A motherly warmth spread through Cadance's chest as she looked upon her slumbering child in the crib. Flurry Heart was all tuckered out after her long day with Twilight. And after Cadance and Shining Armor had got home, it didn't take long for the little foal to descend serenely into dreamland. The child's eyelids stayed closed save for the occasional flicker, her little purple and turquoise locks falling softly against her head and onto the pillow, and her long wings tucked loosely against her sides.
A smile curved the grown alicorn's lips, and she held a hoof to her chest, tilting her head as she just silently stood there, admiring her own little bundle of joy as she slept. The little foal's chest rose and fell gently, a small contended smile still on her muzzle. She had her Whammy with her - which was of course her beloved stuffed snail - tucked affectionately beneath a foreleg. Her favorite blue blanket covered the majority of her body, it was the one with the little white unicorns on it; a gift from Celestia, as Twilight wasn't the only one who took pleasure in showering the foal with presents.
Flurry Heart was unreservedly the most beautiful foal Cadance had ever seen, though she knew that as the mother she was more than a little bit biased. Nevertheless, she believed quite strongly it was true. Could the little darling be a hoof-ful sometimes? Most certainly, but caring for her was always a sweet responsibility, which was more than Cadance could say for some of her less personal duties.
But for now, the little foal slept, blissfully unaware of the outside world and all its problems. Her world was one full of adoring ponies, stuffed toys and fun games to play. Everything a little foal could ever want... or so it seemed. Cadance wished that her royal duties didn't take her attention away from her new daughter as much as it did, but overseeing an empire was a time-consuming task, even with help. Sometimes she was grateful for the time with all the councils and foreign dignitaries, being able to accomplish so much good for her kingdom. Other times it seemed that the work was going nowhere, consumed with long talks filled with disagreeing voices and ending hours later without resolution; in ordeals such as these, all she wanted was to be with those who mattered most to her; her Flurry and her Shiny.
The little form in the crib stirred, and for a moment Cadance thought that the child might wake. But upon turning over just a little, Flurry Heart stilled and continued to sleep. The mother smiled warmly. No, Flurry was still too tired from her long day. A moment or two passed, and Cadence heard the soft sound of hoofsteps upon carpet coming up from behind her. She knew the gait and did not need to turn her head to know who it was. She felt a foreleg drape around her withers from beside her.
"Aren't you going to come to bed, hon?" Shining Armor asked quietly, not wishing to wake the child.
"In a bit," Cadance replied gently, continuing to watch their daughter.
Her husband nuzzled her neck for a moment, touching his cheek to hers to join her in watching Flurry Heart. "She looks so peaceful when she's sleeping," he remarked softly. "She's so beautiful.... just like her mother."
Cadance smirked and turned her head to face her husband, then leaned in a little, with Shining following suit. The couple shared a brief kiss. Exhaling, Cadance rested her head against her husband's chest. "I am pretty tired," Cadance admitted. She sighed, easing against him just a little more before turning her eyes to the face of her child once more. "Do you ever worry about her, Shiny?"
The unicorn's brow furrowed. "Flurry Heart?"
"Mmm," Cadance responded, "I do. She's going to have to watch over the Crystal Empire someday."
"The keyword being someday, Cadance," Shining said, chuckling quietly. "That's still a long way's off. And we're going to see to it that once that day comes, she'll be ready. Besides, she's only our first foal. Who's to say Flurry Heart wont have a few brothers and sisters to rule with the way that Celestia and Luna do over all Equestria? We'll be sure that she has good council members to give her sound advice too. She might even find a special somepony to share the load with like a certain somepony I know," he finished with a little grin, giving his wife an affectionate nuzzle.
Cadance smiled, at least a little more at ease after his reassurances. Still a mother's concerns are rarely so easily dispelled. "But... Shiny, I—"
"It'll be fine, Cadance," he whispered. "I'm surprised you're even worried about this. You're usually the one telling me that everything's going to be okay."
The couple chuckled in unison at that, and perhaps just a tad louder than they'd intended to. Their breath caught as they heard a tiny moan emanate from within the crib. They watched as their little one rolled over, then much to their relief, she continued to sleep soundly.
The parents glanced to one another, and Shining gestured to the door with a quick movement of his head. He took the first few steps in the direction he'd indicated and, after she'd cast one last adoring look in Flurry Heart's direction, Cadance followed after him. Once out in the hall, Shining closed the door just as quietly as he could manage, he and his wife releasing a nigh-silent sigh of relief at having made it out without awakening their beloved daughter.
Shining flashed his wife a little grin. "I guess those stealth maneuvers were good for something after all."
Cadance put a hoof to her mouth to stifle her laughter.
"Come on," Shining said, slipping a foreleg around his wife's withers, "let's go to bed."
Cadance leaned against her husband's shoulder as they walked leisurely down the hall, the sounds of the rhythmic tapping of their hooves against the reflective marble reverberating in hushed tones against the walls and ceiling, creating the faintest of echoes. She had never asked for any of the grand responsibilities she'd been saddled with, but having her husband to lean on - literally and figuratively - had always made things so much more bearable.
And of course, Shining would lean on her in turn, which she was always grateful for. She could never stand those stallions who refused to accept help of any kind, steadfastly denying that anything was even wrong to begin with. Cadance smiled, grateful that she'd had Blueblood's example to learn from - spending any amount in her relative's presence was always a potent reminder of what simply would never do for her in a mate. Shining turned his head, glancing down at her. She realized he'd caught her staring, but she didn't bother averting her gaze - one of the perks of being married was that after awhile she didn't feel the need to anymore.
"I love you, Shiny," she told him sweetly.
Shining Armor smiled back at her through sleepy eyes, stopping just short of the door to their bedroom. He planted a brief, but affectionate kiss on her forehead. "And I love you too, Cadance," he whispered softly.