MLP: The Second Chapter

Flurry Heart bounced around Starlight as she escorted the royal family into the room to see Twilight and the new foal. When they got there, Flurry ran up to her aunt's side. "Can I see her?! Can I see her?!" The young one asked excitedly. Twilight looked over and gave Flurry a tired smile. Flurry was surprised at just how unkempt Twilight looked. Did Aunt Twily have an accident? She asked herself.

"Of course you can see her, Flurry," Twilight said with exhaustion lacing her voice, "but we'll have to wait a minute. Your Uncle Flash and the doctors are making sure she's happy and healthy."

"Aunt Twily, you look like you've worked hard!" Flurry said in amazement

"Well," Twilight said, "I have been working hard. Delivering a foal is no easy task."

"It's not?"

Flurry cocked her small head to one side and Twilight stifled a smile. She didn't want to make the young filly's questions seem unimportant, but at the same time, the way she asked them was so cute. She just couldn't help but crack a smile at the innocence and youthful vigor with which she inquired about things.

"No, sweetie, it's not," Twilight said as her breathing tightened up a bit, "and I'm still in a good bit of pain."

"Oh, that's right! Mommy told me! The foal came from inside you!"

Once again, Twilight had to stifle her laughter. Flurry was so amazed at the concept that a pony could be birthed out of its mother. She remembered when she was a young foal and she had asked her parents the same type of questions. She wished she could recapture that youthful feeling, but as it was, she was a mother now. The realization of that came crashing in like a weight. But it was a weight that she wanted to bear.

She and Flash had discussed having a foal for quite some time and finally went for it. She remembered the day she went to a normal doctor's visit and came back with the exciting news. Flash went nuts when he found out he was going to be a father. He covered Twilight's face with kiss after kiss and then went and spread the word around Ponyville. The days that followed were days of rejoicing and great celebration for the entire town.

She remembered the wonderful shower that the mares of the town had thrown for her. All of her best friends had attended, and she remembered, with a combination of annoyance and amusement, how Pinkie Pie had eaten too much cake and then proceeded to vomit the contents of her stomach out the window. It had landed on a hapless guard and he ran around the bottom of the castle tree until he ran into the building itself. Other than that, it had been a wonderful occasion for all involved. She had been absolutely bombarded with presents and letters from around Equestria.

But the most special time of all had been the time that Princesses Celestia and Luna had personally visited her to wish her well and offer their congratulations. She remembered Celestia's advice to her: "a mother is much different from a friend. A mother must be orderly, dutiful, observant, and she must ensure that her offspring is the most obedient and courteous pony that they can be. But a mother must also be a bearer of all of the Elements of Harmony. Honesty, kindness, loyalty, generosity, laughter, and yes, even magic, for there is an element of magic in motherhood that is unmatched by anything in the world."

I wonder what she meant by that, Twilight thought as Celestia's words coursed through her mind. She was so lost in thought that she forgot Flurry was standing right there until she felt a small hoof tug on her foreleg. She turned back to see Flurry standing there, her blue eyes wide with excitement and impatience. "When can I see the new filly?!" Her niece asked urgently.

"Flurry!" Cadance said sharply, "be nice! You'll see the new foal when you see her!"

"Don't worry, Flurry," Twilight said, "she'll be out soon."

As soon as she said that, Flash Sentry came back in the room. He carefully cradled a small bundle in one of his wings. "Twily," he said lovingly, "meet your new daughter." He used a feather to pull back the bundle's covering and there lay the cutest little filly Flurry had ever seen. "Wow," the young princess breathed, "she's beautiful!"

"Indeed, she is," Twilight said with tears in her eyes as she held her daughter for the first time. "Hi, there," she said softly, "welcome to the world." Flash stepped forward and put a gentle hoof around his daughter's small head. He gave Twilight a look filled with love and devotion, and she reflected it.

"Congratulations, Twily!" Shining Armor said softly, "she's absolutely perfect."

"Thanks, BBBFF," Twilight said, using her special nickname for her brother, "you're right. She's so wonderful."

Dr. Horseton, who had delivered the new baby, stepped forward. "May I offer my congratulations as well. This room is so full of absolute love right now, I truly believe it could light up your home, Prince Shining Armor." This remark was met with laughter from Shining and his family. Twilight smiled, but was way too tired to laugh. Dr. Horseton did have one question for her, though. "What's the child's name?"

"Oh, yes, Auntie Twily! What's her name?! What's her name?!" Flurry asked in excitement.

"Flurry, be still," her father softly ordered, "the baby's asleep."

"Oh, sorry," Flurry whispered.

Twilight looked over the foal with love in her eyes. Her daughter's coat was a little darker than she thought she would be. She was something of a combination of her purple coat and her husband's bright orange coat. She had a horn, so Twilight knew she was at least a unicorn, but the big question remained: was she an Alicorn?

So Twilight pulled back the wrapping a little more and, sure enough, there were wings on her daughter's sides. "She's an Alicorn!" Twilight whispered excitedly, "and she carries with her the beauty of Luna's night combined with the brightness of Celestia's day. I think her name should be…Midnight Sun." The ponies all agreed that this was an excellent name, so young Midnight Sun began her journey through life.

Over the next few days, Twilight rested and recovered from the birth. She went from feeding Midnight to resting and repeated that process over and over and over again. Cadance helped out with the foal whenever she could, and Twilight's mother, Twilight Velvet, soon arrived and helped out as well.

After a while, they were able to take Midnight's small wrapping off and look at her properly. They noticed that there was a small part of her towards her left flank that was deep purple, like her mother, and another small part of her towards her right flank that was bright orange, like her father. Her facial features didn't tell the full story, and even when Twilight checked to see if she had wings, she hadn't noticed these spots.

One day, who should show up on the castle step but Zecora? She asked to see the new foal, and Starlight led her to Twilight's room where she and the foal were sleeping peacefully. Starlight looked on the small one with affection, but she noticed that Zecora's face carried a look of utter dread and absolute hostility. She knew she should get the medicine zebra out of there as quick as possible. So, not wanting to wake up either Twilight or Midnight, she shoved her out in the hall.

"What the hay was that look, Zecora?!" Starlight asked in a rage, "how could you look at a sweet, innocent foal like that?!"

"Listen close, and heed my word

Starlight Glimmer, note what you've heard

That young one there exactly matches

The pony I've seen in recent batches

In my slumber, I have dreamt of her

She ignores friendship and becomes a cur

All of Equestria should be forewarned

And run far away from this young one's horn

With her magic, she shall do damage

And become someone who is most savage

Her decrees of death shall be met with hate

For she shall be the burden of Equestria's fate

Do not let her rule, do not let her lead

Unlike her mother, she shall not heed

The Elements of Harmony and their creed

Within death's soil, she'll plant her seed

So, Starlight Glimmer, I beg you, listen

To Canterlot, you now must hasten

Warn Princess Celestia and Luna as well

And now, my rhyme is done, and I must say farewell."

With that, Zecora gave a small respectful bow and left the castle. Starlight's mouth had hung wide open throughout Zecora's dark poetry. Midnight is going to be a monster? She thought, she's gonna decree death and destruction throughout Equestria? No! No, that's crazy! She's Twilight's daughter, and Twilight could teach friendship to an angry timber wolf! Still, though, that look in Zecora's eyes. I can't get it out of my head! She looked as if the entire world was going to be destroyed at Midnight's hooves!

Starlight knew that Zecora believed in the Elements of Harmony just as much as anypony. She also knew that Zecora would never speak against Twilight or her family unless she absolutely meant it. I have to take this seriously, Starlight said, after all, Zecora's never once lied about anything! I have to get to Canterlot and speak with Princess Celestia. So she packed a small saddlebag and quickly departed for the royal capital city, forgetting to leave something explaining where she was off to. She knew she had to get to Celestia, at all costs.