//------------------------------// // Chapter 21 // Story: My Little Pony - Equestria Boy // by OliverSparkle //------------------------------// The beautiful sun of Princess Celestia had began to rise over the horizon. The sun's warm light shined through the windows of Fluttershy's cottage. It's been two weeks since Fluttershy had adopted Lightning Twister, and today was going to be Lightning's first day of school at the School of Friendship. Fluttershy flew up her staircase to her bedroom where her son was sleeping. She entered the room and trotted over to the bed. "Lightning, it's time to wake up sweetheart," Fluttershy said to Lightning sweetly as she then kissed him on the forehead. Lightning opened his eyes, let out a soft yawn and used his little hooves to rub his eyes. He then looked into the beautiful blue eyes of his mother. "Good Morning Momma," Lightning said softly before giving her a hug. Fluttershy wrapped a foreleg around Lightning and said, "Good morning, sweetheart. Are you ready for your first day of school?" Lightning began to tremble a little bit out of nervousness. "I-I don't know, Momma. The other kids at my old school were mean to me, because I couldn't fly. What if the other kids at this school are mean to me?" Lightning asked his mother nervously. Fluttershy gently stroked Lightning’s mane to calm his trembling. "Don't worry sweetie," Fluttershy said gently, "I promise, the other kids won't be mean. Besides, you’ll be going to a school that I teach at, along with your aunts and Uncle Oliver." “Really?” “Of course,” she replied, “So you won’t have any problems there with the students there as long we're there and showing how friendship works. And you can talk to us if there’s any problems.” Lightning gave Fluttershy a little smile. "Okay Momma," Lightning said softly. "That's my boy," Fluttershy said happily, “Now let's go have some breakfast before we go.” The two went downstairs to have some breakfast. Fluttershy made Lightning some delicious oatmeal and made herself some toast. When they finished, Fluttershy made Lightning a daisy sandwhich and some fresh apple juice for lunch and put them in a small bag. She then placed Lightning onto her back while he was holding his lunch bag, walked out of the cottage, closed the door behind her and began to fly all the way to the School of Friendship. As she flew towards the school, Lightning asked, “Momma, what will I see in the School of Friendship?” “Well,” Fluttershy began, “You’ll see a lot of classrooms, a library where you can study more ready for future lessons.” She gave him a wink before continuing, “There’s a room where your Auntie Starlight is the guidance counsellor, we have many students there. Five of them are different creatures and are friends together with a pony.” “Different creatures?” Asked Lightning curiosity. “That’s right. There’s a griffon, a yak, a dragon like Spike but older, a Changeling and a hippogriff who is also a seapony.” “Wow!” Lightning was amazed by that, even though he has never heard or seen any of those creatures before, aside from dragons after meeting Spike on the day Fluttershy adopted him. “And I think that you and the six friends I mentioned will become good friends when you meet them,” said Fluttershy with hope. “Really?!” “Of course, sweetheart. Besides, the five creatures are very friendly, just like Spike.” “I would like to meet them, Momma!” Fluttershy giggled before saying, “I knew you would like to.” She then kissed him on the cheek as she continued her way to the school. When they arrived, Lightning was amazed as he saw the school, it looked just like Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, only it was bigger, had more space to it and was near Twilight’s castle, it was nothing he had ever seen before. “It’s so big,” Lightning said. “It sure is,” said Fluttershy as she landed on the ground safely and gently. She walked towards the doors, opened them and went inside as she shut the doors behind her. Once inside, Lightning saw a lot of students, including the Young Six, standing in front of a stage where Twilight, Oliver, Spike and the rest of the girls were standing. Fluttershy, with Lightning Twister on her back still, went onto the stage to join them as Twilight began to speak. "Attention ponies and creatures of all, welcome to the new year of your lessons here at the School of Friendship. Now as you all may have heard, we have a brand new student joining us today." "Will the new student please come and introduce himself?" Starlight asked. Lightning felt a bit shy since he’s new in the school, so he hugged his mother’s neck gently and shook a little. But it was stopped by Fluttershy’s nuzzle, showing him that it’ll be okay and there’s nothing to be afraid of. She then took him off her back and gently placed him in front of her, showing everyone in the school. “May I introduce, my son Lightning Twister,” Fluttershy said as she placed a hoof on her son’s shoulder. Everyone let out an awww as they thought how cute he was. That made Lightning blush a bit. “I hope you all make him feel welcome here in the school,” said Sunset. “Now why don’t you take the free time to get yourselves ready before the day starts,” Twilight said as all the students began to make their ways to the gym or library for their free time. “So Lightning, would you like me and your mother to take you on a tour of the school?” Asked Oliver politely. Lightning nodded for a yes as the three began the tour of the school. Oliver and Fluttershy showed Lightning the entire school where the classrooms are, the guidance counselling room, dining hall, the library and Twilight’s main office. The last part of the tour was the gym room, they were walked towards that room, as they were walking, Lightning saw a human walking into Oliver’s classroom. “Hey Uncle Oliver, who was that creature? The one that just went into your classroom,” Lightning asked. “Oh that was my friend, John Constantine. But he either goes by John or Constantine. He’s a human,” Oliver replied, “He often comes by here to see how I’m doing since we’ve been friends ever since I was young. Maybe one day, I can take you to meet him one day if you like.” “You think he’ll like me?” “Of course he will,” he said as he rubbed Lightning’s mane gently, “He’s the friendliest human you’ll ever meet.” They continued their way to the gym room. As they reached the gym, they saw the Young Six there. They were just talking and laughing together as they waited for their new day at the School of Friendship to start. Lightning began to feel shy again as he went underneath Oliver and hid behind his hoof. “Hey every creature!” Fluttershy called out to them, “Come and meet our new student who is also my son!” The six students walked towards the three, soon they were cornered in friendly smiles by an orange dragon with antlers, a yak, a blue griffon, a khaki brown colored earth pony with a turquoise blue mane and tail with a cutie mark of three sea turtles, a hyperactive and excited hippogriff and a blue and pink changeling. Oliver looked down to Lightning, “Don’t be frightened, Lightning. Come meet them.” Lightning looked out from underneath his uncle, and saw the students were looking at him with friendly smiles on their faces, while the hippogriff had a big excited smile on her face like she often does. He then looked at his mother who gave him a nod saying it’s okay. He slowly walked from underneath Oliver and towards the six. “HelloooAAAAHHHH!!!!” Lightning screamed. He felt two pink fur covered arms that have picked him up off the ground and was now in mid air. The arms then pulled him close to a chest and hugged him tightly. “AREN'T YOU THE MOST CUTEST PONY IN EQUESTRIA?!?! I CAN JUST HUG YOU FOREVER!!!!” said the voice of the hippogriff. Lightning looked up and saw that she had a sensitive yet excited look of joy over his cuteness. "I'm Silverstream, I'm from Mount Aris and Seaquestria. I was a seapony once but now I'm a hippogriff again, but I'll explain my story later," said Silverstream as she continued to hug Lightning. She then pulled him closer to where his face was now buried into her chest. "How can I ever be friends with a cute pony like you?!" she said as she squeezed him. “Help! Me!” Mumbled Lightning in Silverstream’s chest. “Silverstream my dear, release him,” Oliver kindly said before giggling. “Yes Professor Oliver,” said Silverstream as she gently put Lightning back on the ground. The next one to the introduction was the blue griffon, "Nice to meet you. I'm Gallus from Griffonstone." "I'm Ocellus from the Changeling Kingdom." "I'm Sandbar from Ponyville." "Me Yona from Yakyakistan. Yak love meeting new friends." Yona then embraced Lightning as he then choked from the power of the young yak's embrace but she letted him go afterwards. And last was the orange dragon, "And I'm Smolder from the Dragon lands." “Nice to meet you all. I’m Lightning Twister.” “Now since Lightning has met you all, would it be okay if he joined you six?” Asked Oliver. “Of course Professor Oliver,” Gallus answered, “We’ll be sure to make him feel welcome here. Right, guys?” The five nodded as a yes. “Good. We’ll heading to see Headmare Twilight now,” said Fluttershy as she then gave Lightning a kiss on the cheek, “Have a good day, sweetie. I’ll see you when you’re in my lessons. Love you.” “Love you too, Momma.” He then kissed Fluttershy back. “And make sure you all be careful with him,” warned Oliver, “He’s still young, and can get scared easily.” He then rubbed his nephew’s mane. “Don’t worry Professor Oliver,” Smolder said, “We’ll be very gentle with him.” With nothing else left to say, the two professors left the gym room and headed towards the room where Twilight and the others would meet. One hour has passed, and The Young Seven were still in the gym room, not playing hoops and balls like they often do in Rainbow Dash’s lessons, they just sat on the floor and talked together. "So Lightning, when did Fluttershy give birth to you?” Sandbar asked, “Because I've never heard she was planning on having children till now.” "Well, to be honest, I wasn't born from her," Lightning said. This confused the Young Six. "What do you mean?" Smolder asked as she got up and walked towards him. "I was adopted, my real Momma died after giving birth to me. And my daddy said it was my fault she died.” The Young Five gasped while Gallus let out a “What?!” Tears began to escape his eyes as he continued, “D-daddy scares me with t-thunder s-storms, calls me a f-freak a-and hits m-me.” This made Smolder feel bad for Lightning, sure she was a big tough dragon, but she had the heart to care for others. She bent down her knees and gently placed her claws on him in comfort. “What kind of a parent blames a poor cute child like you for something that wasn’t even your fault?!” exclaimed Silverstream angrily. "Yona hate mean parents!" growled Yona. "Yeah, besides you're too cute to be blamed for and to go through something like that," Ocellus said making Lightning blush. "Not to mention you've now got a loving mother that deeply cares about you from the heart, like we do now,” said Smolder as she picked him up and hugged him. The rest could definitely tell she already had a romantic interest in him but in secret. Gallus and Sandbar snickered while Silverstream and Yona stared in confusion. But Ocellus wasn’t happy with Gallus and Sandbar snickering at Smolder. “Hey, just because Smolder is a dragon, doesn’t mean she can like cute things. And even if she is in love with him because he’s cute, that doesn’t matter. She’s just trying to be kind to him, because he needs comfort after explaining his story.” She then turned to Smolder as she winked at her, letting her know that she was on her side since Smolder likes cute things and has been trying to keep it a secret since the tests. Smolder smiled at Ocellus before turning back to Lightning Twister. "Hey kid, bottom line is, you're not ignored here,” said Smolder, “And we'll see to it that you have more friends in every way.” Lightning smiled as she gave him another embrace, and this time, Lightning felt a kiss on his forehead. Smolder had kissed him. "And that is a symbol of our new friendship," she said. “You guys, want to be my, friends?” Lightning asked happily. “Of course we do,” Silverstream said while Yona nodded her head, “That's what Friendship’s all about. Making friends no matter what size or creature they are.” “Yona want to be friends with little pony!” Yona said excitedly. “Looks like things are gonna go well for me here after all.” "So what do you say, kid? Friends?" Gallus asked as he held out his clawed hand. Smolder, Yona, Sandbar, and Silverstream soon joined in putting their paws and hooves on top of his and then Ocellus joined in. "Come on Lightning, it'll be fun," Smolder said. Lightning felt his heart move up to love mode and decided to join in. “Friends for life!” He said as he placed his hoof in, then they all raised their limbs together. "GO FRIENDSHIP!" they yelled, then giggled and laughed, suddenly without warning, Twilight popped in. "Hey, the bell’s about to ring in ten minutes, why don’t you make your way to your first lesson," she said. "Yes Headmare Sparkle," they all said as they exited the gym and walked down the hallways to their first class. Silverstream then gently picked Lightning up and placed him on her back. “Why don’t you ride on my back to class, cutie? It’ll be okay with me since you’re light as a feather.” He smiled and nodded for a okay as they continued on to their first class of the day.