Author's Note

Wow... It's been a while once again, but here we are! I hope you all enjoy the ramblings of a tired and worn out pony-writer.

First Impressions

Strolling down the trails, Lyric whistled a few bird calls and delighted in the mass of flocks that fled the tree tops and craned their necks down, staring at the small group of children in wonder.

"You have to teach me that sometime." Celestia said with a face full of astonishment.

"It's not that hard, really. I learned the Mocker call in just a few days. They change the pitch every second tone."

"Wow, you must have learned a lot in th-"

"Look, look!" Luna said excitedly. "I can see the town already, oh boy, I can't wait to show off to Star."

"Who's Star?" Lyric asked, hopeful to meet another friend or simply another pony.

Luna's wings fluttered slightly as she jumped in joy, "My best friend! She comes to the castle whenever I ask, and she even stays over sometimes!" Luna informed him, her enthusiasm dripping from her widening grin. Not wanting to wait any longer, she took off down the path, leaving the others in dust as she made her way to her bff's home.

"Why's she so entranced? Hasn't she been there plenty of times by now?" Lyric asked, scratching his head a tad.

"Yes," Celestia started. "But now she has a chance to show off her big brother!" Smirking to herself, she grabbed his cuff in her mouth and dragged him along as she mumbled, "And sho do I!"

Right into the bustling marketplace did they go; Earth ponies, Pegasaii, unicorns, and even the rare Griffon was roaming the vast area of exchange. Passing by, Lyric was in awe by the amount of goods the ponies were all selling; jewels, clothing, candy, drinks, food, even the Griffons had their own small area in the far side of the courtyard-like grounds where they sold hanging meats. Trying to make their way through the crowd, they nearly had to walk through the many ponies legs. Until that is, when they began noticing just who it was trying to get passed.

Multitudes of "Good morning your highness", "Glad to see you again princess", and the like badgered them as they went by. Only one pony in fact caught on and decided to speak up as he noticed the mystery child taking in the sites.

"Princess Celestia, if I might but inquire?" He said as if he were on thin ice. Nodding to him, he began once more. "Thank you your majesty, and of my inquiry, it is about that" He said with a gesture to the small boy. "Who or what, is that?"

"He is not a "what" Geo Granite, he is our brother and if you do not treat him with the same respect, our father will hear of this I'm sure." She stated firmly, causing Lyric to smile at the soon-to-be-ruler. The entire marketplace ceased to a halt as the ponies dropped what they were doing and left their jaws to hang open in shock. You could practically fit a bowling ball in their mouths.

"You-you mean to say that the King and Queen have adopted this child into t-the royal family?!"

"Indeed." Celestia retorted with a tint of pride.

In an instant the Marketplace erupted into a clash of rumors being spread like wildfire. "Lost bloodlines", "A hidden past" the usual petty chatter of ponies who can't just accept that this has happened.

"Oh wow!" Lyric shouted in surprise. "You sure have an awful lot of finely cut stones, Mr." Lyric told the merchant as his eyes sparkled with the gems on Geo's booth.

"W-why of course I do, your highness." Geo began to feel a tad worried.

"I have almost all the same ones, but mine are a lot more obtuse. I like 'em!" He said with a smile.

"You do..? I-I mean... Why not pick yourself out one?" He said with a forced smile as sweat began to run.

"Really? Wow, thanks!" Lyric looked all over the booth until he found one that caught his eye. "How about this one?" He asked as he pointed at a small sapphire with a red indignation in the form of a spiral, forming a new color in the center.

"Are you sure? That's merely a common-" Lyric looked up at him for a moment, "W-what I meant was it's all yours, my prince!" He told the boy as fast as he could, hoofing him the polished sapphire.

"Awesome, I might come back with something to trade next time, this is so great, I can hardly find any with flaws like this one. Thanks!" Lyric said happily as he turned around to see the mass of merchants and customers staring directly at him. "Why are they all staring..?" He whispered to his sibling.

"You're new royalty, what else would they be doing to you?" Celestia explained.

"Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhm... Hi." He told the crowd with a small wave.

The crowd continued their consistent and unrelenting gaze on Lyric until Celestia nudged him, "Way to make an introduction." She said playfully as they parted the sea of gawking ponies.

"That was the weirdest moment of my life." Lyric said, still being pushed along by his sister.

"You're telling me." Celestia mumbled as they reached the house Luna was hopping up and down in front of, right next to a small grey filly with a pale white mane.

"I told you he was real!" Luna excitedly exclaimed, sticking her tongue out at the filly beside her.

"Yeah, yeah. I guess you were telling the truth, Moody," She huffed. "So." She squinted her eyes, sizing him up. "You're the one, huh? What's your name?"

"Name's Lyric, it's ni-"

"Lyric, hmm? What are your plans with these two? Because if you even think about hurting Moody here, I'll have to teach ya' a lesson or two." She said with a hoof curled up.

"-ce to meet you." He finished, making Luna to giggle softly. "I think you'll find, my dear, I have only but the up-most respect for my dearest sisters. I can assure you that." He said, turning on his "regal" voice since his clothes weren't that messy.

"A wise guy, huh?" Star said as she glared at him slightly to which Lyric mimicked.

"I once had a staring contest with a giant coil snake so it wouldn't eat me, you shant be winning this one my dear- I BLINKED!" He screamed in defeat, holding hands over his eyes.

"Haha, I like him, Moody." Star said as she extended a hoof towards Lyric. "Name's Star Shine, best remember it, 'cause one day I'ma light up the sky!" She said with an over exaggerated look of confidence for such a small filly with big hopes.

Grinning to himself and shaking her hoof Lyric added, "I can't wait to see it," Seeing the same playful yet determined grin on her muzzle. "Wait." He said with a small look to Luna. "Why do you call her Moody?" He wondered.

"Because she's just like the moon, duh. A different mood for every day." She told him, looking at the Lunar filly sticking her tongue out.

"Haha, that makes sense, I guess." Taking a moment to look up at her home, Lyric asked, "So Star? Is there anything fun to do in the town?" Clearly ready to start his new adventure in this pony filled town that just awaits him.

"Most of the time I just go to the castle to visit Moody, but when she does come here we just go inside... It's a little small for so many ponies so maybe I could just show you around?" She said with a tint of embarrassment.

He looked at his sisters who nodded vigorously. "Sounds like a plan, Shine."

Motioning for them to follow, Star Shine led them down a dank alleyway that connected to another set of alleys. As they turned the final corner Lyric could see a torch lighting the end and ran over to it, quickly finding the entrance to the center of the town. The others caught up and looked at Lyric, staring at the torches that were on a nearby merchants booth with various weapons and armor .

As they continued their stroll through the town, Lyric was asking as many questions as he could. Making it hard for Star Shine to not want to zip his mouth shut... Even if she DID say she would show him around. Beginning to near the the middle of the town, Lyrics mouth began to water as an intense and delicious aroma was emitting from a stand in front of them.

"Why hey thar Shine, you come by fer yur parents again?" A stallion with a dark orange coat and two-toned brown mane asked in an increasingly thick accent.

"No, not today. I was actually just showing the Princesses new brother around."

"New BROTHER?!" He exclaimed, loud enough for the fillies to cover their ears. "Well I'll be a little sapling, looky here." He said, looking straight at Lyric.

"Hiya, haha. My name's Lyric and I like the way you talk, it's funny." He told him with a smile. "Even better smell though." Lyric said from the top of Appleseed's booth, which is currently housing his drooling mouth.

"Mighty fine tah meet yah, Prince Lyric. Name's Appleseed and I provide the town with alllll your apple filled desires." He said as he noticed Lyric's face. "Haha, yah sure got a good taste, that's fer sure."

"That's so cool, so you're like, a farmer?" He asked, hoping to learn more.

"Just started up when I was little as you. Got my family homestead over yonder on Sweet Apple Acres if yah ever come by." Appleseed was putting more edibles onto his stand when he placed a plate of apple fritters beside Lyrics face.

"Uhm... Mr. Appleseed? Could I possibly try one of those..?" He asked as his eyes filled with plea. "They smell divine." He said with an inhale.

Appleseed wasn't the type of stallion to just go and give out something for free, but this was the Prince... And it did seem like he really wanted it. "Sure, first one's always free, young'n." He said with a slight chuckle as he gave Lyric a fritter and watched him take his first bite of Apple Family legend.

"Tanks sho musch!" Lyric said through a mouthful of apples, pastry and the most perfect amount of cinnamon.

"Come on, I wanna show you the fountain, they say it's bottomless!" Star told him with a tug on his shirt. Lyric, far too indulged in his treat just went with it til he heard somepony scream loudly and a massive crash came from the marketplace. Suddenly, a pack of Diamond Dogs came running across the roofs, jumping off and making a beeline to Lyric who was simply enjoying the last bit of his fritter before he looked over at the dogs, seeing the bag.

"Hey. Did they steal that?" He asked, holding his last mouthful in his fingers.

"Why else would they be running with a heaping bag? Now get back here!" Celestia said in fright, jumping behind the stand.

Lyric stood still and waited for the dogs to run passed him, then he started running as fast as he could, keeping his pace beside the pack.

"Hey!" He shouted from the side of them.

"What?! Who are yous?" The leader asked, bewildered.

"I'm Lyric. Also, did you steal those?"

"Yesss, we dids. They are ours!" The leader said as he tried to swipe at the small boy. Lyric, no stranger to the dangers of attackers, slowed down at his swing and sped back up making the leader's ears shoot steam.

"You should give them back. Stealing's bad, you know."

"We don't care, foolisssh child. Now go... A-way!" He said roughly, smacking Lyric and causing him to land in a puddle where his tiny amount of apple gold landed.

Lyric dawned a frown, glaring daggers at the pack. "I warned you!" He screamed after them. Putting his fingers in his mouth, he whistled at the top of his lungs and grinned.

"Eeeeeoww!" They screamed, holding onto their ears with their paws. "Make it stops... Make it stops!" They howled from behind a house, dropping the bag while they sat there whining, which Lyric picked up.

"Now you see that stealing's bad. It doesn't get you far in life, and it's just wrong." He lectured them with a pointed finger. "I'd make you apologize but I think this did the trick." He said, turning and walking off back to the booth. Putting the bag down, he sat on the ground and wiped his forehead. "Wow. Those guys can run." He chuckled to himself.

Peaking over the booth, not hearing any commotion, Celestia gasped when she saw Lyric with the bag and then the whining Diamond Dogs, slowly crawling away.

"Did you... How did you do that?!" She yelled out, happy and excited. "Also why. That was stupid, you could have gotten hurt." She chastised, pushing him a little.

Breathing in and out a couple times, Lyric said, "No pony else was doing anything." He picked up the bag as he stood next to her, "Besides, I told you; you just have to know what they like... Not to mention dislike, hahaha." He laughed as he closed his eyes, proud he could teach them a lesson.

Appleseed was as shocked as the fillies, with eyes wide and mouth hung open. Lyric swung the bag over his shoulder and thought for a moment. "Hang on. I need to give these back. Then, we should totally check out that fountain."

Quickly rushing his way to the shops and crowd of ponies gathered around Geo's booth, Lyric could hear his voice in sadness. "All of them! The entire booth..." He slunk, nearly on the verge of tears. "I... My life's work, stolen by those, those, dogs!"

The small but brave young man made his way through the ponies with the help of some nice ponies who made way for the little guy. Clearing his throat, he spoke. "I believe these belong to you, sir."

Looking over with hazed eyes from sorrow, Geo instantly bolted upright and let a few tears trail his eyes. "My jewels! You found them." He exclaimed. "But-but how did you get them back from those law breakers, my Prince?"

"Diamond Dogs can't stand a certain pitch in a whistle, it's nothing, really." He told him, kicking the dirt until he was lifted into the air wildly. "Hey-hey-Woah!" Flying up into the air, he began to smile as the townspeople tossed him.

"Three cheers for the Mighty Prince Lyric!" They shouted in joy.

Bouncing up and down, Lyric's smile widened a mile as he flung his arms out happily. "Haha, wee! Yeah!"