Cadance sat by the crib, dead tired, sorta.

Shining had left to go collect Twilight and her friends from the train station a half an hour ago.

Cadance would have tried to spontaneously nod off, but she could feel Celestia and Luna in the Spire. The crystal jumbled the direction, but not the intensity. Everyone assumed that when Cadance had her baby, the magic build-up would subside.

It didn't.

Even with how tired her mind felt, her eyelids were open; she felt like she could fly a marathon in a hurricane. They had to be excruciatingly careful during the process; she broke several medical tools by accident due to her overcharged strength. All in all, Cadance wasn't in a rush to relive the experience. Physically or mentally. Her body was still ready to take on the world though.

So she stared.

It had taken a hefty amount of time and desperation to get the newborn to rest, and Cadance could tell that the little pony was still awake, mostly. She thought that she'd want to go do something else, maybe catch up on work, she felt far better than she had a few days ago, but no. She couldn't leave the crib. She just couldn't. It would have been easier to relocate the whole Spire rather than try and get Cadance away from her baby. Not after the time travel shenanigans.

She wanted to be happy.

No, that's not right.

Cadance wanted to be dancing around. Cheering and doing all the happy things new mothers did. She wanted to be the idealistic version of 'normal' she saw in her head. Except she wasn't.

She was woefully unprepared for how... tired it would make her. Not physically, this was different.

Because she was happy. So deeply happy that it was more akin to satisfaction than joy. It was an emotion completely unique to being a mother. One she'd never felt before. She wasn't sure what to make of it.

She also needed sleep.

And to get out of her own head.

Luna and Celestia arrived on scene, lucky for her. A good distraction from her internal quandaries.

"Cadance," - "Niece." They both said, Celestia smiling, Luna with her trademark RBF frown.

"Hi aunties, come to see the baby?"

"And you, Cadance. Do not forget that, if you will." Luna responded, but she did still walk directly up to the crib and look inside. Her frown vanished.

Celestia took a spot next to Cadance, "She's beautiful Cadance. Congratulations."

Of course. Neither of them comment on the wings and horn. Politeness? Confusion? Who knows.

Celestia's smile turned pensive. "I wanted to apologize again."

"You think I'm still frustrated with you?"

Celestia pretended to titter, "You didn't exactly jump in excitement to see me."

Stop assuming you know how I feel.

Cadance returned with her own trademark snark, "You shouldn't apologize when you're not sorry." She turned with narrowed eyes and met Celestia in a staring contest. "It doesn't suit you." Celestia's expression twisted into such a deep neutrality that she may as well have been a rock, or some other unimpressionable thing.

"Both of you do not start." Luna said, glaring at them both over the crib. "You will awaken the filly with your attitudes." She turned towards Cadance, "My sister only has eyes for Equestria, try not to judge her too harshly." Celestia opened her mouth but was cut off by Luna continuing. "Sister, stop being a 'fake bitch' and speak clearly."

Cadance snorted.

Luna leaned back into the crib and cooed.

Celestia sighed and hung her head.

She hasn't had anyone to care about for centuries. No family, no-one but ponies who'll age right before her eyes. She's probably forgotten how. Luna's right...

"Always business then, huh?" Cadance offered

Celestia's face remained neutral, "Two nations so close will breed a diversity that will destroy one. I've seen it happen before."

"Then we'll just have to work it out." Cadance countered

Luna looked up from the crib again, "Between your vast experience, and Cadance's insatiable thirst for success, I know the two of you can keep Equestria and Crystalia stable and happy."

Celestia was not convinced. "If you say so."

Thank goodness.

"Yes. Let's table this discussion for later. Twilight and her friends are almost here."

Celestia tilted her head, "I'm surprised. I didn't think you were the kind of pony to place 'tracking' spells." Her tone carried a hint of respect.

Cadance gave Celestia a look. "I don't. I can feel their emotions from here."

Luna laughed at the subtle miscommunication. Celestia took the cue to be done talking.

Twilight opened the door, the telltale colour of her magic was unmistakable. They met eyes for a second, and Twilight smiled wide and walked up towards the crib, all of her friends trailing behind her. Flurry Heart, disturbed by the sudden noise and presence of a bunch of ponies, began to stir.

Did we tell Twilight the baby was an Alicorn?

Ah welp, too late now.

"Of course... I could be wrong." Twilight's face read nothing but confusion, some parts terror. "The baby is an Alicorn!?"

Glances were shared, Cadance chuckled quietly. "It looks that way."

"But, but-" Rarity tried to form words, "Don't Alicorns ascend through some great feat of magic? Some Princess worthy deed?" Fluttershy and Applejack nodded along.

The latter commented, "How can ya just be born with 'em?"

Cadance bobbed her head. "It isn't quite so simple as, achieve magical greatness, earn Alicornhood."

"The birth of an Alicorn is something Equestria has never seen." Celestia started

Luna appended, "It is beyond even our understanding." She lied, subtly telling Celestia to remain silent.

Fluttershy mumbled something to Rarity that was overshadowed by Pinkie ExcitementTm. "Wow! A unicorn, and a pegasus! That-"

Cadance interjected, "And an Earth pony."

Cadance had been trying to grapple with her rapidly enhancing strength over the past few months, so she knew the difference. "I have to admit, I'm... worried. Surging and flight are already problem enough, among the fact that she won't sleep."

Actually, wakefulness might be part of the Earth pony endurance magical micro spell list. I'll have to look that up in th- Focus, Little Princess.

Rainbow spun around in the air, and Cadance was reminded that she needed to ask the prismatic mare about Scootaloo. "Well I know everything there is to know about super strong flying. I can show you some tips for keeping her safe."

"And I can help keep tabs on her magic!" Twilight smiled.

Flurry made a baby noise, and Cadance looked down to see what kinda looked like an oncoming sneeze.

Uh oh! Do som-

Oops, too late.

A twisting beam of gold and pink blasted from the foals horn and removed the next three layers of ceiling.

Cadance blinked the light out of her eyes.

Okay.

Leaning forwards to kiss her baby on the forehead while everyone else stared on in shock, Cadance calmly said, "Bless you." and dodged a piece of falling rubble.

As everyone reeled from what they had just seen, Luna and Pinkie glanced out of the window and confirmed the gathering, specifically, the size of the crowd preparing for the Crystalling. Cadance, with her hoof still in front of Flurry to keep her occupied, mostly to herself asked, "Do you think we should call it off?"

I don't want anyone being turned into ash, after all. That would be really bad for PR.

Rainbow Dash snorted, "Uhhm, we've all faced way worse than some baby magic."

There were more affirmations, but Cadance tuned out after Rarity called property damage adorable.

This is why you're not a princess.

Celestia spoke over the chatter, "In light of the little one's abilities, this Crystalling might be even more important than ever. Perhaps you should address your subjects, to remind them of that fact."

Cadance nodded, hearing the subtle undertones of 'there's more to this than you think.' She started walking. Glancing backwards at the crib and her-

My baby.

She almost turned around. She easily could have told Shining to do it, but she didn't. Cadance stared past Luna and Celestia following her out until the door shut between them.

And then Cadance stared at the door.

Yeup. This is definitely too far away.

"Cadance."

"Hmm?" Cadance shook her head, "Yes?"

"Do you need assistance clearing your coat before you address your subjects?" Luna, politely, questioned.

Cadance took a look at herself.

Oh yeah. I haven't slept since... err...

"Yes please."

Celestia lit her horn. A simple wave of magic passed over her, heating her fur and straightening it out.

"Thank you."

"Have you considered what you will be saying to-"

Cadance interrupted, "oh, I dunno, a compelling mix of, 'wow, a baby' and 'the future of the empire is bright.'" Cadance poked her hoof in the air for emphasis. "It'll come to me."

"And we shall, 'back you up' on stage, as they say."

Knowing Luna can speak normally actually does make that really annoying. No won-

Cadance thought of Silver, and her mood plummeted.

Celestia and Luna clearly noticed, but chose not to say anything as Cadance led them down towards the Crystalling stage under the Spire. Luckily, there was no mane straightening required. Her flowing mane didn't get mussed up anymore. Celestia and Luna followed behind her silently.

It was kind of unnerving.

Actually... Everything about this was unnerving.

Get out of your own head, Little Princess.

"Ponies of the Crystal Empire. Thank you all for coming, I couldn't..." Cadance pretended to choke, and wiped away a tear. "I can't believe how supportive you all are. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart."

"We love you Empress Cadance!"

Cadance let off a huge smile and rapidly waved towards the direction of whomever shouted that.

"I'm sure some of you might be getting tired of all of these celebrations, and I promise that most of what I have planned is coming to a close," Pause for dramatic affect, "But the growth of the Empire from here won't be stopping, if anything, it'll be speeding up. I-"

Cadance looked out into the sky.

"It's ironic, but to have the birth of my daughter mark the next golden age of Crystalia is a humbling honor." She pressed her hoof out into the air. "I am sure you are all as thrilled and ready for this Crystalling as myself, and Shining Armor." Cadance kept her hoof in the air, smiled and waved a few times to the crowd as they cheered.

Alright, Little Princess, short and sweet. Now we can get back to mothering.

Cadance let the crowd simmer for a few more moments, waving on to the crowd as they started to settle. Both Luna and Celestia stepped back to make way for Cadance to take the stairs down. She flapped over the edge instead and walked up to the curtains where she could sense Shining Armor.

She ducked under the curtain without bothering to pull it back to see Shining getting his mane brushed out by Rarity.

Celestia and Luna went around the edge, and Cadance walked up to her husband.

I can't help but notice.

Cadance tried to avoid her eye twitching. She plastered a soft smile on her face.

"Cadance!" Shining ran up to her. It was clear that he wasn't handling being awake for so long nearly as well as she was. "I chose the honor guard, picked the purity crystal, and I know exactly who the crystaller is gonna be."

Shining Armor. Where is my baby.

"That just means we only need..."

Cadance couldn't hold her expression straight anymore. "Uh- The baby?"

Shining gave the appropriate 'oh shit' look.

Cadance almost chewed him out right there.

He was stressed. She was stressed. Flurry was a hoof full. She understood, so she sucked it in.

"We're here!" Twilight shouted from the stairs, trailing Pinkie and Flurry in a magic bubble.

Cadance's stress spontaneously melted away. Shining sighed with relief and she shot him a 'you're gonna hear about this later' look. He smiled nervously. Cadance lit her horn, her blue aura mixing with Twilight's as they used the pressure physics inside the bubble to separate Pinkie from the baby.

Flurry didn't seem to like that. She whined from inside the shield, and Cadance was just about to pull her down to comfort her when a pop of cerulean light yoinked her Flurry from the bubble. It popped with nothing to contain, and Cadance's eyes were drawn towards-

"Silver!"

Silver spun a tiny firework off her hoof for Flurry, who was cradled in her opposing limb. The baby's whine turned to wonder as sparkles filled the air. Cadance took a step forwards-

"YOU!"

"Sister, wait!"

"I knew you had escaped!" Celestia charged her horn.

Cadance watched Silver fling Flurry at Shining with telekinesis. Her heart stopped in the transition, terrified Flurry was about to get hurt, both her and Shining disappeared in a flash of blue teleportation. Cadance flicked her eyes back over to Celestia to see her launch a curving beam of plasma.

No!

Cadance lit her horn, but it was too late. She wouldn't be able to block the spell from this range, not quick enough.

Silver winked at her as the spell crashed down.

Author's Note

These next few chapters could have been lumped into one long chapter, but I split them apart for:

"Ze MAHGIKS"

Also, these last few chapters are gonna be toting some music I was inspired by while writing this. Here's todays: Flying X Oblivion. Yall should listen, and check out these artists. They're incredible.
(And thematically relevant)