Fate Has Other Plans

Chapter 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.”

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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.”

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“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.