PATERNAL SCANDAL OF ROYAL PROPORTIONS!
Dusk Shine, newly crowned alicorn prince of only a few months, now Equestria's newest playcolt?

Yes, Dusk Shine certainly proved to be quite popular with the Equestrian citizenry after his coronation, especially with the mares who are simply infatuated with their new male ruler. If the latter is to be believed, though, then recent rumors circulating about the prince in question might hold some actual weight after all. Keep in mind that these are still rumors and that nothing have been confirmed as of yet, but sources say that somewhere out there are four, perhaps even up to eight or nine, mares, all of which are carrying Prince Dusk's alleged unborn foals. Even juicier still, word of mouth suggests that these unnamed mares are all pregnant at the same time! Is Dusk Shine a two/nine-timing sexual deviant, or is there something more provocative at play in that crystal castle of his?

Regardless of the scandalous implications, political experts suggest that (should the rumors prove to be true) multiple foals produced by the prince could pose problems in the future, as only one of Prince Dusk Shine's progeny may inherit the throne should he step down from his position or something untimely were to happen to him. Thankfully, the Prince has proved himself time and time again to be quite capable a leader, so he'll hopefully have set up a proper line of succession by then. At least this writer hopes so, as she wouldn't like a civil war, like the one the two princesses had almost over a thousand years prior, to happen in her life time.

--Key Tapper

Trixie set down the newspaper and stared once more at the article she had read almost word for word three times already. She originally swiped it off somepony's welcome mat so she could read the funny pages while enjoying her breakfast, but never would she have imagined that the newspaper would contain some actual news for once! Being best friends with Dusk Shine's apprentice, and having her home parked to the side of his crystal castle, Trixie had noticed one or two things happening around the alicorn. How close his five female friends were to him, for one, and especially the baby bumps they had all started to show almost simultaneously.

Perhaps not simple gossip after all, she thought.

"Hmm," she hummed inquisitively, leaning back in her seat and resting her rear hooves over her breakfast nook. "Didn't think prude and by the numbers Dusk Shine had it in him to go and put a bun in all of his little friends' ovens. Buns that'll grow to be royalty, no less. I wonder..."

Trixie rubbed her chin with her hoof. A thought was starting to form in the back of her mind, yet she couldn't quite grasp what it was. It wasn't until her eyes glossed over the article's excerpt mentioning succession again and again that the thought solidified.

"That's it!" she exclaimed, her chair being knocked back as she suddenly rose to her hooves. "Dusk Shine, you shrewd stallion, always thinking two steps ahead, I see what you're doing. Haven't been in power more than a year and already you're looking to groom a worthy heir. Surely that must be it."

Putting on her showmare smile, Trixie stood tall and proudly wiped her hoof over her chest.

"Well, if that's the case, then the Great and Powerful Trrrixie would be more than happy to lend her great and powerful genes. After all, if anypony is guaranteed to give birth to Equestria's next ruler, it's moi."

Trixie's confidence was short-lived, however, as she remembered one crucial detail that would prevent her from being the proud mother of a prince or princess. Trixie and Dusk Shine don't exactly see eye to eye, and they only tolerate each other for Starlight's sake...

Her eyes showing slight concern, Trixie's posture wavered. "Right. That... might be a problem... N-no matter. We can work around this, we can... can..."

Trixie paced up and down the small space of her home, her mind dead set on finding a solution to her dilemma. Within moments, she stopped forth and tapped the floor, an idea having popped in her head.

"Oh, I know! Trixie can just seduce him!" Slowly, Trixie's hopeful smile slacked until it was completely neutral. "Actually, n-no. If he was ever interested, surely he would have made advancements on us long ago, as no stallion alive can resist our charm. Truth be told, Trixie always sort of thought he was gay, and she still holds suspicions."

Once again, she paced.

"Mm, no, not spiking anypony's drink again, especially after that incident with the mimes... Trixie could harvest one of his testicles while he's asleep, but that means buying a cooler... and ice. Don't own a private island for us to miraculously be marooned on... yet... Oh this is getting Trixie nowhere!"

Trixie paced and paced, eventually stomped in her frustration. She couldn't believe it, she was this close to being the mother to royalty and a stupid thing like Dusk not liking her was standing in the way of that! She had to figure a way around that, she just had to.

As Trixie continued to fume, she accidentally bumped against her coat rack, causing it to careen before falling over. With it fell her signature hat and cape, which both landed at Trixie's hooves. Setting her dissatisfaction aside for the moment, Trixie picked up the rack and put it back in its place. Right as she was about to do the same for her get up, Trixie stopped and stared at them. Or to be more precise, the star design embroiled all over them. They reminded her of someone, someone that Dusk Shine really seemed to...

She eyed the hat, cape, then hat again before it finally hit her.

"Of course!" she announced before dashing over to the trunk at the end of her bed. She lifted the container's lid, her rump swaying left and right as she immediately dug through its contents.

Playing cards, stage wands, old retainer, private aids, all were tossed over her shoulder without so much as a second glance. Once she got near the bottom of the container, however, that was when she found it. It didn't look like much, just an old scroll kept safe in a storage tube, but it was something Trixie had squirreled away for quite some time.

She was originally planning to later flaunt it in Dusk's face when the time came, but she supposed it had a second use she could exploit. Trixie had a lot of planning to do, lots of gussying up before paying Dusk Shine a visit. For the time being, however, she was content with holding the tube close to her chest, a mischievous smile spreading across her face.

"Mark our words, Dusk Shine: You will be putting royalty in Trixie."

Author's Note

Like the story? Wanna show your support? Wanna help me build up some convention funds? Then consider becoming a patron on my patreon!