With the first day over I was now spending my time waiting to the side of the main entrance where I could hopefully catch Sunburst on his way out of the building. That colt has been annoyingly elusive.

As I began scanning the crowd of ponies I did manage to see Twilight and Moon Dancer both separately heading off campus while reading a book, It's impressive they can both do that without tripping. I also noticed plenty of other ponies I had seen in my classes today heading home or to their dorms as the school emptied out.

"Hey Dawn, wait long?" Starlight and Trixie had just found me and joined me on either side. Both gave me a friendly nuzzle before backing off.

"Trixie Hopes you were not bored without us." She said while donning her signature hat. Guess the teachers wouldn't let her keep it on inside.

"Nah, not long at all, I'm Trying to spot Sunburst but Haven't seen him come out yet."

Starlight huffed in annoyance, "I couldn't find him either at lunch or the library. I checked it on my way out."

"Trixie thinks maybe your friend does not want to be found." She tilted her head and her to large hat almost fell off, "Trixie just realized she does not know what this 'Sunburst' Colt looks like."

Starlight gave a quick description and Trixie continued, "Someone of that coloration should not be this difficult for Trixie to spot, maybe If she..."

I suddenly found myself with a filly standing on my back, "um, Trixie what are you doing?" I asked while looking at her over my shoulder. She wasn't heavy enough for me to really complain but Starlight narrowed her eyes at her.

"Trixie needs a better vantage point in order to help search," She somehow managed to sit down while remaining balanced on my back in order to hold a foreleg up and shield her eyes. "Trixie thinks this is not really helping, perhaps if," She put her forehooves on top of my head which was the final straw for Starlight.

She lifted Trixie off me using her magic, "Perfect, hold Trixie right here she can see the entire crowd," Starlight huffed and immediately dropped her with a thud.

"Don't climb on top of colts Trixie, besides it's not like we can't see just fine from here." I had to agree, the slight height advantage probably didn't help much as the crowd had already thinned from everyone heading home. The only ones sticking around were our group and a few club recruiters like Lyra, who was already trying to revive the schools old 'Human Club' without much success.

"Trixie will remember that for the future so long as you don't drop her again," She brushed herself off after standing back up.

Starlight smiled and the two shared a hoof bump, "Deal, well it looks like waiting around was a bust anyway. Guess you will have to find him at the dorms Dawn and drag him with you tomorrow." She gave me a friendly nuzzle then turned to Trixie. "Come on oh great and powerful Trixie, lets get back to the fillies dorms and you can show me some of magic you were bragging about." She sounded sarcastic but not unwilling.

As the two headed off, Trixie hesitated then doubled back for a moment to give me a friendly nuzzle before joining Starlight on the trek back. Guess I will See them later, they didn't Have to go so quickly.

Once the two were out of sight and it was clear no one else was coming out of the school building I started making my way back to the dorms. I had spent the past two days getting familiar with the public areas so as to not get lost so decided to take the long way back.

After leaving the main path I took a split which led to a small garden but stopped when I heard voices.

"Well, well, well look who it is." The cliché colt's voice said while a couple of others snickered. Why do bullies have to be universally unoriginal. I slowly made my way closer and poked my head around a tree to see what was happening, only to find my friend backed against a tree and surrounded by three other colts. Sunburst?!

I was about to run out but even I wasn't sure I could take on three unicorns that were older than me.
"He-hello do you need something from me?" Sunburst asked while pushing his glasses up. He had apparently just been reading a book alone under the tree he was now backed against.

The older colt in the middle scowled and said, "Didn't I tell you last year not to come back to Canterlot Sunbut?" His two friends nodding along.

"Well yes but If I did that I would no longer be able to come to school, Also my name is Sunburst," He was clearly shaking but also didn't quite understand the social situation. Enough of this.

I quietly made my way closer Just as the bully began lighting his horn, "Exactly now then its time for..." He didn't get to finish that sentence before finding himself hovering in the air along with his friends.

"What, what's going on?" One of them tried to run but his legs only found air as he was lifted higher.

"Let me down, I don't do good with heights." Said the other.

"Sunburst you better put us down right now or else..." Finished the middle one.

"Or else what?" I stepped out, "You Idiots can't even tell he isn't the one casting?"

"Dawn?" Sunburst adjusted his glasses again after tilting his head, "What are you doing here?" I almost laughed at how straight forward he was.

"Are you asking in general or right this moment?" I smiled at him while spinning the three colts with my magic a bit as they complained.

"Oh. Well I suppose both would be good to know considering the situation we are in." He had stopped shaking and had picked up his book.

This time I did laugh, "Well, Starlight and I have been looking all over school for you considering we both got accepted this year. As for right now, It looked like you could use some help." I glared up at the three older colts who were still struggling.

"You better put us down right now or you will be in so much trouble." The middle one started yelling once he realized what was happening. "My mother will make sure you can't ever attend school again if..."

I cut him off by holding his mouth shut and began to slowly spin all three of them in my magic. Once they were in motion I turned back to Sunburst, "So buddy how you been? You haven't written to me or Starlight after you got accepted, not cool."

For the first time Sunburst actually looked upset as his ears fell flat, "I did try to write but nothing was going very well and I figured you and Starlight would be better off without me."

A pause and his voice cracked, "You two were always better at the practical magic than I was, that performance burst when I got my cutie mark didn't last so, it turns out that never really changed."

He had started to tear up so rubbed his eyes with his foreleg. "Then I started to be bullied and well I never really was good with social situations."

"Yeah," I hip checked him then wrapped my foreleg around him, "you know, for how book smart you are, you can be real dumb sometimes you know that Sunburst. We were waiting all summer for you to come home or at least write us. Your mom said you wrote to her that you were fine and staying over the break to study hard, but I did always find it strange." I ruffled his mane.

"So buddy why don't you tell me what's been going on," I asked but then froze when a twig snapped.

"Eh hem," A new voice cleared its throat and joined us in the clearing, "Yes, What exactly is going on here?" 'Sunny Skies' Had just joined us and had her eyes narrowed at the three colts that were currently rotating slowly in my magic with a sick look on their faces.

At her question I released the magic and all three fell with a thud and began to groan. "Hi Ce-Sunny," I waved to her like nothing was wrong at all. "I was just teaching these three not to mess with my friend," I pulled Sunburst close.

"I. See. Is this true?" The three colts began to argue while Sunburst quickly sided with me. "Well then why don't we all head to Principle Celestia's office and she can sort this out." All three colts immediately stopped arguing and instead bolted saying it was all fine.

She sighed and shook her head before turning back towards us, "Sunburst you may go as well, Dawn I wish to speak with you." Sunburst knew when to get, however he did turn around and wave goodbye before trotting off towards the dorms.

Once everyone else was gone, 'Sunny' looked me over, "I don't Know if I should punish you or commend you for your actions today. Using magic like that on others is against the rules but so is bullying."

"Meh, why not do both Celestia," I shrugged and didn't even notice the slip, still feeling the adrenalin. "I mean I know it wasn't exactly the only way to handle it but Sunburst is one of my best friends and it was Three vs two, basically one since he isn't one for conflict. and..." I stopped talking once I noticed Celestia was just staring at me. Was it something I said?

"Celestia," I tilted my head a bit in confusion, "you ok?"

"Dawn, why do you keep calling me that?" She looked herself over as if looking for something.

I tilted the other way and my ears flopped, still not knowing what she was asking, "what?"

"Dawn, you keep calling me Celestia." She said deadpan.

I nodded in understanding, "Well yeah, why wouldn't I use your name? It's nice to see you again by the way princess, even if its not the best circumstances." I flattened my ears.

"Dawn, do I look like Princess Celestia?" Still trying to keep a blank expression but her eyes were questioning.

"Well no, You look like a big Pegasus. Cool trick by the way," I looked at her forehead and tapped my own near my horn, "Is it just invisible or is it also intangible?"

"Dawn, even IF I was princess Celestia, why are you not nervous?"

"Should I be, I mean you're just a pony like everyone else. Though with like WAY more magic," I spread my forehooves for emphasis and fell backwards while raising them to look up at her, "and taller."

Her mask broke as she laughed at my antics also dispelling her disguise. "A hundred years, It has been one hundred years since the last pony figured out my disguise, without me telling them, and it took them months. Yet you seem to have figured it out on day one."

She lowered herself to be more at eye level, "So how did you figure it out little one?"

"Ya can't hide the sun, it's way too bright," I nodded like I had just said the most obvious statement.

As she sat back up it was the princesses turn to look confused, "What?"

I got back up and smiled at her, "Your magic princess, I Could feel it on testing day. You had way too much for just a normal Pegasus, plus Twilight your personal student was in our testing group, makes sense you would watch over her." I had decided to go with the truth, even though I knew who she was from my memories. Lately I had noticed that most ponies couldn't see or sense magic like I could and apparently the show portrayed it to be more easily recognized than reality. Another thing that those memories got just a bit wrong, well Twilight can probably see magic like that too.

"Such a thing is quite rare, no wonder you could figure out who I was," She looked towards the sky and must have noticed the time since she donned her disguise. "Well Dawn, Please keep this information to yourself and do not even tell my Personal Student." She smiled, "She will have to wait until I tell her or she figures it out on her own. As for you, I will be keeping a close eye on you young colt." She took off and began flying away.

"Ok princess, Have a good evening 'Sunny'," I waved at her fading form but knew she heard me by the swivel of her ears.

Once she was gone I took a deep breath and said to myself, "well that happened," and made my way back to the dorms. Before I could take more than a few steps, A scroll popped into existence which I quickly read to myself.

"Balanced Dawn,
You have been given Detention for next Saturday. I will see you at my office after lunch.
Princess Celestia."

Dang it.

The walk back wasn't long and once inside the dorm I found Sunburst waiting for me in the lobby.

"Dawn! I was beginning to worry those bullies got you." He looked me over to make sure I was ok.

"Nah, I'm fine. The teacher Just wanted to talk for a bit and remind me to be the better pony, by giving me detention." I continued walking towards the cafeteria, I was starving after using all that magic.

Once we both got food and Sat down, "Well It is good to see you are ok, and I am glad you have joined the school. Sorry you ended up in trouble though because of me." His ears went flat and he looked like a kicked puppy. Weaponized cuteness is real.

"Me too, joining the school that is. Detention shouldn't be bad since it's with the princess. " I said through a full mouth, "by the way you have to join Starlight and I at lunch tomorrow. If not she will probably snap your horn, or my horn, or something."

Sunburst gulped and nodded, "I will be sure to make myself available."

"Good," I bumped him, "We both really missed ya."

Author's Note

Debating on If I should just use standard earth days or go with the unique naming for days. Since I have yet to set the calendar in stone and I know some flics use unique 1000 Day years since magical creatures do live longer and others uses the 365.