Chains

Can He Come To School With Me?

The days passed by like the clouds in the sky, and the private studies of the young unicorn hadn’t let up one bit. Her studying still went on into the late nights even from early morning.

Chains, ever at her side, would always retrieve her meals which her mother had prepared for her. He had wanted to make sure she was taking care of herself, but tried not to overstep his bounds. His wrists had healed up, like he promised they would. He never again went into the closet with the chain.

An odd moment of boldness came one moment while Starbright was preparing breakfast for the household.

The young human approached her with his head bowed, and spoke up, “U-Um, Madam? If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, c-could you teach me to cook for Mistress Twilight?” he asked almost too quietly to hear.

Starbright Sparkle was taken aback by his request. The human wasn’t in the habit of speaking without being spoken to, though it didn’t worry the unicorn any that he was speaking up. She had to admit he was adorable as far as humans went. And seeing him running around with Twilight when she wasn’t studying, staying at her side faithfully and unquestioningly.

She was happy he was so loyal.

She let a smile come to her face, “Sure, come here Chains,” she said, inviting him close to her as she began to show him how to cook a simple breakfast. While he couldn’t use magic like she could, she began to understand why her daughter was so entranced by his hands. The range of motions they could perform made them excellent tools for whatever work it was he would be intent on doing.

He was a quick learner, and that morning, he made Twilight breakfast all by himself. Even Starbright was amazed by how quickly he learned. She wondered just how smart this human boy was.

He looked so proud of himself when he finished the meal, and was happy to be of use for Twilight. Chains took the plate, and brought it to his Mistress, who was just waking up. She practiced her magic as she ate, bringing the food to her mouth with her telekinesis. She smiled as she quickly ate the breakfast. It seemed particularly good this morning.

Thanking chains for bringing her the food, she got up and gave him the empty plates as they went to the kitchen.

“Mom, breakfast was really good this morning!” she exclaimed.

Her mother looked at her with a smile, “Well thank you Twilight, but I guess little Chains didn’t tell you that he made it, did he?” she asked.

Twilight looked to the slave boy who put her dishes in the sink, a surprised smile on her face, “You cooked breakfast, Chains?” she asked.

The boy blushed and looked at his feet, a little embarrassed, “Um, yes Mistress” he said.

Twilight smiled to him and nuzzled her head to his chest, “No need to be embarrassed Chains, you’re a really good cook,” she told him.

He smiled happily, “Then, can I make it for you more often?” he asked her.

Twilight giggled a little, “You’d better,” she said, but gave her mother a look, hoping she would approve as well.

All Starbright could do was sigh and smile, nodding in agreement.

…….

It was only a couple nights later, when something important to their future would happen, weather they knew it or not.

Twilight was finishing up the last book on magic she could find in the local library. She let out a little yawn. Chains was next to her, sorting the books for her as she had put them aside, saying which ones she would like to read again and the ones she didn’t care to read again.

The reread stack was much larger than the other one. But that didn’t matter. It seemed that Twilight would finally be getting an early night’s sleep.

Until there was a knock at the door, and her parents walked in just as the young filly closed the last book.

“Yes Mom and Dad?” she asked, getting up. Chains stayed where he was, adding the book to the reread stack.

Moonlight Sparkle smiled and reached back and pulled out an acceptance letter from Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns.

“Your father and I enrolled you in the school, we thought you would like to learn magic in the best school around, and the acceptance letter just came in today,” said Starbright with a proud smile.

Twilight’s eyes widened with glee, and forgetting her fatigue from studying so late, she was bouncing back and forth happily. “Yes, yes, yes!” she jumped with joy, and went to Chains and hugged him, bringing him to the ground in excitement. “I get to go to study magic at Princess Celestia’s School!”

Chain couldn’t help but smile back at her for her joy. Seeing his Mistress happy made him happy.

Twilight looked back at her parents, “Its dorm rooms, right?” she asked. “So Chains can come too?” she asked.

Her parents looked to each other and then to their daughter and the young boy himself. The look on their face had become sad, “I’m sorry Twilight, but the rules are that no humans are allowed on campus,” her mother told her.

Twilight looked up, “Why not?” she asked. When she didn’t receive an answer she pouted.

“It’s not fair.”

Chains looked to her, and thought of how it would be if she had to leave. It felt like his insides were being torn apart. She was the greatest thing to ever happen to him. But it wasn’t about what he wanted, and how he felt. He knew that, and though he could feel the tears start to build up, he just sniffed, and he looked down, “Mistress Twilight, it’s everything you ever wanted, don’t worry about me,” he told her. Tears were beginning to spill forth and onto the floor at the feet of the child. “I-I’ll see you one day when you’re done with school, and then, I’ll make the best meal I can for you,” he said, trying to put a smile on, as hard as it was.

Twilight looked at him, and was brought to tears as well. She clung to him, and cried into his chest. He was her only friend she’s ever had. Even if he was just human, she’s never had a friend like him. The thought of having to leave him behind was heartbreaking, but even he was cheering her on to learn magic, even as he cried with her.

She sniffed a little, and looked up at him, forcing a smile too, “O-Okay, I’ll go,” she said. “And I’ll become the greatest most magical unicorn ever,” she said with determination.

Her parents smiled sadly, and her father spoke, “Your entrance exam is in a couple of days, I can help you study for it if you want,” he offered.

Twilight sniffled again, and nodded, ready to get to it right away. But her father told her to get some rest for the night, and she nodded, and went to her bed, laying down and sniffled one more time. Chains wiped the tears from his eyes, and bowed to Twilight’s mother and father before they took their leave. He then went to his spot on the floor and lay, trying to feel more joy for his Mistress than sadness.

He fell into a difficult sleep, unable to dream or rest.

………

It was sometime in the night, when his harsh slumber was interrupted the feeling of something nuzzling into his back, as he had been sleeping on his side. He stiffened, not sure what it was, but feeling a little hoof on his side, he looked back over his shoulder to see his Mistress, some dried tears on her face, looking at him.

“Chains,” she said softly. “I-I didn’t mean to wake you,” she said. “But… I wanted to sleep with you tonight,” she said. “I don’t care if Mom and Dad say I can’t, I don’t think I can sleep alone tonight,” she said, choking back a sorrowful sob.

Chains couldn’t deny her, no matter how much he feared her parents being angry. He couldn’t bear to see her cry. Not that he had much choice in the matter. He silently nodded, and lifted up the blanket for her to crawl in with him. She snuggled herself against him, and he became aware of her heartbeat. How strong it was, and how it seemed to beat in rhythm with his.

She pressed her head to his chest, her head placed so her horn is off to the side, not wanting to stab him. “Chains, I’m sorry, I really don’t want to leave you,” she said. “I’m happy that I can go to the School, but, it won’t be fun without you,” she told him.

The young slave boy found himself wrapping his arms around her, and pulling her closer, “its okay, Mistress,” he said, though he felt he was lying to her, which he didn’t like. But it was better than seeing her sad. “I promised I’d make you the best meal I could when you came back,” he told her.

She sniffled again, “I know, but I still wish I could take you with me,” she said. “I like you more than Smarty Pants, you at least can help me,” she giggled a little.

Chains smiled, and held her close, and the two of them slowly fell asleep, snuggled up to each other.

…….

The Sparkles and their human stood in the classroom, and Twilight stood up front, trembling out of nervous anticipation, waiting for the examiners to give her the entrance exam. She looked to her parents and slave, all three giving their silent encouragement. Chains seemed to do so more quietly, but it seemed even more helpful to see him there than her parents.

She turned, and looked as another pony pushed in a wagon with a large egg in it. The instructors then stated that her test would be to make it hatch. The task made the young filly even more nervous, and she almost froze on the spot.

“Well, Miss Sparkle?” asked one of the instructors.

Twilight snapped out of her daze, and studied the egg, laughing nervously; the instructors began to write down something on the clipboards.

She then pointed her horn to the egg, and attempted to use her magic on it. But to no effect greater than a few sparks from her horn. She was just so nervous about failing it was bringing her down. She kept trying, unable to do anything better than before.

“We don’t have all day,” said the instructor.

Chains felt a tinge of anger towards this one, but the child was more concerned that his Mistress would be able to accomplish her task.

The rest of her efforts were also in vain, though some seemed even comical. In the end, she collapsed, exhausted. She sighed in defeat, and looked to the instructors, “I’m sorry I wasted your time,” she said sadly.

The instructors wrote some more on their clipboards, when suddenly there was a loud booming sound from outside, which startled the filly so much, she shot a powerful beam of magic straight at the egg, causing it to instantly hatch. A newborn purple dragon to remain there, staring out at the new world it was born into.

It was not the end though, as Twilight’s magic began to run rampant, engulfing her, bolts of magic flying from her at random.

It struck the instructors and they became suspended from the air.

It struck her parents, causing them transform into a potted plant and a cactus.

Another bolt struck the newly born dragon, and made it grow too large for the room, breaking a hole in the roof.

Chains cried out as a stray bolt grazed his arm, leaving a burning mark on his arm. He looked to his Mistress whose magic was out of control, and for the first time since he met her, he felt afraid of her.

It was then, that another being came into the room, and put a hoof onto the shoulder of the filly whose magic had gotten out of control. Twilight looked into the eyes of the newcomer, to see that they were those of the Princess Celestia herself, and felt calm wash over her.

The magic dispelled, dropping the instructors, and returning the Sparkles and the dragon to their original forms.
The alicorn looked down at the frightened filly, “Twilight Sparkle,” she said.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t-”

“You have a very special gift. I don’t think I’ve ever crossed a unicorn with your raw abilities,” Celestia said, with a very impressed tone in her voice.

Twilight could only stare up at her, “Huh?”

“But you need to learn to focus these abilities through focused study,” the Princess continued.

"Huh?!”

“Twilight Sparkle, I would like to make you my own personal protégé here at the school.”

“HUH!?!?”

“Well?” asked the Alicorn.

Twilight could only look back at her parents to seek their approval, and confirmation that this was really happening.

They nodded vigorously, urging their daughter to accept the offer of their ruler.

Twilight replied with an excited, “Yes!”

She leaped into the air-

“One other thing,” the Princess stated, holding up a hoof.

“More?!” the excitement was becoming too much for the young filly as she fell to the ground dumbfounded.

The Princess pointed out to her the mark that had appeared on her flank.

A spark of magic was the best way to describe it, and Twilight smiled brightly, “My cutie mark! Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes,” she cried out repeatedly, jumping around in excitement.

Chains, despite his earlier fear, and the burn on his arm, could only smile as he saw his Mistress so happy with the recent events. His hand covered the burn mark on his arm; he didn’t want to worry her.

The filly looked to him, happily smiling and bouncing up to him, “I’m gonna be Princess Celestia’s student,” she said excitedly.

“I’m very happy for you Mistress,” Chains said with a smile that was equal to hers.

Realization hit Twilight then, and her smile became sad, she didn’t want to say goodbye to him, and even though she went through all this preparation, she couldn’t do this without him.

She looked to Princess Celestia, and it almost hurt to say the next words, “I’m sorry Princess Celestia, but… I don’t think I can,” she said. Everypony who was in the room, with the exception of Twilight and Celestia, were wide with shock.

Celestia looked at her with a curious look, “But you were so excited earlier, why don’t you think you can be my student?”

Twilight looked down sadly, feeling a little silly, “This is my human, Chains,” she introduced, “and I won’t be able to take him with me when I go to live at the school, so… I don’t want to go,” she said sternly, finally grabbing up the courage to say it.

Chains trembled. His mistress was giving up her dreams, for him, he wanted to tell her to forget about him, to not give up on her dream just for him, had the princess hadn’t spoken up first.

“Twilight, as my personal student, you won’t be living on school grounds, you’ll be in the Royal Palace, and I wouldn’t be opposed to you bringing who or whatever you want with you,” said the ruler, a kind smile on her face.

The filly beamed with a gasp and a brilliant smile, “Really?! Thank you!” she said excitedly to the Alicorn, and then turning to smile at Chains, who was also shocked from the news that he would be allowed to live with Twilight while she was going to school. He could only give a bow of thanks to the ruler of Equestria, his bi-colored eyes bright with thankfulness, being too tongue tied to do more.

Celestia smiled back, her eyes locking with his, before she turned away, “I will see you at the Palace in a week, Twilight Sparkle. Your studies will begin immediately, so bring everything you will need. Also, the dragon you helped hatch will be your responsibility once he’s old enough; our dragon nursery will take care of him till then,” she informed her.

After a few more exclamations of “thank you” and “yes Princess”, Celestia made her leave, her face darkening the moment she left the room. The eyes of the human child had brought back memories long left buried.

..........

Authored by Bookybrony
Edited by SpyroManiac_1