//------------------------------// // Message to a Student // Story: A New Face in Ponyville // by MeowthRocket //------------------------------// It had been only a few minutes since Josh and Celestia had arrived at his family home and the young teen had poured glasses of cold milk for the both of them in his backyard after making sure Celestia was ok with drinking the liquid. He didn't exactly know what she'd like to drink, since he had the feeling her diet was not on par with regular horses, and as he watched her using her magical powers to levitate the glass and pour the cold refreshing liquid down her throat, he began to realize more and more that this was no prank... he was looking at a living breathing Allicorn... and a beautiful talking one at that! "So Princess Celestia... I have to ask...", Josh started to say with his hands clasped around his glass of white liquid, "Why did you come to me... there's millions of people and children in this world... why did you come to me?" "Well...", Celestia replied after using her powers to lift a napkin to her mouth to wipe off the excess milk, "I've considered bringing a human into my land to help some of my pupils learn a few more lessons in friendship, some I imagine only a human's wisdom could help bring in." "Ok, I think I can understand that... but why me?" "When I looked through my portal..." It was then Celestia and looked at the teen shyly, "I have to admit, I'd think you would have a lot more questions about me, even fainting..." "Nah.", the teen shrugged, "I've seen a lot in my young life. The scary thing is a talking allicorn isn't the strangest... at least you're a friendly and gentle one. But go on about the portal and me." The allicorn couldn't help but blush at the compliment before she continued, "When I looked through, I sought someone who was pure at heart, but still with their own flaws... Children are precious, but they may not be able to help with some of what I'm trying to convey to my students, and adults... well..." Josh nodded sadly, knowing that not a lot adults would not understand such a concept and possibly try to use her for greedy purposes. "I know what you mean..." The princess nodded before she continued. "So I wanted to find someone special... someone young, yet not too young where they can't understand complexities. Someone with natural flaws so to speak, not afraid to admit mistakes... Someone with a spark... one that shines with humor and love... When I looked at you... I felt that spark." It was the teen's turn to have his cheeks turn red as he looked back at the Allicorn. "So you want me to come to your land for how long to teach some lessons... A day, 2?", he asked before he took a drink of milk. "Actually, I was thinking maybe you'd consider living in my world." This produced a giant spit-take from the human as he spat the milk all over the glass table and choked, much to Celestia's amusement. She'd expected the human to have at least THAT reaction to her offer. After pounding his chest a bit to allow himself to breathe again, Josh looked back up at Celestia with a look of shock in his eyes. "Live there? But... how would I fit in? I mean... I'm not a pony myself!" "Exactly!", she replied, "That would be their first lesson... accepting all sorts of species as friends. That'd be an amazing lesson to teach, wouldn't it?" At this, Josh had to concede she had a very good point. "Good point and well made. But what would I do there otherwise? I mean I'm going to assume all the other ponies talk and act like you... somewhat... not like the horses here." "I think you're getting the hints quite nicely already. I could set you up in a place in Ponyville, where my pupil and her friends reside and you could just hang around and be a part of them learning more of the magic of friendship." "But what about things like food, entertainment, transportation!", Josh blurted out before covering his mouth and looking down. "I'm sorry, princess, I didn't mean-" But the princess took it in stride. "Relax young one, this is one reason why I chose you. You're not afraid to speak your mind. Our world is just like yours, very little difference... but my pupil and her friends would be better to explain to you... if you knew all this ahead of time, it may not help them learn as much as teaching their ways to someone who's never been through them before." Again, Josh had to admit her point was very much a valid one. "So what do you say, my friend. Will you help me?" Josh pursed his fingers to his lips as he thought it through. "You promise this isn't one big prank? I mean all signs now point to you being real, but I..." "I understand your hesitance, Joshua.", Celestia sighed, "Would it help if it said you were allowed to come back here whenever you wanted?" This made Josh look back up at the princess. This was something he hadn't even considered. "You mean I wouldn't be trapped there? I could still come back to my own world if I felt like it?" "That is correct, my human friend. The magic to open a portal to your world is a little tricky, but it can be done. I would ask you not abuse it though, since it does drain my powers a little." "I can imagine it would.", Josh admitted before taking a deep breath and giving his answer... "What the heck? I've got nothin' better to do. Who knows, this could be good for a few laughs too!" Celestia smiled at the human, knowing she'd made the right choice. "Very well. Would you like to bring anything along with you for your stay?" "If I may. Just a few items.. plus I'd like to leave a tape for my family so they know I'm ok... of course I have to ask you one thing." "Of course, my friend." "Can you be in my tape... that way at least my folks will know this isn't a gag. You gotta admit this is a very extraordinary circumstance." It was the princesses turn to concede a valid argument as she nodded. "I suppose I can say a few words." "Thank you... just let me go in and get my things and the camera..." It took all of a few minutes for Joshua and Celestia to set up the camera and record the message to his parents. It was nothing special, just them explaining where he'd be and Celestia opening her mouth to the camera to prove she was a real allicorn, finishing with them telling his mom and dad he loved them very much. As he set down his bags, containing some clothes and miscellaneous items, as well as a giant plushie he explained to the princess as his "security blanket", he nodded to Celestia in assent. "Ok, so how do we do this?", he asked curiously, "Do we fly off somewhere or something?" Celestia shook her head. "Just hold your hand against my coat again." With a shrug, the teen walked over and placed his hand on Celestia' white coat, again marvelling at the fact this was a real allicorn being. "Are you ready, Joshua..." "I'm... I'm ready, Princess Celestia..." Without wasting another second, the allicorn lowered her head and began to glow as a big white gust formed from the sky and descended upon them. As the incantation went on, the two began to merge with the beams of light descending and by the time she had finished, the two of them had transported from Josh's backyard into her castle's study, a process that only took a few minutes much to the teens amazement. As he looked around at the magnificient surroundings from the two regal stern-looking stallion guards to the vast array of books and equipment, Josh finally accepted that this was all real. "No prank could be this thorough... this is real...", he muttered in shock before he looked back at Celestia, that same warm smile on her face, "I... I can't believe this is all real..." "It's a shock, I will admit this my friend. Why don't you take a seat? It's going to take me a minute to write this scroll to my pupil to alert her of your arrival." "But I thought you said it would lessen the impact if they knew I was coming?", Josh asked as he sat down in a big armchair, sinking into it and sighing at how comfy it was. "I didn't even think you all sat in chairs." Celestia chuckled as she picked up a quill and a parchment. "If we stood on our fore and hind legs 24/7, we'd be exhausted! No, we use chairs and beds like humans. But regarding my pupil, it's wise if at least she knows about you coming, so she can introduce you around." "Abso-fu-", Josh started to say, but then he remembered he was in the presence of a gentle princess and he didn't want to offend her, "I mean absolutely amazing. Your logic is impeccable!" "Joshua, it's ok. We do have occassional cursing here... but I appreciate you trying to be polite in front of me.", Celestia smiled as she used the quill to write down a message. The human got up and took a glance at her writing and was impressed at how fancy it looked, a lot of his conceptions about a pony kingdom slowly being torn away to his delight. But he had one more place to see before he knew if he'd fit in at least a little, and as he watched the princess finish her letter and use her breath to turn it into vapor, he couldn't help but wonder... Would they accept him? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As the purple-coated unicorn named Twilight Sparkle pored through her usual array of science materials, her mind was still fresh on the events of the past week. Everyone was still gathering their senses from the Grand Galloping Gala in their own way. Pinkie Pie was setting up a party to commemerate the 1-week anniversary of Gala's taking place, Applejack was working on some new recipes to help boost her sales after failing to make a profit at the event, Rarity had used her own powers to tear up every poster and every shred of evidence that suggested her ever liking Prince Blueblood, Rainbow Dash was practicing harder than ever for the Wonderbolts, determined to get their attention by the next airshow competition, and Fluttershy... well she was just being her timid graceful self, albeit a little embarrassed still about having lost her mind a little at the Gala, even though the rainbow-maned pegasus had called it quote, "The coolest thing she'd ever seen!". But at the same time, she couldn't help but wonder what other lessons her mentor would want from her... and soon her thoughts were broken by the sound of her number-one dragon assistant, Spike. "Twilight, it's been a week since that Gala, are you still thinking about it?" Twilight sighed before she closed her book and looked at the dragon, "I just wish I'd gotten a better chance to talk with Princess Celestia. Even after the Gala, she had to hurry back to Canterlot to help fix up the damages." "Well what did you expect, Dash did quite a bit of work to the castle! I never even KNEW you could break a column like that!", Spike admitted with a chuckle. "Spike, this is serious! I just... I was hoping for that chance to tell her all I've learned..." "Relax, Twilight, you'll get it some- Oogh..." It was then the baby dragon felt a rumble in his belly and before he knew it, his cheeks were flushed much to Twilight's shock. "Spike? Are you o-" With a loud belch, Spike burped up a gout of green flame that slowly formed itself into a scroll and landed at Spike's feet. "It's a letter from Princess Celestia!", Twilight chirped happily, "Open it!" Without wasting a second, Spike picked up the scroll and unrolled it to read to the unicorn its message. "Hear ye! Hear ye! Her Royal Highness, Princess Celestia of Equestria, requests the presence of one Twilight Sparkle at the outer gates of Ponyville, at the edge of the Everfree Forest for a very special matter in one hour. It is regarding another lesson for not just you, but all your friends. But do NOT tell anyone yet." Finishing his read, Spike shook his head in disbelief at how fancy she had made her request. "I respect Princess Celestia and all, but does EVERY message of hers have to be so fancy-schmancy?" "Spike, shh!", Twilight shhed the dragon as used her telekenesis, almost as advanced as Celestia's herself, to unfurl the scroll and read it herself, twinges of excitement audible in her voice. She loved getting special meetings with her mentor and if it involved not just her, but her friends, it HAD to be important... although one thing gnawed at her brain. "Why doesn't she want me to tell anyone else? What could be so important she wouldn't want even Fluttershy to know?" "You got me.", Spike admitted with a shrug. With a sigh, Twilight opened her library door and began to head out, much to Spike's bewilderment. "You know you've still got an hour before her arrival, right?" "I know Spike...", the unicorn admitted, "But I wanna get there early... and do a little thinking." Spike sighed before he responded. "Ok, but be careful. Remember what happened with that Cockatrice!" Twilight let out a shudder at the memory. Fluttershy had told her about being turned into stone and the thought still gave her the creeps, even if she was thankfully able to block most of it out. "I'll be careful, Spike. Don't worry." And with that, the magical unicorn made her way out towards the vast forest resting on the edge of Ponyville.