The Derpy I Know And Love 4 or And The Children Shall Lead

CHAPTER FOUR

Flashback To Dawn

Four(ish) years earlier;

“You remember the Best Young Fliers Competition?”  asked Twi, “I gave Rarity wings that would only last three days.  But the walk on cloud spell, it did not have a limitation.”

“You mean, all this time we..............” Rainbow stopped.  “Thanks, we will talk to you later!  Come on Pinkie!”

“Congrat’s on the foal,” said Pinkie being dragged by the tail out the door.

Bubbles and Twilight laughed long as Dawn started to nurse.

Bubbles kissed Twilight deeply.  It still took Twilight’s breath away.

“Is that not how you got into this mess in the first place?” said a familiar voice.

Twilight and Bubbles broke the kiss and looked.  There stood Princesses Celestia and Luna.  It was Luna that had spoken.

“You highnesses!” said Twilight.

“My most beloved Twilight,” said Celestia, “here also in not the place for court games.  We are here as your aunt-in-laws.”

“Just aunt-in-laws that the nurses can’t say no to,” said Luna with a smile and wink.

“When she is finished, Bubbles my dear, may we, Luna and I that is, see her?” asked Celestia.

Twilight had never heard Celestia ever speak so casual and familiar.  Twilight had not put thought to the fact when her brother married Cadence, that the two ruling princesses were now technically family.

It was only a few moments until the newborn foal was satisfied.  Bubbles held out the infant.  Celestia’s golden aura surrounded the baby and lifted her out of her mother’s legs and brought her close.  Luna’s aura folded back the blanket to get a better view.  The two princesses stood there in rapt admiration and awe.

The infant opened her eyes and beheld the two alicorns before her.  She smiled as if in recognition.  Luna and Celestia looked at each other and nodded.

“She knows already,” said Celestia quiet enough for her sister to hear but not Twilight and Bubbles.  “The time is coming.”

“I am glad,” whispered Luna, “I am starting to get tired.”

“As am I,” whispered Celestia, “we will start Twilight’s real training soon.  A ghost from the past would be a good start.  And perhaps the possible loss of a close friend?”

“Yes, perhaps connect the two,” said Luna. “I will start Dawn’s training as soon as I can.”

Luna reached her hoof up and tickled the infant under the chin.  Both Dawn and Luna laughed.

“What a beautiful foal,” said Celestia to Twilight and Bubbles.  “We look forward to assisting you with her in anyway.  As I mentioned in the delivery room, with an alicorn, there will be special needs.”

Celestia levitated the child back to her parents.

“My sister and I will let you rest and bond.” Said Luna, “feel free to go back to kissing!”

Bubbles and Twilight did not have to be told twice.

Both of the princesses chuckled as they left the room.

In the hall, out of ear-shot, Luna turned to address her sister.

“Who would have thought that a Princess of the Night would be named for the dawn?”

Several days later, Twilight, Bubbles and Dawn were home.  Muffin and Sparkler were making a constant fuss over the foal.  Neither could seem to get enough of her.

Coincidentally, at this time Muffin’s magic started to truly manifest its self.  Between Sparkler, Muffin and Twilight,  Bubbles had to be very aware of her surroundings.  Otherwise she might get a bottle, a blanket or worse, a dirty diaper to the head.

“Family!” shouted Bubbles, after one such diaper just missed her muzzle, “all this magic!  Have pity on a poor pegasus who can’t even manage a card trick!”

Everypony laughed but they got the message and established a ‘no fly zone’ when Mama B was in the room.

Their friends had given them time to settle in, but after about a week, there were visits all the time.

A.J. and Rarity would come by bringing food to help ease Bubbles workload.  Or so they said.  Rarity would hold Dawn, her face showing a wrapped sense of wonder, she would then hand A.J. the infant.  All were surprised at the gentleness that the rough farm pony showed when handling the baby.  Her face was a mix of wonder, pride and an odd touch of sadness.

After one such visit, Rarity found A.J. laying on their bed, A.J. avoided admitting that she had been crying, but the pillow was stained with tears.  It was not until a few years later that Rarity understood.

Muffin asked for and was given permission to bring her fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders to see her new little sister.  With direct supervision, the girls were allowed to hold the precious infant.

“Oh wow!” said Scootaloo, “I have never seen a pony with wings and a horn other than princesses!  Is she a princess?”

“She is an alicorn,” said Bubbles, “the princesses are alicorns, but to be an alicorn does not make a pony a princess.”

“Well she is as pretty as a princess!” said Sweetie Belle.

“I agree,” said Apple Bloom, “I don’t think I have ever seen a foal as pretty.”

“Thank you girls,” said Twilight.

“I have a favor to ask, Mrs. Sparkle,” said Sweetie Belle.

“What is that Sweetie?” asked Bubbles.

“Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon heard us talking about coming over to see Dawn,” said Sweetie.  “Diamond asked me, if they behaved, would it be okay for them to see her as well?”

“I thought you girls did not get along?” asked Twilight.

“Well, they have been a lot more friendly since you helped Diamond from being expelled.”  Said Sweetie with a smile, “in fact they have now hung out with us from time to time.”

“Of course Sweetie,” said Twilight, “any friends of yours are welcome.”

Sweetie went to the door and waved for the two fillies to come in.  Twilight did not have much exposure to Diamond and Silver.  Her first impression was that of a couple of snooty little fillies.  Perhaps she was a little prejudiced from some of the things Muffin had reported in the past.

But here they stood, very reserved and respectful.  As she was allowed to hold Dawn, Diamond’s face expanded into a great grin.

“I never get to hold my brother,” said Diamond.  “Daddy says I am too young.”

Diamond looked at Sweetie Belle who gave her a large smile of her own.

Twilight noticed the smile and made a mental note.

Since Pinkie had moved in with Rainbow, the two were seen together most of the time.

Pinkie who loved children (perhaps because in many ways she was just a big kid herself) was always thrilled to just make funny faces or blow raspberries on they little foal’s tummy.  Any laugh given by dawn was better than a bag full of bits to the pink pony.

Rainbow, who was loath to admit fear, was always skittish when she held Dawn.

Rainbow related that it was taught when she was growing up, that in the past when pegasi were warrior tribes, the few alicorns that would come forth were treated like gods, it was still part of their psyche.  That is why so many of the royal guard are pegasi.

Fluttershy would stop by with her coltfriend, A.J.’s cousin Caramel.  Fluttershy did not exhibit any of the apprehension that Rainbow showed, perhaps pegasus culture was not so ingrained in her.   The two would sit on a sofa for hours passing the foal between them,  they would speak to each other in low voices and smile a lot.

The child was somewhat of a celebrity when Bubbles and Twilight went out, even among the ones who did not know the special origin of the foal.  She was Ponyville’s little alicorn filly.  And there were very few ponies that would not stop to see the child.  Especially the mares, and there were a lot of mares.

This was due to the fact that at this time in Equestria, there were estimated five to six mares for every one stallion.  It was an ideal situation for the single colt.  But that was perhaps the biggest reason that two mares together were becoming widely accepted, although still not the normal practice.