Fillies of the Night

Chapters

The Arrival
Splish Splash
To The Moon And Back
Unexpected News And A New Arrival
Dream Patrol
Crowns and Crushes
The Coronation
The Coronation Ball
On the Brink of War
Big Changes
Tragedy Strikes
Summer In The Midst Of Winter
Small And White, Clean And Bright
A Gift From The Heavens
Three Precious Days

The Arrival

The night was cold and silent, and it seemed to sigh with relief after the end of the two-day snowstorm that had just deposited its final remnants onto Canterlot. The frigid wind ushered the snow clouds out, polishing the dark blue sky and repelling the clouds with its icy breath. The aurora borealis shimmered above Equestria, reflecting off the sparkling snow as if the fluffy white blanket were a giant diamond. The watery streams of colorful light pulsed and danced like some kind of supernatural, luminescent cloud, their brilliance streaming into one of the bedchambers of Canterlot Castle, where Princess Luna's swollen flank rose and fell as she crumpled to her knees. Pain seared through her hindquarters. Liquid gushed down her legs as her water broke. Luna snorted and lay down on her side on the cool blue floor of her bedchamber.

"Phoebus, it's happening!" she called to her husband. The gray thestral stallion galloped to her side and nuzzled her gently.

"Luna, sweetheart, everything will be all right," he assured her. "I'm going to call the midwife and your sister. Just breathe, okay?"

"I want to go to the hospital!" Luna screamed. "Take me there now! We can call everypony on the way there."

"No, honey. You insisted on a home birth, and you told me not to take you to the hospital, no matter how much you begged."

"Eeeuuuggghhh, I hate you for this!" she screamed.

Princess Celestia, Prince Sombra, their three-year-old daughter, Summer, and Luna's midwife, Pure Heart, arrived at Luna's bedchamber within minutes. Celestia got there first and trotted to Luna's bedside. Phoebus stood by the bed, stroking Luna’s sweat-soaked forehead. Luna’s pregnancy had been difficult from the beginning; just after realizing her period was late, she had begun to suffer from hyperemesis gravidarum—morning sickness with vomiting so severe that she was unable to keep any fluids down through the entirety of her first trimester. She became dehydrated at around eight weeks pregnant and was sent to the emergency room, but luckily the doctors had managed to save her and the foal before things could get worse. As soon as she could feel the foal inside her, Luna had memorized her baby’s waking and sleeping hours, obsessively counting the foal’s kicks to make sure there was never too little or too much movement. Through all of this, though, she had enjoyed being pregnant, decorating the nursery with a wall of stars, choosing everything from the crib to the changing table, and picking out little toys for the foal. She had constantly talked to the foal, rubbing her belly every time she felt a kick. She and Phoebus had decided not to know the sex of the foal until he or she was born, so the nursery had a color scheme of dark blue and white.

"Breathe, Luna," Celestia encouraged her sister. She vividly remembered the agony of labor, and her heart went out to her younger sister as she writhed and moaned in pain. Summer whined, and Celestia gave the filly to Sombra so she could focus on Luna.

"Tia, I can't breathe!" Luna cried through gritted teeth. She felt as if her body was being torn apart from the inside.

"Yes, you can, little sister," Tia reassured her. “Mares give birth to foals every day, Luna. You can do this.”

“Okay, the foal is almost out," Pure Heart announced. "It's time to push, Your Majesty. Push as hard as you can, okay?"

"I can't!" Luna shrieked. "Phoebus, why did you do this to me, you bastard?"

"Just push, okay, honey? You can do it." Phoebus nuzzled her forehead gently.

"The foal is crowning!" Pure Heart said. "You're almost done, Ma’am. Just one more push."

As her body’s natural urge to push took over, Luna screamed and pushed as hard as she could. Suddenly, a small but loud cry pierced the air, and the nurse said, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, it's a filly!"

"You did so well, my love," Phoebus praised her, kissing his wife's forehead. Then, all of a sudden, Luna was holding her daughter for the first time. The newborn filly had a turquoise coat, a glistening crystalline horn, a long, flowing, pink, purple and turquoise mane and tail, two fluffy, pointed, bat-like ears, and two tiny bat wings.

"Oh, she is so beautiful! And she's a thestral alicorn!" Luna gasped in shock. The foal's cries softened to whimpers as she cuddled into her mother's chest. She yawned, blinked sleepily, and looked up at Luna with big, ice-blue eyes.

"Hello, my precious little one," Luna whispered, gently nuzzling her daughter’s face and softly kissing the filly’s head. "Hi, sweetie! Ohhh, you’re so tiny! Mommy and Daddy love you so much." She kissed the filly's head again and gave her to Phoebus, who smiled blissfully.

"You're perfect, aren't you, little angel?" he whispered to the filly,

"Do you know what you're going to name her?" Celestia asked, reaching out to gently stroke her newborn niece's head.

"Neoma," Luna said, looking down lovingly at the filly. “My beloved new moon, Princess Neoma Esme.”

Splish Splash

Author's Note

WARNING: CUTENESS OVERLOAD. Obligatory song link here: https://youtu.be/QSA-yHzkvP8

Splish Splash

The next morning, Luna lowered the moon and went back to sleep until early afternoon, when she was awakened by Neoma’s cries.

"I'll get her, honey," Phoebus offered. "You had a hard day yesterday, and you need to rest."

"No." Luna shook her head. "I'm her mother, so I need to go get her."

"You've been hogging her since she was born, and you're probably pretty sore, aren't you?" Phoebus said. "Let me take care of her." He started to get up, but Luna stopped him.

"I have not gotten to change her yet," she protested, "and she is due for a feeding anyway. Oh, and another thing: I have decided that I am not going to use any magic to take care of her. I want to be as hooves-on as possible." Before Phoebus could object, Luna trotted into the nursery. Her husband groaned and went back to sleep.

"Hello, little Neoma. Shhhh, it's alright, sweetie. Mommy's right here," she cooed, picking up the foal and cuddling her close. Her diaper was heavy. Luna took the filly to the changing table and grabbed a new diaper. She quickly discarded Neoma’s wet diaper, wiped her clean, and put on her new diaper.

"There we go, good as new," Luna said proudly, leaning down to blow raspberries on Neoma’s tummy, then gently squeezing the foal’s chubby little legs. Neoma giggled as Luna tossed her wet onesie into the hamper and dressed her in a new one. "I bet you're hungry, aren't you, sweetie?" Luna sat down in the rocking chair and offered her teat, and Neoma started to nurse. I was born to be a mother, Luna thought as she watched her tiny daughter eat.

A few days later, Luna and Phoebus threw a party to introduce their daughter to extended family and close friends. Celestia, Sombra, and Summer arrived with Cadance, Shining Armor, Flurry Heart, and Princess Twilight Sparkle, along with Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy.

"Aunt Luna!" Cadance said, trotting into the nursery. She curtsied, hugged her aunt, and peered down at Neoma, who was napping in her bassinet. She was closely followed by Twilight. "Congratulations, she's adorable! How are you feeling?"

"Tired, but we have never been happier," Luna replied. "We can't believe this little filly is ours!" Phoebus kissed his wife's cheek and beamed proudly at Neoma.

"I wonder what kind of powers she'll have," Twilight said. "The only other naturally-born alicorn is Flurry Heart."

"We are not sure," Luna said, "but she will learn how to be a princess from the best teachers." Twilight grinned, and Neoma stirred, stretching and whimpering. She opened her eyes and made the cutest little crying noise. Luna's heart melted, but at the same time a horrible smell wafted up from Neoma’s cradle. When she looked in, Luna could see that Neoma’s pink and yellow onesie was covered in poop.

"Oops, baby's first blowout! We will be right back," Luna said, carrying Neoma upstairs to the nursery. She lay the foal down on the changing table and unsnapped Neoma’s onesie. Poop was all over her little body. Luna cleaned the foal up as best she could, but there was still poop in Neoma’s tail, on her back, all the way up to her mane, and all over her wings.

"Looks like it’s time for your very first bath, cutie pie,” Luna told Neoma, trotting to the bathroom and starting to run the bath. The “tub” was actually a huge, sloping marble pool with a shallow end and a deep end. As soon as the water was lukewarm, Luna stepped into the water, then placed Neoma into the pool with her and wet her body all over. Then, she took a new bottle of berry-scented foal shampoo and lathered it all over Neoma’s body. Neoma looked up at her mother with a bewildered expression on her face, but when she saw the bubbles, she gave Luna a big smile and gurgled at her, kicking, splashing, and waving her hooves excitedly as she tried to play with the bubbles.

"There's my little princess' smile," Luna cooed. "Want some more bubbles?" She scrubbed Neoma’s tummy, making her giggle. "Oh, does that tickle? I can do even better than that, watch this!" She lowered her head and blew raspberries on the foal's tummy, and Neoma squealed with laughter. "Okay, here comes the rinse!" Luna scooped some of the water into a cup and gently poured it over Neoma. The filly giggled loudly and kicked at the water with her front hooves, splashing Luna and soaking her mane. Before Neoma’s birth, Luna would have panicked and ordered a servant to bring her a towel, as she had once done while babysitting, but now she could only laugh and smile as she gently splashed her daughter back and started to sing a stupid song about splish-splashing and taking a bath on a Saturday night while a party happened outside. She took the washcloth, put some more shampoo on it, scrubbed the foal’s wings and back, then poured some shampoo on Neoma’s head and began to work it through her long, thick mane. Neoma gurgled and leaned into her mother’s touch.

“Does that feel good, precious?” Luna cooed to her filly as she scrubbed. “I know it must, now that all that poopy is out of your mane. You had a royal explosion, didn’t you? Goodness, what a big, messy explosion from such a little filly! How did you do that? Mommy’s so proud of you because the doctor told me a big poopy like that means you’re nice and healthy, so you gave mommy a good sign. Yes, you did!” Luna didn’t feel stupid or awkward in the slightest as she spoke and sang to Neoma in her high-pitched baby talk; though it was new to her, it somehow felt completely natural. The warmth of the water relaxed her more, and she allowed herself to savor this time bonding with her foal. She started to wash Neoma’s bottom and tail, then she washed the filly’s body again, just to make sure Neoma was completely clean. Neoma splashed Luna with her wings, kicking up suds and water with her little hooves. Laughing, Luna tickled Neoma under her chin. “You are the cutest princess in all of Equestria, little one,” she told the foal. “You’re getting mommy’s mane all wet, aren’t you?”

“Gah guh brrrrrrbbb!” Neoma kicked and splashed again, and Luna continued to sing as she splashed her daughter back playfully, using her magic to make small, gentle waves that washed over the filly. Neoma squealed with delight and flapped her wings while kicking, splashing so hard that the water frothed and smacked against the sides of the tub. Luna laughed as the water and fluffy white suds drenched her mane. Neoma giggled and splashed playfully as Luna scrubbed her body once more, still singing. She squealed excitedly when she saw the bubbles and continued to splash, covering Luna in water and bubbles and soaking the bathroom. Luna laughed harder and bent down to cover Neoma with kisses.

“That’s right, sweetie. You’re splishing and splashing just like the song says. What a smart little filly you are!” Luna cooed, tickling Neoma’s tummy again. The filly squealed with laughter and kicked her chubby little legs as hard as she could, sending up a mass of water and bubbles. Luna couldn’t stop smiling as she sang and played with Neoma, using her magic to make a small whirlpool that swirled around the foal, making Neoma laugh louder than ever. She momentarily forgot that anypony else was around; the only thing that mattered was this magic moment between Luna and her daughter. She magically conjured a speaker and music player, then she played the song through the speaker. Neoma clapped her hooves with delight and started to splash along with the song, still laughing. Though Luna knew everypony outside was probably cracking up at the sudden blast of music, she didn’t care. She danced and sang in her stupid baby voice as she washed Neoma’s body one last time, scrubbing exceptionally well to make sure the filly was extra clean, and, she admitted to herself, to extend the bath because she was having so much fun. As Luna poured water over Neoma to rinse her off for the last time, Neoma laughed and kicked at the water as hard as she could while simultaneously smacking the water with her wings, sending it everywhere. As the water and suds covered the last remaining dry strands of Luna’s mane, Luna shook with laughter and splashed her daughter back.

“How are you so adorable?” she asked Neoma. “Look at you, little princess. You’re already trying to make sure you have every bit of mommy’s attention, aren’t you?” Luna tickled the filly under her chin. She started to sing again and replayed the song, which made Neoma laugh loudly and coo as she churned up the water with her wings and hooves. Soon, both mother and daughter were dripping wet from their little water fight, and every inch of the bathroom was covered in water and bubbles.

"Haha, the splashing has been doubled!" Luna proclaimed, tickling Neoma until the foal was squealing with laughter again and coating the bathroom floor and walls in another layer of water and bubbles.

Long after Neoma was clean and she smelled fresh, Luna drained the water from the tub and scooped her daughter up in a warm, fluffy towel, then wrapped a towel around herself. After both mother and foal were dry, Luna dressed Neoma in a new diaper and onesie and took her back downstairs, where the other ponies were munching on hors d'oeuvres as they waited for the guests of honor to return. Judging by the grin on her sister’s face, Luna knew that Celestia and the others had definitely overheard her singing and stupid baby talk, and she knew her sister would definitely tease her about all of this later.

“We have returned, everypony," Luna announced, ignoring Celestia's devious smirk. “We turned Neoma’s first bath into a little party of our own.” She patted her frizzy mane and chuckled. Everypony stared at her, shocked at the dramatic change that had suddenly taken place in their sovereign. Indeed, Luna had always been kind, but she had also been cold and aloof, possibly due to her banishment, subsequent rebellion and redemption, and her struggle to adjust to the modern world after her return. As a royal, Luna could never have imagined sullying her hooves with such menial work as nursing and caring for her own foal; she had expected to have nannies who were supposed to do these things for her. This had been her mindset while she was pregnant with Neoma, but as soon as she’d first held her daughter, she had decided that nopony could take better care of Neoma than her own parents, so she and Phoebus had fired all the nannies and taken on Neoma’s care by themselves on the day their daughter was born.

"It's not a problem at all, Ma'am," Fluttershy said slowly, as surprised as everypony else at Luna’s transformation. Everypony at the table was obviously trying their hardest not to laugh.

"May I help throw her first birthday party next year, Your Majesty?" Pinkie Pie asked, trying to keep the conversation going so nopony would lose control and start laughing. "I already have so many ideas for this little cutie." She reached out and tickled Neoma’s tummy, making the foal laugh loudly.

"Of course, Pinkie Pie," Luna replied, smiling. "We were planning on asking you." Neoma cooed and babbled, reaching up to chew on some of Luna's mane, which Luna gently pushed out of the foal's reach.

“I’m helping, too, right?” Twilight asked. Her face lit up when Luna nodded. For the rest of the party, everypony passed Neoma around and fussed over her. The little filly fell asleep as everypony began to leave.

"Splish, splash, I was taking a bath," Celestia sang, mocking Luna's baby voice as she and Sombra walked upstairs to their bedchamber with Summer. She, Sombra, and Twilight, who was heading to her own bedchamber, finally fell apart laughing,

"Shut up, you three," Luna growled through gritted teeth, her face flushing with embarrassment. Phoebus laughed loudly, but Luna silenced him with a glare that said, "Stop laughing or I'll rip your throat out.”

"Sorry, Lulu," Celestia giggled. "It was just so out of character for you to act that way. Motherhood has already changed you in the best way, little sister. I never imagined you'd be the type of mother who constantly fawns over her foal, but Neoma has you wrapped around her little hoof, and it's the sweetest thing I've ever seen. You're already such an amazing mom."

"Thanks, Tia," Luna said. "Phoebus tells me that all the time, but it means a lot coming from you."

“You obviously adore her, and you’re so much more maternal than anypony thought you would be,” Twilight added. “I always thought Celestia was the more nurturing type, but seeing you turn into a doting mother almost overnight is the most wonderful thing, Luna.”

"Well, we should get some sleep," Celestia said. "Will you go raise the moon, little sister?"

"Absolutely," Luna replied. “Just let me put this little one to bed first.” She gently placed the sleeping Neoma into her crib and stroked her head lovingly.

“Oh, and Luna?” Celestia whispered, turning in the doorway of the nursery.

“Yes, sister?” Luna asked as she followed Celestia. Celestia exchanged a shit-eating grin with Twilight, then locked eyes with Luna.

“We were a-splishin’ and a-splashin’!” Celestia sang. Then she and Twilight exploded with giggles again as they turned and started to gallop off to their bedchambers before Luna could stop them.

“Not a word about this to anypony, Tia and Twilight!” Luna called to her sister in her royal Canterlot voice. “If either of you tell anypony about this, I swear that I’ll show those pictures from your bachelorette party in Las Pegasus to everypony we know, Celestia!”

“No, you won’t,” Celestia stage-whispered, trying not to wake Neoma or Summer, “because first of all, a bunch of other ponies overheard you, and secondly, if you share my bachelorette pictures with anypony, then I’ll show Nova the pictures I took at your bachelorette party, and I think your pictures are a little more scandalous than mine. Remember, Lulu, I’m not the pony who got blackout drunk at the karaoke bar!”

“No, you and Twilight started dancing on the bar in your undies, which was even worse!” Luna called after them.

“At least we can remember more of what happened!” Twilight replied from her bedchamber.

To The Moon And Back

"Mom, Dad, wake up!" five-year-old Neoma squealed as she galloped into her parents' bedroom. "It's the first day of school! Wake up, wake up, waaake uuuuppp!" She jumped on Luna, who yawned. After lowering the moon an hour earlier, she was exhausted.

"Calm down, Neoma," she groaned. "I'll be up in a minute. Go take a shower and I'll make breakfast, okay?" Neoma nodded and sped off to the bathroom. Luna chuckled and shook her head as she conjured up a plate of pancakes with a side of eggs and bacon. Neoma devoured them just as Celestia and Summer arrived at the door.

"I thought Neoma and Summer would like to walk to school together," Celestia said. Though Summer was two years Neoma’s senior, the two fillies were best friends, and Summer was fiercely protective of her younger cousin.

"Can we, Mama?" Neoma pleaded, bouncing in circles around her mother. "Please, please, pleeeeaaase?"

"I'll look after her, auntie Luna," Summer promised.

"Okay, Summer," Luna said. "You fillies be careful." She felt a lump growing in her throat. Her little filly was growing up. She wrapped Neoma in her hooves and squeezed her tight. "I love you so much, my sweet one," she whispered.

"I love you, too, Mama," Neoma said, hugging her mother.

"Have a great day, be good, and be safe," Luna told her, fighting the tears that pricked her eyes as she waved the two foals off.

"So, what's school like?" Neoma asked her cousin as they trotted down the cobblestone road that led to Canterlot Elementary School. It was a beautiful August morning; the sun was warm and bright in the cloudless blue sky. Butterflies and honeybees darted from flower to flower on both sides of the road, and birds sang cheerfully in the trees.

"It's fun," Summer assured her. "I know you're probably a little nervous, but that's normal. You're gonna be in Miss Honey's class, and she's the nicest teacher ever. You'll love her; everypony does. She always does her science class outside because she can talk to all the animals."

"Ooooh," Neoma squealed. "I can't wait to meet her!" As the pink brick school building appeared at the end of the road, however, her heartbeat began to quicken. Ponies frolicked on the playground adjacent to the school. Neoma suddenly felt very nervous. Summer seemed to sense her cousin's anxiety and rested her hoof reassuringly on Neoma’s shoulder.

"Come on, Neoma," she said, "I'll introduce you to my friends." Summer led Neoma to the blacktop, where three ponies were playing hopscotch.

"Summer!" one of the ponies sang in an operatic, soprano voice, waving and trotting toward them, closely followed by the other two. She was a beautiful white unicorn with a rose gold mane and tail and a cutie mark of a rose gold treble clef. The other two fillies—a mint green Earth pony with a hot pink mane and tail and a cutie mark of a sushi roll, and a gray Pegasus with a light blue mane and tail and a cutie mark of a cloud above a bolt of lightning—followed her closely.

"Hi, Fermata," Summer greeted the unicorn. "I want you to meet somepony. This is my little cousin, Neoma. Today is her first day here. Neoma, these are my friends, Fermata, Wasabi, and Tempest."

"Hi, Neoma. Nice to meet you," Fermata said, holding out her hoof. Her voice was naturally light, clear and melodious, and every time she spoke, she sounded like a bell.

"H-hi, nice t-to meet you," Neoma stammered shyly, looking down. Fermata's eyes softened, and she lifted Neoma’s chin so that their eyes met.

"Hey, it's okay," she said kindly. "I know you must be nervous; I remember how terrified I was on my first day, but listen, you're going to have so much fun. Everyone here is so nice and welcoming, and we'll all look out for you. Nopony is gonna tease you, because we have your back. Right, girls?" She looked over at the other ponies, who nodded.

"Absolutely," the mint green pony chimed in, stepping forward. "Hi, Neoma, I'm Wasabi. You don't have to be nervous, because everypony here is so nice. Besides, you're a princess, so I don't think you'll have much trouble fitting in here. Unfortunately, we don't all have that luxury." Her voice was syrupy, and she side-eyed Summer with a facial expression that held the tiniest dash of what looked like contempt, but the look faded as soon as Summer glanced in her direction.

"And I'm Tempest," the gray Pegasus said loudly, puffing out her chest. "I'm learning how to make storms. My mom, Rainbow Dash, is in charge of all of that kind of stuff. Wanna see what I can do?" Without waiting for an answer, Tempest took off into the sky and conjured a miniature thunderstorm, creating a bolt of lightning that cracked through the black clouds. A torrential downpour descended from the clouds, soaking all the other students. Then, she sped up and cleared the clouds from the sky so that it returned to its original brilliant blue color, and the storm ended as quickly as it had begun. Fermata sighed.

"My mom, Countess Coloratura, is principal soprano of the Canterlot Opera, but you don't hear me bragging about how I could out-sing anypony in this school," she said to Neoma, rolling her eyes dramatically.

"I heard that!" Tempest called in mock anger. Neoma giggled as the two fillies teased each other. Suddenly, the school bell rang, and everypony galloped into the school building.

Once Neoma found her classroom, she was greeted by a gold-colored unicorn with a slightly lighter gold, iridescent mane and tail and a cutie mark of a beehive surrounded by honeybees.

"Hello, Neoma," the mare said sweetly. "My name is Miss Honey, and I'll be your teacher this year. I'm very excited to have you in my class." She led Neoma into the brightly-colored classroom and showed the filly to her desk, where she sat down next to a white unicorn colt with a silvery mane and tail and a cutie mark of two swords crossed over a shield.

"Hi," the colt said to Neoma. "I'm Silver Shield, but everypony just calls me Silver. What’s your name?”

"I'm Neoma," Neoma replied softly. "Nice to meet you."

“Oh, you’re the princess, aren’t you?” The colt said, his light blue eyes widening as he gave Neoma a little bow. “It’s a pleasure to sit next to you, Your Royal Highness.”

“Please, just call me Neoma,” Neoma murmured. “I don’t want to be treated any differently. Where are you from?”

“Ponyville, but my parents wanted me to have the best education, so we moved to Canterlot. I’m going to be a Royal Guard one day,” Silver said proudly, puffing out his chest. “Hey, Neoma, will you play with me at recess?”

“Sure!” Neoma whinnied, excited to have a new friend.

"Okay, everypony, please settle down and take your seats!" Miss Honey whinnied. "It's time for history class, so I would like for everypony to take out your history books, a pencil, and your history notebooks, please." She walked over to the lectern in front of the chalkboard and wrote THE HISTORY OF EQUESTRIA in the center of the board.

"Two thousand years ago, our beautiful and powerful queens, the rulers of our great land, Her Majesty Celestia, Princess of the Sun, and Her Majesty Luna, Princess of the Night, were born," Miss Honey began. "After their parents were assassinated, Princess Celestia took on the responsibility of raising the sun every morning and lowering the sun every night. Princess Celestia's younger sister, Princess Luna, raised the moon every night and lowered it every morning. But one day, darkness fell on Equestria when Luna refused to lower the moon. Celestia pleaded with her sister to make way for the sun, but Luna did not relent. Celestia was forced to banish her sister to the moon for a thousand years. It was there that Luna transformed into Nightmare Moon and threatened to destroy all of Equestria. Luckily, six brave ponies used the Elements of Harmony to turn Nightmare Moon back into our great Princess Luna, who now rules the night with kindness."

"Gee, I hope history doesn't repeat itself, because anypony born from Princess Luna must be evil, crazy, or both," a light blue Pegasus filly with an ocean wave as a cutie mark said from the desk directly behind Neoma. About half of the class snickered and turned to look at Neoma, who sank lower into her seat.

"Oceania, that's enough!" Miss Honey scolded the filly. “That is treason! You shouldn’t say such things about our Princess.”

"At least Celestia's filly came from the good sister, and she will be a full-blooded alicorn when she grows up," Oceania continued. "Neoma is only gonna grow up to be just as screwed up as her mom is. Look at her, she's nothing but a hideous, half-breed, freak of nature." She reached out and tugged one of Neoma’s wings hard.

“Hey, leave her alone!” Silver cried. “Neoma isn’t a freak of nature, she’s my friend.” He glared at the blue Pegasus, but Oceania continued to ridicule Neoma. Neoma felt her face flush with rage. She spun around to face Oceania and lunged at the other filly, grabbing Oceania by her mane.

"Shut up!" she growled, her nostrils flaring, her nose just inches from Oceania's. "If you say one more thing about me or my mom, it will be the last thing you'll ever say. Do you understand?" Her horn started to glow, and a bolt was released from it, which conjured a fishbowl full of water, hit Oceania, turned her into a goldfish and dropped her into the bowl. The other ponies gasped as Neoma spread her wings and flew out of the school and back to the castle as fast as she could.

Neoma burst through the heavy doors of the castle, ignoring the two guards who bowed to acknowledge her presence. Tears stung her eyes as she galloped up the winding staircase to her bedchamber. She knew her mom would receive a call from the school at any moment, so she flung herself onto her bed, curled up into a ball, and finally released the tears she had held back all the way home. About five minutes later, Neoma heard a knock on her bedroom door.

"Neoma, sweetie, can we talk?" The gentle calmness of Luna's voice only made Neoma cry harder. She heard her mother's magic as Luna opened the double doors with her horn, then the clopping of hooves as Luna sat down next to her on the bed and draped one of her soft wings over her daughter's back. Tears still scorched Neoma’s face and blurred her vision, but she found the strength to raise her head and blink up at her gorgeous, regal mother.

"Mama, I don't wanna go back there!" Neoma sobbed into Luna's chest. "They were s-so mean!"

"Oh, my sweet, darling filly," Luna whispered, hugging Neoma close. "Foals can be so cruel, can't they?" She stroked the filly's mane and dropped a kiss on her head. "Do you wanna tell me what happened?"

"Th-they started talking about you, and they said I was gonna grow up to be screwed up because Auntie Tia is the 'good' princess and you're screwed up," Neoma wailed. She looked up at Luna's face, which was etched with pain.

"I haven't been Nightmare Moon in years," Luna said, her voice soft and low with fury. "You don't deserve to be bullied because of my past. Somepony is about to pay." Her eyes glinted with maternal rage. "Who said these things, Neoma?" she demanded.

"Oceania," Neoma whispered, "so my friend Silver Shield stuck up for me, and I turned her into a goldfish.” Luna's eyes widened in shock.

"You what?" Luna asked, trying with all of her strength not to laugh in front of her foal. "Neoma, I'm proud of you for defending yourself, but you will never turn your classmates into other things again, do you understand?" Neoma nodded sheepishly. "We're going to go to her house, you will change her back and apologize, and I will have a talk with her parents. But first, I want to have a little talk with you." Her eyes softened, and she nuzzled her daughter lovingly. "I know how hard it is to deal with bullies," she said gently. "You know, when I was about your age, your auntie Tia went off to a special magic school to study, and I was left to fend for myself at school. My sister was the beautiful, popular one, and I was small, awkward and quiet, but nopony ever bothered me when she was around because they all knew she would protect me. After she went away to magic school, all of that changed. On my first day on my own at school, a bunch of fillies cornered me and started making fun of my size and the fact that I hadn't gotten my cutie mark yet."

"You got your cutie mark late, too?" Neoma gasped when Luna nodded. She couldn't believe her powerful, beautiful mother, the Princess of the Night, had ever been unpopular.

"I was so jealous of your auntie when she got her cutie mark," Luna sighed with a rueful smile. "When she started to practice raising the sun, I would hide in our room so I wouldn't see the sunlight. Everypony always told me I would never amount to anything, that I was just the puny little sister who would never be useful. Wow, were they wrong." She shook her long, beautiful mane, glanced at her cutie mark, and grinned down at her foal. "My point is, just be patient, honey. Everything will work out. Remember, you are so much stronger than you think you are; after all, you are my daughter. Never, ever forget that." She lowered her head and gave Neoma one more affectionate nuzzle. "You're going to walk back into school tomorrow with your pretty little head high. Can you feel this?" She grabbed Neoma’s hoof and pressed it to the filly's heart. Neoma felt her steady heartbeat and looked up at Luna inquiringly. "That is thousands of years of royal blood running through your veins," Luna said. "Never let those bullies get to you; you are a princess, my dear, and that will never change. You will always be better than anyone who chooses to be mean to you, because you and your cousin will rule over all of them one day, and they know that, so they're jealous of you. You're only the second naturally-born alicorn to exist, and you're the only thestral alicorn to ever exist, so that gives them ammunition, too. I had to deal with the same kind of jealousy when I was a filly. For now, just focus on school and learn as much as you can. Everything will work out when it's supposed to. As for this colt, Silver Shield,” she continued, “he sounds like a good friend. Take care of that friendship, Neoma; true friends like him are rare, especially when you’re royalty.”

Neoma hugged her mom tight, drying the remainder of her tears on Luna's silky blue coat. "I love you, mommy," she whispered.

"I love you to the moon and back," Luna replied, wrapping Neoma in her hooves and kissing her forehead.

Unexpected News And A New Arrival

One morning, five-year-old Neoma woke up to her parents calling her downstairs for breakfast. When she got to the kitchen, Luna and Phoebus greeted her with smiles.

"Let's tell her now," Luna said to Phoebus, who nodded. "Neoma," Luna said, her voice soft and breathy as she turned and knelt down to her daughter's level, "you're going to have a new little brother or sister." She smiled.

"Really?" Neoma squealed excitedly. "Yay, yay, yaaayyy!" She bounced in a circle and suddenly stopped, looking around. "But where's the foal?"

"In mommy's belly," Phoebus told her, ruffling his daughter's mane. Neoma’s eyes grew as big as saucers as she looked over at Luna.

"Mommy, you ate the foal?" she whimpered, staring at Luna's still flat stomach. Luna and Phoebus both burst out laughing as Neoma watched in confusion. After Luna had caught her breath, she started to speak.

"Daddy put the foal in my belly," she explained, choosing her words carefully. "When a mommy pony and a daddy pony love each other very much, the daddy pony puts a foal in the mommy pony's belly, and then the mommy pony's belly gets really big, and the foal comes out of her body."

"Oh, okay," Neoma said, "but how did daddy put the foal in your belly, mommy? Did he cast a spell to give you a foal?"

"Yes, something like that," Luna said, trying not to laugh as she exchanged a glance with Phoebus.

Later, Celestia, Sombra, and Summer arrived for dinner.

"Guess what, Auntie Tia? Guess what, Uncle Sombra? Guess what, Summer? Daddy cast a spell on mommy and put a foal in her belly, and now I'm getting a new brother or sister!" Neoma announced. Celestia and Sombra both exploded with laughter, and they were quickly joined by a mortified Luna and Phoebus. Summer and Neoma just looked at each other, wondering what was so funny.

"Well, congratulations, you two," Celestia said, hugging her sister and brother-in-law. "It's about time!" She grinned and gently patted Luna's belly.

A few months passed, and one night, Neoma heard screams from her parents' bedroom. She was kept out of the room for hours, but luckily Celestia and Sombra were there with Summer to keep her company. Finally, Phoebus opened the door.

"Neoma, mommy and daddy have a surprise for you," he said, smiling, "but you have to be very careful, okay?"

"Okay, daddy," Neoma said, following him into the bedchamber. Luna sat up in the bed, cradling a tiny bundle.

"Neoma, come sit with me," she said gently. Neoma did as she was told, climbing up into the bed to join her mother. Luna shifted slightly and angled herself so that Neoma could see what she was holding: a newborn alicorn filly with a pink coat, turquoise eyes like Luna’s, a sea foam green mane and tail, and feathery pink wings.

"Neoma," Luna said, "meet Cassiopeia. She's your baby sister." She handed the newborn foal to Neoma and said, "Be very gentle, she could get hurt easily."

"Wow," Neoma gasped as she looked down at the foal in her hooves. "You're gonna be my best friend, Cassie." She cuddled the filly close, knowing she would always adore her little sister.

Dream Patrol

"Stay out of my room, Cassie!” six-year-old Neoma yelled at the top of her lungs, slamming her bedroom door in her eighteen-month-old sister's face. Cassie plopped down on her bottom and howled, banging her hooves on the door. Neoma rolled her eyes as she heard Luna's approaching hoofbeats.

"Whassa matter, wittle Cassie?" Luna cooed in her stupid babytalk, which sounded like nails on a chalkboard to Neoma. "Did sissy lock you out of her room again? Come on, honey, let's go set her straight." Cassie’s screams quieted, and Luna magically flung Neoma’s door open. Cassie sat on Luna's back, giggling and playing with the alicorn's mane.

"Neoma," Luna said, glaring, "what did I tell you about locking your sister out of your room and slamming the door on her?"

"Mom, she's always getting in my stuff! Can't you teach her not to come in here? She has a whole castle to play in, but she always comes in my room." Neoma glowered at her younger sister, who had turned around on her mother's back and was trying to grab Luna's tail.

"You need to be more patient, Neoma. She's your baby sister, and she obviously worships the ground you walk on." Luna flicked her tail gently so that it brushed over Cassie’s face, making the foal giggle.

"Mama," Cassie babbled, hugging Luna's neck, then spreading her tiny wings and poising herself to jump off Luna's back. Instinctively, Neoma hurried to her mother's side and held out her hooves to catch her sister, but Cassie flapped her wings furiously and hovered in the air for a few seconds.

"What a big filly!" Neoma cheered. "Cassie, you flew for the first time!" Cassie squealed with delight and clapped her hooves. Neoma hugged her sister and kissed the filly's cheek.

The next morning, Cassie was exceptionally fussy and refusing to go to sleep. Even Phoebus’ usual trick of hanging the foal upside down didn't work. Luna used every trick she knew of to try to send her daughter to sleep, but her efforts were futile.

"Mom," Neoma whispered, tiptoeing into the nursery where an exhausted Luna sat in the rocking chair, humming a lullaby to a very restless Cassie, "can I try something? I have an idea."

"If you think you know of something that will work, go right ahead," Luna said eagerly. Neoma lowered her head and illuminated her horn, which sent a sparkly turquoise mist swirling around Cassie. The filly's eyes grew tired, and she yawned. Within seconds, she was sleeping peacefully, nestled in Luna's hooves.

"How did you do that?" Luna stared at Neoma in astonishment. "Did you learn a new sleep spell that I didn't know about?"

"No," Neoma said, as shocked as her mother. "I just… felt like she needed some help relaxing, and something inside me was telling me to point my horn at her."

"Neoma," Luna gasped, pointing at her daughter's flank, "look, you got your cutie mark!" Neoma’s eyes widened as she looked over her shoulder. A white dreamcatcher was now displayed on her hindquarters.

"So, I guess I have the power to put ponies to sleep and enter their dreams," Neoma said thoughtfully.

That night, Neoma decided to test out her new powers, and Luna agreed to help her. As soon as Luna had raised the moon, Neoma’s mind filled with visions. The first was of a stallion in Ponyville who was tossing and turning restlessly in bed. Neoma instinctively took off towards the stallion's house and hovered outside his window. She lowered her head once again, releasing the glittery turquoise mist from her horn. The mist encircled the stallion, and Neoma watched as his body immediately relaxed, and he drifted peacefully off to sleep.

"My magic is very powerful, but I can't cure insomnia," Luna told Neoma as they glided through the satiny blue sky. "I can enter everypony's dreams, and I can help calm them by taming their nightmares, but I don't actually have the power to put them to sleep. If I had that ability, I wouldn't have spent hours in the nursery trying to calm you when you were little. When you were teething, you screamed at the top of your lungs all day, every day for a week. It broke my heart, and I paced across the nursery with you for hours and used all of my power to soothe you, but I could never get you to sleep for very long; believe me, your power is going to be very useful to you one day when you have a foal of your own." They landed in a moonlit clearing in the Everfree Forest, and Luna nuzzled Neoma affectionately. "I am so proud of you, my darling," she whispered, wrapping her filly in a warm hug. “Here’s what we’re going to do now: I’m going to teach you all about the dream realm. Once you’re comfortable entering and exiting ponies’ dreams, we’ll start going into their nightmares, and you will help them go back to sleep once I’ve helped them solve whatever problems they might have. Never enter the dream realm without me, Neoma; at least not yet. This is not a rule from your mother, but an order from your Princess.”

“Okay, mom,” Neoma agreed. Luna nodded and lit up her horn, and the white light formed a bright portal in front of them. Luna motioned for Neoma to follow her.

“Stay close,” Luna said as they entered the portal. The white light dissipated, and two rows of brightly-colored doors appeared on both sides of the alicorns.

“Each of these doors leads to a different dream that somepony is having,” Luna explained. “Pick one.” Neoma looked around and chose the nearest door, which was wooden, golden brown and weathered. Luna led Neoma through the door and into a field of apple trees. In the middle of the field, a gold Earth pony wearing a cowboy hat was jumping on a trampoline, trying to grab honeycrisp apples from a tree.

“Howdy, Your Majesty! Howdy, Princess Neoma!” the pony said cheerfully. “The harvest is lookin’ real good this year.” She somersaulted off the trampoline, knocked a bunch of apples off the tree into a basket, and brought the basket over to the alicorns. “Help yourselves,” she said. “I know y’all must be hungrier than a grizzly bear at a vegetarian buffet.”

“Thank you, Applejack,” Luna said, levitating an apple and taking a bite. “Mmm,” she said. “Delicious, as always.” She teleported herself and Neoma out of the dream and back into the ethereal hallway. Neoma chose a sleek, modern-looking door, and she and Luna entered a fashion show. Models strutted up and down the runway to booming techno music. Rarity sat in the front row, staring intently at her creations. The last model walked out, wearing the most beautiful dress Neoma had ever seen. Rarity beamed with pride, then caught sight of Luna and gave her a deep curtsy. Luna smiled and nodded, then suddenly, the dream began to blur and glitch.

“That means she’s waking up,” Luna explained. “Why don’t you help Rarity get back to sleep?” Luna said to her daughter.

“Really?” Neoma asked excitedly. When Luna nodded, Neoma lowered her head and aimed her horn at Rarity. Immediately, the sparkling turquoise mist floated up from Neoma’s horn and swirled around Rarity, who immediately fell asleep. Neoma gasped and looked at Luna, who smiled proudly at her daughter and teleported them out of the dream realm.

“Wow!” Neoma said as they returned to the waking world. “Mom, that was incredible!” Luna hugged Neoma.

“We’ll practice like this for a while before we go into a nightmare,” Luna said. “Nightmares can be extremely overwhelming, so I want you to be totally comfortable with pleasant dreams first.” Neoma nodded understandingly, though she was a little disappointed that she wouldn’t get to experience the adrenaline rush of a nightmare yet.

“You should never, ever go straight into an intense nightmare from a good dream when you don’t know how to confidently navigate the dream realm,” Luna explained, as if she had read Neoma’s mind. “Trust me, sweetie. If you panic in somepony’s nightmare, you could cause a disaster. Do not enter the dream realm unless I am with you.” Neoma sighed and nodded.

“Okay, mom,” she said. “I’ll only come here with you.” Luna smiled warmly and kissed Neoma’s cheek, and the two alicorns flew back to the castle together.

Neoma paced in front of the mirror in her room. She couldn’t sleep; she had a gut feeling that something was terribly wrong. She could hear a voice calling for help. Against her better judgment, she recited the spell that her mother had just taught her, and the dream portal appeared before her. Neoma entered the realm without hesitation and followed the voice, which echoed from a white door embossed with a large silver shield. When she entered through the door, everything was dark, so she lit up her horn. There, shooting bolts of magic from his horn as a swarm of Changelings backed him against the wall, was Silver. Neoma’s eyes narrowed, and she took off into the air.

“Hey, bug brains,” she called, “why don’t you come get me?” The Changelings hissed and veered away from Silver, who jumped to the side and conjured a large ball of magic. Neoma did the same with her horn, and the two ponies’ powers combined to create a mushroom cloud of magic that paralyzed the Changelings so that they lay belly up on the ground like dying roaches, their legs flailing as they unsuccessfully tried to stand back up. Suddenly, a much larger swarm of Changelings appeared, and this time Neoma’s spell failed. Neoma and Silver took off running until they were floating in midair. Luckily Neoma could fly, but Silver began to fall. Neoma dove after him, but soon both ponies were caught in a ferocious cyclone that pitched them in every direction. Neoma screamed as her wings failed and she began to fall. Suddenly, a turquoise bolt appeared, and the cyclone vanished, revealing Luna. Luna swooped down and caught Neoma and Silver in her magic. Neoma could tell by the look in Luna’s eyes that her mother was furious.

“Silver Shield,” Luna said gently, “you are safe now. I will now cast a spell that will give you pleasant dreams for the rest of the night. As for you, Neoma,” she said, her voice low with anger, “I will wake you now. You are in a lot of trouble, young filly!” With a flash of white light, Luna and Neoma were back in the waking world.

“What in Equestria were you thinking, Neoma?” Luna yelled. “You deliberately disobeyed me. What do you have to say for yourself, young filly?”

“I—I’m so sorry, mom,” Neoma whimpered. “I just had a weird feeling that somepony needed me, so I opened the portal and came into Silver’s dream. I won’t come here alone again, I promise.” Luna’s eyes softened a little.

“It was quite noble of you to try to help your friend,” she said, “but it was also incredibly foolish, not to mention dangerous. You will not come here without me again until I feel that you are ready, Neoma. Am I understood?” Neoma nodded sheepishly, and Luna nodded, knowing the filly had learned her lesson.

Crowns and Crushes

Another long day at Canterlot High School had ended. As the bell rang, eighteen-year-old Neoma examined herself in the mirror on her locker door, gathered her books, and started trotting towards the doors.

"Neoma!" a voice called. Only one colt's voice could stop Neoma dead in her tracks, and this was it. Silver Shield, her best friend since kindergarten, trotted up to her, smiling widely. "Ready to go?" he asked, shaking his snow-white mane. Neoma nodded and followed him out the double doors of the school.

"My mom wants me home right now," Neoma told her friend before he could invite her over to do homework, as he did every day. "We're meeting with my coronation committee in an hour."

"I have a promotion meeting with my Captain, so I understand. The coronation isn't for another six months, though," Silver said. "I didn't know you had to start planning this far in advance."

"We started planning a year ago, and I think it's ridiculous, too," Neoma admitted, rolling her eyes, "but mom and dad made it clear that I'll be in big trouble if I miss this meeting." His first words caught her suddenly. "Wait, you're being promoted to a Captain of the Royal Guard?"

"Yeah," Silver nodded. "Apparently I'm the youngest pony to ever earn the rank."

"Oh, wow, congratulations!" Neoma squealed. "I'm so proud of you." She hugged him and saw a hint of something--a blush?--on his cheeks as she pulled away.

"Well, can I at least walk you home?" Silver asked.

"Sure, but I have to pick up Cassie on the way," Neoma said, pointing her hoof across the street towards Canterlot Middle School.

"Then let's go get her," Silver said. Cassie barreled down the front steps of the school and skidded across the sidewalk, almost bumping into Silver.

"Hey guys, guess what?" she yelled. "I put our math teacher to sleep again right before we were supposed to take a test, and now I have to stay after school tomorrow for detention."

"Ha ha, you're gonna be in big trouble," Neoma taunted her sister. "I'm gonna tell mom."

"Tell me what?" Luna's voice made the three ponies jump.

"Your Majesty," Silver greeted her, bowing and saluting, then standing at attention.

"At ease, Silver Shield. I hope you're staying for dinner again tonight," Luna said with a little smile.

"If Your Majesty would have me, I would be honored, Ma'am," Silver replied, and Luna nodded.

She turned to her two daughters. "Now, Neoma, what were you going to tell me?"

"Cassie put her math teacher to sleep and has to stay late tomorrow for detention," Neoma chirped, ignoring her sister's glare. Luna narrowed her eyes at her youngest daughter.

"Cassie," Luna said, lowering her voice, "we will discuss this later, but as of now, you're grounded for a week." Cassie groaned and stuck her tongue out at Neoma, who snorted and rolled her eyes.

The coronation committee meeting consisted of a flurry of decisions about flowers, invitations, music, color schemes, linens, table settings, glassware, and wine selections, topped off by a meeting with Rarity, the designer of Neoma’s coronation gown. Neoma’s head was spinning by the time it was all over. After dinner, she and Silver retreated to the tranquility of one of the turret rooms at Canterlot Castle. They sat in silence for a few minutes, watching as the sun began to set.

"So, how are you feeling?" Silver asked her. "Are you nervous?"

"Terrified," Neoma replied immediately. "I'm about to be given an insane amount of responsibility. I know my mom thinks I'm ready. She says she knows I'll be an amazing princess, but this is all so overwhelming."

"You know, your mom isn't the only one who knows you'll be an amazing princess," Silver said, looking over at her. Neoma felt her cheeks begin to heat up as Silver looked into her eyes, then down at her lips, then back up into her eyes. She sat perfectly still, her heartbeat quickening as he leaned in. Oh, sweet Celestia, is this really about to happen?

"Hey, Neoma!" Cassie called, bursting out onto the balcony. "Mom's looking for you. She said she wants to ask you about some of the musical selections you chose for the ceremony." She looked from Neoma to Silver, oblivious to what she had just interrupted, then turned and galloped back inside.

"Well, I guess we'd better go," Neoma said, reluctantly turning to follow her sister. "You coming, Silver?"

"Right behind you," Silver answered. Together they descended the tower and walked to the main portico of the castle to meet Luna.

The Coronation

Author's Note

Okay, so yes, Luna's anthem is set to the tune of the national anthem of Canada, specifically this version: https://youtu.be/xd17Af2hGh0

The Coronation

Neoma shook in front of her full-length mirror. Atop her head sat her tall, custom-made, platinum tiara, which was inlaid with gigantic diamonds, pearls, sapphires, blue topazes, aquamarines, morganites, amethysts, opals, tourmalines, and had an enormous oval-cut moonstone as its centerpiece, the addition of which she had specifically requested to honor her mother. She took a few tentative steps forward, making sure she kept the tiara balanced and secure on her head. Every step she took required effort. The tiara sparkled blindingly, its jewels winking at her with every move she made. Next to her, Cassie donned a silver coronet decorated with diamonds and moonstones--a placeholder until she was crowned.

"It's so heavy," Neoma marveled.

"Well, it's supposed to be," Cassie said. "Think about all of the responsibility you're about to take on."

The day of the coronation dawned clear and sunny. Neoma and Cassie woke early and trotted down the winding staircase to the castle's main floor. The staircase's banister was decorated with moonflowers, hyacinths, blush and white roses, peonies, and lavender. The air was filled with the sweet aroma of the flowers, and Neoma smiled. She knew that for the first time in her mother's life, Luna had sent a guard to stand sentinel over the night for the past week so that she could assist Neoma in directly overseeing the final touches for the flowers and decorations. Even at that moment, Neoma could hear Luna's voice echoing from the dining room.

"I asked for white table linens embossed with a gold outline of Neoma’s cutie mark," Luna said to the head decorator, her voice edged with irritation. "These napkins are clearly ecru, and that cutie mark is yellow. Please give me one good reason why I should allow you to keep your job after you've made such careless mistakes." She stomped her hoof impatiently.

"I am so sorry, Ma'am," the head decorator murmured. "I will see to it that these mistakes are corrected as soon as possible."

"Fix this posthaste," Luna said sternly. "If my daughter's coronation linens are not properly done, pressed, and folded within the next two hours, I will replace you with somepony who actually knows the difference between white and ecru. Get out of my sight."

"Yes, Ma'am. Thank you, Your Majesty." The decorator curtsied and galloped off to do Luna's bidding. Luna rolled her eyes and turned around. Her face lit up when she saw Neoma.

"Good morning, sweetheart," Luna greeted her daughter. "I know you slept well, as I did not sense any distress from you last night. Our manestylist and makeup artists should be here soon. Your coronation gown is in the drawing room; Rarity is just putting the finishing touches on it now. I'll have her bring it up to you after she's done, and we'll both help you get dressed. I took the liberty of having breakfast prepared for all of us, since your new equerries will be here in an hour to swear their allegiance to you." She gestured to the gigantic spread of fruits, pastries, and coffees and teas from all over the world that sat on the long dining table.

"Wow, thanks, mom!" Neoma squealed, fixing a plate and digging in.

"Another thing," Luna said. "As you very well know, you will have a duty to mentor your sister after today. As a new princess, you are to prepare Cassie for her own coronation one day."

"I know, mom," Neoma groaned. "I've already heard this from you a million times, okay?" She rolled her eyes.

"Do not roll your eyes at me, young filly," Luna warned in her royal Canterlot voice. "Though you are about to be crowned a princess, I am still your mother, and I am still your queen."

"Apologies, Ma'am," Neoma said, curtsying.

"Oh, I almost forgot," Luna piped up later, as she and Rarity helped Neoma into her coronation dress--a white silk off-the-shoulder ballgown with an overlay of lace moonflowers hoof-embroidered across the bodice in silver thread. "I need to tell you about your coronation gift now."

"Gift?" Neoma said, surprised. "Oh, no, mom, you've already done so much for me and given me so much, you don't need to give me anything else."

"Trust me, you'll need this," Luna said. "It will be a nice addition to the powers you already have. After you have been anointed, I am going to transfer one of my powers to you: The power to control the northern lights. On the night you were born, just after the midwife let me hold you for the first time, I looked out the window and remembered that I had sent the aurora borealis up earlier, just before I went into labor. So, it is only fitting that the daughter of the Princess of the Night, who was born in the glow of the northern lights, should be given the ability to control them.” Neoma’s jaw dropped, and she fell to her knees at her mother's hooves as tears filled her eyes.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," she breathed, kissing Luna's hoof. "I can't tell you how much this means to me." She rose and gave her mother a deep curtsy before kissing her cheek. "I love you, mom," she whispered.

"I love you, too," Luna said, giving Neoma a gentle squeeze.

"You look absolutely beautiful, Your Royal Highness, just stunning," Rarity assured Neoma. "Here, let's get your robe on." Six train bearers fastened Neoma’s custom coronation robe around her neck. Excessively long and made of navy blue velvet lined with ermine, the robe was cumbersome and heavy, but Neoma had never felt more regal.

"Parade! Royal salute! Present arms!" Resplendent in their scarlet coats and dress uniforms, the assembled soldiers of the Royal Equestrian Sovereign's Guard stomped their booted hooves in unison and saluted at Silver Shield's command, a soldier lowered the flag of Equestria and lay it flat on the ground, and the massed military bands began to play the national anthem of Equestria as Neoma’s golden carriage pulled away from the castle for the short procession to Canterlot Cathedral. Celestia, Sombra, and Summer’s carriage had led the procession of royals that had left earlier for the site of the coronation, and directly behind them was Luna, Phoebus, and Cassie’s carriage. The carriage carrying Cadance, Shining Armor, and Flurry Heart had followed Luna's, with Twilight Sparkle's carriage behind them. Because she would be the last to enter the cathedral, Neoma’s carriage left the castle after all the other royals had entered the cathedral in procession and taken their seats.

As she rode through the ornate iron gates that separated the castle from the city of Canterlot, Neoma’s mouth fell open. Thousands of ponies lined the procession route, cheering, waving Equestrian flags, and holding up their phones to take pictures and videos of the pomp and ceremony for which Equestria was so renowned. Photographers pressed against the barriers as battalions of the Royal Equestrian Army, Navy, and Air Force marched past in formation ahead of the royal carriages. Neoma felt a huge smile creep across her face, and she waved enthusiastically as the carriages rolled through the wide cobblestone streets towards the cathedral. She could hear the cathedral's bells pealing out across the city. The ringing got louder as the carriage slowed to a stop at the west door of the cathedral. Neoma’s six train bearers took their positions, and a guard held her hoof as she stepped out of the carriage to a deafening roar of applause. A fanfare of trumpets signaled her arrival, the snapping of millions of cameras filled the air, and a reporter from the Equestrian Broadcasting Corporation, or the EBC, proclaimed, "It has now been officially confirmed by Canterlot Castle that Princess Neoma’s coronation gown was designed by Rarity, as many royal experts predicted. Princess Neoma’s coronation robe is six meters long and was custom-made for this occasion by the same designers who made the coronation robes for Princess Luna and Princess Celestia." Slowly, she ascended the cathedral's staircase, which was draped with red carpet.

The coronation ceremony passed in a blur, up until it was time for Neoma’s crowning. She sat down on her new throne alongside the other princesses, took the oath of allegiance to her mother and aunt, and solemnly promised to serve the ponies of Equestria according to the laws agreed upon by Parliament. She swore to do everything in her power to cause law and justice to be executed mercifully in all her judgments. Neoma was then anointed with holy oil, as her mother, aunt, cousin, and friend had been anointed before her. Then, Luna walked up to her and turned to face the crowd.

"Mares and stallions," Luna announced in her royal Canterlot voice, "the filly before you has proven herself worthy of the title of Princess. I have no doubt that she will make all of Equestria proud, because I--" she paused, took a deep breath, swallowed hard, and looked lovingly at her eldest daughter, her eyes welling up with tears. She quickly composed herself and continued, "--because I could not be prouder of her. Now, I will transfer one of my most precious powers to her: The ability to control the aurora borealis." She lowered her head, aiming her shimmering horn at her daughter. Neoma suddenly felt a warm, tingling sensation engulf her entire body as she was lifted from her throne, and multicolored, watery streams of light began to swirl around her. The lights rippled in waves, filling the entire cathedral before soaring downward and encircling Neoma until they dimmed and seemed to be absorbed by Neoma’s horn, which permanently changed to a crystalline rose gold color as she was lowered back onto her throne. Then, Luna levitated Neoma’s tiara from its resting place on a dark blue pillow and slowly lowered it onto Neoma’s head.

"Citizens of Equestria," Luna said, "it is my greatest honor to present to you, for the very first time, Her Royal Highness Neoma, Princess of the Northern Lights." The congregation rose to their hooves, and the state trumpeters played a fanfare before they, the orchestra and pipe organist played the national anthem.

Then, because Neoma was Princess Luna's daughter, the orchestra and organist immediately segued into Princess Luna's royal anthem:

O Lunar Queen!
Our sovereign of the night!
Watch over us and bless us with moonlight.
You ensure our dreams are protected,
From nightmares we are free.
We greet each dawn well-rested,
Because of none but thee.
Keep all our dreams pleasant and free.
O Lunar Queen, we thank the stars for thee!
O Lunar Queen, we thank the stars for thee!

After the ceremony, the royal family processed back to the castle for the coronation luncheon. During the entire meal, however, all Neoma could think about was how excited she was about the ball that would take place that evening, because somepony very special had agreed to be her date there.

The Coronation Ball

That night, after the ceremony, all of Canterlot's high society descended on the castle for Neoma’s coronation ball. Up in Neoma’s bedchamber, Luna helped Neoma change into her evening gown for the party. Designed by Rarity, it was a white off-the-shoulder ball gown with a full organza skirt, every layer of which had been painstakingly flecked with iridescent blue, pink, and silver sparkles to give it the look of a moonstone. Rarity had also given the dress a sweep train, which added to its dramatic effect. Neoma’s long, multicolored mane had been done up into a half-up, half-down style so that her mane fell in loose curls around her shoulders, and her tiara was pinned securely in place atop her head. She wore no other jewelry, as she and Rarity had agreed that the dress and tiara complemented each other perfectly, and anything else would be too much.

“You look lovely, sweetie,” Luna said as she magically zipped up Neoma’s dress. “I’m so proud of you, Neoma.” She gently kissed her daughter’s cheek and hurried downstairs just as the doorbell rang.

"Hey, Neoma," Cassie called, bursting through Neoma’s bedroom door. "Silver's here, so you better hurry down!" Oh, sweet Celestia. Neoma’s heart began to pound as she examined herself in the mirror for a final time. She really couldn't care less about any of the royals or heads of state who had come for the coronation; there was only one pony whose opinion truly mattered to her. She walked out of her room and peered down at the foyer. Silver stood at the bottom of the stairs talking to Luna, looking devastatingly handsome in his captain's dress uniform. He stopped mid-sentence when he caught sight of Neoma. After exchanging a smile with her mother, who beamed with pride and shed a few tears at her daughter's beauty, Neoma lowered herself into a deep, elegant curtsy to Luna, then rose and turned her attention to Silver, whose eyes widened as she paused at the top of the long, winding staircase. Slowly and gracefully, she descended the stairs. The room was silent except for the soft click of her hooves on the glossy white marble floor and the sound of her dress rustling gently with each step she took. Silver was so awestruck by how incredible she looked that he almost forgot to stand at attention and salute.

"Neo--Your Royal Highness," Silver stuttered, bowing and leaning in close to her. "You look so beautiful," he whispered in her ear. His lips brushed against hers, and she blushed furiously. Everything faded out of focus for a few seconds, but she quickly regained her composure, and a guard announced their presence.

"Her Majesty The Princess of the Night, His Royal Highness The Prince Phoebus, and Her Royal Highness The Princess Cassiopeia!" the guard called. The double doors of the ballroom opened, Neoma’s parents and sister made their entrance, then the doors closed again.

"You know, I've been meaning to give you an actual kiss for a while now," Silver whispered, leaning close to Neoma.

"Well, I've been waiting for you to give me an actual kiss for a while now," Neoma replied, giggling. Silver leaned in and gently pressed his lips to hers. His kiss tasted sweet, like the candy he used to share with her on Nightmare Night. Neoma moaned softly, allowing the kiss to linger before her name was called.

"Her Royal Highness The Princess of the Northern Lights!" Neoma glanced over her shoulder at Silver a final time, then entered the ballroom. After passing through the double doors, she bent in another deep curtsy to her mother and Celestia, then slowly walked down the stairs. The ballroom was silent until she reached the bottom of the stairs, then the music started and everypony started to dance. The formalities were over, and now it was time to party.

On the Brink of War

"Why don't we go to Ponyville today?" Cassie asked, rolling over onto her back. The two mares lay by the pool with their mother, sunning themselves. Five years had passed since the coronation, Neoma had just graduated from Canterlot University with a degree in magic, Cassie was a sophomore majoring in finance, and Silver, now a lieutenant in the army and a handsome stallion, was still dating Neoma, though he was currently deployed to Saddle Arabia. Neoma had little interest in doing anything other than awaiting his phone calls and letters with bated breath, and today was no different. Their relationship had been all over the newspapers for five years, and rumors of an imminent proposal were circulating around Canterlot.

"No, I don't feel like it," Neoma said, using her horn to conjure a frozen strawberry margarita and taking a long sip of the refreshing beverage

"Neoma, it's noon," Luna told her. "Don't you think it's a little too early to start drinking?"

"I don't care. I'm tired of all the speculation. If one more pony texts me asking me if Silver has popped the question yet, I'm going to send them to the moon." Neoma sighed in exasperation as her phone buzzed yet again. Luna looked up from her magazine and frowned slightly at Neoma’s comment.

"Patience, darling," she said, trying to soothe her restless daughter. "If he's smart, he'll propose very soon."

"How can you be so sure?" Neoma groaned, getting up and slipping into the cool, welcoming embrace of the pool. Because he asked for our blessing before he left for his deployment, and we said yes, Luna thought, trying desperately not to grin. She stowed her magazine in her tote and joined Neoma in the water just as one of her night guards, Sergeant Ironhoof, soared down from one of the castle's turrets.

"Your Majesty," he called as he landed by the pool. "I have an urgent message from the Ministry of Defense, Ma'am. The largest military base in Equestria has just been bombed. Eighty Equestrian soldiers have been confirmed dead so far. As Your Majesty is already well aware, there is much unrest in the Appaloosan Islands, just off the northern coast of the Darklands. As Your Majesty also knows, the Equestrian embassy in their capital was bombed last week, killing sixty of our finest diplomats."

"Oh, no, how terrible," Luna gasped. "Does my sister know of this yet?"

"Yes, Ma'am. Princess Celestia plans to mobilize the army, the Royal Equestrian Navy, the Royal Equestrian Air Force, and the Royal Equestrian Marines. In addition, she intends to deploy approximately half of our military to the Appaloosan Islands and the Darklands in order to promote stability in the region. The terrorists who attacked our embassy are still at large, and we still don't know whether or not they are part of a larger terrorist organization. The Appaloosans and Darklanders are refusing to communicate with our intelligence agencies, a behavior that we can only characterize as combative. I don't like to be dramatic, Ma'am, but Princess Celestia herself has just said that we are at war. I advise Your Majesty to take the Prince Consort and the Princesses and take shelter at once. Princess Celestia and Prince Sombra are already in the royal bunker."

"My sister knows she cannot declare war without discussing it with me first, and she should never have made any decisions regarding the armed forces without consulting me," Luna growled, pushing herself out of the pool. "We are both Commanders In Chief of the armed forces of Equestria. Tell her to meet me in the secure conference room now, and gather all of our most senior military officers and intelligence officials immediately."

"Yes, Ma'am." Ironhoof saluted and took off, and Neoma and Cassie exchanged a fearful glance as they followed their mother into the castle.

Two hours later, after Neoma and Cassie had waited restlessly in the royal bunker with their aunt, uncle, and cousin, Luna returned.

"We are at war," she sighed, her voice heavy with exhaustion.

"Mom," Neoma breathed, "what about Silver? Where are they sending him?"

"Lieutenant Silver Shield will be sent to the front, as will Major Arrow Heart," Luna said wearily, swallowing hard. Neoma gasped, her eyes welling up. Summer cried out at Luna's news that her fiancé, Arrow, was supposed to fight, too. "I'm so sorry, my sweet one, but I couldn't stop it," Luna sighed. "Silver and Arrow are both high-ranking officers, and they have a responsibility to command hundreds of soldiers." Neoma’s knees weakened and buckled beneath her, and she collapsed into her mother's hooves, shaking and soaking Luna's coat with tears. Summer sobbed uncontrollably into Celestia's chest. Luna held Neoma tightly and struggled to swallow the lump in her own throat. Her daughter suddenly seemed so small and vulnerable, so much like the tiny filly she had once been.

"Come now, Neoma," Luna whispered, kissing her daughter's head. "You have to be strong for him, honey. You, too, Summer. Silver and Arrow need you now, more than ever. We need to be there for his family; I can't imagine what they must be going through."

"Can I see him?" Neoma cried. "Please talk to his commanding officer, mom. Please just let me see him one more time to say goodbye." Sobs rocked her entire body, and nausea flipped her stomach.

"Already arranged," Luna said. "Silver and Arrow will be home on leave for three days, starting tomorrow. Their commanding officers are aware of the circumstances, so they couldn't say no to my and Celestia's requests, but they couldn't allow more than three days of leave for Arrow and Silver because of the seriousness of the situation our country is in."

"Three days is better than nothing," Neoma said gratefully. "Thank you, mom." Summer thanked Celestia and Luna, too, and the two fillies began to prepare to say goodbye to their beloved stallions.

Big Changes

"I'M GOING TO BE A GRANDMOTHER!" Luna shouted excitedly in her royal Canterlot voice. "Oh, Neoma, you have no idea how badly I needed to hear this news! How are you feeling? Do you need anything?"

"I just found out, Mom," Neoma said, laughing as Luna hugged her. "I literally just told Silver." She felt a twinge of sadness in her stomach as she remembered that Silver would have to leave for battle in just a few hours. "Physically, I feel fine," she told Luna. "Emotionally, I feel... cracked. This should be one of the happiest moments of my life, but knowing that my husband may never get to meet his foal just breaks me." She cursed herself for what she had just said; Neoma had sworn she wouldn't allow the words to leave her mouth, because in her mind that would mean the possibility of Silver's death was real, and that was a possibility she refused to accept.

The next morning at the airport, Neoma felt as if the ground was slowly crumbling beneath her. Next to her, Summer and Arrow embraced, rockling back and forth in each other's arms as Summer sobbed.

"I'll write to you as soon as I've gotten settled. Promise me you'll be strong for me, and for our foal, and that you'll look after my parents," Silver said to Neoma, who nodded. "You are so much stronger than you think you are, Neoma. I love you because of your strength."

"What are you doing?" Neoma asked, giggling as Silver knelt in front of her, put his hooves on either side of her still-flat belly, and kissed it softly.

"Hi, little one, I'm your daddy," he said. Neoma felt tears begin to prick at her eyes as she watched him.

"Your mommy and I already love you so much," Silver continued, gently rubbing his wife's belly. "Keep growing big and strong in there for us, okay? Daddy has to go away for a little while to get some bad guys, but I'll be back really soon. Don't give Mommy too much trouble while I'm gone. I can't wait to meet you!" He smiled and kissed Neoma’s belly again, then stood and kissed Neoma tenderly. "I love you so very much," he whispered.

"I love you, too," Neoma said. "I'll ask Mom to visit your dreams and make sure you're ok." He nodded, gave her one last kiss, and started towards his gate, stopping for a few seconds to wait for Arrow. Then, before Neoma knew it, they were both gone.

A week passed, and then a letter arrived for Neoma. She eagerly ripped the envelope open and read :

My dearest Neoma,

It's so dark and depressing here. It's ridiculously hot, and we're in the middle of the desert, so there's nothing but sand everywhere. My only consolation is the knowledge that you will read this letter, my darling one. I miss the warmth of your body against mine on cold nights like this one; I have found myself reaching for you so many times every night that I firmly believe it's part of my muscle memory now. I miss feeling you breathe as you sleep. I miss holding you close to me. I miss our deep conversations in the middle of the night. I miss the sweetness of your scent, the softness of your coat, the gentleness of your kiss, the comfort of your voice. I miss your laugh. Oh, what I would do to be able to hear you laugh right now, sweetheart. We're about to start preparing for a mission, so I need to head out. I miss you more than words can express, Neoma.

With all my love,

your Silver Shield

Neoma cried softly as she finished reading. Her husband was all right, and the relief overwhelmed her. Everything would work out wonderfully.

Tragedy Strikes

"Okay, this might feel a little cool at first," the ultrasound technician said, squirting some gel onto Neoma’s growing belly. "And how far along you are, Your Royal Highness?"

"Twenty weeks as of yesterday," Neoma replied with a smile, looking over at the screen.

"And would you like to know the sex of the foal today?" the ultrasound technician asked.

"Yes, please," Neoma said excitedly, exchanging a smile with her mother. Since Silver couldn't be there, she had asked Luna to accompany her to this important appointment. The ultrasound technician smiled and put the sensor on Neoma’s belly, and her foal suddenly appeared onscreen, wiggling.

"Ooh, he's active today!" Neoma giggled. "Feel, mom." Luna placed her hoof on Neoma’s belly and smiled when the foal gave her hoof a strong kick.

"'He'?" the ultrasound technician asked, raising her eyebrows.

"We think it's a colt," Neoma said, grinning.

"Well, I guess you're wrong there. It's a filly!" the tech replied.

"Oh, wow!" Neoma squealed. "We're having a daughter! I can't wait to tell Silver."

"Yay, I'm getting a little granddaughter to spoil!" Luna cheered.

"Everything looks nice and healthy, and the foal's measurements are normal. Here's the heartbeat." The technician turned up the volume on the machine, and the rhythmic, comforting sound of a foal's heartbeat filled the room. Neoma couldn't stop smiling the entire way home. Unfortunately, everything was about to change for her family.

Celestia, Sombra, and Summer were waiting outside the castle when Neoma and Luna arrived home. Summer’s face was streaked with tears, and Neoma immediately knew something was terribly wrong.

"It's Arrow," Summer sobbed as she galloped up to her cousin. "He's been killed."

"His platoon was ambushed while they were moving supplies," Summer explained between sobs as Celestia held her. "Silver and his soldiers were in another location, so Silver is fine. Anyway, Arrow threw himself on top of a grenade, trying to protect his buddies. His commanding officer said he literally gave his life for the rest of the ponies in his platoon; if he hadn't blocked that grenade, everypony there would probably be dead. He's a hero."

"Summer, I... I don't know what to say," Neoma whispered, hugging her cousin. "You know I'm here for you if you need anything. I love you."

"I love you, too, Neoma. Thanks." Summer wiped her eyes and sniffled as she returned the hug.

My dearest Silver,

It's weird how you can get some of the happiest and saddest news of your life on the same day. I'll start with the bad news first: I'm sure you've already heard this, but Arrow is dead. I can't imagine how difficult this news will be for you, but I'm here to support you. I'm so, so sorry. I really have no other words that can accurately express how upset I am, which makes this next bit of news really difficult for me to share because we won’t be fully able to celebrate. We’re going to have a daughter, and I'm so excited to bring our little filly into the world. I can’t help feeling insanely guilty at the same time, though. My beloved older cousin, the golden child of the royal family, the beautiful, popular princess who has never once put a hoof wrong, has lost her one true love, and here I am, celebrating my pregnancy. I feel so incredibly selfish for feeling any sense of happiness about this life that we’re about to bring into the world, knowing what my cousin has told me. Yesterday, Summer said she will never marry again because she will never truly love anypony else other than Arrow. I tried to reassure her that she was wrong, but she refused to hear it. Summer is adamant that Arrow will forever be her only love. I feel the exact same way about you, my darling. I adore you, and I can’t imagine what I would do if I lost you. Summer is certainly much stronger than I am; I don’t know how she can breathe. She has refused to leave her room since the news broke, but she is alive nonetheless. I would have already died of a broken heart if I were in her position.

Some ponies say that when one life is snuffed out, another life is often ushered in; a new foal arrives in the midst of death, light shines in the midst of darkness, hope comes in the midst of hopelessness. I know that sounds like a horrible cliché, but it’s been helping me. Please take care of yourself and stay safe. I can't wait until you come home to me. You are my greatest source of strength and comfort, and this burden is too heavy for me to bear without you by my side, my love. Your name fits you perfectly, as you truly are my shield, my protector, my safe place. To say that I miss you desperately would be a massive understatement. I love you so much more than words can express.

With all my love,

Your Neoma

Summer In The Midst Of Winter

For as long as she could remember, Neoma had hated the smell of lilies. The sickeningly sweet scent of the large, white flowers made her nose run and her throat burn. Neoma’s pollen allergies played a significant role in her averse reaction to the flowers, but like most ponies, she also associated lilies with death, as they were commonly used at funerals. Unfortunately, nearly every room in the castle was now filled with elaborate floral arrangements and tributes, most of which included lilies.

Though the enemy forces had surrendered, the war had ended, and Silver was home for good, Arrow’s death, as well as thousands of others, had cast an enormous pall over Equestria's victory. The royal family was officially in mourning. Summer busied herself with funeral arrangements, and she rarely spoke unless spoken to. Summer’s parents were staying in the castle, planning their son's funeral alongside their daughter-in-law. At nearly seven months pregnant, Neoma was constantly tired but relieved that Silver was home. He was her escape, a distraction from all the grief and pain that had now taken up residence in the castle.

"Okay, how about Rosebud?" Neoma said that night, turning in bed to face Silver. Silver raised an eyebrow.

"Why Rosebud?" he asked, wrinkling his nose.

"Okay, I'll take that as a 'no,'" Neoma said with a little laugh. "What about Lily?"

"I already thought of that name, but it never sounds right when I say it," Silver said.

"I think we should wait until we meet her to name her," Neoma said. "I think as soon as we hold her and look into her little face, we'll know."

"Good idea," Silver agreed. His face quickly turned serious again. "I know this is such a weird question, and everypony has probably already asked you this," Silver began, "but how are you doing? I know Arrow was a good friend to you, too."

"I mean, I'm sad, but I can't dwell on that. My highest priority right now is being there for Summer and getting ready for our foal," Neoma said. She reached for an extra pillow so that she could prop herself up in bed. Her back was killing her. "Summer has turned into a shell of her former self since Arrow’s death. It's almost like her entire spirit died with him." Her throat began to tighten, and she took a deep breath.

"Sweetheart, it's okay for you to feel the way you're feeling, and it's okay for you to be there for your cousin," Silver told his wife, "but you also need to give yourself some time and space to grieve. You and Cassie were close to Arrow, too. If you can't take care of yourself, you won't be able to be there for the foal, or for Summer. Remember to eat, drink plenty of water, and exercise. And think about all the fun things that are coming up. You have your foal shower in two weeks, and we still need to finish the nursery. If you focus on those things, everything will get a little easier." Neoma nodded in agreement, hoping the foal shower would be a perfect distraction for Summer.

It shouldn’t be so sunny outside on the day of a funeral, Neoma thought as she and her family waited outside the funeral home for Arrow’s coffin to be loaded into the waiting hearse. The coffin, draped in the Equestrian flag and carried by six soldiers, was brought slowly outside and carefully slid into the shiny black carriage. The procession headed off towards the cemetery, where a trumpeter played and seven ponies shot three volleys in a gun salute. The flag on Arrow’s coffin was folded and given to Summer, who clutched the fabric with all of her strength, her entire body shaking from the force of her sobs as she doubled over in agony. Celestia wrapped her daughter in her arms, tears streaming down her face. A bagpiper began to play a lament, walking off so that the mournful notes faded as the coffin was slowly lowered into the ground. Luna cried as well, and tears stung Neoma’s eyes as the service ended. The next few months would be extremely difficult for her family.

"Aaaawww, look at this little outfit!" Neoma squealed, lifting the tiny pink smocked dress out of its box to pass it around. "Thank you so much, Rarity. I love it." She winced from the pain that tugged at her back as she readjusted herself on the couch. Moving in any way was hard at eight months pregnant, especially since the foal was so active all the time.

"I know it's far too big for her now, but she'll grow into it," Rarity said, smiling. Neoma smiled back and reached for her next gift, a dark blue box.

"Oooh, this one's from me!" Cassie said. "It's not from your registry, either." Neoma tore off the paper and opened the box carefully to reveal a silver, sparkly mobile of the moon and stars. "You can hang it over her crib, and it will keep her occupied for hours," Cassie explained.

"Thank you, sis, it's so pretty!" Neoma said, leaning over to hug Cassie. Then, she reached for a small blue box, wrapped in dark blue paper with a white silk bow.. "This one is from Mom," she announced. She tore off the paper and opened the box to reveal a circular silver music box, which looked oddly familiar.

“You and Cassie might remember this," Luna said. "I used this music box to help you both sleep when you were little." Neoma opened the box, and a gentle blue light was released, along with magic image of the stars and a crescent moon around a statue of a ballerina pony that twirled in circles. The lullaby it played was soft and dreamlike, and Neoma remembered it immediately.

"Wow, thank you so much, Mom," Neoma gasped, hugging Luna tightly.

"The first of many gifts from her Nana Lulu," Luna said with a grin, reaching out to rub Neoma’s belly lovingly.

"Here's the one from me," Summer said in a voice barely louder than a whisper, forcing a small smile. She gave Neoma a small blue bag, which held a little white teddy bear with a light pink nose, ears and paws. A light pink ribbon was wrapped around its neck. "I got it from a cute little boutique in Ponyville, a few days before..." she paused and swallowed hard, her voice tightening. "Anyway, after Rarity told me about this place, I knew I had to check it out. That bear was the first thing to really jump out at me. I thought it would be special if I gave my little cousin's foal her first toy." Neoma smiled and wrapped Summer in a hug.

"Thank you," Neoma told her cousin again later, after everypony else had left. "You really didn't have to get me anything with everything you're going through."

"Stop it. I wanted to," Summer assured her. "Listen, I need these distractions. Ever since Arrow died, everypony has been walking on eggshells around me, so I've kept to myself, but that doesn't mean I haven't stayed occupied. I have no choice but to stay busy; if I weren't busy, I would fall apart. It's been really hard for me to get out of bed every morning, shower, get dressed, brush my teeth, leave my room, but I've been forcing myself to do those things, and every day it's gotten a little easier.

"Of course I'm ecstatic for you, but a small part of me is insanely jealous, Neoma," she continued, "because I will never have what you have. I'm never going to fall in love again. Don't you dare tell me I'm wrong." Neoma opened her mouth to speak, but Summer stopped her. "I don't want to fall in love with any other stallion. I know I'll be expected to produce an heir one day, but when I marry again, I won't marry for love. My next marriage will be arranged and treated as nothing more than a business transaction. Falling in love is a beautiful thing, but if you lose it, you lose everything. I'm guarding what little is left of my heart for the rest of my life." She tossed her head decisively.

"It's totally normal for you to feel that way right now," Neoma said, placing her hoof over Summer’s. "There are different kinds of love, and romantic love is just one of them. You have your family and friends, and we all love you. Take all the time you need to heal. Don't shut other possibilities out, though, okay?" Summer nodded, looking over at Neoma with a little smile.

"You know, as the older cousin, I should be giving you advice, not the other way around," she said, chuckling.

"We've always learned from each other." Neoma grinned, and the two mares hugged.

Small And White, Clean And Bright

"Okay, Your Royal Highness, it's time to push again. Ready? Push for ten seconds... one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. Good, now breathe. The foal is almost out," the doctor announced. Neoma took a deep breath and grabbed Silver's hoof, squeezing it tightly as yet another contraction surged through her body. Pain radiated down her abdomen to her legs, and she cried out as her body urged her to push once more. Suddenly, the air was filled with the loud cries of a newborn foal.

"Congratulations, Your Royal Highness, it's a filly!" the doctor proclaimed. Neoma craned her neck to see her daughter as the nurses cleaned her off and swaddled her in a blanket. Before she knew it, a tiny foal was placed in her hooves. The filly's coat was as white as newly-fallen snow with a white mane and tail, and she had a silver horn. Her eyes were an icy blue. She looked around sleepily and yawned, stretching.

"She's perfect," Silver breathed. "Neoma, you're so amazing. I love you." He kissed his wife gently.

"I love you, too," Neoma said. As she pulled down the foal's blanket, she gasped. Tucked around the filly's body were two feathery wings. "She's an alicorn!" Neoma cried, shocked. "Oh, she's beautiful!" She gave the foal to Silver, who cuddled her close.

"You know," he said, "we never decided on a name."

"Edelweiss," Neoma said, almost automatically. "I can't think of a better name."

"Edelweiss," Silver repeated. "It's perfect for her. Princess Edelweiss."

A Gift From The Heavens

Author's Note

“La La Lu” is from Disney’s Lady and the Tramp, but I imagined Luna singing this version: https://youtu.be/QD94onjcvb4

A Gift From The Heavens

It was early evening. The party was over. Celestia had just lowered the sun. Luna raised her head, and her horn began to glow. She summoned the crescent moon and sent it up. Then, she summoned all of the stars. The stars swirled around her, twinkling gently. She was an artist, and the night sky was her canvas. Slowly, she sent the constellations to their places in the galaxy. Then, to commemorate the royal birth, she decided to paint the northern lights across the sky. The path of light shot upward, rippling like a river of color as its hues changed from green to purple to pink to turquoise. She imagined ponies looking out their windows in awe at her creation. Then, she decided that every year, on Neoma’s birthday, she would create the same light show.

Neoma’s cries roused Luna from her thoughts. She sighed and walked into the nursery. She and Phoebus had decided to let Neoma sleep during the day as they did, so that she could be awake with them at night.

"Hello, my sweet one," Luna whispered to the filly, gently scooping Neoma up in her hooves. Neoma stopped crying immediately and smiled up at her mother. Luna fed her daughter, then kissed her all over, making the foal giggle. The blue alicorn reveled in the newborn filly’s milky-sweet scent as she carried the filly over to the window and held her up so that she could see the sky.

"Do you see those lights, Neoma? I made those for you." Neoma gurgled and chewed on Luna's starry mane. Luna chuckled and moved her mane out of the foal's reach. Someday her daughter would understand. For now, though, she had to get Neoma back to sleep. Cradling the filly in her hooves, Luna began to sing:

“La la lu,
La la lu,
Oh, my little star sweeper,
I’ll sweep the stardust for you.
La la lu,
La la lu,
Little soft, fluffy sleeper,
Here comes a pink cloud for you.
La la lu,
La la lu,
Little wandering angel,
Fold up your wings, close your eyes.
La la lu,
La la lu,
And may love be your keeper.
La la lu,
La la lu,
La la lu.”

Neoma yawned and fell asleep peacefully within seconds, lulled by Luna’s soft, gentle voice. Staring down at her filly, Luna felt her heart melt as Neoma lay nestled in her hooves. She had never felt such a powerful love for anypony. She knew that if the situation ever arose, she would give her life for her foal without hesitation.

A few months later, Luna sat in the floor, playing with nine-month-old Neoma. The turquoise filly was fascinated by the silver toy moon and stars that littered the carpet. Luna chuckled and levitated the toys, then swirled them around Neoma’s head. The foal cooed and raised her front hooves toward her toys, eventually standing on all fours to try to reach them. Luna lowered the silver trinkets and moved them just out of Neoma’s reach. The little filly whined a little and looked at her mother inquisitively, then slowly moved her left front hoof forward, then her right. She stood with her legs splayed out for a few seconds, clearly wondering what to do next. Finally, she moved her left hind hoof forward, closely followed by her right, then she repeated the motion more confidently. She was walking for the first time. After taking her first five wobbly steps, Neoma lost her balance and fell forward, then began to cry softly.

“Awww, mommy’s so proud of you, my little new moon!” Luna said, picking up her baby and cuddling her close. “You’re walking!” Neoma’s tears were quickly replaced by a wide smile and her little giggle that always turned the imposing ruler of the night to mush. Luna kissed the filly’s forehead and rubbed her cheek against Neoma’s velvety coat. The foal’s entire body was as soft as an average alicorn’s muzzle, and Luna loved to cuddle her.

"Happy birthday, dear Neoma. Happy birthday to you!" Neoma giggled as everyone finished singing, Phoebus tickled her and everyone clapped and blew their party horns.

"Blow out your candle, sweetie," Luna said, pointing to the pink and purple birthday cake on the table. Neoma stared at the flame of the single candle on the cake, and her parents blew the candle out for her. Everyone cheered again.

Pinkie Pie had outdone herself with Neoma’s first birthday party. Balloons, confetti, and streamers were everywhere. The cake was three tiers high, decorated with silver stars.

"Okay, who wants cake?" Luna's horn started to glow, and she magically cut the cake into a bunch of pieces.

"The birthday filly gets the first piece, and her auntie Tia gets the second," Celestia teased, kissing Neoma’s cheek.

"Ha ha, very funny, Tia," Luna said with a chuckle, rolling her eyes. "I think my adorable niece should get the second piece." She leaned over and repeatedly kissed Summer, who giggled and waved her hooves.

"Me wuv Auntie Woona!" Summer squealed, giggling. "Auntie Woona tickle!"

Luna distributed a generously large piece of cake to each guest. Immediately, Neoma smushed cake all over her face, laughing.

"'Noma funny!" Summer giggled. "’Noma cake!"

"That's right, Summer," Celestia said, grinning. "Neoma’s covered in cake!" Chuckling, Luna grabbed a napkin, wiped her daughter clean, and fed her the cake. After they had all finished eating, Neoma spread her wings.

"Phoebus, I think she's going to try to fly!" Luna gasped. "Watch her carefully, don't let her fall!" Neoma flapped her little wings a few times, then, slowly, she began to rise from her high chair. Luna watched with bated breath as Neoma hovered over her chair for a few seconds, then she caught her daughter in her hooves as the filly began to fall.

"What a brave filly!" Luna praised her foal, cuddling her. "Your very first time flying. Mommy and daddy are so proud of you!" She kissed Neoma’s cheek and sat the filly back in her high chair. Tears pricked at her eyes. Her baby was growing up so fast.

“Mama?” Neoma said as she looked up at Luna curiously and pointed to her. Luna’s stomach jumped and her jaw dropped.

“Wha—what did you say, sweetheart?” Luna gasped, her eyes widening. Neoma smiled and babbled happily for a few seconds before looking up at Luna inquisitively.

“Mama?” the filly squeaked again. Luna burst into tears of joy and hugged Neoma tightly.

“That’s right, sweetie,” Luna whispered, dropping a kiss on Neoma’s forehead. “I’m your mama.” Neoma pointed at Phoebus and giggled, stretching out her hooves for him to take her from Luna. Smiling, Luna gave Neoma to Phoebus, and Neoma grinned up at him.

“Dada?” she asked him, giggling.

“That’s right, Neoma, I’m your dada,” Phoebus said proudly. He tickled Neoma’s tummy, and the filly squirmed and squealed loudly, laughing so hard that her little body shook.

After the party, it was time for Neoma’s crystalling ceremony. Luna, Phoebus, Celestia, and Sombra traveled to the country of Crystallia, formerly the Crystal Empire until two years earlier, when the then-Princess Cadance had met with the Equestrian parliament and asked for her country to join the Equestrian Commonwealth, which consisted of seventeen other overseas nations and territories over which Luna and Celestia ruled. A few of these countries had become the sisters’ realms through conquest, but most had petitioned to join the Commonwealth. After becoming part of the Commonwealth, Crystallia had become ten times more prosperous under the two sisters’ reign, and Cadance had abdicated the throne and relinquished her titles of princess and empress, instead becoming prime minister. Any parliamentary decisions still had to be formally approved by Luna and Celestia, and the two princesses were still Crystallia’s heads of state. The relationship between Equestria and Crystallia, as well as the relationship between Cadance and the two sisters, remained warm, loving, and familial, so Neoma’s crystalling served as a formal display of loyalty, submission, and respect to Celestia and Luna, and to the Equestrian crown, from the Crystallians.

Luna and Phoebus exchanged smiles as they chose the most flawless shard of crystal they could find and prepared to give Neoma the traditional Crystallian gift of love. Cadance, Celestia, Twilight, and Luna touched their glistening horns together, and a huge crystal heart appeared, floating above them. A bright flash of light filled the castle as the crystal filled with love from Neoma’s family.

"Citizens of Crystallia," Cadance began, "today we welcome the newest member of our great royal family to our beautiful nation. It is my most fervent hope that everypony who is here will share my delight in introducing Princess Neoma to the world. Long live Princess Celestia! Long live Princess Luna! Long live Princess Neoma!”

“Long live Princess Celestia! Long live Princess Luna! Long live Princess Neoma!” the crowd cheered.

That night, Luna lit up the sky again, just as she had done the year before. This would become an annual tradition, so that all of Equestria could celebrate the birthday of their littlest princess.

Three Precious Days

Celestia and Luna planned a modest double wedding within hours after the declaration of war, and Summer and Arrow and Neoma and Silver were married that same night. There were no dresses, no flowers, no cake, no mile-long guest list; only Celestia, Sombra, Luna, Phoebus, Neoma, Silver, Summer, Arrow, Cassie, Silver's parents, and Arrow’s parents were in attendance. The ceremony and reception were extremely short, and then the two newlywed couples ran off to soak up their first--and possibly last--few days together as husband and wife.

Neoma and Silver spent the next three days in Neoma’s bedchamber, voluntarily sequestered from the rest of the world, focusing only on each other's happiness and growing in intimacy. On the last night before he was due to leave, as she lay on her husband’s chest, Neoma looked up at Silver.

"Are you scared?" she asked after a long while.

"Hmm." Silver's body vibrated with a low chuckle. "Of death? No. Of not being with you? Terrified." He dropped a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Well, are you scared of being a father?" Neoma asked, turning to face him.

"No, are you kidding? I've always wanted to be a dad." Silver's face lit up. "Why do you ask?" Neoma took a deep breath as she felt her lips curve upward, and she allowed a soft, knowing smile to cross her face. Her smile stayed as Silver's eyes met hers, and his mouth fell open.

"Sweetie, are you pregnant?" he gasped. Tears of joy filled Neoma’s eyes as she nodded. "Are you sure?" he asked, a giant smile crossing his face. She nodded again, and he picked her up and spun her around, kissing her sweetly.

"We're having a foal," she whispered, looking up into his eyes, "so you'd better come home to me. Our foal needs their daddy, and I need my Silver Shield."