//------------------------------// // New faces // Story: High Maintenance Alicorn Fillies and You. // by FaelaArts //------------------------------// Celestia was curious; something was wrong. Twilight was growing at an abnormal rate, but was that due to the Alicorn genes overworking or due to something else? That would explain the growth that she had gone in a mere few days. The fact Twilight was starting to talk meant she was a lot older than she had been when they’d found her. “Oh sister, before thou-you retire I have some good news.” Celestia turned her head to see her sister smile. Twilight babbled happily on the bed, starting to crawl around. “Ok Luna, what’s the good news?” Luna’s face broke into a smile of pleasure, and Celestia felt her heart thud ominously. “Cadence is coming, and she has agreed to take care of Twilight with Shining so you can return to your duties.” Celestia blinked, not comprehending the sentence for a few moments. As soon as it sunk in, Celestia turned her gaze to the filly crawling around the bed. She frowned at the funny feeling stuck in her chest. “That is indeed great news sister; I shall await their arrival eagerly, but what of Twilight’s own parents?” Luna tilted her head before replying, “You do remember that Alicorns are known for being hard to handle right sister? Dear Twilight could turn her parents into pancakes and eat them. And if they don’t give her exactly what she wants, the tantrums she could very well throw could destroy Canterlot.” Celestia sighed, wishing they could just give Twilight to her parents, but Luna was right. “At the very least contact them and ask about Twilight’s habits while growing up. It could save us some potential problems.” Luna nodded, and made to leave, pausing at the door. “Also, the element bearers are here. I asked them to come so we could explain why Twilight has not written or spoken a word in these past days.” Celestia grimaced, before breathing in and composing herself. She followed Luna as she left; her magic collecting on the door as she waited for Luna to head to her chambers. “Goodnight dear sister, try not to snore.” Celestia blinked as Luna produced a magic window with her magic, something that normal unicorns would have trouble even casting let alone maintaining. It showed her sleeping with Twilight next to her. Suddenly the sleeping Celestia’s mouth flew open and snore in the poor filly’s face, who awoke and began to cry. “I snore, why hasn’t anyone told me this!?” Luna chuckled in response. “Maybe because our sister is a princess and tends to send ponies to moons,” she replied, walking around the corner. Celestia closed the door, and huffed in irritation. “Snoring, I will have to find a spell to remedy this situation immediately. Snoring, princesses don’t snore, how uncouth and un-princess-ly?” Celestia paused in her search through her books, before renewing her vigour and finally casting a spell to solve the problem once and for all. Except she would have to cast it every night she snored; but a minor detail in the potential apocalyptic situation that she snored. Walking over to the bed, she glanced for Twilight, and her face broke into an adoring smile. Twilight was snuggled into a makeshift nest of the blankets, her bottom lip drooping as she slept soundly. Celestia felt so dawwstruck that she couldn’t in good conscience bother the sleeping filly. So instead she gently stepped into her bed, and curled around the sleeping form, enveloping Twilight in a protective wing. “Goodnight my little pony.” “Daww she so cutie wootie pooty fruity booty dootie sooty cootie crunchyrainbowcenternuggetty!” “Her eyes are sparkling like diamonds, simply marvellous.” “She’s looking healthy, but a mite pale. You been feedin' ’er her any crushed apples?” “She’s…Um…So…Cute-*whimper*” “Her hair is boring! But she’s real ‘cute’. Not really my style.” Celestia smiled at the five ponies in front of her, Twilight on the floor in front of her. The five ponies, Twilight’s closest friends, crowded around the filly who stared at them energetically. “Uny estwa” she spoke, the rest nonsensical babble. All of them dawwed, including Rainbow Dash. However she was quickest to recover, ensuring none saw her in her moment of weakness. “Can you say Pinkie Pie? Come on, piiinnnnnkeeeehhh pyyyyyeee.” Twilight turned her round innocent eyes on Pinkie Pie and giggled, mouth opening. “ehnky eie.” Pinkie squealed in absolute delight, and began bouncing around the room. “So how long will this spell last Princess?” Celestia turned her head to Applejack and gave a sincere smile, fooling the element of honesty with ease. “We doubt it will take much longer, dear Applejack.” Satisfied the five were happy concerning the safety of their friend, Celestia picked the filly up in her magic, and placed her on Celestia’s back. “Now my subjects, we must take our leave.” Pinkie Pie awwh’ed, Rainbow Dash glanced away, Rarity and Applejack nodded and Fluttershy looked to the floor meekly. They all wanted to stay, and Pinkie was of course the first to speak up. “Can’t we come with you princess, Twilight is our friend too...” Celestia sighed inwardly, but relented. “Alright, but just for now.” They all cheered, and as Celestia walked they took turns interacting with the baby on her back. Eventually they arrived at the throne room, where Luna was waiting. She chuckled, “I see you were not able to shake your pursuers.” Celestia said nothing, appearing regal and composed in front of the five element bearers. Luna rolled her eyes, but let Celestia stick to her character. “So where is Cadence, sister?” Luna shrugged, gazing toward the window. “I assume the train was delayed, they will probably be here by this sunset.” “By sunset,” Celestia corrected, and Luna merely rolled her eyes. “In that case, I shall take Twilight to the secret garden.” Pinkie Pie gasped, and Celestia soon realised her mistake. “OHMYGOSH A SECRET GARDEN TIME TO BRING OUT THE EMERGENCY PICNIC” On cue, Pinkie Pie pulled a picnic out of thin air, all four ponies rolling their eyes and leaving two bemused sisters to ponder the action. “Hurry up princess! Take us to this garden before Pinkie Pie explodes from excitement or whatever explodes a Pinkie Pie,” Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Alright, the garden is this way.” Celestia began leading the group through the corridors and into the section of the garden her sister had dubbed ‘secret’ when they had discovered it as young fillies. Against Celestia’s better judgement, the name had stuck. “Woooah look at all the flutterflie-er sorry butterflies.” Pinkie Pie began hopping around the clearing, Celestia gently lifting Twilight off her back and erecting the shield. Pinkie Pie quickly dashed over, and began taking the filly on little adventures. Fluttershy sat near the flowers, watching the butterflies peacefully. Rainbow Dash had found a cloud and had brought it close to the ground and was now having a power nap. That left Rarity and Applejack to help set up the picnic, not expecting the princess to help, as she was royalty. Sitting down, Celestia heaved a sigh, letting some of the weight roll off her shoulders for the moment. Celestia gazed at Twilight, and her feelings about handing her to Cadence resurfaced, and she tried to put the feeling she was experiencing into words. Food was soon served and Celestia joined them to eat, Twilight refusing to drink from the bottle. Celestia was not going to have a repeat of last night, so she gave Twilight an apple to munch on, crushed up by a certain apple bucker. They spend the better half of they day in that clearing, Twilight enjoying herself despite despite having lost her memories of the connection she shared with them. A letter appeared in front of Celestia, who caught the dark blue scroll and unrolled it, revealing the silver etchings inside. “Cadence has arrived, it is time for you ponies to go.” At first they were hesitant, Pinkie Pie objecting the loudest. But eventually they began to clear out after gentle persuasion from Celestia. Celestia was finally left with only Twilight, who was sad at the sullen silence around them. “Lets go...do what needs to be done...”