//------------------------------// // Chapter IX: Saying Goodbye // Story: The Young Prince of Equestria // by GoebelTron //------------------------------// After a year later since Sunset Shimmer ran away, Bowen felt sad that he would never see his second friend again, but he was hoping that she would be okay and is doing fine, but suddenly, Flying Hope came over to talk to him with a bowl of ice cream. “Hey, Bowen. I brought ice cream,” she said. Bowen took a spoon, “Thanks you, Flying.” They then shared a few spoonfuls and enjoyed their treat. “I know she’s a little mean, but do you really miss her, Bowen?” Flying asked. “Yeah, I do. She was my second best friend and given me great advice and tried to study more, but I’m glad to still have you as my best friend,” Bowen said. “If only we could’ve gotten together, the three of us.” “Yeah, I wish the same thing,” Flying said. Suddenly, they finished their ice cream and then decided to have a little sleepover to cheer up Bowen. Celestia came to check on her son, but her heart melted at what she saw. It was Bowen and Flying Hope having a sleepover on his bed. She then walked over and gently fixed the blankets and tucked them both underneath them to keep them warm for the night and went over to her room. The next day, Bowen’s 7th birthday arrived, and he was glad to have his cousin Cadance, his foalsitter Sweet Rose, Philomena the phoenix, and Flying Hope, and especially the rest of the palace staff. After Bowen blew out the candles on his cake, everypony was given a slice, and then he received a lot of presents from each pony, but as always, Celestia’s was the best. “Here you are, my sweet little boy. Happy birthday, sweetie,” Celestia said. Bowen opened it, and he saw a gold heart shaped pendant that had a picture of himself, Cadance, Flying Hope, Sweet Rose, and Celestia in a family picture inside on the right side. On the left side of the inside, an inscription said: “For you to know that Mommy loves you.” He then hugged her on the neck and nuzzled his cheek on her fur, while Celestia hugged him back. She suddenly found out that he was still sad about Sunset leaving him, so she managed to comfort him once again. One day, Flying Hope and Sweet Rose came over to the castle with sad and happy faces in between. Princess Celestia noticed this, and so did Bowen, who was sitting next to her on her throne by her side. After explaining what bothered them both, Bowen suddenly began to break down with a sad heavy heart, “Y-You-You’re leaving me?” “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’m afraid so,” Sweet Rose replied sadly. “But don’t worry. We’ll never forget you.” “No… No! You’re lying! YOU’RE LYING! THIS CAN’T HAPPEN!” Bowen shouted. “Bowen, calm down,” Sweet Rose said, as Bowen smacked her hoof. “NO! IT’S NOT FAIR!” He then ran out of the room crying and headed for his bedroom, until he slammed the door shut. Celestia and Cadance felt worried, and so did Sweet Rose and her daughter. “Oh… poor little guy,” a guard said. “Yeah, I feel ya,” another said. Celestia knew that her son needed comfort, so she decided to let him cool off for a little while until she was ready to talk to him. Bowen spent the entire day in his room, feeling broken about his first best friend leaving, and may never be coming back, until he heard murmuring rumors about him, which made him sad and confused. Later on, after realizing he was missing dinner, Celestia went over to Bowen’s door and knocked on it. “Bowen? Sweetie, are you in there?” “Yes, mommy,” he replied sadly. “Can I come in?” she asked. “Sure. It’s unlocked,” He replied. She opened the door and saw her son laying on his bed with his head buried in his pillow and hugging his plushies. She also saw that his pillow were covered in tear stains, and that his eyes were red and puffy from crying. She then gently laid on all four legs on the side of the bed and began to rub her left hoof across his back, until she let him lay down on her forelegs and hug one of her hooves. “Why, mommy? Why do they have to go?” Bowen asked. “I’m sorry, dear. But it happens to other ponies who need or are given better jobs somewhere else, so they usually move out if needed,” Celestia said. “But I don’t want to lose her, or Sweet Rose. I lost Sunset once, but I don’t want to lose them the same way,” Bowen said. “I know, sweetie. I know,” Celestia said, as she rubbed her hoof against his side, until he got more worried. “Mommy? Is it true what other ponies think? Am I a monster?” Celestia was shocked about what he asked, and then replied, “Oh, sweetie. Of course not. You’re not a monster. You have always never been one, and never will be.” “But what if other fillies and colts make fun of me for what I am? What if Flying Hope and Sweet Rose forget about me? And… how can you love a monster like me?” Bowen asked, before she sat him up on the bed and hugged him against her chest until she looked at him in his eyes. “Never say that again, Bowen Solaris Mockingjay. I told you, you’re not a monster. You are a very sweet 7 year old boy with the heart of an angel. But you were scared.” “I thought if they would move away, and if I made new friends, some ponies wouldn’t like me, and I would lose you forever if you sent me away. I couldn’t deal with it, mommy,” Bowen said with tears running down his face. “Was it because of what those ponies back there were saying?” Celestia asked. Bowen nodded, and then he felt her lift him up so he can hug her chest and nuzzle with her neck. “Oh, my sweet little Bowen, you will never lose me, and I will never send you away. I will always be here, and nothing that anypony says will ever make me stop loving you. You’re my pride and joy. Ever since you became my son, you’ve brought so much happiness in my life, and others who love you as well, so never think of yourself as a monster. You were just thinking as a boy with sadness inside his heart. But nothing and I mean nothing will ever push me away from raising you.” “Okay,” Bowen said, until he made a soft smile while nuzzling with her fur. “I love you, mommy.” “I love you too, dear,” Celestia said, and then they continued their hug, before Bowen looked up at her, “Mommy, can I sleep with you?” “Of course, my son,” she replied and then levitated him on her back and took him with her to her bedroom. When they got in, Celestia placed Bowen on her bed and then got on before laying flat, and then Bowen crawled over to his mother and then got underneath her forelegs and hugged her chest as he brought one of her pillows for his head to be comfy on. Celestia smiled warmly and gently kissed him on the forehead. She would never dare to leave her son so selfishly, but she knew that once he would be all grown up, he would leave her, but she knew that she still had so much more time before that would happen. “I promise that I’ll never let you go, my son. No matter how sad or hurt or angry you might feel, I will always be by your side. Now, sleep tight in your mother’s grasp. For I won’t let you fall too far away from me. You are my son, and will always be my son,” she said softly in a motherly tone, until she closed her eyes and let sleep take her. The next day, Flying Hope and Sweet Rose came over to say goodbye one more time before their train to Manehattan would arrive or leave without them both. They were both crying, and Flying was the most, because she went over to Bowen and hugged him for more than 10 minutes, as he hugged her back and never wanted to let her go. He loved her, since she was still his best friend. After hugging Flying Hope, Bowen hugged Sweet Rose next, and she spoke to him quickly, “Now you be a good colt for me, okay? And maybe, just maybe, we’ll come back and visit you.” Bowen nodded and continued the hug as his tears stained her fur. “Princess Celestia, it’s been an honor working for you,” she said. “It truly has, Sweet Rose. I promise that I’ll make sure that Bowen will never forget you both,” Celestia said. “Is it okay if I write through mail?” Bowen asked. “Of course, sweetheart. We’d love for you and our daughter to keep contact with each other through mail,” Sweet Rose said. “And don’t worry about Bowen. We’ll keep him safe,” Cadance said, as it was her turn to hug Bowen while he hugged her leg while looking up at his other two favorite ponies. Sweet Rose nodded, and then she gave her daughter and Bowen picture frames of each other so that they can remember their times together. Bowen smiled warmly and then hugged Sweet Rose one more time. Sweet Rose released the hug and kissed him on the forehead, and then alongside Flying Hope, they both got their bags ready and proceeded to head on over to the train station to catch their train to Manehattan. When they left, some of Bowen’s spirit started breaking, but he tried to stay strong, willing that they would return to visit. Later that night, Bowen then placed his picture of him with his best friend on his writing desk and then saw a box full of griffon quills and a small bottle of black ink. Until then, he promised to write to her anytime or day he wanted.