After laughing at Aurora, Sunset Shimmer also tasted the so-called water spinach and found it surprisingly refreshing and crisp.
There was also a grassy fragrance that ponies like, mixed with the aroma of garlic, which really whetted her appetite.
One has to admit that, apart from not eating carrots, Aurora really knows what tastes good.
After enjoying a novel and delicious dinner, before the dessert was brought out, while the attendants were clearing the empty plates and leftovers, Meteora and Aster exchanged a look, and then Meteora spoke.
"darling, there's some good news we have to tell you."
Aurora looked at her somewhat mysterious parents, waiting for them to reveal the hidden surprise.
"By this time next year, you will have a little brother or sister."
Aster, with a silly grin, couldn't wait to announce this happy news.
"And your father and I have decided that we hope this pony's name can be chosen by its big sister."
Meteora looked at Aurora, her face full of happiness.
The extra Hearths Warming Eve doll was what Meteora had prepared for the new addition to the family.
"Wow, congratulations, Flying Light.
Now that you're a big sister-to-be, don't you have anything to say?"
Sunset Shimmer patted the dazed Aurora, helping her reconnect to the network.
"Really? You're sure you want me to name them?"
Aurora had anticipated having a younger sibling.
She just didn't expect them to hand over the naming rights to her.
"Of course, darling.
Your brother or sister will surely be proud of their name in the future, and so will we."
Perhaps due to the psychological barrier brought about by the genius effect, their eldest daughter always had a sense of distance, as if she were drifting outside.
Although both they and Aurora were trying to get closer, Aurora's sense of belonging always seemed to lack a fulcrum, making it hard to fully land.
The arrival of this newborn gave them a way to break the deadlock, a family member they could all cherish and protect together.
After getting her parents' approval, Aurora felt a surge of excitement, because her "official my little pony toy" had finally arrived in stock, it just had to wait a year to be "shipped."
Next was the name.
Since she didn't know if it would be a filly or a colt, it would be best to prepare a plan for both genders.
And the first word she thought of was...
Little Ica.
'No, no, Little Ica is a Pegasus, this one will definitely be a Unicorn.'
Lost in thought, Aurora subconsciously reached out to grab something, but after her hoof touched the handle of the spoon, she failed to pick it up.
Her train of thought was interrupted, and she remembered again that she no longer had fingers.
Looking up, she found everyone watching her, her face flushed, and she quickly straightened her posture.
"Sorry, I was just daydreaming."
"It's okay, darling.
We have plenty of time, no rush for this moment."
Meteora smiled and comforted her.
Knowing that Aurora had heard what they said and was taking it seriously and looking forward to it, this performance was enough to put them at ease.
After sharing a piece of good news that made everyone happy, the dessert was just brought out.
The meal at the Aurora household today, even the dessert, was unexpected for Sunset Shimmer.
In appearance, they were pure white spheres served in clear soup, sprinkled with a little osmanthus, smelling of flowers.
Sunset Shimmer first poked it with a spoon and found it softer than a marshmallow.
She didn't know what it was made of; was it some kind of pastry or candy?
But why didn't it dissolve in the soup?
Having just tasted the dinner, Sunset Shimmer trusted Aurora's taste in food, so she prepared to take a bold bite.
"Be careful, this is very hot."
Aurora reminded her.
With this in mind, Sunset Shimmer began to eat carefully.
The moment it was in her mouth, she didn't taste anything, and the temperature wasn't as exaggerated as Aurora had said.
But after biting it open, the filling flowed onto her tongue.
Very hot!
But very fragrant!
Although the sweetness wasn't as heavy as cake or chocolate, the fragrance was rich, and it carried the unique aroma of sesame and peanuts.
"This is called Jun.
It's a traditional dessert that Eastern Ponies eat during the New Year.
I saw it in the biography of Thin Mist Blue Mane and thought of making it."
Taking advantage of the gap while everyone was tasting the exotic dessert, Aurora prepared to share some knowledge about Jun.
"The name Jun sounds like 'reunion,' so in both shape and sound, it symbolizes the beautiful wish for family reunion and happiness, making it perfect for the New Year.
Most importantly, it tastes good too."
This level of sweetness is what's best for the constitution of eastern babies.
If it weren't for the fact that glutinous rice isn't easy to digest, Aurora would want to eat it every day.
Sunset Shimmer noticed that after the dessert was served, the attendants who had been standing by withdrew one after another.
Then she happened to see two attendant ponies happily carrying bowls and spoons passing by the door.
It seems that every pony working at the manor gets a bowl of Jun.
Even if they can't go home for the reunion night, they can still feel the sweetness of reunion through their taste buds.
Perhaps puns aren't all just cold jokes, are they?
Sunset Shimmer's gaze fell back to the Jun in her bowl, and then, thinking of something, she suddenly whispered to Aurora.
"Guess what I thought of when I saw this?"
Aurora, who was chewing, cast a puzzled look.
She saw Sunset Shimmer bite a white, tender Jun in half, and the pitch-black, deep, full filling instantly flowed out.
"..."
Aurora's chewing paused, and she couldn't help but turn her head to look at Sunset Shimmer, who looked perfectly normal.
She felt like Sunset Shimmer was implying something, but she had no evidence.
The white glutinous rice skin looked soft, sticky, and harmless, but the filling inside was shiny and black, as if to hide some secret.
But then again, Sunset Shimmer thought that although Jun looked like that, it was truly fragrant and delicious.
In short, Jun was indeed delicious.
Although it was her first time tasting this foreign delicacy, Sunset Shimmer liked eating Jun.
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