//------------------------------// // Birthday Prince // Story: My Son, My Soldier, My Hero // by That_Random_Pony //------------------------------// Celestia woke up, glad to know her son hadn't had any nightmares. She sighed as her regalia floated over to her, which was because she had to leave him once again. Still, there was one thing she was looking forward to.  "Mama," Draco mumbled. Celestia turned to him with a smile. "Good morning, dear," she softly spoke. "Did you have a good sleep?" "Yeah," he yawned. "I was dreaming about me and Rainbow playing like we did last week." Celestia giggled and nuzzled him softly. "Well she's coming again today," she told him. "Do you remember what today is?" Draco's eyes drooped as he thought, but they shot open when he remembered. "It's my birthday!" he shouted as he jumped up. "Your sixth birthday," she giggled. She didn't know exactly when he was born, so she chose to celebrate his birth the day she… the day he was given to her. "And don't worry. I'll be getting out early." Draco hugged his mother tightly. "Thank you, Mama," he giggled. "When is Rainbow coming?" "Later, of course," she smiled. "Just sleep until she gets here." "Okay," Draco murmured. Celestia slipped out of her room and walked to her throne room. As she reached the formal room, a guard joined her side. "Princess. Captain Silver asks if he can see you," he informed her.  "Send him in," Celestia answered. Her horn tinkled as it lit up, a morning shine coming from the horizon.  She sat in her seat, just as the Captain walked in. "Beautiful morning as always, Princess," he nodded.  "Thank you, Captain," she replied. "What did you need me for?" "Do you remember the night you fo- I mean… you were given Draco?" Celestia nodded, and the Captain shifted uneasily. "And do you remember earlier that night, when you sent us to recon the Everfree?" "What is it, Silver?" she asked. The Captain knew she was done waiting. "There was some object in the crater from the Everfree," he explained. "From the look of it, the mother broke out and ran all the way to the castle. We had a squad of unicorn guards make a covert pickup, and bring the pod here." "You brought it here without my consent?" Celestia questioned, doing her best to keep level-headed. "Yes, because we thought by studying it we could learn something," Silver continued. "The war with Gryphos has to come to an end. And with this object, we might be able to advance ourselves." "You're talking about weapons of mass destruction, Captain," Celestia sternly spoke. "We're not trying to win or lose. We're trying to end this peacefully." Silver sighed at talks of peace, but he continued further. "That's not why I called you here, ma'am," he said. "Last night, the pod started… beeping." "Beeping?" Silver nodded. "What significance could that have?" "I'm not sure, but most of the scientists are coming up with theories and whatnot," he sighed. "They say it might be some kind of advanced location spell, or a warning, but they're not completely sure." Celestia leaned to one side, giving her the look of some dictator debating something. "If anything else happens, inform me first," she ordered. "And, I don't want to see you or any scientists anywhere near that device." Silver bit the inside of his cheek, but nodded anyways. "Yes, Princess," he said through gritted teeth.  Celestia stood up from her throne and made her way down to the science lab. She passed a number of brewing stands, couldrons, and beakers as she looked for the main facility. The lab guards saluted to her as she stepped inside, the scientists immediately bowing in respect. "Princess Celestia!" one of the scientists exclaimed. "It's a pleasure to meet you! I'm-" "I want every scientist out of this area, now," she commanded. The science ponies each turned to her with shocked expressions. "B-But, Princess!" the stallion protested. "This device has so much information we could obtain and use-" "Against the griffons?" she questioned harshly. "Against Equestria's enemies? That would be just as harmful as it would be hurtful." "But, Your Majesty!" The guards crossed their spears as the stallion tried getting closer to protest. "You can't do this! There's so much we could learn!" "Yes, we could," Celestia told him. "But a foal that knows how to fire a crossbow could become a dangerous pony. We are nowhere near this level of technology. Nopony is ready for something like this." The guards hauled the research team out of the lab, leaving Celestia alone with the strange pod. She turned off every light, making sure no pony was still around. Outside, she ordered the guards to notify her if the beeping stops, or changes. They saluted, allowing her some relief.  Until Silver came stompind down the hall. "Celestia!" he shouted. "Why-" "I'n stripping you of your rank, Commander," she said, tearing off the emblem from his chest plate. "For acting behind my back, and endangering the lives of not only Equestria, but each of the five nations in the land." The former-Captain stared slackjawed at the princess as she walked past him. His anger broiled as he tossed his armor to the side and stomped off to the barracks.                                                                                      "Tag!"  Rainbow zoomed down the hall, the bipedal-prince trailing right behind her. Draco loved playing tag with her, since he was almost as fast. Still, her maneuvers and height advantage made it hard for him to catch up. "Don't go… so high, Rainbow!" Draco panted. The pegasus lowered just a little, which was just enough for Draco to grab her by the tail. "Tag!" he called. "No fair! You don't have a tail!" she laughed.  "And I don't have wings!" he argued back, grinning madly as he came to a flight of stairs.  Rainbow was surprised at how fast he was leaping up the stairs, maybe five or six at a time. She did her best to keep flying after him, but the higher they went, the darker it got.  "Draco?" she called. Her wings had tired out, so she landed and climbed by hoof. "Where are you?" The higher altitude let wind howl through the staircase, making Rainbow stop and look around quickly. She kept going, the darkness seeming to go on forever.  "Draco," she called. "Come out." The wind howled throughout the spire once again. "Draco, stop it already! This isn't funny!" She reached the top, just in time to smack into Draco. They screamed as the boy ran into the wall, and Rainbow zoomed into the opposite one. They rubbed their heads, then glanced to the doors. The carvings of ancient ponies charging into battle made them scream even louder. The two rushed back to the stairs and screamed all the way down.  At the bottom of the staircase, they finally exhausted themselves and tumbled to the carpet, heaving heavily. Draco watched his hand shake for a moment, before he sat up and wrapped his arms around his knees.  "A-A-Are you okay?" Draco managed through chattering teeth. Rainbow sat up, her own shuddering visible. "Y-Yeah," she mumbled. "I mean, yeah, I'm fine. Why'd you scream so loud?" "Because… hey, you were screaming, too!" Draco argued.  "Nuh-uh!" Rainbow exclaimed. "I… I was just… glad I found you!" "Yeah, right," Draco chuckled. "Hey, I ain't scared o' nothin'!" she smirked, puffing her chest out.  "You should be." The children turned to Draco's cousin. "Oh. Hey, Blueblood!" Draco smiled, not hugging him just in case he had grime on his hands. Blueblood said they were always on him. "Good afternoon, Draco," Blueblood snorted. "What were you two doing?" "Draco ran up those stairs, and I went to go get him before he got too scared," Rainbow snickered. "Did not!" Draco whined. "You were scared too!" "No I-!" "You two went after the treasure?" Blueblood gasped. The two halted their bickering and looked at him. "There's… there's treasure up there?" Draco asked. "Whoa. So that's why the monster was up there?" Rainbow questioned. "Oh, yes," Blueblood smirked. "Legend tells, that there were monsters so scary guarding the gold, Tia blocked it off so that no pony could get hurt." Draco gulped. "S-s-so… th-there's m-monsters up th-there?" he chattered. "Yeah," Blueblood said. "But… if you wear a special kind of cape, you can sneak past them and get the treasure." "Really?!" Rainbow exclaimed. "Where can we get it?!" "Rainbow, there's scary monsters in there!" Draco reminded her. "Yeah. But Blueblood said the cape protects you, right?" she asked. The other prince nodded. "Yes. And," he leaned closer, then motioned for them to do so as well. "Me and Cadence found it a while ago… but she won't give it up." "Why not?" Draco questioned. "She says it's too dangerous," Blueblood sighed with fake disappointment. "I mean, if you sneak in at night and take it while she's asleep you could… oops." Rainbow's smile couldn't have been bigger. "That's it! You could sneak into her room and get it so you can go get the treasure!" Draco reared his head back, too shocked to say anything. "B-b-but I can't steal from my cousin! And… I can't go up there," he mumbled the last part.  "We're not stealing it! We're borrowing it!" she said, tapping his noggin. "And you don't have to worry. I'll get the treasure! Then you give it back and say you found it!" Draco rubbed his shoulder anxiously. "I don't know." "Don't worry. I'll tell you when she falls asleep," Blueblood told them. "Just tell me when you're ready." "Alrighty!" Rainbow saluted with a huge smile. "Yeah… alright," Draco nodded hesitantly. He didn't want to make Rainbow think he was scared, but a bunch of monsters did sound terrifying. Blueblood nodded and walked past them, smirking as he made his way down the hall. He'd have more than enough time to tell the "monsters" about their imminent visitors.                                                                                      Celestia wrapped up her duties and trotted happily to find her son. She had invited Dasher and his wife, who had seen Draco a couple of times, to be there. Chef Pan was also free to come, since he was the one making the cake the whole day. She entered the room to find Rainbow flying circles around Draco while he playfully roared and threw pillows at her.  As soon as he spotted her, he jumped over and hugged her neck. "Mommy!" he shouted excitedly. "Me and Rainbow were playing giant gorilla monster!" "Yeah!" Rainbow smiled.  "Draco!" The boy looked behind Celestia and saw his pink cousin. "Cadence!" he shouted as he ran over to hug her. "I'm so glad you came!" "Of course I came!" she giggled. "You're my cousin, remember?" Draco smiled, looking behind Cadence for her little brother. "Where's Blueblood?" Her smile became a bit forced after he asked. "Oh, he just has some mare problems," she shrugged. "He told me to tell you happy birthday, by the way!" My flank he'd even say that to Draco. Flankhole. "What's the matter?" Draco asked. Cadence shook her head and smiled nervously. "Oh, nothing," she laughed. "Hi Rainbow Dash!" "Hey princess!" she laughed. "Wait, where's my dad? And my mom?" "Right here, Pumpkin," Pale Streak sung. "Did you have fun with Draco?" She peppered Rainbow with kisses, the filly in return squirming. "Mom! Not in front of Draco!" she whined.  "She never stops talking about him when we get home," Dasher chuckled, nudging his daughter's side. "Isn't that right?" Rainbow's cheeks tinted redder than the streak in her mane. "Dad!" she shouted. Everypony laughed while Draco tried to figure out why her cheeks were so red. "Okay everypony, I think it's time for the birthday colt to get his treat," Celestia smiled.  "Make way for ze grand cake of cakes!" Pan called from outside. His magic opened the doors as he carted the cake in. "Whoooooaaa," Draco and Rainbow gasped.  The cake was huge! It was almost as long as him, and it was his favorite frosting! His name and the words "Happy Birthday" were written with chocolate syrup between six candles. Chef Pan placed a couple of chairs for the filly and colt to climb onto. "Everypony ready?" Chef Pan asked. They all nodded, especially Draco. "One, Two, Zree!" "Happy Birthday, to you! Happy Birthday, to you! Happy Birthday, dear Draco! Haaaaaa-ppy Birthdaaaaaaaay, toooooooo yoooouuuu!" The adults stomped their hooves lightly as Draco and Rainbow blew out the candles. "Happy Birthday, Draco," Celestia said as she nuzzled him. "Happy Birthday, little cousin!" Cadence giggled as her wings tickled him.  "Happy Birthday, buddy!" Rainbow smiled as she bumped her hoof against his fist. "Thanks everypony," he smiled widely.  "Zen vat are ve waiting for? Let's dig in!" Chef announced. He swiftly and skillfully sliced everypony a piece of the large cake. "I think we might need more ponies," Rainbow giggled.  "Hey Mommy, what about the guards?" he suggested. "Maybe they want some." "Here you go," Chef said as he handed a platter to the boy, topped with six slices. "Tell zem it's on ze house." Draco nodded and carefully brought the cake into the hall. "Want some cake?" he asked the two, pushing the plate forward.  The two glanced at each other, then shrugged and took a piece. They thanked him, as did the other four positioned in the hall. Draco came back in with the empty plate, setting it next to his cake and eating his own slice.  "Amazing as always Pan," Celestia smiled. "But of course!" he chuckled. "Ze colt deserves ze best!" "Thanks, Chef Pan!" Draco laughed.  "Hey, Dracooo," Cadence called with a grin. He smiled even bigger when he saw the bow-topped box. His mother and Dasher had similar boxes, only different colors. "Wow!" he exclaimed, taking the box and shaking it lightly. "What is it?" "Open it and find out, silly," she giggled.  Draco did just that as he carefully tore the wrapping paper off, then opened the cardboard box. He gasped wordlessly as he pulled out a huge Wonderbolts blanket. Along with it came a pair of Wonderbolts goggles. "Awesome!" Rainbow smiled.  "I know!" Draco laughed as he opened it up and looked at it from top to bottom. "Thanks, Cadence!" She hugged him happily, as did he. "And, a little something for Rainbow," Cadence said.  Rainbow's eyes widened as a Spitfire plushie teleported in front of her. "How'd you know?" Rainbow gasped.  "Draco told me about it," Cadence nodded to her cousin.  Rainbow turned to him, smiling widely, just like him. "Rainbow, don't you have a present for him?" her mother asked. "Oh yeah," she chuckled nervously. She took the gift from her father and hoofed it over to Draco. "I picked it out, by the way." Her parents rolled their eyes at their daughter, chuckling softly. Draco carefully undid the wrappings, then opened the box. Inside of it, was a toy replica of Star Swirled the Bearded's arcane staff. "To fight the monsters," she whispered. Draco nodded, marveling at the detailed staff. "Thanks, Rainbow," he laughed. She bumped her hoof against his fist. "Now, it's my present," Celestia said. Draco looked at the small box, sure that whatever it is his mom got him he would love it. He took the wraps off, and slowly took the lid off the final box. They were all left in awe as the shining gem lit the whole room. The beautiful sapphire gem was attached to a silver chain, big enough to be worn by him until he was an adult. To his surprise, the gem opened up to show a picture of the two. He remembered… they were at the park, and some reporters wanted to take a picture.  "Now look underneath it," she told him. Draco did so, smiling even more as he looked at the second present. He picked up the Royal Guard plushie and laughed. He hugged his mother, and she nuzzled him lovingly. "Thank you, Mama," he giggled. "They're awesome." Celestia giggled also, then kissed his forehead. "Anything for my little Draco," she smiled.  "Best. Birthday. Ever!"