Heirs

The solution that they came up with was fairly simple. Steven would have his own bed in Luna’s room and would follow her around. In turn, she would protect him since she was responsible for bringing him to Equestria. Somehow, because Princess Luna had brought Steven to Equestria, he bared a strange resemblance of her. Since he looked quite similar to Princess Luna, they would tell everypony that he was her and Princess Celestia’s nephew. As for being an alicorn, they would hold a coronation ceremony, as they did for Twilight when she became a princess. He would, in all ways, be a prince. Doing all this would help mitigate any concerns that the public may have. They set the date for his ceremony for the next week and sent out the invitations labeled simply as an 'Event'. The princesses did not want to reveal Steven's existence just yet, and they wanted the extra time to spend with him.

“You really have no questions Steven?” Twilight tilted her head as the three elder alicorns sat in front of Steven after explaining the plan.

“Nope.”

“Wow, you just keep surprising us don’t you.” Twilight looked at the other two. “It’s amazing how he acts completely as he looks like he should and yet he thinks on a higher level. When you said he seemed older in the dreams you weren’t lying.” Luna nodded.

“I told you that before I brought him here he had probably lived as long as you had before you became an alicorn. He has a mind the same age as yours Twilight.” For the most part Steven just kept his thoughts to himself, but when he did share them the three princesses were amazed at the depth of analysis.

“Actually I do have a question.” Twilight had no hesitation when it came to answering questions.

“Okay, what is it?” Steven hesitated.

“If I’m supposed to be your nephew then wouldn’t one of my made-up parents be your sibling? Wouldn’t somepony be curious about who my parents are?” Luna spoke up.

“I’m sure most ponies will be curious, but they won’t question Tia or I. They certainly didn’t when we said that Cadence was our niece…Oh no, what about Cadence?!” Princess Celestia did a face hoof.

“How could we have forgotten about Cadence? She will be furious when she gets here and figures out it’s a coronation.” Twilight spoke confidently.

“Don’t worry. Cadence will keep her cool until after the ceremony. She really thinks about the public and how they see her. It’s when we’re in private after the ceremony that she’ll explode.” Steven looked at the three confused.

“Who’s Cadence?” He looked up at Luna with innocent eyes and Luna looked back at him with soft eyes.

“Well dear, if we are claiming that you are our nephew then she would be your cousin. In much the same way as we are doing now we claimed that she was our niece. She is the third alicorn princess and oversees the Crystal Empire.”

“Do I have to pretend she’s my cousin, she sounds horrible. Is that why you have her all the way in the Crystal Empire?” The three alicorns laughed. Princess Celestia smiled gently.

“She isn’t terrible. You’ll see when you meet her. She just doesn’t like being left out, especially on big things. Everything will be fine once she cools down.” Steven breathed a sigh of relief and the three laughed again.

The days preceding the coronation rolled by easily and without complications. Twilight had returned to Ponyville until closer to the date of Steven’s coronation. Steven followed Luna around and watched her as she performed her duties as princess. Each day after she had finished she would tutor him in magic. When Steven wasn’t making any progress on the first day Luna got discouraged, but by the second day she was surprised by his progress. He had gone from not being able to lift an apple to beginning teleportation spells in less than a day.

“Steven, I can’t believe it. Your already performing spells that take years to begin to learn. Twilight might not care about you taking the spotlight, but you’re going to pass her up in magic quickly if she’s not careful.” Luna rubbed Steven’s mane and he smiled at her.

Finally the day came and ponies from all over Equestria came to Canterlot and made their way to the palace. Ponies began sitting down as the princesses were getting ready in another room. Ponies were talking to one another as they waited for the event to begin.

“I wonder what is going on that they invited ponies from all over to see.”

“Must be important.”

“I’ll say.”

In the other room the three princesses were making idle conversation while their manes were being done when Cadence walked in. Twilight smiled at her.

“There you are Cadence. You’re just in time to get your mane done if you want.” Cadence looked around, analyzing the scene around her.

“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt.” She sat down and the attendants began work on her mane. “What is this event that’s happening anyway? I don’t suppose there is anything I will need to do during it, is there?” Princess Celestia looked at her.

“Just smile and be the perfect image of a princess. I am the only one that has to do anything.”

“If you say so.” She closed her eyes and relaxed as they prettied up her mane.

The four princesses stood at the front of the room on top of the raised floor. Princess Celestia began the ceremony.

“Welcome everypony. I thank you for coming to this most joyful of occasions.” She paused and looked at Twilight and Princess Luna, then continued. “Without further ado I would like to present the newest member of our royal family, Prince Steven.” Gasps were audible. The doors opened and Steven walked in and up to the front of the room where he stood in front of the princesses. Twilight looked over at Cadence and noticed that her left wing was twitching slightly. At the front Steven was presented with a small crown and, since he was still too small to take on much responsibility, the ceremony was complete.

There was a reception afterwards and, even though Steven was not going to be there, nopony would resist a free party. They would all get to know Prince Steven in time, which was what Princess Celestia had promised them. Steven was in another room with the princesses.

“YOU DIDN’T THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT I SHOULD KNOW THERE WAS ANOTHER ALICORN BEFORE YOU MADE HIM ROYALTY!?” Cadence was screaming, but in anticipation Princess Celestia had soundproofed the room with her magic. “And you said he was part of the royal family, how it he even related to you?!” Princess Celestia looked over at Princess Luna and grinned before answering.

“If you must know, he is our nephew.” Cadence rolled her eyes.

“You’re going to stick to that story? It may keep the whole of Equestria from asking questions, but don't you remember that you did the same thing with me?” She looked straight at Princess Celestia who stuck her tongue out. “I guess I’m not getting any answers from you.” She looked around. “Where are you Steven? I’m sure you’ll answer my questions.” She spotted him behind her as he backed away. “COME HERE!” She began chasing him around the room. Twilight laughed.

“They really do look like cousins.” At the comment the other two began laughing as well. At the sound of laughter Cadence stopped and looked over at them.

“What’s so funny?” Princess Celestia answered.

“It’s just that this may not be so hard to fake after all. You two really do look like cousins.” Cadence saw Steven stop moving from the corner of her eye.

“I have you now!” She teleported in front of him, cornering him. Princess Celestia moved to help, but Luna stopped her. Slowly Cadence moved in on Steven. “Nowhere left to run.” Steven began shaking as he huddled in the corner. Cadence made a move to grab him, but at the last second Steven teleported to the center of the room. She looked around. “W-what?!” Princess Celestia and Twilight seemed equally puzzled. Steven looked at Cadence from the middle of the room and just laughed. Princess Luna began laughing as well after she saw the look on their faces. Cadence was the first to recover. “Wait, he can teleport?” Twilight was quick after her.

“But he’s so young, how?” Luna gladly answered.

“I have been teaching him magic, after all he is my student. He just has a knack for magic and is much more advanced that anypony I’ve seen in Tia’s school at his age.” Princess Celestia wrinkled her muzzle, clearly annoyed at the remark.

“Well excuse me! It’s not my fault I don’t have a student that I brought in from another world.”

“Wait, what?” Cadence looked confused. Luna closed her eyes and sighed.

“We were going to tell you once you finished chasing him, but now that the fun’s over I guess we should tell you the truth.” Cadence sat down.

“Finally."

Cadence had scared Steven at first, with all the chasing and such, but now that everypony was being honest she had changed. Steven saw the better side of her and vowed to never lie to any of the princesses. All it took was a minute for her to accept him after hearing his story from Twilight and Luna. Cadence acted like an older cousin to him, even when they were not in public’s eye. However it did not last for long because she had to return to the Crystal Empire, but she promised that she would visit to check on her favorite 'cousin'. Twilight also had to leave soon after because she needed to return to Ponyville and continue her work as the princess of friendship.