Dawn's new day.

How does she put up with this all day? After the incident with Shining Armor I had been forced to sit with Celestia in court instead of going outside to play. I wish I could be outside practicing my flying. My feathers bristled at the thought of going outside. I could have been napping on a cloud in the sun right now instead of listening to the ‘nobles’ drone on. At least this proposal is more practical than the last one.

“… so you see Princess a slight tax increase for this area of the country should allow us to significantly improve the roads and rail lines.” The unicorn mare finished her presentation with a polite bow and passed her notes to Raven Inkwell for Celestia to look at.

“Your idea certainly has merit Ms Fair Way. Dawn what do you think?” She passed me the notes and I knew she was testing me. Fair Way and the watching nobles looked a bit surprised I was included. I hadn’t been with the first few petitioners, the ones with insane ideas, yet I was for this mare.

Tapping my chin I eventually answered. “Well the idea has merit but.” I looked over the map again. “I think we should route the rail line closer to these few towns, maybe with some side tracks? It will make the path a bit less straightforward but considering it’s their taxes they should get something in return, and maybe hire some local ponies to help with jobs instead of using a big contractor?” I tilted my head to let my ear flop, I could almost hear a few mares ‘daw’ in the back.

Celestia on the other hoof gave me a surprised look. Did he really understand everything that has been going on? I was just wanting to bore him a bit.Haha you forgot that this is the colt that’s kept up with Twilight in studying. They even read while cuddling. Taking back the papers she looked over them again before agreeing. “Ms. Fair Way your idea will be approved with the changes the young prince has suggested. After I have my experts look over them of course.”

“Oh thank you Princess Celestia. Prince Dawn.” She bowed to both of us then was escorted to meet with the transportation committee.

“Now then. Before the next petitioner I have a small change to make.” Celestia stood up and before I or anypony in the room could process what happened she picked me up by the scruff like any mother would and set me on her throne. After nodding she then teleported a large cushion into existence and took my previous spot. “There we go. Prince Dawn will decide on the next few outcomes and I will only interrupt if necessary.”

The room filled with murmurs that I couldn’t quite make out. I did hear mention of how she did the same with Cadence once before but only recently. More of the comments sounded to be about Celestia picking me up as if I were her own colt.

As I sat there blinking in suprise Celestia poked me with a wingtip. “Dawn are you going to proceed?”
Are we really letting him do this, Cadence was much older when we let her sit on OUR throne.Lets see how he does. And like I said, we can always intervene.

“What?” I looked around. “Oh right.” I then spoke louder. “Bring in the next pony.”

The Stallion looked confused when he saw me sitting on the throne with Celestia on the side. “Um hello your majesty, highness?” Celestia gave a slight nod.

“Hello my little pony, what can the crown help you with today?” My impression of Celestia almost caused a few guards and other ponies to laugh, especially with how serious I said it. The only pony who didn’t was the stallion speaking.

“Well your highness, you see my town is having some trouble after a recent wild storm…” as he spoke I listened intently though I noticed a nervous ear flick from Celestia.

Why did the very next pony have to be a serious issue. A disaster like this isn’t something he should be starting with.You could always intervene~.

Before Celestia could even make up her mind I raised my hoof and spoke up, surprising everypony as I called for silence. “Raven.”

“Yes your highness?” She looked a bit unsure of what to do and glanced at Princess Celestia.

“First, Please contact the Weather factory to see if we can’t get a few Pegasi assigned to this stallions town to prevent this in the future.” I noticed Raven nod confidently and began taking notes. “Next contact the guard captain to see if they can’t spare a few ponies to aid with repairs and re-construction, tell them it’s for disaster training if they complain.” That’s actually a good idea. “Finally, see if the crown can’t spare some funds for a zero interest loan that the town can pay back whenever during my lifetime.” That got many confused murmurs until ponies realized that ‘my lifetime’ literally meant thousands of years.

“That work for you?” I turned to Celestia and smiled. She was a bit stunned but nodded and let Raven lead the Stallion away. “Excellent on to the next pony.” I rubbed my hooves together.

”Not on your life. The crown will never support this.”

My shout caused everypony to pin their ears back. The last mare in question for the day looked frightened after just having proposed what was basically a pyramid scheme using crown investment. My human grandparents almost lost everything to one of these schemes so I will snuff this out now.

“But…” The mare turned towards Celestia. “Princess please, you can’t really let this little colt decide this matter can you?” The mare huffed while ignoring me. That was a big mistake.

Celestia had never seen Dawn so angry before. What on Equis has him so riled up? It sounded like a relatively fair business model.I don’t know but it’s wonderful entertainment. We can have him explain at dinner.

Standing up I stomped down from the throne and pinned her with my magic before anypony could do anything. The guards around the room became tense, I wasn’t sure if it was directed at me or the mare but didn’t currently care. “Don’t look at her.” I growled. “Court is mine today and if I ever hear a whiff of you starting a business with this kind of plan again I won’t. Be. Happy. Now get out of the throne room.” I let her go and she ran off after wetting herself a little. The guards relaxed and a maid sheepishly walked out to clean up the mess.

After taking a calming breath, strolling back to the throne, and sitting down I waved a wing at the crowd. “Sorry about that everyone, I loathe pyramid schemes.” Just after speaking the bell rang signaling the end of court. “Looks like that’s it for the day. Have a wonderful evening everypony.”

Raven and everypony else just watched as I left the throne room. She eventually asked Princess Celestia. “Princess wh-what was that?”

“I don’t know but I intend to find out.” Speaking to the crowd. “No worries everypony Dawn was probably just upset from being stuck here all afternoon instead of spending it with his friends. Have a pleasant evening.”

Imago couldn’t stop laughing as she and her Princess got ready for dinner. “He really yelled at the poor mare like that?”

“Yes it was such a change from how he was all day. Even with some of the other, more annoying nobles he remained calm and told them the flaws in their plans. I was honestly highly impressed with some of his insights. Most of the nobles he told ’no’ didn’t even leave upset.” Celestia nuzzled Imago as the changeling preened her feathers.

“Was the mare’s idea really that bad?” Imago finished up and began brushing her own mane. After working in the hive all day she wasn’t exactly feeling fresh and would need a proper bath after dinner.

“While it wasn’t the most thought out I have heard it did not sound like anything to warrant the level of anger Dawn displayed.” Celestia sighed. “I guess we better go find out.”

“Good evening Dawn” I looked up from my meal. Celestia and Imago had finally show up for dinner which made me smile.

“Evening Dawn.” Imago smiled back at me and took her usual spot at the table. It was only the three of us, aside from the staff, as Twilight was having Sunday dinner with her family and took Spike along while Trixie was catching up with schoolwork at the dorms.

I gave them both a sheepish look. “Evening. Sorry I started without you both but I was really~ hungry from all that yelling.”

“Speaking of which. Dawn.” Celestia looked at me as if disappointed. It made my stomach churn. “Why did you yell at that last mare and use your magic on her.”

My ears shot up and I growled causing both their on ears to perk up in alarm before I sighed and pinned my ears again. “I’m sorry. It’s just, her idea was so bad then I couldn’t hold back.”

“But her idea didn’t seem to warrant such hostility, did it?” Celestia raised her voice a bit.

“Now Tia, let him finish.” Imago could sense the conversation was about to boil into an argument.

“Look.” I drew out a pyramid with some illusion magic above my head. “What that mare was trying to do is called a pyramid scheme. My mom taught me about them.” It wasn’t a lie since my human mom had warned me about them after what happened to our grandparents. “It looks harmless at first until you realize the ponies at the bottom are the ones who suffer. That mare just wanted to sell her junk products for a higher and higher price down the chain while she got all the bits.” I made my point by animating the flow of bits in my illusion. “By the time most ponies notice this, the company goes bust and only a few at the top end up rich while everypony else has junk products but it’s just legal enough they get away with it. It’s even worse when investors get involved and it causes a market bubble.”

Imago and Celestia shared a look before Celestia sighed with relief. “That is some wonderful insight and it would have taken a while to catch if I had let it through. That still doesn’t explain why you got so mad.”

I pinned my tail and looked down at my plate. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“But..” Celestia started before Imago cut her off. She felt some conflicted emotions from Dawn and thought it best not to pry.

“So Dawn how’s school? My little nymphs should be starting soon along with Spike?” Imago changed the subject a bit forcefully but it worked.

“Oh yeah he will. Twilight and I talked about it yesterday.” I began feeling better while talking with Imago about Spike and the nymphs going to school.

I guess knowing the exact reason isn’t important.