It was an average day in the magical land of equestria, in the royal canterlot castle the princess walked down the hallway with a smile. Two servants accompanied her today, midway down the hall she stopped infront of a large wooden door on the left side in which a sentry stood at his post. The princess looked at the guard who stood at a firm proper stance. She then turned to the door and gently began to slowly open it, the door let out a squeak as she slowly pushed it open.
Celestia and the two servants walked inside and shut the door behind them, in this darkened room was a large bed that seemed over sized for who it was meant for. She approached the side of the bed, looking at a young dark ash gray colt alicorn who was sound asleep. Smiling then slowly leaning down to kiss his cheek, Celestia gently nudged him with her snout. "Lightniiiing, wake uuuuup" She said in a soothing voice to ease the young colt awake. "Today is the big daaaaay" she said continuing to nudge him.
Slowly the colt began to respond to the princesses attempts to wake him, but like all her little ponies he wasn't thrilled about waking up. He let out a groan and gently swatted at her with his tiny hoof, this only made her let out a very small laugh. "Get up lazy flank you got alot to do today," She said nudging a bit harder.
In a very hushed voice the colt finally replied "I don't wanna.."
"Well you have to, now please get up mister bedhead" she said wrapping her hoofs around him and propping lightning on his behind. She let out a giggle. "what a lovely style for your mane," she said gently running her hoof through his black locks.
Lightning looked up with his light sunglow eyes that seemed to have a gentle illuminating glow to them, he smiled and laughed himself. "The worse the bedhead the better you slept!" His voice was the cutest thing to hear, so soothing and gentle to the ear.
Celestia smiles and kissed his cheek once more, "Come, we must get you ready for today," She said picking him up once more then setting him down on the ground. He let out a small yawn and trotted around the bed looking at the two servants who had been brought to tend to him.
"Oh lightning," One of the mares said shaking her head slightly with a grin, "You always have to have the most aggressive case of bedhead,"
"Got your work cut out for ya then don't chya?" He giggled.
"Indeed i do, now please come along so we can fix up that wreck." The mare said gesturing to the door, to which he followed her and the other servant to where they normally take him for his daily grooming.
Celestia only smiled and walked out the door shaking her head also, "That colt i swear," she said as she passed the guard who had not moved an inch. Lightning was so full of life, you never saw this colt frown he was always the happiest little thing. As servants and other staff of the castle passed by the would greet him in a happy manor to which he would reply with a lovely hello and a very big smile.
The mare led him into a large dressing room with many mirrors, dressers and a variety of makeup and even a bath. This was lightnings personal dressing room to be more accurate, it was also his least favorite room in the whole castle. Like any child he hated to be dressed and bathed but it was required unfortunately for him. "Lightning in order for me to be able to do ANYTHING with that mane of yours we will start you off with a bath."
Lightning let out a groan, which was cute in itself. "Do i have to?" He asked trying to talk his way out of it, he's done it before actually.
"Yes lightning," the white mare said as she walked over to the bath and turned on the water then plugged the drain.
"Fine," Lightning said sitting on the ground and crossing his forelegs in a pouting manor,
"Don't you pout with me mister," She said looking at him as he pretended to be legitimately upset, but everypony who knew lightning knew he never gets upset.
"Y-Yes miss eyeliner" He got up then trotted over to the bathtub,using a small 4 step ladder to look inside. "Can we put bubbles in it?!" he turned to Eyeliner with a huge smile of hope. Bubble baths were lightnings favorite, he didn't get to have alot of fun even though he was a colt. He was technically royalty and had quite alot on his plate for someone his age.
She looked at him then to the bath, a look that showed she was thinking was the expression she wore. "Well... I suppose since of the occasion." She said.
"YAY!" Lightning hopped up with glee, wasn't the best idea though for when he came back down he landed directly into the bath, splashing water onto miss eyeliner who literally jumped back to avoid anymore water.
"Lightning!! do you know how long it takes me to get my makeup right?!" She shouted.
He popped up out of the water and sank below it to where only the top of his head was visible, he then popped up once more and said in the most sincere voice. "I-Im sorry.."
Eyeliner only sighed and looked at him, "Oh you know i cant stay mad at you," She then reached into a cupboard next to the bath,pulling out a large bottle of soap to make the bubbles. Pouring it in and adjusting the water as it slowly filled up the large tub, it was so deep lightning had to actually swim to stay afloat. The bubbles quickly began to form fill the bath. Eyeliner then shut off the water which was nice and warm and now bubbly.
Eyeliner turned to the other servant, Vera dear can you please wash him while i get the makeup and hair product ready?.
The colbalt blue mare looked up from the paper she was reading then set it down on a nearby sink. "Thats what i get payed for isn't it?" She was one of the younger servants, only 14 years old it was quite an impressive accomplishment for a mare that age to be working at the castle.
Vera walked over to the tub while Eyeliner walked over to her actual station to get ready to go to work, vera looked inside the tub to see the little colt had made a beard on his face with the bubbles that surrounded him. "Vera look, im starswirled the bearded," he said looking at her then sneezing causing some of the bubbles to fly into the air.
Vera flinched back just a bit then giggled, "I can see that," she said. The young unicorn mare grabbed some shampoo/body wash. It said "Johnson and Johnson's tear free child shampoo and body wash." She shook her head and looked at the bottle with much hatred, "They are such liars.." she muttered.
"Who are liars?" Lightning said looking up from his bubble beard.
"Nobody you little cutie, now stay still while i do this." She squirt some of the shampoo into her hoof then rubbed it with both and put it into lightnings mane, scrubbing hardly to which he complained.
"C-Can you be a little more gentle?" He asked, looking a bit uncomfortable as she did.
"OP sorry sweetie," She eased up then reached for a cup, dipping it into the tub and pouring it onto his head. She repeated the process three more times. "You can play for 5 minutes then you have to get out." She said walking away to dry her hoofs off.
"Lightning dear what do you think would be better to wear today, your tuxedo or your royal formal suit?" Eyeliner asked as she looked through some outfits.
"How about my necklace?" He said putting his hoofs on the rim of the tub and pulling himself up.
"Just the necklace? oh that wont do honey you know that."
He groaned loudly. "Royal suit...BUT I WANNA WEAR MY NECKLACE!"
"Fair enough," Eyeliner grabbed the white suit which has a red sash, many jewels and the equestrian seal. It was a very well crafted piece.
"Alright mister royalty time to come out." Vera said pulling him out of the tub before setting him down then smothering him with a towel. She dried him off very roughly just to get it done faster, uncomfortable yet it worked.
"I hate it when you do that.." Lightning said walking over to Eyeliner and hopping up in the large chair that he always sat in when she went to work on him.
She reached over to the hair dryer and plugged it in then started it up, aiming it towards lightning and beginning to blow dry his mane. This part he didn't mind as much, as she blow dried it she grabbed a comb and began running it through his mane ,styling it right then and there. After that, eyeliner helped him into the royal suit in which she simply adored but lightning despised with a passion. "I wont make you wear any makeup considering its your last day here you adorable little thing! Oh you look so sophisticated in that suit!"
Lightning glared at himself in the mirror, he obviously didn't like it. "I hate this."
"Oh nonsense dear you are a canterlotian you must look the part!"
He simply groaned then hopped off the chair and began to walk towards the door. "Lightning dear! before you go.."
He stopped and turned around looking at eyeliner who appeared to be sad. She slowly walked over to him and smiled, then leaned down hugging him very tight. "Im going to miss you..."
He wrapped his tiny hoofs around her as best he could, "Ill miss you too.." he said sounding sad himself.
Vera hugged him as well and they said their goodbyes before he walked out of the room. His next thing to do was to immediately report to the princess in the throne room. As he trotted down the hallway he was suddenly stopped by somepony shouting his name from behind, he turned around to see eyeliner running after him levitating his necklace, An orange lightning bold wrapped in a golden border with a gold chain. "You forgot this dear.." She put it around him and hugged him again before running off, hiding the tears that were forming.
He sighed and continued to walk to throne room, he was feeling rather depressed for the first time...He wasn't going to be seeing them again, he wouldn't see any of them ever again...
Sent away.
The young colt stood before the throne room doors, inside was the princess eagerly awaiting for him to arrive. He wasn't thrilled about today, the last thing lightning wanted was to be sent off to school. It wasn't what he wanted but celestia had made it very clear that he would be sent to Trottingham Academy For Young Ponies, one of the finest boarding schools in all of equestria. Lightning could do nothing more but let out a long sigh of sadness.
"Are you read sir?" One of the guards asked who stood next to the door.
"Mhm.." he slowly nodded.
The guard turned without even turning around pushed the door open for him, to which he slowly entered. Celestia was talking to two very prestigious looking ponies, one was a white stallion earthpony the other an aquamarine unicorn mare, her mane was a darker shade of blue. This was the dean of the academy and his illustrious wife. When celestia turned to him she couldn't help but lose it a little. "Ohhhhh you look so cute!" She said smiling.
The dean turned around to look at the young colt and his future student, "Ah this must be my newest and very important student."
"What a lovely suit," his wife commented.
Lightning stopped halfway toward them,standing there in a shy manor and hiding himself a little.
"Shy one isn't he?" The dean said looking back to celestia.
"Normally no actually, lightning come and meet the dean,"
Slowly, lightning approached the two sophisticated ponies who looked down at him with grins. Not only were they getting a new promising student, but royalty as well. It would be great publicity for the academy..not that it needed it anyway.
Trottingham academy was one of the most prestigious schools in all of equestria, getting in was considered to be an honor. only 500 students a year get accepted. To be one of the 500 means there is something special about you.
"Nice to meet you sir.." Lightning said in a hushed voice, he didn't agree with this but had no say in the matter.
"Its quite an honor to meet you, young prince and an even higher honor to have you attend my academy!" The deans voice was full of pride, he seemed to have that pride filled attitude anyhow. Not the kind that says im better then you but the kind that states that he is proud of who he is, and he has many reasons for that.
"Lightning, the dean has arranged the whole city to throw a parade in your honor! How does that sound?" Celestia was trying to get lightning out of this shy state he had locked himself away in. He was normally so outgoing and happy so this was very unlike him.
"That sounds nice.."
"I know the idea of leaving home is rather unsettling, but i promise you that you will love it in trottingham young prince."
"We will do everything we can to bring the comforts of home with you!" The deans wife added in.
"I could just stay home and safe you the trouble?.."
They all laughed at the cute joke, lightning let out a tiny laugh too but he wasn't joking. He did not want to go. "What a charmer!" The deans wife commented once more.
"Perhaps we can get more properly introduced, i am dean hawkeye." He chuckled a bit. "Nothing gets past me, and this is my wife, crystal."
"With a name like hawkeye it sounds like you should be a watch guard."
They all laughed again, lightning could only sigh for apparently nopony was going to take him seriously. "Well princess, me and the wife are going to head back to the train. You may send lightning over when you are ready." The two turned around and walked toward the door. Hawkeye turned around to say, "We look forward to having you with us." Then exited the room.
The door shut, with that lightning was able to speak his mind. "Mom i don't want to go!" he exclaimed.
Celestia looked down, she seemed surprised. "What? I thought you were excited to go,"
"No! I don't want to go, why are you making me!?" Lightning began to grow upset, his eyes began to water.
Now the reason why was because it was lightnings mothers plan for him all along, she wanted him to grow up to be a successful educated stallion. She sadly never got the chance do to she had picked up a disease that is practically incurable. The disease is called cancer, its a genetic disease. Lightning was tested for it at a young age but thankfully will be spared its touch. Celestia could not tell him though, he wasn't ready to hear about the fact that she isn't his real mother.
"...Because i feel it will be good for you." Was the only answer she was able to come up with.
She leaned down, looking at him at his eye level. "Lightning, i promise you that you will like it there. You just need to give it a chance, and ill come visit you of course."
That seemed to calm him down quite a bit. "Promise?.."
"I promise...now come on, its time for you to go."
Celestia walked with lightning out of the throne room and down the hallway, they passed his room which was now practically empty. All his stuff had been packed away by servants. The walk was quiet, and sad even for the princess because she was going to miss seeing him every day. Eventually they made it outside to the courtyard, very rarely did the princess walk the streets of canterlot but today would be one of those days.
As they exited the castle, citizens all around stopped in place as both prince and princess walked by. Some bowed, others simply looked in surprise. The entire time though lightning stared at the ground, the princess however kept her composure. She had to or else citizens would worry, 2 royal guards walked ahead of them as escort.
"Mom?.." Lightning looked up from the cobblestone road.
"Yes?"
"Are you sending me away because you don't love me?"
Celestia stopped in her tracks, that was totally unexpected. "Lightning! How could you think i don't love you? I love you with all my heart!" This much was true, celestia loved him as if he WAS her son.
"Because you're sending me away.."
"Its not permanent" she said kissing his forehead.
"Okay.." He said smiling a bit before they resumed their walk.
Soon they were both at the train station, The train for trottingham awaited for lightnings arrival. A few servants from the castle finished loading his luggage. Princess celestia looked at the train before turning to lightning and sighing. "You ready to go?"
"I guess so.." he said
Celestia reached down to hug him, she held him oh so close. "I love you lightning.." she said quietly in his ear.
"I love you too mom.."
A few minutes passed before the hug ended and celestia let him board the train. The door shut, sealing him away from her. The train slowly pulled away, celestia walked to the edge of the platform and watched it go. A single tear ran down her face. "Goodbye son.."
