The wind outside of Canterlot was frigid, brisk and nipping at many ponies fur as they traveled along their destination, clouds above were a dark gray, stormy and brutal when combining with the wind as the pegasi were forced to allow nature to take it’s course, a streak of lightning followed by a loud boom of thunder made many jump, including the professional scribe and advisor to Princess Celestia herself, Bella Script.
The unicorn mare felt herself shake in fear, her voice dry and eyes dotted to pinpricks as she prayed to the gods for it to end before she took a cautious step towards the ruler of the nation, Celestia herself who laid in her bed, wrapping her two year old son in a beautiful silk sea green blanket as the drake took absolutely no notice of her to play with his very rare and expensive Wonderbolts action figure in his claws as Celestia herself was bawling.
Large, heart wrenching streaks of tears ran down her face as she sobbed, making the dragon in her hooves look her way with wide, emerald green eyes before holding up the figurine in front of her snout as she gave him a small smile and kissed his nose before he turned his attention back to the toy held in his tiny grip.
Taking in a large breath, she released it very shakily before letting out an even larger whimper, her bare hooves stroking the reptile’s head as he didn’t even look at her, too busy trying to play with the plastic wings of the pegasus, having no clue what many collectors would do just to get their hooves on such an item.
“P-princess, forgive me if I seem out of line, but do you really think this is the best course of action for Prince Spike?” Bella spoke nervously, her heart squeezing at the sight as Celestia could only let out another sob, her body shaking as she ran her right forehoof over Spike’s cheek who finally looked at her again and let out an unintelligible babble of words neither mares could understand before he bit at the toy’s tail making Celestia let out a hollow chuckle.
“I’ve lived a long, barbarous life in all my years of having the crown and throne, Bella. This is the first in I don’t even know how long that we’ve ever had true peace. But I’ve made so many enemies, and I have far too much work with my sister gone to watch over him...I….if it was up to me, I would give anything just to take Spike and live free of...everything. But I can't do that, too many lives depend on me and Equestria would fall to ruin if an Alicorn does not step up.” Celestia replied, her voice cracked and hoarse as she turned her head and continued.
“You would do anything to save your daughters, isn’t that right, Bella?” She asked as the unicorn nodded firmly without hesitation.
“As I would do for my son, if my enemies or the nobles ever…” She paused, to terrified to think of what would happen to Spike if any of her old, very powerful foes got ahold of him or if the court of nobles found out that they would one day be ruled by a dragon and try to exile or worse even execute him if her little ponies never accepted his reign and the mere thought caused her to shudder.
“No, this has to be done...if I spoil him and keep him in the castle, he might grow up and act as so many with wealth and arrogance do, thinking less of them due to his title and the fact that he is not even their own species. I will not allow him to grow up with such a mindset.” The Alicorn of the sun stated coldly, tightening her grip on the dragon who let out a whine of discomfort rather than pain making her ashamed of herself as she let go, her ears sprayed on her head before she took another deep breath and talked to Bella Script once more.
“I...he needs to learn about the ponies and truly connect with them, both rich and poor. I want him to have a wealth of knowledge and humbleness, a thirst for the sights and races of all kinds, to experience life with his own two claws rather than being trapped in a castle among politics and rules and...nobles.” She said softly, the last word nearly coming out with disgust and anger before she closed her eyes and weeped once more, opening them to see Spike scratching at the toy’s nose with a claw, fascinated at something she couldn't see making her chuckle a more sincere laugh.
“But princess...what if he’s shunned or picked on for his race or what if the ponies-” She stopped as Celestia’s head suddenly snapped towards her, her eyes glowing bright yellow as the unicorn had to keep herself from screaming, never seeing the princess so angry before in all her days of serving the royal family.
“Then there will be grave consequences if he is ever hurt, I will strip a noble of their gold and fame, I will lock any pony who dares put their hooves on my son in the dungeon for the rest of their days and if his life is taken I will kill that pony with my bare hooves and exile their family from the country!” Celestia shouted, nearly using her Royal We that she hasn’t used for over five hundred years as the pony before her almost peed herself.
The shouting caused Spike to hiccup and cry, forcing Celestia to turn her attention quickly, her eyes dimming from the flow of magic as she tried to shush the crying reptile, wrapping her hooves around his body as he cried into her chest, making the Alicorn let out a loud sigh of regret.
“I’m so sorry, Bella Script. I didn’t mean to yell, it’s just...I would do anything to keep him from harm, I would give my life without a second thought. This is all new to me and I know I’m just being overprotective.” Celestia said slowly, wiping her face with a hoof as Spike’s cries continued for a few seconds before finally stopping as he fell asleep in her warm fur.
With her horn lit with magic, Celestia took Spike wrapped in his blanket off the bed as she stood up, her joints and back popping in response to the hours she laid with him as she stepped off her bed and stood before her oldest and most loyal advisor, Bella Script’s family has served her for over two hundred years and Celestia has always made sure to take care of them as the unicorn bowed before her, Spike held in the air by his mother’s magic.
“It is alright, princess. You are new to parenting, being worried and raising them the best you can is part of the job description, blood or not.” Bella giggled making the monarch laugh alongside her before her expression changed and she looked once more at the drake held in her aura, bringing him to eye level as she tried to hold back the flood of tears once more threatening to spill.
“I don’t want him to go.” Celestia confessed in a whisper as Bella’s ears and tail dropped and she did something she had never done before in all her years of serving, touched Celestia’s side with a hoof as the new mother didn’t even respond.
“The Sparkles will take very good care of him, princess. They have been interviewed three times and their files have been looked over by only the best in the country, plus it would not raise any suspicion with others that he is raised by the one who hatched him, resembling something of an older sister when she gets older, I’m sure. No harm with come to him in their care, we’ll have those who know his true heritage keep an eye on him, I swear on my duty as both your advisor and friend.” Bella answered softly, a genuine smile on her lips as Celestia looked down at her and frowned before finally nodding.
“I wish to meet them.” She spoke suddenly making the unicorn’s eyes widen in surprise.
“Well I’m sure I can have them escorted to-”
“No, I wish to meet them in their home, get to know them more personally before I…” She paused, swallowing the saliva in her throat as she took another deep breath as Bella could only bow in response.
“Of course, Princess Celestia. I’ll have a carriage with guards be ready to escort you in the morning.” She answered before Celestia shook her head.
“No, it will raise questions and cause to many prying eyes and ears their way if I show up at their door in the day time, this needs to be done with finesse and at night. I’ll leave myself, in disguise tonight so that with luck they won’t be assaulted about how or why they suddenly have a dragon in their home, and also so I...I” She choked up, tears in the edge of her eyes as she quickly shook her head and kept them at bay, centuries of ruling the nation made her keep a strong face.
“So that you don’t change your mind, very well princess...I’ll inform a guard who will not give away his presence to tell the Sparkles of your arrival.” Bella Script answered before bowing deeply then after standing, galloped out the door to speak to a guard who would be discreet.
After she was gone, Celestia very gently put the sleeping dragon on her bed, and closed her eyes as she performed a spell that hasn’t be used in centuries on herself, as her form diminished drastically to that of a normal pony, her wings vanished in a very powerful cloaking spell and her mane and tail changed from green, blue and pink to pure pink, even her cutie mark temporality changing to that of a single rose as she opened her eyes and quickly trotted towards a full length mirror admiring her new body.
She had forgotten just what it looked and felt like to be a regular pony, as she realized that even as a normal pony she was breathtaking, with a grimace and quickly making sure with a flash of her horn to change the color of her iris to pink as she smiled and nodded before turning away from the mirror and making sure Spike was comfortable, she grabbed him in her magic, annoyed that even she couldn’t change the color of her magic and stepped towards the door, intent on venturing out before Bella Script opened the door and paused in shock.
“P-princess?” She questioned nervously as the young unicorn before her nodded, making Bella amazed at just how beautiful even as a unicorn the ancient ruler looked before she shook her head and turned around leading Celestia and Spike around the castle as they paused near the front gates, the guards not even doing a double take at the unicorn with a bundled up dragon following the scribe, but bowing all the same.
As they stopped, both Celestia and Bella Script performed a double reinforced barrier spell on the drake so he didn’t get rained on as Celestia brought Spike closer to them and with a nod from the princess, Bella ran a gentle hoof over the sleeping dragon’s face, a lone tear falling down her face as she sighed loudly.
“Farewell, Prince Spike. I swear you will be watched closely and I look forward for my children and I to serve you when you’re of age.” She whispered with a sigh as Celestia took one last look at her and with a nod and smile, left her home, stepping into the rain without even bothering to keep herself safe knowing it would be many years before Spike would return a heir to the Equestrian throne.
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Celestia trotted along the streets of her hometown that she has known since she was a filly, she knew nearly every twist and turn and yet she would be lying if she didn’t admit she was forced to backtrack or had gotten lost once or twice upon looking for the Sparkles residence, to distracted on making sure Spike got to someplace warm and had even forgotten to perform a spell to shield herself from the rain, either not caring or getting frustrated with not being able to find a simple house.
It had taken nearly twenty minutes to find it, but once she did she let out a sigh of relief, ignoring when a few ponies still out in the pouring rain told her to seek shelter as she had to resist rolling her eyes and hid Spike carefully in an invisible spell.
She took a deep breath as she came up to the wooden door, raising a hoof to knock before she paused and thought seriously about this decision.
Would it truly be so bad if she simply took Spike and walked away from her throne, her crown, subjects and kingdom? She could be Sunny Skies and they could board a train to parts unknown, Spike could be raised among the poor and rich like she wanted and she could be a hard working mother, providing for her child, watching him grow up and maybe, just maybe finding a stallion of even mare of her own.
They could have their own house, answer to no one and be away from all the burdens that Celestia has dealt with for so long, she could have the normal life she had always fantasized about it in dreams and maybe even give Spike a little brother or sister he could watch over.
And then watch as that very same colt or filly died from old age, as the kingdom fell to ruin and scrapes maybe even war, greed, rage, despair….hopelessness.
Celestia took a very deep breath before she exhaled and shook her head slowly, once more banishing the thoughts of a simple, boring life to the deepest corners of her mind.
Alicorns protected their subjects and home, she remembered her mother telling her and her sister once.
As easy as it would be to walk away, right now with nothing to her name but her son and her magic it wouldn't be fair to her little ponies in her care, to those who looked to her to take charge and keep them from the terrifying and dark threats that plagued Equestria and the greedy snobs who looked down on those less fortunate than them.
No, there was a reason she was chosen to wear the crown and be the leader of ponies, it was her blessing and her curse, the life of working in the lower class would be something she would never accomplish with her own two hooves, in this or any lifetime as long as she was Celestia, the alicorn of the sun.
With another loud sigh and looking at the drake who was invisible to all but her, Celestia knew that this is what needed to be done, for both their sakes...but what she would give to the gods if she could be like any other mother.
With a heavy heart and a half hearted knock on the wooden barrier, Celestia knew that she would never get such an opportunity again and watched once more as such a fate was ripped away from her hooves as the door opened.
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When Twilight Velvet opened the door she was surprised that it took the princess so long to arrive, the tea and biscuits she had prepared were cold and stale and Night Light was just telling her that perhaps Celestia had changed her mind and that they should head to bed.
About to follow her husband up, Twilight Sparkle falling asleep in her brother’s lap as the young unicorn was nearly nodding off himself, the children's book in his right hoof dropping to the floor as he tried to keep his eyes open before he shook his head at the sound of the knock, his energy and excitement at actually meeting the princess coming back full force as he leivated his baby sister in his magic up in the air and stood by his dumbfounded father and confused mother as a very beautiful unicorn mare who with a simple glow of her horn revealed herself to be Princess Celestia herself along with washing the rain away from her body as it took all of Shining Armor’s willpower not to shriek like a filly as she walked into the room.
Without hesitation the family minus the sleeping filly bowed, as Celestia smiled and took off the cloaking spell that had been placed on Spike as well as the double reinforced barrier spell and placed him comfortably in her hooves, sitting down in a chair much to small for her rump but she ignored her own discomfort as Spike shifted in his sleep, the toy in his claws dropping to the floor, making Shining Armor’s eyes nearly bulge out of their sockets as he glanced at the toy.
“Is that the limited edition Wind Rider action figure, no way! There are only five of these ever made! Do you know how much money this toy is worth?!” He cried, ecstatic to actually see something so amazing in front of him as his father cleared his throat and he blushed.
“I-I mean, excuse me, Princess. Sorry for being so rude.” The teenaged colt spoke embarrassed as Celestia only shook her head with a smile.
“It is alright, my little pony. I would be excited to if I was near a toy I liked. You know, I might be able to get my hooves on another one if you promise to keep your grades up and watch over your sister and new brother.” She whispered into his left ear with a wink as his eyes lit up with the prospect of an early Hearth Warming present and he nodded eagerly before saluting and vowing to do just that, bowing before her again.
“Having a baby brother as a dragon is going to be awesome.” He replied, gently rubbing his left forehoof down Spike’s head before turning around and giving his mother and father a hug, wishing them good night and that he loved them as he took his little sister upstairs with him in a glow of magic without a word, getting ready for bed.
Celestia smiled after the enthusiastic colt before she sighed, hoping that the young male kept his promise as the mare before her shifted uncomfortably and her husband gulped audibly making Celestia chuckled quietly to herself, forgetting how quickly her subjects basically became blubbering masses in her presence.
“Twilight Velvet and Night Light, I presume?” Celestia questioned slowly, knowing full well their names, occupations and children, but reading them from a files, trice in Celestia’s case and meeting them in the flesh were two entirely different situations.
Night Light cleared his throat once more as he answered with a stutter and hesitation to his tone.
“Yes, your highness. Our daughter Twilight almost ran into you when jumping for joy when her Cutie Mark appeared. Heh, she’s only seven years old but we always knew she had a knack for magic, just like us though of a different...magnitude I suppose, for a filly at least.” He cut himself off to keep from rambling in embarrassment as his wife stepped in.
“What Night means to say, Princess-”
“Please, just Celestia is fine.” The alicorn interrupted as both ponies eyes widen before they smiled and visibly relaxed.
“Very well, um...Celestia, you may call me Velvet and my husband likes to be called Night, for close friends and family. I suppose this in a sense makes us family, or the very least close friends?” Twilight Velvet asked nervously as Celestia only smiled and nodded making her give a sigh of relief before she continued.
“We understand as parents that separating anyone from their child can be very, very hard. We would do anything to make sure our children is safe, as I hope any parent would. We will never try to steal Spike away from you or to-”
“I understand from the files I’ve read that you are an author, Velvet and you work in an administrative office in the school for gifted unicorns, Night, is that correct?” Celestia interrupted casually, she didn’t want to be rude, but with the thoughts she had ten minutes ago, she wanted to make absolutely sure with her own eyes that these two could be trusted, plus she didn’t want to think of being replaced anytime soon or at all, the urge to simply take Spike and run to who knows where still in the back of her mind.
Twilight Velvet was caught off guard by the question, looking at her husband before she looked back and nodded.
“Um, yes. I’ve been interested in writing stories about adventures since I was Shining Armor’s age. Though I’m a published author I don’t do it for the fame or money, I do it because I wish to bring my love of writing to all colts and fillies in Equestria, though I do have a few adult novels for a change of pace I’m working on. Must be why Twilight enjoys reading so much. Night Light should be up for a promotion in a few months, and with our combined income we should have more than enough to take Spike in and provide for him.” Twilight Velvet answered with a large, uneasy grin as Celestia raised an eyebrow, skeptically wondering if the two of them could raise three children before she mentally shook her head, trying to be more positive and knowing that in the end she had no choice if she wanted to keep Spike in her life.
“Twilight is prone to be more into studying and reading rather than playing with friends or enjoying nature despite our efforts to get her to try, and Shining is just entering into middle school so he’s trying to balance new workloads and friends as well as caring for Twilight when I’m off on tour or Night Light is at work, but we have a new babysitter that sent out an ad a few months ago when we went to see Shining Armor’s flugelhorn recital, she watches over Twilight when we are busy with our work, her name is Cadance and-”
“Cadance? Her real name would not happen to be Princess Mi Amore Cadenza would it?” Celestia asked as Night Light nodded, she was intrigued at the knowledge that her niece had taking up a job foalsitting, she was glad she had taken the intuitive and gotten a job unlike Blueblood who lazed about in the castle.
“Yes, we were surprised that a princess would want to watch over a simple foal, but Twilight and her really seem to hit it off unlike her last two foal sitters and Shining even seems to have a bit of a crush on her, it’s good to know our kids are in safe hooves, do you know her?” Night Light asked as Celestia nodded with a sincere smile on her face.
“She’s my niece, adopted like Spike and Prince Blueblood. It seems your family has more connections to royalty then most have. I’m relieved that Spike will be watched over carefully when she’s around, they are cousins after all.” She giggled at the thought of Spike and Twilight getting into trouble as they got older and Cadance trying to resolve everything while trying not to go crazy, she’ll have her hooves full for sure when Spike gets older.
Both Night Light and Twilight Velvet looked at each other, stunned at their luck of having two members of the royal family in their home and were a bit worried about what others would think of their fortune.
“Well it seems Twilight will be in good hooves then, being trained under you and watched over by Cadance. But what of the matter with Spike?” Twilight Velvet asked softly as Celestia carefully levitated Spike in a glow of magic onto a couch pillow since her forehooves were getting sore, making sure he would not wake up or fall off before turning back and answering.
“Spike will grow up among normal ponies, your family and learn alongside those not surrounded in wealth or entitlement, when he comes of age, I’ll meet with him personally and reveal to him that I’m his mother and his destiny as a prince and future king, unless he has a desire when he gets older to follow another path of course. He’ll be watched over carefully by the Royal Guard and study with your daughter when he gets older, maybe something of an assistant and even little brother in time.” She paused to breath as Night Light nearly held up a hoof as if he was in class before shaking his head and asking a question.
“Does this mean we’ll be his second adopted parents?” He questioned as Celestia smiled and nodded.
“Only if you want to be.” She added hastily as Twilight Velvet scratched her head.
“But doesn't that mean that Cadance and Blueblood will be family to us as well?” She wondered before Celestia shook her head.
“You may look at Spike as a son in time but he won’t be, Spike is connected to Cadence, Blueblood, myself and you, maybe even my sister, Luna if she ever returns but legally he is mine though I understand your confusion.” Celestia answered calmly with a smile allowing the two to visibly sigh before she became serious, making the two on edge at the shift of the Princess’s sudden mood change.
“I trust you two don’t partake in any...illegal activities?” She spoke slowly, her eyes narrowing to mere slits as the two grown herbivores before her rapidly shook their heads.
“N-no, Princess. When we were younger and before the kids were born we...well, weren't really innocent. I drank a lot and Velvet smoked but since having our children we haven’t touched a bottle or cigarette in years. Don’t even have them in our house, I’ll admit once in awhile I’ll get the urge-”
“Then let me make this perfectly clear and say this only once...if there is an incident and I ever find out that my son has been harmed by either one of you then I will personally send you to prison to rot for the rest of your lives as your children will be sentenced to an orphanage, never to see their parents again. Am I understood?” Celestia whispered darkly, her eyes glowing with golden magic for a few seconds before disappearing as both Night Light and Twilight Velvet shivered in horror before nodding taking her words very serious and making a mental note to never buy even a bottle of wine until all three kids were out of their house.
After that very realistic threat it became awkward as both Twilight Velvet and Celestia took a sip of the cold tea in front of them, completely ignoring the bitter texture and lack of heat while Night Light nibbled on a stale biscuit, Celestia felt guilty and sincerely wanted to apologize to them but she had to let them know just how important Spike was to her. None of them looking the other in the eye after such words before Twilight Velvet finally gathered her courage and spoke.
“It’s perfectly natural to be scared for their future, Celestia. We would never blame you for being so defensive, after all we would do the same with Shiny and Twi, but you’ll never have to keep that promise because we will never hurt Spike or any foal, we don’t even believe in spanking them, though we got into fights with our own parents about that, believe me. It’s ok to be nervous about your son, but I swear to you...he is in good hooves.” Twilight Velvet spoke honestly and with a soft smile making Celestia give a loud sigh and slowly nodded her head.
Calmly Celestia looked slowly over to Spike, and with surprise felt a lone tear run down her right eye as she sniffed then turned away, embarrassed as she closed her eyes in shame.
“He’s all I have.” She admitted quietly as the two before her frowned, deeply saddened that they were taking a child away from his mother, on instinct Twilight Velvet rose from her seat and with a moment of hesitation gently wrapped her hooves around the Alicorn’s stomach making the mare’s eyes open in shock that somepony actually touched her without her permission but she ignored class for once and returned the hug to the much smaller pony, once more crying as the unicorn ignored the tears falling onto her back.
“We’ll never replace you, Celestia. I swear.” Twilight Velvet promised as the Alicorn suddenly cleared her throat, attempting to save face while the older mare released her and took a few steps back to give her space.
“I-if that is all, then I suppose he is in safe hooves. Please, don’t hesitate to write or come to me personally if you have any questions or are in need of anything.” She spoke more professionally taking a shuddering breath.
“Does this mean we can pay off our mortgage?” Night Light joked making the two give a sincere laugh as Celestia shook her head with a smile.
“That would be rather suspicious to your friends and co-workers wouldn't it? Best not to arouse that many eyes and ears, don’t you agree?” The Alicorn questioned making the two before her smile and nod.
“Please, don’t ever hesitate to stop by. You’re always welcome in our home, Celestia.” Twilight Velvet said softly with a bow making the monarch grin.
“Thank you, that means a lot. I’ll have my guards keep an eye on your family and in the event you can’t reach me then be sure to send a message to my scribe, Bella Script. She’ll make sure to give a letter to my phoenix, Philomena who will search for me in the event of an emergency, phoenixes are the fastest creatures in the world after all, in the sky at least.” Celestia giggled before turning to the sleeping drake and bending down, kissed his left cheek gently.
“Goodbye...my son.” She whispered before turning to the ones who would take over from here on until Spike grew older and with a sad, almost painful smile nodded before she lit her horn with magic, changed once more into her alter ego and without another word, walked to the front door and upon opening it resisted to urge to look back once more as she disappeared out of sight and out of the lives of the Sparkle family, until another time