Luna shifted uncomfortably as the sunlight sifted through her curtains. How could Tia get up so early? She thought. She groaned as her headache reached peak point when she thought about her sister. Boy did she know how to convince somepony into a party. She could just imagine the trashed Canterlot Gardens after the Royal Wedding after-after-party, which started at around 1am when all the fillies went home. In fact, anything after that one drink of moonshine that Celestia had just nagged her to have, was as clear as mud.
She tried to get up, but immediately fell and vomited into a dent in the mattress. A dent? She looked at it in her daze, and after a delayed stare, came to the conclusion it was pony shaped. She must have rolled in her sleep. That was her last thought before she fainted.
~ ~ ~
3 months later
The clatter of cutlery and idle chatter filled the royal dining room. Luna was busily eating cake, trying to refrain herself from eating it in one gulp. “Maybe you should cut back on the cake...” said Celestia nervously to Luna, knowing how she can have a temper. “I know what you are implying Tia, and it is absolutely absurd. I am in healthy shape, and I think I should know my own body better than you,” Luna growled, upset from the constant worrying from her bigger sister. Celestia opened her mouth to reply, but quickly closed it as she saw the anger and annoyance that fluttered across her face. Luna stared at her cake, but suddenly had no appetite for desert. She rushed a little traditional pardon as she turned to go to her chambers to rest.
Looking in the mirror, Luna wondered if Celestia was right. You had to admit she wasn't as thin as she could be... Making sure the door was locked, she did a quick spell just to check over her health. It's funny how much your life can change in 5 seconds.
~ ~ ~
“No, no, no, no, no, no, NO!” Luna panicked. How did it happen? WHEN did it happen? She couldn't remember any time it happened... Oh no. Couldn't remember. Cursing that moonshine, she rushed to Celestia's chambers, not even thinking. Slamming the door open, Celestia rubbed her eyes. “Who's the-”
“CelestiaIdon'tknowhowithappeneditjusthappenedandIdon'tknowwhattodo-”
“Slow down there Lulu! Tell me slowly, what happened?”
“I'm pregnant.” Silence filled the room. Celestia's face remained blank. Her eye twitched. Luna looked away in shame. “When?” she said with such a stern in her voice it made Luna fill like a foalish filly. “I can't say for sure but I thi-”
“When.”
“The royal wedding party...”
“Who.”
“I'm... I'm not sure.” Sobs started to bubble up. She was going to have a foal and she didn't even know it's father. There were other options... But Luna would never have the heart to end a life before it had even started.
Celestia sighed, trying to suppress her anger. “Luna. Don't you think even in your drunken state you could've stopped yourself?” Luna just hung her head in shame, which was answer enough. Celestia heaved herself up, and stared at Luna with a look of disappointment she tried to hide. She knew Luna must be terribly scared. She wanted to comfort her, but she was afraid of her anger breaking out. “What do I do sister?”
“Well, Luna, it looks like someone in this room is going to be a mother, and it certainly isn't me.”
~ ~ ~
7 months later
Celestia paced in front of the white door. They wouldn't let her in. She could her Luna's cries faintly through the looming door. She winced at them. It's finally happening. She started panicking. Luna's belly could be hidden with a small enchantment, but hiding a whole foal, running around the castle? She thought about moving the foal somewhere else, to a nanny of some sort. But Luna strongly rejected the idea. Celestia guessed she would say the same if she was Luna instead.
A ear-splitting cry cracked the air, and Celestia by reflex crushed down the door to get to her sister. Almost running over the nurse, she grabbed her sister's hoof. “It'll be fine Luna, relax, it'll all be over soon,” though Celestia was almost as nervous as Luna. Another scream filled the air. Celestia gripped harder. With one last shuddering scream, it was done.
In a matter of seconds Luna was holding the sweetest filly. She had a fairly long mane, which was a deep blue. Her body was a light silver, and her eye colour greatly resembling her mane. Luna had settled on a name the moment her eyes met with hers. This is what it felt like to be a mother. It felt wonderful. But then she noticed a lack of horn, and the presence of wings. She hadn't really thought if she would be a alicorn or not. But now that it came to mind... Would she have powers like Celestia and herself? Celestia! She looked over quickly to see her huffing and puffing. She must have been immensely stressed. “Sister. I think I have someone in my arms who might just beat your cuteness levels.”
Her lame attempt at a joke failed, but Celestia smiled nevertheless. She leaned over to see the filly. She almost gaped. She was very, very cute. “JUST beats me? I think she beats me by a long shot!” The two sisters smiled at each other. “So what's her name?” Celestia asked.
“I'm thinking... Silver Dream.”
“What a perfect name.”
“Sister... Do you think she might have special abilities? Like us?”
“Well... Her name might give it away.”
“Do you really think...?”
“Yes, I do.”
“I guess it makes sense... But sister, how can you be sure?”
“Oh Luna, you don't think I thought about it before?”
“I guess you might have had a little more sense than me.”
A strange silence filled the room. It became heavier. You could almost feel the worry in the air. “Tia... What do we do with her?” Celestia sighed. They couldn't announce her. That would destroy Luna's reputation, and destroy the filly's childhood. But to hide her... Would that be acceptable? Maybe not fully hide her... A plan started to form. Pose her as a good friend's daughter, who lives in Canterlot Castle... Then it wouldn't be suspicious if she's running all over the place... Not suspicious at all...
Childish laughter filled the room as Luna proceeded to chase the little filly. Luna groaned. It must have been the 17th time that she had to catch Silver Dream from running into the kitchens while waiting for breakfast. Since Silver had learned how to run proficiently she had become a little nightmare.
"Just wait till she learns how to use those wings of hers." Luna jumped at Celestia's voice. "Let me," Celestia said as she levitated Silver. "You don't need to show off that you have a bigger reach," grumbled Luna. Celestia threw her a sharp look. "Thanks Tia," she said more kindly. "But you might want to have her seated before she throws a fit," Luna smirked as she pointed at Silver who was flailing around in Celestia's magic. Sheepishly she placed the filly in the high chair. Silver pouted but quickly shifted her intrest to a piece of her hair, and battered at it intensely.
The young waiter walked in, quickly placed meal and rushed out, obviously very nervous. "Maybe we should put a little less stress on the staff," noted Luna to her sister. Celestia shrugged. "We can't change ponies thinking that we have very high expectations. But anyways, are you ready?" Luna sighed, and nodded.
Luna and Celestia took their positions. "Stage One," Luna said with a tiny hesitation. She felt ridiculous doing this, but it was necessary for the battle that was about to happen. Grabbing Silver's fours hooves, and making sure they couldn't move, she nodded to Celestia. "Stage Two." Celestia turned to get the grass soup. Silver knew what was happening, and had a determined glare. "Stage Three," Celestia said, giving back a equally determined stare. "Here... Comes... The aeroplane!"
Celestia charged in, Silver refusing to open her mouth. Luna could feel Silver struggling under her hooves. How much power can one little filly have? She thought to herself. Celestia was using two of her hooves to try and jam Silver's jaw open, levitating the spoon and soup. "Why... Won't... This... Open!" With one last tug and in a split second, the spoon was in the mouth. Celestia sighed with relief, and Luna relaxed her grip. Silver took advantage of the moment, and spit the soup in Celestia's face, quickly wriggled out and landed on the floor, using her wings to soften her landing. Laughing childishly and running away as fast as she could, she left the sisters stunned and distraught. "Here we go again," said the sisters in unison.
~ ~ ~
It was almost lunch time, and Silver had only just finished her breakfast. She frolicked happily around the room, inspecting everything for long periods of time, and attacking her own tail a bit too often then seemed healthy. Luna and Celestia collapsed on the bed, tired out beyond compare. "How do mothers alone cope?" Breathed out Luna, huffing and puffing. "I personally think that it's all a conspiracy and mothers are actually superhero's that are saving us from babies which are robot aliens from the future," Celestia said calmly. Luna raised an eyebrow at Tia. Celestia raised an eyebrow back. "Now you see," Luna said with concern, "I don't know if you're joking or not."
"Find out," Celestia said, again, calmly. Luna hoped she was joking, but she was too tired to continue the conversation.
Luna glanced at the clock and sighed. "Wanna ask someone else to do the lunch war?" Celestia looked with her with a glare. "Did you even need to ask that question?" Silver suddenly jumped on the bed, causing a chain reaction and making the sisters jump. She stared with big, curious, and slightly scared eyes. Luna and Celestia looked back confused. Silver proceeded to slowly step in the middle of the sisters. She smiled at Luna, and curled up, and soft snores could almost be heard instantly.
"Guess she was tired too," Celestia whispered.
"I think we may have a little angel," Luna whispered back, and leant down to gently kiss Silver's cheek. She suddenly understood. What fuelled mothers. How she would do anything for her daughter. Nothing else mattered now. As long as her daughter was happy, she could do anything. She smiled softly and rested her head, and fell asleep almost instantly.
Celestia softly climbed out, got the spare blanket and covered the perfect pair. "Sweet dreams, or should a say the sweet dream in the graceful night?" she whispered, turning off the lights and softly closing the door.
~ ~ ~
Luna slowly woke up, feeling a spread of warmth coming from her chest. She sighed with happiness as she saw the little filly breathing softly. She turned her head to see the moonlight flooding in... Wait, moonlight?! Luna stepped gently out of bed, carefully not waking the little filly. In what world did Celestia think it was ok to let her sleep through her day duties AND rising the moon? She thought bitterly. Going outside gently, she asked the nearest guard where Celestia was. Not letting the gaurd finish "Your Highness" she rushed to Celestia's Chambers. She opened the door without knocking, to find a, at the least, unexpected scene.
Sipping coffee, Celestia calmly looked at Luna. "I was wondering when you'd wake up. Now, I took care of everything, and yes I worked double and raised the moon. But trust me, you'll thank me later when you have to start doing the mothering yourself for these royal duty breaks." Luna's jaw stood agape. Sometimes it was annoying how well Celestia knew her. She shut the door angrily behind her to leave a chuckling Celestia. "Typical."
She went back to her chambers, and turned on the lights to the filly crying. She must have woken up. Luna didn't know what to do. Silver didn't really cry much, more being of a mischievous character. She facehoofed, realising that you don't just stand at the door when your daughter is crying. She rushed over and picked her up into her hooves and sat down on the bed. "Shhh, don't worry, everything's fine," she whispered as she rocked her side to side. The sobs eventually died down. How could she think leaving a filly in a dark room alone was a good idea? She thought, scolding herself in her head over and over and over. Her tummy grumbled. She hadn't eaten since yesterday, missing out of breakfast. "Why don't we get a late night snack?" She said to Silver. She just looked up with curious eyes as she was levitated down the hallway.
~ ~ ~
Celestia was eating breakfast while reading the Equestrian Times newspaper as Luna was feeding a suddenly much more behaved Silver. Glancing over the rumour column, she went on to read about the movie review for Harry Trotter. Wait... Her eyes snapped back to the rumour column.
Reliable sources say that there's been a filly staying at Canterlot Castle, that is overly suspicious. The filly has been getting intense daily care directly from the Princesses. They claim that it's a very good friend's filly, who has her hooves too full, but are they telling the truth? Make of it as you will, but in other interesting news...
Oh no. It was just a little segment in a rumour column, but this meant they were arousing attention.
"Hey Luna?"
"Yeah?"
"Remember when I said this plan wouldn't be suspicious at all?"
"...Yeah?"
"Well let's just say I can't say that anymore."
~ ~ ~
