//------------------------------//
// Eight 
// Story: A Pretty Little Dime 
// by Plumage 
//------------------------------//

"Dime!"
"Hey, is she okay?"
"DIME!"
I opened my eyes, not wanting to see anypony (or any draconequus) but the statue is gone.
"Where'd the statue-"
"Celestia took one to Ponyville for some reason, maybe that's the one you're talking about."
"Oh," I smile. "It was probably nothing...lack of sleep," I'm making weak excuses, and Luna, Bleach and Golden Sparkles know it.
"We need to get you to the infirmary, maybe we can-"
But I interrupt Bleach. "No!"
Luna looks at me, confused.
"I mean, no, I'm fine. Really!" I say quickly.
"Well, at least let me come with you back to your room." Golden Sparkles says reasonably.

I nod and she helps me up. She leads me back up to my room.
"Thankyou, Golden Sparkles." I say, once I'm safely in my bed. I try not to be too hearty with her, since that might scare her off, but I want her to know that I am grateful.

"Um, miss Dime?"
"Yes?"
"Please, call me Golden,"
This is the first time in her ten years of employment that she has asked this. "Oh," I say, surprised. "Oh, alright,"
"And...miss Dime?"
"Yes?"
"C-could you...I-I mean, could I...what I'm trying to say is... Could I..."

But she loses her voice and the sentence trails off into nothing.
I can see she feels anxious, apprehensive, but what for? Surely she has got to know me by now?
I'm not sure what to do. "Golden, you can ask me anything. Don't worry about what I'll think of you for it."
She bites her lip. "Oh, okay...Iwannabeurfathfilsudent."
She says it way too fast, and then she blushes crimson and looks down.
"Uh....sorry?" I ask hesitantly.
"I want to be your faithful student,"
The question surprises me. Why in the world would she want to do that? I mean, after what happened to Emmy?

"I've been thinking about it for a while now, and I want to know everything, everything and anything that you can tell me,"
She's still speaking fast, but I can understand her now.
"Well....are you sure? After Emmy?"
"Yes, I'm sure." She looks determined, but there is still a little blush on her face.

"Then the answer is yes. Golden Sparkles, you are bound by this oath to study all that is magical and earthbound; all that lives in the sky, the water and the earth; you will study branches and beginnings, each and every day a new lesson. Do you swear to be loyal to Fërulia for evermore?" I ask, repeating the traditional oath I had recited to Emmy.

Golden nods. "I swear by my heart and soul, my living body and my waking mind," She completes the oath.
I smile. "Welcome to scholardom," I say.
She laughs. And so I begin.

"In the beginning, you were told there was one almighty god, borne of itself, as it created itself. He was Dûntr, the never ending dragon. Dûntr was lonely, as he was alone in the universe. 

He created a child, a golden alicorn. This alicorn was but a small fragment of his power. He created a world for this child to rule; and named it 'the beautiful place'.

The alicorn was struggling, as she also suffered from loneliness. She viewed Dûntr as a god, one to look up to and worship, rather than a father. Dûntr created more of the ponies; but they were weaker, so that it would be easier for his child to rule without rebellion.

Then, Dûntr sealed off the small world from the rest of his multiverse.

The child nurtured its subjects as they grew from hunters to gatherers to farmers. It protected its subjects from harm. And as they grew into a sentient race, she took up the position as ruler.

The child of Dûntr still rules over us today, and I am that child.

That is a lie.

Dûntr may exist in some form, in some other multiverse, but the truth is I did not create this world. As far as it is known, nopony did. It was found directly before the Worldgiving.

The first thing you must know is that there is a section of the multiverse, completely invisible to all but gods, is a colossal high school.

Gods and children of gods are sent there once they turn 14 to be taught the ways of a god. They are then sent to create their own worlds.

The World Scroll tells you who you are and where you will be. It tells you your Fate.

My own Fate consisted of Laughter. I do not know what this means as of yet.

This School was where I attended and received my education. I do not remember any of the teacher's names; any of the classes; and I was only ever invited to one party.

The last year of school was one to remember; although that story shall wait.

Another thing you must understand is that ponies are not alone in this multiverse.
There are bipeds known as humans, dragons, gryphons, and a peculiar species by the name of the draconequui.

Draconequui are long-bodied, usually with the head of a horse or cow; occasionally you can get a donkey-headed specimen. They are mismatched creatures with a peculiar brand of magic. Since I only knew one personally, I cannot tell you what others of the species look like.

The multiverse is peculiar; I once knew of a boy called Jesus who was extremely cocky and believed that all things should be modeled in his image. I also knew a ...pony who was kind and strong-willed. She, too, was peculiar: she had the ability to take on the shape of any other.

Stopping, I cock my head to listen. There is a lot of noise coming from down below.

Golden Sparkles has noticed too. "Maybe Celestia is back?" She seems curious.

"Mm," I say, and open the door. Walking out to the balcony, I see she has in fact arrived back.
And there's some...pony with her.

It must be Dionysus; Celestia said that Discord had gone away somewhere.

But would a son sit stiffly away from his mother? Almost as if he was trying not to touch her?

Seems ungrateful for a son. We're talking about the pony who gave birth to this kid.

I'm about to turn back in, my thoughts still on Dionysus when a voice I haven't heard for centuries shouts,

"Dime?!"