A Little Panic
Princess Celestia smiled as several guards walked past her hauling the foal supplies she would be needing for the weekend. Observing as they put together the temporary nursery, she shook her head and turned around to see the two zombies, which resembled her niece and nephew-in-law. Both of their eyes were shallow bags large enough to hold bits under them. Even Cadance’s alicorn mane was a mess of tangles—not to speak of Shining Armor’s—and hanging in a carrier off of Shining Armor’s chest was the cause of all this.
Princess Flurry Heart looked around the room, gurgling happily and waving her forelegs around. Celestia smiled at them. “Now let’s see, your Aunt Luna is acting as regent in the Crystal Empire, I have a temporary nursery set up, and the Royal Suite at Mareiott in Trothiti has been booked for four days and three nights. I have taken care of any upcoming and immediate paperwork. Now, just let me have my great-niece, and you can both get onto that waiting carriage right over there.” She pointed out onto the balcony opposite from the nursery.
Cadance blinked then shook her head. “Auntie, I can’t thank you enough for arranging all of this, but it’s really too much! Besides, Flurry Heart is mine and Shining Armor’s re-re-re—” She yawned widely, shaking herself. “Oh, excuse me! Our responsibility.”
Celestia nuzzled Cadance. “Yes, and you both have done a fabulous job without use of a nanny, but the point remains that, after two weeks, both of you are barely able to stand up, let alone care for your foal and run your country. Cadance, Shining Armor, you can trust me to watch over your child for a long weekend. I raised you, my dear, and assisted the Sparkles in raising Twilight as well. I can handle an infant alicorn.”
“But, Auntie…”
“Cadance, please don’t make me have to make this a royal order.” Celestia turned her attention to Shining Armor, who was employing a technique all of the best guards knew. He was sleeping with his eyes open. Celestia rolled her eyes and cleared her throat. Shining Armor jerked a bit to the disapproval of his daughter, who jutted out her bottom lip trembling. Tears filled the corners of her eyes, and her wings pushed out as she brought a hoof to her mouth.
Cadance turned in horror as Flurry Heart’s horn began to glow light blue as the first cry escaped her muzzle. She hurried to her daughter, lifting her from the foal carrier and bouncing her into the air, cooing to her as several pieces of furniture lifted up into the air.
Celestia watched for a moment before stepping forward. “Allow me, Cadance.” Cadance looked up at Celestia with tear filled eyes before levitating Flurry Heart into Celestia’s fore hooves. Celestia sat down on her haunches, and lifted her great-niece to her shoulder, patting her back gently. “Shhh, shhh, come on now. I know Daddy startled you, but it’s time to settle down now. That’s a good filly…” Slowly, Flurry Heart’s cries lessened until they finally ceased as she rested her head on Celestia’s shoulder, hoof in her mouth and hiccuping every few seconds, her wings once more folded to her sides.
Cadance sat down and sighed, wiping away the tears with the heel of her hoof. “M-maybe you are right, Auntie. I think that Shining Armor and I will take you up on that long weekend away.” She walked over and kissed Flurry Heart right under her horn. “Mommy loves you, my darling. You be a good filly for Great Auntie Tia.”
Shining Armor nodded and nuzzled her little cheek. “Yeah, don’t give her to much trouble, my spark plug.” He shed the foal carrier, setting it beside the rest of the nursery supplies, which had been righted and put back in place once Flurry Heart’s flare had ceased.
Celestia smiled. “She’ll be just fine! If I have any problems, I can call Twilight. I know she’s been studying foal care since the moment you announced your pregnancy. Now, go on.” She nodded toward the waiting chariot again, and, after a moment, Cadance and Shining Armor walked out of the temporary nursery and out onto the balcony.
Flurry Heart closed her eyes with a content burble as her parent’s chariot disappeared from sight. Celestia smiled. “Well, now that went smoother than I had expected. I feared I may have been forced to let the Pink One handle getting them to leave.” She heard Flurry Heart give a small snore and chuckled, levitating her into the cot and covering her with a thin blanket. “Sleep well, my dear niece.” She kissed her under her horn and left the room; a crystal next to Flurry Heart’s cot would let Celestia know when her niece woke from her nap.
Shining Armor opened the door to the royal suite with a smile: it was beautiful with a fully stocked mini bar, jet tub, and a perfect view of the beach. He went to the window, opening it and filling the room with the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. “Wow, gotta hand it your aunt, Cady. This is really nice.” He paused, waiting for his wife to answer. “Cadance?” He turned to see Cadance passed out on the bed on top of the covers, lightly snoring and still wearing her regalia. Shining Armor yawned and trotted over, undressing his wife and tucking her in before sliding in beside her. “Good idea. A short nap before dinner…”
Celestia hummed as she read through the latest document she had been handed as her ear flicked. She could hear some strange noises coming from outside. What in Equestria is going on? Is there a religious festival that I had forgotten? She shook her head and returned to her reading before looking up as the doors to her office were flung open by a panic stricken guard.
“Your Highness! Oh thank Celestia you’re all right!”
Celestia lifted an eyebrow at that, but shook her head pretty soon—even Twilight would have to deal with ponies saying “Thank Twilight” in front of her. “I’m quite well, my loyal Quick Blade. Healthy and not even that busy. What is it I can do for you?” She took off her glasses and placed them on her desk with a smile.
The unicorn guard panted a bit catching his breath. “Y-Your Highness— Princess Celestia, you must come outside quickly!”
Celestia frowned, taking a glance at the still crystal next to her. “All right, but just for a moment; I’m waiting for my great-niece to wake from her nap.” She got up from her desk and walked out onto her balcony, where she looked up into the sky, following Quick Blade’s shaking hoof. Above her, the sun was pin balling across the sky in no pattern whatsoever.
“You see, Princess? It must be Discord! He’s gone evil once again and with the Elements of Harmony gone, we’re all doomed!” Quick Blade seemed to slump next to Celestia as she frowned, her horn glowing before she shook her head.
“You have no need to worry, my loyal guard. This will be corrected in no time at all.” With that, she turned around and cast a glance at the still silent crystal. I’ll be sending a letter to the manufacture of that thing… For now, I’ll move her cot into my office. Celestia walked across the hall and opened the door to Flurry Heart’s nursery to see the baby sitting up in her cot, wings spread and happily gurgling with her horn lit up. Celestia sighed and walked over to her cot and booped Flurry Heart lightly on the muzzle, startling her enough for her horn to sputter out.
“No, no, Flurry Heart. The sun is not a toy.”
Flurry Heart sniffled, looking up at Celestia who smiled lifting her from her cot. “Maybe when you're older I’ll teach you how to properly guide the sun. But, for now, let's get some milk into you, hmm?”
Flurry Heart squealed at that idea happily her tummy rumbling.
My the next few days shall certainly be interesting...