//------------------------------// // Sent away. // Story: Lightning Flash. // by DisharmonyandChaos //------------------------------// The young colt stood before the throne room doors, inside was the princess eagerly awaiting for him to arrive. He wasn't thrilled about today, the last thing lightning wanted was to be sent off to school. It wasn't what he wanted but celestia had made it very clear that he would be sent to Trottingham Academy For Young Ponies, one of the finest boarding schools in all of equestria. Lightning could do nothing more but let out a long sigh of sadness. "Are you read sir?" One of the guards asked who stood next to the door. "Mhm.." he slowly nodded. The guard turned without even turning around pushed the door open for him, to which he slowly entered. Celestia was talking to two very prestigious looking ponies, one was a white stallion earthpony the other an aquamarine unicorn mare, her mane was a darker shade of blue. This was the dean of the academy and his illustrious wife. When celestia turned to him she couldn't help but lose it a little. "Ohhhhh you look so cute!" She said smiling. The dean turned around to look at the young colt and his future student, "Ah this must be my newest and very important student." "What a lovely suit," his wife commented. Lightning stopped halfway toward them,standing there in a shy manor and hiding himself a little. "Shy one isn't he?" The dean said looking back to celestia. "Normally no actually, lightning come and meet the dean," Slowly, lightning approached the two sophisticated ponies who looked down at him with grins. Not only were they getting a new promising student, but royalty as well. It would be great publicity for the academy..not that it needed it anyway. Trottingham academy was one of the most prestigious schools in all of equestria, getting in was considered to be an honor. only 500 students a year get accepted. To be one of the 500 means there is something special about you. "Nice to meet you sir.." Lightning said in a hushed voice, he didn't agree with this but had no say in the matter. "Its quite an honor to meet you, young prince and an even higher honor to have you attend my academy!" The deans voice was full of pride, he seemed to have that pride filled attitude anyhow. Not the kind that says im better then you but the kind that states that he is proud of who he is, and he has many reasons for that. "Lightning, the dean has arranged the whole city to throw a parade in your honor! How does that sound?" Celestia was trying to get lightning out of this shy state he had locked himself away in. He was normally so outgoing and happy so this was very unlike him. "That sounds nice.." "I know the idea of leaving home is rather unsettling, but i promise you that you will love it in trottingham young prince." "We will do everything we can to bring the comforts of home with you!" The deans wife added in. "I could just stay home and safe you the trouble?.." They all laughed at the cute joke, lightning let out a tiny laugh too but he wasn't joking. He did not want to go. "What a charmer!" The deans wife commented once more. "Perhaps we can get more properly introduced, i am dean hawkeye." He chuckled a bit. "Nothing gets past me, and this is my wife, crystal." "With a name like hawkeye it sounds like you should be a watch guard." They all laughed again, lightning could only sigh for apparently nopony was going to take him seriously. "Well princess, me and the wife are going to head back to the train. You may send lightning over when you are ready." The two turned around and walked toward the door. Hawkeye turned around to say, "We look forward to having you with us." Then exited the room. The door shut, with that lightning was able to speak his mind. "Mom i don't want to go!" he exclaimed. Celestia looked down, she seemed surprised. "What? I thought you were excited to go," "No! I don't want to go, why are you making me!?" Lightning began to grow upset, his eyes began to water. Now the reason why was because it was lightnings mothers plan for him all along, she wanted him to grow up to be a successful educated stallion. She sadly never got the chance do to she had picked up a disease that is practically incurable. The disease is called cancer, its a genetic disease. Lightning was tested for it at a young age but thankfully will be spared its touch. Celestia could not tell him though, he wasn't ready to hear about the fact that she isn't his real mother. "...Because i feel it will be good for you." Was the only answer she was able to come up with. She leaned down, looking at him at his eye level. "Lightning, i promise you that you will like it there. You just need to give it a chance, and ill come visit you of course." That seemed to calm him down quite a bit. "Promise?.." "I promise...now come on, its time for you to go." Celestia walked with lightning out of the throne room and down the hallway, they passed his room which was now practically empty. All his stuff had been packed away by servants. The walk was quiet, and sad even for the princess because she was going to miss seeing him every day. Eventually they made it outside to the courtyard, very rarely did the princess walk the streets of canterlot but today would be one of those days. As they exited the castle, citizens all around stopped in place as both prince and princess walked by. Some bowed, others simply looked in surprise. The entire time though lightning stared at the ground, the princess however kept her composure. She had to or else citizens would worry, 2 royal guards walked ahead of them as escort. "Mom?.." Lightning looked up from the cobblestone road. "Yes?" "Are you sending me away because you don't love me?" Celestia stopped in her tracks, that was totally unexpected. "Lightning! How could you think i don't love you? I love you with all my heart!" This much was true, celestia loved him as if he WAS her son. "Because you're sending me away.." "Its not permanent" she said kissing his forehead. "Okay.." He said smiling a bit before they resumed their walk. Soon they were both at the train station, The train for trottingham awaited for lightnings arrival. A few servants from the castle finished loading his luggage. Princess celestia looked at the train before turning to lightning and sighing. "You ready to go?" "I guess so.." he said Celestia reached down to hug him, she held him oh so close. "I love you lightning.." she said quietly in his ear. "I love you too mom.." A few minutes passed before the hug ended and celestia let him board the train. The door shut, sealing him away from her. The train slowly pulled away, celestia walked to the edge of the platform and watched it go. A single tear ran down her face. "Goodbye son.."