The rest of my week had become very eventful once the story of my grandparents broke. Most of my fellow students began avoiding me however, some of the older students actually praised what my grandparents had been doing to non unicorns. I should probably warn Celestia about them when I see her later.

I was currently eating an early Saturday morning breakfast in the dorm dining room and wondering what I would be doing later once I joined Celestia at the castle for my first lessons with her and Twilight. I hope Spike will be there, that little dragon needs some positive attention and is just so cute.

"I still cant believe you were telling the truth about your break." Sunburst broke me from my thoughts as he sat down next to me with a loaded tray.

"Why would I lie about something like that?" I chuckled then took another bite of my food. Most of the dorm students were sleeping in or avoiding our table. “It wasn’t exactly a funny story even if it sounded outlandish.”

"I know. The others, especially Starlight, got really worried once news spread.~ Sorry about the rest of the students though." Sunburst was of course referring to how the rest of the school had responded to the news.

"It's alright, It should all blow over by next year or when something else big happens. I still have you and the other girls to keep me company." I bumped his side. "I also have my first lessons today with the Princess after breakfast."

"It's impressive you get to be her personal student. She only ever takes on one at a time." Sunburst Praised.

"More like she just wants to keep a close watch over me after everything that happened I bet. I won’t mind hanging out with Her and Twilight though, I still need to show her up after that last test we had." I smiled. Twilight had gotten a higher score on our last written magic test about spell runes and had actually bragged about it. I found it cute and decided to leave me showing up today a surprise.

“I’m surprised you’re so casual about seeing the princess. Speaking of, does Twilight even know she made you her student as well?” He waved his fork at me with his magic.

"Nope." I chuckled. “Most ponies don’t know as it hasn’t been announced. Ah, you probably shouldn’t tell anypony either.” I was about to go back to focusing on my meal when he asked another question.

“So did you really get married to Lyra?” He looked away shyly.

I almost did a spit take with my breakfast. “Technically… like I said it was annulled right away. Why?”

“Just wondering what it would be like.” He tapped his hooves together. He should have no trouble getting someone later on.

I chuckled and got back to eating.

“What can I help you with young colt?” The guardsmare asked sweetly while looking down at me. I had left the campus after grabbing my saddle bags and made my way through town to the castle gates.

“I’m here to see the Princess.” I smiled up at her and passed over my invitation. She raised an eyebrow as she read it over.

“I see. Well, let’s not keep her waiting then.” She spoke with her fellow guard then led me inside. I was grateful for her leading since it was only my third time at the castle.

When the two of us arrived outside of Celestia’s study she spoke to her fellow guards at the door then knocked. “Princess I have Balanced Dawn here for you.”

“Thank you, please let him in.” Celestia’s voice rang out as she opened the door with her magic. I stepped into the room while the guards returned to their posts. As soon as the doors closed I trotted over and gave her a nuzzle.

“Morning princess.” I playfully said, still nuzzled into her side.

“Good morning Dawn.” She tittered. “You showed up quite early for our lessons today. Have you eaten already?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I was honestly excited to see you without being in trouble.” I joked.

“Yes. We have had a habit of meeting under less than ideal circumstances.” She hummed. “Speaking of, did you hear about the trial results.”

“Yeah.” My ears splayed back. “I still can’t believe two of them got away.” I sighed then changed topics before getting to deep into it. “So does Twilight know I’ll be here?” I nudged her and was grateful she played along.

“No. She doesn’t.” There was a twinkle in her eye. “I figured it would be a good surprise before the winter break.” She took a sip of her tea.

I laughed and moved away a bit getting more comfortable. As I did a maid, Feather Duster, took my bags to the side and brought me my own cup of tea. “At least her reaction should be fun.~” I took a sip from my fresh cup. And maybe kinda cute.

“Sorry I’m late Princess!” Twilight burst in after a while, interrupting the conversation Celestia and I were having. “I stayed up to late studying and then I had to make sure Spike ate.”

“I’m glad you’re feeding our son Twilight.” I said with mock seriousness. Twilight’s brain froze for a moment when I spoke up.

Celestia raised an eyebrow at me then looked back towards Twilight and calmly said. “It’s quite alright Twilight. Dawn and I were just talking about holiday plans and his upcoming studies.”

“I. what?” Twilight slowly walked over to us with a happily babbling Spike on her back. When she finished rebooting. “So is Dawn in trouble again?” She tilted her head.

“Not this time.” I smiled and grabbed Spike from off her back and gave the baby dragon a Nuzzle. He laughed and took the toast I offered.

“No Twilight. For the first time I have decided to take on two personal student’s. Dawn is here today as your fellow Protege.” Celestia smiled at the scene of Spike and I. What can I say, I love reptiles as much as fuzzy critters.

Twilight opened and closed her mouth a few times then, “What?!? But.” She fell on her rump. Feather Duster in the corner also looked mildly surprised.

“Yes, I plan to make the official announcement after the holidays but starting today he will be joining us for our future Saturday lessons and you two will even be doing research projects together. So play nice with the colt.” She smiled then winked at her first student.

“That shouldn’t be a problem Celestia, Twilight and I are already friends.” I nuzzled spike again and switched to baby talk. “Isn’t that right spike, mommy and daddy are already great friends.”

Spike laughed while Twilight blushed. Celestia hid a polite laugh behind her hoof at Twilight’s indignation.

“Hey, Stop hogging my Spike.” Twilight finally grabbed him back with a huff but then surprised me by loafing at my side with Spike between her legs. “And call her Princess.”

I stuck my tongue out at her while Celestia just happily watched us banter for a while before finally having us move on. These two bicker like an old married couple. I know, wonderful isn’t it. Huff.

“Alright you Two that’s enough. Let’s move onto our lesson plans for today shall we?” Celestia chided.

“Yes princess/Mom.” Twilight replied dutifully while I replied cheekily earning myself a nudge from the filly.

When lunch finally rolled around Twilight was in a much better mood about having me around. It felt to me like she actually enjoyed having someone her age around to bounce ideas around with her and the princess. I also wasn’t reverent to Celestia so I actually asked random questions, unlike Twilight, so it rounded out the study sessions nicely. I still don’t know why Twilight has such a complex about Celestia.

As the four of us ate lunch, Celestia focused primarily on catching up with her work. Must be tough running a country on top of everything else.

Twilight on the other hoof was devouring her food with gusto and I had to hold myself back from laughing every time Spike stole something from her plate. Well it’s not like I really care about manners and it’s still not as chaotic as at the farm.

“Dawn.” Celestia had set down her work and spoke after finishing a bite of cake. “After lunch you and I will be heading to the training hall.” She didn’t explain why.

“Can I come too Princess? If you’re going to be practicing spells i want to be there.” Twilight excitedly asked, a few crumbs around her muzzle.

I guess it’s true that those with lots of magic need to eat more. I had just finished my own second helping of salad.

“Not this time Twilight.” Celestia gave her a warm smile. “I’ll just be testing his practical abilities so why don’t you spend the afternoon in the castle library.”

“Really?” Her eyes went wide. “Yes, yes, yes. You don’t normally let me go in there alone after last time.” Twilight blushed. Knowing Twilight she must have made a big mess.

“Yes, well.” Celestia coughed into her hoof. “I’ll send down a guard to keep you out of trouble.”

Twilight gave a sheepish look.

“So why isn’t Twilight allowed to be alone in the library?” I finally asked the burning question with a tilt of my head after Celestia and I made it to a training room.

She just chuckled. “She has a habit of trying out the spells immediately if she finds a new one in a book and not always with the best results. Now then.” Her demeanor became a bit more serious. “As my second personal student I will need to see what you are capable of Dawn. As you may know, both you and Twilight are very magically gifted for one’s so young so you must be careful with such power.”

“I know.” I lowered my head a bit with my ears splayed back. I know she’s talking about Twilight’s surges and my unique magic.

“No need to fret.” She put a hoof gently on my side. “Just show me what you can do.”

We spent the next twenty minutes going over a few spells such as basic levitation, elemental spells and finally shields. The last few were things only Twilight would have been able to pull off at our age.

“Excellent Dawn.” Celestia genuinely praised. “Now please show me that unique spell your grandparents taught you.”

I flinched then focused on a log she had teleported in after an encouraging nod. When my spell hit the entire thing turned into solid gold. Celestia kept a neutral expression but I could tell she was a bit concerned.

“I see.” She circled the log with her horn lit. “You can hardly tell it’s magically transmuted gold, most transmuted materials reject further enchantments so it’s easy to tell them from natural materials yet this gold still accepts them, if with a bit more difficulty.” She was more speaking to herself than me.

“So no making infinite money?” I joked but she frowned. Well not like my family needs money.

“Dawn such an action would be highly illegal as you should know from learning about basic transmutation, not to mention while it’s a good fake it is still fake gold.” She chided.

“We have one last thing before we finish up and I check to make sure Twilight hasn’t wrecked the library… again. What was the spell you did during the entrance exam? I have never seen something quite like it.” She looked back towards me curiously after teleporting the golden log away.

“Oh it’s something I found in an old book by Clover the Clever.” I pulled out an Apple from lunch and broke it in half to retrieve the seeds then ate the flesh. “It lets me channel all kinds magic through my hooves like an earth pony even their own growth magic.”

I focused magic through my hooves into the seed and it sprouted as I held it. Celestia watched closely as the seed became a tiny sapling ready to be planted. Neither of us noticed as I began to glow and my shadow got longer.

“Dawn, no unicorn was able to pull off that spell, not even Clover Herself.” Celestia finally noticed the glowing.

“Huh.” It was in that moment I exploded leaving only a smiling shadow behind for a moment longer.

Celestia could only blink. Did your student just explode?This can’t be happening, according to my vision Twilight was suppose to somehow be the next.Apparently not.

Celestia looked down at the symbol on the floor and quickly got into action. “I better go retrieve him, oh this is going to be such an interesting dilemma. I hope he isn’t panicking.”

Celestia lit her horn and began teleporting into the Alicorn plane.

“Hello?” I looked around the white and black foggy expanse.

“Hello-o?” I asked again.”Well this is just great. Not even Celestia’s student a day and I explode into an Alicorn.”

I check my sides to see the wings. “Yep Alicorn.” I sigh. It’s not like I wasn’t happy to become one but this felt way to early.

“I am surprised you’re taking this so well.” A shadowy mare circled me once then stopped to sit and look down at me.

“Oh hi Lu-Nightmare.” I smiled up at her then frowned. “Was this your doing?”

She hummed and tilted her head back and fourth. “In a way. Apparently when I shoved that spell into your head a bit of more of my shadow magic clung onto you than I intended. Mix that with what you already have from your family and that magic from Clover and,” She clapped her hooves together, “new Alicorn.” She gave me a fang filled smile back while looking down at me. “And a fresh colt Alicorn as well.”

A shiver went down my spine as she licked her lips and leaned forward like I was her next meal.

“Dawn?” My ears perked up when I heard Celestia’s voice while Nightmare just Scoffed and disappeared.

“Dawn, there you are.” Celestia ran over and hugged me tightly with her wings and forehooves. “I know you must be scared and surprised but you have nothing to worry about. Becoming an Alicorn is a wonderful experience and…” she stopped when she noticed me tapping her leg.

I gasped for air when she released me from her chest floof. “Air!”

She nuzzled the top of my head. “Sorry about that Dawn. In any case this is wonderful news we will announce the arrival of a new prince as soon as possible. Perhaps after Hearths Warming when I planned to announce your status as my student.” She tapped her chin until I light poked her leg again.

“Yes Dawn?” She looked back down at me.

With a Deadpan glance I used my freshly enhanced Shadow magic to hid my wings just said, “Noope.” Like my big brother Big Mac.

Celestia just stared at me until we both disappeared from the Alicorn plane and arrived back in the training room with a ‘Pop’.

Imago, in her Feather Duster disguise, ran towards the training room. “Oh, my Princess I hope you are ok. Why did this have to happen while feeding my eggs.” She had been channeling love into her eggs when she felt a great magical surge then two more in quick succession.

When she finally arrived she found the Princess with her newest student Dawn and a messy training room. “Princess are you alright?” She could feel strange emotions coming from them both mainly the amusement of the colt and… pouting, from her Princess?

“Yes Feather, we are both fine. Thank you for your concern.” Imago almost melted from her Princesse’s smile.

“Very well then I shall leave you.” She bowed and began making her way back to the caves. She had eggs to tend to and her Princess was fine.

“So you really don’t want to let the public know?” Celestia pouted again after her personal maid left.

“Nope.” I shook my head. “I’m only just about to turn nine princess, I can’t be a prince yet.”

Celestia sighed. “Right, I forgot not all foals dream of being royals and you are still quite young even if you do have your Cutie Mark. I will have to announce this once you are older though, or if you can’t keep those wings hidden.” Perhaps when Twilight ascends as well.

I felt another chill down my spine and flapped my new invisible appendages. “Shouldn’t be a problem, I could already cloud walk thanks to Mom so I just have to hide the wings.” Thanks Luna for the illusion magic.

Celestia raised an eyebrow, “Young Dawn, how could you cloud walk?”

I chuckled nervously, Oops sorry Mom and Dam, then began explaining to the princess what I knew about my parents and my magic.

I feel like somepony needs a party! Pinkie shrugged off the thought and focused back on the counter where her friends were ordering food.

“Thanks Pinkie.” Applejack licked her lips at treats she was bringing back to the farmhouse.

“You’re welcome.” Pinkie waved after her.

After finishing her conversation with Dawn and then checking to make sure Twilight hadn’t ruined the Library, Celestia was more exhausted than she had been in centuries. She practically shoved the sun over the horizon as she flopped onto her massive cloud bed when it was finally time to end the day.

“Always one thing or another with that colt. At least Twilight didn’t make a mess.” She spoke into her pillow and got comfortable for the night.

Author's Note

Boom the gift of plot twist for Christmas.