"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Came the voice of Starlight Flame as it cracked a few windows in the room he was in. Celestia lowered her ears as the ear splitting scream erupted from the tiny foal. She had been attempting to feed the foal but was failing as he kept pushing the bottle away. A quick check of his diaper and it was as dry as a bone. Celestia was now at her wits end in dealing with the foal. She had no experience in all the years she had lived in dealing with a foal. She had read countless books on parenting and taking care of young but having to deal with it first hoof was starting to make her crack.

The maids and butlers had all but given up trying to console the foal, even a few guards with children of their own backed away from the deafening scream of the foal. It had literally gotten to the point where Celestia was considering using magic to keep the foal from screaming. That was of course before she looked out the window seeing Midnight making his approach toward the castle.

"Oh thank the maker." Celestia sighed as her horn lit up. A loud crack resounded through the room as Midnight along with Twilight on his back appeared in a daze in Celestia's quarters.

"Wha.... huh?!" Midnight spoke out in surprise as his flight was suddenly halted by the summoning spell of Celestia.

"Midnight, You are officially on foal sitting duty as of now." Celestia spoke out quickly hoofing the foal to him and exiting the room with haste. He stood there in shock for a moment as everything happened so quickly. That was before Starlight began his new marathon of screaming. The two covered their ears for a moment as the scream rang out finally shattering the window in Celestia's room, tiny shards of glass falling to the floor and balcony.

"What in the name of Celestia is making him scream like that?!" Twilight managed to shout above the scream from the foal.

Midnight stood there for a moment looking at the foal floating in his magical grasp. The baby would stop for a moment to look at him then began to scream again. He gave a smile to the foal which caught his attention as the volume to the scream came to a halt, the foal giving a little sniffle as it looked up to him with those brilliant blue eyes. Midnight smiled again opening his mouth slightly to make a slightly silly expression causing the foal to smile.

"He just wants to play is all." Midnight smiled as he pulled his hooves up in front of his face.

"Where's daddy?" He spoke softly in a playful tone causing Starlight to giggle softly.

"HERE HE IS!" He spoke quickly in a little louder tone causing Starlight to giggle loudly throwing his hooves about. Midnight continued with this playful act for a good ten minutes until Celestia slowly made her way back into the room, a shaking cup of coffee in her magical grasp.

"How in Equestria?.............." She trailed off watching Midnight play with Starlight. He had sat the foal onto the floor and began bouncing playfully around him causing him to giggle and cackle loudly at the antics of his father. Celestia came over to Twilight who was at this point holding a broom in her mouth to sweep up the fallen glass from the shattered window.

"Let me handle that Twilight, I know this must be hard for you." She smiled as Twilight gave her the broom and dust pan.

"It's no trouble at all princess, in fact it is helping me learn a little more about how tough it is to be an earth pony. I never knew how hard others had to work without using magic." She said as she watched the princess quickly clear the glass from the floor.

"Tia! Tia look!" Midnight spoke suddenly causing the two mares attentions to be drawn to the foal who was slowly pushing himself up onto his legs. He was a little shaky for a moment but slowly began to place one hoof in front of the other as he finally took his first step.

"Such a smart young colt aren't you?" Celestia giggled coming over and giving Star a gentle nuzzle. The foal giggled pushing himself up onto his back legs as his front legs gently wrapped around Celestias nose.

"He is just so cute." Twilight smiled as she trotted over, taking a seat on the floor near him. Star quickly noticing the purple unicorn and making a shaky turn as he began to slowly walk toward her. Twilight's eyes went a little wide as she watched the foal slowly making his way to her. She looked from him to Celestia and Midnight then back to the foal wondering what she should do. "Um............" She began to slightly panic.

"It's alright Twi, just play with him." Midnight smiled nodding to Star.

"But I've never played with a foal before." She sputtered as Star finally made it to her and nosed her arm upwards.

"I keep forgetting that you were a bookworm since birth. Remember what I was doing a few minutes ago?" Midnight sighed before continuing.

"Yea, should I do that?" Twilight asked as she noticed the foal making a sad expression.

"I would suggest it unless you want to upset him." Midnight chuckled watching Star begin to huff a little.

Just before Star could let out a cry Twilight pulled her hooves up in front of her face. "Where's Twilie? THERE SHE IS!" She smiled causing the foal to giggle softly. She continued this act for a few more minutes until Star was bouncing around her happily.

"She seems to have the same problem as I." Celestia chuckled at Twilight while speaking to Midnight.

"What? Your sheer lack of knowledge on how to take care of a foal even though you are eons older than me? NAH! Perish the thought." Midnight chuckled seeing her disgruntled expression.

"I will admit that in all my years as the ruler of this world I had never thought on how to take care of a foal, running this nation has taken all of my time along with taking care of my sister." Celestia sighed as she lay onto her bed watching Twilight play with Star. Midnight taking a seat at her side watching as well.

"You should really take some time out to read a few books on parenting Tia, and speak with a few ponies that you know have a family. You would be surprised at all of the details you can learn about bringing up a foal.....*sniff*........... I have raised quite a few cousins in my past life *sniff sniff* phew what is that smell?" Midnight wrinkled his nose as he covered it with a hoof.

"That would he a good hint to change a certain foals diaper." Celestia giggled as she got up from her bed heading over to the crib station next to her. Twilight bringing over the foal as it bounced around her while she walked.

"Up we go little one." Celestia giggled to Star as she lifted him into the air with her magic and quickly placing him onto the changing station. After a few seconds he had been cleaned and changed, then released back onto the floor as Twilight and he began to bounce around the room playing.

"You know Tia, I can recommend a good foal sitter." Midnight smiled giving her a nudge.

"Really? Who would that be?" She asked.

"Pinkie Pie, she foal sits the Cakes children all the time when they need a break. From what I've seen she does a fantastic job. Being the element of laughter has it's perks when it comes to foals." Midnight chuckled thinking back to when he watched them play.

"Doesn't she reside in Ponyville though?" Celestia asked giving a slightly fearful expression.

"Yes, but don't worry. The Cakes foals are a unicorn and a pegasus. She should have no trouble with Star after dealing with those two." He chuckled.

"Uh....... Princess." Twilight spoke out garnering the two Alicorn's attentions. They looked over just in time to see Starlight's horn begin to glow as Twilight was slowly lifted from the floor into the air.

"Is that normal?" Midnight asked watching the scene unfold.

"Not for a unicorn or Alicorn." Twilight spoke out as she spun slowly in the air amongst the giggles of Star.

"I'm starting to think that this is going to be a lot harder than I had originally planned." Midnight chuckled nervously just before Starlight dropped Twilight onto a large pillow.

"I'm thinking the same thing." Celestia sighed.

A few weeks had passed by since Starlight's first use of magic. During that time he had grown a little and began to use magic sporadically. At times it would be just to play while others it would be when he was upset and noone would play with him. This in turn caused quite a bit of destruction around the castle. Although the amount of magic being used by Star was small, it was in fact very potent and could cause quite the bit of chaos. A few rooms had been set up with magical barriers to prevent him from using his magic, This was for the safety of not only himself but to anypony who was with him at that time.

During these few weeks however, Pinkie had made several visits to the castle to foal sit while Celestia dealt with some of her royal duties. In this time Pinkie had grown quite accustomed to the antics and magic use of little Star, always playing and having fun with him at every chance she could. On several occasions the princess and Midnight himself had caught her rocking the foal to sleep after several long hours of playtime. Although rare for the pink earth pony to sit still longer than a few seconds, the site was a welcomed touch to the cycle of the Star's everyday life.

After a month of constant attention the young foal began to try and explore his surroundings, trying his very best to escape his room at every turn. Celestia had managed to have a special saddle made just for the foal so that it would hinder his magic while they walked about the castle. Although he seemed a bit upset at times for not being able to use his magic or do many of the things he wanted, it was all left in the past as his eyes wandered the great castle as he and his mother roamed the halls.

After only a month, Celestia had become accustomed the the cycles of her foal and had learned quite a bit from a lot of her subjects in regards to raising a child. The biggest help was that of the Cakes in Ponyville since they had twins. Little Pound and Pumpkin Cake. On more than one occasion the Cakes had been invited to the castle along with the twins so that the three foals could have a play date. Pinkie Pie, of course, being the moderator of the play sessions while the Cakes continued to give the princess the much needed support of the Cakes experiences with the twins.

Where was Midnight in all of this however? He had visited his son on more than one occasion, even sat and played with him. But as of late he had not spent much time with his foal. Let's take a look and see what's going on with him shall we?

Midnight had been running errands for Zecora for the past few days, getting some herbs from shops across Equestria so that she could make some exceedingly rare potions that had been hoofed down from past generations of her family. At one point however he had to make a special trip to Canterlot to ask Celestia for some ivory butterfly wings. Even though the stockpile that was there was plentiful, she had been reluctant to release them to any party, even Midnight. However once she learned of Zecora's mission to make some of the rarest potions known to all of ponydom. She managed to part with a small amount of them.

After bringing them back to Zecora, the zebra was so thrilled to obtain the rare ingredients that she failed to notice the kiss she had given the dark Alicorn in her haste to get them ready to add to her already bubbling cauldron. He sat back watching her intently as she added a few items to the pot over the next hour. Idle conversation was exchanged back and forth, although at times it was hard for Midnight to understand what she was saying, her body language made up for what she was saying in the end.

After three long hours Zecora had finished the first batch of potions that had been promised to Celestia and Midnight in exchange for the rare ingredients that had been given to her. After placing the potions into his stash portal Midnight parted ways heading back to the castle to turn over a portion of them to Celestia. Each one had a warning label and specific instructions on what they would do along with which potions to not mix them with and with what foods to avoid eating them with during that day. Some of the warnings stated that in doing so the being who did go against the labeling could experiences mild nausea to death if the right combinations were taken. As for the effects of them, well that is a story for another time.

Midnight had finally arrived at the castle from his trip to procure the potions made by Zecora handing them over to Celestia upon meeting.

"I must say Night, having these extremely rare potions is a blessing. I am rather surprised that you had kept your dismembered wing though. It seems rather.......... disgusting from my point of view. Sorry to say." She spoke giving a slightly disgusted expression.

"Well it was my wing, and I was rather attached to it after all." He smirked hearing one of the guards that was walking with them snort while trying to hold back his laughter.

"I am sure that you were." Celestia giggled at the comment. "But now that you have so generously donated it to Zecora, she has made quite a few extremely rare potions to help us in the future should we need them."

"Just glad that I could do my part in keeping everypony safe from harm." He stopped for a moment giving a puzzled expression, Celestia and her guard stopping as well.

"Midnight?" She gave a questioning look before seeing him chuckle and start walking again.

"Nothing, it's just the first time I have used everypony in a sentence without thinking." He smirked.

"I guess that mean you are finally accepting your pony side in your everyday endeavors." She smiled as they had finally arrived at the royal vault.

"I haven't been here before." Midnight spoke as he looked around the area before watching Celestia place her horn into a slot in the door in front of them. Several clicks could be heard as the door slid open revealing the treasure trove inside.. Midnight stopped just outside the door looking in as he gazed upon all of the treasures that lay within the vault. Slowly making his way inside he continued looking at everything within his sight. Countless piles of golden bits lay strewn about the vault as well as several different sets of regalia on several ponyquines much like the ones Rarity used in her shop to place dresses on. He stopped though as he looked upon a painting that looked very old and had a human on it as well as Celestia. Both smiling happily together.

"I see you have located the painting of the first human in Equestria." Celestia spoke softly causing Midnight to jump slightly startled before looking back to the painting.

"So this is the infamous first human in Equestria. That is rather amazing. His clothing looks so ancient though, was that what he wore all the time?" Midnight asked hoping to find out more information.

"Yes, he stated that he lived in the time of knights and kings. His life was that of a farmer whom cared for the lands far and wide to grow food to nurture any and all who needed it. He helped save the first generations of Equestria before we arrived on this planet. Although it was a very sad time when he was lost, I do not grieve for him. It was just over a thousand years ago this day that his life was taken by my sister during her more troubled times. But I hold no ill will toward Luna. The times will go on and memories left in the past. I am just glad that I no longer dwell on previous memories and what could have been.

"I understand Tia, having things happen and dwelling on the 'what could have been' will only bring grief. You are very wise to let those memories drift away. Think of the now and the future. How can we make it better, how can we be there for anypony that needs us? Those are what we should think of." Midnight stopped for a moment bringing up his hoof to rub his chin in thought.

"Night? I see that glint in your eyes again, what are you skeeming this time?" Celestia chuckled only to make him grin.

"Well, from the point I arrived in this world to this point in time that we share currently. This world has been threatened on many occasions and I have had to save the day for most of them. I have a feeling that your military power is rather weak and the only reason the other countries in this world don't attack your land and take it over is because you control the sun and moon. Without them revolving the world would die."

"You are correct on your assumptions my dear Midnight. But what does that have to do with my military force being weak?"

"Well, if your guard were better equipped and further skilled, they could give us all a better chance at survival should another attack take place on Equestria, or even this entire world. Might I ask a favor?" Midnight smirked to the princess who just looked at him, the very thought of her guard being weak starting to gnaw at her.

"What would be that favor?" She asked, knowing what was about to be asked already.

"Let me train your guard. I am sure that all of my previous knowledge in the military would improve your forces vastly to help better protect this world." He said giving a determined grin.

Celestia stood there as a heavy sigh left her. She knew all to well that this day would come and dreaded it. Although her guard was strong, they were in no way capable of handling any of the situations that had previously transpired. Some even fled at the sight of danger, most only having joined the ranks of her guard to gather a good paycheck for seemingly easy tasks of just keeping watch or to protect her on her trips to other places. Had they failed to protect her she could always defend herself. But what was the point of having a guard if they couldn't protect her. She looked to Midnight giving a nod as she spoke.

"You may train them Midnight, but please be warned. I have personally taught the captains of the guard, you will have to prove to them that you have a far greater ability to protect and fight than each of them. It will not be easy to defeat them. Even with magic as an Alicorn."

"Believe me when I say this Tia. I can improve their talents in fighting to protect this world than any other individual could." He chuckled as he left the vault to prepare for the first training session.