Moon Dust's P.O.V.
It had been another few suns and moons since I first walked for Mama and Great Auntie Clover. Auntie Celestia was thrilled to find out I could walk, as was Auntie Cadence. I hadn't gotten to let Auntie Twily see me walk, but Auntie Clover said that she would be ecstatic when she heard the news.
Today, Mama was carrying me to the throne room again, but this couldn't be meetings again, Mama and Auntie Tia had already done those daily meetings. I wasn't sure what to think. But Mama seemed to have a smile on her face that made it seem something exciting was about to happen. "Oh Moon Dust. You're gonna be so thrilled when you see the surprise. Auntie Tia just knows you'll love it," Mama said.
Well, what was this surprise? I was completely out of the loop on this one. Was it a new toy? Ponies from far and wide had been sending me those. Was it one of those things Mama called movies? Was it a new animal Mama found? She'd shown me things from birds to mice, to lizards.
Whatever it was, Mama was moving fast to get us there. Finally, we entered the throne room and saw Auntie Tia sitting on her throne waiting for us. "I was wondering when you were gonna bring my nephew, little sister," Auntie Tia joked.
When we got to the stairs that led to the thrones, Mama let me climb the mountainous stairs, so I could practice my walking. When I got to the top, Auntie Tia clapped her hooves and said, "Great Job sweetie, you're getting faster climbing those stairs every day. Soon, you might even start flying, like Mama Luna and Auntie Tia. Oh, and Sun Stone too."
Sun Stone? Who was Sun Stone? I tilted my head to the side as I looked Auntie Tia in confusion. She giggled, "You can come out now sweetheart. Auntie Luna and Moon Dust don't bite."
I watched as a pony, bigger than me, but smaller than Mama and Auntie Tia, trotted out from behind Auntie Tia's wing. The had the same white fur as Auntie Tia, but their mane and tail were dark brown. They had wings like Mama and Auntie Tia and Me, but no horn like us. "Moon Dust, I'd like you to meet your new cousin... Sun Stone," Auntie Tia informed me.
I trotted forward towards Sun Stone to see he was at least two of me in height, but he looked like someone who wouldn't harm me. "He's so....... small mom. But he is cute," Sun Stone said to Aunt Tia.
I know I'm small. What's the big deal? The real mystery here is, where's his horn? If Auntie Tia's his mommy, shouldn't he have a horn? I trotted closer, as he was eye level with me, than I gently climbed onto his head and sifted through his mane, trying to find his horn. It's got to be in that mane of his someplace. "What's he doing Aunt Luna?" Sunstone inquired.
Mama giggled, "I think he's trying to find your horn dear. He thinks you're an alicorn like us, so he's wondering where your horn must be since he can't see it."
"Oh," Sun Stone said.
"Okay Moon Dust, that's enough. Sun Stone isn't an alicorn. He's a pegasus, Like Auntie Rainbow Dash," Mama told me.
My cousin was a Pegasus, but Auntie Tia was his mom? That didn't make sense. How is he not an alicorn? "See, Sun Stone had another Mama before, but she can't be here anymore, so Auntie Tia agreed to be his new Mommy," Mama explained.
Well, that was new to learn. I didn't know that could happen. I reached out and hugged Sun Stone's muzzle. It was my way of saying "Hi new friend," since I couldn't make words like every pony else I knew. "Awww, he likes his new cousin. Sun Stone, I think you're gonna have Moon Dust following you around, wanting to be like you a bit," Celestia said.
"Cool. I always wanted a little brother to play with. But a little cousin is just as cool," Sun Stone said, as I held on to his muzzle while he trotted over to Mama.
Soon Mama grabbed me by the neck, and placed me on her back. "Thank you Sun Stone. Now, when you do play with Moon Dust, I expect you to keep him out of trouble. Can you do that," Mama asked Sun Stone.
Sun Stone Saluted, "Yes Ma'am!"
Mama giggle, "At ease brave soldier."
Sun Stone relaxed his Salute, than, in perfect sync, my tummy, and Sun Stone's tummy growled. "Well, I can see two princes haven't had their lunch yet. What say we head up to the Lunar Chambers and get those tummies, filled."
"Okay," Sun Stone agreed, with a bit of a blush.
Luna's P.O.V.
I was so thrilled to know Celestia had finally put her head on straight and adopted a child to take care of. I can't rightly say if there was any records of her previously adopting any children before, but with how thrilled she had been to give me the news, I had a feeling, that Sun Stone was her first. And for a four year old colt, he was a handsome little devil. I'd say that he'd beat Blue Blood's looks once he got older. But those good looks just made him more adorable for his age.
I had asked Tia why she had adopted him. Thankfully, she wasn't doing this for a public image of any sort, as I have seen many nobles do before. I gave those nobles nightmares they would not soon forget, and treated the adopted pony far better after that. Another thing I was thankful for, is she didn't pick him for his looks at all, or to make sure he was the perfect pegasus in every way. I read his file after the adoption, and saw that Tia's feelings for this colt was genuine. While most colts his age were stable trained at this point, Sun Stone was still had trouble making it to the bathroom in time, having a weak bladder muscle. This means, if proper protection wasn't worn, he would have bed time accidents, as well as accidents that could be at risk in public. So that's why I had seen him with padding on when I first met him.
He had been very shy to meet me before hoof, and it was understandable. Many foals with his condition got picked on a lot. But that wasn't the only thing that was a condition he had. His digestive system was slow in development as well. That meant most solid foods couldn't be kept down very easily. They gave him special medicine to help keep the food down, but even than, it did a number on him.
This is why I was offering to have him come to the Lunar chambers. Doctors said he would have a much easier time with mother's milk. I was gonna let him nurse with Moon Dust, just until my sister was able to produce milk for her little charge as well. She had ordered some special potion to help get her milk flow started, but it wasn't gonna be here for another 2 days. So, it was either let me nurse him, or give him the medication the orphanage caretakers provided, and have him eat solid food. Neither Tia or I could bare the thought of having to watch him go through that ordeal, and we were the kind of mares that felt it should be the foals choice to decide when to stop having mother's milk. Plus this would provide an opportunity for me to bond with my nephew, to let him feel comfortable around his new aunt and cousin.
As we finally entered the Lunar Chambers, I heard a voice call for my sister in the distance. I knew that was Blueblood, and I soon hurried Sun Stone inside my chambers, and nodded to Tia I would look after him while she dealt with our nephew's snob attitude. Once I closed the door behind us, I cast a sound proof spell, so the little charges wouldn't hear the thundering arguement outside, just hoping it would hold, should Tia use, what most ponies called, our Royal Canterlot voice. I soon Laid on the living room bed/couch, and laid Moon Dust near my teats, where he soon started his meal. I motioned for Sun Stone to join him. "Um, are you sure you want me to?" Sun Stone hesitated.
"I wouldn't be offering you my milk if I wasn't okay with it sweetie. This will just be for a little while til your mother can start giving you milk as well. Besides, there are other mothers who nurse boys even older than you," I assured Sun Stone.
"R-really?" Sun Stone asked with reassurance.
I nodded in response. He crawled underneath Moon Dust slowly, and let him lay a top his head while he nursed, and soon Sun Stone himself latched on. I put me wings over the two cute colts to give them some privacy, and let Sun Stone feel less scared about nursing in front of others. I soon heard both boys whimpering happily, and I began to hum to help them relax while nursing.
Celestia's P.O.V.
"Blue Blood. I am asking you stop this meaningless debate," I politely asked.
"Aunt Celestia. I understand many ponies look up to you for guidance. But do you realize what adopting this ruffian pegasus will do to the family's image?" Blue Blood continued to argue.
"If anything, it should boost the kingdom's trust, public opinion of us, and sense of security. If other ponies see we are willing to care for others in their time of need, then they will be less reluctant to come to ask for our help when needed. I''ve been around far long enough to know how my subjects will react to this new development," I assured him.
"Auntie Tia, we'll be a laughing stock. Everypony will see us as weak. And that will lead to revolts in the street, and I don't want to think how this will affect Discord. He feeds off of chaos. What if he decides to be up to his old tricks again?" Blue Blood asked.
Just then we saw Discord appear out of thin air. "Oh, honestly Blue Butt, I am offended that you think so low of me, much less the common pony," Discord spat.
"It's Blue Blood. And this was a private conversation," Blue Blood spat back.
"Well, if it was so private Blue Runt, how come I could hear your voices all the way in the maze of the Canterlot Gardens? And on top of that, why have it in the hall way, in front of Luna's personal body guard mares?" Discord pointed out.
I couldn't help but giggle at how blunt Discord was being to Blue Blood. I only wish I had pop corn to watch the scene unfold. "Letting the ruffian pony stay on the castle grounds is bad enough to hurt our image," Blue Blood argued, trying not let the name calling fluster him.
"That is your young cousin now. You should be more respectful. I thought you had learned your lesson after the little debate you had with Princess Luna about your cousin, Moon Dust. Those colts need a stallion to look up to, and from what I am seeing, you are not the proper stallion to look up to." Discord gave Blue Blood the stink eye.
"Aunt Celestia, please muzzle your pet... whatever he is," Blue Blood tried to save face.
"Discord is not a pet. He is a good friend, and should be treated with more respect than you just displayed to him, and the same goes for the respect you need to show my son. He is now and forever shall be a Prince of Day. And Blue Blood, all that mouthing off..... that is going to cost you. I need you to take leave to Rarity's Carousel Boutique," I ordered.
"That crazed mare in that run down town. I will not set hoof there," Blue Blood pouted.
"You misunderstand me nephew, that was a command from your Princess of Day, not a offer. Pack your things, say your good byes to your friends, and make for Ponyville. I have already sent word to Rarity that she may be expecting you, and have ordered her and the rest of the Element bearers to teach you how to behave like a proper gentlecolt upon arrival. This is not up for debate. Should you try to make any sort of alterations to this arrangement, punishment will be more severe," I warned.
"H-How much more?" Blue Blood asked.
"Well, I'm no expert on Tia's forms of punishment, but I can assure you, it won't end well. Think having your foal days back, and... perhaps even a change in your gender," Discord joked.
"Sh-She would never," Blue Blood whimpered with his tail between his rear legs now.
"Wouldn't I?" I played along.
"B-But Aunt Tia," Blue Blood pleaded.
"No buts. I suggest you make haste with your packing and good byes. Once you arrive you will not be getting any leverage from the Castle attendants, or the Royal Guard for personal means. Trot to it nephew," I ordered him.
He soon galloped off towards his living quarters. "You know, you didn't need to do that," Discord stated the obvious.
"No, but I wanted to. He's been on my nerves ever since my nephew's birth. Now he has the gull to insult my son? Oh, I had been waiting for this opportunity," I assured him.
"I can't say I blame you. Now if you'll excuse me. I must slip some of this potion into your sister's tea so her milk taste like chocolate milk for the boys tonight," Discord snickered.
"Oh, that's devious Discord. Care if I assist in the prank?" I asked.
"Oh, so you do still prank. I thought by now Starswirl would have made you a prankless mare of honor," Discord smiled.
"If there's one thing I pride myself of, it's how to prank ponies across Equestria. How do you think Nightmare Night's tradition and lore Nightmare Moon gobbling children started?" I giggled.
"Wait, that was you?..... You're more complex than I gave you credit for," Discord admitted.
"I aim to please," I told him, as we trotted off together.