Several hours had passed and it was time for the reception. The reception was quite small given that neither bride had that many ponies that were truly close to them but what bothered both of them the most was that only Celestia and Rarity had even got them any gifts. None of the other bridesmares, Luna, Cadence, Shining Armor nor Starlight got them gifts. Despite all of this though, Trixie and Twilight were truly happy.
As the sun set the time had come for Trixie and Twilight to have their first dance but there was one problem, neither of them had chosen a song for this. Celestia asked, "Twilight, Trixie, what do you want to be the song you do your first dance to?"
Both of them had so much stress going on that they had not even thought about it. Twilight said, "Just surprise us but please make it romantic."
Trixie added, "Yes, make it something slow and romantic."
Celestia began to try to think of something when she heard Starlight snickering. Celestia asked, "Starlight, why are you snickering?"
Starlight whispered, "I just thought of something. You could put on some instrumental music and then I could make up the words as they come to my mind!" Her snickering broke down into a full blown laugh as she continued, "And I'm sure that everypony would find it hilarious!"
Celestia giggled, "That would be funny but given how close to term Twilight is, that might not be such a good idea. I don't want any unnecessary stress causing her to go into labor."
Finally Celestia found a good slow, romantic song for the two. While the two were dancing, Rarity couldn't help but weep with tears of joy. Starlight saw this and asked, "Rarity, why in Equestria are you crying?" She put her hoof around her and asked, "Are you jealous or something?"
Rarity replied, "No, I just can't help but be happy for them."
During their dance Twilight screamed as a flood of liquid came flowing out of her. Celestia saw this and shouted, "Twilight's water broke! We need to get her to the hospital at once!"
Without even shutting the music off everypony rushed Twilight to the hospital as they knew that the time was coming soon, the time that Twilight would become a mother and a new prince or princess would be born.
As soon as they got Twilight to the emergency room, she was rushed to the birthing room. While everypony, despite not supporting her marriage, wished to be in there with her, only the royalty was allowed to be in there with her.
Her contractions had begun and with each one, she let out a scream of pain. Trixie was up by her comforting her while the others were standing to the side trying to support her as much as they could. Soon though something crossed the minds of Celestia and Luna, something they would have to discuss in private.
Celestia and Luna left the throne room and Luna asked, "Big sister, are we still going to do what we have had scheduled this morning or are we going to wait?"
Celestia asked, "You mean the solar eclipse at dawn?"
Luna replied, "Yes. All of Equestria has been looking forward to this and we don't think that we should let them down."
Celestia asked, "Do you think Twilight will be ok without us."
Luna replied, "Big sister, she has Trixie, Cadence, Shining Armor and Starlight in with her so she should be fine."
Celestia sighed, "Oh alright. I'll let them know that you and I will have to let them know that we will be gone for a while." Celestia began to giggle a little, "You never know, Twilight may give birth during the eclipse! Wouldn't that be something?"
Luna sighed, "It would. Now let them know and let's get going."
Celestia let Twilight know and then the two took off.
As Twilight's contractions became more painful her screams only got louder. Trixie held her hoof and said, "It's ok sweetie! Soon this will be all over."
Cadence added, "Breathe Twilight, breathe."
While neither Cadence nor Shining Armor cared much for Trixie and Shining Armor vowed that he would never consider Trixie family, he couldn't help but be happy as she was there by her side as she was going through this.
Dawn arrived and the sun shone in through the window as Twilight's contractions became closer and closer together. Given what Celestia had told them earlier they knew not to stare into the sun. Finally the foal was moving into the birth canal and Twilight's screams had become deafening.
Trixie began to cry, "It's ok sweetie. It's almost here!"
Given that there was no nurse present, Starlight was down where she would deliver the foal. She yelled, "Push Twilight, push!"
As the moon began to cover the sun the foal's arrival was almost there. Starlight continued, "I see the horn! Just a little more Twilight, just a little more!"
Finally the moon completely covered the sun and at the same time, the foal was born. Starlight pulled the foal out and at first there was silence. Twilight yelled, "What's wrong? Why isn't it crying?"
Starlight gave a light smack on the foal's flank and it began to cry. Starlight wiped it off, wrapped it in a blanket, handed it to Twilight and said, "Congratulations Twilight, it's a colt!"
Both Twilight and Trixie began to cry tears of joy as she held their colt for the first time. The colt was blue with purple eyes and had gray mane with purple stripes in it. While they thought he was adorable, they were about to be in for a big surprise.
Right before the eclipse was complete, the newborn wrestled his way out of his blanket, spread his wings, looked at Twilight and said, "Ma-ma."
Everypony's jaws dropped in shock. Twilight said, "He's an Alicorn and he just said his first words?"
Trixie began to cry, "Our colt is something truly special Twilight, he is truly special."
Starlight asked, "So Twilight, so Trixie, what are you two going to name him?"
The two thought for a minute and talked among themselves but it did not take them long to come up with a name. Twilight replied, "Well given what was going on during his birth, we have decided to name him Eclipse Dawn."
Starlight said, "I think it is a wonderful name." She looked at Cadence and Shining Armor expecting them to say something as well.
Cadence replied, "I do think it is a wonderful name as well."
Shining Armor, who had held such negative feelings about Twilight and Trixie's marriage couldn't help but feel drawn to the colt. He bent down and said, "Who's an adorable little colt? Eclipse Dawn's an adorable little colt."
It was at this moment that he realized that he should not have treated Twilight the way he did and he could tell that Trixie truly did love Twilight, he could tell that she was not just using her. He put his hoof around her and continued, "I am sorry for the way I have been. Welcome to the family Trixie."
At first, Cadence was shocked when she saw Shining Armor go from hating Trixie to welcoming her into the family. Then it hit her, it was the birth of Eclipse Dawn and Trixie's showing of genuine love that caused it. While she still had a tiny bit of doubt, she too said, "Welcome to the family Trixie." She then nuzzled Eclipse Dawn and said, "And welcome to the family Eclipse Dawn! You're so adorable and I just know you and Flurry Heart are going to get along just fine!"
Starlight, who for the most part had became fairly hardened since her coronation, couldn't help but feel warmth as she saw the family reunite over the birth. She headed over, pulled them close and said, "I'm so happy for all of you." Her voice began to break as she continued, "It is so good to see a family who was so far apart come together over something this special."
This was something that none of them expected, to see Starlight nearly cry. Twilight asked, "Starlight, are you ok?"
Starlight tried to shrug it off, "Yeah, I'm ok. I'm just happy for all of you. Like I said, it is good to see a family come together over something this special."
Twilight and Trixie knew it was a lie. They knew that Starlight wished she had a mare to call her own but they had more pressing matters. Twilight and Eclipse Dawn would have to spend a couple days in the hospital to make sure things would be ok with them and Twilight and Trixie would have to get a room for Eclipse Dawn set up.