Umbra was glued to her new foal. Not literally, thankfully, but she hovered in his presence, when not directly holding the foal and bouncing them gently in her glowing magical grip. "I'm a mother," she reminded herself for the tenth time in the hour.
"You were already a mother." Morning regarded Umbra with a flat expression. "Why do you keep saying it as if it's new, mother?"
Umbra went still, considering Morning and how to phrase that... Without being mean. "It's the first time I did all the parts of mothering." Umbra waved Morning closer.
Morning stepped in without delay. "Yes?"
Umbra gently ruffled the top of Morning's head. "I just want you to know that I have, do, and will continue to love you." A devious smile played over her face. "Also, you're the heir."
"I am." The reminder seemed to help though, Morning relaxing. "As the heir--" She pointed to Midnight, looking around as they were in Umbra's grasp. "It falls on me to make sure the family values extend to the new generation."
Morning eyed the squirming newborn foal critically. Though only a child herself, the young umbrum filly carried herself with solemn duty.
"I shall begin your education soon, little brother," she informed Midnight. "Our family has a proud lineage in the shadow arts which you must learn to uphold."
Midnight blew a spit bubble and giggled, blissfully oblivious to Morning's intensity.
Umbra hid a smile. "Let's let him get a bit bigger first before starting magic lessons, hmm?"
Morning nodded reluctantly. "Very well. In the meantime..." She leaned closer to Midnight, who grabbed onto her ponytail with his tiny hooves. "I will teach you more basic skills. Communication and mobility shall be our first lessons."
She allowed Midnight to play with her hair, her expression softening. "I suppose I have much to learn about being a sister as well. But do not worry, little brother. I shall guide you until you are ready to take your place in our family."
Midnight burbled happily in response. Umbra's heart swelled watching them bond, two children of shadow finding light in each other.
"When do we start his combat training?" Morning asked eagerly. At Umbra's sharp look, she shrank back. "Too soon?"
Umbra chuckled and drew Morning close. "It seems we all have much to learn about balancing old traditions and new opportunities. But we'll figure it out together."
Morning crossed her arms, but didn't move away from Umbra's touch. "What can I do to help, mother? Right now."
Umbra started, considering Midnight, then Morning. What could Morning do? "Hm. You could be my hooves. I don't want to leave the room right now, until Midnight gets a little bigger. He's doing his best, but it still takes some time. No hurrying that."
"Gladly, mother." Morning bowed properly, back on all fours. "Where can I extend your reach?"
Umbra sent Morning about the palace, fetching things and delivering messages. They were things she wanted to get done, and it made Morning happy. A complete victory in Umbra's eyes.
"May I help?" Anik walked in from the hallway. "I see Morning darting about quite purposefully. It makes me feel lazy."
Umbra held up Midnight, cradled between her hooves. "Look, your brother."
Midnight let out a loud squeak, reaching as best they could for Anik with a bright smile. Did they even know what they were happy about? It wasn't always clear with such a young one.
Anik accepted it as it seemed, approaching with a glow of his sun-like warmth. "Brother. Midnight. I am Anik." He pointed to himself. "And I will do my best, as your brother. I am named for being a brother to a sister, but I can be a brother to a brother at the same time." He leaned in.
Which was hint enough for Midnight to grab Anik with all four hooves, attaching to Anik's snout firmly. Anik laughed cheerfully, standing up with the little foal attached. "I think he likes me."
Anik's laughter rang out bright and clear as Midnight clung firmly to his snout. The young foal seemed utterly delighted, peering at Anik with large inquisitive eyes.
"It appears I must now go about my day with a foal accessory," Anik remarked amusedly. He turned his head this way and that, Midnight giggling as he swung gently.
Umbra watched them fondly. "He'll tire himself out soon enough. But let him play - it's how they learn about the world."
She tilted her head thoughtfully. "In fact, maybe you can take him to explore the palace gardens. Get some fresh air and give me a small break."
Anik's face lit up. "It would be an honor! I shall take good care of our little brother."
Gently, he pried Midnight off his nose and situated the foal securely on his back. Midnight immediately snuggled into Anik's soft fur.
"We shall have a wonderful time," Anik said softly. "I will show you all the beauty that grows under sun and sky."
Umbra blinked back sudden tears as she watched them go, the brightness of Anik's spirit a perfect foil to Midnight's tiny dark form.
Once they had left, she let out a long breath. As much as she loved her son, even umbrum mothers needed a moment's rest! She settled comfortably on the bed, ready to savor a short nap before the next round of foal care began. For now, Midnight was in good hooves.
Anik walked along with Midnight atop him. "I was worried." Midnight didn't reply. "You are dark, like Morning. I love her, I do... But sometimes she shies from my light." He stepped out onto the soft grass of the garden, pressing into it. "You don't seem to mind."
Midnight nestled in all the closer to his sunny brother, unbothered by that.
Anik smiled at the unspoken agreement they seemed to have. "If you get hungry, tell me... I didn't bring any milk. We can go back to mother."
"Goo?" It was a word, at least. Sure, it wasn't intelligible, but Midnight had tried.
And that counted. Anik reached a hoof back to pat Midnight. "What a lovely brother I have."
"Sir."
Anik perked at the sharp, but polite, word spouted by a guard hurrying towards him. "Yes?"
"Her Royal Majesty has requested you." The guard pointed off towards the throne room.
"Of course?" Anik veered to head that way. "I wonder what Cadance needs. We'll find out." He carried Midnight along, his easy smile returning. It was hard to be upset about much with his new little brother there.
Anik made his way to the throne room, Midnight still contentedly perched on his back. The guard at the entrance gave them an odd look but said nothing as Anik trotted inside.
Cadance was seated regally atop her crystal throne. But when she saw Anik and his passenger, her serious expression dissolved into a grin.
"Well, this is certainly an unexpected surprise," she remarked, rising to approach them. Midnight craned his neck to peer curiously at the glittering alicorn.
"Forgive my bringing him along unannounced," Anik said. "Mother needed a small rest, so I offered to take him for some air."
Cadance waved a hoof. "No need to apologize. This makes my day brighter." She tickled Midnight under the chin, eliciting a happy squeal. "I'm guessing my urgent summons did not convey the levity of the situation."
Anik's eyes widened. "Was it not an emergency?"
"On the contrary, today has been blessedly uneventful - minor disputes at most." Cadance gave Midnight's downy head an affectionate nuzzle. "I simply wished to provide Umbra a respite, though I see you had the same idea."
She smiled at Anik warmly. "You are already proving yourself an exemplary big brother. Now, how about we take Midnight to the royal kitchens for a snack? He must be getting hungry after all that fresh air."
Anik brightened. "That is a marvelous plan!" As they walked, he gazed at Cadance with new admiration. In ensuring Umbra's chance to rest, she too was being an exemplary mother.
Anik wondered if perhaps he could learn the delicate balance required from them both. For now, though, he would settle for fetching his little brother a... "Cadance, ma'am?"
Cadance perked an ear. "Yes? You sound nervous."
"I am, a little." He inclined his head towards little Midnight. "Can you make milk?"
Cadance colored, but that turned to laughter. "It's only fair. Umbra was quite the eager wet nurse for mine, perhaps I can return this favor." She gentle gathered Midnight up in her arms and glowing magic. "First, proper introductions."
Anik inclined his head slowly. "Ma'am? Haven't you met Midnight already?"
"Not personally..." She nuzzled into Midnight, inhaling his scent. "Not this slowly. I was spending time with Umbra, even if Midnight was there. Hello, Midnight."
Midnight giggled with the joy of all the attention being paid to him. He grabbed and ran his hooves over Cadance's snout, eagerly exploring her in return.
Cadance let out a slow breath. "This is the foal I want to feed. So..." She reached out a hoof, willing for milk, and thus did a bottle appear at the end of her hoof. She smiled at it brightly. "I wasn't certain if that would work. Umbra was a bit odd... Making milk for a foal that wasn't hers. Hm, now I am too, though less odd."
Anik smiled at the bottle's appearance. His brother wouldn't go without. "How does this make you less odd, ma'am?"
"Anik."
Anik went rigid at the firm way Cadance had said it. "Did I say something wrong?"
"You are Umbra's child."
"Yes?" Anik inclined his head.
"I am Umbra's wife." Cadance pointed at herself. "By all legal rights at least, that makes you a son of mine. Do you not want that? If not, I certainly won't force a grown pony to accept it..."
Anik blinked, caught dumbfounded a moment. "Oh! Yes... Yes, sorry..." He rubbed his warm cheek. "I wasn't trying to offend, ma--mother." He smiled, tension ebbing. "I would be delighted to have such a wonderful alicorn for a mother."
"And I would be quite pleased to have such a wonderful stallion for a son, both meanings of that spoken word." She offered the bottle to Midnight, feeding the foal. "Thank you, for asking."
"Asking?" Anik smiled at the two, watching Cadance feed little Midnight.
"This." Cadance tossed her head at the bottle and Midnight drinking it. "I forgot the little delight in feeding a hungry foal. Flurry has weaned herself to solid foods, so no need for this. But... Midnight has plenty of room for milk in that belly." She patted him until Midnight belched loudly, letting out the gas that had built up.
Cadance laughed brightly at Midnight's impressive belch. "Oh my, such excellent lung capacity! You must take after your mother."
She nuzzled the foal affectionately before lifting her gaze to Anik. "In all seriousness, thank you for giving me the chance to connect with Midnight this way. It was...presumptuous to assume a motherly role without first asking if you and Umbra were comfortable with that."
Anik smiled warmly. "Of course we are. You're as much his parent as..." He trailed off, remembering. "You have even more right, technically..." He colored, coughing into a hoof. "Our family simply grew in an unexpected way." He shrugged. "As you said, the law sees it plainly, though the heart must sometimes play catch-up."
Cadance nodded, touched by his sincerity. "I will endeavor to earn that role, if you'll have me." She tickled Midnight's round belly. "Now, I believe your little brother requires a fresh diaper before we resume our palace explorations."
She conjured the necessary supplies with her magic. Anik watched in awe as Cadance expertly changed the soiled diaper, cooing reassurances to Midnight all the while. It was a simple act, yet profound in its tenderness.
Anik committed every detail to memory. There was still so much for him to learn about caretaking. But whether it was magic, integrity or nurturing, he knew Cadance would be an exemplary teacher. It was but a pity he didn't have a horn, or the magic that came with it. He'd have to figure out how to do that without.
"Shall we proceed?" Cadance gently returned Midnight to Anik's back. As they stepped, Midnight grabbed a tiny hoofful of Anik's mane. Anik let out a happy laugh, ear turning back. He would strive to be worthy of his little brother's trust, and wise enough to accept guidance from his new mother.
Together they wandered the sunlit halls, the laughter of foal and prince ringing melodiously. Anik smiled to himself, thankful fate had granted him both brother and family.