Mother’s face.
I would remember the expression mother had for the rest of my life. It was as we were returning from the Ascot and I, with Sunbeam’s help, had placed a few bets… and made some gains. The bit purse was now 3 times the size as it was when they left the palace and now, seeing mother’s shocked look was enough to send me into a laughing fit.
“But…you…and…how?” Mother was trying to find the words to express her shock as she took what happened. Sunburst was beside her, just as shocked as mother was.
“I don’t know how to explain it, your majesty.” Sunbeam said, desperately trying to find the right words to say. “Prince Mythic just pointed at racers and he kept winning… this lead to the main event where I got caught up with the little one’s enthusiasm and bet the entire purse on the race… and we won.”
Mother had recovered her composure as Sunbeam explained. As she digested the information, a smile appeared on her face as she levitated me over to her.
“It seems luck favours you, my little light.” She said “I’m so sorry that I couldn’t be there with you. I wish I could have seen their faces as well.”
You have no idea, mom I thought before yawning and started to close my eyes.
“You’ve had enough for today, haven’t you?” Mother whispered before turning to Sunbeam “Thank you for attending in my place, Sunbeam. It does mean a lot to me that you were able to do this. Your actions today will be justly rewarded.”
“It was a pleasure, your highness.” Sunbeam said before yawning herself.
“It seems that you need rest as well, my daughter.” Sunburst said “I’ll help you if there is nothing else her majesty requires.”
“Don’t worry about me, Sunburst. I will be putting Mythic to bed and wondering what I shall do with his take from the races.” Mother said, taking the bit purse from Sunbeam. “Tend to your child and good night.”
“Thank you, your highness. Have a good night.” Sunburst replied before helping Sunbeam down the corridor towards the servant’s quarters. As she headed up to the solar quarters, I grew sleepier and sleepier. As mother placed me in my crib and started rocking me, the last thing I looked at was the book that my grandparents gave me. So many questions still surrounded that book and if mother had her way, I wouldn’t even look in that book until I was much older. That was fine though, all I could do was speculate and looked forward to reading it. I closed my eyes and fell asleep.
**
“That’s it, little light, you can do it.” Mother said, using her wing to help me back onto my hooves.
Mother and I were in the royal gardens outside the castle. The expansive grounds were home to many a wondrous sight, including many beautiful flowers and trees bearing fruit, statues depicting various ponies with various talents and its own private maze. I vowed to myself that I would conquer that maze when I could fully walk. Currently, mother and I were in her private sanctuary, a calm and peaceful place with more beautiful flowers and a stream running through it.
Mother was laying down next to me as she used her wing to stabilize me. Day court wasn’t on today so mother had decided to take me into her sanctuary and teach me how to walk. Progress had been slow as often I found myself forgetting that I had four legs instead of two. I often fell on my face as I forgot to move my back legs. It was rather sad when I thought about how much I had taken walking for granted in my old life and made me wonder how horses and other four legged creatures in the old world got around so well.
No matter how many times I fell over or my foal body and mind was going to make me cry, mother was always there to help me back up and calm me down.
“Don’t cry, my little sweetie…” Mother said, bringing me close to her with her wing. “You are doing so well. Very soon, you’ll be walking around with me and your friends in the nursery. I look forward to that day.”
She smiled down at me in that motherly way I had seen her use with Twilight and Cadance. It did make me wonder if they really were my aunties or if mother had simply said that in order to make easier for me to understand. Twilight especially seemed a lot younger than mother, and shorter. Cadance was older and taller than Twilight. The one thing I could be sure about was that Luna was my auntie, considering mother kept referring to her as “sister”, but where did that leave the other two?
“Why don’t we take a break for now?” Mother said, snapping me out of my train of thought “Its round about time for your nap anyway.” She wrapped her wing around me and started humming a lullaby. There, nestled between mother’s wing and her body, I fell asleep.
**
When I woke up, I found myself laying a basket with yellow sheets and pillows. I looked around and saw mother at the gate of the sanctuary talking to Auntie Luna. I wondered what they were talking about, from the looks in Auntie Luna’s eyes, it was a light hearted chat between sisters. Still, I was curious and wanted to know more. Slowly, I stood up and took a deep breath.
I may be an adult human in a foal’s body but so help me I will master the art of walking. How am I supposed to be the great and magnificent prince I am expected to be if I can’t walk! I thought
I moved forward with my front left hoof, then followed with my back right one. I kept thinking back to what I had seen other ponies do and how mother had been trying to teach me.
When you walk with your front hoof, the next one to follow is the opposite back one. I thought.
Slowly, I inched forward with my walk cycle. A smile started to form as it started clicking into place. I was walking! On four feet! I was so excited that I almost fell over again, just catching myself.
Focus Mythic!I thought Focus on reaching mother. You can do this.
Hoof by hoof, I moved forward, constantly thinking of the order. Front left, back right, front right, back left. It would take a while for this to become muscle memory but from here, it was a strong start. As I walked closer, I could pick up what Mother and Auntie Luna were talking about.
“...are going as planned for the galloping gala, sister.” Luna said “I’m not sure we can rely on Discord again to make some ‘entertainment’ like last year. Some of the nobles are getting antsy.”
Mother sighed “I know, Luna, but the Gala is just so boring…” she moaned. “I love my little ponies, I honestly do, but how they look forward to the gala each and every year just escapes me.”
Luna laughed “Oh sister, a lot can happen in a year. As we’ve seen very recently, great evils can attack Equestria and threaten our citizens. On a personal level, a filly’s or colt’s life could change dramatically in a year… much like yours with the birth of your foal. Some ponies look upon the gala as they do Hearth’s warming eve, a day they know is set in stone and they can look forward to. I think you and I can agree, a night of peace and party doesn’t go amiss every now and then.”
Mother nodded “Yes Luna. You are right, if the populace wants me to continue this day for them, then I am more than happy to keep it going. I think a part of me would also miss it if it were gone. Seeing the CMC last year was one of the most adorable things I have ever witnessed.”
“Speaking of adorable things…” Auntie Luna said, noticing I was right near mother’s back leg and winking at me “I think somepony needs your attention.”
I nuzzled mother’s back leg and she looked down in shock to see me. Then she broke out into a massive smile and knelt down to hug me.
“Look at my little light! Walking by himself… I am so proud of you.” Mother said, in between copious amounts of kissing which caused me to giggle.
“Maybe he’ll be ready to walk alongside you in time for the Gala, sister.” Auntie Luna said, before kneeling down to hug me.
“That would be lovely…” Celestia said “But right now, just seeing him walking is enough… now can you do more, little light?”
She helped me turn around and I slowly started again, carefully remember my steps. I didn’t know what this “Galloping Gala” was, but if I could make it on all four hooves it would be an accomplishment for me. My judgement of mother’s conversation was that many more ponies would be there and it would be my first chance to see them. As my old father once said, I would only get one chance to make a good first impression, so I better make it a good one.