The Derpy I Know And Love Volume 4: And The Children Shall Lead

Four(ish) years earlier;

“You remember the Best Young Fliers Competition?” asked Twilight, “I gave Rarity wings that’d only last three days. But the walk on cloud spell, it didn’t have a limitation.”

“You mean, all this time we...” Rainbow stopped. “Thanks, we’ll talk to you later! Come on Pinkie!”

“Congrat’s on the foal,” said Pinkie being dragged by the tail out the door.

Muffins and Twilight laughed long as Dawn started to nurse.

Muffins kissed Twilight deeply. It still took Twilight’s breath away.

“Isn’t that how you got in this mess in the first place?” said a familiar voice.

Twilight and Muffins broke the kiss and looked. There stood Princesses Celestia and Luna. It was Luna that’d spoken.

“Your Highnesses!” said Twilight.

“My most beloved Twilight,” said Celestia, “here also isn't the place for court games. We’re here as your aunt-in-laws.”

“Just aunt-in-laws that the nurses can’t say no to,” said Luna with a smile and wink.

“When she’s finished, Muffins My Dear, may Luna and I see her?” asked Celestia.

Twilight had never heard Celestia ever speak so casual and familiar. Twilight hadn’t put thought to the fact when her brother married Cadence, the two ruling princesses were now technically family.

It was only a few moments until the newborn foal was satisfied. Muffins held out the infant. Celestia’s golden aura surrounded the baby and lifted her out of her mother’s forelegs and brought her close. Luna’s aura folded back the blanket to get a better view. The two princesses stood there in rapt admiration and awe.

The infant opened her eyes and beheld the two Alicorns before her. She smiled as if in recognition. Luna and Celestia looked at each other and nodded.

“She knows already,” said Celestia quiet enough for only her sister to hear. “The time is coming.”

“I’m glad,” whispered Luna, “I’m starting to get tired.”

“As am I,” whispered Celestia, “we’ll start Twilight’s real training soon. A ghost from the past would be a good start. And perhaps the near loss of a close friend?”

“Yes, perhaps connect the two,” said Luna. “I’ll start Dawn’s training as soon as I can.”

Luna reached her hoof up and tickled the infant under the chin. Both Dawn and Luna laughed.

“What a beautiful foal,” said Celestia to Twilight and Muffins. “We look forward to assisting you with her in anyway. As I mentioned in the delivery room, with a natural born Alicorn, there’ll be special needs.”

Celestia levitated the child back to her parents.

“My sister and I’ll let you rest and bond.” Said Luna, “feel free to go back to kissing.”

Muffins and Twilight didn’t have to be told twice.

Both of the princesses chuckled as they left the room.

In the hall, out of earshot, Luna turned to address her sister.

“It was a gamble, but it worked,” said Luna.

“Yes,” said Celestia, “if Applejack and Rarity had indulged in Unicorn Horn Sex their wedding night, we might’ve had competing princesses.”

“I remember how messy that can get,” said Luna, “after all these centuries, I still have a scar.”

“Luckily, we don’t have to worry about it,” said Celestia.

“And who’d have thought a Princess of the Night would be named for the dawn?”

Several days later, Twilight, Muffins and Dawn were home. Cookie and Sparkler were making a constant fuss over the foal. Neither could seem to get enough of her.

Coincidentally, at this time Cookie’s magic started to truly manifest itself. Between Sparkler, Cookie and Twilight, Muffins had to be very aware of her surroundings. Otherwise she might get a bottle, a blanket or worse, a dirty diaper to the head. Muffins shouted after one such diaper just missed her muzzle:

“Family! All this magic! Have pity on a poor Pegasus who can’t even manage a card trick!”

Everypony laughed but they got the message and established a ‘no fly zone’ when Mama M was in the room.

Their friends had given them time to settle in, but after about a week, there were visits all the time.

AJ and Rarity would come by bringing food to help ease Muffins workload. Or so they said. Rarity would hold Dawn, her face showing a wrapped sense of wonder, she’d then hand AJ the infant. All were surprised at the gentleness the rough farm pony showed when handling the baby. Her face was a mix of wonder, pride and an odd touch of sadness.

After one such visit, Rarity found AJ laying on their bed, AJ avoided admitting that she’d been crying, but the pillow was stained with tears. It wasn’t until a few years later when Rarity found out about Apple Bloom actually being Applejack’s daughter. Rarity understood the reason why the fact was hidden.

Cookie asked for and was given permission to bring her fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders to see her new little sister. With direct supervision, the girls were allowed to hold the precious infant.

“Oh wow!” said Scootaloo, “I’ve never seen a pony with wings and a horn other than princesses. Is she a princess?”

“She’s an Alicorn,” said Muffins, “the princesses are Alicorns, but to be an Alicorn doesn’t necessarily make a pony a princess or the other way around.”

“Well she’s as pretty as a princess!” said Sweetie Belle.

“I agree,” said Apple Bloom, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a foal as pretty.”

“Thank you girls,” said Twilight.

“I’ve a favor to ask, Mrs. Sparkle,” said Sweetie Belle.

“What’s that Sweetie?” asked Muffins.

“Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon heard us talking about coming over to see Dawn,” said Sweetie. “Diamond asked me, if they behaved, would it be okay for them to see her as well?”

“I thought you girls didn’t get along,” said Twilight.

“Well, they’ve been a lot more friendly since you helped Diamond from being expelled.” Said Sweetie with a smile, “in fact they hang out with us from time to time.”

“Of course Sweetie,” said Twilight, “any friends of yours are welcome.”

Sweetie went to the door and waved for the two fillies to come in. Twilight didn’t have much exposure to Diamond and Silver. Her first impression was they appeared to be a couple of snooty little fillies. Perhaps she was a little prejudiced from some of the things Cookie had reported in the past.

But here they stood, very reserved and respectful. As she was allowed to hold Dawn, Diamond’s face expanded into a great grin.

“I never get to hold my brother,” said Diamond. “Daddy says I’m too young.”

Diamond looked at Sweetie Belle who gave her a large smile of her own.

Twilight noticed the smile and made a mental note.

Since Pinkie had moved in with Rainbow, the two were seen together most of the time.

Pinkie who loved children (perhaps because in many ways she was just a big kid herself) was always thrilled to just make funny faces or blow raspberries on they little foal’s tummy. Any laugh given by Dawn was better than a bag full of bits to the pink pony.

Rainbow, who was loath to admit fear, was always skittish when she held Dawn.

Rainbow related it was taught when she was growing up, in the past when Pegasi were warrior tribes, the few Alicorns that’d come forth were treated like gods, it was still part of their collective psyche. That’s why so many of the royal guard are Pegasi.

Fluttershy would stop by with her coltfriend, AJ’s cousin Caramel. Fluttershy didn’t exhibit any of the apprehension Rainbow showed, perhaps Pegasus culture wasn’t so deeply ingrained in her. The two would sit on a sofa for hours passing the foal between them, they’d speak to each other in low voices and smile a lot.

The child was somewhat of a celebrity when Muffins and Twilight went out, even among the ones who didn’t know the special origin of the foal. She was Ponyville’s little Alicorn filly. And there were very few ponies that’d not stop to see the child. Especially the mares, and there were a lot of mares.

This was due to the fact that at this time in Equestria, there were estimated nine to ten mares for every one stallion. It was an ideal situation for the single colt. But it was the biggest reason two mares together were becoming widely accepted, although still not the normal practice.