MLP: The Second Chapter

A few days after Sunlight came into existence, Twilight was allowed to return back to the castle. It seemed odd that she had to be told when she was allowed to do something, considering her royal status, but she just nodded her head and went with the doctor's advice. After all, he knew way more about her circumstances than she did. Yes, she had read the entire Ponyville Hospital Guide to Giving Birth 45 times, but even with that knowledge, she trusted the doctor way more than she trusted herself.

So it was that she was helped out of bed by a unicorn nurse and into a wheelchair. The nurse used her magic to push Twilight out of the hospital as the princess held her new foal close to her chest. The young one was asleep, and her breathing was nice and steady. She had opened and closed her eyes repeatedly over the past few days, and every time she opened them Twilight felt a new sense of love and wonder wash over her.

Outside the hospital, Flash was waiting to pick her up in a royal coach. He waved at her and she waved back before they got on board. Flash scooted next to her and kissed her cheek as he gave an affectionate look to Sunlight. The little filly opened her eyes and stretched her jaws wide in a yawn. She gave her father a bit of an indeterminate look, as babies are wont to do. It was as if to ask, "where did you come from?"

Both parents beamed at the little one as their coach pulled up to the Castle of Friendship. Their friends were all waiting there, with smiles as big as the cakes that Sugarcube Corner was now churning out regularly. But another someone made their presence known. It was Zecora and, instead of giving the occasion a hostile look, she was beaming as well. Twilight smiled at the kind zebra.

"Hello, Zecora," she said, "would you like to see Sunlight?"

The zebra nodded eagerly. "Yes, my dear Twilight, I would like to see the newest member of the royal family." Twilight grinned at the zebra's rhyme as she pulled back Sunlight's blanket. The small foal had her blue eyes open wide and she stared up at Zecora. The zebra smiled down. "Hello there, young one, welcome to the world. You shine brighter than the brightest of pearls. Twilight, my dear, I must commend, for Equestria, she will not apprehend."

At this cryptic statement, Twilight's look turned neutral. "Do…you have another prophecy, Zecora?"

Zecora nodded and launched into a new rhyme:

"Indeed, Twilight, you shall see,

That I have another prophecy.

But unlike the last, this one is not all dark.

Upon Equestria, this little foal shall make her mark.

But unlike Midnight, dark and twisted,

Her mark shall be made in friendship.

I have had good dreams about her, I must confess

This young one shall become an amazing princess

But, as with a lot of prophecies, there is a side

To this one that is not kind

In three years, beware the Summer Sun Celebration

Normally, this is a time of complete elation

All of Equestria gathers and shares

Hopes and dreams beneath the orb of the Great White Mare

But beware this Summer Sun, dear Twilight

For it holds a dark future for our precious Sunlight

Now, once again, my rhyme is complete

So, I now bow and I take my leave."

With that, the zebra bowed, kissed the small foal on the head and left. But before she went, she shared a small gift with Twilight and Flash: a potion she had concocted to help the young one heal from various youthful ailments. As she left, Twilight and Flash shared a look. What could this new prophecy mean? What could the Summer Sun Celebration in three summers mean for their beloved Sunlight? The parents leaned into each other and shared a tender kiss. They knew that, whatever came their way, they would face it together.