Author's Note

Warning: Fluff alert!

Lullaby

A blue alicorn filly laughed as she and her sister raced through the trees, crushing the fallen leaves under their hooves. Their parents, Queen Galaxia and King Cosmos were standing on top of a hill, overlooking their kingdom. Their two daughters played in the day under their watchful eyes. They exchanged worried glances, knowing that this would possibly be the last time they would see their precious daughters.

"Cosmos, why were we called so soon? Our daughters, they're so young,"

"I know, but it's either their lives or ours. You know the Cold Eclipse will only except an alicorn sacrifice."

Galaxia let out a sob. "My baby girls, I can't leave them,"

Cosmos wrapped his wing around her and pulled her closer to him. "I know dearest, but it is the only way. The Cold Eclipse will come tonight when the stars aline. Celestia and Luna...they'll be fine,"

Truth be told, Celestia was fifteen, while Luna was only eight, far too young to be without her parents. But the Cold Eclipse was a cruel event, if an alicorn sacrifice wasn't given, then it would be free to plague the lands with it unnatural cold upon them, a cold winter greater then a Windigo Storm. It was the only way to protect their home and the sisters. Cosmos wiped away a tear and faced his beautiful wife. "Let's get them somewhere safe, so the Eclipse doesn't take them instead."

The Cold Eclipse took the form of a white fog, that drifted down from space. The Eclipse brought destruction and death to the lands, but in order to keep it sealed away, was to give it a sacrifice. Not just any sacrifice, the sacrifice had to be a pure alicorn or else it will not except. This time, it was returning and the King and Queen of Equestria were to be the sacrifices. It was a deed that had to be done, once the stars alined, the Eclipse would come to claim it's prize and carry the souls away.

"Celestia! Luna! Time to go home now!" Galaxia called. The girls groaned and cantered back to their home, their parents following them.

Once the time came for the girls to go to sleep. Galaxia and Cosmos came to their room. Little did the girls know, that that was going to be the last time they would see their parents, alive. They looked at each other, knowing what they had to say.

"Tia, Lulu, would you girls have a seat. There's something your mother and I need to tell you," Cosmos said in a shaky voice.

The sisters shared a confused look and sat down on the rug in front of their parents. Galaxia and Cosmos sat down opposite them and gave them sad looks. "Mom? What's wrong?" Luna asked when she saw her mothers face.

Galaxia gulped. Her precious Luna was so innocent to know the truth, but her eldest, her brave Celestia was old enough to understand. She sighed heavily. She had to do it. "Celestia, Luna, your father and I...are going away soon..." she said.

Luna cocked an eyebrow. "Going away? You mean a holiday?" her eyes brightened and she got a big smile on her face. "Are we going on holiday?!" she asked. Galaxia almost chuckled at her daughters innocent mind, but she remained a straight face and continued with the hard conversation.

"No sweetie, just your father and I."

Luna's face fell. "Aww, will you come back?"

Galaxia looked to her husband for support. "No honey, Mommy and Daddy are going away...for a long time,"

Luna gasped. "Why? Don't you love us anymore?"

Galaxia wrapped her arm around her youngest. "No, no, sweetie, we love you both dearly. It's just that...we have to go, for you girls,"

Celestia meanwhile, knew exactly what they meant and she started crying. She may have taken up her mother in appearance, but she was a full on Daddy's Girl. Celestia flung her arms around her fathers neck and hugged him. Cosmos hugged his first born back and sobbed into her pink mane. Luna watched as her father and sister were crying. "Mommy? Why are Tia and Daddy crying?" she asked.

"They're crying...because they're going to miss each other. Where we're going, we're not coming back darling."

Luna felt her eyes hot with tears and snuggled under her mothers arm. Galaxia sobbed and pulled her family close into an embrace. "Why can't we go to, we're a family aren't we?" Luna asked.

"We are, but you girls need to stay here. When we leave, you'll be the ones ruling Equestria."

The sisters blinked in surprise. "Us?! Rule all of Equestria?!" they said.

"Galaxia and Cosmos smiled at their daughters. "We know you girls will do just fine, I have made arrangements for Starswirl the Bearded to be your guardian when we're gone. But remember this girls," Cosmos said, choking out the sobs as he spoke. "You...you girls...will be just...fine, Celestia...please take care of...your sister...for us. Can you...do that for...us?"

Celestia nodded. "Yes Daddy, I'll miss you,"

Galaxia and Cosmos embraced their eldest daughter, saying their last goodbyes. They turned to Luna. "Luna...sweetheart, be good...for your sister...and for us. Do you...understand Luna?" Galaxia said.

Luna sobbed. "Yes Mommy, but what will happen to you?"

"We'll be watching over you two, just as we always have been," They stood up and gave their daughters one last hug and kiss on either forehead.

"We love you girls, so much..." they said, before closing the door to the bedroom.

Celestia and Luna embraced each other in a sorrowful hug. "Tia, where are Mommy and Daddy going?'

Celestia bit her lip, wondering if such a thing should be told to an eight year old. "They...they're going to save Equestria."

"Save Equestria?" Luna asked.

"Yes, but that is all I'm telling you,"

"Why?"

"Lulu, your too young to know the rest,"

Luna was about to answer when a white light peaked in from outside. Celestia hugged her sister and tried to shut out the screams that were to come. She had forgotten that Luna was facing the window. Luna could see through the glass that there was some sort of weird, white fog in the sky. A lump formed in her throat when she saw that it was heading towards two figures of alicorns. Mom and Dad! her mind cried. Luna watched in horror as the fog swallowed up her parents and a shrill, painful cry reached her ears. Tears streamed down her face in rivers as she realised what had happened.

"NO!"

"No!" Luna cried as she bolted into a sitting position. She started hyperventilating as she remembered her daughter. Motherly instinct took over and she climbed out of bed and made her way to Songbird's nursery.

The one month old filly was startled awake and started to cry. Luna released what she had done and picked her up, trying her best to console her baby.

"Mi Bebe, mi dulce bebe," she murmured. Still her daughter wailed. Luna tried to think of a way to calm her little girl down.

Suddenly she had a thought. "Maybe I'll sing you a lullaby, would you like that?"

Songbird seemed to take interest in the offer and stopped crying, but instead let out quiet whimpers. Luna sat down in the rocking chair that she had added next to the cradle and began to rock her daughter. She tried to think of a lullaby off the top of her head. Unfortunately, she didn't know many baby songs and ran out of ideas after three rounds of 'Rock-a-Bye Baby' failed. Songbird still wailed louder then ever. "Please don't cry, you'll wake your aunt." Luna pleaded. Her sister had helped her out for the first week to get her settled into motherhood and now she needed her rest if she was to raise the sun the next day.

Luna thought and just so happened to glance out at the window. Suddenly she had an idea. She gently rocked her daughter and started to sing the verse that came off the top of her head.

Constant as the stars above
Always know that you are loved
And my love shining in you
Will help you make your dreams come true
Will help your dreams come true

Songbird stopped crying and gazed in wonder, somewhat liking the song. Luna smiled as she continued her lullaby.

The lamb lies down and rests it's head
On it's mother's down in bed
Dolphin plays in the moonlight's glow
And butterfly dreams of a violet rose
Dreams of a violet rose

She started to cradle Songbird in her arms, holding her tiny figure close to her chest and the soft blanket tucked around her body.

I'll cradle you in my arms tonight
A sun embraces the moonlight
The clouds will carry us off tonight
Our dreams will run deep like the sea
Our dreams will run deep like the sea

Finally she lost herself in the song and started to sing more powerfully, but still quiet enough to not wake her sister or scare Songbird.

Constant as the stars above
Always know that you are loved
And my love shining in you
Will help you make your dreams come true
Will help your dreams come true

Songbird laughed and clapped her hooves, liking the song. Luna smiled and cuddled her close to her, resting Songbird's head under her chin and breathing in her scent. She rested Songbird back in her arms and the tiny white alicorn yawned and snuggled closer to the warmth of her mother. Luna smiled in awe at the filly sleeping in her arms.

Careful not to wake or drop her, she got up from the chair and placed her back in her cradle, tucking her blanket around her tiny body and watched for a few minutes as she innocently sucked her hoof. She smiled and leaned down, planting a kiss on her head and stroking her soft mane. She quiet walked back to her room and climbed into bed, knowing that her daughter would wake her up in the next three hours. She didn't care, even if she was woken up every three minutes. Every minute she got to spend with that special little baby, was worth living.