The Little Package

Twilight Sparkle sat in the quiet serenity that presented itself during the storm that was taking place that night. She was glad that her library home had a fireplace as she placed another log in it to keep the warmth of the fire going, making her way back to her couch levitating a book off of it to in front of her. Twilight enjoyed the peace and quiet that seemed to follow her like a shadow; more than anything she liked being alone at times, when she could catch up with her studies without interruptions from her friends when the library is closed. As the thunder roared outside and the rain pounded the glass, she made a mental note to never again challenge Rainbow Dash's weather pony capabilities. She let a grin cross her face as she remembered Spike's fear of storms. She could just see him hanging onto her hind leg as she comforted him and told him not to be afraid, but since he was spending the night at Sweet Apple Acres with Applebloom, she didn't have to worry about it. She was about to get lost in her book again when another sound came knocking on her door, one that sounded urgent. Twilight looked up at the clock to see the time as she made her way to the rapid knocking. She got to the door and stared to undo the locks that she placed at night. There were only two other ponies that stayed up as late a it was, excluding her, which was often Pinkie Pie and-

"Princess Luna?" Twilight moved out of the way as the Princess of the Night made her way into the Library. The hood to the cloak she wore was covered in a dark blue aura as it lifted off her head. Her starry magic infused mane spilled out of the hood, reminding Twilight almost of the waterfalls that littered Equestria. Twilight knew something was up when she looked into the Princess's azure eyes, which told her that something was troubling the princess deep inside. Princess Luna frowned at the librarian as she started to remove her cloak, seeming to speak calmly to something inside it. Twilight stood in awe as a little colt alicorn, about the same age as the Cutie Mark Crusaders by her guess, appeared asleep on Luna's back. His coat was a fiery orange reminding Twilight  of the fire that danced in her fire place. His mane seemed to hold the colors of the setting sun with a brilliant mix of reds, oranges, yellows, with a touch of violet added to it.

Princess Luna seemed to be sensing what Twilight was thinking, "I... I want to introduce you to Dusk Shine." Her head lowered as if she was ashamed, "He is my son." Twilight Sparkle sat on her haunches slack jawed; it was one thing to have the princess at her house, but it was a completely different story with her own son with her.

"Princess... I, I don't know what to say. Why are you telling me this?" Princess Luna let out a sigh, as if she knew how Twilight would react.

Because, Twilight Sparkle, you are the only pony I can trust right now. You see, even though I love my son more than anything, I have to let him go for his own protection. Tia had explained it to me," Twilight could see tears flow down the dark blue mare's cheeks, "all I am allowed to say is that his life could be placed in jeopardy if he stayed with me at the castle."

"But, you're the Princess of the Night, so hardly anypony would know that he exists in the first place."

"Though you speak the truth, there are things that even I cannot control." Princess Luna levitated the little colt of off her back and placed him on the lavender mare's. She stepped in close whispering in Twilight's ears, "Take good care of him, Twilight, I have the deepest trust in you, and do not worry, I'll keep an eye on you both." With a smile and more tears flowing down her cheek, Luna turned towards the sleeping colt, "Even though this is goodbye, my dearest star, just remember that I will always love you and that you are protected." The princess took a few steps back and brought a pendant out from her cloak and handed it to Twilight, "Once he awakens, give him this," The librarian looked the pendant over with her magic, The opal background was surrounded by a light blue casing. the center of the stone contained the princess's crescent moon cutie mark made from amethyst. "Tell him that when he feels lost and uncertain that this pendant will show him the way." She gave Twilight the necklace and smiled at her, "I wish you well, Twilight Sparkle, for you are now Dusk's new mother." Without warning a bright light filled the library as the princess teleported back to Canterlot.

"Mom!" a young colt's voice rang in Twilight's ears, it had been several months since she received Dusk Shine and he almost instantly started calling Twilight his mother when he woke up the next day. Again the voice rang in her ears, "Mom, come on. It's time for me to go to school." She felt something on her bed as the little colt climbed up and started bouncing, Twilight simply rolled over and hoped the colt realized what the time was. It was definitely early even by her standards, and her internal clock was screaming for her not to wake up.

Dusk ended his bouncing as he noticed the time on the librarians wall, his pendant still swinging to and fro as his momentum kept it going. Instead of climbing down off the bed he made his way under the covers as slide next to his 'mother.' He felt her turn towards him and wrapped a foreleg around him, giving him a sense of security as he drifted back towards sleep. He loved the purple unicorn mare and he knew that she loved him back, but there were times where she seemed to be hiding somethings from him. He pushed those thoughts aside as he was certain it was for his own protection. As sleep started to take the young alicorn colt he could hear Twilight singing under her breath.

"Then the jealous crow cried,'Cora!

Why do you mock me so?

You'll always be a beauty and I a jealous crow.'"

As he listened to her singing he felt her hooves wrap tighter around him, humming the tune he had heard her sing many times when he couldn't fall asleep. Darkness filled his eyes as he fell back to the land of dreams, only to be woken by Twilight a couple of hours later with breakfast ready.

Dusk Shine glanced around the school house as Twilight Sparkle was having a conversation with, what he guessed was, the school teacher. The walls were painted a cream color that was literally covered top to bottom with charts and fun facts essential for teaching. A large green chalk board hung on the wall behind the teachers desk, row upon rows of smaller desks filled the floor space of the school house. His quick study of the room came to an end as Twilight and the burgundy school mare stepped in front of him. Twilight gave him a smile and spoke up, "Dusk, this is your new teacher, Miss Cherilee, be sure to treat her with respect like I taught you." She got a nod from the orange colt in response, turning to Cherilee she continued, "Well, it looks like school is about to start so I'll be heading." After a smile and a hug from Dusk Twilight left the school house.

To say that Dusk was nervous was a large understatement. It was his first time at the school, and for sure it was his first time meeting all of his classmates. That is, save one that he met on accident when she visited the library. After being informed of school starting by Cherilee, Dusk glanced at the herd of fillies and colts starting to fill the room and heading to their respective desks. He was aware of what he was and that he was a tad bit taller than normal foals his age, but the room full of them made him more aware of his difference. He quickly got over his discomfort when he spotted a familiar pink bow bouncing in the back of the room. He felt himself blush as his magenta eyes met Applebloom's amber ones, a small smile crossed his blushing snout as she waved at him.

Cherilee gave a sharp and crisp clear of her throat to quiet the class down. "Okay students, as you can see we have a new special student in our class." She motioned with a hoof over towards Dusk, "I want you all to meet Dusk Shine. As you can see he is an alicorn just like our princesses." Several gasps and a few oohs and aahs filled the room as she paused, "Before we start our lessons I'd like for you all to welcome him into our class and to treat him as you would anypony else." She turned towards a seating roster as the class welcomed their new classmate in unison, "Okay Dusk, let's have you go sit behind Rumble. Rumble, could you raise your hand please?" A light gray pegasus with a  black mane raised his hand and the burgundy mare sent Dusk to his seat. As he sat down, Dusk made a mental note that Applebloom was sitting diagonally behind him to his left. The rest of the morning of class went by without a hitch, although he thought he felt two more sets of eyes on him at some points.

When lunch came around, Dusk Shine wasted no time meeting up with Applebloom and her friends; Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. They sat down and compared lunches with each other, occasionally trading one item for another. Dinky joined after awhile, saying that her mother had to deliver her lunch after her mail routes. Applebloom sat right next to Dusk, the whole time he was feeling the same feeling like he was being watched. His answers on who the cause was from quickly made their presence; a pink pony with a lavender an white highlighted mane supporting a tiara on her head as well as her cutie mark. Beside her was a gray filly with a white mane done in a braid, with a spoon for her cutie mark, and wore a light blue beaded necklace and matching blue glasses. Dusk got a sick feeling inside of his gut as the pink one stared first at him and his pendant, then at the rest of the group. This was not going to be good at all, he noted the change in attitude from his friends. Applebloom was staring the pink filly down, while Sweetie and Scootaloo seemed to move towards Dinky. After a moment of awkward silence Applebloom spoke up.

"What do ya want, Diamond Tiara? Can't ya see that we're eatin' here?"

Diamond Tiara glanced at the gray filly behind her and started to make her way in between Dusk and Applebloom, "Why isn't it obvious?" She replied in a snoody tone, "Silver Spoon and I were just taking the new student to where he rightfully belongs." She was completely between Dusk and the farm filly. "There's no point in having him hang out with the three failures of ponyville, four if you include Dinky with her mother." Dusk winced at the low blow he had just heard about the blue gray mailmare. He had often held intelligent conversations with her when he was playing outside, but he knew better than to judge her based on her eyes to start with. Dinky started to tear up, which Scoot and Sweetie quickly started tending to. Diamond seemed to be pushing her flank against Dusk as she started another wave of insults. "You see, we don't want an alicorn like Dusk hanging out with failures like you, especially since he's a higher class than a lowly farm filly." Her eyes narrowed to slits that seemed to burn Applebloom. Dusk decided he had had enough of what was going on as he stretched his wings and hopped over Diamond and stood in front of Applebloom.

"That is enough out of you." His voice sounded strong and commanding and it demanded that it be listened to, "How do you expect someone to go with you after you drop yourself to being a petty bully? I would rather be seen with Applebloom and her friends than be with the likes of you." He could almost feel the heat from Applebloom's face, guessing that she was blushing behind him. Diamond seemed to be taken aback by the alicorn's defense of the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Dinky, of course that didn't mean that she was not prepared for it. After a few huffs she and Silver Spoon decided to walk away to plan their next attack.

After the brief scuffle the little group sat down and finished up their lunches. Dusk swore that Applebloom was sitting closer to him. Shortly the bell rang for classes to start again, Duck felt a tug on his tail as he headed towards the school. He turned around to see Applebloom behind him, she seemed to be blushing a bit more than what she normally did.

"Um, Dusk?" Her head was slighlty bowed as if she was trying to avoid eye contact, "Do ya think it'd be alright if ya... um.. that is if ya'll want to... possibly, walk with me to the farm today?"

Dusk blushed a bit and turned to his friend, "Sure thing, Applebloom," His voice was calmer and it reminded the farm filly of how Princess Celestia talks, "I'd be delighted." Applebloom raised her head a smiled at the orange alicorn, her amber eyes reminding him of the morning sunrise. She then took his hoof and took off towards the school. The rest of the school day seemed to go by quick as Cherilee went over a few tests and some basic information that Twilight had already taught him during the past two months. Unfortunately, he still felt Diamond Tiara's eyes locked on him the rest of the school day. He didn't care though, Applebloom had asked him to walk her to her house. All he could think of was just the time he would be spending with her. 'Yep,' he thought to himself, 'This is the best day ever.'