The heir gives birth

Hikary sipped her hot herbal tea while she watched the sun set behind the castle walls. Her mother and sister Stelline sat on the other side on a couch. The small throne room was bathing in red light, so warm it felt like a blanket to her. She could fall asleep right then and there, but she forced herself to stay awake. There was no time for sleeping, yet. The nurse wasn’t even done inspecting the baby.

The official opening of the new castle had to be postponed because of Taira waking up last night, calling for Regina. The baby was a little late, so they all knew it could happen any time. Still, it seemed unexpected to Hikary. Why had she not been prepared more?

“At least the birth went well.” Stelline commented. Well, yes, that much was true. There had been no complications whatsoever, and Taira’s baby had been born exactly the way she was meant to. The baby seemed healthy as far as she could judge, crying loudly, and Taira felt fine. Physically, that is. Emotionally, not so much.

Hikary had always been afraid this might happen from the day she heard Taira was in fact pregnant.  She respected her sister in many ways, and she knew her sister was strong and that the birth would be no problem, nor would raising the girl without her father be, even though it would be hard. Taira would be able to handle that. However… Hikary could not get over the idea that it was not right for Taira to have a child now. For so long, Taira had been obsessed by finding her oldest daughter, her Ruki. Hikary had been afraid that somewhere in her mind, Taira had not realized that this child would not be Ruki, nor would it ease the pain of losing a child. And, as they had seen today, Taira had not.

When Taira first saw her new, beautiful daughter, she just screamed. The words still echoed in Hikary’s mind…
“That’s not my baby! It’s not my baby! It’s NOT my baby!” She had yelled, over and over and over again.
Well, the little girl… she was in fact not the golden child Ruki had been. While her coat was as gold as that of her mother, and most likely like that of her sister, her mane were orange, not gold. This girl was Ruki’s little sister… not Ruki herself.

Even after the birth, Taira continued to ignore the child. Her poor older sister was an emotional wreck. The baby was sleeping in the nursery now, after receiving her first milk not from her mother but from a wet nurse. The poor girl didn’t even have a name yet. Hikary did not know if Taira was sleeping now, but she hoped so. Her sister needed rest, and she needed to calm down emotionally.

The silence was disturbed by the nurse entering the throne room.
“Ah, Shiane, please give me your report.” The queen said to the nurse while inciting her to sit down.
The elder pony, whose coat already showed some grey spots, carefully sat down. While Stelline poured the woman a cup of tea, Shiane the nurse started her report.
“Well, your majesty, you will be happy to hear your granddaughter is utterly and completely healthy. She drank happily and has now fallen asleep. She will no doubt grow up happily and healthy, I have absolutely no doubts about that.”

“That is very good news, Shiane. How about my daughter?” Regina asked.
Shiane stared down in her cup, stirring the tea with her spoon, before she answered. “The princess… has gone through a severe shock. I have seen it before, though mostly for different reasons… women who do not accept their baby. She is resting now, which is good. It gives her mind time to calm down… but she will need more care in the following days.”

“Will she ever accept the girl as her own?” Stelline asked. Hikary could see that Stelline could hardly imagine one not accepting their child. “I do not dare to say.” Shiane replied.
“Even though, like I said, I have seen this before, the result in the end has always been different. Some women simply have to get some rest from the shock to accept their baby. Others, sadly, never accept them and those children usually end up in a foster home. And some mothers…” Shiane took a sip of her tea, “Accept their child, in the end, with their mind only, knowing this is their child and their responsibility to raise it well. But in their hearts… there sometimes might be no place for them.”

“That sounds like the hardest option of all…” Stelline whispered, and Hikary had to agree with her younger sister.
Yet, if Taira did not come to love her child, it may be the only possibility… this child was announced all around the country, and even way beyond it. How could anyone else but Taira raise her? After all, this child would be queen if Ruki was never found…

“It truly is. For the child, but for the mother, also. Yet, love is not a thing that can be forced upon anyone, and this goes even for mothers.” Shiane answered the unicorn.
“Then… what can we do?” Hikary asked.
“First of all,” Shiane said while putting down her cup, “do not condemn Taira for her feelings. Don’t judge her. She did not choose to feel this way, and in time, she will even blame herself for not normally loving her child. Assist her, show respect for her feelings even if you do not understand them yourself, but also gently make her take care of her child. Do not allow her to close herself off from the child. She will never grow to love it if she is not confronted by the girl. I have full faith in the princess’ strength. I will come by again tomorrow, to assist with everything. Until then, make sure both mother and child rest.”

Shiane got up slowly from the couch. “I will go home now. Good night, my queen, princesses.”
Out of respect for the old woman, both Regina and her two daughters got up as well.
“Thank you so much, Shiane, for everything.” Regina said. Shiane smiled, and walked out of the room.
They did not get any chance to discuss her words, however, for no sooner had Shiane left when Tsuyo entered the room.

Bowing for Regina, she said “my queen, Taira is awake.”
“Has she requested anything?” Regina asked.
For a moment, Hikary was puzzled why Tsuyo came to tell them Taira was awake, for she usually was a lot more independent, but then Hikary recalled Regina had asked to stay updated on anything that involves Taira.
“Yes, she asked for some water and food, which I am going to prepare, and she asked to see her sister, Hikary.”

Hikary felt shocked, wondering why of all ponies her sister wanted to see her right now. Still, she did not waste any time. She got up and without saying goodbye to her mother or sister, she rushed out of the room. As she walked to her sister’s bedroom, Hikary caught a glimpse of her newborn niece in the nursery. Her orange mane really stood out… such a cute girl. Hikary wondered what her name would be.

She softly knocked on Taira’s bedroom door when she arrived. She heard her sister moan something, and she guessed that meant she was free to enter. Her sister lay in her bed, her face as pale as her sheets. Her blanket only half covered her body, her eyes were either half closed or half open and she hadn’t touched the water Tsuyo had put there for her.

“How are you feeling now?” Hikary asked, while pulling the blanket over her sister’s body.
“Fine, I guess…” Taira whispered softly, unable or unwilling to talk out loud.
Hopeless, Hikary thought. My sister is completely swallowed up in the darkness of her own thoughts… and I don’t even know a way to pull her out of it. “Tsuyo will bring you some food in a few minutes, dear.” Hikary told her sister. Taira didn’t respond.

“That girl…” Taira whispered while Hikary opened the curtains, allowing the evening light to warm up the room, “she’s not… my Ruki.”
“No… she is not, Taira. But, like Ruki, she is your daughter, and she is in need of your care.” Hikary said as kindly as she could manage. Taira stared at her, but did not instantly reply.
Instead, all she said was, “She is not my Ruki.”

“I know…” Hikary sighed. She sat down on a chair next to her sister, remembering her sister had in fact called for her.
“Taira… was there something you had wished to discuss with me?” She asked, wondering why.
“Ah, yes…” Taira said as if remembering why she had called for her sister. With great effort, Taira forced herself to sit up straighter, making her blanket slide off her body once more. When Hikary tried to cover her sister again, Taira stopped her, as if she wanted to show that she was capable of doing it herself.

“The girl… she is not my Ruki.” Taira said. Not again, Hikary thought, but her sister continued this time. “I guess that means… she needs a new name.” Taira slowly got the glass of water from the table.
“Yes… yes, she does.” Hikary agreed, surprised that this was what her sister had called her for. Apparently her sister did acknowledge her newborn, even though she rejected it. Was this a good sign?

“Do you have any idea what you would like to call her?” Hikary asked, and to her surprise her sister nodded.
“I do. I would like to name her Frika.”
“Frika?” Hikary said curiously, convinced she had never heard that name before.
“Yes… it is an old western name that runs in Fjaril’s family. Because I can not bear him any sons… Naming my daughters after ponies in his family is the least I can do.”
Cannot bear him any sons… never had it occurred to Hikary that it was something Taira felt guilty about. Yet, it was true, Hikary guessed… Fjaril’s lineage would have no male heir, because of Taira’s superior powers.

“It’s a beautiful name.” Hikary told her sister.
“Do you want me to inform mother and the others about it?”
“Yes… please.” Taira said.
Hikary smiled and her sister and walked out of the room, happy to be out of the depressing place. She knew her sister’s comment, the name she thought of, did not come straight out of her heart. She had not even asked how the infant was doing. But, she recognised her daughter’s existence, and for now, that was probably enough. And Frika… it was a very nice name, Hikary had to admit.

Before she walked back to the throne room to inform her mother and sister, she sneaked into the nursery, where the young princess was quietly sleeping.
“Little Frika…” Hikary was enchanted by the little girl’s steady breathing. She knew how to do it so well, and she only just started it… newborns definitely were a miracle.
“Don’t you dare worry, little girl.” She whispered, while she softly touched Frika’s short orange mane. “Even if your mother will never come to love you… there are lots others that will, and we will all be there for you. You will never be alone.”