It wouldn't be long after she got the letter that a new pony came into her life. And as any new mother would tell you. Discord's threat about chaos was an understatement. When she wasn't busy with running the kingdom, she spent as much time with him while he was still, at least in her eyes, too young to trust others to look after.

As the years passed, she quickly noticed her young colt became more interested in things that were less than what most saw as proper. Thankfully he was also advancing through classes faster than other colts his age. Especially when it came to his object manipulation magic. She eventually gave him a room of his own to use for whatever he wanted.

The major downside was that he tended to get into trouble. Between his pranks, which a hoof full of guards as well as herself found them funny. His most notable prank was painting the barracks pink. What had made the prank so special was that he did it in the middle of the day. The one guard that he tended to spend the most time with was Shining Armor.

"Hay Shining." He laughed nervously as he held a water balloon over the door with his magic. "I… I was just…"

"So… who's this one for?" Shining asked.

"Spike?"

Shining thought for a moment and moved to the other side of the door. "Fine. But if he doesn't come out. You're in trouble."

What surprised most more than anything was his bond with Shining's siblings. While Twilight was more of a classmate to him, Spike was more of a real friend. If not a rather… "helpful" friend.

Celestia started sitting back as time passed as he grew older. But their bond never seemed to diminish as he found more interests that she knew would one day call him to a far off place.

Then came the letter that gave her a grave and hopeful reminder of the times. "Sister…" She sighed as she looked out a window.

"Hay mom." The young colt said as he happily made his way over. "Are you going to go to this year's location for the summer sunrise celebration?"

"I am." She sighed before pulling him into a hug. "And I'll need you to stay here and look after things while I'm gone."

He laughed and returned the hug. "Of course mom. Besides, I have Shining Armor to help. And you got your student and the guards."

Celestia gave him a warm smile before turning to leave. "I'll be sure to let the guards know. And don't worry about day court. There's hardly anypony that comes in on the holidays."

The young colt spent the rest of the day studying up on the town his mother had gone to. Fear gripped him the following morning when he saw the dark sky. And no matter how long he kept his calm expression for the nobles that came to see him about what was happening, he worried about his mother.

And as the sun finally came up, he collapsed in relief on the floor of the mostly empty room. A part of him wanted to know what had happened. And a part of him was afraid to find out. One thing that came to his mind of what to do was getting out of the castle and unwind.

One problem… where to go.

It wasn't long before Celestia returned with her sister. A dark alicorn that as soon as Celestia introduced them went through a flood of emotions. When she was finally able to calm down the two began to bond as he helped her adapt to the changes the years that passed had brought.

Celestia smiled with pride and joy to see her sister and son getting along. However, she knew that the day would come where he would leave the castle was drawing near. And a part of her thought it was coming too soon.

The following few weeks she spent considering the best place to send him as she went through her daily routine. With each letter her student sent her however, her decision became easier and easier to make. There was just one thing she had to do before he left.

As he paced up his things, Celestia sent a message to her student.

"To my faithful student.
I have an important task that I must ask of you. A very special pony will be coming to live in Ponyville for a time. Please inform the mayor to have a house ready for him. Inform her that the crown will pay for anything needed to have it ready for his arrival next week…"

"NEXT WEEK?" Twilight repeated in shock. "Who could she be talking about to ask for something crazy like that? How are we going to get a place ready in time?"

"Didn't they just get a place fixed up the other day?" Spike replied, looking over the letter. "Oh… looks like he's somepony we know… but she wants that to stay a secret."

"That makes even less… wait." Twilight sighed before she realized what that meant. "Somepony we know… that the princess is willing to pay for HIS housing… that can only mean…"

Spike smiled at Twilight. "Isn't it great? Somepony we know from Canterlot is coming to town."

"No it's not, Spike." Twilight countered. "You remember how the girls acted when I got the tickets? Just imagine how they'd react when she finds out a prince is coming to town?" Shaking her head she sat and sighed. "They're all probably going to act the same way. I can't imagine a worse situation."

"How about them hearing our conversation?" Spike suggested.

Twilight sighed. "Yeah. That would be worse. Spike, please send her a letter for me. Ask her to wait an extra week so we can get everything ready… and to have him to wear a disguise of some kind."

Spike sent the letter and after a few moments he got a letter back. "Let's see… she says… sadly I can't delay his departure. It has been a trip that is long overdue. And the letters you and Spike sent have confirmed that Ponyville is the best place to send him for a relaxing place where he can make friends. And my sister has already left to escort him to the train station."

Twilight sighed and put the note that came with the first letter in her saddlebag. "In that case. We don't have time to spare."

Author's Note

A bit of a time lapse for this chapter because I didn't really feel like going through multiple chapters just to spoil what will happen in following chapters. Hope you guys like it. Also, name is yet to be decided.