Dawn's new day.

“Wake up, wake up,” I was currently under attack by a very excited and awake Starlight jumping up and down on our hotel bed. My dam, who was no longer cuddling me, and I had shared one while she and Firelight Shared the other to save on bits. Our parents had apparently already woken up and headed out, probably to grab us breakfast. Leaving foals/kids alone like that would have never worked on earth.

As she continued to jump I decided to play along and tackle her after her next bounce causing her to squeal in surprise. Once we were both tired out from playing our parents came back at the perfect time with breakfast floating behind them.

“Well I see you both finally woke up,” Firelight laughed at our exhausted state as he and my dam set out breakfast. "Are you both excited to find out your test results later?" he asked while picking up Starlight and bringing her into a hug with his magic.

"We get to know already?" Starlight asked emphasized with a cute tilt of her head while looking up at him.

"Yep," Firelight and my dam finished setting out breakfast on the small corner table and we joined them, "I'll be Taking you both up to the school while Morning Dew runs some errands in the city." My dam didn't look to happy at that comment but no one else seemed to notice.

After savoring a few bites I finally chimed in, "So what are we doing the rest of the day?"

"Well I figured we could go out and explore Canterlot a bit, It's been a few years since I was last here." Firelight happily replied while finishing off his own meal, "So why don't you two finish up and we can head out."

"Why, Why now of all times did they want me to visit and why didn't I just tell them No." Morning Dew huffed to herself after just leaving the hotel. "I could have spent the day with my colt. Instead I'm stuck dealing with them."

As Morning Dew trotted down the streets her hooves felt heavier as she reached her destination in the noble's district of Canterlot. Once outside the gilded gate of a familiar mansion she had to stop herself from banging her head against it. "Celestia give me strength," she put on a smile, then pushed open the gate with magic since family magic was the only way to open it.

After Cantering up the Path towards the front door she knocked and almost broke her smile when an older Unicorn mare opened the door. "Morning Dew, How good to see you sweetie, though I'm so glad you didn't bring your Feather brained partner along with you, " The mares voice was so sickeningly sweet and fake yet it was her words that caused Morning to grind her teeth.

"Hello Mother." She said while being dragged inside.

I was hopelessly lost.

I don't know when exactly it happened but I had gotten separated from Starlight and her sire not long after lunch and was currently in a park somewhere inside the city. After looking around and spotting a fountain I made my way over to it and sat on the bench next to it listening to the calming flow of water. Best thing to do when lost is stay put and visible so others can find you. Or should I go to the guard for help? I don't want to cause a bunch of trouble. My mature memories were conflicting a bit with my colt emotions.

As I waited for Firelight to find me I did spot a few adults visiting the park and considered asking for help. They are strangers though and it isn't like I'm worried about being lost. I may only eight but I have years of memories to help. I Thought to myself while wiping damp my eyes.

"Well hello there little one, are you lost?" I looked up at the soothing voice and found myself looking into violet eyes attached to the pinkest of mares. Cadence? Hey, I’m the Pinkest around.

"I-No," I said while putting my foreleg back down, voice squeaking a bit, "I'm just waiting on my friend and her sire to find me."

She tapped her chin with her hoof playfully, "oh, I see so your not lost but just waiting. Do you mind if I wait with you little one?" She already sat down next to me, “I’m actually waiting on someone as well.”

As we both sat there in silence I eventually broke it by casually asking, “so are you a princess?”

Her eyes widened a bit as she responded, “And why do you think that lit-“

I cut her off, “Balanced Dawn. My name is Balanced Dawn.” I huffed and looked away from her. “And I’m normal size for being eight!”

She tittered behind her hoof, “Sorry Dawn, but I must ask, why do you think I’m a princess.” She tilted her head while looking down at me.

“Well,” I held the word a bit, “I mean you’re an Alicorn so… princess.”

She looked shocked, “wait you can see my wings,” her wings ruffled as she took a step back.

I gave her a confused look the leaned to the side to make my point, “well they are kind of hard to miss princess.” I gave her a smug look.

“Cadence,” she took a calming breath and held out her hoof which I playfully bumped causing her to pause a moment before finishing, “my name is Cadence, and you shouldn't notice my wings since I cast a 'notice me not spell on them' for when I go out.”

Huh, so that bit of show lore is accurate. Before we could ask each other any more questions, we were interrupted by a voice calling out.

"Cadence," An out of breath Shining Armor had just cantered over, "Sorry I'm late, Twilight was getting super nervous about her test results," The two shared a quick nuzzle, "So I had to remind her that she already got in and was the Princesses personal student, but she kept twigging out so." Odd, for some reason I thought they got together later. Can't trust all those lore theories I guess.

He cut himself off when he noticed me, "oh I didn't know you were foal sitting today." He ruffled my mane, "hey there colt, I'm Shining armor, Nice to meet ya."

I begrudgingly found myself enjoying the attention and began wrestling with his foreleg. "Actually Shiny I Just met Dawn, the colt is apparently lost". She had whispered that last part but I could still hear her.

"Lost eh? Well why don't we help you get to where you need to be, as a future guard captain It's my duty to help out." He buffed a hoof on his chest while puffing it out.

I snorted and held back a laugh at how he looked but conceded, "Fine, I'm supposed to be at CSGU this afternoon so hopefully they will look there."

"Great," I found myself suddenly on the back of Shining after he lifted me with his magic, "Lets get going then." Do ponies not know about anything about personal space?

As the three of us traveled through the city, I noticed Cadence momentarily glancing my way now and then before asking, "so Dawn where are you from and why are you heading to CSGU?"

"Sires Hollow and because I just took the test to get in and results are out today." I knew she was a good pony but didn't want to give to much away.

Shining paused and readjusted my position on his back, "Really? My little sister is also going there, In fact," I could feel the proud grin form on his face, "She is going to be the princesses personal student."

I decided to tease him a bit, "wow so your family knows two princesses?" Cadence suddenly looked horrified.

"Two?" Shining asked confused.

"Well yeah, your sister is going to be the student of Celestia and you are on a date with Cadence who is also a princess."

"What?... oh," He laughed and then lovingly hip bumped Cadence, "You're right Dawn, She really is my princess." Does he not know yet? Cadence nuzzled him back then shot me a glare before we continued on towards the school, almost at our destination since apparently I wasn't actually that lost.

"So Dawn, what about you, have any special fillies?" Cadence asked while trying to tease me back, she didn't have much luck though and was soon interrupted again.

"Dawn?!" I waved, to Twilight who had Baby Spike on her back, "Why are you on my BBBFF's back?"

I hopped down and trotted over to her, "your Big Brother Best Friend Forever was just giving me a ride to CSGU." Twilight took what I said in stride while Shining looked impressed that I knew what she was saying.

"Oh," Looking past me towards her brother while spike gurgled happily on her back, "That's nice of you Shiny and, Cadence?!" Twilight impulsively set Spike on my back and got into position for their 'Sunshine' Dance which made Shining blush while watching Cadence dance while I snickered at the whole scene. Once finished Twilight came back for Spike but I blocked her magic and she shot me a confused look.

I lifted my nose up into the air teasingly, "Nope, this little fellow is mine now. You put him on MY back." Twilight gave me a heartbroken look as if I was serious while Spike seemingly played along by hugging me around the neck.

"But, but I hatched him," I tapped my chin in mock thought while Shining and Cadence both just watched our little drama.

"I guess I could let you have him on weekends," I turned to Spike, "How does that sound little guy? Spend the weekends with mama and the weekdays with your new dad?" I knew I took the joke to far once Twilight gave me a deadpan look and the others busted up laughing.

Twilight magicked him off my back as we finished heading towards the school, "He isn't my son. He's my number one assistant."

"But you just said you hatched him, that makes you his mom. Right?" I asked so casually the other three slowed their pace. Apparently they hadn't given it much thought during the week since his birth. I didn't really like how my memories portrayed Spikes treatment so definitely something to change.

"Oh, hey, it's Starlight," I ended the train of thought once we arrived at the school. Starlight and her sire were both there waiting for me.

"Dawn, there you are," She gave me a worried nuzzle then looked back, "See dad I knew he would show up here if we waited."

"Oh thank Celestia," I found myself picked up again by a frantic Firelight, "Do you know how worried I was about you colt. Not to mention what your dam would do to me if you ended up lost." The stallion shuddered a bit.

"For the last time No, I'm not moving back!" Morning Dew Slammed the door behind her and ran through the gates back towards the central part of the city. Once she was far enough away she took a detour towards the central Plaza, bought some snacks, and sat down by the Celestial fountain to calm her nerves.

"Those Plot heads," Dew took an angry bite of a salty pretzel, "How could they ever expect me to introduce Dawn to them. With the way they talk about his mother, My wife, they are lucky I haven't bucked them all in the face." She quickly finished off the unlucky morsel and almost bit into her own hoof, to angry to hold anything stable with magic.

Siting there she noticed a few ponies giving her a wide birth so after giving them a sheepish look she quickly moved on. "I better head to the school, Seeing my colt will help cheer me up."

"We passed!" My ears were assaulted on both sides by Twilight and Starlight screaming in unison. The adults around us all snickered as we were checking our test results. I had honestly done much better than expected considering I had surpassed Twilight's score. She didn't seem to mind though and was currently prancing around in circles with an equally excited Starlight talking non stop.

"Oh, I'm going to learn so much with the Princess." "Sunburst is going to be so happy to see us, I wonder what the dorms are like." "I'll have to tell mom and dad how well I did Shiny." "All of us are going to have so much fun just like back home."

As the two continued to prance around other excited fillies who had passed were dragged in while I shared a confused look with one of the other few colts my age in the room. School is going to be interesting.