As Celestia exited the garden and began to make her way back to her throne room she couldn’t help but have a smile on her face. Still fresh in her mind she replayed the moment she had experience only minutes ago. The sight Claire and Illusion had then they called the family into the garden, the joy in their voice when they revealed the pregnancy, and the pride Celestia felt when she had heard it. Her children, both the son she gave birth to and the daughter-in-law she accepted with open wings were going to have a foal of their very own.
Celestia paused in her walk and looked up at nothing in particular, just allowing her mind to wonder for a moment. “I can still remember the time when I first held you in my hooves.” Celestia thought to herself, the images of her looking down on her newly born son still fresh in her mind even after all these years. Then again she was sure that it was a moment that any mother would remember for the rest of their lives. The moment when they see that they have brought another life into this world and begin the new journey that is parenthood.
Leaving her thoughts for a moment Celestia walked up to the window in the hall. Looking down she could see them, Claire and Illusion walking side by side as they walked towards the castle gates. “I can’t wait to see you hold yours.” She said as she watched them walk off into the distance. When Celestia could no longer see Claire or Illusion from the window she continued forward. Before long she reached the door to her throne where the two ponies standing guard bowed to her.
“Good morning, princess.” said one of the guards.
“And good morning to you as well.” said Celestia motioning the two guards to rise. “I was wondering if I could trouble one of you for a task.” She asked.
“Of course.” said the other guard.
“There is something I would like you to retrieve.”
Over at the other side of Canterlot, a white carriage pulled by two members of the royal guard came to a steady halt. After stopping one of the guards unhooked himself and walked up to the door of the carriage. With the use of his magic he grabbed the door knob in his telekinetic field and opened the door. Through the door Claire was first to step out “Thank you.” She said giving the guard a thankful smile.
Illusion stepped out next; just as Claire before him he thanked the guards for taking them to their destination and moved on to catch up with his wife. The place they had stopped at was outside of an art shop. In the window hung several pictures of fictional beings known as “humans”. The human craze had sparked in recent years, and now many artists were making names for themselves by forging incredible art pieces of this species. And the owner of this art shop was no exception.
Claire and Illusion walked up to the front door of the shop and pushed it open. As they did the wood made contact with the bell connected to the frame and its sound chimed all through the room. “Be out in a minute!” called out a female’s voice from the back of the room followed by the sound of something falling over.
“Minute and a half!” the voice called out again which caused Claire to chuckle slightly. A few more sounds of things being knocked over was heard before somepony stepped out from the back. She was an earth pony mare with a light brown coat who wore a gray long sleeved top under a blue vest. On her head was a gray beanie which she used to hold back her long mane which was red in color, same as her tail. Aside from her clothes she worse a few accessory’s, such as a flower behind her ear and a gold bracelet around her hoof.
And on her flank was the mares cutie mark, a paint board and a paint brush. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what her special talent was. When the mare finally made it to the front she noticed who was standing at the door.
“Hello, Kilala.” Said Claire.
“Oh my,” said Kilala placing a hoof on her chest “To what do I owe the honor of having prince Illusion and princess Clarity grace me with their presence?” she said bowing to the two royal figures.
The two stayed in place for a period of silence as Claire looked down on the bowing mare. And then, they both broke out in a fit of laughter. “But seriously, what brings you to these parts today, Claire?” Kilala asked walking up to Claire.
“Well this morning I found out some great news,” she said wrapping a foreleg around Kilala’s shoulder. “News that I’m sure you of all ponies would love to hear.” She added.
“Well then don’t keep me in suspense girl, spill it.” Said Kilala.
“Okay, but first answer me this,” said Claire. “What do you call a mare who eats for two?” Kilala looked up to the ceiling and tapped her chin as she thought over the question. The smile on Claire’s face told her that it was something great. It looked as though she couldn’t wait to tell Kilala what it was. Then slowly, a smirk spread on her face as she came up with an answer.
“Pudgy?”
“Yes!” Claire yelled in glee. Both Kilala and Illusion’s muzzles scrunched up as they suppressed a laugh. It took a few seconds, but eventually Claire realized what it was that she had just agreed to.
“Hey!” yelled Claire, a slight blush on her face. At this point Kilala lost it and began to laugh at Claire’s expense. After losing her friends to time, Claire had gone a long time without trying to make more. That was until she met Kilala, she couldn’t explain it, but Kilala was a pony who just seemed to understand her. And over the years she become Claire’s closest friend, one that she knew she could rely on.
“Okay you’ve had your laughs,” said Claire when Kilala started to settle down. She then turned her gaze to Illusion who quickly turned away, it was hard enough for him not to burst out laughing without Claire glaring at him.
“Sorry Claire, couldn’t help myself.” Said Kilala with a few more giggle.
“Seriously though, think hard.” Said Claire. With the joke out of the way Kilala began to think about the question again. It didn’t take her very long this time, her eyes opening wide as the answer popped into her head.
“No way,” Kilala said in awe “You mean you’re…?” she trailed off.
“Mhmm.” Hummed Claire.
“How long?” asked Kilala, a smile spreading on her face.
“A week.” Claire answered as she started to grow excited.
“You’re going to be a…” Kilala trailed off again growing just as excited as Claire.
“Exactly!” Claire said with glee, her ability to contain herself failing.
“This is incredible!” yelled Kilala.
“I know!” but this point Illusion had covered both his ears, he knew what was going to happen next. In unison both Kilala and Claire let out a high powered screech in excitement, one that proved two powerful as the sound of glass shattering could be heard. As they heard the sound the screeching stopped and both mares turned their heads. On the floor, shattered into millions of pieces, was Illusion.
“Oh ha, ha. Very funny.” said Claire in response to Illusions antics.
“I try my best.” Said Illusions shattered lips with a small smirk.
“I give him points for creativity.” Kilala said with a chuckle as she and Claire walked towards the back room.
“So how’s it feel,” said Kilala as she turned her head to look at Claire “Knowing that you’re going to be a mother?” she asked.
“Honestly, I’m not sure.” Said Claire “But since I’ve just found out I’m pregnant I guess the full weight of it hasn’t hit me yet.”
“Well if you ever need somepony to talk to remember that my door is always open.” Kilala assured Claire.
“Always nice to know you’ve got a friend to turn to when you need one.” Claire said with a smile. Now that Claire had shared her news with Kilala, she felt it fair to shift the focus. “So what have you been working on?” she asked causing Kilala’s ears to perk up.
“Oh, thanks for reminding me. Wait here!” said Kilala as she galloped up the stairs into the next room.
“Well that took longer than expected.” From the previous room Illusion walked in placing his ear back in place. While his gag was completely worth it (in his opinion anyway) he still had to deal with putting himself back together. “Where’d Kilala go?” he asked noticing Claire standing along.
“She’s getting something up stairs.” She answered. The wait for Kilala to return was short, and as she returned from the upper room both Claire and Illusion noticed that she was carrying something on her back.
“Can you hold this up for me, Illusion?” asked Claire, and with a nod of his head Illusion used his levitation magic to lift the object on Kilala’s back into the air. Now that they could get a better look at it, Claire and Illusion noticed that it was a canvas which was covered with a white sheet.
“You couldn’t have timed your visit any better,” Kilala said walking up to the covered canvas. “I finished this last night and just couldn’t wait to show it to you.” Using her teeth, Kilala grabbed on to the sheet.
“I reveal to you…” with a quick yank Kilala pulled the sheet off of the canvas to reveal the painting under it.
“Yourself!”
After spending a few more hours with Kilala, both Claire and Illusion finally made their way back to the castle. On Illusion’s back was the painting of Claire that Kilala had given to them before they left. Claire still couldn’t believe how amazing it looked, there was no doubt in her mind that she would look like that had she been human. Kilala even promised to paint one of Illusion when she got the chance.
“Maybe we should commission a family painting.” Illusion thought out loud, he could only imagine how the rest of the family would look as humans.
“That would be great, we could hang it next to our family photo.” Said Claire as she and Illusion reached their room. “Speaking of which, I want to hang that one as soon as possible.” She said pushing the door open.
“Of course, we can hang it on the-“ Illusion paused for a moment when he noticed something against the far wall of the room. It was some kind of object, but he couldn’t tell what due to it being covered by a sheet.
“What’s that?” asked Claire.
“I’m not sure, but I guess there’s only one way to find out.” Using his magic Illusion grabbed hold of the sheet. With a tug the sheet was lifted off revealing what was hidden under it. Illusion got one good look at it and his jaw dropped slightly.
“This is,” said Illusion as he walked up to it “My old crib.” Placing his hoof on the wood Illusion took in the sight of a crib he hasn’t seen for several decades.
“Must have been brought here while we were out.” Said Claire. Illusion didn’t say a thing, his eyes still staring at the crib with a smile on his face.
“Oh look, a pacifier.” Using her magic Claire levitated the pacifier off of the pillow and showed it to Illusion.
“She even kept that huh?” Illusion said with a chuckle. When it came to preserving memories his mother didn’t skip a beat. As Illusion held on to the pacifier with his magic Claire looked back to the crib.
“One day we’ll be looking down on this and our own foal will be sleeping on it.” She said passing a claw over the mattress. Deep in her mind she tried to imagine it, a newborn foal wrapped in the blanket as he or she suckled on the pacifier.
“Mhmm.” Hummed Illusion.
“I know it’ll be months until that happens, but I just can’t help but-“ turning her head to look at Illusion, Claire paused. Her expression changing to one that looks a little less than amused with what she’s looking at. “What are you doing?” at some point while Claire was looking away, Illusion had placed his old pacifier in his mouth.
“Don’t judge me.” Illusion mumbled through the pacifier. Claire’s only response was to faceplam, but that didn’t hide the small smirk on her lips.
“Dear Celestia I’m going to be raising two foals.”