Author's Notes:

Okay. It took me this long to finally discover that there is already a chapter break in the writing program.

---

I feel so stupid! Why didn't anyone ever tell me!? Aahgh! Slams face into keyboard!

Celestia closed her eyes as Strawberry scrubbed soaproot into her mane. It had been a long day of dealing with Luna. If this was what it was like to have a foal, she was starting to doubt ever having one. She never listened to her. No. That wasn't right. There were times she was the sweetest filly. Usually when Ash was around. For some reason, she always listened to him. Celestia sighed. What was she going to do with her? Earlier that day, Luna had snuck away from her when she was weeding the garden with Strawberry and Snap Dragon found her playing in a mud puddle and brought her back.

Not far downstream, the river broadened into a series of terraced pools that was perfect for bathing in. Snap suggested that they go down with her for a bath. Strawberry thought it was a wonderful idea and invited Tulip and Misty along.

Moving over to one of the small waterfalls that fed into their pool, Snap Dragon rinsed soaproot out of Luna's mane. "So, where's your shadow at today?" she asked, glancing over at Celestia.

Without the need to even look, Celestia pointed directly to a spot off into the woods. "He's over there, guarding us as we bathe." Since the time she shared her essences with Ash, Celestia was able to sense where he was. It felt very much like how she was able to tell where her hoof was without looking. It had been strange at first, but after she had grown used to it, she no longer even thought about it. It was just natural. Like a heartbeat that was always there.

"It's weird how you can do that," Tulip marveled, mashing up soaproot to use on Misty's mane.

"Okay, sweetie, all done," Snap told Luna, lifting the newly cleaned filly out of the waterfall. Holding her to her chest, she took her to the shallows to let her splash in the water.

Strawberry finished scrubbing Celestia's mane and let her move to the waterfall to wash it out. Cleaned, Celestia stepped out and swept her mane back from her face. Returning to Strawberry, she started working soaproot into her mane. "I heard that Mirage is sweet on a stallion. Is that true?"

Strawberry giggle as Celestia began scrubbing her mane. "Oh, you should see her! Whenever Timberline is around, she starts babbling like a foal and tripping all over her hooves! It's so adorable!"

"Timberline? Isn't he one of the stallions from the Lakeshore settlement?" Tulip asked.

"That's him." Strawberry nodded. "He's here learning woodcarving from Mosswood. Just the other day he gave me a wooden rabbit he had carved for me."

"A rabbit?" Tulip asked. "Why would he carve you a rabbit?"

"Because he wants to gain Mirage's favor, of course," Snap Dragon answered, getting splashed in the face by a chortling Luna as she played. "It's obvious he's smitten with her too, and he thinks that being nice to Strawberry will help gain her attention."

Strawberry grinned slyly. "Well, get this. Yesterday they went for a long walk in the woods and when she returned, she had grass stains on her back."

"Why would she have grass stains on her back?" Tulip asked, looking confused. "Was she rolling in the grass?"

Celestia and Strawberry both laughed. "Yes," Celestia said, "that is exactly how she got it."

"I don't get it," Tulip complained, looking at the two giggling fillies. "Why is that funny?"

Misty leaned forward and whispered something into Tulip's ear. Tulip's eyes suddenly went wide.

Snap picked up a brightly colored stone out of the water and showed Luna, letting the filly take it from her. "I think this topic has gotten a little too mature for you fillies. Perhaps we should start talking about something else."

"Aww, that's no fun!" Strawberry complained.

"Yeah," Celestia agreed. "It was just getting good!”

"Yeah, well, I don't think you should be talking about stuff like that yet." Snap said, looking up from Luna. "And it's also rude to gossip about Mirage behind her back."

Celestia and the other fillies all agreed and climbed onto the flat rocks to sun themself and brush their freshly cleaned manes out.

Snap found a floating piece of wood, and started playing with Luna with it, showing her how it bobbed back to the surface whenever it was submerged.

Running her comb through Celestia mane, Strawberry paused to look more closely at it. "Hmm... That's interesting."

Brushing Tulip's mane, Celestia paused. "What's that?"

"I don't know why I never noticed before," Strawberry said, thoughtfully.

"Didn't notice what?" Celestia asked again.

Leaving Misty half done, Tulip leaned around to look at Celestia's mane. "Oh, you’re right. That is interesting."

"What's interesting!?" Celestia tried to see what they were looking at.

"Some of your mane turned a little blue."

"And green," Tulip added, pointing .

"Why would it do that?" Celestia wondered.

"It's common to develop some new color as you get older." Brushing sand off of Luna's rump, Snap picked her up and walked over to them. "You know, my mane wasn't always vivid. It used to be a much lighter blue when I was a little filly."

"Really?" Tulip touched her pale-orange mane.

"It darkened down as I got older," Snap said, setting Luna down to brush her mane. "I think blue and green would look good in your mane. It'll soften out the pink."

Fanning her mane out on her hoof, Celestia admired the colors buried inside. What would it look like when she was a fully grown mare? "Snap? Are you really going on tomorrow's supply caravan to the friendly Unicorns?"

Snap's brush paused partway through Luna's mane. "Where did you hear that?"

Celestia gave her a sheepish grin. "Well... a certain colt, told another certain colt, who then told me that you were going."

"Journey!" Snap hissed. "I knew that little tadpole couldn't keep his mouth shut!"

"That's a really dangerous trip." Strawberry said, looking over at her with concern. "Are you sure you want to do that?"

"Yeah," Tulip added. "You could run into monsters, bears, or even worse: a cockatrice!"

"I'll be fine," Snap assured them. "Brother and Starless will be with the caravan, and Dusty’s done it like a dozen times, so he knows the safest way."

Suddenly, there was a commotion in the bushes nearby as something cried out.

Leaping up in alarm, Snap quickly snatched Luna up into her hooves while Celestia and the other fillies scrambled around her. The talk of monsters, bears, and cockatrices had their imaginations running wild at what was lurking in the bush.

"Ow! Get off me!" A voice shouted from the far side of the bush.

With a quick check of her bond with Ash, she felt him right in the center of the commotion. Of course he would be there. He was probably the one who caused it, though that wasn't his voice she had just heard. What was going on?

"I said get off me!" the voice repeated agrily. “Do you know who I am!? I am the son of a chief!

"Wait a moment!" Snap exclaimed with a note of horror. "I know that voice."

Moving around the bush, they found the Lakeside Chief's son, lying pinned to the ground by a colt half his size, with a obsidian knife at his throat.

"I found him hiding behind the bush, watching you all." Ash told them.

"I was not!" Wild Bolt exclaimed. “I swear! This is just a misunderstanding!”

"Then what are you doing here, Wild Bolt?" Snap asked in exacerbation.

"Nothing!" Wild Bolt snapped, twisting his head around. "I just came to wash and this little ferret jumped me!"

"Oh?" Snap said, raising her eyebrow. She had trouble believing him. Probably because his mouth was moving. "You came all the way out here, just to take a bath?"

“It’s true! We just arrived with our part of the monthly tribute and I wanted to wash from the journey," Wild Bolt continued. "I was told this was a good place to do that."

"Want down." Luna started to squirm in Snap's hooves until she set her down. Walking over to Wild Bolt, Luna leaned in close and gazed into his eyes. "Naughty colt. Lying bad. You tell truth."

"What are you...?" Wild looked confused at first, then his face became blank as he was unable to break his gaze from hers.

Luna's eyes bore mercilessly into his, and the young stallion’s body began to shake uncontrollably as fear come to his eyes.

"Fine! Fine! I'll tell, I'll tell!" Wild Bolt exclaimed, trying to shake off her eyes. "I was peeking at Snap! Okay!? I found out she was bathing here and I was trying to get a glimpse under her tail! That's all. I swear!"

Luna smiled and trotted back to Snap to be picked back up.

"As much as this revolts me to have to say this, you can let him up now, Ash," Snap told the colt with a disgusted sigh.

"What kind of creature is she?" Wild asked as he regained his hooves. "I saw... darkness in her eyes." He let out a shiver. "It was so cold."

"She's just a sweet filly who's good at getting into trouble," Snap answered, hugging Luna. "Would you like to hold her?" she asked, holding her out to him with a smile.

Wild Bolt stumbled back, then ran.

Snap blinked down at Luna. "I really don't understand what's wrong. You really are the sweetest filly," she said, nuzzling Luna's nose.

"How did she do that with her eyes?" Tulip asked, scratching her head

Looking up at her baby sister, Celestia felt a growing suspicion about her. She looked over at Ash and saw the same look in his eyes.

Low down on the south side of the Unicorn’s volcanic mountain, there was a large lava chamber that had been once filled with molten rock, but over the eons, its ceiling weakened from rainwater and time until it crumbed down and collapsed, leaving a large canyon cutting through the valley. On the far side, much of the ceiling remained, leaving a massive open-ended cavity, while on the other end, it let out into the rest of the valley. It was here that the common stallions were stabled.

Breeding with any of the stallions wasn't as simple as just letting one mount you. A great many of the stallions were under the wardship of their mothers or matriarchs and required their permission for any breeding to happen with them. The rest of the stallions had been given up by their families when they were unable to feed them and became unclaimed. Breeding with any of these unclaimed stallions was a simple matter of meeting the payment of a week’s worth of feed and to take them as a ward, a year’s worth of feed.

During much of the year, things here were rather calm, but during the breeding times of the spring and fall, things grew a bit more heated. Stallions vying for some fertile mare would fight among themselves if not tightly controlled by the Keepers. Matriarchs, desperate for a good stud for their daughters argued among each other in heated negotiations that could sometimes turn into them trying to kill each other. The Keepers did their best to keep things in order, but at times Casters were needed keep things in line.

Radiant was a bit overwhelmed. With many of the Casters busy elsewhere, or going through their own heats, Starburst ordered her and Nova Slash to help the Keepers today. The air around the breeding stables reeked of lust and passion. Nova seemed excited and she kept pawing at the ground as she gazed longingly at some of the stallions.

Radiant had to admit that she was having trouble keeping her gaze from roaming to some stallion's flanks or their... Once again, Radiant had to give herself a strong mental shake to keep her thoughts from wandering.

"Makes your heart race, doesn't it?" Nova asked, flicking her tail with barely suppressed excitement.

Radiant refused to answer her as she kept her tail firmly clamped down.

"You know, my stallion has already been arranged," Nova Slash continued. "I don't remember his name, but I know he's the High Blood son of Patron Sunshower. My mother went to examine him the other day and told me that his stallionhood measures at five hooves long!"

Radiant realized she had never seen Frost's stallionhood and started to wonder what it looked like. Suddenly she jumped when realized what she was thinking and gave herself another mental shake.

"What about you?" Nova asked. "Your mother arrange yours yet?"

"Yes," Radiant reluctantly answered. "His name is Frost Conjure."

"Hmm." Nova tapped her hoof on her chin. "Never heard of him. Is he a Patron's son?"

Radiant felt hesitant to answer. "He's from the White Mountains to the north."

"He's from one of those lesser clans!?" Nova asked in surprise, a hint of amusement in her voice.

For some reason, Radiant felt her ire rise and she turned to face the mare. "Yeah, he is! Is there something amusing about that!?"

Nova recoiled a step at her vehemence.

"I'll have you know that when he was just a mere colt, he cast a shield over his whole clan, holding back an avalanche that was about to wipe them out!" Radiant stamped her hoof. "Did your stallion ever do that!?" she asked, emphasizing the word stallion. "Did he!?"

Nova recoiled another step as she looked at her in shock.

Furious, Radiant let out a snort and turned away. She didn't understand it. Why was she getting so angry over that colt!? He didn't mean anything to her. Did he? For some reason beyond her, her thoughts kept wandering to him.

Two mares walked past that suddenly caught her eye. Both of them were wearing gold Caster neckletts. That's strange, she thought. Didn't Starburst say that they were short on Casters? The two were speaking quietly to each other as they looked down into the stables. One of the Casters looked familiar to her, but she couldn't place a name.

Her attention was abruptly pulled away when one of the Keepers trotted over to them. "We're going to need your help. There's going to be a Challenge Selection."

Radiant had heard of a Challenge Selection before, but never seen one. It happens when a stallion's matriarch challenges another stallion's matriarch over which will breed a mare. It was dangerous, with many stallions having died in the process.

Following the Keeper, she led them deeper into the stables. Ahead, she saw ponies waiting. Two stallions stood apart, their hooves digging in the soil as they huffed at the air. One stallion was a deep red with a short, golden yellow mane. The other was a light tan with a dark brown forward swept mane. Standing off to the side was a young, pale lavender mare with what Radiant assumed to be her mother.

Along the rim above them, mares were gathering to watch.

"Well, this should be a good show. I'll take this side. You go around and handle the other," Nova ordered, waving her hoof for her to go.

Radiant thought about snapping back a retort, but decided to let it go. Walking around, she positioned herself behind the other stallion and readied her spell. The Keeper moved out and spoke quietly with the young mare and her mother. When she was done, she nodded her head to two other Keepers, who moved to each matriarch and escorted them away from their sons.

The two stallions frisked in place as they impatiently waited to begin. The young mare's mother retreated with the Keepers, leaving her young daughter to stand alone to await her suitor. All was now ready. Nodding across at Nova, Radiant cast her spell. Her horn flashed and a beam shot up to were it was met by Nova's above the three. Striking each other, their spells burst out and descended down into a dome, enclosing the combatants together.

Rearing up, the deep red stallion let out a whinny as he kicked his hooves in the air. The battle had begun! Landing, his horn flashed and he shot a bolt of magic just as his opponent did the same. The two bolts shot across and collided together, blasting apart in a spray of lights. Again, they attacked, and again, their spells shattered against each other with neither coming out ahead.

The gathered mares murmured amongst themselves as they watched and appraised the pair. Some looking impressed. Radiant could tell that the two stallions weren't very experienced in magical combat. Their spells were sloppy and blunt. Radiant couldn't help but feel disappointed. The two stallions were like to two rams running their heads together over and over again.

Radiant's shield suddenly rang when one of the stallion’s spells missed its target and impacted on it. Their spells were growing more wild as the strain of the fight wore on. Desperate to finish the fight, the light tan stallion set his hooves and released a continuous beam of destructive magic right at his opponent, who returned one of his own. The two beams slammed into each other and shook the ground. Digging in their hooves, both stallions struggled to overcome the other as their magic crackled together. Neither giving a hoofstep, nor gaining a hoofstep, they were equally balanced. The crowd grew excited as they started cheering for their favored stallion.

Radiant could tell that both stallions were growing tired, and their magic was almost exhausted. It would soon be over. Who would be victorious and win the mare? With a final crack, both stallions staggered as their magic faltered and sputtered out. Puffing for breath, the two glared across at each other. Radiant was impressed at how much stamina they possessed.

With a furious neigh, the two stallions charged, coming together in primal combat. The mares cheered even louder as they watched the two savagely kick and bite each other. Blood soon splattered across each of their bodies, but still neither gave in. Radiant grew worried that this was going to end fatally and she prepared herself to intercede.

It was the light tan stallion that finally made the crucial mistake. When he swung at his rival, he overextended himself and left himself wide open. With a thunk that all could hear across the stable, the deep red stallions hoof caught the tan one across the side of his head, sending him falling limply to the ground.

It was over. Radiant let her shield dissolve with Nova's. Huffing for breath, the deep red stallion left his fallen rival to claim his mare. The breeding of the pair went swiftly, if a little roughly in Radiant's opinion. When it was over, the pleased looking stallion was led away by the Keepers while the dazed mare, with the stallion's seed still dripping from her marehood, rejoined her mother to leave.

The victorious stallion's mother was quickly surrounded by mares, seeking to arrange their own breeding with her son, while the other mother also received a few suppliants of her own. The tan stallion wobbled as he was helped up by the Keepers and led away to rest.

"Oh, that was exciting!" Nova exclaimed, trotting over to her. "Can you imagine it!? Having two stallions fighting over you!? Just the thought of it makes me hot around the flanks!"

Radiant scowled and tried to ignore her. She didn't want to hear about what got her tail up. Turning away, she noticed the High Keeper walking over to them. "I want to thank you both for your assistance," she said, appreciatively. "For being Casters in training, you performed flawlessly. I'm sure Starburst will be very pleased when I report this to her."

"Well, it’s all because of my leadership, of course," Nova boasted haughtily. "Starburst always relies on me to handle her most important tasks."

Radiant gaped at Nova Burst in disgust. Would she take credit for the sunrise too?

"Mistress!" A keeper called out to her. Following behind her was a scared looking young mare with an aged mare. Four Keepers flanked the pair as they were led over to them."

"What is it?" the High Keeper asked, looking at the pair.

"We caught these two inside the stables," the Keeper answered, indicating the two behind her. "They snuck in during the Selection Challenge."

Radiant examined the two mares in surprise. Sneaking into the stables was dangerous. The punishment for doing so was quite severe. Any foal that may result from such an endeavor, would be taken and given to the stallion's mother. The old mare's silvery mane was streaked with grey, and her knees were knobby. Turning her attention to the younger mare, Radiant noticed her resemblance to the older one. She was light taupe with a olive mane that she wore draped over her eyes. She looked about the same age as her.

The High Keeper tisked at the two. "Did a stallion have her?"

One of the Keepers nodded. " When we examined her, we found that she'd been very recently bred."

The High Keeper's gaze hardened. "Do you know which stallion?"

The Keeper shook her head. "They wouldn't tell us, and none of the stallions would answer us either.

"Well this complicates matters," the High Keeper said, tapping her hoof. Turning back to the two mares, she considered them. "Well? Are you going to hold to your silence, or tell us the name of the stallion?" She waited as she looked between the two. "Fine then. Turn these two over to the Casters. They'll get his name out of them."

"Please don't!" the old mare exclaimed in a near panic. "My grandfilly was only here because of me! I pushed her too it! All my daughters are dead. She's all I got left!" She dropped down to her knees. "Please, don't punish her for what I forced her to do! I beg you."

"Then tell us the name of the Stallion!" The High Keeper pressed.

The young mare shifted, stepping before her grandmare. "It all happened so fast. I never got his name."

"Describe him then," the High Keeper crisply snapped, her tone hinting her waning patience with her.

"He's brown with a dark mane," the young mare slowly described to her. "And his right ear was notched."

A notched ear. Radiant had been confused when she saw stallions with a notch in their ear and had to ask what it meant.

"An unclaimed stallion then." The High Keeper nodded. "Good. At least I won't have to deal with an angry matriarch over this matter."

"What should we do with them, Mistress?" One of the Keepers asked.

"Give them to the Casters." The High Keeper gestured to Nova and herself. "They'll punish them as is proper for their crime. Any foal from this will need to be taken of course."

"No! Please!" the older mare pleaded, crawling around her grandfilly. "I beg you. Don't do this! I'll do anything! I'll give the fee. I promise! I... I... have the secret location of a pear tree. It's a good tree with lots of pears. I'll tell you where you can find it!"

Radiant felt her heart go out to the old mare and her grandfilly. The pear tree was likely one that the old mare had found when she was young, and was probably withered now. With no claim on a fruiting tree, they wouldn't be able to supply the fee for a proper breeding. The only option the young mare might have to have a foal, would be to bond herself to a higher family that would be willing to pay her fee.

An idea suddenly came to Radiant. An idea that could help both her and help the young mare. "High Keeper?" She stepped forward. "I may have another option to consider."

"Oh?" The High Keeper looked back at her curiously. "And what is that?"

"I will pay her fee."

"Why would you want to do that?" Nova exclaimed in disbelief.

"I am in a need of..." Radiant hesitated, her gaze falling onto the frightened young mare as she considered what this would mean. "A milknurse."

"A milknurse!? Why would you need a milknurse!?" Nova exclaimed. "You're not even pregnant!"

"Next spring will be my third cycle," Radiant explained. "I'll be at the proper age to have my first foal."

"This is quite and extraordinary and generous offer," the High Keeper needlessly pointed out. "Well then." she looked down at the young mare. "What say you? Do you agree to serve Radiant Sunset?"

The young mare gaped in shock. Blinking her eyes, she suddenly threw herself to her knees and bent her head down. "I, Sweet Blush, swear my service to you in all things. It will bring joy to me to give suckle to your foals."

Reaching out her hoof, she touched it to Sweet Blush's horn. "I accept your pledge and welcome you into my service." It was done.

Later that day, Radiant sat in her family chambers with her sisters eating. The food the Pegasi have been tithing over the last year had been growing more diverse and fresh. Both her sisters took to Sweet Blush the moment Radiant introduced her. Sweet Blush sat, quietly listening to Radiant's youngest sister, Vivid Midnight, babble about whatever popped into her head.

Taking Sweet Blush as her milknurse was the first big decision she had made that her mother didn't make for her, and she felt a little proud of it. Her mother had made use of milknurses for all her foals. Only a few times had Radiant ever seen her mother suckle her sisters, and she probably only did so to relieve the ache of her filled udders. As a Caster, Radiant knew that she wouldn't be be able to care for her foals throughout the day like a proper mother should, and having Sweet Blush as her milknurse would solve that problem.

Radiant's ear twitched when she heard hoofsteps approaching, and recognized the long and measured stride of her mother, the Great Matriarch of the Unicorns. Standing, Radiant turned to the chambers entrance as her mother came in. Her mother stopped and gazed across at Sweet Blush as the young mare quickly prostrated her head down and touched her horn to the ground to her.

"I was told you chose a milknurse."

Radiant inclined her head. "Yes, mother. Her name is Sweet Blush."

"Is she with foal?"

Radiant blinked in surprise, she wasn't expecting that question. "She ah... was bred earlier today."

Her mother frowned. "Just the once?"

"Yes, mother."

"Then, return her to the stables tomorrow and the day after to have her bred again," her mother ordered. "A milknurse is only useful if she has milk to suckle."

Radiant quickly nodded. "Yes, mother."

Then her mother did something that she'd never done before. She smiled and touched her cheek with a kiss. "You’re becoming a fine mare, my dearest daughter. I'm proud of you." She then stepped back and the tender moment was over. "The milknurse is yours. See to her training. Understood?"

Radiant felt her jaw nearly drop. "Yes, mother. I will."

Little Aurora moved down the row of potatoes, her vision filled with the life around her. Each sprig and leaf was infused with color and light. Even the rich soil beneath her hooves sparkled like stars. Spotting a tiny weed, she grabbed it in her magic and pulled it out and deposited it into her basket. "I got another, mama!"

Dove pulled out her own weed and set it into a nearby basket. "That's great, sweetheart! Keep it up!"

Aurora smiled happily and continued on her hunt for weeds.

With the help of many of their friends, their home was nearly done. It was taller than the huts back in the settlement, with neatly squared-off stone walls. Set in the the front, was a door big enough to let anypony though without the need to duck down, as well as also being wide enough to let a pregnant mare though without scraping her belly on the sides. Inside the spacious cottage, the room was orderly with a fire pit in the center. Along one wall was shelves built by her papa for her mama to keep her herbs in.

In the field behind their cottage, they planted their garden of potatoes, oats and radishes, as well as many of mama's healing herbs. Mama Bell was away with Chase and Sentry hunting rabbits for them to eat, while Papa was working to transplant one of the apple trees to a more suitable spot, leaving Mama to watch her and Applebuck, who was currently asleep in his straw-cushioned bin.

Aurora hummed a happy song that Snap Dragon had taught her about a frog who jumped over the moon. Finding another weed she yanked it out and added it to the others in her basket. She liked it here in her new home. During the summer, there was a apple tree nearby that she would go and nap under, listening to the babble of the nearby river as she drifted to sleep in its cooling shade. The grassy field out front was great for running in with a little hill to roll down. She just wished that her friends would be able to come to play with her. She only got to see Luna when she went with mama to the settlement.

The peaceful air was suddenly broken by a wailing foal. In the bin, little hooves started kicking in the air as the tiny occupant voiced his complaint. Dove sat up and brushed off her hooves. "Well, somepony is certainly hungry." Taking the colt out of his bin, Dove crooned to him as she carried him over to lay in the grass under an apple tree. Pulling her leg back, she offered her teat for him to suckle.

Leaving her basket behind, Aurora hurried over to her mama and laid down with Applebuck to take her mama's other teat. Contentment and love filled her as her mama's warm milk flowed into her mouth. Swallowing, she drew in more. At first she had been jealous of sharing this special time with Applebuck, but now she liked having him with her.

Opening her eyes, she looked up at her mama. She was smiling serenely with her eyes shut as she hummed a soft song. A jagged scar marred the side of her muzzle. Papa had one on his shoulder and mama Bell had a oddly bent ear. When Aurora asked where she got her scar, mama smiled a strange smile that wasn't like her happy smile, and told her that it was a long story that would be best to tell her when she was a little older.

Swallowing her mouthful of milk, Aurora shifted her gaze down to her mama's belly. Something about it seemed strange to her. The aura of colors that made up her mama were swirling around and becoming brighter there.

Releasing her mama's teat, Aurora reached out and touched her mama's belly. "Mama? Why your tummy look funny?"

Dove stopped humming to look down at her daughter. "What do you mean, sweetheart?"

Aurora struggled to think of how to explain what she saw. She knew that mama and the other ponies saw things differently. "Mama's tummy looks... happy."

Dove blinked down at her in befuddlement.

Aurora couldn't think of any better way to explain it. Moving back to her mama's teat, she resumed nursing.

Later, Dove packed Applebuck into a carry bin and placed her in with him. Once they were settled, Dove set off for the settlement. Aurora was excited the entire time there. She was going to see Luna again! Hugging Applebuck to herself, she ignored his drool as it soaked into her foreleg.

When they arrived, she was disappointed when her mama sought out Starless, finding her speaking with Dusty.

"Excuse me Starless, but I was wondering if you have a moment?" her mama asked.

"Of course," Starless said, turning back to Dusty to excuse herself. "What is it you need?"

"Well..." Dove looked unsure. "Earlier today, Aurora said something that was rather strange, and I was wondering if you might know what she meant.

"Oh?" Starless became curious. "What did she say?"

"She said that my stomach looked funny," Dove answered. "That it looked happy."

"Happy?" Starless repeated thoughtfully. Tapping her hoof on her chin, she considered Aurora for a time. Lifting her out of the carry bin, Starless set her down and lowered her head to her level. "So. You said that your mama's stomach looked happy. Is that right?"

Aurora nodded.

"And does her tummy still look happy?" Starless asked.

Aurora looked over at her mama and nodded again.

Starless leaned back and tapped her hoof to her chin again. Then she stopped and looked back down at her. "Aurora? Can you show me what happy looks like?"

Aurora thought about it and began leaping around, twirling her body as she kicked her hooves about.

"Dancing?" Starless asked with a note of amusement. "Your mama's tummy looks like it's dancing?"

Aurora spun to a stop and nodded emphatically up at Starless. "Yes, yes! Colors on mama's tummy dancing."

Starless seemed at a loss and she began pacing back and forth as she muttered to herself.

Aurora watched her in amusement. Starless was funny when she got this way.

Suddenly, Starless stopped and showed her her side. "Does my tummy look like it's dancing?"

Aurora examined her mentor's stomach. Her aura looked calm and serene. She shook her head.

"What about any of the other ponies?" she asked, gesturing around.

Aurora looked about and noticed two mares walking by. One of them had the same swirls around her tummy that mama did, though hers was a bit more brighter. When she pointed at the mare, Starless quickly trotted over to talk to her. After speaking with her for a short while, Starless returned with a thoughtful look. "Dove. I want you to wait here with her for a little bit. I want to try something," Starless told her, before trotting off again.

After a short while, she returned with a dozen mares and lined them up. "Okay Aurora, I want you to examine each of these nice mares and tell me if any of their tummies are dancing."

Aurora was curious as she moved forward. Walking past each mare, she looked each one over. Suddenly she came across a mare who's tummy looked funny and she nodded towards her. Starless had the mare stand forward. Aurora continued down the line and picked out two more who were also sent to stand with the first.

Starless was looking very pleased as she examined Aurora's selection. With Applebuck cooing happily in her hooves, Dove approached. "So, do you know what this means?"

"I certainly do!" Starless answered with a smile. "Out of all the mares I asked to help, these three are the only ones who are expecting."

"Expecting? Expecting what?" Dove blinked in momentary confusion then her eyes began to grow big as the realization began to dawn on her. "Wait. If they are expecting expecting, then that means...!"

Starless laughed and threw her hoof around Dove's neck and hugged her. "That's right! You’re pregnant!"

"But... I didn't have my heat," Dove complained. "I can't be pregnant!"

Starless playfully booped Dove's nose with her hoof. "As a very wise mare once told me, life finds a way." She pointed at Aurora's necklett. "Aurora sees things very differently than us. She sees life! And with this very special sight of hers, she sees the new life growing inside you!"

Dove blinked in shock as she sat down, her breath coming heavily. Concerned, Aurora ran up to her. "Mama!? You hurt?"

"No, sweetheart." Dove assured her. "I’m... fine." She said, hesitantly. Taking a deep breath she smiled down at her concerned daughter. "It's just that this is quite unexpected. That's all."

"This was so obvious!" Starless exclaimed happily. "I feel so silly now for not realizing she could do this sooner!"

"Well," Dove said, looking down at the little colt she held in her hooves, "your mama and papa are going to be so surprised to hear about this."