//------------------------------// // Chapter 2, A Secret // Story: An Unexpected Life // by alejin //------------------------------// Celestia woke up from her sleep, I was hard for her to remember when was the last time she had such a good night, if not of the best she had in a really long time, next to her was the baby, her baby, he was still sleeping and licking his little finger, her heart exploded again, much to her grief, she had go to raise the sun, with much care, she stood up without waking up her precious baby, with one last glance, she proceeded to go to the balcony, she lowered to moon and as always, couldn’t help to share some tears at seeing the mare in the moon, her sister Luna, she would be back in a few year and hopefully, this time things would be diferent, she then raised the sun to welcome a new day, when she returned to the bed, she found Bright already awake, he started to laugh and giggle the moment he saw her, Celestia smiled too, then she heard the little one’s tummy growl. “It seems somepony is hungry” (giggle) “Wait here my little Bright” Celestia then placed Bright in the floor and casted a little forcé field around him, it was sound proof so nopony could hear him, she was scared what would happen if any of her servants or guards would do if they were to find him, she made her way to the kitchen while closed the door with a powerfull locking spell, in her way there, she was humming a song, many of her staff who saw her were shocked, It was no surprise to see their Princess smiling, but this time was diferent, she seemed happier than ever in the last years, Celestia arrived at the royal kitchen and saw her favorite chef, a middle age unicorn, when he saw her, he and all the staff bowed to her, she raised her hoof to command them to raise. “Hello Yummi Pastry, how are you in this morning?” “I’m Fine, thank you your Highness, what can I do for you in this morning?” “The same as always, a Fruit salad, a slice of cake, some tea and . . . A glass of milk please” “Excuse me your Highness but. . .did you say a glass of milk?” “Yes, I did” “Ok. . . that’s new but if you want it, it’s ok” Celestia went back to her room with everything Yummi prepared, in her way there, she was greeted by her favorite nephew and niece, a unicorn colt and a pegasus filly. “Aunt Celestia! It’s so nice to see you!” “Cadence, Blueblood, you are already awake! Tell me, how are you?” “We are fine thank you, me and Blueblood are in our way to the school” “Oh that’s good to hear, I hope you are making lots of friends” “Yes I am! And to be honest, there is a cute unicorn colt in my class I really like to know better” “Ohhh, that’s cute, and what about you little BlueBlood?” “Yeah, I made some friends but still I think we should go to another school, one with foals more suited to our standars” Celestia sighed and said: “Blueblood, I already told you, there are no standards amongs ponies, everypony is the same, royalty or not, it doesn’t matter, you may have a higher social status than everypony else but that doesn’t mean you are better than them, am I clear?” (Huff) "Yes Auntie” He said while resuming his way to the school. Celestia and Cadence looked at him with sadness in their eyes, Cadence looked at her and nuzzled her leg. “Don’t worry Auntie, I’m sure he will get the message someday, he is my brother after all, and I have faith in him” “You are a good filly Cadence, you both are, I just hope you are right, it's just there are some times when he really worries me a lot” Cadence nodded and proceded to follow BlueBlood, Celestia saw them leaving, once they were out of her sight, she resumed her way to her room, when she got there, she found Bright rolling and playing on the floor, she smiled, after placing her food on a little table, she started to look for her and Luna’s old baby’s bottles, Her mother used to store everything she and Luna used when they were fillies, when she finally found them, she poured the warm milk in one and proceded to feed the baby, he drank it with gusto, once the milk was gone, she tapped the baby in his back to let him burp, after that, he immediately fell sleep again, she placed him in her bed and ate her food as well, while eating, she realized she needed somepony to watch over him while she was in her court, she had to start her royal duties in 20 minutes, she started to alarm but soon, she composed herself, she casted another forcé field around her bed and went out of her room. Celestia walked through her halls, looking for somepony to look over for Bright, she knew all her staff were kind but she needed somepony who would be willing to keep the secret, she was so distracted in her thought to see a maid walking in front of her. They both clashed and stayed there, when the maid saw who was the one she bumped into, she immediately bowed and started to beg. “I’m so sorry your highness! I wasn’t looking where I was going! I’m sorry! please, please, don’t fire me!” Celestia smiled, this maid thought she would go that far for something so little? She stood up and said to the little maid: “Raise my little pony, don’t worry, I will not fire you, in fact, I think this was all my fault” The mare raised and looked at her with a relieved face, when Celestia gave a better look at her, she noticed she was kinda young, not older than 21, she had white fur and red mane, indeed a beautifull and inocent mare, then it came to her, maybe she was the one, Celestia aproached to he and said: “May I know your name little pony?” “Sweet Rose. . .your highness” “Sweet Rose uh? ok, come with me please” Sweet Rose Followed the Princess, when they reached the Princess room, Celestia turned around and looked at her directly to the eyes, she stated to get worried, Celestia cleared her throat and said: “Sweet Rose, how much time have you been working here?” “About, about. . .2 years your highness” “2 Year? . . well that’s good, now tell me, are you loyal to me?” “Yes your highness, with my life” “Good, now, I have a job for you, it’s in extreme important and it must kept as a secret, it involves something precious to me, you are free to negate to do it if you want to, but let me be clear, If you accept and I tell you what is it about, there is no going back and your salary will be doubled, but be warned, you will be charged for treason if you say a word about it before I say so, are you willing to take the job?” Sweet didn’t know what to say, this was an important job comanded directly by no other than Princess Celestia, putting aside the payment, this was an honor but at the same time it terrified her, what if she screwed it? she was close to say no but then she remembered what her grandma told her: "Sometimes you have to take your chances" With a new found conviction, she raised her head and answered: “I’m in Princess Celestia, no matter what this job is, I will do it and do it right!” Princess Celestia saw her conviction and smiled, she commanded Sweet to close her eyes while she guided her to the room, once inside and standing in front Bright Sunny, Celestia said: “Ok, open your eyes” When Sweet Rose opened her eyes, she immediately noticed the strange creature, she was about to scream but her mouth was blocked by Celestia’s aura, when she calmed down, she looked at Princess Celestia and said: “Pri, Princess Celestia, what is that!” “That, my little Sweet Rose is Bright Sunny, a little baby creature I found last night and maybe you can say it’s my protege now” “But, but Princess, how do you know he is not dangerous?” Celestia rolled her eyes and levitated her baby in front of Sweet Rose. “Does he looks dangerous to you?” Sweet held the baby with her own aura, After looking at him more carefully, she had to admit it, he was cute and funny, the baby then as the same as with Celestia, hugged Sweet’s muzzle, Sweet couldn’t help to dawwww and hugged him back. “You are right, he is nice and very cute but I can't help to think he looks like. . . how can I say it?. . . ” Sweete Rose was interrupted by Celestia. “Don’t worry Sweet, I also thought he was a monkey, but It’s obvious he is not” While making silly faces to the baby, Sweet asked: “If he is not a monkey, then what is he?” “I don’t know my little pony, all I know is that I found him outside the palace in a wooden box” Sweet felt sad and angry at the same time. “So. . he was left to die!?” “I don’t think so, he was well wrapped in blankets, he was meant to be found, there are lots of mysteries in his arrival, but one fact remains, he needs a family and I decided to be that family for him, it scares me to think what other judgemental ponies would do to him” “You are indeed amazing Princess, it pains me to admit it, but you are right, no many ponies in Canterlot would be willing to take him in, and the few who would, I’m sure they would treat him as a pet, even though it’s obvious he is an intelligent creature” “And how you realized that my little pony?” “He has a bright in his eyes, It’s hard to explain” Sweet said while nuzzling Bright. “I see, ok, I think it’s obvious what your job will be but let me ask you just in case, would you be willing be the babysitter of my little Bright Sunny while I’m working?” “Yes, Princess Celestia, I’d be honored to do it, to be honest with you, I think I will love this job, you see, I always wanted a baby, me and my husband have been trying for so long but never succeed” Sweet said the last part with sadness in her eyes, Celestia looked at her and hugged her tightly. “I’m sorry to hear that, but have faith, and I’m sure you will have that foal you want so much” (sniff) “Thanks Princess” “You are welcome, now, even though I would like to spend more time with you two, I’m afraid I must go to attend my duties now, remember to take good care of him, this is your only job now, and remember, no word to anypony until I say so and don’t let anypony see him, not even my nephew and niece” “Don’t worry your highness, the secret is safe with me” “Good, then, I´ll take my leave now, good bye Sweet Rose and Good bye my little Bright Sunny” Celestia, a little sad, left Sweet some bits to buy whatever she would need and proceeded to start her royal duties, decided to finish them as soon as posible.