//------------------------------// // Chapter II: Trustworthiness // Story: The Young Prince of Equestria // by GoebelTron //------------------------------// The next morning, Celestia awoken from her sleep, and then when she looked down, Bowen was still snuggled in his bundle of soft and warm blankets and sleeping in her hooves against her chest and still wrapped in his bunting with his arms hugging her hoof. She smiled warmly at him, and then got out of her bed very carefully without waking him up. After she was fully awake, Celestia put on her jewelry and tiara, and then her robe and slippers, and then walked over to the balcony and lit up her horn to raise the sun and let it continue to rise. Celestia suddenly heard a knock on her door, and then saw one of her butlers come in. “Oh! Regal Pastry! I didn’t see you there!” she said. Regal Pastry was a very pale light grayish brown unicorn stallion with a black and white tuxedo suit and a French mustache, and a perfectly combed blackish brown mane and tail, and his cutie mark was a cinnamon roll with gold coins on a plate. “Ah, good morning, your majesty. As the usual, a freshly sliced fruit salad with some fried eggs and cakes, and a nice cup of freshly brewed coffee with a supply of cream and sugar. Anything else you would like?” Regal Pastry asked. “I’m good for now, thank you.” Princess Celestia replied. “Hmm... very well,” Regal Pastry said, and then left her be so the princess can enjoy her breakfast, while she placed Bowen next to her. When she finished eating, Celestia suddenly heard the soft moaning and grunting sounds of her baby. Celestia got up and walked over to Bowen and lifted him up with her horn and then placed him on her hoof to hold him, until he yawned and opened his eyes before seeing his mother’s beautiful face. “Good morning, my precious son.” Bowen made soft baby noises and nuzzled with her chest fur, as she looked at her dear son in her cradle. He smiled at her, and she smiled at him. His hands then seemed to want something, as she suddenly heard his stomach growling. She then smiled at him. Celestia giggled, “It looks like somepony’s hungry.” Celestia then smiled at her son blushing, before she calmed him down. “Alright then. Let’s give you a full belly.” Once again, laying back down on her bed and lighting up her horn, Celestia lifted the baby and brought him towards her lower half. While laying down on her side, she then opened and spread out her back legs, exposing the two mounds that were her breasts. Without even the faintest hint of hesitation, the infant crawled closer towards his mother’s exposed area and then wrapped his lips around the nipple of her teat and started to suck vigorously. As Celestia watched the newborn baby feed, she felt a strong sense of ease and relief wash over her. “Drink up, my sweet little Bowen. I’ll make sure nothing happens to you,” she said, comforting her son while letting him feed, as she placed her wing over him. With one final suck, he was finished feeding and removed his lips from the mounds of her lower stomach, happy and full. Celestia then lifted her child up and over to her front and gave him an affectionate nuzzle until she held him on her hooves, before she saw some leftover milk on his lips, then wiped it off with a napkin, and then placed him on her shoulder and gently patted his back until he let out a soft burp, and then she hugged him softly towards her chest for a warm cuddle, “Did you get enough, sweetie?” Bowen babbled softly and then Celestia rocked him while hugging him and then he suddenly fell asleep. Celestia then gave him a kiss on the forehead and then realized she had court today, but she didn’t know who to watch over her son. ‘Okay, now I just need somepony responsible I can trust to take care of Bowen while I deal with today’s morning court and then my royal duties later on. But who in my royal staff can I trust enough to do a task like that?’ Suddenly, as she was about to leave the room after taking off her robe and hung it up, a housekeeper maid pony bumped into the princess and then looked up at her, “Oh my gosh! I am so sorry, your highness! I didn’t mean to...” Celestia then cut her off with a warm smile, “It’s alright, my little pony. You don’t need to apologize. What you did was only an accident. But... could I have your name?” The maid pony was a unicorn mare who was no more than 21 years old and she had pearly white fur and a brushed and curled red rose mane and tail, moderate persian blue eyes, and she wore a black and white French maid outfit with black dress shoes and frilly white socks on her four hooves and a black headband hat with white frilly laces, and underneath her skirt was a cutie mark of a red rose with sparkling water. “My name is... Sweet Rose, your highness,” she said. “Sweet Rose,” Celestia said. “Interesting. And I’m delighted to meet you.” She then thought of an idea about Bowen, “Wait a minute...” Celestia exited the room and then closed the door and placed her spell on it so that Bowen can have his nap. “Sweet Rose... how much time have you been working here in what position?” Celestia asked. “I’ve been a housekeeper maid for 3 years, your highness. I work really hard to keep the palace clean and free from dust and dirt,” Sweet Rose replied. “Very good, and I assume you’re a very loyal housekeeper maid pony?” Celestia asked. “Yes, your highness. I’d do anything with all of my life to serve you. I’ve been inspired by your beautiful royal essence,” Sweet Rose replied. “Good,” Celestia said. “Now, I have a brand new job for you. And before I show you, it’s in very extreme importance and it must be kept as a secret only to us, but be warned, you will be put on trial and charged for treason if you say a word about what you have seen in this room. Because as you can see, this task involves something that’s very precious to me, something very special I care for. And as a princess, you’re hereby given permission to negate to do it, and you are also given permission to do whatever you like on this assigned job if you want to, but let me be very clear. If you accept this task after I tell you what it’s about and swear to keep it silent, I vow that there is no going back on the deal and I promise that your job salary will be doubled for your payment on hard work. Do you understand? If you do, are you willing to accept this task and take the job?” Sweet Rose didn’t know what to say, because this important task that was directly commanded by Princess Celestia herself, but she was proud to hear about her payment being doubled. Until she made up her mind, she confidently smiled at the princess and replied, “As a loyal housekeeper maid pony of your staff ponies, I humbly accept, Princess Celestia. No matter what this job is or how much you double pay me, I promise that no matter what happens, I swear that I will do it and do it right! And to be honestly sure, my lips are sealed.” “Excellent. Now, wait here,” Celestia said, and then Sweet Rose waited for her to come back after she entered the room. “Okay, come on in,” the princess said after turning off the spell, and then Sweet Rose entered her majesty’s bedroom and saw her holding something on her hoof wrapped in a blanket and bundle. “It’s alright. He won’t bite,” Celestia said. Sweet Rose then walked over to her and saw the baby human sleeping in her hoof, until he opened his eyes while softly yawning and rubbed his eyes and looked at the housekeeper maid pony and cooed calmly. Sweet Rose gazed in awe, until Celestia saw her reaction, “You’re not going to scream?” “Aww! Who’s this adorable little cutie?!” Sweet Rose asked excitedly. Celestia giggled with a light-hearted chuckle, and then began to speak, “Sweet Rose, this is Bowen. Bowen Mockingjay. He’s a baby human I found last night, and he appears to be a newborn. I was also thinking about taking him in as my son.” “Aww... Umm... Can... Can I hold him?” Sweet Rose asked. “Of course,” Celestia said, and then she lit up her horn and brought him over to Sweet Rose so she can hold him on her front right hoof, and he then nuzzled with her neck fur and gently hugged her mane and adorably chewed on his hand. “Awwwwww...” she said, until she gave him a kiss on the forehead. “But, how did he get here?” “Well, all I know is that I found him in a basket outside the palace in the gardens, because I fear somepony or something may be out there to kill him,” Celestia said. “What?! Who would want to kill this poor thing? Was he left there to die?” Sweet Rose asked while gently bouncing Bowen on her hoof. “I don’t think so,” Celestia said. “He was found wrapped in a few blankets and a warm bunting, and had this strange talisman around his neck and the note said that where he came from was attacked, meaning he was meant to be found if he was to be safe from harm. However, there are lots of many mysteries about his homeland and his arrival, but one fact somehow remains, he somehow needs a family and I chose to be that family for him. But apparently it scares me to think what other ponies that horribly judgmental would even think of him or do with or to him.” She then sighed sadly while Sweet Rose looked at the talisman of Caliburn. Sweet Rose then smiled at the baby and nuzzled with him, and then walked over to the princess, “You do have a caring heart for others, Princess, and are indeed amazing. But you’re right. Not many ponies would accept this little sweetheart or be willing to take him in, but you made the right decision. But if some did, he’d be treated like a pet more than a son, but with you, he’d be treated fairly since he’s an intelligent creature we’ve never seen or heard of before. So what’s worth, I’d think you’d make a great mother for him.” Bowen then cooed, until Sweet Rose kissed him on the forehead and then nuzzled with him. “I’m glad you think so,” Celestia said. “So, how can I be of service since it’s obvious that you’ve shown me the little one?” Starshine asked. “Sweet Rose, if you vow to keep this a secret, will you take the honorable responsibility and be my little Bowen’s royal foalsitter? Meaning you have to take care of him while I’m working,” Celestia asked. Sweet Rose nodded in reply, “Princess Celestia, I accept. And I’d be happily honored to do it. And to be honest, I’ve always wanted a foal of my own. But somehow me and my husband have eagerly waited so long, but we never succeed successfully, but we might still get a chance because I can somehow feel like I’m nearly there.” Celestia then looked at the mare with a warm smile of sorrowful pride and hugged her gently with her wing, “I’m proud you’re trying hard to expect one, and I’m sorry to hear about it not happening, but I promise that you’ll soon have the foal you and your husband have been dreaming of and want so much.” “Thank you, Princess. That means so much to me,” Sweet Rose said. Celestia looked at her again and nodded, “You’re welcome, my little pony. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must attend to my royal duties immediately. Now, since this is your first day as my son’s royal foalsitter, remember what I told you.” Sweet Rose nodded in agreement, “Don’t worry, your highness. On my honor as the royal foalsitter, the secret is safe with me, and I’ll make sure to take good care of this little cutie pie and keep him safely hidden in this room.” Princess Celestia nodded, and then she leaned down to look at her child, and gave him a kiss on the nose, and then left with a few bits for Sweet Rose to buy whatever she needs and then headed over to start her royal duties. “Those are in case you need something,” she said. “Okay, now you enjoy yourself and I’ll take care of this little sweetie,” Sweet Rose said. Celestia nodded and left Bowen with the maid pony. ‘I hope being a mother has its toll. Oh, what am I saying? Of course it does! I’m sure he’ll make a fine prince,’ she thought to herself while walking to court.