Dawn's new day.

Celestia slowly lifted her wing and nuzzled the literal love bug resting beneath it. Alicia may have been unplanned but she was going to make sure she was a good mother to the creature resting beside her.

I won’t make the same mistakes I did with Sunset.The only thing that could make this moment better was if Imago was here. The changeling princess in question was watching over the rest of her budding hive which often prevented them from staying the night together.

“Well good morning little one.” Celestia replied when Alicia gave a happy chirp towards her mother. While she could ‘speak’ through the hive mind Alicia was still too young to form words.

“Do you want to watch me raise the sun today?” Alicia gave an affirmative chirp and climbed up onto her mother’s back before nuzzling into her flowing mane.

Celestia walked slowly towards the balcony and gently set her daughter down before sitting and igniting her horn. Slowly the sun rose and Alicia’s eyes sparkled as she watched her mother move the celestial body.

“There we go a new day.” Celestia smiled and nuzzled the top of her daughters head.

I groaned as the sunlight pierced my eyes. I internally pouted and rolled over, cursing that I forgot about my dorm room curtains never quite closing completely, unlike my room at the castle.

“Dang it Tia five more minutes.” It’s not like she could hear me but unlike on earth, I actually had somepony to blame when it was too bright. Maybe I should take up Tia on her offer to move into the castle full time just so she would hear me. But I do like having other colts my age around.

Rolling over a few more times, I eventually got up for my morning routine. Since it was the weekend I didn’t have anywhere to be until after lunch, when I had to go to the castle. So for the morning, I would just eat and see if anypony wanted to play board games.

“Dam do I really have to go?” Applejack didn’t want to take dance lessons. She had already been through it once with her aunt and uncle Orange and while she did just fine, thanks to her athletic abilities, she didn’t exactly like it.

“Yes Sugarcube. Your mothers and I don’t want you ending up embarrassed if a nice colt asks you to dance at the Gala.” Pear butter smiled as they walked through town. One of her regulars was a former dancer so was willing to teach for some free produce. “Also Ms. Ribbon is probably already waiting for you and your friend Rarity.”

“Rarity? Also if it’s so important why doesn’t Mac have to learn.” Applejack snorted then mumbled under her breath. “Not that anypony will ask me.”

“Oh Sugar you’re brother did already learn the basics, where do you think he learned those fancy rodeo moves?” Pear winked. “As for Rarity, she offered to be your dance partner because she also wanted some pointers. When I mentioned you learning during dress shopping she was very enthusiastic.”

Applejack didn’t say anything else but grumbled a bit as they walked.

Pear gave her daughter a worried look and spoke to herself. “She definitely needs to get off the farm a bit more often.”

“1, 2, 3. 1, 2, 3. No, no no, this iz all wrong.” I took a breath and stepped back from Twilight, who was faring much worse with her lower stamina, when our new Germane dance instructor, Mrs. Satin, shouted for us to stop. Ponies shouldn’t naturally have to move like this.

While humans could move to the side fairly easily on two legs, stepping side ways as a pony for dancing took much more thought.

Wish I could just do flight dances, those are always so easy. My mom had taught me a few dance upon dam’s insistence during our flight lessons for future use.

“You two have none of ze talent of dance.” The older mare huffed. Wonder if her accent is just slipping in frustration or she’s forcing it. I internally giggled. “But still ze princess haz asked me to try. Now let’z go again.” She stomped a hoof as Twilight and I shared a look.

For the entire early afternoon Twilight and I continued to practice various dance techniques used by the nobility during the Gala. By the end of it we were winded but finally got half of a compliment. “Well you two are no longer the worst I have ever seen.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” Celestia giggled as she looked us over and Mrs. Satin bowed. “I wouldn’t want my students to be embarrassed.”

“Never princess I will have zem in top form before the night of the Gala.” The teacher stomped her hoof proudly before she was politely dismissed.

“Excellent, well now, why don’t you two join me for a snack and we can move on to something less~ physically demanding?” She gave a warm smile

“Yes please princess.” Twilight collapsed dramatically as Celestia looked worried.

I rolled my eyes and lifted her onto my back with magic. “You should have kept going to gym class Twi. It’s helped keep Moon Dancer and I in shape.”

“But that’s less time for books.” She swatted my side with her forehooves while draped over my back. I had grown a bit taller than her during my last growth spurt but was still nowhere close to my older brother so her hooves easily dangled off the ground as I carried her.

Celestia watched us with a smile before Alicia hopped off her back and onto Twilight’s. I almost tripped before steadying myself from the sudden weight shift.

“Young lady you shouldn’t jump onto other ponies backs.” Celestia leaned down faux scolded before giving all three of us a nuzzle. “You could cause them to fall.”

“It’s fine princess she isn’t heavy.” Twilight smiled at the young disguised nymph then also gave her a nuzzle.

“Says the pony riding on my back.” I flicked my tail while following Celestia back to her study.

“It’s not my fault my legs feel like pudding.” Twilight whinnied. “And you started carrying me on your own after you picked me up.” She crossed her forelegs while hugging my neck and huffed. “Thank you though.”

Alicia just sat on top and chirped happily at being on top of the pony pile as we talked.

“Why yes princess you are the queen of the hill.” I joked in response but earned a nod and another happy chirp while Celestia just laughed at our antics. It will be interesting when sister returns and she can see her growing family.So long as she can be saved.

“Alright you two.” Alicia chirped while sitting between Twilight and I. “Sorry sweetheart, three. Once Feather arrives we will be going over some common etiquette used during a formal Gala.” Why must you torture another generation with this?Because our little ponies love the Gala.

“Sorry I’m late Princess, Digit and Ditto we’re being a hoof full.” Feather walked inside and gave Celestia then Alicia loving nuzzles before exchanging friendly ones with Twilight and I. “It looks like at least one of the children is behaving.” I watched as Alicia puffed up a bit.

“No worries you are right on time.” Celestia gave a loving nuzzle.

“So what did you need help with?” Feather tilted her head.

“I need you to help act out some situations that might arise at the Gala.” Celestia said aloud the whispered some more instructions in her ear.

Imago nodded before she switched her disguise to that of a tall unicorn stallion. “Princess.” Imago bowed low. “It’s very lovely to see you this evening.” Imago grabbed her hoof and kissed it. “May I have this next dance?”

Celestia probably wasn’t expecting such good acting. She blushed deeply and playfully flicked her wing. “Why I would love to dance Lord…” she blanked on a name but they kept acting out the rest of the scene. They then moved on to show proper greetings for if somepony was of a higher or lower station than us, most were lower or equal than Personal Princess student, as well as providing a few names we should know like ‘Fancy Pants’.

When they finished acting out a few situations Twilight’s jaw was hanging loose from watching her mentor flirt with Imago in disguise while Alicia was just basking in her parents love. I on the other hoof was having a hard time not laughing at Celestia’s bad acting skills especially when compared to a professional like Imago.

“And that my students were a few common conversation topics or other information that might come up. Now with both of you being my students you will probably be asked more about that but hopefully this has been educational. Any questions?” Celestia proclaimed proudly as Imago took to her natural form.

Twilight just nodded dumbfounded while I broke and began laughing while rolling on the floor. “What was that? Hahaha. Tia your acting was so bad.”

Celestia puffed up her cheeks. “It’s not bad. I give public speeches all the time.”

“Tia. It was kind of bad.” Imago looked sheepishly at her partner. “Not that it was all bad.” She quickly followed up when she got a look shot her way.

Celestia the pinned her ears back and looked downcast. “Was my acting really that bad.”

Great now I feel bad. I sat up and rubbed the back of my head. “well no. It wasn’t the worst.”

We sat in awkward silence for a moment before she smiled and laughed. “Ha, got you.”

“Now that was acting.” Imago slow clapped as Alicia ran up between her mother’s legs.

Twilight still looked a bit frayed and just shook her head to clear out her thoughts. “What even just happened?”