//------------------------------// // I’ve Been Waiting For You // Story: When The Night Carries Love // by Drunk Luna //------------------------------// Luna lay flat on her back in the bed she shared with Phoebus, who raised his eyebrows as he peeked at his wife over the book he had been reading. She was five months pregnant now, and she was finding it more and more difficult to sleep with each passing day. “How are you feeling?” Phoebus asked, scooting close to her and stowing his book in his nightstand. Luna’s thoughtful eyes gave him the only answer he needed. He nodded understandingly and wrapped his hoof around her shoulder. “Tell me what you’re thinking, my angel of the night,” he whispered, dropping a soft kiss on Luna’s velvety shoulder. Luna smiled and rested her hoof on her stomach. “Have you thought about names yet?” she asked him. “I was thinking of Atlas or Saros for a colt, since I have a feeling we’re going to have a son.” “I like Atlas,” Phoebus agreed. “What about if it’s a filly?” “You know,” Luna said after a moment, “I haven’t really thought about a name for a filly. I want a daughter so badly that I don’t want to get my hopes up; I mean, I really don’t care if we have a colt or a filly as long as the foal is healthy, but I’ve always wanted a daughter. There are two names that I’ve always liked for a filly: Esme and Neoma.” “Both names are beautiful,” Phoebus said. “What if we combine them? Esme Neoma has a nice ring to it.” “I think they sound a bit strange that way,” Luna said, shaking her head, “but what if we flip them around? Neoma Esme.” The name sounded like a prayer as it slipped from the moon queen’s lips. “‘Neoma’ means ´new moon’ or ‘pleasantness,’ and ‘Esme’ means ‘beloved.’ How perfect! Our beloved new moon—our Neoma Esme.” Suddenly, she gasped and grabbed Phoebus’ hoof, pulling it towards her belly. “Honey, can you feel? They’re kicking!” Luna smiled widely. “Hello, sweetheart,” she said to the unborn foal. “I know we decided not to know if you’re a colt or filly until you’re born, but mommy has a feeling you’re a filly, since you kicked me extra hard when you heard the name ‘Neoma.’ Your daddy and I are so excited to meet you, little one. We promise we’re going to be the best parents ever to you. We already love you so much more than you will ever know, sweet baby Atlas, Saros, or Neoma. We’ll decide what to call you after we’ve met you.” Luna chuckled as her last sentence was punctuated with another little kick from the foal. The walls of the bedroom next to Luna and Phoebus’ bedchamber, which had once been so plain and white, were now midnight blue and adorned with stars and a full moon. An ornate white bassinet stood in the center of the nursery, and a matching changing table sat against the wall. A silver mobile of stars and a crescent moon hung above the bassinet. Luna hung a collection of onesies in the nursery’s walk-in closet, huffing slightly as she did so. At nine months pregnant, Luna found that activities were becoming more and more difficult for her to do, but as Princess of the Night, she was unable to take maternity leave. As she finished hanging the last few onesies and started to stow some diapers in the cabinet under the changing table, Luna sighed in frustration. She was due to raise the moon in ten minutes. How would she hold night court tonight? Her legs were swollen, her back was killing her, and the foal was extra active tonight, constantly delivering heavy blows to the blue alicorn’s ribcage. Another searing urge to pee suddenly hit Luna as the foal sat on her bladder. “I love you, kid, but you’ve got to calm down,” Luna groaned as she waddled to the bathroom. “Mommy has a lot of work to do. I know you usually fall asleep around this time, so close your little eyes and drift off.” The foal kicked again, almost defiantly. “Well, you’re definitely my foal,” Luna said with a pained smile, lowering herself onto the toilet. “You have your mommy’s attitude already, don’t you? Please don’t be so disobedient when you’re older.” She sighed with relief as she momentarily relieved herself of the near-constant fullness of her bladder, then she walked out to join Celestia on the main portico of the castle. The brisk chill of the evening nipped at Luna as her older sister lowered the sun. The younger alicorn lit up her horn and slowly raised the full moon, then sent the stars to their places in the cloudless sky. Finally, Luna sent a glowing river into the dark mass above her. The aurora borealis floated upward from her horn, gracing the sky with its watery roads of colorful light. “Are you all right, little sister?” Celestia asked, gently nuzzling Luna’s shoulder. Luna nodded and grinned at her sister. “Yes, Tia, I’m fine, just very, very pregnant,” the dark blue alicorn huffed as she turned to walk back inside. Celestia gave Luna a sympathetic smile and followed her sister into the castle, where the two alicorns went their separate ways. The night seemed to hold its cold breath in anticipation as a rush of liquid suddenly fell to the floor from Luna’s raised tail. Fear and excitement filled Luna’s mind, but she pushed those feelings aside to focus on the task ahead. In a few short hours, Equestria’s newest prince or princess would be born.