Star Bolt, Son of the Moon

by Blood Brandy

Rating: teen
Tags: Other, Spike, Adventure, Crossover, Main 6, Princess Luna, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Comedy
Length: 6372

In the final years of her imprisonment, Nightmare Moon was still plotting, but she wasn't returning alone. Behold, the Heir of the Moon! MLP/HP crossover

Imprisoned on the moon, the Princess of Eternal Night passed the time in any way she could, usually plotting her revenge.

But when someone else finds their way into her prison, she finds a new way to pass the time, and soon revenge is no longer on top of her list.

She returns to Equestria, but she's not alone, and the Royal Family has a new member.
-------------
A little something I wrote on a forum for a thread called Hogwarts Rejection Letters. As you may infer, it is a crossover with Harry Potter.

Published 2013-04-10 18:10:02 UTC
Last updated 2013-06-26 00:59:05 UTC

Star Bolt, Son of the Moon

Disclaimer, I own neither the Harry Potter series nor the My Little Pony series. If you believed that I did, you're a few Apples short of a reunion.

To whom it may concern,

First, I must congratulate you on somehow getting your letter to such an impossible location and past the containment put in place by my sister.

But my chosen knight and heir needs none of your foalish parlor tricks, as he has studied intensively all the knowledge I have offered him thus far and still learns at an incredible rate. Indeed, he probably has more power in one limb than any of your teachers, and will truly show his worth to the world and those insipid twits who before abused him once I am freed and the lands know their true ruler.

Princess of the Eternal Night,
Nightmare Moon

0808080

Banishment log:

Year 992, Day 285

There has been an...interesting development this night. I felt the spells that contain me seem to quiver. With a lightning-like crack, I was no longer the only prisoner upon the moon.

It is a strange creature, with forelimbs like the claws of a dragon, only softer, maybe something like a monkey, but more developed. It wears odd and tattered clothes. It also seems bruised and malnourished, limbs seeming thin even for it's diminutive size.

I have no idea what this thing could be, perhaps some new race that has come to Equestria during my imprisonment, but this youngling has...potential. Even in it's weakened state, it was apparently able to teleport through my magical prison, even weakening my containment ever so slightly. Whatever this may be, it bears further study.

Year 992 Day 288

After three days of caring for the unconscious creature, it has finally awoken. It reacted to me with about as much fear as would be expected of a foal facing such supreme power. From questioning and following examination of his dreams and memories (He has confirmed himself to be male), I have learned close to nothing of how the world has changed in my time away. The youngling knows very little, if anything, outside of the house he was raised in. Although he spoke naught of it, I have found him to be both abused and neglected, haunting his dreams are images of what appear to be an especially heavy talking walrus and a creature that seems to be some sort of bipedal donkey who he refers to as Uncle and Aunt respectively. Both appear to have abused him both emotionally as well, to the point where he doesn't know his name, the only constant he is referred to as is Freak.

Examination of the youngling over the past few days has shown he has a strangely strong grip of magic intrinsic to his body.

It worries me that my sister's reign has degraded things to the point where one with such obvious power and potential is allowed to waste away under the unjust heel of obviously lessor beings, one of many things I will apparently have to correct upon my return.

I have decided to try and teach the youngling. It would be a waste not to and could prove to be an asset, as well as a way to fill time, if nothing else.

Year 992 Day 342

The youngling has shown an impressive improvement over the past months. Although he proved difficult at first, given that one of the few things his former caretakers taught him was that magic did not exist. Although a foalish and easily disproved idea, they had forced it into his head so much that he had inhibited his own power subconsciously.

After breaking this programming, he has quickly become the prodigy I foresaw. Already, he is able to use his magic to lift things a few times his mass with ease, and has quickly absorbed my teachings, both magical and mundane (It would not do to have an asset without a brain)

Year 994, Day 43

My chosen knight has advanced at an almost frightening rate over the past year, he has taken to his teachings with a fervor and dedication that reminds me much of myself in a younger age.

He has also begun to refer to me as...Mother...

I am unsure how to handle this new situation. Part of me feels righteous indignation, even as my student, for him to presume such closeness to me.

But, I will also admit to a certain...Happiness at this development. This would cement his loyalty and, as loathe as I may be to admit it, perhaps finally having somepony else as company after so long...

Year 994 Day 207

There has been a most surprising development with my student. Where I'd left to slumber my student, I found now a young alicorn colt of dark navy pelt and a mane as black as the darkest night which, along with his still piercing green eyes, was the only thing that remained even close to his original form.

The only explanation he gave was a wish. As he lay down to rest this past night, he wished upon the stars, with all his heart, and the stars answered his wish...

To be my son.

And this wish made him as he is now, the power of the stars above evident in his cutie mark, a shooting star with a lightning shaped tail. He is of elegant stature and gait that any mare with eyes would accept his suit once he has reached the age of courtship.

Now, truly, I must concede, he is an heir of suitable power, and now seemingly of blood, an alicorn.

I have a son, and I shall call him...

Star Bolt

Year 995 Day 26

Although he was required to relearn many things in his new form, Star Bolt's already quick absorption of my lessons has accelerated, only slowed by his need to adjust to his now greater power inherent to an alicorn. He has also had learned to fly with incredible ease, seeming natural in fight. In fact, he seems to have become more at home in his new form than his original.

However, he does at times become heavily fatigued and suffer from headaches, I believe he is pushing himself to overexertion. I have decided focus more on theory and mundane teachings to remedy this, for now.

Year 998 Day 260

My gradual wearing away at my sister's spell-work has had another boon. A letter appeared before Star Bolt sent with some odd form of teleportation, powerful enough that, like Star Bolt's arrival, wore down the imprisoning spells.

Assuming this letter truly is meant for Star Bolt, it appears his name was originally Harry Potter, surprising that a foal of such power had such humble beginnings as to be a son of a pottery maker.

I have answered the letter with a refusal, I see no need for my son to attend a school he cannot even reach at this moment to learn this he had probably learned years ago.

Star Bolt's headaches have had a resurgence as of late...

Year 999 Day 230

I have become worried. Star Bolt's headaches have become worse over the past few months, pushing me to the edge of my limited medical knowledge.

He has also begun to suffer night terrors, visions of death, the blood of innocents, his original kind...

I have tried to look into his dreams, but they are so jumbled and turbulent, the only constant I can see is disturbing, something like Star Bolt's original form, but with decidedly serpent like traits, and his eyes...they are the eyes of a madpony, one who kills without remorse or reason.

Year 999, Day 245

I have nearly been locked upon the moon for a thousand years, and now I need to escape more than ever.

I have extensively examined my son in every way I know, and I have found the source of his ailment. A scar upon his brow, something I had long ago dismissed as a mark of his foalish former caretakers. There is something within the scar, something evil that has gripped my son's soul, digging into him like a cancer, and it has been inexplicably been growing stronger in recent months. His magic has grown weaker by the day, as has his body, looking more and more like the sickly creature I found years ago.

I can stall it, contain it, but only temporarily. My true power, as it is now, would only feed this darkness and deepen it's roots into my son.

I doubt even my sister could aid my son as he is now, so there is only one hope I can think of, so my hoof is forced. I shall beseech the stars for their aid, as my son did years ago, to break my weakened containment. Celestia will most likely see the signs, but I have no other option. I will not lose my son!

I will have the Elements, even if I must take them from my sister's cooling corpse...

0808080

Celestia stepped towards her sister, now purified by the Elements of Harmony, only to be forced back, barely avoiding a strike from the horn of the younger alicorn.

Even in her currently weakened state, Luna, formerly Nightmare Moon, stood with an almost maddened look in her eyes.

"Give...Me...The Elements," Luna panted, her body shaking.

"Sister," Celestia said, hesitantly, "You are not well, your body has been left weakened when the dark forces left you, we should get you to-"

"NO!" Luna barked, her voice shaking the castle, "I need the Elements, Celestia, and I'll take them," She glared at the Element's current holders, "From your dead bodies if I mu-" Lune stopped, her eyes shooting wide as she felt something break, "No," she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes, before she took off in a dash, past the ponies and her sister, "NO!"

Celestia and her subjects followed suit, chasing after Luna through the ancient castle, watching the night princess ascend a tower Celestia recognized as Luna's from long ago.

When the seven mares finally caught up to the night princess, she was in a hastily refurbished room, openly weeping over young, sickly colt laying on a bed.

"Star Bolt! Please, say something," Luna sobbed, "Please..."

The sickly colt could barely open his eyes, their once sharp green now cloudy and dull, his breaths shallow, "M-Mother?"

"Yes, my son," Luna answered, nuzzling her colt.

"M-mother," Star whimpered, "It hurts."

"I-it's alright, it will be alright, my son," Luna sobbed, forcing a smile, "My sister has brought help, you will be fine." Walking away from the bed, Luna glared at her sister, and spoke in a low voice, "I do not care what you plan for me, execute me, imprison me again, do what you will, but please," Luna could no longer keep her composure, her head dropping, "Please, save my son, the Elements are the only way to free him from the taint that threatens his very soul, they are his only chance."

Seeing her sister breaking down, Celestia turned and nodded to her student, "Twilight Sparkle, do what you can."

Unsure, Twilight and her friends gathered around the young pony as their necklaces began to glow, an orb of light, every color of the spectrum, enveloping the colt as he began to float.

080-Elsewhere, in another reality-080

Albus Dumbledore steeled himself for the coming battle, knowing it may be his last. Approaching the castle were the forces of darkness, lead by Voldemort, resurrected by the stolen Philosopher's Stone. Staring down his former student, Dumbledore drew his wand.

0808080

Luna watched as a dark miasma formed around her son, the Element bearers beginning to strain as it hissed like a snake, coalescing around the young colt.

Seeing the pained expression on her son's face, Luna steeled herself, dredging up what power she had left, she focused it into her horn and charged, ignoring her sister's cries as she leaped into the light, a roaring battle cry echoed as she drove her glowing horn into the shadow.

She didn't care if she died, she would protect her son.

0808080

Dumbledore could feel himself tiring as he dueled the monster that was once Tom Riddle. His chances were almost none with Voldemort backed up by the Philosopher's Stone, but he had to try. In the back of his mind, Albus did something he hadn't done since his mother died.

He prayed, he prayed to whatever power was listening for a miracle.

And something answered...

In the middle of the incantation for the Killing Curse, Vodemort dropped to his knees, screaming in such pain that all battle near him stopped. It felt as if something was burning him from the inside, he couldn't muster any sort of thought, let alone cast a spell. Like breaking glass, the dark wizards skin began to crack, light shining through as he tried to fight it off.

He was Lord Voldemort, the greatest wizard to ever live. He was immortal, he would not be defeated.

Voldemort felt a sudden stabbing in his body and something snapped. Every dark deed, every murder, every torture, from the innocents he'd slaughtered mercelessly to the unicorn's blood he'd sustained himself on, so entrenched in darkness, his body and soul burned in the light.

A voice rang out, everywhere and nowhere, loud enough to shatter glass as storm clouds circled above.

"YOU SHALL NOT TAKE MY SON!"

With that, Voldemort erupted in a bright burst of light that cascaded in all directions, sweeping across the battlefield and beyond. Dementors, inferi and Vampires burned away into nothing in an instant, werewolves and death eaters fell to the ground, writhing in pain, unable to withstand the pure power of the light.

For many years after, Wizards the world over would wonder as to what had happened to turn the tide of the battle, the lands, remains and survivors would be analyzed to an insane degree, and they would barely scratch the surface of the light that had literally shattered the darkness. Only Albus Dumbledore had an inkling to the source, the mother whose sacrifice had, again, saved the world.

And even he would be wrong, in a way.

0808080

As the light cleared, Luna found herself, no longer in the long abandoned castle, but a beautiful field of flowers of every color and shade, even some she'd never seen on a flower.

"Your highness."

The voice startled Luna, who spun around to find her son, sleeping soundly, with his head in the lap of another, one of his original race, a female, she guess, with a long red mane.

"Who are you, and what are you doing with my son?"

The female smiled softly, "Just taking my last opportunity to thank you, your highness, for saving him, and being a mother when I could not."

Luna balked as she was engulfed in a bright light, finding herself back in the ancient castle, standing over the bed as her son's eyes opened.

Luna didn't care what came next, if she was to be a princess or a prisoner, this, by far, was her most important title.

"Mother..."

Author's Note

My first time posting on this site. I originally wrote this for a forum thread called Hogwarts Rejection Letters, and it just sorta shot out from there. I may or may not continue this in the future, we'll just have to see.

Spike's Royal Business

Small claw scrapes echoed in the grand halls of Canterlot Castle, a small, pudgy dragon approaching the large, gold-inlayed doors to the throne room, guarded by two of the Royal Guards Finest, ponies of strength, ponies of great discipline, ponies-

“Heya, Spike!” A unicorn guard called at the approaching dragon, waving like an idiot…

…Yeah…

…Hey, they’re still disciplined and all that…

…Don’t look at me like that, soldier or not, can’t a pony be happy to see a friendly face?

“Hey, guys,” Spike greeted, “I believe she’s expecting me.”

“Right,” the unicorn guard remembered, his horn glowing to open the door, “We’re having the weekly poker game tonight if you’re still here.”

Spike smirked as he walked past, “Why, you guys in a rush to lose your paycheck again?”

“Ha-ha,” The other guard, a pegasus, said, as the unicorn used his power to close the gigantic doors behind Spike, “Your luck as to run out sometime, Lizard Lips.”

“Not when it’s skill, it doesn’t, feather-brain,” Spike called back as the doors shut. Claws clacking as he walked, Spike stopped at the base of the platform holding the throne. The dragon bowed deeply to aurora-like mane of the, until recently, sole ruler of the land, “Your highness, I, Spike Dragul, ask what can I do as your most loyal subject.”

There was sheer silence in the Royal hall, the dragon holding his bow and the Sun Princess holding her head high, almost looking down her nose at him. They held these positions for a full minute of silence before it was finally broken by a snort from the princess, soon echoed by Spike, before both broke down laughing, the princess staggering down the stairs as she finally got control of herself.

“Well, I suppose you win this round, Spike.”

“It was close, mom,” Spike chuckled, wiping away a tear, “But really, what did you need? I thought our next trip wasn’t for another few months.”

“Yes, well,” The princess was suddenly uncomfortable. Both she and her son had come to cherish their outings, and the surprising antics that usually followed, which made this hard for her, “I’m afraid we must…cancel our ‘Royal Canterlot Business’ this year.”

Spike’s tail hit the ground with a *thump*, his expression suddenly a lot more serious, “Has something happened? Is it the Griffins?” Spike asked anxiously. The griffins were, for the most part, friendly, but some of them were very vocal of their feelings for what were naturally ‘prey animals’ like ponies. The problem was, some of those griffins were in the right places to makes waves.

“No, no, nothing like that,” Celestia assured her son, “But while one would think my duties would be lessened, Luna’s return has actually increased my workload. Until recently, she has been recovering physically from her ordeal. Now I must help her adjust to the modern era, that means changes in laws, magic discoveries, technologies, our relations with other nations, even her way of speech could be hard for modern ponies to understand and vice-versa. What free time I have is needed to help her back into her position and making sure the subjects don’t go crazy and stampede with fear.”

“Well, that stinks,” Spike sighed, “But I get it, family first and everything. We’ve got to help her get used to things today and stuff.”

“Actually,” Celestia smirked, “I have a different job for you.”

080808080

Princess Luna made her way through the halls of her castle, her head held high, ignoring the odd servant that would scurry away after seeing her coming. Their opinions mattered little to her at the moment.

Stopping at a door, Luna took a deep breath before knocking.

“Come in,” a voice answered weakly.

Luna entered, finding her son in bed with a book, as he had been for a long time. The first couple of weeks of her return had been far more stressful, Star Bolt had been in a coma. Even having the Elements remove the evil taint that had nearly ended his life, he had been horribly weakened. It had been touch and go for the first few days, the stress aggravating Luna’s own weakened condition, before the doctors announced he was going to be alright, and for the week after that she’d had to wait for him to awaken.

Thankfully, the only lasting problem he’d had was a need for corrective lenses, hence the round, black-rimmed glasses atop his snout as he read. While he had been recovering, he was mostly confined to bed-rest, filling his time working through the royal library, although many times the nurses had to stop him from practicing his studies and straining himself, making Star Bolt antsy. He was a studious pony, yes, but Luna knew he was also a stallion of action, one who learned through doing better than through research.

“Mother,” Star Bolt greeted cheerfully, nuzzling the princess.

“Good evening, my son,” Luna greeted softly, “How have your studies progressed this day?”

“Very well, Mother,” Star Bolt lift the book, shaking a little, “I have been studying the alchemical advancements of the third century following your departure,” the colt then quirked his head a little, “Is it time for dinner already, Mother?”

“Nearly so, however, the doctor has given us some good news, he believes you well enough to attend dinner with your aunt in the dining hall,” Luna said cheerfully, “It will allow you to acquaint yourself with your aunt and cousins.”

Star Bolt’s smile lit up the room, even more than it usually did for his mother. She just hated having to add-

“But I fear it is still too soon to fly.”

His smile dimmed a bit, but he was still happy at the prospect of finally being able to leave his bed. Setting his book on the nightstand, he carefully eased himself off of the bed, his legs shaking slightly as he stood. He was in far better shape than he had been, but he was still rather thin and somewhat underweight. Walking with a slow gait, she guided her son down the hallways.

“My son, we will be having dinner with my sister, but another member of our family shall be present as well. I feel the need to warn thee, he may not exactly be what one would expect.”

“Who is it, mother?” Star bolt asked. Thus far, the only family member he had met was his aunt, Celestia. She had mentioned cousins, both of whom were busy with other matters, although she was somewhat vague on what this other business was.

“He is the son of my sister and part of an announcement we shall have, but we shall save that for after dinner.” Luna explained as they approached the dining hall doors, which opened with the glow of Luna’s horn.

Inside was a table much smaller than was usually there. Instead of the grand dining table that would spread the length of the room, it was a much smaller table, which already seated Celestia and…

“A dragonling?” Star Bolt queried aloud.

“Yes,” Celestia answered in an official tone, “Star Bolt, Luna, this is my son, Spike Dragul of the house Solaris. Spike, this is your Aunt Luna and cousin Star Bolt of the house Nocturne.”

Spike waved, “What’s up?”

Both mother and son turned their attention to the ceiling, causing Spike’s hand to inexplicably meet his face.

“Wow, mom, you weren’t kidding,” Spike chuckled.

“Luna, Star Bolt, that was just a greeting,” Celestia explained, “it’s a sort of modern slang way of asking how you’ve been.”

“Oh,” Luna blushed, her son doing the same, both approaching the table, “our apologies, Sister, Nephew.”

“So,” Star Bolt, began, “My cousin is a dragon?”

“Yes, it is an interesting story I may tell you someday, but Spike is my son,” Celestia confirmed, raising an eyebrow, “Is that a problem?”

“Oh, no,” Star Bolt shook his head, “It was just a surprise, Aunt Celestia.”

The Sun Alicorn chuckled, “Don’t worry, nephew, I’m just playing with you. Spike actually lives outside the castle, working as an assistant to a student of mine, among other things.”

The alicorn colt quirked his head in confusion, “You work as somepony’s assistant?”

“Well, partly,” Spike shrugged, taking a bite of a beautifully colored opal, “I help Twilight with her research, but most of my job is managing the library’s public services, managing finances, organizing books, which was a real pain in my tail when we moved to Ponyville a couple months ago. Apparently, the last librarian put everything in alphabetical order by title, instead of organizing by subject. They didn’t even separate fiction and non-fiction.” Sipping his drink, Spike added, “I’m thinking of offering my services as an accountant when tax season comes around, I’m pretty good at math and kept the books for the Academy Library while we lived there.”

“Fascinating,” Star Bolt said, “That is an impressive accomplishment for one so young.”

“Actually,” Luna said, after finishing her salad and moving to a soup, “Spike is roughly equal to you in age, my son.”

“Really?” Star Bolt said, surprised.

“Yeah,” Spike nodded, “Dragon growth can be kinda weird, apparently.”

“I see,” Star trailed off as he ate.

“Actually, my son,” Luna began somewhat awkwardly, “That is what I wished to talk to you about.”

“Mother?”

“You see, Star Bolt,” Celestia explained, “While your mother has done a splendid job raising and teaching you, she is still behind by roughly a thousand years.”

“I am afraid my sister is correct,” Luna sighed, “There is much for you and I to learn about modern society, as well as the many things that have changed over the past centuries that I would have been unable to teach you due to my own ignorance. However, while we both have much to learn, I have many other things to do as well, between reassuming my duties, establishing my place to the nobles, reestablishing and choosing my Night Guard, furnishing my tower as well as supervising the construction of a room for your use and numerous other things I have need to do. There is also the matter of your continuing recovery from your ordeal. So,” Luna sighed and was silent for a moment, “So, upon consulting with my sister, we thought it would be best if you were to spend the next few months of your recovery in Ponyville with your cousin.”

“Yeah,” Spike said with a smile, “I can show you around, introduce you to everypony, and the fresh country air will be great for you.”

Star Bolt tried to look happy and excited, but Luna could tell the old wounds of his previous caretakers had surfaced, wounds even time would be troubled to heal.

“Stop that thought, Star Bolt,” Luna said sternly, surprising both young princes. Rising from her seat, she walked calmly to her son, touching her horn to his as a deep blue aura enveloped both, “Do not ever entertain the thought that I would abandon you for any reason, even for a moment.” As she spoke, Celestia motioned to her own son, as they left the night royalty to their privacy.

“Star Bolt,” Luna sighed, sitting down, “For centuries I was alone, left with nothing but to stew in my own anger and bitterness, towards my sister, towards my kingdom, towards the world as a whole. But after so very long, a blessing appeared to me, and that blessing was you, my son. At first, you brought a break in the monotony of my imprisonment, but as you grew and became more attached to me, even under the Nightmare’s influence, I came to care for you, and to love you. With that, the Nightmare’s hold was lessened, even slightly, and perhaps even she was changed and grew to love you. More than my royal status, more than my sister, more than my wings, my horn, even my life, you are the thing in this world I treasure above all else. To save you, I would sacrifice anything, even my own life and may you never doubt that.”

“I,” Star bolt hesitated, “I am sorry, mother. I should not have doubted you. You have given me so much, a home, a new family, and…” Trailing off for a moment, he continued, looking down in shame, “And love, you have raised me as your own, and I let the events of the past haunt me.”

With a hoof, Luna lifted his chin, “There is nothing to apologize for, my son. And I promise you, should I be able to find them, those foul former caretakers of yours shall enjoy a nice, lengthy stay in the castle dungeons. But, that is another reason I wish for you to go with your cousin. Any interpersonal experience you’ve had was either with those…hateful creatures, or with me. With your cousin, you can learn to be as the youth are today, and you can make friends and interact with ponies your own age. And, in a few months we shall make our public debut at a Gala, and if you so wish at that time, you may move back into the castle.”

The colt nodded, “Thank you, Mother.”

080808080

Luna watched as the royal chariot flew away, led by the first light of dawn.

“He will be fine.”

Luna looked back to find her sister approaching, “I understand that, sister, but-”

“It’s difficult being away from him so long,” Celestia finished.

“Yes,” Luna nodded, “For so long, he has been my only company. I am ashamed to admit, associating with new ponies leaves me somewhat…wary.”

“Don’t worry, Luna, I’m sure you’ll get back into the swing of things soon enough,” Celestia assured her, before donning a devious grin, “And you know, I sent a couple of my most experienced guards to your chambers…to help you get started.”

“Sister!” the moon princess gasped in a scandalized tone, blushing brightly.

“Oh, should I recall them?” Celestia asked, giggling as her sister, blushed deeper.

Even for an alicorn, a thousand years alone tends to build up certain…frustrations, she hadn’t felt comfortable dealing with while her son was in the castle, but now…

Luna turned with a huff, walking towards her tower and trying to ignore her sister’s giggles behind her.

080808080

“-And I can introduce you to some of the cool ponies I know, I think Vinyl will be thrilled to meet you,” Spike ticked things off as the young princes sat in the chariot.

“Who is this Vinyl,” Star Bolt asked, “And why would she be thrilled to meet me, Cousin Spike?”

The dragon sighed, “Look, could you just call me Spike? Nopony knows I’m a prince and I’d kinda like to keep it like that for a while.”

The Night-Prince cocked his head, “Why would you hide your heritage? Are you ashamed?”

“I’m not exactly hiding it, okay, and I would never be ashamed of my mom, it’s just,” Spike struggled for a moment, “Look, some ponies already give me odd looks for being a dragon, even if they think I don’t see it, and I just don’t want anypony treating me even more differently than they already do just because I’m a prince. You’ll see that there are some ponies who’ll try and,” Spike thought for a moment, trying to think of how to explain this to somepony who would probably get an entirely wrong impression from terms like ‘ass kisser’, ‘suck up’ and the like, “They’ll treat you differently, try and inflate your ego, just so they can get you to do something that benefits them and only them.

“Ah, such things that can lead to political corruption,” Star nodded, “Mother warned me of such things in my political studies lessons, devious ponies who would try and make others their puppets in positions of power.”

“Yeah, kinda like that,” Spike nodded, “But it’s also, well, when ponies know you’re royalty, they’re a lot more guarded, they don’t act like they normally would because they’re afraid of getting into trouble or offending you, and it takes a lot longer to get them to act like the real them, good or bad, you know?”

Star nodded slowly, “I believe I understand. You wish to know our subjects as they truly are, rather than the façade they don out of respect, greed or fear.”

The dragon sighed, “I guess that’s one way of putting it, but I just want ponies to be my friends not because I’m a royal prince, but because I’m a cool guy,” he explained, giving a thumbs up.

“Cool?” Star Bolt asked, getting close, “Is your flame low, cousin? Are you feeling unwell?”

Resisting the urge to smack himself again, Spike shook his head, “Alright, first lesson, cool doesn’t always mean cool.” Star Bolt’s expression said all it needed to as Spike continued, “Cool can mean something is cold, but a lot of ponies use it to mean that something is,” Spike struggled to think of a word, seriously, how do you define cool? “It means something is…excellent, you know?”

The colt blinked, “So, the word ‘cool’ is now also to mean something is of great quality?”

“Yeah, let’s go with that. It could refer to ponies or objects or an activity, it’s a context sort of thing.”

“I see,” He didn’t, really. He understood the meaning, but he didn’t understand why one would use a temperature reference for the quality of others.

“Don’t worry too much; I’m sure you’ll catch on after a while.” Spike looked down to see the chariot was pulling up to the Golden Oaks Library, “Hey, we’re here.”

Leading his cousin off the chariot and waving the guards off as they left, Spike opened the door, calling out to Twilight-

Only to be silenced by a pillow to the face.

“Ah, sorry, Spike,” A feminine drawl apologized from inside.

Letting the pillow slip off his face, revealing a deadpanned expression, Spike sighed, “We’re home.”

“We?” Twilight asked, before Star Bolt stepped in the door, bowing to the lavender unicorn.

“Good morn, Ms. Sparkle.”

Preempting her question, Spike let loose a small belch, a letter materializing from the flame in front of her. Catching the scroll, she broke the seal and read aloud-

My trusted student, Twilight Sparkle,

I apologize for imposing, but I have an assignment for you of great importance.

The colt before you is Star Bolt, son of my sister Luna, who has only recently recovered from the curse you and your friends removed. He has proven to be a clever and studious young colt, but, as she has been away for so very long, both Luna, and through her Star Bolt, is a millennium behind in many subjects.

Although he has used much of his free time to study, he is still behind in a number of subjects, or is operating on outdated material.

I have begun to bring my sister up to date, so my task for you is to tutor him. You have free reign in how and in what subjects, so do as you feel is correct.

With that said, he is also still recovering his strength from his ordeal, and it was felt that the fresh country air would do well for him, but he is not to practice magic or flight for another week or two, I will trust your judgment on this.

However, this assignment is not only yours. As Star Bolt has spent his entire life in only the company of his mother in the solitude of the moon, I have tasked Spike with helping Star Bolt acclimate to social situations, and aid him in the same assignment I gave you upon your departure from Canterlot-

-To make friends.

Your Proud Teacher,

Princess Celestia

P.S. You will be receiving an additional stipend for Star Bolts living expenses with your research stipend and the library’s usual funding.

“Wait,” Applejack interrupted, “So yer Nightmare Moon’s boy?”

“Yes,” Star Bolt answered simply. Really, to him, there was no more difference between Luna and Nightmare Moon than a change of armor and ornaments.

“He’s Princess Luna’s son,” Twilight stressed, before turning to the colt, “And I am honored to have been chosen as your teacher, Prince Star Bolt.”

“Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear,” Rarity was fanning herself, “A real prince living here in Ponyville?” She caught sight of her reflection in a window, “And I look just,” She was out the door in an instant, leaving her curlers spinning in the air as she headed towards her store.

Beside Star Bolt, his cousin sighed, whispering, “Told you ponies act different when they know they’re around royalty.”

“Well, uh, would ya look at that, the suns out; I’d better get on back the farm ‘fore the family starts ta’ worry.” Applejack said, a bit nervous, before leaving herself.

“Oookay,” Twilight said awkwardly, “Well, Welcome, Star Bolt. I’m afraid until I’m able to do some reorganizing, you’ll have to share a room with me and Spike, he can take you up to put your things away, if you’d like.”

“Thank you, Ms. Sparkle,” Star Bolt bowed, just before Spike belched up another letter.

“I was supposed to give you this, too,” He handed her the scroll before leading the colt up the stairs.

Unrolling the scroll, Twilight read-

Twilight Sparkle,

First, we would like to thank you and your friends for having saved our beloved son from the evil that cursed him.

However, we still fear for his health, so we would request you watch over him. As we understand, you have a goodly amount of modern diagnostic equipment you use for your experiments. As Star Bolt’s mother, you have our permission to occasionally keep scans and records of his physical condition as well as mana flow and anything else you feel appropriate, with the request that you send copies of all record to us.

In addition, we wish for you to watch his condition for another reason. Keep in mind that what you are about to read is a Royal Secret, which is why we have requested Spike only hand you this message in complete privacy. Should this information be spread without our permission, then you shall be held responsible and the punishments shall be severe…

As Twilight read further, her eyes widened in shock, as if her world had been shaken, and whole new questions had appeared.

Author's Note

Okay, some folks were saying I should continue this, soo...here it is. I have the next couple episodes loosely planned and outlined, as well as some long term plans.

Tell me what you think, and I could still use suggestions for a story name.