Stay With Me

"Do you even know how the foal will turn out?"

Celestia smiled and shook her head. "Actually...I do."

Celestia hovered in front of Princess Luna black and white photos of the foal that she carried to which Luna took in her own magic.

"What...are these?"

"Those pictures, are of your soon to be nephew or niece."

Luna analysed the pictures with a furrowed look. Her eyebrows scrunching together as she peered at the photographs trying to make out each part that was present.

"Those are...hands? It has the body of a filly or colt no doubt...will, more like a horse but it's upper half is of oddity."

"That is it's torso, its head and arms. His father looks just like that. Don't you remember Luna? I told you all about it."

Luna glanced up as she tried to dig in her brain the memory. She remembered Celestia telling her all about her strange meeting with the foal's father and his physiology as well as the world he lived in himself. But the way her sister had described the creature

"Do you know the sex of the foal?"

Celestia shook her head. "I decided to know at birth."

"Oh, well then have you chose a name?"

Celestia glanced up at the ceiling. "Actually...I have not. I was so occupied with everything else I haven't actually dwell on a name. I don't know to tell the truth. Perhaps I will know once he or she comes into the world."

Luna placed down the images on the floor in front of her. "How was your doctor's visit?"

"Everything went well. Nurse Goodwell stated that even though my blood pressure and heart rate is higher than normal, as to be expected,  it has at least remained constant these passed months."

"That is good to hear. Anything else the nurse said? Any...special requirements that should be done?"

The sun princess rolled her eyes with a smile. "She said that from now on out, I should not be moving around so much and that I should not be fooling around with those 'god forsaken politicians'."

"She knows about your dealing with the annual conference didn't she?"

"Of course she did. She knows I typically do it. She sent me a letter that practically told me rather sternly that I should not attend. Knowing how you told her you will take on my major duties. Of course she probably knew that while I would read it, I would have continued on with joining the conference anyway. Naturally, she told me off when I came to see her."

"As she should! I told you that I would handle it!"

Her sister gave a chuckle. "Oh Luna. I understand that you are more than capable of handling it but I-I-"

Luna gave her a frown. "I what?"

"You have a rather...short temper."

The ruler of the moon puffed up her reddened cheeks as she bit her lip. "Well you know, just because I am a little new to this whole..." Luna swung her hoof as if trying to grab the words that had escaped her thought. "...modern politics does not mean I could not have handled it."

"Dealing with a bunch of heavily opinionated ponies arguing back and forth with each other who more often than not refuses to reach at least a compromise. Having to deal with that for two to nearly four hours? Luna, you would have blown the roof off of the castle."

"I will not!"

"Luna, dear, you just stated how you scared half to death a stallion."

"He was being rude!"

"And so are the ones at the conference. But at least you didn't have to deal with him for hours straight."

Luna's face fell and with that, her sister gave a sigh. "I tell you what, I'll give in. The next annual conference we have I'll let you take care of it alright?"

"You would have given birth by then..."

"That doesn't mean you can't have a chance at it. I'll schedule it for a night-" Celestia's eyes widened as an idea hit her noggin.

"What?"

"How about every other year you take the duties of the Annual Canterlot Conference Meeting? I take it one year and you the next. Mine will be in day court and yours night. Sounds fair enough?"

"That...would not be bad sister."

"I knew it wouldn't. I am so use to doing all the work myself since your return that I get a little...worried when others take over. Even if it's my own sister to be honest. I know there are some things your still trying to catch up on."

Celestia shuffled on her fluffy floor bed as she tried to make herself comfortable. Sitting up was a bit of a hassle on the solar ruler as the weight of her near ending pregnancy dragged her mid section down by several degrees. She felt much more comfortable laying down but for sake of properly conversing with Luna, she stood up. Shifting her body every while to make her situation more bearable.

Luna took a deep breath. "Anyway, is there anything else of importance I should know?"

"No, not really."

The moon princess gave her sister a raised eyebrow as Celestia raised her back hoof to try and scratch an itching spot.

"Are you sure?"

Celestia's eyes glanced up. "I would think so."

"Celestia!"

"Oh fine." Celestia gave a sigh. "Nurse Goodwell said that the foal is much bigger than an average mare's foal. Which would explain the heavy toil it is putting on my body."

"I can tell by your belly size."

"But she said I had an advantage as my body is bigger than the average mare anyway. With me being stronger as an alicorn and all, I am able to bear the pregnancy a lot more than average mare would in y situation."

"The fact that you have made it this far is more than enough evidence of that. But, what about your powers? Did she give an explanation on that?"

"That..." Celestia looked down at the ground. "She said that it is typical for powers of unicorns to wane during their pregnancy as it takes both a physical and magical toll on the body."

"But as an alicorn you should be able to withstand the magical toll the foal is having on you. A foal's power is only so strong. I mean, it is not even born yet and here it is, draining the energy of a millennia old alicorn. It is not even fully pony."

"That's what were both are trying to understand, me and Ms. Goodwell. We won't really know until the foal is born as to where exactly all that power is going too. But I doubt it is not for any reason...at least I hope."

"You have told me quite a bit in regards to it's father and his world but I must ask. Perhaps his father has magical properties?"

"No. He does not. The world he dwells in has magic but it is greatly limited. When I go there, my all powerful magic as some would have it can barely do any major harm. I am limited mostly to teleportation spells and picking up objects."

"So we know that the foal most certainly know it has little to do with it's father."

Her sister gave a small chuckle. "Apparently so."

"You know, you haven't really told me anything about it's father's world. Perhaps you can some other time?"

"Of course. But I can only tell you what he had told me. Between doing my job here and wanting to see him...well, it was quite difficult."

"I suppose it would be. I was surprised you managed to keep it up for so long."

"Even I am still surprised at that fact."

"Also sister, I wanted to address your worry. There is no need for such. The foal, no matter how it may be or look there is not a thing that any one of our subjects can say. He will be of royalty and privilege."

"I know that Luna. It is not so much that I am worried on how the public may react once word goes out but how the foal may do in it's life here. Equestria may preach love and tolerance but that does not mean it doesn't have it's few. I'm just-"

"-scared."

"Yes."

"That is a reasonable fear but Celestia, wind has caught word of your pregnancy. It would only be a matter of time before the foal is born. After that Celestia it is not in best interest to keep them locked away. You will not be able to attend to the foal twenty-four seven and care for it's needs. You will need your servants to do that and trust me, lest they are blind, they will see the foal. You can't guard him or her, like a princess my sister."

"I know Luna. I just don't think I am ready to deal with all the politics and issues that come with it. At least not yet."

The lunar princess rested a hoof on the sun princess's shoulder. "As long as I am here, I'll be sure to keep them or whoever in their place."

Celestia smiled. "Oh Luna."

Luna took a breath and looked up at the clock that was set now at twelve. "It is late. I should not bother you any longer as it is important you get your rest. Besides, my duties as princess of the night is calling."

"You make it seem as though your about to save the world from evil sister."

"Hmpf. Perhaps I am. I will be sure to follow what Ms. Goodwell have said. It is only a matter of time before the foal is born. All your needs will be attended to accordingly and I will handle the political affairs. If I see you doing things your not suppose to I will personally myself lock you up in the room."

A bead of sweat dripped down Celestia's temple as she gave a nervous smile. "You don't say..."

Luna gave her a tender smile. "Goodnight sister."

Celestia smiled in return. "Goodnight as well."

She watched on as her chamber door behind Luna closed. Celestia took a sigh and gazed over at her desk. She stared for a bit, wondering  weather or not she wanted to move. She made up her mind soon after and got up from her bed and walked over to her desk.

Celestia grabbed hold of a small calendar and taking a pen, crossed out a day under the first month.

Only one week to go.