Spares

by Drunk Luna

First published 27th of March, 2023

Princess Skyla relies on Princess Luna for support and advice whenever she feels overshadowed by her big sister, Flurry Heart. Luna, who knows all too well what it’s like to feel eclipsed by an older sister, forms a close bond with Skyla.

Princess Luna is all too familiar with feeling inadequate, but she never really thought her experiences with feeling overshadowed by Celestia would ever help anyone else. Her thoughts prove to be untrue when she realizes that she is a major role model and positive influence for Princess Cadance and Shining Armor’s youngest daughter, her beloved great-niece, Princess Skyla. The filly adores and idolizes Luna, who is more than happy to take Skyla under her wing.

While Flurry Heart is the heir to the Crystal Empire and has all the support she needs, Skyla is often unintentionally neglected by her parents, so she considers Luna to be more of a second mother to her than an aunt. Whenever Skyla feels alone, needs advice, or just needs somepony to talk to, she runs to Luna, who will be her defining influence as she grows up.

First Foalsitting Attempt

Princess Luna strode gracefully into the nursery that belonged to the Crystal Empire’s royal sisters. Why did I agree to do this? she wondered as yet another rush of anxiety rolled through her stomach. Usually, Twilight Sparkle or Celestia were asked to foalsit for Cadance and Shining Armor, but this time the older alicorn was busy at a diplomatic reception that Luna could afford to miss, and Twilight was at Rarity’s birthday party, so Luna was stuck in the Crystal Empire, watching four-year-old Flurry Heart and two-year-old Skyla for the evening while their parents went out for their weekly date night. Though Luna adored her great-nieces and loved to play with them, the two fillies’ seemingly endless amounts of energy often made her question the limits of the alicorn magic that kept her feeling strong and active most of the time. Luna had never foalsat before, so she was a little nervous, but she had once read that foals could sense anxiety, so she knew she had to act as confident as possible.

“AUNTIE LUNA!” Flurry Heart squealed, tackling Luna and bringing her to the floor.

“Oof!” Luna grunted, laughing as she hugged the alicorn filly. “Where’s Flurry?” she teased, pretending to look around. “Surely she can’t be the grown-up, lovely young filly in front of me!”

“Yep, it’s me!” Flurry giggled. “Guess what, Auntie Luna? I’m the fastest filly at daycare! Watch me fly!” She took off and flew in a lightning-fast circle around the room, then landed at Luna’s hooves.

“You’re going to be faster than me soon!” Luna said. “Where’s your sister?”

“AUNTIE WOONA! AUNTIE WOONA!” Skyla shrieked, waddling up to Luna and hugging her legs.

“Hmm,” Luna said, pretending not to notice Skyla, “is somepony trying to give me a hug?” Skyla giggled as Luna magically levitated her and pulled the filly in for a hug.

“Auntie Woona, guess what?” Skyla said, hovering in the air in Luna’s magic. “I dwawed you a picture!” Luna released her hold on Skyla, and the filly squeezed her eyes shut and tried to levitate a picture she had drawn of herself, Flurry, and Luna in a grassy meadow under a crescent moon surrounded by tiny stars. Luna smiled, touched. Skyla’s attempt to levitate the picture was unsuccessful, and the drawing fell to the ground. Crestfallen, Skyla hung her head in disappointment at her failure. Luna felt a rush of sympathy for the little foal.

“It’s beautiful, Skyla,” she said, taking the drawing and folding it lovingly, then enveloping the filly in a comforting hug. “I’ll hang it in my bedchamber as soon I get back to Canterlot.”

“I drew you a picture, too!” Flurry cried, shoving Skyla out of the way and levitating a drawing of herself and Luna flying over a crescent moon. As Skyla lost her balance from Flurry’s push, she fell hard on her face and scraped her two front knees. Tears filled her eyes, and the toddler began to howl..

“Auntie Woona, sissy pushed me!” Skyla yelled. “I telling mommy, sissy! You go in da no-no corner!” Flurry’s eyes widened, and she stumbled backwards as if she had been punched in the gut.

Skyla felt a warm tingle as the Princess of the Night picked her up with her magic and wrapped her in a soft, loving hug. The filly buried her face in Luna’s silky neck and allowed her tears to flow freely. Luna nuzzled Skyla’s head and allowed the foal to cry. Only after Skyla was tired from crying did Luna speak.

“Are you all right, little one?” the blue alicorn asked, setting Skyla back on all fours and giving her a gentle nuzzle as she lowered herself to the foal’s level. Skyla sniffled as she slowly looked up at Luna and shook her head. Luna nodded understandingly, dried Skyla’s tears, stood upright, and walked over to Flurry.

“Flurry Heart, you shouldn’t have pushed your sister like that. Apologize to her at once,” the moon princess scolded the older filly. Flurry pouted, but her lousy attitude disappeared when Luna shot a glare at her and stomped her hoof to emphasize her command.

“Sorry, Skyla,” Flurry whined, not sounding sorry in the slightest.

“What are you sorry for, Flurry?” Luna prodded. The filly peered up at Luna from underneath her eyelashes, huffed, and turned her back.

“Flurry Heart, if you do not apologize to your little sister this instant, then you will stay in timeout until bedtime,” the princess of the night said sternly.

“I’m sorry for pushing you down, Skyla,” Flurry mumbled, looking down. Luna was one of the few adults Flurry respected; she didn’t even hold Celestia in such high regard. Cadance and Shining Armor had spoiled Flurry from the second she was born, giving her everything she wanted and allowing her to get away with pretty much everything for her entire life. Luna, however, commanded respect from everypony who entered her presence. Not only was Luna beautiful, kind, regal, majestic, and powerful; she also possessed an authoritative demeanor which made it clear that though she was a fair, kind ruler, she would not tolerate any nonsense from anypony. One couldn’t help but respect Luna.

“Run along and play, Flurry. Your sister and I will join you in a moment,” Luna said. Flurry dashed off towards the playroom she shared with her sister, leaving Luna and Skyla alone in the nursery.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” Luna asked the filly. Skyla nodded silently, looking at the floor. Luna lay down in front of Skyla so that she was at eye level with the foal.

“I understand how you feel, Skyla,” Luna said gently. “I, too, have a big sister who makes me feel overshadowed sometimes. One could say that we had the biggest sibling rivalry in Equestrian history.” She chuckled lightly.

“I no wike tuh pway wif sissy,” Skyla whimpered. “She hits me awe duh time. I hit her too, but she hitted me super hard dis time.” The filly sniffled, and Luna wrapped her wing around her, cuddling her close.

“It is not okay for sisters to hit each other,” the lunar diarch said gently. “It was not very nice for Flurry Heart to do that. I know what it’s like to be the little sister, my dear,” Luna went on. “I will always be here for you, sweet Skyla. I love you.” She nuzzled the foal’s forehead, and Skyla fell asleep under Luna’s wing.

The Princess Of Potty Training

Luna braced for impact as five-year-old Flurry and three-year-old Skyla tackled her to the ground.

“Hi, Auntie Lulu!” five-year-old Flurry said. “Guess what? I get to start kindergarten next week!” She fluttered her wings excitedly, hovering above the ground. Luna smiled lovingly at the two fillies and reached out to stroke Flurry’s mane.

“I know you will love kindergarten, Flurry,” Luna said. “What about you, Skyla? What have you been up to?” The little pink foal giggled and hovered alongside Flurry.

“I still wear diapers, Auntie Woowoo,” she said seriously, “but Mommy said I a big filly soon, so I hafta go poopy in da potty. I dunno what dat means, but it sounds fun.” Luna chuckled and stroked Skyla’s head.

“I know you’ll do a great job, little one,” she told Skyla. “That is a very important skill to learn. Maybe we can practice tonight.” Luna groaned as she was assaulted by a familiar, disgusting odor. Skyla whimpered, and Luna reacted quickly.

“It’s okay, sweetheart, it’s okay,” she soothed Skyla, picking the distraught filly up. “Let’s get you cleaned up. Come with me.” Luna carried Skyla to the changing table, wiped her clean, put her in a fresh diaper, then kissed her cheek.

“There. All better,” Luna said. “It’s all right, my sweet Skyla. You know what? Auntie Lulu is proud of you for letting me know you needed a change right after you went in your diaper; that means you’re learning what it feels like when you need to use the potty.” Skyla giggled, then Luna continued.

“The next time you feel a poopy coming, run to your potty or let Auntie Lulu know so I can help you. If you go poopy in the potty, I’ll give you a cookie! How does that sound?” Skyla’s eyes widened at the mention of cookies, and she nodded rapidly.

“Otay, Auntie Woowoo,” she said. “I tell you now, then!” The little pink filly ran back to her potty, sat down, and promptly relieved herself. “I go poopy in da potty, Auntie Woowoo!” Luna nearly fell over in shock, absolutely floored by the revelation that cookies were the secret to potty training. Always true to her promise, she trotted to the bathroom and helped Skyla wipe and wash her hooves, then carried the foal to the kitchen.

“Auntie Lulu is so, so proud of you!” Luna exclaimed as she reached for a cookie. “Well done, Skyla.”

“She did what?!” Cadance nearly screamed when she and Shining Armor got home. “Luna, we’ve been trying to get her to use the potty for months! How did you do it?”

“Cadance,” Luna said, “do you not remember that both of the fillies’ first words were ‘Auntie Luna is best princess’? That is all you need to know.”