The Cantelot Castle was buzzing with life as maids and servants went here and there, noble ponies and members of the court busying themselves with things such as taxes and other boring stuff like that.

However, in the east towers was a small group of ponies waiting anxiously outside a door. This group consisted of Princess Starling and Prince Flash Sentry, their two children, Nova Star and Night Shield, Firestreak, his daughter Flaming Sun and his parents, Fire Shine and Lightning Flare.

Starling, the daughter of Night Light and Twilight Velvet, had a light bluey-greyish coat, a wavy and curled dark blue and light purple mane and light green eyes. On her head rested a silver five-pointed crown with light purple gems sitting at the tips. Her horn was alight with a light purple aura, holding back her three-month-old son from zipping around and breaking things.

Night Shield was a light orange pegasus colt who loved nothing more than to zip everywhere and watching guards perform their drills. His mane was navy blue with single light purple stripes and lined with blue-grey colouring. His dark blue eyes darted around searching for a way to escape. His six-year-old sister, Nova Star, was watching him in amusement, knowing her little brother wouldn’t be able to get away. She was a unicorn, just like Starling before she became an alicorn. Her coat was the same as her mother’s, but it was a bit lighter. Her mane was dark purple with dark blue stripes and blue-grey colouring, and her teel eyes were alight with happiness.

Flaming Sun was six years old, and, just like Nova, a unicorn as well. Flaming had a snowy-white coat like her fathers, but had inherited her mother’s teel eyes. Her mane was shades of light red, orange and yellow, and her eyes were watching her father curiously as he paced around the hallway frantically.

Firestreak, who was normally calm and collected, was fretting and talking to himself. Flash deadpanned at him, and moved in his path, hoof stretched out.

“W-What if something happens to Sunset? To the baby? What if the filly isn’t healthy? What if-“ he was cut off by a hoof jamming into his muzzle, clearly intended to stop him.

Flash said, exasperated, “Dude. Seriously. Chill.”

Firestreak moved his hoof away and retaliated, “Well, if i recall, you were acting the same way when Nova and Night were born!”

“Touche. Since that’s true, then i know from experience that freaking out and jumping ahead doesn’t help anything. So seriously. Chill.”

Starling smiled gently at Firestreak and said, “We’re all worried about her. But Sunset is strong. She’ll manage, i promise.”

Not too long later, Princess Celestia and Starswirl were catching up while taking a little stroll through the castle. Starswirl was attempting to convince Celestia of something, however, he was failing miserably.

“Celestia, I will remind you once more, Luna. Is. Right. Or are you too afraid of admitting that?”

The alicorn replied, rather reluctantly, “Well...”

The large hallway doors burst open with a small flash of light and Starling raced in, yelling, “CELESTIA! COME QUICK!”

Fearing for the worst, she said, “Starling, what happened?! Is everything alright?”

Beaming, Star replied, “It’s better than alright! Sunset just had her baby!”

“Oh, really?! That’s wonderful! May I see her?”

Starling rolled her eyes slightly and said, “Well, of course!”

Starswirl had a thought, and his eyes widened slightly at the realization. It... there was a chance... a small chance, but pehaps it was true... there was only one way to find out.

He said calmly and carefully, “I think I will come see the foal as well. I have a feeling...”

Starling quietly opened the door and said playfully, “Knock, knock! Anyone home?”

Star smiled when she heard a chuckle and Sunset replying, “Just get in here, would you, Star?”

Starling gestured to the other two, saing, “I hope you don’t mind, but I brought a couple of guests.”

Celestia looked at Sunset, who looked positively exhausted. The amber unicorn’s mane was a mess and there were bags under her eyes, but much to her relief, she looked to be perfectly fine, and she was cradling a small teel bundle.

“Celestia... meet Firebird Phoenix.”, she said, in a strong, clear voice.

Celestia looked at the little filly resting peacefully, her eyes calmly closed, wrapped in a teel blanket. The little unicorn had a pale yellow coat and creamy white markings on her ears and horn from her grandmare, and she assumed that her hooves had markings as well. Her mane was pale yellow, with a little curl at the tip and small pale orange and pale red streaks. For a newborn, Firebird’s horn was abnormally long for her age, as long as Starling’s, but she shook that off. Her eyes slowly opened snd she gave a tiny yawn, and Celestia saw for the first time that her eyes were pale rosy pink. Gently using her magic, Celestia brought the filly over to her and gently held in her wing, saying, “She is beautiful.”

To her own, and everypony’s surprise, something under the blanket began rustling. A split second later, everypony gasped in shock as a huge pair of wings poomphed out! They were pale yellow, like the rest of her coat, but there were creamy white markings on the tips of her wings, and, the ends were gradient with pale pink.

The baby giggled happily, unaware that she was being stared at by everyone present.

Flash then stated bluntly, “Well... that was unexpected.”

Starling deadpanned him and face-hoofed.

Sunset finally managed to stutter, “I-I don’t understand. How is this even remotely possible?! Neither me or Firestreak have any alicorn blood, h-how? How did this happen?!”

Starswirl bit his lip for a moment, the sighed and answered, “I do not know how she is an alicorn, but it seems that my suspicions were indeed correct. The time for the Guardians to arise is approaching. She is indeed one of them.”

Sunset and Firestreak glanced at each other and Firestreak asked nervously, “The-The time for the Guardians? What suspicions? Why are you suspecting Firebird?”

“I cannot say. But I do know that she has a very intriguing future ahead of her... not all of it good, i’m afraid.”

Fire Shine said anxiously, eyes wide with fear, “Firebird won’t be in any danger, will she?”

“I... I do not know. I am not sure if it is wise to tell...”

Lokking at Starswirl pleadingly, Starling then spoke up, “Please, Starswirl. I think we ought to know.”

The elderly unicorn looked at their pleading faces, and as afraid as he was, he knew that they would not be able to rest without knowing at least something.

“Well, if it will put your minds at ease, then I will tell you. I do know much, but I will tell what I know.”

“Firebird will face many challenges throughout her life. Trials of loyalty, friendship and love, courage and fears. Along with many other individuals, she shall live through trial and suffering, joy and sorrow, light and dark, love and hate, and these challenges will continue on throughout her whole life. But through each trial, she will always learn something new, coming to find herself and making her a better pony each time.”

“I know not who these individuals are, nor do I know where they are. But I do know this: that through each trial, their bond will become stronger each and every time.”

Though they didn’t understand most of it, Nova and Flaming did understand one part of all that.

“So, basically, my sister and a bunch of other ponies are gonna be in danger their whole lives? I don’t think that’s any fun...” Flaming said, ears drooping slightly.

Celestia kneeled down so that het eyes were level with the fillies, and said softly, “In a way, yes, but you heard what he said. Not all off their lives will be bad. Firebird and all the other ponies will have each other. And you girls know how powerful friendship is. Right?”

The fillies then chanted together, “The magic of friendship is the most powerful thing of all!”

“That’s right. And as long as your sister keeps that with her, Flaming, nothing super bad will ever happen. Okay?”

Smiling, Nova and Flaming said, “Okay, Auntie Tia!”

Without warning, Firebird’s pale pink aura enveloped her horn and with a small pop, the filly disappeared. There was a small moment of panic until she appeared in Flaming’s hooves, cooing softly and nuzzling her. While rather startled, the unicorn couldn’t help but giggle as her baby sister clung to her neck with tiny hooves.

Flaming then said happily, “I promise, Phoeny, i’m gonna be the best big sister ever!”

Firestreak chuckled and placed a hoof on Flaming’s shoulder, saying, “I know you will, Flamy.”

“We all know.”

Author's Note

Okay, so some of you might be a teensie-weensie bit confused about Starling. So, basically, in my universe, the PhoenixVerse (really need to think of a better name), I made it so that the mane six, their siblings and a few other characters would actually LOOK like their parents. Don’t get me wrong, I love the original characters! but it’s always bugged me that while the colouring is similar, they don’t actually look like their parents. So, yeah. Some of them i’ve kept the same as the originals, but with mine i’ve changed everything from the styles to the cutie marks. don’t worry, though, the personalities are still the same, so i don’t need to go into all that. yay. I don’t take any credit for the FIM characters, all rights go towards Hasbro and Lauren Faust.
If this story works out, then you can guarantee that more are coming your way!
Signing out till next time, Firebird Phoenix