Fate Has Other Plansby MyLittleChangelingChaptersPrologue - Stubborn PrincessChapter One - NewsChapter Two - Birthday WarningsChapter Three - KidnappedPrologue - Stubborn PrincessPrologue - Stubborn Princess The guards stationed outside the former monster Nightmare Moon’s/fully recuperated Princess Luna’s chamber eyed the ornate door nervously. They could hear the faint ‘click-clack’ of hooves that drifted to their ears, assuring them the Princess was still in the room, but as to what she was doing they could only imagine. Inside, a midnight blue mare paced up and down the worn rug, stopping every now and then to glare at the offending part of her that had ruined everything. She reasoned that it was not so big a deal, and maybe even a blessing in disguise? After all, this was all she had left of … of him, and Celestia knew how much he had meant to her. Celestia would understand. Celestia would support her, she was sure. Deep inside her a tiny voice whispered that her sister was still her sister, one who loved her dearly and would do anything for her, but another voice insisted on screaming at Luna to remember the Moon, remember how one little mistake had led to losing a thousand years of her life? The mare paused and shuddered, hearing her sister’s stern voice warning her that she could only marry the stallion on the condition that they wouldn’t do this, that it would be too risky, that it could unleash a monster – reminding Luna that she had, yet again, ignored her sister’s advice. However, she was in trouble and she needed Celestia’s help, so summoning all the courage she possessed, Luna trotted swiftly to the door, crashing into the frame in her haste. Glimpsing the stunned guards staring at her, she regained some composure and haughtily resumed her trot to her sister’s chamber. ******************************************************************************************************************************************* A loud knock abruptly ended Celestia’s, admittedly brief, slumber. “Whassamatta- I mean, do come in!” “Tia!” Beaming innocently at her sister, Luna entered the cosy study. Celestia had seen that smile before, and normally she would never trust it. Now her mind, swamped with sleep as it was, failed to register it and instead returned the expression. “Luna! Just the pony I needed. I have those papers you gave me a couple months ago – you never came back for them – and these forms need to be filled in by Friday: I tried to give them to you but your guards wouldn’t let me through. Oh, and Twilight’s reports on Ponyville are over there, I know you wanted to take a look so I saved them, and Cadence wanted to see you – she and Shining Armour have exciting news! Took me by surprise, but Twilight guessed straight away. She’s coping rather well with it, maybe it’s spurred her into thinking about a husband … oh, I bet you’re just itching to hear Cadence’s news from me, but I’ll let her tell you. If you hadn’t hidden yourself away after the accident, you’d know by now.” Celestia paused her onslaught of information to take a good look at the mare stood uncomfortably before her. “You have been exercising, haven’t you? I only mention it because … well, to tell the truth you’re a little … you’re in need of … you’re not ill, are you? Your stomach is rather … swollen, little sis.” Luna sighed and looked up at her sister. Now was the right time to tell Celestia what the situation was. She opened her mouth and- “I’ll have a word with the kitchen staff for you. I imagine you might find it awkward, poor thing. Unless you are ill? Would you like me to arrange an appointment with Doctor Needles?” Celestia had cut in front of her sibling, and now looked expectantly at Luna. Luna decided not to take her time this go, since her absent-minded sister’s gaze had already wondered elsewhere. She took a deep breath before watching, irritated, as her sister once more began talking. “Isn’t the sky beautiful tonight, dearest sister? You have such a talent. Maybe you should go into painting! Ah, yes, I could introduce you to the perfect pony! We just need to sort out that stomach …” Celestia trailed off, considering the options. Reaching a quick decision and failing to notice Luna once more looking peeved at being cut off by her elder sister, she opened the doors briskly and headed to the kitchens. “I’ll be back soon! Just stay in my study, we don’t want the press getting hold of this unfortunate mishap, sister!” Ignoring her sister, Luna followed her down the corridor and tried to direct the conversation to the real cause of her swollen stomach. “Tia, I need to talk to you!” she called, but to her dismay Celestia did not turn and instead called back. “Not now, Luna, I just need to do this. And didn’t I tell you to stay in the study?” “No, Tia, you don’t understand! We need to talk right now!” Turning to face her anxious sibling, Celestia attempted to persuade Luna to wait until she’d finished with the kitchen staff. “Luna, I understand. You’re upset about something, aren’t you? That’s why you locked yourself away for so long. I’m happy to talk about it, I just need to let your chefs know you’re on a diet so you can reduce the size of that tummy you have!” Celestia smiled gently, hoping she had convinced Luna. Unfortunately for Celestia, Luna was now glaring angrily in her direction. “You obviously don’t understand. I really, REALLY need to talk to you, and I’m not sure you’ll like what I’ve got to say. I’m not fat, or ill – it’s something else. So talking to the chef can wait, OK? Now I either tell you out here, or I tell you somewhere private, like your study. What do you think?” Luna breathed heavily through her nostrils, sending puffs of air towards the ceiling. Taken aback by this outburst, Celestia agreed to go up to her study in a trance, walking like a zombie and making the guards more than worried about the princesses’ current behaviour. “Sit down.” Luna instructed, relaxing as her sister slid onto one of many lounges. “I’ve been trying to tell you this all evening, but you wouldn’t let me speak, and then you jumped to all sorts of crazy ideas about my present state, when in fact I’m not fat (at least in the way you think), and I’m not ill, though I have been sick. The thing is … I’m pregnant.” Chapter One - NewsChapter One - News Twilight sat across from the young filly, narrowing her eyes as she stared hard at her ‘niece’, trying to decide when to resume the lesson. Her pupil was slumped across the desk, ‘taking a break’ as she put it. It looked more like ‘taking a nap’ to Twilight. “Auntie Twilight?” The voice of a six year old filly floated down the corridor. It was followed by the calls of her brother and sister, and soon their owners entered the room. “Caron, Asim, Iris! I thought you were in the Crystal Empire until the Summer Solstice!” Twilight greeted them each in surprise, not expecting to have seen her nieces and nephew but relishing the chance to. “Yeah, well, Mum and Dad wanted to be early for Kairi's birthday, with her turning twelve and all.” Asim, son of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Shining Armour (making him a prince), reminded his aunt of her young charge, who was currently chattering happily to her cousins, eager to hear about the magnificent Crystal Empire. “Oh. Oh yes!” Twilight had forgotten that it was her niece's birthday, so wrapped up she had been in the story she had not quite surfaced from. “Kairi, I think we can stop studies early, just for today. I know it'll be impossible to get you to focus when your cousins are in Canterlot!” Kairi turned to her aunt in a flash, searching her face inquisitively to see if she actually meant what she said. Twilight laughed and nodded. “You take your cousins out to the garden now. There’s something I need to do first …” Kairi and her cousins ran out to the castle gardens, her eyes glowing with excitement as she looked at the strange group surrounding her. There was Asim, standing tall and proud beside her, white coat gleaming in the sun, his red mane still impossible to tame. Feathers brushed her side and she looked to see her cousin flexing his wings. Her gaze travelling towards his flank, she admired the shield that was his cutie mark. Despite being several months younger, Asim had his cutie mark before Kairi, realising early on that he would follow in the footsteps of his father and be a guard, a protector. His twin sister Caron bore, in contrast, a deep scarlet coat, stubby horn parting her light blue mane neatly. Gifted with the ability to spread kindness, much like her mother's ability to spread love, a circle of linked hooves adorned her flank, confirming her talent. She smiled lovingly at the tiny filly running at her feet. Iris, youngest of the clan, had a pinky coat and a mix of yellows and blues in her mane. Despite only being six, she too had a symbol on her flank - her cutie mark. Kairi knew this was the usual age for regular ponies to earn a cutie mark, but it still bothered her that she didn't have one. As Iris had acquired her cutie mark since her cousins' last visit, Kairi directed her gaze to the filly again. A rainbow nestled there, amid Iris' downy coat, and she chuckled softly. It did not surprise her: Iris spread joy and colour wherever she went, much like a rainbow. Satisfied she had seen all that was new with her cousins, Kairi tuned into the conversation Asim and Caron were holding. “As I was trying to say before Asim felt he had to interrupt, we're going to have a baby sister!” Caron was beaming at the prospect of a new sibling, while Asim bristled indignantly, whether from the slight by his sister or something unknown to Kairi, she could not tell, but had a feeling she would find out. “Or a brother! Nopony knows for sure yet, right Caron?” Asim looked pointedly at Caron, but she stared straight back. Used to her cousins' bickering, Kairi laid back and enjoyed the afternoon sunshine. “Well, actually ...” Caron sounded unsure she should be telling her brother whatever she knew, in the end deciding that she should. “Mum took a scan, to make sure it was just one foal and not another multiple birth, like us and ... the doctor told her it was a baby girl, just the one.” Asim managed to see a positive in the disappointment of getting another sister. “So what is it? She? A pegasus? Come on, they find that out too. That doctor must have told Mum!” “Umm ...” Caron knew, definitely, but it didn't seem she planned to tell her brother. “She's a ... an ...” “Oh, it’s not another earth pony, is it? She?” Asim could see no positive this time around - both his chances of a companion in this foal seemed ruined. "Not exactly ... you see, she's an ... alicorn ..." Barely whispering the final word, all three gathered round Caron still heard, not missing it as she had hoped they would. It was like dominos: on hearing ‘alicorn’, Asim shot straight into the air, Kairi sat bolt upright staring disbelievingly at Caron, and Iris froze in her tracks, sensing something had gone wrong. “An alicorn?! Why did Mum and Dad think I didn’t need to know this? This is the kind of thing I want to know!” Asim, perched on the lowest branch of a nearby tree, glowered at his sister from his vantage point. Glad that looks couldn’t kill, Kairi slowly opened her mouth to speak. “Alicorn foal? So there’ll be somepony else around my age?” “Around your age?! You’ll be twelve years OLDER!” Asim shook his head at the stupidity of his older cousin, but Caron managed to explain quickly in his ear. “Ohhh! So when you’re-” He stopped, spotting something near the garden gates. “Wait, what are Mum and Dad doing out here with Aunt Celestia, Auntie Luna and Auntie Twilight?” The fillies and colt could just about see the outlines of their relatives making their way to the group. “Girls! Asim! Come along now, you’ve got some unpacking to do!” Cadence summoned her brood quickly, but when Kairi tried to follow her cousins, the pink princess barred her way. “No, no, no, your mother wants a word with you first.” Pushing her towards Luna, her aunt flashed her a quick smile before hurrying after her own family. “Kairi, come. Your aunt and I need to talk. It concerns your twelfth birthday; don’t worry, all alicorns go through this, we just want to make sure you’re prepared.” Ushering her daughter to the magnificent wing that housed Celestia and herself, she brought Kairi to a stop just outside of the study she summoned the courage to visit twelve years before. Chapter Two - Birthday WarningsChapter Two - Birthday Warnings Pausing briefly to knock, Luna strode into Celestia’s study leaving her daughter to trail behind. Celestia ushered her sister to a sofa that she also sat on. “Go on, take a seat.” She motioned to the armchair that had been placed in front of the velvet sofa the sisters now occupied. “So, um, what do I need to know about my birthday?” Kairi prompted, after several minutes of silence. The sisters shared a glance. “It’s … complicated. We – your aunt and I – feel you should know what happened at your birth first. You’ll understand later, I’m sure.” Looking at her daughter for consent to continue, Luna managed to wait silently, if not patiently. At the slight nod she received in return, the mare resumed. “As you know, your father was killed in a train crash a year after our private wedding. By then, I’d been pregnant for four months with you, and finding it increasingly hard to pass my growing stomach off as a little weight. Your father and I had planned to tell Celestia together, but as that was not possible I shut myself away, not wanting to face my sister’s anger at disobeying the order to be remain childless alone – an order she gave in my protection, as we both believed a child between mortal stallions would be a monster. What I did not know was, barely a week after my recluse, Twilight Sparkle (in her unicorn state) proved that this was not the case, and so your cousins were conceived to Cadence and Shining Armour when I was five months in. I finally gained the courage to go to Celestia a month later, and after a rather roundabout discussion,” Luna paused to through a glare at her sister. “I discovered that my fears were without cause. Giving an official statement of my pregnancy, I was swamped by inquisitive press and in the few weeks leading to your birth stayed within the castle walls and did not emerge from my wing until you entered the world.” ********************************************************************************** There was no moon in the sky tonight, to the dismay of some. Celestia, however, barely noticed as she rocked her head in her forelegs, mane matted with worry. Twilight stood next to her in a lone corridor, attempting to calm the desperate princess. “As the Princess of the Sun, I command you to let me in!” Rising from her chair, she threw herself against the doors of her sister’s room, only to be restrained by the guards. “And I, as your student, beg you to wait.” Twilight laid a hoof on Celestia’s shoulders. “She’ll be OK. Cadence is with her, and the doctor.” Her last remark aggravated the princess further. “What about the midwife? And that useless nurse we commissioned to help out? Supposed to be a professional, she was …” Grumbling distractedly, Celestia shook herself free of the guards. Twilight could see she would not be satisfied until it was all over, and she was sure her sister was safe. Still, she tried to soothe her respected mentor. “Yes, yes, they’re all in there. All the medical staff are on hand in case the mother or foal are injured, and the professionals hired are working with Cadence as we speak. Oh, and Luna’s doctor, Doctor Needles.” Having been in several times already, Twilight knew the position of all the assistants Celestia ordered be there. She could not bring herself to stay and help, though, incredibly squeamish as she was, and so instead put her efforts towards the other princess. “So why aren’t I in there? I have witnessed many births over the years – I would be of value to my sister! I need to be there for her!” Apparently Celestia had seen Twilight given access to the room. “Umm, well, princess … Cadence thought it would pressure Luna, and felt you should show your support after instead …” Realising this had not been the right thing to say, Twilight tried to backtrack. “N…not to say you aren’t important princess!...” Squeaking in terror as Celestia glared menacingly at Twilight, the alicorn towered over the cowering young unicorn. This was how a beaming nurse found the pair not five seconds later, bursting through the doors to deliver the news. Her smile faltering for a moment, she cleared her throat awkwardly to let the ruler of Equestria regain her composure. Sheepishly moving apart, they waited expectantly for the nurse to confirm their hopes. “You are both welcome to ... to come in now, your highness and ... um, student.” Bobbing a curtsey, the mare ushered them to an exhausted but similarly beaming Luna, who was propped upright in her spacious bed, clutching a small bundle. “I’ll leave you be now.” The nurse hurried out of the room, pulling any remaining staff with her so as to give the group some privacy. “Isn’t she beautiful?” The new mother whispered softly. She held out the nest of blankets so Celestia and Twilight could see the foal wrapped inside. “Just like her mother.” Celestia smiled gently at her niece, and two blue eyes stared back. A turquoise mane rippled slightly, like ocean waves. The tiny foal’s coat was a glistening silver, a stubby horn poking through the mane. Celestia prised the blankets away to see – yes, miniature wings were folded at her sides, downy feathers ruffled prettily. The new-born truly was beautiful. One thing was nagging at the back of Celestia’s mind, however. “Her name?” “Kairi: it means ocean, like her mane.” ********************************************************************************** “We are still not sure how it’s possible for you to be an alicorn, but it seems your grandparents were pegasus and earth pony, which must have combined with your father’s unicorn genes and my alicorn ones.” Luna was watching her daughter carefully. “Do you want me to go on? Explain your birthday?” Another nod was all she got out of a stunned Kairi, so moving to Kairi’s side to cuddle her daughter, Luna motioned for Celestia to take over. “Erm … what was- ah, yes, your twelfth birthday. Well.” Celestia seemed to be on track after her flustered start. “All alicorns on reaching the age of twelve discover their unique gift. This is why you have not yet got a cutie mark, while your cousins and other ponies of your age have. Cadence was the same, as will be her unborn foal. Now listen close: this part is important. The evening before your birthday Luna will take you to the ruins of the castle in the Everfree Forest and you will stay with your mother until midnight, when your gift will reveal itself. Luna cannot stay with you while this takes place, as it will be dangerous. She will wait for you and take you to a chamber that contains precious information, guides as it were, on how to use and cope with your new talents. Luna and I will also tutor you until we believe you ready to become fully introduced as Princess to Equestria. That could be anything from a few months to several years, but as you are immortal the matter is trivial. Do not repeat a word of this to anypony- Kairi, listen, please, this is important! Do not tell anypony about our conversation. Do you understand?” The sun princess looked down sternly at the adolescent filly. Soon this ‘filly’ would be a mare, and an immortal alicorn on the side. If anyone – ANYONE – got hold of the information Celestia had just imparted, Kairi could be injured or worse before her alicorn powers kicked in next Sunday. It would be easy to kidnap the fledgling princess in the midst of her transformation: that was when she would be at her weakest and most vulnerable. Celestia wished Kairi did not have to go through this, but she did, and she would, and it was likely nothing would happen. Fate has other plans. Chapter Three - KidnappedChapter Three - Kidnapped Kairi tried unsuccessfully to forget what her aunt and mother had spoken to her about. She would finally be getting a cutie mark, she screamed to herself. She would become a proper alicorn, make up for all those days she was behind her peers, and go one better than catching them up – she would overtake them completely! The icing on the cake was that, when her newest cousin was born, she could teach her, imparting the wisdom she had been bestowed with and become a good friend to her fellow alicorn. And then there was that bookish stallion she had caught her Aunt Twilight staring at several months back. She’d asked her Auntie Cadence to give them both a little nudge, sure the guy fancied Twilight too, and Twilight, confirming her suspicions, had announced the two were dating just two weeks later. If they got married … Kairi could only hope one of their foals would be an alicorn. To have one alicorn her age was great, but TWO! She would be in seventh heaven! Still, she had managed to keep her secret for the entire week: her mother was arriving in less than an hour to take her to the castle ruins. From what her Auntie Tia had told her, she was going to spend some time with her mum, go ‘inherit her talents’ or something, and read some old books. If it was what it took to become an alicorn, Kairi was more than happy to go along with it. Hovering at her bedroom door for a few seconds, she turned back and grabbed her saddlebags, her favourite azure one with a silver clasp. Stuffing a blanket (it was cold out there and she was still mortal), some chocolate and a flashlight into the depths of the bag, leaving plenty of space in case she was expected to take some books back with her, she perched on the end of her bed to wait. ********************************************************************************** Speeding alongside her daughter towards her old home, Luna felt content. They were heading to the place she loved, with the pony she loved, in the night she loved so much. She wondered whether her foal would inherit her gift, and be able to control a force of nature. Unknown to her, though, her sister had watched the child from birth and knew this would not be the case. Otherwise, Celestia would have insisted on accompanying Luna to the transformation. Touching down with seven minutes to midnight, the moon princess led her daughter to the tower where Nightmare Moon had been defeated. “Kairi. You have a few minutes until I have to leave you, but I’ll be just outside waiting. Do you have any questions?” The silver filly squirmed under her mother’s expectant gaze, shaking her head firmly. “Good, then I’ll be off now. Don’t hurt yourself!” “What?!” Kairi cried out in alarm at this last remark, but her mother had already disappeared down the uneven staircase. Gulping, she made her way towards the stone statue in the centre. Two minutes to go … she set off a countdown in her head. One minute … thirty seconds … twenty seconds … ten … nine … eight … seven … six … five … four … A strange tingling began in her hoof, spreading up her forelegs and through her body, enveloping her like a cloak. Her coat glowed brightly, and the tingling feeling spread outwards, lifting her up in a silver bubble and holding her just above the hard stone. Finding her eyes tightly shut, Kairi opened them and wished she hadn't. It seemed to be the gateway for new, excruciating pain, and it was at this moment her eyes flashed white and she crumpled in a heap on the ground. ********************************************************************************** Groggily regaining consciousness, Kairi found herself in the back of a bumpy carriage, hurtling down a narrow dirt road somewhere on the outskirts of what appeared to be Ponyville. She sat up, moaning, and checked her body for the source of pain. Inspecting her flank, the silver mare gave a shriek of amazement, spotting a symbol patterning the previously silver area. Three blue swirls were set like the points of a triangle, and the ends curled around to the centre where they joined a miniature circle. This was it! Her cutie mark! Kairi had no idea what it symbolized, but she knew it meant she had become a full alicorn, and had reached maturity. But then why was she in a carriage somewhere round Ponyville? It made no sense. A voice spoke softly from the opposite seat. Until now, Kairi had believed herself alone in the carriage. “Are you quite finished?” The inquirer chuckled, remembering their own astonishment on seeing their cutie mark for the first time. They lent forwards, face melting away from the shadows so Kairi could identify her captor. “You don't recognize me, do you? I'd be surprised if you did though, so don't be disappointed.” Leaving Kairi to ponder this new titbit of information, the mare - for it was a woman who spoke - sank into the black behind her once more. ********************************************************************************** Kairi pulled her mind sluggishly from the realms of sleep, lifting her head from the plump pillow that supported it. She turned over, trying to get comfortable on her usually soft mattress. Looking round at her familiar bedroom walls, she sat up as if electrocuted, now worried by what she saw. The cloaked mare from her dreams sat opposite her, watching Kairi as she looked, stunned, at the cabin she had slept peacefully in. “Hello again. I trust you are well rested now?” Jolted into action by the melodic voice, Kairi scrambled up against the wall, scared and vulnerable. “There’s no need to be afraid. I am a friend - I do not wish to harm you.” “So … so then why have you kidnapped me? If you really are a friend I would have agreed to come with you!” She shivered, but tried to stare defiantly at the mare. “My name is Tupac, and I am your cousin.”
Prologue - Stubborn PrincessPrologue - Stubborn Princess The guards stationed outside the former monster Nightmare Moon’s/fully recuperated Princess Luna’s chamber eyed the ornate door nervously. They could hear the faint ‘click-clack’ of hooves that drifted to their ears, assuring them the Princess was still in the room, but as to what she was doing they could only imagine. Inside, a midnight blue mare paced up and down the worn rug, stopping every now and then to glare at the offending part of her that had ruined everything. She reasoned that it was not so big a deal, and maybe even a blessing in disguise? After all, this was all she had left of … of him, and Celestia knew how much he had meant to her. Celestia would understand. Celestia would support her, she was sure. Deep inside her a tiny voice whispered that her sister was still her sister, one who loved her dearly and would do anything for her, but another voice insisted on screaming at Luna to remember the Moon, remember how one little mistake had led to losing a thousand years of her life? The mare paused and shuddered, hearing her sister’s stern voice warning her that she could only marry the stallion on the condition that they wouldn’t do this, that it would be too risky, that it could unleash a monster – reminding Luna that she had, yet again, ignored her sister’s advice. However, she was in trouble and she needed Celestia’s help, so summoning all the courage she possessed, Luna trotted swiftly to the door, crashing into the frame in her haste. Glimpsing the stunned guards staring at her, she regained some composure and haughtily resumed her trot to her sister’s chamber. ******************************************************************************************************************************************* A loud knock abruptly ended Celestia’s, admittedly brief, slumber. “Whassamatta- I mean, do come in!” “Tia!” Beaming innocently at her sister, Luna entered the cosy study. Celestia had seen that smile before, and normally she would never trust it. Now her mind, swamped with sleep as it was, failed to register it and instead returned the expression. “Luna! Just the pony I needed. I have those papers you gave me a couple months ago – you never came back for them – and these forms need to be filled in by Friday: I tried to give them to you but your guards wouldn’t let me through. Oh, and Twilight’s reports on Ponyville are over there, I know you wanted to take a look so I saved them, and Cadence wanted to see you – she and Shining Armour have exciting news! Took me by surprise, but Twilight guessed straight away. She’s coping rather well with it, maybe it’s spurred her into thinking about a husband … oh, I bet you’re just itching to hear Cadence’s news from me, but I’ll let her tell you. If you hadn’t hidden yourself away after the accident, you’d know by now.” Celestia paused her onslaught of information to take a good look at the mare stood uncomfortably before her. “You have been exercising, haven’t you? I only mention it because … well, to tell the truth you’re a little … you’re in need of … you’re not ill, are you? Your stomach is rather … swollen, little sis.” Luna sighed and looked up at her sister. Now was the right time to tell Celestia what the situation was. She opened her mouth and- “I’ll have a word with the kitchen staff for you. I imagine you might find it awkward, poor thing. Unless you are ill? Would you like me to arrange an appointment with Doctor Needles?” Celestia had cut in front of her sibling, and now looked expectantly at Luna. Luna decided not to take her time this go, since her absent-minded sister’s gaze had already wondered elsewhere. She took a deep breath before watching, irritated, as her sister once more began talking. “Isn’t the sky beautiful tonight, dearest sister? You have such a talent. Maybe you should go into painting! Ah, yes, I could introduce you to the perfect pony! We just need to sort out that stomach …” Celestia trailed off, considering the options. Reaching a quick decision and failing to notice Luna once more looking peeved at being cut off by her elder sister, she opened the doors briskly and headed to the kitchens. “I’ll be back soon! Just stay in my study, we don’t want the press getting hold of this unfortunate mishap, sister!” Ignoring her sister, Luna followed her down the corridor and tried to direct the conversation to the real cause of her swollen stomach. “Tia, I need to talk to you!” she called, but to her dismay Celestia did not turn and instead called back. “Not now, Luna, I just need to do this. And didn’t I tell you to stay in the study?” “No, Tia, you don’t understand! We need to talk right now!” Turning to face her anxious sibling, Celestia attempted to persuade Luna to wait until she’d finished with the kitchen staff. “Luna, I understand. You’re upset about something, aren’t you? That’s why you locked yourself away for so long. I’m happy to talk about it, I just need to let your chefs know you’re on a diet so you can reduce the size of that tummy you have!” Celestia smiled gently, hoping she had convinced Luna. Unfortunately for Celestia, Luna was now glaring angrily in her direction. “You obviously don’t understand. I really, REALLY need to talk to you, and I’m not sure you’ll like what I’ve got to say. I’m not fat, or ill – it’s something else. So talking to the chef can wait, OK? Now I either tell you out here, or I tell you somewhere private, like your study. What do you think?” Luna breathed heavily through her nostrils, sending puffs of air towards the ceiling. Taken aback by this outburst, Celestia agreed to go up to her study in a trance, walking like a zombie and making the guards more than worried about the princesses’ current behaviour. “Sit down.” Luna instructed, relaxing as her sister slid onto one of many lounges. “I’ve been trying to tell you this all evening, but you wouldn’t let me speak, and then you jumped to all sorts of crazy ideas about my present state, when in fact I’m not fat (at least in the way you think), and I’m not ill, though I have been sick. The thing is … I’m pregnant.”
Chapter One - NewsChapter One - News Twilight sat across from the young filly, narrowing her eyes as she stared hard at her ‘niece’, trying to decide when to resume the lesson. Her pupil was slumped across the desk, ‘taking a break’ as she put it. It looked more like ‘taking a nap’ to Twilight. “Auntie Twilight?” The voice of a six year old filly floated down the corridor. It was followed by the calls of her brother and sister, and soon their owners entered the room. “Caron, Asim, Iris! I thought you were in the Crystal Empire until the Summer Solstice!” Twilight greeted them each in surprise, not expecting to have seen her nieces and nephew but relishing the chance to. “Yeah, well, Mum and Dad wanted to be early for Kairi's birthday, with her turning twelve and all.” Asim, son of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Shining Armour (making him a prince), reminded his aunt of her young charge, who was currently chattering happily to her cousins, eager to hear about the magnificent Crystal Empire. “Oh. Oh yes!” Twilight had forgotten that it was her niece's birthday, so wrapped up she had been in the story she had not quite surfaced from. “Kairi, I think we can stop studies early, just for today. I know it'll be impossible to get you to focus when your cousins are in Canterlot!” Kairi turned to her aunt in a flash, searching her face inquisitively to see if she actually meant what she said. Twilight laughed and nodded. “You take your cousins out to the garden now. There’s something I need to do first …” Kairi and her cousins ran out to the castle gardens, her eyes glowing with excitement as she looked at the strange group surrounding her. There was Asim, standing tall and proud beside her, white coat gleaming in the sun, his red mane still impossible to tame. Feathers brushed her side and she looked to see her cousin flexing his wings. Her gaze travelling towards his flank, she admired the shield that was his cutie mark. Despite being several months younger, Asim had his cutie mark before Kairi, realising early on that he would follow in the footsteps of his father and be a guard, a protector. His twin sister Caron bore, in contrast, a deep scarlet coat, stubby horn parting her light blue mane neatly. Gifted with the ability to spread kindness, much like her mother's ability to spread love, a circle of linked hooves adorned her flank, confirming her talent. She smiled lovingly at the tiny filly running at her feet. Iris, youngest of the clan, had a pinky coat and a mix of yellows and blues in her mane. Despite only being six, she too had a symbol on her flank - her cutie mark. Kairi knew this was the usual age for regular ponies to earn a cutie mark, but it still bothered her that she didn't have one. As Iris had acquired her cutie mark since her cousins' last visit, Kairi directed her gaze to the filly again. A rainbow nestled there, amid Iris' downy coat, and she chuckled softly. It did not surprise her: Iris spread joy and colour wherever she went, much like a rainbow. Satisfied she had seen all that was new with her cousins, Kairi tuned into the conversation Asim and Caron were holding. “As I was trying to say before Asim felt he had to interrupt, we're going to have a baby sister!” Caron was beaming at the prospect of a new sibling, while Asim bristled indignantly, whether from the slight by his sister or something unknown to Kairi, she could not tell, but had a feeling she would find out. “Or a brother! Nopony knows for sure yet, right Caron?” Asim looked pointedly at Caron, but she stared straight back. Used to her cousins' bickering, Kairi laid back and enjoyed the afternoon sunshine. “Well, actually ...” Caron sounded unsure she should be telling her brother whatever she knew, in the end deciding that she should. “Mum took a scan, to make sure it was just one foal and not another multiple birth, like us and ... the doctor told her it was a baby girl, just the one.” Asim managed to see a positive in the disappointment of getting another sister. “So what is it? She? A pegasus? Come on, they find that out too. That doctor must have told Mum!” “Umm ...” Caron knew, definitely, but it didn't seem she planned to tell her brother. “She's a ... an ...” “Oh, it’s not another earth pony, is it? She?” Asim could see no positive this time around - both his chances of a companion in this foal seemed ruined. "Not exactly ... you see, she's an ... alicorn ..." Barely whispering the final word, all three gathered round Caron still heard, not missing it as she had hoped they would. It was like dominos: on hearing ‘alicorn’, Asim shot straight into the air, Kairi sat bolt upright staring disbelievingly at Caron, and Iris froze in her tracks, sensing something had gone wrong. “An alicorn?! Why did Mum and Dad think I didn’t need to know this? This is the kind of thing I want to know!” Asim, perched on the lowest branch of a nearby tree, glowered at his sister from his vantage point. Glad that looks couldn’t kill, Kairi slowly opened her mouth to speak. “Alicorn foal? So there’ll be somepony else around my age?” “Around your age?! You’ll be twelve years OLDER!” Asim shook his head at the stupidity of his older cousin, but Caron managed to explain quickly in his ear. “Ohhh! So when you’re-” He stopped, spotting something near the garden gates. “Wait, what are Mum and Dad doing out here with Aunt Celestia, Auntie Luna and Auntie Twilight?” The fillies and colt could just about see the outlines of their relatives making their way to the group. “Girls! Asim! Come along now, you’ve got some unpacking to do!” Cadence summoned her brood quickly, but when Kairi tried to follow her cousins, the pink princess barred her way. “No, no, no, your mother wants a word with you first.” Pushing her towards Luna, her aunt flashed her a quick smile before hurrying after her own family. “Kairi, come. Your aunt and I need to talk. It concerns your twelfth birthday; don’t worry, all alicorns go through this, we just want to make sure you’re prepared.” Ushering her daughter to the magnificent wing that housed Celestia and herself, she brought Kairi to a stop just outside of the study she summoned the courage to visit twelve years before.
Chapter Two - Birthday WarningsChapter Two - Birthday Warnings Pausing briefly to knock, Luna strode into Celestia’s study leaving her daughter to trail behind. Celestia ushered her sister to a sofa that she also sat on. “Go on, take a seat.” She motioned to the armchair that had been placed in front of the velvet sofa the sisters now occupied. “So, um, what do I need to know about my birthday?” Kairi prompted, after several minutes of silence. The sisters shared a glance. “It’s … complicated. We – your aunt and I – feel you should know what happened at your birth first. You’ll understand later, I’m sure.” Looking at her daughter for consent to continue, Luna managed to wait silently, if not patiently. At the slight nod she received in return, the mare resumed. “As you know, your father was killed in a train crash a year after our private wedding. By then, I’d been pregnant for four months with you, and finding it increasingly hard to pass my growing stomach off as a little weight. Your father and I had planned to tell Celestia together, but as that was not possible I shut myself away, not wanting to face my sister’s anger at disobeying the order to be remain childless alone – an order she gave in my protection, as we both believed a child between mortal stallions would be a monster. What I did not know was, barely a week after my recluse, Twilight Sparkle (in her unicorn state) proved that this was not the case, and so your cousins were conceived to Cadence and Shining Armour when I was five months in. I finally gained the courage to go to Celestia a month later, and after a rather roundabout discussion,” Luna paused to through a glare at her sister. “I discovered that my fears were without cause. Giving an official statement of my pregnancy, I was swamped by inquisitive press and in the few weeks leading to your birth stayed within the castle walls and did not emerge from my wing until you entered the world.” ********************************************************************************** There was no moon in the sky tonight, to the dismay of some. Celestia, however, barely noticed as she rocked her head in her forelegs, mane matted with worry. Twilight stood next to her in a lone corridor, attempting to calm the desperate princess. “As the Princess of the Sun, I command you to let me in!” Rising from her chair, she threw herself against the doors of her sister’s room, only to be restrained by the guards. “And I, as your student, beg you to wait.” Twilight laid a hoof on Celestia’s shoulders. “She’ll be OK. Cadence is with her, and the doctor.” Her last remark aggravated the princess further. “What about the midwife? And that useless nurse we commissioned to help out? Supposed to be a professional, she was …” Grumbling distractedly, Celestia shook herself free of the guards. Twilight could see she would not be satisfied until it was all over, and she was sure her sister was safe. Still, she tried to soothe her respected mentor. “Yes, yes, they’re all in there. All the medical staff are on hand in case the mother or foal are injured, and the professionals hired are working with Cadence as we speak. Oh, and Luna’s doctor, Doctor Needles.” Having been in several times already, Twilight knew the position of all the assistants Celestia ordered be there. She could not bring herself to stay and help, though, incredibly squeamish as she was, and so instead put her efforts towards the other princess. “So why aren’t I in there? I have witnessed many births over the years – I would be of value to my sister! I need to be there for her!” Apparently Celestia had seen Twilight given access to the room. “Umm, well, princess … Cadence thought it would pressure Luna, and felt you should show your support after instead …” Realising this had not been the right thing to say, Twilight tried to backtrack. “N…not to say you aren’t important princess!...” Squeaking in terror as Celestia glared menacingly at Twilight, the alicorn towered over the cowering young unicorn. This was how a beaming nurse found the pair not five seconds later, bursting through the doors to deliver the news. Her smile faltering for a moment, she cleared her throat awkwardly to let the ruler of Equestria regain her composure. Sheepishly moving apart, they waited expectantly for the nurse to confirm their hopes. “You are both welcome to ... to come in now, your highness and ... um, student.” Bobbing a curtsey, the mare ushered them to an exhausted but similarly beaming Luna, who was propped upright in her spacious bed, clutching a small bundle. “I’ll leave you be now.” The nurse hurried out of the room, pulling any remaining staff with her so as to give the group some privacy. “Isn’t she beautiful?” The new mother whispered softly. She held out the nest of blankets so Celestia and Twilight could see the foal wrapped inside. “Just like her mother.” Celestia smiled gently at her niece, and two blue eyes stared back. A turquoise mane rippled slightly, like ocean waves. The tiny foal’s coat was a glistening silver, a stubby horn poking through the mane. Celestia prised the blankets away to see – yes, miniature wings were folded at her sides, downy feathers ruffled prettily. The new-born truly was beautiful. One thing was nagging at the back of Celestia’s mind, however. “Her name?” “Kairi: it means ocean, like her mane.” ********************************************************************************** “We are still not sure how it’s possible for you to be an alicorn, but it seems your grandparents were pegasus and earth pony, which must have combined with your father’s unicorn genes and my alicorn ones.” Luna was watching her daughter carefully. “Do you want me to go on? Explain your birthday?” Another nod was all she got out of a stunned Kairi, so moving to Kairi’s side to cuddle her daughter, Luna motioned for Celestia to take over. “Erm … what was- ah, yes, your twelfth birthday. Well.” Celestia seemed to be on track after her flustered start. “All alicorns on reaching the age of twelve discover their unique gift. This is why you have not yet got a cutie mark, while your cousins and other ponies of your age have. Cadence was the same, as will be her unborn foal. Now listen close: this part is important. The evening before your birthday Luna will take you to the ruins of the castle in the Everfree Forest and you will stay with your mother until midnight, when your gift will reveal itself. Luna cannot stay with you while this takes place, as it will be dangerous. She will wait for you and take you to a chamber that contains precious information, guides as it were, on how to use and cope with your new talents. Luna and I will also tutor you until we believe you ready to become fully introduced as Princess to Equestria. That could be anything from a few months to several years, but as you are immortal the matter is trivial. Do not repeat a word of this to anypony- Kairi, listen, please, this is important! Do not tell anypony about our conversation. Do you understand?” The sun princess looked down sternly at the adolescent filly. Soon this ‘filly’ would be a mare, and an immortal alicorn on the side. If anyone – ANYONE – got hold of the information Celestia had just imparted, Kairi could be injured or worse before her alicorn powers kicked in next Sunday. It would be easy to kidnap the fledgling princess in the midst of her transformation: that was when she would be at her weakest and most vulnerable. Celestia wished Kairi did not have to go through this, but she did, and she would, and it was likely nothing would happen. Fate has other plans.
Chapter Three - KidnappedChapter Three - Kidnapped Kairi tried unsuccessfully to forget what her aunt and mother had spoken to her about. She would finally be getting a cutie mark, she screamed to herself. She would become a proper alicorn, make up for all those days she was behind her peers, and go one better than catching them up – she would overtake them completely! The icing on the cake was that, when her newest cousin was born, she could teach her, imparting the wisdom she had been bestowed with and become a good friend to her fellow alicorn. And then there was that bookish stallion she had caught her Aunt Twilight staring at several months back. She’d asked her Auntie Cadence to give them both a little nudge, sure the guy fancied Twilight too, and Twilight, confirming her suspicions, had announced the two were dating just two weeks later. If they got married … Kairi could only hope one of their foals would be an alicorn. To have one alicorn her age was great, but TWO! She would be in seventh heaven! Still, she had managed to keep her secret for the entire week: her mother was arriving in less than an hour to take her to the castle ruins. From what her Auntie Tia had told her, she was going to spend some time with her mum, go ‘inherit her talents’ or something, and read some old books. If it was what it took to become an alicorn, Kairi was more than happy to go along with it. Hovering at her bedroom door for a few seconds, she turned back and grabbed her saddlebags, her favourite azure one with a silver clasp. Stuffing a blanket (it was cold out there and she was still mortal), some chocolate and a flashlight into the depths of the bag, leaving plenty of space in case she was expected to take some books back with her, she perched on the end of her bed to wait. ********************************************************************************** Speeding alongside her daughter towards her old home, Luna felt content. They were heading to the place she loved, with the pony she loved, in the night she loved so much. She wondered whether her foal would inherit her gift, and be able to control a force of nature. Unknown to her, though, her sister had watched the child from birth and knew this would not be the case. Otherwise, Celestia would have insisted on accompanying Luna to the transformation. Touching down with seven minutes to midnight, the moon princess led her daughter to the tower where Nightmare Moon had been defeated. “Kairi. You have a few minutes until I have to leave you, but I’ll be just outside waiting. Do you have any questions?” The silver filly squirmed under her mother’s expectant gaze, shaking her head firmly. “Good, then I’ll be off now. Don’t hurt yourself!” “What?!” Kairi cried out in alarm at this last remark, but her mother had already disappeared down the uneven staircase. Gulping, she made her way towards the stone statue in the centre. Two minutes to go … she set off a countdown in her head. One minute … thirty seconds … twenty seconds … ten … nine … eight … seven … six … five … four … A strange tingling began in her hoof, spreading up her forelegs and through her body, enveloping her like a cloak. Her coat glowed brightly, and the tingling feeling spread outwards, lifting her up in a silver bubble and holding her just above the hard stone. Finding her eyes tightly shut, Kairi opened them and wished she hadn't. It seemed to be the gateway for new, excruciating pain, and it was at this moment her eyes flashed white and she crumpled in a heap on the ground. ********************************************************************************** Groggily regaining consciousness, Kairi found herself in the back of a bumpy carriage, hurtling down a narrow dirt road somewhere on the outskirts of what appeared to be Ponyville. She sat up, moaning, and checked her body for the source of pain. Inspecting her flank, the silver mare gave a shriek of amazement, spotting a symbol patterning the previously silver area. Three blue swirls were set like the points of a triangle, and the ends curled around to the centre where they joined a miniature circle. This was it! Her cutie mark! Kairi had no idea what it symbolized, but she knew it meant she had become a full alicorn, and had reached maturity. But then why was she in a carriage somewhere round Ponyville? It made no sense. A voice spoke softly from the opposite seat. Until now, Kairi had believed herself alone in the carriage. “Are you quite finished?” The inquirer chuckled, remembering their own astonishment on seeing their cutie mark for the first time. They lent forwards, face melting away from the shadows so Kairi could identify her captor. “You don't recognize me, do you? I'd be surprised if you did though, so don't be disappointed.” Leaving Kairi to ponder this new titbit of information, the mare - for it was a woman who spoke - sank into the black behind her once more. ********************************************************************************** Kairi pulled her mind sluggishly from the realms of sleep, lifting her head from the plump pillow that supported it. She turned over, trying to get comfortable on her usually soft mattress. Looking round at her familiar bedroom walls, she sat up as if electrocuted, now worried by what she saw. The cloaked mare from her dreams sat opposite her, watching Kairi as she looked, stunned, at the cabin she had slept peacefully in. “Hello again. I trust you are well rested now?” Jolted into action by the melodic voice, Kairi scrambled up against the wall, scared and vulnerable. “There’s no need to be afraid. I am a friend - I do not wish to harm you.” “So … so then why have you kidnapped me? If you really are a friend I would have agreed to come with you!” She shivered, but tried to stare defiantly at the mare. “My name is Tupac, and I am your cousin.”
