A Great And Powerful Secret

Chapters

Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six

Prologue

The moon ascended slowly into the black sky, raised by Princess Luna’s magic. Its soft light reflected off of the princess’ sparkling horn, and her glossy blue coat gleamed with its luster. As she finished her work, Luna dimmed her horn and sighed, tired from the surprising amount of effort that her daily task, as well as everything else she did, now required. Luna glanced down at her enormous belly, which had grown so large that it nearly touched the ground. With every step she took, the princess of the night was reminded of the result of a wonderful meeting, a beautiful souvenir from a union between lovers, which she would soon bring into the world.

Luna allowed her thoughts to drift to the foal’s father. Theirs had been a carnal, lust-filled affair. She had toyed with the strapping young solar guard like a cat with a ball of yarn; to her, he had been nothing more than an eye-catching but disposable plaything, a distraction from the mantle of perpetual boredom that so often seemed to rest upon her shoulders during the day when she couldn’t sleep. He had warmed her bed and scratched every itch she’d had, ultimately impregnating her in the process. Though she had never loved the stallion, she harbored no ill will towards him. When she had informed him of her pregnancy, he had decided not to stay in the foal’s life, a choice that Luna respected; after all, the soldier was far too young to settle down, and Luna couldn’t blame him for wanting to enjoy his early twenties. Furthermore, she knew that keeping a bastard foal would have shameful consequences, both for Luna and for the foal. If anypony ever learned about this, Luna would never be trusted as a ruler, and should she one day marry, there would be endless speculation about the legitimacy of all of her future heirs. This foal could never have a place in the line of succession. Luna knew that if Celestia had discovered the truth, she would have been forced to terminate the pregnancy, a course of action that she had considered but could not bring herself to take. This left one other option, and though it broke her heart, Luna knew she needed to do what was best for the little one growing within her.

As soon as she had learned of her condition, Luna had asked Celestia if she could take a year-long sabbatical at The Castle of the Two Sisters in the Everfree Forest, where the two princesses had grown up. Much to Luna’s surprise, Celestia had happily agreed to her younger sister’s request without so much as asking for an explanation; after all, most of their precious family heirlooms had been abandoned with their former home as Celestia and her sister fled from the castle to avoid suffering the same horrific fate as their parents so many years ago. Neither of them had been able to bear the thought of returning to the charred skeleton of the once-imposing fortress. If she knew the truth, she would never forgive me, Luna thought.

Luna shuddered as the foal delivered a staggering blow to her ribcage. A torrent of liquid burst from her womb, and Luna braced herself for the inevitable, imminent effort of labor. As powerful and skilled at magic as she was, though she had searched obsessively for spells with which she could quickly and painlessly speed up the birthing process without putting her foal at risk, Luna had not been able to find anything; however, she had discovered one spell that would partially numb her from her hindquarters down to the soles of her hind hooves. The spell was strong enough to take away her discomfort and alleviate the agonizing pain of labor, which Equestria’s lack of advanced medicine forced non-alicorns to endure; at the same time, though, its magic would not relieve her of the hard work for which labor was so aptly named. The magic would provide just enough sensation for her to feel all of her foal’s movements as it made its way through the birth canal. This sensation would allow her to let nature take its course and encourage her to instinctively follow her body’s natural urge to push when the time came. Luna quickly cast the spell and fell to her side. As if on cue, she felt a wave of pressure and then a sensation of opening up as her cervix began to dilate and the foal moved downward slightly.

“That’s it, little one,” Luna cooed, rubbing her belly. “Just take thy time. Do not rush. Mommy only wishes for thee to be healthy.” Tears moistened the corners of her eyes as the word “mommy” left her lips. It was the first time she had referred to herself as “mommy”; she had refused to allow herself to use the nickname to avoid becoming attached to the foal, but now, as she fought for every breath and caught sight of the foal’s emerging head, Luna realized that this little one would always be a part of her. She could already tell that the foal was a unicorn with a coat that was a slightly lighter shade of blue than Luna’s. With one final push, Luna delivered the foal, who announced her arrival with a piercing cry. The princess of the night immediately folded her legs underneath her and sat up, craning her neck to get a better look at her foal. She immediately noticed that it was a filly. Luna instinctively leaned over and nuzzled the newborn foal, then began to lick her clean. The filly instantly stopped crying, opened her beautiful, deep purple eyes, looked up at Luna, then cooed and touched her nose to the alicorn’s. Luna’s eyes overflowed with tears as she returned her new daughter’s greeting. She remembered an old Equestrian saying: “A healthy foal who is born crying loudly with its first breath is a future warrior sounding its first battle cry to the world.” Luna smiled at this idea and inhaled her foal’s scent, that sweet, milky fragrance possessed by all newborns.

“Welcome to the world, little one,” Luna whispered. She rose to her hooves. swaddled the foal in the blanket that she had bought months ago, then put her into the foal carrier that matched the blanket. The filly giggled as Luna levitated the carrier onto her back. Luna shook her mane and released a sad, tired sigh. It was almost time for the moment she had dreaded since she had learned she was pregnant.

“The least we can do is name thee,” the princess admitted. “Perhaps we should give thee an Old Equestrian name. Wouldst thou like that?” The filly cooed happily in response and gave Luna a smile that nearly tore the princess’ heart from her chest. Luna took a deep breath that turned to a gasp as she realized what this little one’s name would be. Her name would serve as a secret connection to her mother so that Luna could find her one day. The princess of the night sighed and gazed up at her moonlit sky. She begged whatever unseen force controlled the future to someday reunite her with her daughter.

“Beatrix,” Luna proclaimed. “It means ‘warrior princess’ in Old Equestrian. We think we shalt give thee a last name, too: Lulamoon, which is Old Equestrian for ‘daughter of the moon.’ Nopony understands Old Equestrian now, except for us and our sister.” She sniffled and continued, “Beatrix, we promise that we shall return for thee when the time is right; until then, we shall meet only in thy dreams. We love thee with all our heart.” A sob shook her body.

Though she was incredibly sore, Luna magically secured the foal carrier to her back, spread her wings, and forced herself into the air. After she had landed in front of the orphanage, Luna gently placed the foal carrier on the doorstep, magically conjured a pen and paper and hastily scribbled a note:

Please take good care of this foal. Her name is Beatrix Lulamoon. Do not adopt her out. Her mother will return soon.

Before she left the property, Luna kissed her daughter’s temple, hid behind a nearby tree, and sobbed quietly until somepony took the filly inside.

Chapter One

Author's Note

The song is “Sleepsong” by Secret Garden. https://youtu.be/_yQpU_73Dv0

Chapter One

The playground was silent, bathed in a dull gray mist that muddied the usual pitch black of the night. Ominous black clouds hid the moon, shrouding everything in a cold, otherworldly darkness. It was in this darkness that four-year-old Trixie suddenly found herself. The little blue unicorn squeezed her eyes shut, willing her horn to light up, but she could only create a tiny spark. Trixie stomped her hoof in frustration and tried again, this time igniting her horn with such force that the energy from her attempted spell seemed to hit an invisible wall. The little ball of magic surged back towards Trixie like a boomerang. As it hit her, she toppled backward and plopped onto her bottom.

“Perhaps you should try relaxing a bit,” a gentle voice suddenly said. Trixie’s ears perked up; she knew she had heard this voice before, but she couldn’t remember where she had heard it or who it belonged to. She still decided to take her invisible companion’s advice.

“That’s right,” the same voice encouraged her. “Focus on what you want to do. Just relax, close your eyes, and trust yourself.”

“Who are you?” Trixie asked. “Why are you here?”

“There is no need to be afraid, little one,” the voice assured her. “For now, you only need to know that I am the guardian of your dreams; I protect you from nightmares. Now, relax and try the spell again.”

Trixie took a deep breath and lit her horn; this time, the light stayed, illuminating her path—and her dream guardian. Four silver hooves stood only inches in front of the filly, and as Trixie looked up, she realized that a magnificent alicorn was towering over her. The mare had a glossy dark blue coat, mesmerizing turquoise eyes, and a billowing mane and tail that sparkled with all the stars and galaxies that the universe held. Trixie’s jaw dropped.

“I think it might be time for you to return to your peaceful, dreamless slumber,” the alicorn said with a chuckle. Trixie shook her head. Something inside her made her want to stay. As if she had read the filly’s mind, the mare lay down and motioned for Trixie to join her. Trixie cuddled against the alicorn’s side and sighed softly as the mare’s wing covered her. The mare lowered her head and nuzzled Trixie so tenderly that the filly began to cry.

“Sssshhh, little one,” the alicorn cooed, nuzzling Trixie again. “I must leave you soon, but first I’m going to clear your mind of all distractions so that you can get some rest.” Then, she began to sing:

“Loo-li, loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay
Loo-li, loo-li, loo-li lai-lay

Lay down your head and I'll sing you a lullaby
Back to the years of loo-li lai-lay
And I'll sing you to sleep and I'll sing you tomorrow
Bless you with love for the road that you go

May you sail far to the far fields of fortune
With diamonds and pearls at your head and your feet
And may you need never to banish misfortune
May you find kindness in all that you meet

May there always be angels to watch over you
To guide you each step of the way
To guard you and keep you safe from all harm
Loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay

May you bring love and may you bring happiness
Be loved in return to the end of your days
Now fall off to sleep, I'm not meaning to keep you
I'll just sit for a while and sing loo-li, lai-lay

May there always be angels to watch over you
To guide you each step of the way
To guard you and keep you safe from all harm
Loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay, loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay

Loo-li, loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay
Loo-li, loo-li, loo-li lai-lay
Loo-li, loo-li, loo-li lai-lay
Loo-li, loo-li, loo-li lai-lay
Loo-li, lai-lay.”

When she knew that Trixie was sound asleep, Luna teleported to the waking world. There, in the dark silence of the orphanage, among hundreds of other sleeping foals, Luna gave the filly’s forehead a tender nuzzle. The foal stirred a bit in her sleep, and her lips curled into a peaceful smile. A lump grew in Luna’s throat as she gazed down at the small blue unicorn. This had been Trixie’s very first dream, a moment for which Luna had spent four agonizing years waiting. Luna decided to give Trixie at least one pleasant dream per week, which Luna could use as an opportunity to see her daughter regularly. Though she desperately wanted to adopt the filly, Luna had a gut feeling that she still needed to wait; the time was not yet right. Perhaps, she thought, if Trixie miraculously happened to show promise with her magic, or if she needed a tutor, which was a much more likely outcome, Luna could offer to take the filly under her wing as her personal student. Then, an even better idea occurred to her: She could take a position as vice principal at her sister’s School for Gifted Unicorns, persuade Celestia to accept Trixie as a “charity case” in two years when the filly was old enough, then find some reason to spend as much time with her as possible. Her plan was foolproof.

“I love you, my little warrior princess,” she whispered. Terrified of losing her composure and waking the young dreamers around her, Luna teleported back to her bedchamber, buried her face in her pillow, and wept uncontrollably, finally giving into the gnawing pain that had followed her every day for four years. The next two years would feel like an eternity.

Chapter Two

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter Three

Trixie’s first day of first grade had finally arrived. Celestia had agreed to accept the little blue filly into her school, trusting Luna’s judgment. Luna was beside herself with anxiety. Today, for the first time since Trixie was born, Luna would meet her daughter face to face in the waking world. The blue alicorn nervously shifted her weight between her front hooves as her eyes skimmed over the herd of first graders frolicking on the playground. Trixie had not yet arrived, and Luna was anxious about what the filly’s reaction to her would be. Surely she would recognize the pony who had mentored her in her dreams and even given her a pep talk the night before, but she had never seen Luna in her obsidian tiara and matching breastplate with her mane and tail flowing in all their ethereal glory.

Luna’s heart skipped a beat when she saw Trixie and a caretaker from the orphanage arrive through the school’s front gate. The little blue unicorn’s eyes went wide and her knees began to wobble nervously when she caught sight of the princesses. Luna felt herself relax as she walked up next to her sister and lowered her head to greet the foal.

“Hello, Trixie,” Luna said, maintaining her regal bearing even as every fiber of her being screamed at her to pull the foal into a hug. “My name is Princess Luna, and this is my sister, Princess Celestia. We are the rulers of Equestria and the principals of this school. I will also be your teacher this year. Why don’t you come with me? I’ll show you around.”

“You—you’re the pony from Trixie’s—“ the filly stammered, her purple eyes wide with disbelief.

“Dreams?” Luna finished Trixie’s sentence with a knowing smile. “Yes, little one, I am. I am the princess of the night, the protector of dreams. I raise the moon every evening and watch over everypony’s dreams so that you may sleep peacefully, just as Princess Celestia here raises the sun every morning and guards everypony during the day. Tia,” she continued, turning to her sister, “why don’t you let me get Trixie settled in? I’m sure you have lots of other things to do.” Celestia gave her sister a grateful smile and nodded.

“I’ll see you around, Trixie,” the white alicorn told the filly. “Princess Luna will take you to her classroom and show you your desk. You’re the first pony in your class to arrive, so you’ll have plenty of time to ask questions.” Trixie nodded, and Luna gave her a gentle, encouraging push towards the door with her wing. As they walked into the school, Trixie’s head whipped around in every direction, her purple eyes wide as she took everything in.

“Well, what do you think?” Luna asked. Trixie shook her head in wonder.

“It’s amazing!” the filly squealed. “Can Trixie practice her magic with you today, Princess Luna? Trixie has been practicing.” She was practically bouncing up and down with excitement. Luna smiled at the foal’s enthusiasm.

“Please, just call me Luna. I am glad to see that you are eager to continue your lessons, little one,” the princess said with a chuckle. “Yes, I have scheduled private lessons with you every day. I must tell you, however, that your studies with me in the waking world will be quite different from our lessons in the dream realm, though those lessons will continue as well. You read all ten of the books I assigned to you over the summer, did you not?”

“Cover to cover, three times each,” Trixie replied eagerly. Luna raised her eyebrows, surprised and impressed at the foal’s obvious dedication, then she steeled herself quickly and lifted her chin. Luna had decided early on that she would be a firm but fair teacher and act as the mother she had ached to be for six years; Trixie needed and craved both strict guidance and loving support, neither of which she was receiving at the orphanage. A staggering rise in maternal mortality had caused a recent influx of abandoned newborns; this had taken lots of the attention of the caretakers from the older foals, and though Trixie would have usually taken this lack of oversight and supervision as an opportunity to get into trouble, now she was channeling all of her energy into excelling at her studies.

“All right,” Luna said with a cunning smile, “then you must be ready for your first pop quiz of the year, which will be on the history of Equestria. As soon as everypony has arrived, we will begin.” Trixie’s eyes glinted with a combination of excitement and fear, and Luna stifled a laugh. As the rest of the foals trickled into the classroom, Luna took her place at the front of the room and began to take attendance. After taking attendance, Luna announced the pop quiz; her news was followed by a chorus of groans and the shuffle of papers. Luna knew that Trixie would ace this quiz, as she had drilled the filly endlessly on this material.

“Don’t worry, this will be quite easy if you read the required books. Question number one,” Luna began. “Who is known as Equestria’s father of magic?” She repeated the question two more times, then paused as the room was filled with the frantic scratches of pencils and squeaking of erasers. When everypony had finished writing and was looking up at her expectantly, Luna continued.

“Question number two: What are the most powerful sources of magic, and the most important means of defense, in Equestria?” The air was once again filled with the sound of fast writing and panicked gasps. Now, Luna was certain about who had read all of the books and who had not. Stifling a giggle, she continued on to the third question.

“Question number three: What dangerous artifact gives unknown powers to whatever
pony possesses it?” Again, the only sounds were nervous gasps and frantic scratching.

After she had asked all ten questions, Luna began to read off the answers. As the princess had expected, Trixie aced the quiz. Luna resisted the urge to beam with pride at the intelligent little filly as she lined her students up for recess.

At the end of the day, Luna kept Trixie behind for her first private lesson in the waking world. The alicorn intended for this lesson to be a bonding opportunity for both herself and Trixie, and she thought the filly had earned a fun, hooves-on learning experience. Luna led Trixie outside to the soccer field, where the princess had placed a large basket of apples.

“We’re going to work on aiming your horn and focusing your magic,” Luna explained. “How about a little target practice?” Trixie’s face broke into an eager smile.

“Here’s how this is going to work,” Luna explained. “I’m going to toss an apple up into the air, and you will try to hit it with your magic.”

“Okay!” Trixie squeaked, illuminating her horn before Luna could stop her. A huge bolt shot upward, and the filly fell a good five feet backward, tumbling as she screamed in fear. A rush of maternal instinct immediately flooded every fiber of Luna’s being, and she took off after Trixie, following the sound of the foal’s agitated cries. The foal had landed in a thorn bush, and she was covered in bloody scratches. Luna magically levitated Trixie and pulled her from the thorns, which tore at her sensitive skin and caused her to scream in pain and wail like a newborn. Luna felt her heart break at the sound of her daughter’s crying, and she pulled the sobbing filly to her chest.

“Ssshhhh, there, there, my sweet little baby,” the princess cooed. “You’re going to be all right. Let’s get you fixed up.” The filly looked up at Luna with tear-filled eyes and cried into her mother’s coat. Luna’s heart filled with a powerful rush of love that only a mother could have for her foal, and she nuzzled Trixie and licked her wounds clean as if the filly was a newborn. Then, Luna magically healed all of Trixie’s scrapes and scratches.

“There, now. All better,” Luna whispered, dropping a kiss on the foal’s forehead. Trixie sniffled and looked up at Luna.

“I—I’m sorry!” she sobbed. Luna nuzzled Trixie again.

“It was only a mistake, little one. What did you forget to do?” Luna gently asked the filly. Trixie thought for a moment.

“‘Firmly plant your hooves on the ground and distribute your body weight evenly among them. Keep your horn slightly angled, and make sure your chin is not too low nor too high. Relax your neck and shoulders. Keep your eyes on your target, silently recite the spell, and don’t overthink what you’re doing,’” Trixie recited robotically, following the instructions as she listed them. Luna chuckled.

“I think that last part is the most important,” the princess said. “You have to trust yourself, Trixie.” The filly nodded and fixed her eyes on the apple that Luna was levitating.

“Are you ready to try again?” Luna asked. Trixie nodded, and Luna flung the apple into the air. As the apple reached its peak, Trixie sent a burst of magic from her horn. The bolt hit the apple with an audible crack, instantly splitting the fruit in half. Trixie gasped and looked up at Luna, who smiled proudly.

“Well done,” the alicorn praised her student. “Now, try again.” Trixie repeated the action, again slicing the apple.

“All right, now I’m going to make it a little more difficult,” Luna said. “Think fast!” She threw the apple higher, farther, and to the left instead of straight. Trixie instinctively followed the apple with her magic, which again cut through the fruit as effortlessly as a knife through softened butter. The filly cheered, and Luna followed suit, her heart swelling with overwhelming love and pride as she gazed down at her little daughter, who was now dancing excitedly.

“I think that will be a good stopping point for today’s lesson,” the princess said with a laugh. “It’s getting late, and I know your caretakers are expecting you to get home soon.”

“Will you please come back into my dreams tonight, Luna?” Trixie begged. “I know you’re probably going to be super busy, and you already come into my dreams once a week, but can I see you again tonight? Please, Luna?” Luna pondered Trixie’s request for a moment. She regularly met with Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Applebloom in their dreams, so she saw no reason not to make time for her own daughter’s.

“Yes,” Luna finally said. “I’ll see you tonight, little one.” The resulting smile on Trixie’s face reminded the princess so much of that first smile the filly had given Luna as a newborn that Luna had to look away to keep herself from crying. Luna knew she had to reveal the truth soon, Celestia’s actions be damned; even if Trixie would never be a true princess, the filly needed a home, and she needed her mother. It was time.

Chapter Four

The tension in the throne room was so tangible that Luna almost turned around and walked out. No, she told herself. You are a princess, too, Luna. You and your sister are equals, contrary to what some ponies might think. Where is your dignity? Confront her like the powerful ruler that you are. Luna raised her chin, relaxed her shoulders, and strode regally to her throne.

“Why have you requested this private meeting, Luna?” Celestia asked, her voice edged with frustration. “Could it concern the complaints I have heard from hundreds of ponies about your two-week absence from night court? Maybe you would like to discuss the nightmares that have recently plagued millions of ponies, myself included? Or, might you care to explain why you have slacked off on your most important duty—hmm, I forgot what it’s called, oh, yes—RAISING AND LOWERING THE MOON?!” Celestia’s Royal Canterlot Voice shook the foundations of the castle. The crystal chandeliers above them tinkled lightly as the ground trembled. Luna, however, remained unfazed, locking eyes with her sister.

“If I tell you this,” Luna said calmly, “you must promise not to be angry with me. You must swear on your life that you won’t banish me, remove my title, renounce my claim to the throne, or—“ her voice shook ever so slightly, “—or disown me.” Celestia’s eyes softened.

“Lulu,” the older princess said gently, her voice faltering as tears brightened her eyes, “I could never, ever do any of those things. You are my little sister, and I will always love you, no matter what. Now,” she said, draping her wing over Luna’s shoulders, “tell me what’s going on. You’re worrying me.” Luna took a deep breath and explained everything. Celestia’s face turned crimson as she processed what her sister had told her.

“So,” she said coldly, in a voice that was terrifyingly soft and deathly calm with fury, “you asked for that time off because you fucked a guard, got knocked up, gave birth to a bastard foal, left the foal at an orphanage, and then came back here to resume your duties as if nothing happened?” Celestia’s eyes shot daggers at Luna, but the younger alicorn refused to show the fear that churned within her.

“If you wish to describe it in such a crude manner, then yes, that is precisely what I did,”Luna said, her voice clipped and businesslike. “You would have forced me to give up the foal anyway, so I simply expedited the process.” Celestia shook with rage until she could no longer control herself.

“WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU THINKING, LUNA?” Celestia’s voice cracked the floor in half, and several windows shattered. “WHY WOULD YOU ACT LIKE SUCH A SLUT? HOW COULD YOU BE SO STUPID? YOU HAD ONE JOB: TO KEEP YOUR LEGS CLOSED. I have never been so disappointed in you.” Her voice broke. “Now, everypony will only ever talk about Luna the slut, Luna the whore, Luna—“

“SHUT UP!” Luna screamed, sobbing. “I did what I thought was best for everypony, including you. I didn’t want either of our reputations to be damaged. If I had brought that foal home, you would have killed her.”

“Where is it?” Celestia asked. Luna was silent. “DAMN IT, LUNA, WHERE IS IT?” The solar princess’ cry contained equal parts rage and sadness. Luna chose her words cautiously.

“She’s a filly—“

“That was not my question!” Celestia snapped. “Luna, either you will tell me where your little bastard is, or I will find out myself. The problem must be taken care of, regardless.” Luna’s maternal instinct enveloped her, and she blanched as she discovered the horrific reality that her sister’s words veiled.

“‘Problem’? ‘Taken care of’?” Luna murmured, narrowing her eyes. “Celestia, my daughter has done nothing wrong; she never asked to be born. if you so much as venture within one hundred yards of my daughter, you will pay. What would your subjects think if they knew you harmed an innocent foal?” Her voice was icy. “If you want to punish anypony, then by all means, please punish me; I will give up my immortality if I will spare my daughter’s life by doing so, but hear me now, sister: If you lay a hoof on my daughter, I will show you pain beyond your wildest imagination. You will beg me to let you die if you hurt my little filly.”
Luna’s ears rang with anger.

“Is that a threat, Luna?” Celestia raised her eyebrows. “I don’t think you are in any position to threaten me, you stupid slut. That foal will be done away with immediately. If you weren’t an alicorn, you would be nothing but a common street whore. I—“ the wind was knocked from Celestia’s lungs as Luna smacked her hard across her face. The younger alicorn trembled with pure, unmistakable rage.

“You want me to abdicate? Fine. I hereby abdicate the throne and relinquish the title of Princess of the Night and co-ruler of Equestria, along with all of its privileges, duties, and responsibilities,” Luna spat, removing her crown and necklace and throwing her regalia at her sister, who stood silently, stunned by Luna’s slap. “Now that I know what a cruel, insufferable bitch you truly are, I have absolutely no desire to reign alongside you. I’m going to get my daughter, and you will never have to speak to me again. Have fun ruling Equestria alone.” With that, Luna turned, magically shattered a stained glass window, and flew away.

Author's Note

Yes, Luna just bitch-slapped Celestia. When I started writing this chapter I wasn’t planning Luna’s abdication, but I think her choice was totally reasonable. Don’t mess with Mama Lulu’s baby, because Mama Lulu’s mantra is “fuck around and find out.” Thoughts?

On another note, a major plot twist is coming. I bet none of you can guess what it is!

Chapter Five

Trixie brushed her teeth and hopped into bed, satisfied with her day. Excitement bubbled inside her; she couldn’t wait to tell Luna her news. As she drifted off, a clear but disembodied voice filled her ears:

“Come to me now, little one.” Luna appeared in front of her, and Trixie ran to hug the beautiful alicorn. The note of urgency in Luna’s voice did not go unnoticed, but Trixie would not allow herself to be afraid; she trusted Luna to protect her.

“Luna!” Trixie cried excitedly, bouncing in front of the princess. “Look, Trixie’s cutie mark looks like yours!” Luna beamed with pride.

“Congratulations, my little moonbeam,” the alicorn said. “I could not be prouder of you.” The unexpected term of endearment sent a wave of surprise and happiness through Trixie.

“Where’s your crown, Luna? And where’s your necklace?” Trixie asked as Luna nuzzled her lovingly. A shadow of sadness crossed Luna’s lovely, regal face, but it was so brief that Trixie wondered if she had imagined it.

“There is no time to explain, sweetheart,” the alicorn said, levitating Trixie onto her back. “I will tell you everything when we are in a safe place. Hold on tightly, now.” With one powerful flap of her wings, Luna took to the sky and caught the gentle evening breeze, her horn glinting in the moonlight. Luna revealed the truth to Trixie as they flew through the night until they saw the sun rising over a huge city that sparkled like a million diamonds in the morning’s scarlet light. Snow covered the ground, and Luna nearly lost her footing in the icy, muddy slush as they landed.

“What is this place, mommy?” Trixie breathed, shivering in the freezing air. Luna felt her stomach twist into a knot at Trixie’s last word and tucked the foal under her wing as she walked towards the huge castle in the city’s center. Trixie poked her head out from under Luna’s feathers, her eyes wide.

“This, my dear,” the alicorn said, “is the Crystal Empire, our new home. Their ruler, Princess Cadance, is my niece; she will take good care of us. She and her husband, Shining Armor, have a daughter who’s about your age; her name is Flurry Heart. We’ll be safe here.”

“So,” Trixie said slowly as she processed everything Luna had just revealed to her, “you’re Trixie’s real mommy? Does that make Trixie a princess?”

“Yes, sweetheart, I am your mommy, but no, you will never be an alicorn princess.” Luna shook her head sadly. “Because your father and I were not married when you came into the picture, my sister would never have allowed you to be a true princess—she never would have agreed to make you an alicorn like us.”

“Why did you get rid of Trixie?” Trixie asked. “Did Trixie make you angry? Did Trixie do something really bad?” Luna stopped in her tracks and levitated Trixie down in front of her, then lowered herself into the snow so that she was at eye level with the filly.

“No, sweetheart,” the alicorn said firmly. “No, you have done absolutely nothing wrong. I gave you to the orphanage to protect you; I didn’t have any other choice. I would have done anything to keep you; I shouldn’t have waited so long to do what I just did,” she realized, sighing. “I should have just given up my crown and kept you.”

“It’s okay, mom,” Trixie said softly. “Trixie understands.” Luna’s heart nearly broke at her daughter’s sweetness.

As they walked into the castle, Luna and Trixie stopped in front of Cadance’s throne. For the first time in her adult life, Luna bent down into a deep curtsy. Trixie tried to imitate her mother and instead fell on her face. The filly was so adorable that Luna had to fight the strong urge to cuddle her. Instead, she helped Trixie to her hooves and gave her daughter an encouraging nuzzle.

“Trixie,” Luna said, “this is Princess Cadance, Captain Shining Armor, and Princess Flurry Heart.”

“Hi, Trixie,” Cadance said gently. “We’re so glad to have you here. Flurry, come say hello.”

“Hi!” the filly squealed. “I’m Flurry Heart. I’m so glad to have another pony my age around here! We’re gonna be best friends! Come on, I’ll show you my room.” Before Trixie could protest, the alicorn filly teleported herself and Trixie to her bedroom. Cadance and Luna chuckled at the two fillies as the adults walked into the sitting room.

“So, what happened?” Cadance asked, sitting down on the couch. “I only heard that Auntie Tia wants to kill you and Trixie? Why would she want to do that?”

“Because Trixie is illegitimate, she has no claim to the throne,” Luna explained with a sad sigh. “In Tia’s mind, it was either her niece or her reputation…”

“And of course, she chose her reputation.” Every syllable was saturated with Cadance’s obvious disgust. “What has happened to her? Auntie Tia has never made such heartless decisions before.”

“She has become more volatile in recent years,” Luna sighed. “I have never once questioned her legitimacy as a ruler, but after what she has just done, our relationship has been severed; she is dead to me. Nopony who threatens my foal’s life will ever be allowed in my presence.”

“I know you must feel guilty for giving her away,” Cadance said, “but I completely understand and respect your decision. You did what you thought was best for your baby, and to be honest, I think I probably would have done the exact same thing if I were in your position.”

“Celestia is little more than a tyrant,” Luna said. “While I was pregnant and taking my sabbatical, she disassembled parliament, began to execute ponies simply to show her power and scare everypony into submission. She had unwed mothers killed, but not before their foals were cut from their wombs and had their throats slit in front of them. Something inside my sister has snapped. She has no desire to kill me; she only wishes to take my daughter’s life and leave me to suffer an eternity of misery, which is a far worse fate than death.”

“Why do you think she’s doing this?” Cadance asked.

“Get comfortable; you’ll be here for a while,” Luna said drily. “Celestia will never tell you this, but she has been through the same situation in which I found myself; the only difference is that she miscarried before any rumors could spread.” She took a tired breath. “There was already so much tension between us that I think the news that I gave birth to a beautiful, perfectly healthy foal was too much for her after she lost the foal that she had wanted for so long. If she hadn’t made such stupid, antiquated rules regarding the legitimacy of our heirs, none of this would be happening right now. Our royal lineage does not depend on the fathers of our foals; since we were the sovereign rulers of Equestria, my blood and her blood were the only factors that should have guaranteed an heir’s claim to the throne. She was too shortsighted to think those rules through. Equestria has lost the protector of its dreamers because of my sister’s utter stupidity.” Luna snorted.

“Mommy,” a small voice wailed, “Flurry hit Trixieeeeee!” Trixie stood in the doorway, sobbing. Flurry Heart followed her closely.

“Mom, it was an accident!” Flurry said. “I didn’t see her!” Luna picked Trixie up and examined the filly’s head.

“It’s all right, Flurry. I know you didn’t mean to hurt her. Oof, there’s a big knot right next to your horn, Trixie,” Luna said, gently feeling the bump. Trixie whimpered and buried her face in the crook of Luna’s neck.

“You’ll be fine. Your mommy’s tough little filly, aren’t you? Come here, let mommy kiss your boo-boo and make it feel better,” the princess of the night cooed, kissing the bump. “There. Now let’s put some ice on it, all right?” Trixie sniffled and looked up at Luna, then she slowly nodded. Luna wiped the filly’s tears with her wing, then kissed Trixie’s forehead.

The rest of the day passed at a slow, relaxed pace. The adults chatted and drank, and the two fillies played until long after dinner.

“Trixie,” Luna said, “why don’t you go take a bath and get ready for bed? I’ll be up in a minute to tuck you in.”

“Okay, mama,” Trixie said with a little yawn. Luna smiled as her daughter made her way upstairs.

In the castle’s massive bathtub, Trixie ducked beneath the bubbles and splashed, swimming around in circles until she was drenched. As she watched her daughter’s antics, Luna chuckled and peered over the side of the tub, only to be sprayed in the face by a jet of water, which made her laugh more.

“All right, my silly filly,” Luna said, still laughing. “It’s past your bedtime, and we’ve got a big day tomorrow.” Trixie exited the tub obediently and dried off, then crawled into bed.

“Mommy,” Trixie said as she snuggled under the duvet, “will Trixie get to study magic with you?”

“Of course, sweetie,” Luna promised her daughter. “Why don’t we continue our lessons in the morning?” Trixie nodded, yawned, then promptly fell asleep. Luna kissed the filly’s temple and rejoined Cadance and Shining Armor.

Chapter Six

Celestia paced across the dining room of Canterlot Castle, staring up at the fresco of the royal sisters that adorned the ceiling. The painting depicted Celestia and Luna as they soared through a cloudless blue sky, the sisters’ celestial bodies just inches from their horns. The white alicorn’s wings drooped lifelessly, hanging limply on either side of her back, dragging on the floor. Celestia’s messy mane and tail and yellowed coat gave her a terribly unkempt appearance, but she had stopped caring a while ago.

A week had passed since Luna’s abdication, and though Celestia wanted to make amends with her sister more than anything else, she knew that the bastard foal would have to be done away with. Popularity with her subjects was of paramount importance to Celestia, so she knew that if she took the life of an innocent foal without first carefully planning her attack and turning her ponies against the filly, the citizens of Equestria would undoubtedly turn on her. Still, it had to be done; what if this foal tried to stage a coup once she grew up? What if her anger over Celestia’s denial of her royal lineage one day caused a revolt? The princess knew that there was growing talk of turning Equestria into a republic, but most ponies knew that would not happen unless Celestia’s blood was shed. If Trixie were to reveal Celestia’s refusal to accept her into the royal family with open hooves, the princess’ subjects would dismiss Celestia and her views as old-fashioned, heartless, cold, antiquated, and out of touch with modern society. If they discovered that Trixie was Luna’s bastard daughter who had no claim to the throne, they would definitely question the legitimacy of the monarchy as a whole. In Celestia’s view, Trixie’s death was the only possible solution to this potential crisis. The white alicorn sighed sadly at the thought of killing her niece; there was no way she could stomach doing it herself. She would have to seek assistance from another.

“May I help you, Princess?” a familiar voice suddenly asked. Celestia turned toward the source of the voice. Perched on the edge of the massive rectangular mahogany dining table, drinking from a beer bottle, was Discord. Celestia’s eyes narrowed at the draconequus, who chuckled lightheartedly and took a long sip of beer.

“What do you want, Discord? I’m not in the mood for your nonsense today,” Celestia sighed.

“I know, I know,” Discord tutted. “I just wanted to check in on my two favorite princesses, but it seems that Moonbutt is no longer ruling alongside you. Isn’t that right, Sunbutt?” Celestia seethed at the chaos god’s flippant use of the nickname that she so detested. Discord knew exactly how to get under her skin, and though she could usually keep her irritation with him at bay, her emotions were at an all-time high today.

“I must say, I was quite surprised by how you treated your sister, considering—“

“HOLD YOUR TONGUE, DRACONEQUUS!” Celestia bellowed, rage filling her body. Discord raised his claws in an effort to placate her.

“All right,” he said soothingly. “I won’t mention the little—“ he cleared his throat “—accident—that you had a few years ago. Not even your own sister knew about it. You of all ponies should understand Luna’s situation.”

“My circumstances were different,” Celestia snapped. “Sombra and I planned to marry, and then he was killed in battle. I was not shaking my rump in the face of every stallion that looked in my direction.”

“Yet you still got knocked up,” Discord mused, stroking his chin. “Maybe it was for the best that you mis—“

“Don’t say it!” Celestia cried, tears streaming down her face. “How can you be so cruel? It’s been five years, and I have healed. The actions that I have taken against my sister and her bastard have nothing to do with my past.”

“Actually, they have everything to do with your past,” Discord chuckled calmly. “You committed the exact same offense for which you have signed your sister’s death warrant; the only difference between her situation and yours is that you never had the guts to tell Luna about what you did, and your little ‘oopsie’ didn’t make it past twelve weeks. Maybe Luna should find ou—“

“SAY ONE WORD TO HER, AND YOU ARE DEAD, YOU MISTAKENLY UNSWALLOWED SPERM!” Celestia yelled. Discord laughed so hard that he fell from the table and disappeared with a poof. The sun princess groaned and went off to her bedchamber, where she collapsed and began to sob.