleep with him wrapped in my legs and wings, still in the guarden.

"Tia, what are you doing out here with that?" I had heard Luna ask, sounding like she was almost horrified.

I pressed my hoof to my lips, giving her their usual sign of to be quiet. I slowly, and carefully stood up to meet her gaze. "He's a gift from our parents Luna, he is what I've been looking for!" I whisper-yelled with a smile across my face. I pointed to Zion on he rested in the basket made of leaves. "He even bares the mark of our parents. A pure creation!"

She hummed to herself as she approached Zion almost as though she were in a nursery. Her head lowered to examine his body, and with a quieted gasp, she looked at me with wide eyes. "His eyes are yours my sister, look!"

I saw that Zion was smiling at the sight of me, I of course smiled back. His eyes were a beautiful shade of light pink like mine were, and his red mane had bits of purple in it, much like Twilight's hair. However the shade of purple matched that of my own mane, well one-third of it. Still, nonetheless he had my eyes which made me tear up slightly more.

Where the note was resting on his chest from last night was a symbol the royal family used, however, it was beginning to fade away much like a fake tattoo. My sister had seen my reaction to the eyes, her was slightly different, shock. The reaction I had was that of a mother finding out the color of the eyes to match her's or her mate's.

Zion babbled slightly, trying to grasp my snout. I chuckled, nuzzling him, which happened to cause him to laugh one of those full belly laughs which would cause even the darkest of hearts to laugh along. I began laughing, smiling like I haven't before in a thousand or so years. He gummy smile he had on his face, that was pure, pure as the crystal heart.

"Tia...This is a great change..." Luna sighed softly, sitting down on her haunches with a smile plastered across her face. I could tell she was honestly happy, just to see me smile.

I nodded to her positive statement. "I agree sister...my heart...it feels that as though somepony has taken a heavy burden." I said as I continued to hold and occasionally nuzzeling him in the stomach to laugh more. "I love his laugh!" I cried, chuckling with my sister who found his laughs as enjoyable as I had found them.

She took deep breaths, trying to calm down, but her smile was stuck on her face. Soon, she made it to the point where she could speak without laughing, I however continued to chuckle, but paid attention to her. "So, Tia..If this is to be your son, and my new nephew, what is his name?"

"Zion, his name is Zion Everfree." I replied, bringing him to a hug.

"I also have a couple more questions." She moved closer to sit next to me, and whispered. "How are you going to feed it? It doesn't even have any teeth. And most importantly, how will you explain that you have adopted him to all of Equestia?"

I nodded, having already quickly come up with the perfect plan. "Tell them what has been going on, and when I mean tell them, I mean everything, from the past two years."

Luna nodded, smiling at Zion. "My prince, we will do everything in our power to help Equestria accept you." She whispered into his ear as gently as a feather falling. "Sister, I hope you will not hold back on your explanation because I wish to know the answer as well."

"Of course Luna!" I hissed. "I would not lie to you, or our subjects."

She seemed to take my words as a oath, like she always did, but it wasn't like she had to worry, I was planning on telling the full truth.

Luna stood up before giving a silent bow before off to finish lowering the moon. I used my magic to place the sun over the castle through the solar gate and it shown a light that all of Equestia could see. This was a symbol, a beacon to gather all to hear an important announcement I had to give.

However, doubts raised inside of my mind at that point. Would everypony accept him to be their new prince? Would the nobles or even my guard find the time to talk to him, and protect him. How would he be thought of by the kingdom in a whole. These questions began to plague my mind like a resistant virus that could wipe the world in only a couple years. I had the right to worry, this was Zion, my son, the future prince of Equestria.

        If they tried to attack him at my announcement, I would, without any prejudice, kill. I didn't know why had this feeling, I had only just made him my own, yet, it felt like I had carried him. As if false memories of pregnancy made its way into my mind like water, filling my head with untold happiness over my success to bare a child. I knew, well enough, that these memories were fake, sadly. As much as I wished these false memories were just that, false, I would feel much happier.

        I stood up, with Zion atop my back, protected by my wings, and my eyes were scanning for any unwanted dangers, not that I wanted danger. I just wanted Zion to be safe, a any cost that it would take me to keep him that way.

        But then, I had noticed I hadn't yet marked him as my own. Yes, he had a name to go by in which I had newly called him by, but, as the oldest Equine tradition went, I would need to give him a bath. Every newborn was giving a bath, one by toung.

        So, with that in mind, I headed to my bed chambers, or rather our chambers to give him a bath.

        It was noon now, the sun was still in the same spot as it was when I raised it this morning when I woke up with Zion in the gardens. Luna was still up, but she looked rather but slightly fatigued. She stood out on the Royal Announcemnt Balcony, awaiting my union to speak. I looked carefully at Zion, his face was slightly pudgy, but a content look was on his face.

       At last, after more than ten minutes of waiting, and preparing myself, I stepped out with Zion still hidden from view. The crowd cheered for a moment, until I waved them to quiet down. Zion didn't seemed to be affected by the sudden noise, but looked as though he was tired.

        "Everypony, please...There is some news I feel as though I should share with you, both good, and bad." I paused, trying to come up with the right words to say. Just a single wrong word could change whether or not they would accept Zion. "I am unable to bare a child of my own. Those of you who've tried to help me with this problem, I still thank you for your services as princess of Equestria, I know you tried to help me. No normal modern magic is able to help me." I sniffed, I didn't know why, but I could tell the crowd was moved. "However, I have received a gift that powers beyond me. A gift that has already given me a smile I lost long ago."

I slowly moved my wings down, revealing Zion, sitting on my back. It was quiet for a moment, then I heard clopping. Suddenly the whole crowd was cheering. My heart soured upwards into the sky, and I felt myself wanting to sigh in relief. I was so worried that no pony would accept Zion, but at least Canterlot saw this as a moment to celebrate. So, seeing how this was a celebration:

        "Today, everypony has off, and the palace gates will be open for all to see Zion. Do not feel as though you need to bring gifts my ponies, however that doesn't mean I won't accept them." The crowd cheered more, probably because they got a day off, it didn't matter to me. A day off meant they got to see Zion. I turned to a couple guards, one of them being Hammer. "If you do not mind sirs, could you stay while the rest of the guard has off? I'm sure I can find something to make it up ten-fold for your services."

        Hammer nodded, but raised his hoof. "May I ask you a question princess?"

        "Is it an idea to repay you?"

        He nodded once again. "I want to train him, that's it. If he's to be living in the castle, I want to be the one to train him to use a sword."

        "And what about you Steel Wing?"

        "A raise, five percent, or whatever you can make it."

        I chuckled at his idea. "I'll make it fifteen percent if you are willing to do this."

        "You got me at the fifteen percent ma'am." He joked. "I will, for Zion. Little guy looks cute with that face of his anyways."

        "I thank you for this sirs. You have my up most gratitude."

        "Tis only a pleasure princess." Hammer bowed. "I will go ahead and start working on a good sword for the little guy."

        "You under stand he won't start until he can lift a blade correct?"

        He nodded, smiling more. "Only gives me more time to work on it! I am a unicorn, so I can enchant it as well, and maybe my wife can help. She likes working with the forge."

        "I suggest making the sword one point five times larger. Who knows how big he'll get."

       We continued to talk while we walked through the castle. Guards and maids had quickly checked out, all but the chefs wanted to leave, saying that they didn't want to leave me dry. So I doubled the chefs' pay, and they made a small meal for Zion.

       Honestly, I was worried they wouldn't accept Zion to be my son. Really, I wasn't expecting this at all. I was thinking somepony might boo, but nothing. Nothing bad happened, which was quite shocking.

       I approached my chamber door as Zion had began to sleep, using his tiny hands to grip the fur on my back. Using my magic, I lifted Zion over to my bed, and while it was only four, I still was tired from last night. So I laid down next to him, and closed my eyes hummed a melody a good cellist played.

       I think it was called "Prelude to the Groove". It is a masterful piece if I haven't said before, and I would love to here it once again. Maybe I could invite her ensemble, oh, and perhaps I would need to also invite her mare-friend. Is that what her mother complained about? I couldn't see a problem about that. That's all she spoke about during the last gala. It was quite annoying.

       So as I hummed, I opened my eyes to see Zion turned, looking at me. I was out of myself while I hummed. Zion was looking at me, and he grabbed my snout. He didn't look newly born, but his teeth weren't in yet. I smiled, and licked his eyes.

        There, he was mine, and no pony would hurt him. I would defend him at any cost.

        "Fffiiiaaa-ah." Zion babbled.

        "No Zion, it's Tea-ya."

        "Tia!"

        I would admit there, I used a spell to help him know my name. I'm sure he was okay, he just smiled more as he squeezed my snout with his weak, small hands. I just wanted to make sure he knew I was his, and he was mine. It was a unicorn way to help the child unlock their magic.

        That was one thing Zion had, and there was a lot of it. He had two little bumps on his back where two little wings. I smiled, knowing how much I get to teach him, and have others teach him many, many things. Magic, flight, and combat training, perhaps Octavia could teach him music. He can be talented as I was. I could already tell he was smart, I was already beginning to combat by the time I was ten. I was trained by a Nordic God, and he was quite handsome.

        I won't however push any of this on him. He will have his own opinion when he is older. I won't make the same mistake as I did to Luna. Not ever again.

        I was about to lay down when there was a knock at my door. So  I opened it from where Zion and I were, and it was Hammer, he didn't look to good. He was out of breath and a look of horror was on his face.

        "Is there a problem Hammer?"

        He nodded very, very slowly, his whole body was shaking. "Nobles thought it would be a good idea to start a riot near the main gates. The crowd is shouting words I never thought they would say directly to you?"

        I raised a brow. "Such as?"

        He gulped rather loudly. "Whrose....princess....they called you many more names I rather would not like to repeat."

        There was only one word I could think of at that moment. "Buck...."

        He nodded. "Yeah...buck indeed..."