Dawn's new day.

Contrary to my name, Balanced Dawn, I was not a morning person/pony. This was only exacerbated by the fact I now had years of extra memories of working night shifts and from home, both of which meant sleeping through the day or at least allowed me to sleep in. So, even as I woke to a much more relaxing morning than the last time, with birds singing, and the pleasant smell of breakfast from downstairs, I cursed Celestia for the sunbeam that was hitting my face forcing me to wake up.

Eventually I did roll over, stretch, then head downstairs once the smells from breakfast became to enticing to resist.

"Well good morning sweetie." Morning Dew said from her spot at the table, "somepony is up early."

"Morning mom, morning dam," I nuzzled them both then hopped up into my chair.

"Morning Sport, ready for the big day?" Forest Breeze asked after finishing her bite of eggs.

I tilted my head back and forth a bit then my eyes went wide as I remembered today was the day we went to Canterlot. "Yeah, I cant wait," I nodded with a big grin stuck on my muzzle until, "I just wish you could come with mom." My ears drooping a bit as dam magicked over some breakfast for me.

She mimicked my expression. "Yeah sorry sport, but work never stops this time of year with farmers needing rain and stuff. But hey at least your Dam can go and It's not like I wont be seeing you again," She ruffled my mane with her wing.

The action did cheer me up and dam's breakfast on top of finally going to Canterlot made it hard to keep a sour mood.

"So sweetie," my dam started, clearly trying to change the subject. "You ready for the train ride today? Starlight and her sire will be meeting us at the station in a bit then we will have the ride to the capital, and lastly your big test in the afternoon." She magicked over a pamphlet from the counter and opened it. "Once in the city, Firelight and I will drop you two off at CSGU and go book a hotel."

I stopped mid bite to cut her off and ask, "Wait you two aren't sticking with us at the school?"

"Sorry Dawn but no. The school doesn't allow parents to stick around for the open testing since it's done in groups and with everything happening so fast I didn't have time to book us a hotel room in advanced," she apologized and flicked her ears.

After breakfast finished mom gave me a big, long, tearful hug while apologizing about having to go to work. I honestly didn't blame her, it's work, and was honestly super grateful she was so worried, which I made sure to tell her.

Once she did finally let up to head out to work, I cantered upstairs to my room and started packing my books and a few other belongings Into my saddlebags for the trip. Honestly glad to not have to wear clothes, never liked those things.

After packing, I was impressed that everything even fit into the bags fifteen books and a bunch of trinkets would have never fit in normal bags. Mom and dam must have sprung for the better model for me too, since I don't feel the weight at all! Mainly I had packed everything since out of town students stay at the dorms and dam let me know that if I did get in we wouldn't be coming back to Sires Hollow.

Once finished with my room I headed to the bathroom and began cleaning myself up for the day ahead. I even tried hiding my bit pouch in my mane after brushing it, which, with a bit of effort, stayed perfectly in place. Who knew Pinkie tricks really could work. Silly of course they do, no one ever tries properly. I shuddered a bit but didn't know why then, met mom in the living room.

She was just finishing up her own packing and asked, "Ready to start the day?" I nodded and adjusted my saddle bags. "Steady and ready, Freddy." I smiled at the saying I would have used back on earth while she just giggled as we left for the train station.

Trains are still begrudgingly my favorite, after flying. I grumbled to myself. It had been hours since the initial rushed meetup with Starlight and her sire at the train station, having almost missed it due to dam forgotting which bag she packed her bit pouch into. I was now spending my time looking out the window watching the twilight turn to night. Back during lunch in the dining car, I had found that when my dam said 'in the afternoon' for our arrival time, she had meant 'Tomorrow afternoon'. There are no direct trains to Canterlot from Sires Hollow and it would take an entire day! At least I get pony cuddles.

When our group first boarded the train in a rush, we spent only a few minutes after it's departure finding places in one of the private compartments and the four of us quickly got comfortable. A few more minutes and one Starlight Glimmer promptly fell asleep to the soothing motion of the train, leaving me with the adults. She did wake up for lunch and dinner but then promptly fell back asleep. Turns out I couldn't really blame her though, she had stayed up late all last night studying and wasn't sleeping well before that. Now after dinner, she was spending her time head on my withers like a sleepy kitten. My dam was no help as her and Firelight were spending their time with after dinner drinks, chatting or reading about the latest news in a paper they picked up. From their seats across from us, I could tell they were shooting glances our way now and then. They better not be shipping us, we're eight.

I huffed and got myself a bit more comfortable once night fully set in, using my magic to keep Starlight steady as she lightly swayed with the motions of the train.

The flow of magic on her fur must have woken her up though since she began to stir, rubbed her eyes with her forelegs, and asked the room, "Are we there yet." Ahh the classics of Road trips.

"Not yet Starlight," My dam replied, Firelight had recently fallen asleep after finishing his nightcap. It was a bit strange but Equestrian trains didn't have 'sleeper cars'. Ponies could just 'loaf' and be perfectly comfortable on the padded benches of the private compartments. "We still have the rest of the night but will be there early in the morning just after sunrise."

"Oh, Ok," She wiped more sleep from her eyes then her ears perked towards me like she just noticed I was next to her. "Hi Dawn."

"Well hello sleepy Star," I couldn't help but tease her a bit and dam giggled, Starlight bopped me with her hoof in reply and I scrunched my muzzle.

"You stay up all night studying," she squeaked, "and then try to stay up. I was so worried about our test tomorrow I started re-reading all my books!"

"All of them?" I tilted my head skeptically and raised my eyebrows at that.

She blushed and looked away, "well maybe not all of them. I still reviewed lots though! I want to make sure we both get in."

Hip bumping her, "I'm sure we will both do fine Glimmer. You're the best magical girl I know."

"Magical girl?" She tilted her head but didn't press the subject.

Dam who had been watching the entire exchange, "I'm Sure you will both do great, and Starlight I'm sure your father will say the same thing... once he wakes up in the morning." As if to respond he snored a bit in his sleep which made us all titter. After that the three of us began conversing quietly about the upcoming test and what we might have to do. Starlight was convinced it would be some kind of practical test while I was a bit on the fence. Sure, it may have started out as a practical, knowing Twilight had already hatched Spike's egg this year now during the Rain-Boom now made me wonder.

As the night wore on and conversation lulled, I eventually decided to close my eyes and take my turn at sleeping. Before being pulled off to dream, I found myself listening in on my Dam and Starlight speaking.

"So Starlight how have you been? I haven't seen you around our house lately."

I could practically feel her body sag and ears fold back. "I... no, I haven't been great and I haven't really been a good friend lately either."

My dam who probably knew enough about what has been going on, "It's never easy when a friend moves away, but you shouldn't ignore your other friends. My son has really been lonely without you and Sunburst around. Even if he won't admit it."

I felt Starlight press her side against mine a bit more, making sure I acted like I was fully asleep. "Yeah, It reminded me of when you guys first moved to town and he kept smiling when Sunburst and I met him no matter what."

Her and dam both tittered, "Well it was a bit of a hard move on all of us, I really never expected we would be back in Canterlot." I could feel the breath from her sigh tickle my coat.

Starlight shifted a bit, "Why did you guys move to our town Mrs. Morning Dew? Dawn always avoided answering when I asked about it." Hearing 'Our Town' is strange these days.

The pause lasted a while before my Dam finally sighed and answered, "I do not get along with my Parents so we had to leave Canterlot. Lets just leave it at that."

The conversation quickly stalled leaving only the sound of the wheels clacking along the track to fill my ears. It didn't take long for that soothing sound to lull me to sleep.

"Alright Ponies, Lets head out." Firelight said while trotting off, only to be stopped by my dam a moment after leaving the train station.

"CSGU is the other way," She pointed her hoof in the correct direction, "but first we need to get the foals fed."

Firelight made an apologetic face once he heard our stomachs grumble. Once we were off in the correct direction I followed closely to my dam's side. Canterlot is massive, I thought to myself then heard Starlight mimic my thoughts out loud.

"Sure is," Firelight said while reading off a brochure he garbed from the station as we walked along. "The capital is one of the largest cities in all of known Equis, home to Princess Celestia herself for roughly one thousand years. It was founded after the collapse of the old capital which is now lost to history." The one hidden in the Everfree to be re-discovered in about 11 years by Twilight and her friends once Nightmare/Luna returns. Not that Celestia forgot about it.

Mulling on that thought my Dam continued, "It's also home to the unicorns, some more friendly than others, as well as many other visiting species like Yaks and Minotaurs." The City was honestly much biger than expected, nothing like the show and I was super young when we lived here before so don't remember it well.

Starlight pranced a bit around her sire at that news, "oh I want to meet a Minitour I hear they are super tall and have weird appendages on their forelegs."

"Just dont call them weird sweetie," Her sire grabbed her in his magic and put her on his back, my dam doing the same as the streets had become more crowded.

"They're called Hands." I responded once I was comfortable. Heh, a pony riding a pony.

Starlight tilted her head and looked my way as our group made its way deeper into the capital, "what are?"

"The things at the end of a Minotaurs foreleg. They are called hands which are attached to their arms, which is what they call their forelegs."

"And how do you know that?" She asked but was answered by her sire who looked back at her to reply. "He is right sweetie. I have had dealings with a few of them during my travels, you may even meet a few while living here."

Starlight hummed a bit with this new information but both her and my own thoughts were cut off with a, "Were here," from my dam.

Looking up I had to stifle a laugh 'Pony Joe's' was right in front of us and we were headed inside. "Dawn you may not remember this but you used to love this place. Your mom and I would practically have to drag you away crying every time we got doughnuts from here."

I blushed but didn't get a chance to argue. "Well what do you expect when dealing with some of the best in town," Pony Joe himself replied from behind the counter. Living the dream. "Now, what can I get your fine family today?"

My dam and Firelight shared a look then laughed, "oh were not together 'Together' Just friends from the same town in for a visit."

"Oh well forgive my assumption." Dam and Firelight forgave him then placed our orders while starlight and I grabbed a booth by the window. I could see why this place was so popular, it was in a nice location with a few parks around. While looking out the window I couldn't help but notice a purple pony trotting next to a slightly larger white one with a purple dragon on its back. No way, it can't be.

"Hey Dawn what you looking at?" Starlight noticed me starting out the window.

Between looking towards her then back, they had gone, "well there was a white unicorn colt with a tiny purple dragon on his back."

"Really where?" she spent the rest of breakfast glancing out the window, disappointed that she missed it, our parents wondering why she was so quiet.

"Don't worry Startlight, I bet we will see it again." I tried to comfort her by whispering in her ear as we left Joe's and continued our 'quest' to the school.