Chapter 7: A New Pet
After the young prince’s encounter with the cutie mark crusaders and meeting with a few of the kids at the school, it was now time to move on. Twilight led Dawn Light away as he was bubbling with joy at making some new friends of his own and getting to be a part of a club. “Wow, this is turning out to be a great day so far. I’ve already made some friends, I get to be part of a club, and I get to enjoy time with my new cousins.”
Twilight smiled at young Dawn Light. “I’m glad you’re having a good day so far.”
“So what’s next Twilight?”
Twilight looked down at the young prince with glee as she thought of what was in store for him. “Next, we’re going to pay a visit to Fluttershy.”
Dawn Light cocked an eyebrow. “Really, what for? Not that I don’t mind, I would love to visit her.”
“You’ll see.” She replied coyly.
Dawn just followed Twilight along as the two guards trailed behind, their faces stiff as stone.
As they walked, Dawn light noticed some of the ponies seem a little shaken up whenever he happened a glance at one of the villagers. Dawn light grew concerned about this and spoke up. “Twilight, why do some of the ponies here seem a little nervous? It can’t be me or you can it?”
Twilight looked at the young prince with a straight muzzle, then glanced back at the two guards following close behind as they eyed the surroundings. “I think it’s because of the guards following us.” Twilight finally responded.
Dawn Light frowned upon this realization as he looked back at the guards himself. He didn’t admit it openly, but the guards seemed to give him a bit of a chill as well. He knew they were there for his protection, but protection from who? The thing that locked him away in a terrible nightmare was now a good friend of his in the castle. Dawn turned his attention back to Twilight and looked up at her as he began.
“Twilight, are they really necessary, I don’t want every pony to be afraid of me. I don’t suppose we could just dismiss them could we?”
Twilight put a hoof to her chin in thought as they walked. After a moment, she finally responded. “Sorry Dawn Light, but their orders came directly from your sisters. Even though I’m a princess myself, your sisters hold authority over these guards.”
Dawn light looked straight ahead and began to muse. “I guess I’ll just have to ask my sisters then, I’m not in any real danger here am I?” He asked really more to himself, but wanted an opinion as well.
Twilight supplied her opinion. “I wouldn’t see how. Equestria is at peace. There’s no threat of war or anything.”
“Then why the guards, I’ll have to send a request to my sisters that they dismiss the guards so the ponies won’t be afraid to approach me. I guess it will take some time to get a message to her though.” He said a little glumly.
Twilight gave him another smile in hopes to make one appear on his face as she responded. “Don’t worry Dawn, Spike and I have a direct line to the princess so we can send messages to her right away if we want.”
This perked up Dawn Light’s mood. “Really, what is it?” He asked happily.
“Spike himself.” Twilight said proudly. “He can send a message right to the princess right away with his fire breath.”
Dawn Light was even more impressed with his dragon cousin. As much as he wanted to, he repressed the urge to cheer out while in the presence of other ponies. “Neat.” Was all he got out. His princely training before his untimely disappearance was still fresh in his mind. One must always appear regal and hold an air of grace and humility.
Fluttershy’s cottage soon came into view. Dawn Light took a moment to admire the cottage before him. “Wow, this is where Fluttershy lives, not bad.”
“Come along Dawn.” Twilight instructed. Dawn Light followed her across a small bridge over a stream with the guards close behind.
They approached the door and Twilight knocked. “H-hello?” A meek voice called out quietly, followed by a single sea green eye.
Twilight addressed the eye. “Hello Fluttershy, it’s just us.”
Upon seeing the lavender alicorn and little prince, the door swung open to reveal Fluttershy with a smile. “Oh, hello Twilight.” She greeted happily. Her attention then turned to the young prince. “Hello prince Dawn Light.” She said with a warm smile.
Dawn Light happily returned it. “Hello Fluttershy.”
“So I take it you’re here to pick out a new pet?”
“We sure a-“ Dawn stopped himself a moment. He gave a quizzical look. “Wait, what?” He asked. “Pick out a pet? What is she talking about Twilight?” Dawn asked as he turned to Twilight, only to see a wry smile.
Fluttershy continued. “Oh my, you didn’t tell him?” Fluttershy asked a little worriedly.
Twilight finally spoke up. “I thought it might be a nice surprise.”
Dawn was still confused. “Nice surprise, what’s going on? What are you two going on about?” Dawn’s eyes went back and forth between the two.
Twilight finally relented. “You see Dawn Light, your sisters thought it would be nice if you got a pet to keep you company, so they sent word ahead of time as well for Fluttershy to help you pick out a pet for yourself.”
Dawn Light smiled from ear to ear. “I get to get a pet?!” He asked excitedly. He was forgetting his princely training, he quickly corrected himself and did his best to control himself. “Wow, thank you Fluttershy.” He said with restraint. He would have been hopping around with joy, but he knew that would look undignified. So he kept himself in check.
Twilight seemed to notice Dawn tremble a little. She figured she knew what it was, joy. She could see in his eyes that he was holding back. She spoke to try and get him to express himself. “You know Dawn, it’s ok to express yourself.”
Dawn Light looked up at Twilight. “What do you mean cousin, I have expressed myself.”
“Dawn Light, there’s no pony around but us, if you want to cheer it up, go ahead.” She encouraged him.
Dawn’s eyes shifted around momentarily before looking back to Twilight. “Are you sure?” He asked carefully.
Twilight gave a reassuring smile. “I’m sure.”
“Ok.” He let loose. “WOO HOO, I get a pet of my own!” His shout frightened poor Fluttershy as she yelped and hid behind her door. “Oh thank you, thank you, thank you Fluttershy!” He stopped when he noticed the shy yellow Pegasus was no longer where he thought she was. “Fluttershy?” He asked worriedly.
Fluttershy soon reappeared at the door. “Um, I’m right here.” She said meekly.
Dawn gave a sheepish grin as he apologized. “Um, sorry if I scared you Fluttershy.”
Twilight giggled while Fluttershy opened her door more. “Oh, um, it’s ok Dawn Light, sire, I didn’t expect such a reaction. Why don’t we go around back and I can show you all my animal friends that are just waiting for a new friend to go home with.” She came out of her house and led the ponies to the back of it. She then noticed the guards and recoiled a bit. “Oh my.” She stopped in her tracks.
“Fluttershy?” Dawn asked worriedly again.
Fluttershy just whimpered in response to the soldiers eyeing her from behind Twilight and Dawn.
Dawn looked behind him and looked at the guards, then back to Fluttershy. Dawn looked a little down cast. He turned to face the guards. “Excuse me guards, would you mind waiting out front here while my friend and cousin help me pick out a pet?”
The unicorn guard responded. “Sorry your majesty, but your sisters said we are not to leave your side for anything.”
The earth pony guard continued. “We are to stay with you and keep an eye out for any danger.”
Dawn Light tried to speak with authority, which was hard given his size and foal body. He was officialy 1,o11 years old, but his mind and body were still that of a young colt. “Come now, we are at the home of one of the bearers of the elements of harmony, not to mention another is here with us, and she is a princess alicorn who is strong with magic. I think I’ll be safe. Besides, your presence is scaring my friend.”
The guards looked at each other first, then finally relented. “Very well your highness, we will wait on the other side of the bridge.” The earth pony guard said. The two turned around and left.
Dawn Turned to Fluttershy. “Fluttershy, are you ok?”
She looked down at the young prince as she spoke. “I’m fine, those guards are just so…..scary.”
Dawn Light hung his head. “I’m sorry.”
Twilight looked sadly at the young prince. She placed a comforting hoof on his back to comfort him. “Don’t worry about it Dawn Light, it’s not your fault.”
Fluttershy continued to try and help him feel better with a smile. “Yes, it isn’t your fault your majesty, you don’t have anything to apologize for. Now come on, let’s get you a pet.”
Dawn Light’s head lifted upon hearing this. He smiled back. “Ok, sure. I can’t wait to get a new friend.”
Fluttershy and the others continued on to the back of Fluttershy’s cottage. Upon reaching the back, their ears picked up the sound of many animals greeting their caretaker as she approached. “Hello my little friends, I have great news. The young prince Dawn Light is here looking for a pet.” The animals seemed to cheer in response.
As Fluttershy greeted her animals and talked to them, Dawn and Twilight hung back a moment. After a moment, Fluttershy motioned for them to come over. Dawn Light happily did so as he walked over to join her. He saw all kinds of animals. Dogs, cats, a flamingo, he spotted a seal that waved a flipper at him. He contemplated a seal for a pet and thought what that might be like if he came home with a seal. The thought made him snicker a bit but decided it wouldn’t be a good idea. How would he take care of it, he knew seals needed water, and Canterlot was about as far away from a body of water as one could get.
He moved on as he looked over the many animals willing to go home with him. The animals on the ground seemed nice enough, but he figured that since he could fly and Canterlot was high up, maybe a fellow feathered friend would be nice. As he walked among the animals with Twilight and Fluttershy close behind, the first feathery animal he came to was a very tall pink one with a long neck and even longer legs. Dawn looked up at it in wonder. “Whoa.” He commented. “Fluttershy, what is this animal?” He asked her as she came up next to him.
Fluttershy answered with a smile. “This a flamingo Dawn Light, do you like him?”
Dawn Light thought about it. “Can he fly?”
“Of course he can.” She replied.
“He’s kind of……big. He seems nice and all, but I think he’s too big for me.” He looked at the flamingo apologetically, thinking he may have hurt the bird’s feelings. “Sorry.” Was all he said before continuing on. He then noticed a bat hanging upside down from a low branch on a nearby tree asleep. “Fluttershy, what about this thing?”
“That’s called a bat Dawn.” Fluttershy informed. “They’re normally nocturnal creatures.”
While he thought the bat looked kind of neat, he remembered something about them that he learned about, but he wasn’t sure. “What do bats eat again?” He asked carefully, bracing himself for the answer.
“Bats eat bugs Dawn.”
Dawn Light gave a disgusted look. “Bleack, pass.” He continued to look around at all the pets around him. Then one bird in particular seemed to catch his eye. It had black and white feathers with an unusually large colorful beak. Dawn approached it as it was perched on a fence post. “Fluttershy, what is this one?”
“That’s a toucan Dawn Light, they eat fruits.”
Dawn looked carfully at the bird. It wasn’t very big, but it wasn’t very small either….and….it didn’t eat bugs. “Can I hold him?” He asked.
“Sure, just hold your foreleg out and he’ll come to you.” Fluttershy instructed.
Dawn lifted a leg and held it out to the bird. Just like Fluttershy said, the bird gave a squawk and hopped onto Dawn’s foreleg. “Neat.” The bird could fly, he was quite colorful and he seemed rather friendly. “Does he have a name Fluttershy?”
“Well, I usually just call him Mr. Toucan, but you can call him something else if you want. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you gave him a name.” Fluttershy said.
Dawn turned his attention to the bird. “Is it all right if I give you a different name?” He asked the bird.
In response, the bird stuck out a blue tongue with darker shades of blue on it and made a funny sound. Dawn laughed. “He he, he sounds funny.”
Fluttershy smiled warmly. “That means yes.”
“Cool, I like him, I want this one, I can have him right Fluttershy?” He asked pleadingly.
“Of course Dawn Light, that is why you came here isn’t it?”
“All right!” Dawn cheered, the cheer caused the bird to fly up a bit. Dawn held hid foreleg out again for the bird to land on again. “Cool, your mine now, we’re going to be great friends. Now you just need a name. Let’s see, what can I call you….?” Dawn light sat on his haunches and rubbed his chin with his other hoof in thought. “I know, I’ll call you……Tooky.”
The bird, now named Tooky, gave a side glance, squawked, then flew up and around, squaking some more as if to celebrate. Dawn laughed at the bird’s flying as Twilight and Fluttershy watched on with smiled. Tooky finaly came to a landing on Dawn Light’s back. “Welcome to the family Tooky.” Dawn said to the bird with a smile. Tooky squawked in response.
Dawn then turned to Fluttershy with a huge smile. “Thank you Fluttershy, I just know we’ll be great friends.”
Fluttershy returned the smile. “You’re welcome Dawn Light, I’m sure you two will be good friends too.”
Twilight finally cut in. “We’d better get going now Fluttershy, we’ll see you later.”
“Ok, bye Twilight, bye Dawn Light.”
Dawn light gave a wave as he walked away with his new pet on his back. “Bye Fluttershy, I hope to see you again soon.”
Just like the guards said, they were waiting on the other side of the bridge, they stood on either side of it like silent sentinels. The sight was a little unnerving for Dawn Light again, he was starting to get tired of feeling a little intimidated by guards that were there for his safety. Twilight’s words from earlier echoed in his mind.
“Equestria is at peace. There’s no threat of war or anything.”
If that was true, then why the guards, why were they always following him? Ponyville, as far as he could tell, was a peaceful little town. And in Canterlot, it was always guarded. So why the personal guards following him around the castle? This was something he wanted to ask his sisters later. For now though, he wanted to enjoy his time with his cousins. Besides, it was about time for his initiation into the cutie mark crusaders.
“Twilight, we’re going to Applejack’s next right? School is out isn’t it?”
“Yes Dawn Light, it is, we’ll be heading there next. I know you’re eager to become a cutie mark crusader.” She said with a smile and a small laugh. “Just…..try not to let them talk you into doing anything danderous.”
Dawn raised an eyebrow at that. “Dangerous, why would they do anything dangerous?”
Twilight continued. “You see, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle are just so desperate for their cutie marks, that they’ll try anything, and I mean anything, to get them. So that tends to lead them to doing things they shouldn’t that could get them hurt.”
Dawn Light recoiled a little. “Really, gosh. Well don’t worry, I’ll be careful, I won’t let them talk me into doing anything dangerous, and if they try to do something dangerous, I’ll just try to talk them out of it.”
Twilight smiled at this. “That is very mature of you Dawn Light.”
“Thanks Twilight.” Dawn then turned to Tooky on his back. “What do you say Tooky, you want to meet my friends?”
Tooky squawked in response, then started to nibble lightly on the back of Dawn’s neck through his light blue mane. He started giggling. “Hey, heh heh, sto-stop it, he ha hah, that-that tickles.” The bird stopped and gave another squawk. Tooky then flew up and rested himself on the top of dawns head, fitting perfectly within his crown. Dawn Light tilted his head up to look at Tooky who leaned his head down and looked back at Dawn in the eyes. Dawn smiled and laughed. “HA HAH, Twilight look.” He exclaimed as he turned to his cousin.
Twilight looked and couldn’t help but laugh at Dawn’s newest look. “He heh heh, you look so funny Dawn light.”
Dawn then got an idea to try and ease tension from the citizens as he walked by. “Ooh, ooh, I got an idea! Tooky, stay there ok?” Tooky squawked. “Watch this cousin.” Dawn light took on his dignified look and marched onward with his head raised a little and his eyes closed. Tooky did his best to mimick his new friend by closing his eyes and holding his beak up.
Twilight laughed more as he walked just a little ahead of her. The other ponies that saw him walking by like he did smiled and couldn’t help but laugh as well. Even the guards following were having a little trouble keeping a straight face as smiles and snickers slipped out.
Dawn opened one eye with a smile to look at his work to bring smiles. He was pleased to see every pony he passed burst into a bit of laughing. He even caught sight of Pinkie, who just happen to be passing by, start to laugh hysterically. “HA HA HHA HAH, you look so silly prince!” Pinkie said between snorts and giggles.
‘
'Prince’. That word made him remember something. A prince must always show a sense of pride and regality. Dawn Light’s smile faded. “Tooky, get back on my back now please.” Tooky opened his eyes and looked down at Dawn. He gave a low squawk and complied. He hopped off Dawn’s head and went to his back.
Twilight’s smile faded and went up to him. “Dawn Light, what’s wrong, weren’t you having fun?” She asked in concern.
“Yes, but I’m a prince, I shouldn’t be doing things like that, at least not in public.” Dawn light said rather glumly.
“Come on Dawn, you don’t have to act like that. You can be however you want.”
Dawn responded sadly. “No I can’t Twilight, I’m a prince, I shouldn’t be goofing around like that. I have to show some sense of pride or I will never be taken seriously as a prince. I have to show control. It’s what I was taught. Now that I think about it, maybe I should forget about joining the cutie mark crusaders all together.”
“Dawn, you don’t have to do that, you can join them if you want, your sisters would be pleased that you made friends.” She tried to reassure him.
“I don’t know, maybe I should just put it off for now and think about it. I’d hate to have to tell my new friends that I can’t join their club because of me being a prince. I shouldn’t even be talking and mingling with other ponies like I have been.” Dawn Light hung his head sadly at the thought that he might even have to break a friendship he just made.
Twilight continued to try and cheer him up. “Tell you what, we’ll just head over to Applejack’s, tell your friends that something came up and you’ll have to join them later, then we’ll send a letter to your sisters telling them about what happened today and see what they have to say. I promise they’ll be glad to hear you made friends.”
Dawn Light raised his head a little and gave a small smile. “You really think so?”
Twilight gave a confident nod as she responded. “I know so. Now come on, let’s get to Sweet Apple Acres first.” The two continued on with Dawn Light feeling a bit more hopeful at getting to keep his friends. Maybe today wasn’t going to be so bad after all.