The Kids From Equestria

"Have a seat," Princess Celestia's sweet voice coaxed as she sat on a brick wall, patting the spot next to her. Since Dusk Shine wasn't technically a tall boy, he had to jump up on it as if he were climbing out of a pool. "So we meet again."

"I guess so, Professor - I meant Princess -"

"- don't worry about it, I understand. Now, tell me about your science. Have you learned anything since our lessons when you were young?"

"Oh, about that..."

"Don't worry, I know that it's not science," she chuckled.

"Yeah," he sighed out in relief, kicking his legs softly.

"How did you personally learn magic?"

"Well, it's a long story that you probably don't want to hear."

"Of course I want to hear your story. That's why I'm here, no? I've never heard your take on everything, so I want to make sure that you can complete the task I am willing to give you."

"Well, I read when I was very little that there were two royals. Princess Celestia, who everyone loved, and Prince Artemis, who was a cold soul that was hated by all. One day his evil overpowered him and he tried to kill his sister, where she used the six Elements of Harmony and her own magic combined to banish her little brother to the moon. He would stay there for a thousand winters before he came back. After I read that, I wanted to know everything and anything there was to know about magic. I kept trying to learn, but I was never able to get it... But, when I was little, I found an rock. I tried to use magic once more, and out of that rock came a baby dragon. Since I was little, I couldn't control it, and that dragon turned into a baby. I took her to the library with me and I had to find a spell to warp my parents' minds to make them think she was just their daughter, and that's how I found my little sister Barbara... I never questioned magic after that day, but I kept working at it."

"That 'quantum physics' book. What is it about?"

"It's about the magic you used to banish Nightmare Moon."

"Dusk Shine," she sighed, placing her hands on his shoulders. "In one week, it will be a thousand winters."

"What?"

"Nightmare Moon will return, and you must use the Elements of Harmony to stop him."

"Why are you talking to me? I'm nothing special."

"Dusk," she laughed, cupping his cheek in her hand and rubbing it with her thumb, "you are everything special." The princess ushered him back to his friends and she cupped her hands together, smiling to Dusk. "Good luck, darling." She planted a soft kiss on his forehead and the five other kids watched her board her carriage and leave, not a trace of her ever being there in the first place.

"Dude, what the hell," Blitz mumbled and scratched his head.

"You know the princess," Rarity shrieked and Dusk shook his head.

"Yeah," he mumbled, "I do. She taught me science when I was little, and it was like a gifted boarding school."

"Is that why your book says 'Spells of the Everfree Forest and their Implications'," Pinkie Pie asked, still jumping on her pogo stick.

"Hey, that's private," Dusk shouted with fear in his voice.

"Don't worry, we won't tell anyone," AJ soothed, but Dusk scooped up his book and shook his head.

"Don't turn against me! Don't tell my parents -"

"- we won't," Rainbow Blitz groaned, massaging his forehead.

"Who looked through it?"

"It was Pinkie," Blitz spat out as everyone pointed fingers to him. "Damn, alright, snitches get stitches, you guys! But dude, chillax, it was harmless!"

"Harmless? The fate of Equestria is in that book!"

"Don't you mean this one," Butterscotch whispered, picking up his other book with a simple pink star-shaped jewel in the front of its thick leather cover. The big pink star was surrounded in clear diamond twinkles and the button that held the book together was a diamond with a keyhole in it.

"Don't open that," Dusk argued, snatching it up from the shy boy.

"Sorry, but... I mean, I live in front of Everfree and I go into the woods -"

"None of you know nothing about Everfree!"

"But I live -"

"- and what kind of magic do you guys know?"

"Well, none, but we weren't going to tell anybody," AJ repeated. Dusk began to hyperventilate and Rarity rubbed his back.

"It's alright, nothing's going to happen. Come with me, alright?" She led him into Rainbow Blitz's house and sat him down on the couch, holding his hand. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"I'm just scared that everyone will hate me for it."

"Of course not, dear."

"I have no friends and I'm just an idiot that thinks magic is real!"

"You're not an idiot," Rarity sighed, wrapping her arms around his chest. "I'm your friend, am I not?"

"You... You want to be my friend?"

"Who wouldn't? You were taught by Princess Celestia herself!"

"I guess so," he sighed and she squeezed his knee.

"Do you want to play a few games of volleyball?"

"I don't know how to play."

"Then come on, I'll teach you." Rarity grabbed his hand and yanked him through the front door and down the steps back out in the street. "Butterscotch, go to AJ and Blitz's team!" Blitz cheered as the boy walked over and Rarity dribbled the ball. "Hey Blitz? How do you like having Butterscotch on your team?"

"Suck it, Rare-Bear, he's actually good!"

"You said it first before you knew he could serve with the force of a thousand Mongolian armies!"

"Yeah, but now I know he's stronger than AJ!" Dusk Shine smiled at the argument and they all played volleyball until the sun began to fall.

"Who wants to go to Sugar Cube Corner for dinner," Pinkie finally broke in and they agreed, taking down the clothes hanger and loading it in the back of the truck before they all piled into AJ's truck.

The sound of the Dixie horn and five kids screaming about the speed limit, followed by a "yee-haw" broke the evening silence, and Dusk Shine was left with the first friends that he has ever had.