//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: The Princesses' Brother // by Sir_RedFox //------------------------------// The sun rises, and all of Equestria is basked in the morning lights of dawn. At the very center of Equestria was the town of Ponyville. Here, where the Princess of Friendship resides in her castle and the School of Friendship. As the sun's rays shined on the school clock tower, the bell was struck six times. This helped signal to everyone that happens to be on campus that classes would begin within two hours. As always, Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship, and Head Mare for the School of Friendship were up and early. She sits on the big high back chair in the teachers' lounge, waiting for her friends to arrive. Twilight had several books into the air with her magic and circling the books around her. Such magic to her was all too easy. The huge double-wide doors of the lounge open. It was the first of Twilight's friends to arrive. It was Fluttershy, the sweet and kind pegasus, with her yellow coat and pink mane. Her wings were expanded outward and held several different woodland critters. There were chipmunks, robins and blue jays, Forrest mice, and sitting on her back was her devil in disguise pet rabbit, Angel. The next two ponies to enter were honest earth pony, AppleJack, and loyal pegasus, Rainbow Dash. The two ponies were both bickering at each other as they entered the lounge. Next was the dashing, yet generous, white unicorn with a purple mane, Rarity. The last of them all was the powerful lavender color unicorn, Starlight Glimmer. "Hey Starlight," Rainbow Dash spoke up to Starlight. "Why is it that you're always the last one to get here in the morning?" Dash asked. "I only ask, based on the fact that you live in Twilight's castle, which is only... What? Three hundred feet from the school?" "What?!?" Starlight said in disbelief. "I use whatever time I have to make sure that I look my best and ready to take on the day. Besides, Pinkie Pie isn't here. Maybe you should be interrogating her?" The moment Starlight finished those words, one of the high arch windows in the teachers' lounge shattered. Flying in, was a massive speeding pink ball. Bouncing everywhere, from the floor to the ceiling, to the side of the wall and back to the ceiling. The fast-moving pink ball comes to a halt, landing on the opposite side of the couch.. The pink ball stretches out on the sofa, revealing to be the over-hyped earth pony, Pinkie Pie. "I did it!" Pinkie Pie screams in excitement. "I did it! I have perfected the best and fastest way for a pony to travel from point A to point B. By crafting a slingshot type device with the use of untested devices that Trixie sold to me. Just a few more practice runs, and every pony in Equestria will want one. Wouldn't you say so?" Every pony in the room turn their heads to the side. Hoping to not really answer Pinkie Pie's question. Not even Apple Jack wanted to crush her spirits by telling the truth. Shrugging off Pinkie Pie's comment, Twilight was the first to speak up. "Well, now that every pony is here..." "Wait, what about Spike," Starlight Glimmer speaks up. "Who also lives in Twilight's castle, which is only three hundred feet from the school," Starlight says, mocking Rainbow Dash's comment earlier. "We were told late last night that the Princess might be sending Spike a letter of great importance," said Twilight. "Why he had to stay in the castle for such news, I have no idea. But, for now, I'm interested in catching up and seeing if anybody has any new information to share?" Pinkie Pie raises her hoof, hoping Twilight to pick her. But, the only thing that Pinkie Pie had to share was more about her destructive transportation device, which every pony in the room quickly dismissed. Apple Jack bragged on about how Sweet Apple Archers has produced the best apples for the season, which was nothing new. The same with Rainbow Dash bragging about being a Wonderbolt, and that the next class field trip should be for the students to come to see her perform. Every-pony couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at how egotistical Rainbow Dash was coming off. Rarity talked about new ideas for her clothing line for her store. Starlight Glimmer, as the school's guidance counselor, told every pony in the room that she came up with a new way to help individual students, by using what's called 'puppet therapy.' Thought, saying it out loud to every pony, sounded a little too childish. "Fluttershy," Twilight said, wanting to get the shy pegasus to be involved in the conversation. "You've been pretty quiet. Anything special happening that you would like to share?" "Well..." Fluttershy started to say before her cheeks started to blush red. "You all probably don't know, because we've thought best the fewer ponies and creatures know the better. But, I and Discord have been going..." Fluttershy stops to clear her throat. The last word seemed hard to get out. "Steady." "Called it!" shouted out Pinkie Pie. Apple Jack, with a broad smile, lefts up her hoof up at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash had a disgruntled look and started digging into her saddlebag to retrieve a hoof full of bits, which she poured into Apple Jack's open hoof. "Wow," said Twilight, wanting to sound supportive of Fluttershy. "That's great. The two of you, together. I hope the best for you and..." felt too hard to say the Lord of Chaos's name. "Discord." "Uh," Fluttershy started to say. "It's actually a little more than that," she said. Fluttershy pushes back part of her pink mane that covered her neck to reveal an engagement ring strung around her neck. "Now that, I did not see coming," Pinkie Pie comment loudly. Like Pinkie Pie, the rest of the ponies had similar shocked expressions. "Now, I know what you're all probably thinking," said Fluttershy. "But you don't know Discord like I do. He's funny, kind, and does things he would never do, but does out of respect for me." "Well," Twilight said in a nervous tone. "If this is what you really want, then I hope for the best of you two." "Oh yes," said Fluttershy. "Over the next few days, I'll be moving in with Discord and his dimension. He says he's already on remodeling his house into a castle. One that will feel perfect for the both of us, and a few creature friends. Isn't that right, Angel Bunny?" A top Fluttershy's head, Angel Bunny, stuck out his tongue and made several gagging sounds as if the whole thing made him sick. "Well," Twilight said, "classes are about to start. Unless some pony else has any important thing to share, then we will dismiss." Every pony stood, sat, or flapped right where they were. Not saying a single thing. "Well then," Twilight said. "Consider this meeting, dismis-" The double-wide doors to the teacher's lounge burst open. Spike, Twilight's personal dragon assistant, rushes in, clutching a scroll in his dragon claws. "Twilight..." Spike said, sounding out of breath from running to find her, huffing and puffing. He holds the scroll over his head. "A letter," he says. "A letter from Princess Celestia and Luna, with great urgency." Spike still sounded severely out of breath. "Letter. Princesses. You. Read. Important. Now." Using her magic, Twilight grabs the scroll from Spike. Unrolling the scroll and having it hoover in front of her face. It reads: Dear Twilight, Luna and I have received some exciting news. Prince Bilbo Thornhill, after his long adventures, has decided to return to Equestria. Though he seeks an audience with my sister and me, we are unavailable to oblige him at the current time. However, we suggested he stay in your castle, while also seeking to enlighten the students at your school? Though Prince Thornhill might be a bit rough around the edges, he is a very powerful and intelligent pony. It will take some time for him to adjust to the town of Ponyville, something that you are well aware of, since first being sent to Ponyville. Also, the small sutile town of Ponyville and its inhabitants will probably be the best place for him to adjust being back after his long adventurous journey. Prince Bilbo Thornhill will be arriving at your School of Friendship tomorrow around one in the afternoon. We hope that this way, he will be able to take in the greatness of your school and find comfort in your castle. We wish you, your friends, and your students the best at his arrival. Yours Truly, Princess Celestia and Luna. Twilight smiled, reading the letter. A noble prince, to bass in the greatness of her school and students. Though, she's never recalled ever hearing about a Prince Bilbo Thornhill? A princess must know all of Equestria's diplomatic alliance with all the surrounding areas. Prince Ruffurfered from Yakyakastain. Dragon Lord Amber from the Dragon Lands and Princess Novo, who rules over the hippogriffs and sea ponies as only a few. But, Prince Thornhill rings no bell to her mind. The letter states that the prince is a pony and returning to Equestria. But, from what part does he hail from, and where has he been on his adventures? This changes everything. She'll have to draw up a new schedule chart for her students. That way, all will be present at Prince Thornhill's arrival. There was something written at the bottom of the scroll. Hard to believe she would miss something so important. PS: It is probably for the best to inform you that Prince Thornhill is mine and Princess Luna's brother. She had to reread that bottom description over several times. Making sure what she read was true. Brother, she thought. Since when did Princess Celestia and Luna ever have a brother?