The New Kids

The sun was halfway visible in the horizin as a black alicorn tossed and turned in his bed. He had grown to be a very handsome stallion. He was currently about fifteen. Prince Blackhoof was his name, King Sombra his father. His mother was Princess Celestia, or so he thought. She had taken him in after his real mother gave birth to him, but did not make it.

Blackhoof's eyes opened with a pop. "Crap, I'm late!" he exclaimed, throwing off the silken comforter and flinging off of the bed. He was late for a meeting with his friends that he had promised to attend, that started right before the sun rose.

He levitated a mane brush from a cupboard in the bathroom. He yanked at his ethereal but spiked strands. A few knots were pulled, but they were taken out easily.

He pulled out his hairspray and spritzed it on his scalp. He levitated a toothbrush and covered the bristles with minty toothpaste, scrubbing it on his teeth for exactly two minutes. He spit out the paste and turned on some cold water. Blackhoof rinsed the toothbrush and filled a cup with the water, putting some in his mouth and spitting it out.

When he was done, he got out some tweezers and plucked at the loose feathers of his wings. Once that was finished, he flew out of the door, zipping out of the hallway and into the dining room, where a butler pony stood. The butter-colored unicorn with dark blue hair levitated a bowl of berries and hay with a fork. The regal alicorn sat down, picked up the fork with his wing, and started eating. By now, the sun was three quarters of the way risen.

Soon, he wiped his muzzle with a napkin and darted out to the throne room, then to the hallway, then out of the front door of the Canterlot Castle.

*   *   *

Moonlit Shimmer, an entirely blue pegasus with a moon-balloon for a cutie mark, bounced around the tree house, fluttering his undersized wings frantically. Despite being impatient, he was excited for his friends' first official meeting. All they had to do was wait for Blackhoof to get there. Then they could get started.

Gemdancer, a blue pegasus with brown hair, her cutie mark having a sixteenth note with a diamond, sat daintily in a bean bag chair, careful not to get her hair messy. She literally brushed it ten times when she woke up, nine of those times because she felt a strand go over her shoulders. Her ear twitched and bright blue wings unfurled at the sound of Blackhoof's voice. "Guys! Sorry I'm late!"

The wooden door swung open as a black alicorn with orange, yellow, and black hair swept inside. A dark pink pegasus with bright chestnut hair squeaked in reaction. Her name was Delicate Dreamer. Her cutie mark was a crescent-shaped moon with several stars around it.

Natural Note, a cyan unicorn with a microphone with three eighth notes for a cutie mark, looked at him and smiled sarcastically. "Took you long enough," she uttered, giggling slightly. She quickly corrected herself. "Oh, sorry. Not how I'm supposed to speak to royalty, right?"

Blackhoof laughed. "No Natural, it's fine."

A goldenrod earth pony stallion with a black heart and a needle for a cutie mark, named Goldenheart, stood up. "Knew you'd show up. Better late than never, right?"

"Yeah. Hey Moonlit, thanks for letting us use your tree house for our first meeting."

"Oh, don't mention it, Blackhoof! It's no trouble at all! In fact, we could use this place for all the meetings! I've never been so excited for a meeting before! Have you? I've actually never been so excited at all, but that's not the point! I am honored to declare our first bestest-friends meeting begun!"

Everyone in the room cheered. A snow-white mare with a pink and purple mane, whose name was Curious Canter, stood up. "Hey Moonlit, is there any particular reason for these best friend meetings?"

Moonlit's eyes widened and his smile turned into a thin line. "Only best friends hold meetings. And we're all best friends, right?"

Everyone in the room yelled, "Right!"

"So let's get started! Okay, first item of the day, how was your morning?"

Delicate rose her hoof. Moonlit Shimmer pointed to her. "Delicate Dreamer?"

"Um... I woke up to my pet rabbit scratching my ear. I had a salad and hay sandwich for breakfast. My mom caught me eating and she wondered what I was doing, so I had to tell her... um... if that was okay..."

Moonlit raised a hoof. "It's fine! I never said you couldn't tell any pony!"

Delicate smiled weakly. Gemdancer raised a hoof. Shimmer pointed to her. "Gem?"

"I woke up to the normal bedhead. I actually brushed my mane and tail ten times! I ate a few mandarin oranges for breakfast. I told my father where I was going, so I didn't have to worry about them."

Goldenheart rose his hoof. "Gold?"

"I woke up to some sick beats from my little sister, who, by the way, is a DJ!"

Every pony clapped their hooves together. "So, I ate some oatmeal for breakfast, with a banana for the side."

"Curious?"

"I woke up to my dad yelling at my mom, again. I had an apple and some caramel dip for breakfast."

"I am so sorry... I hate it when your parents fight. They're just big party poopers! Natural?"

"I woke up to the karaoke machine. I sang along, then got ready as fast as possible. I had buttered toast for breakfast."

"Blackhoof?"

"I woke up to my mom raising the sun. I made the mistake of brushing my teeth before eating a fruit salad for breakfast. Then, I got here."

"Moonlit? Oh wait, that's me! I woke up to my dog licking my face. I had pancakes without syrup, 'cause I was in such a hurry."

Curious trotted up and tapped Blackhoof's shoulder. "Hey Blackhoof, don't you come to realize that your mom looks nearly nothing like you? Sorry if I sound rude, but if Princess Celestia is your mom, shouldn't you resemble her at least a little bit?"

Blackhoof pondered this for a moment. "I never really thought about that."

He flew out of the tree houses without a word. They all looked at each other and shrugged.

*   *   *

Princess Celestia sat upon her throne, levitating many scrolls. Gala invitations, fan mail, betrothal requests, and tons more. The gigantic double doors to the throne room opened, revealing Blackhoof. Celestia smiled. "Son, you're home! How was your first meeting?"

"I have a question."

"Sure honey, anything."

"Are you my real mother?"

Celestia looked surprised. "Pardon me?"

"Are you my real mother? If you are, shouldn't I resemble you just a little bit?"

"Of course I am. Who else could be?"

"I don't know, exactly."

"Where did you come up with such a ridiculous question?"

"My friend pointed it out."

Celestia bit her lower lip. "When you're older, I'll tell you about your real mother. But for now, simply wait."