Once again it was Eric’s birthday and he woke up excitedly, carrying his pet otter, Ron and went to the room where his baby brother was.

“Morning, Midnight,” Eric said.

Midnight just reached his hooves out and touched Eric’s face. Eric immediately brought him, along with Ron on his shoulder, downstairs to find Twilight and Storm already seated at the table.

“Morning, Mommy and Daddy,” Eric said.

“Morning, Eric. Happy birthday, sweetie,” Twilight replied.

“Happy birthday, son,” Storm added.

Just then, Starlight and Spike came in and took a seat at the table.

“Morning, Eric. Happy birthday,” Spike said.

“Happy birthday, Eric,” Starlight added.

“Thanks, Starlight. You too, Spike,” Eric replied, then asked his mom, “When’s everyone coming, mommy?”

“They’ll be here any minute, we sent invitations yesterday,” Twilight said.

It wasn’t long before everyone who was invited entered the castle and was gathered at the table. Eric had his usual birthday breakfast, which consisted of chocolate chip pancakes with maple syrup and whipped cream. After everyone was finished eating breakfast, Twilight took Midnight with her to suckle him.

“Storm, if I may ask, what made you and Twilight decide to have Eric’s party right this morning?” Rarity asked.

“It’s because later today, he wants to go to the Mall of Equestria in Whinnyapolis and you’re welcome to join us, girls,” Storm replied.

After twenty minutes or so, Twilight returned with Midnight so the others could meet him.

“Rarity, girls, we’d like you to meet our newborn son, Midnight Star,” Twilight said.

“So adorable,” said Rarity.

Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie, and even Rainbow awed at the sight of the infant alicorn. Velvet, Night Light, Lancer, and Kimono were happy to meet their new grandson for the first time.

“Now we have two alicorn babies in the family,” Night Light said.

“Hello, Eric,” Nightshade greeted.

“Hi, Nightshade,” Eric said, “I’d like you and the others to meet my little brother, Midnight Star.”

Eric presented his little brother to Nightshade, Holly, Marina, Slapstick, Zuni, Spiracle, and his fellow CMCs. They immediately took a liking to Midnight.

“There’s somepony I’d like you to meet, Eric,” Nightshade said.

He led Eric to his parents, Fancy Pants and Fleur de Lis, who had twin unicorn foals with them.

“Let me guess, is it your baby sibling?” Eric asked.

“Yes. This is my little brother, Inferno and my little sister, Marigold,” Nightshade replied presenting his new siblings.

Inferno was a white unicorn colt with light blue eyes and a dark blue mane and tail. Marigold was a white unicorn filly with purple eyes, and a bright magenta mane and tail.

“We’re both big brothers now,” Eric said, before he heard his aunt calling, “Eric, could you come here please?”

“What is it, Aunt Misty?” Eric asked, “You have somepony for me to meet?”

“Yes. This is your baby cousin, Springer,” Misty replied.

Springer was a yellow green pegasus filly with blue eyes and a green mane and tail.

“Hi, Springer. I’m your cousin, Eric,” Eric said.

After everyone had some ice cream cake and Eric opened all his presents, the friends and family members returned to their homes. Eric went up to his room and packed his backpack. Afterwards, he went back downstairs and rejoined his family, then they went to the train station.

There, they met up with their friends and boarded the train, presenting their tickets. Once the train left the station, Eric sat in between his parents, with Midnight securely in his infant stroller. Sweetie Belle sat with Rarity and Jasper, Nightshade sat with the Apple sisters and Smokey, Slapstick and Scootaloo sat with Rainbow Dash and Forest Thunder, while Marina, Zuni, Holly, and Pincer sat close to Spiracle and Fluttershy. As the train was rolling, Eric was reading some books to pass the time, as well as playing with his little brother.

After several hours, they finally reached Whinnyapolis. Having left the station, Eric, his family, and friends went straight to the Mall of Equestria. There, a security guard pony came up to Eric and said, “Welcome to Whinnyapolis, Prince Eric Sparkle.”

“Good to finally be here, mister,” Eric replied.

“What shall we do first?” Storm asked.

“It’s your call, birthday boy,” Twilight added.

“Let’s go get something to eat first,” Eric replied.

“Good call,” Starlight said.

After everyone finished eating, Starlight chose to stay with Midnight while Eric and the others went swimming in the pool. While she was looking after Midnight, Starlight watched her friends frolicking with their special someponies and she was feeling down about not having a special somepony for herself, his led her to think about Sunburst.

Eric went over to his foalsitter and asked, “Is something wrong, Starlight?”

“Remember when you said that I liked Sunburst? Well…It turns out, you’re right,” Starlight replied.

“Really?” Eric asked.

“Yes, but I’m not sure he feels the same about me,” Starlight said, “While tending to your little brother, I saw you, your family, and all our friends with each other’s special someponies and I can’t help but feel unloved and alone sometimes.”

“Maybe you should tell him how you feel next time you see him,” Eric replied.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Starlight said.

Once they finished swimming in the pool, Eric, his family, and friends dried off and kept exploring the mall. They went on some rides, browsed around some shops, and had dinner at another restaurant. After a nice dinner, everyone checked into the Best Equestrian Inn and each took a bath in their own rooms, Eric and his family were given a room with a city view. Once they finished bathing, Eric, Twilight, and Storm did some nighttime reading.

After reading with his parents, Eric brushed his teeth and then opened the curtains slightly, allowing enough moonlight to enter through the windows. Since there were two queen-size beds, Eric shared the second one with Starlight, while Midnight was wrapped in his swaddle and placed in his carriage. It wasn’t long before Midnight got fussy and started crying as the hotel room was unfamiliar to him and it was difficult for him to fall asleep.

“What’s wrong with Midnight?” Starlight asked.

“We don’t know, he was already fed and changed,” Storm replied.

“Maybe he’s having trouble falling asleep,” Twilight added.

“I’ll handle it,” Eric said.

Eric held his little brother, rocking him gently, and began singing softly to him:

(All credit for this song goes to Disney and Phil Collins)

“Sweet dreams, little brother,” Eric whispered, placing Midnight back in his carriage.

“Eric, that was very nice of you to lull your brother to sleep. Thank you,” Twilight said.

“Anytime,” Eric replied, then asked, “Mommy, do you and Daddy still love me too?”

“Of course, sweetie. Nothing will ever change that,” Twilight said, tucking him in.

“Night, Mommy. I love you,” said Eric.

“Good night, sweetie,” Twilight replied, then kissed him on his face.

---

The next morning after Midnight’s feeding, Eric, his family, and friends were at the hotel’s breakfast buffet enjoying some pancakes with maple syrup, scrambled eggs, and apple juice.

“Mommy, can we please go to Vanhoover?” Eric asked.

“We can once we’re finished eating and checked out,” Twilight replied, “Do you have everything in your backpack?”

“I do,” Eric said, checking his backpack.

After they finished eating and checked out of the hotel, Eric, his family, and friends went to the station and boarded the train for Vanhoover.

Next Chapter: Chapter 9: Once Upon a Zeppelin Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 3 Minutes