//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: An Overprotective Big Sister // Story: The Lost Prince Returns // by Robobrony //------------------------------// Chapter 8: An Overprotective Big Sister Dawn Light and Twilight stopped by Sweet Apple Acres just like they planned and found the three little fillies all there eagerly awaiting the young prince. They did bow respectively upon his approach but kept up with their usual friendliness. Dawn Light delivered the sad news that he would have to postpone his initiation. The CMC let out a disappointed sigh together. Dawn Light and Twilight said their goodbyes and headed back to Twilight’s library. Upon arrival, she informed the guards that they wouldn’t be going anywhere else for the rest of the day so they left back for their barracks. Once they entered, Twilight was greeted by her own feathery friend. “Hello Owlowicious.” “Who.” Was the birds response. Dawn light looked at the owl on Twilight’s foreleg. “Hey Twilight, who’s that?” He asked with his mood slightly better than before. Twilight gave a smile as she answered. “This is my friend, Owlowicious. He’s my night time assistant and friend like you and Tooky.” “A pleasure to meet you owlowicious.” Dawn said to the owl. “Who.” Was all the owl said. “You, owlowicious, that’s who.” “Who.” “Don’t bother, Dawn.” Spike interrupted. “You won’t win, that’s all he says.” Dawn Light turned to Spike who was near a shelf rearranging a few books. “Really? All right then. Oh hey Spike, check out my new friend, this is Tooky.” Dawn Light turned his side to Spike so he could get a good look at Dawn’s new pet bird. Dawn turned to face Tooky. “Tooky, this is my cousin Spike.” Spike walked up to Dawn to get a good look at the toucan. “Hi there.” The bird squawked in response, then stuck out his tongue and made a funny noise like a noise maker that one blows in. Dawn laughed at it. “Heh heh, I like it when he does that, it sounds funny.” Spike agreed as he chuckled. “Heh heh, it sure does. Nice to meet you Tooky.” Spike extended a claw to shake a wing. Instead, the bird hoped from Dawn’s back and onto Spike’s arm. He gave Spike a side glance as he turned his head and squawked. Tooky then patted Spike on the head with his beak. “I think he likes you already Spike.” Twilight commented with a smile. Tooky returned to Dawn’s back. “So what can we do now Twilight?” Dawn asked with a smile. Twilight frowned a little. “I’m afraid I have some work I need to catch up on. Me and Spike need to get some things done.” Dawn looked down cast at this. “Awwe, then what am I supposed to do?” Twilight put a hoof to her chin in thought. “Hmm,” A light bulb went off in her head. “I know.” She went over to one of her shelves and pulled out a book. “Here you go Dawn Light, why don’t you read this. This should occupy your time until it’s time for dinner, then bed.” Twilight floated the book over to Dawn who took it in his hooves. Dawn Light eyed the cover. On it was a picture of a Pegasus mare with a beige coat, a two toned grey mane and tail and a compass like sign for a cutie mark. She was wearing an equally beige shirt and a pith helmet while swinging on a vine. Dawn Light read the title. “Daring Do and the sapphire stone? What is this Twilight?” He asked as he looked up from the book. “It’s an adventure story Dawn, Rainbow Dash loves the series. I think you’ll enjoy it too. Why don’t you and Tooky go in your room and read while me and Spike get a few things done.” Dawn Light wasn’t sure about this book, but he figured it would be better than nothing. “Well, ok, thanks Twilight.” Dawn then walked to his room and got on his bed to begin reading while Tooky sat next to him. The hours seemed to fly by for Dawn as he read the harrowing adventures of Daring Do. By the time he reached the end, he heard Twilight call out. “Dawn Light, dinner is ready!” “Ok, be right out!” He called back. “Wow, what a story, I wonder if there are others. Daring Do is amazing.” In his revelry, he had forgotten that Twilight mentioned it was a series. Dawn Light closed the book and brought it out with him. He galloped on with Tooky flying just above him. “Twilight, this book was amazing, it so adventurous and cool. Are there others?” He asked excitedly. Twilight laughed. “Hm hm, yes there are, it’s actually a popular series.” Dawn’s eyes lit up. “Serieis, as in there are more?” “Yes Dawn, there are others, and I have the whole series.” Twilight said with a smile. Dawn’s face lit up more. “COOL! I can’t wait to read the rest.” Twilight laughed a bit more. “Hm hm hm. I’m afraid that will have to wait until tomorrow, then we can send a message to your sisters about the guards.” “Ok.” Dawn replied with a smile. He sat at the table next to Spike while Twilight took a seat across from him and they began to eat. Tooky was provided a bowl of slices of fruit which he happily ate. Bed time soon rolled around. Dawn Light removed his adornments, placed them near his dresser, and Twilight tucked Dawn in for the night. Tooky roosted on the window sill to rest. “Good night Dawn Light, sleep well.” Twilight said to Dawn.” Tomorrow, we’ll send a letter to your sisters about you making friends and becoming a cutie mark crusader.” “Ok, good night cousin.” Dawn said with a yawn. On her way out, Twilight turned the light for the room off and gently closed the door behind her. For a moment, Dawn laid on his back looking up at the ceiling with tired eyes and a smile. He yawned before speaking. “*YAWN* What a day, I’m glad I got a new friend.” He turned on his side to face the window and saw Tooky already asleep. Dawn looked past Tooky and out the window to the night sky his sister Luna had made. The stars twinkled and a crescent moon hung in the sky as the moonlight shone in on him. “Goodnight sisters.” He said before closing his eyes and drifted off to sleep. Dawn Light then opened his eyes. He found himself back in that terrible void of blackness. This time was different, he wasn’t afraid for he knew any minute, his big sister Luna would come to chase it away. “This again huh, well I’m not afraid anymore. This is just a dream, and my sister Luna will come and prove it.” He waited, a minute passed and no sign of Luna. “Any minute now, she’ll come and chase it away.” Dawn said to himself. Another minute passed and still no Luna. “Any…minute now.” He said again, sounding less sure. Two minutes passed. Dawn was starting to get worried. “Where is she, she has to be here to chase away this dream so she can prove that this is just a dream.” Blue Blood’s words from before echoed in his mind. “How do you know your sister showing up ins’t just part of the illusion, for all you know, you could still be in that void and this is all just an elaborate fake made by your mind.” “No, he’s wrong, this is a dream, this has to be.” Dawn Light was starting to get worried. “Luna, where are you?!” He called out, only to be greeted with the echo of his own voice. “LUNA!” He cried out. “CELESTIA! ANY PONY!” Dawn dropped to his hooves and started crying. “This has to be a dream, I know it is. Pleased……please not here, I don’t want to go back.” He cried more. Hours seemed to pass for him with no end in sight for this nightmare. “Please, not again, I just want to go home.” He said between sobs. He felt a hoof on his shoulder. His eyes shot open. Dawn Light’s eyes shot open and he sprang up in his bed panting heavily with his cheeks wet with tears. He looked to the window and saw the morning rays of the sun streaming in. Tooky was still sleeping. “Dawn, are you all right?” A concerned voice asked from the side. Dawn looked to his right to see a worried Twilight Sparkle. “Cousin Twilight?” He asked. “Yes Dawn, it’s me, I’m right here, what’s wrong, why were you crying?” More tears formed in Dawn’s eyes. He lunged forward and hugged Twilight with his hooves. “Twilight!” He cried out. “It was horrible, I had that nightmare again, I was back in that void. Luna was supposed to come and chase it away, but she didn’t! I was so scared.” Twilight just hugged him back and stroked his mane to try and comfort him. “Shh, it’s ok Dawn, it was just a nightmare. Your safe now.” “But what if it wasn’t.” He cried out. “What if this is the dream, I don’t even know anymore! Why didn’t Luna come, she was supposed to chase it away, why didn’t she come Twilgiht, why?!” Twilight held her embrace and let Dawn Light cry as much as he needed. “I don’t know Dawn, but we’ll find out. Let’s go ahead and send a letter to her and ask her.” Twilight pulled away a little while keeping Dawn in her embrace. “Would you like to do that?” Dawn sniffled and nodded. “Ok, come on. Let’s have breakfast first.” Tooky, who had woken up from the commotion, flew on and followed them. After breakfast, Dawn and Twilight went right to writing a letter to the princesses. Twilight first put in if it would be all right for Dawn to be mingling with others and have friends. She then put in the question about why Luna didn’t show up in Dawn’s dreams last night. Once the letter was complete, Spike sent it on its way. It didn’t take long to get a response, the letter they received came from Luna herself. My Dearest little brother, I am terribly sorry that I did not come to you in your dreams to chase away the nightmares, but I had night court last night and was left extremely busy, I swear I will do whatever I can to make it up to you. As for friends, myself and Celestia would be glad if you made friends, but we would like it if you would be careful about the ponies you mingle with. As an extra precaution, I will send a few more guards to watch over you and keep you safe. Your big sister, Luna. Dawn Light did not like the sound of this. “More guards?” He questioned. “How are more guards going to help?” Before Twilight could say anything, there was a knock at the door. “I’ll get it.” Twilight responded. She opened the door and found four guards lined up in pairs wearing the armor of Luna’s own guards. Each had a stony expression. “Princess Twilight Sparkle?” one of them asked. Twilight answered warily. “Yes?” Dawn Light coward a little behind her with Tooky on his back shaking a little as well. “We have been sent by Princess Luna to guard the young prince. We will be your escorts during the prince’s stay here.” The first guard informed with the same stoic expression all guards are known for. The one that spoke was a unicorn, the guard next to him was a regular Pegasus, and the two behind them were earth ponies. Twilight hung her head exhaustedly. She looked back up at the guards and spoke. “Is all this really necessary?” The Pegasus guard spoke. “Our place is not to question our princess, only to follow orders. And our orders are to guard the young prince.” Twilight wanted to argue, but she knew how the guards were. Loyal and unmoving in their duties. These guards weren’t going to back out of their duties unless Luna ordered them to. She wanted to send another letter to Luna but remembered she needed to head into market to do some grocery shopping. “I guess we’ll have to deal with this later. Dawn Light, follow me please, me and Spike need to go get some things.” Twilight levitated her saddle bags and placed them on her back. Spike came up behind her and Dawn. Dawn just nodded slowly. The four guards stepped aside to let the group through. Dawn’s pet Tooky was on his back. Spike walked to one side of Twilight while Dawn Light was on her other side. Both looked rather unnerved about the extra guards. As they walked through town, Twilight and Dawn also noticed there were other guards from Luna stationed around the town. A few Pegasus and thestral ponies were standing on the roofs of some of the houses. Twilight was not pleased by this, she looked down and saw Dawn Light looking worried as well. “Luna, what is going on with you?” She asked herself quietly. Mayor Mare spotted them and started to approach. “Excuse me princess Twilight, prince Dawn, may I have a moment?” As she approached, two of the guards sprang into action and put themselves between the mayor and the prince. “HALT, who goes there?” Spike and Dawn were both startled by the sudden action the guards took. “YAH!” Mayor Mare yelped in surprise and fell to her haunches. “Um, nothing, never mind, carry on then.” She then turned and bolted off. “Mayor wait!” Twilight tried to call out to her but she was already long gone. She gave a disgruntled sigh. “Ugh, this is ridiculous. You guys, that was the mayor!” The unicorn guard turned to Twilight with the same stoic expression. “Apologies, we are not familiar with who the mayor of this town is.” Twilight gave them an annoyed look. “Well now you know. I hope this won’t be a regular thing with you all.” Twilight pushed passed the two with Dawn and Spike close behind. They managed to make it to the market without incident but most of the ponies were even more on edge then yesterday when Dawn had just those two guards following him. Whenever a pony would try to say hello to him, one of the guards shot them a look and the pony just recoiled and hurried on. Dawn Light was afraid of what would happen at this rate if he ran into his new friends. Sadly, he got to find out. On the way back to the library, he heard Scootaloo call out to him. “Dawn Light, there you are!” She, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle all started galloping up to him with smiles. Dawn smiled back upon seeing his friends. He was about to gallop over to them too, but all four guards got in front of him and stopped the little fillies from getting any closer. “HALT, no commoners allowed near the prince.” One of the earth ponies said. The three fillies stopped in their tracks and cringed. “Hey, leave them alone, their my friends!” Dawn Light tried to call out. “Orders from Luna sire, no commoners are to get close to you.” The unicorn guard said. Twilight cut in. “This is ridiculous, their just fillies! Your scaring the poor dears!” “Move along you three.” The Pegasus guard ordered the fillies. They were about to bolt when Dawn Light called out to them. “Girls wait, don’t go, we can be cutie mark crusaders, my sisters said it was ok.” Apple Bloom responded. “Uh, that’s ok, we’re….uh….closed on accepting members now, sorry, gotta go.” The three then dashed off. Dawn Light hung his head in sadness. “Full on members, yeah right.” He mumbled to himself. Twilight looked to Dawn sadly, then glared at the guards after they turnined back around. They did not change their expressions upon seeing an angry alicorn princess. Twilight just turned in a huff to continue on. “Come on you two, let’s go.” She said as nicely as she could to Spike and Dawn. Dawn Light had his head hanging the whole way back. Once they arrived, the four guards took up position around the tree house. Twilight had enough. “That’s it, we need to inform the princesses that this is too much.” She lifted her saddle bags off her back and made her way to her desk to begin a letter. “Um, Twilight, I don’t want my sisters mad at you about this, I don’t really mind.” Dawn was afraid that Twilight might try to force her authority as a princess and get herself in trouble on his behalf. Twilight turned to Dawn and took a moment to calm down so as to speak normally and not make Dawn any more upset than he is. “Dawn Light, don’t worry, I’m just going to try and see why Luna feels so many guards are needed.” Twilight took hold of a quill in her magic grasp and began writing. Once she finished, she called for Spike. “Spike, send this on to the princesses please.” Spike gave a salute. “Yes mam.” He breathed out his green flame and set the letter ablaze, it was reduced to smoke and went on. “Now hopefully, we can get this matter resolved.” Twilight said aloud. Dawn Light just sat near the stairs feeling a little sad about the situation. He couldn’t help but feel that maybe he might have done something wrong. Was it because of how he acted yesterday? Was he not acting princely enough hence the guards chasing away any pony that got too close to him? The response to Twilight’s letter was not another letter, but princess Luna appearing right in the center of her library. “Princess Luna?” Twilight asked aloud. “Big sister?” Dawn also asked. “What are you doing here?” Luna turned to Dawn Light with a straight muzzle. “I received Twilight’s letter. Is there something wrong with the guards I sent over, is there not enough of them?” “More like too much.” Twilight answered. Before Luna could retort, princess Celestia appeared in the room next to Luna. “Luna what is the meaning of this, why did you disappear like that?” Luna turned to her big sister. “It seems our fellow princess does not agree with how I wish to make sure our little brother is safe.” Celestia gave a confused look. “What do you mean Luna, what is going on?” Twilight started, speaking with more respect. “Celestia, Luna sent a bunch of her own guards here to watch Dawn Light, four of them are just outside right now surrounding my house like it was a palace. And there’s more in the town.” Celestia turned to Luna. “Luna, is this true?” Before she could answer, Dawn Light interrupted. “Um, excuse me sisters, is this because of what I did yesterday, did I do something wrong?” He asked sadly as he approached them. The two looked down at him. Luna was the first to answer. “Of course not dawn Light, I just want to make sure you are safe.” Twilight made a suggestion. “Dawn, why don’t you and Spike go up to my room while we talk.” “Ok.” He answered sadly, still feeling like something he did was the cause of this. “Come on Dawn, let’s find something to do upstairs.” Spike suggested as he started to lead the way. Dawn followed silently while Tooky flew overhead. Once Dawn was safely upstairs with the door closed, the three princesses continued their talk with Celestia starting. “Now Luna, why did you send so many of your guards over here to watch Dawn Light?” “I just want him to feel safe, plus, I don’t want to take any chances of anything bad happening to him. We must do all we can to insure he stays safe. I won’t let him be alone again.” Twilight responded. “Don’t you think having so many guards around is excessive, he wants to get to know every pony. Earlier, as we were making our way back here from the market, those three fillies I mentioned that Dawn made friends with were coming up to us to greet him, but your guards stopped them and frightened them away.” “Then they are doing their job.” Luna stated confidently. Twilight was aghast. “Excuse me? We are talking about little fillies here, little ponies that just want to be Dawn’s friends.” “And how do we know it isn’t some changling trick.” Luna shot back. “I will not let anything happen to our little brother, nor will I let him be alone ever again.” That again, being alone. Celestia picked up on this and decided to venture forth. “Luna, what is this really about?” She asked softly. Luna turned to her elder sister to respond. “Like I said, I just want to make sure our little brother stays safe, we cannot lose him again.” Celestia could tell there was more to this then Luna let on. She gave Luna a hard look. “Luna, what is really going on? Tell me the truth.” Luna gave a sigh and relented. “I just don’t want him to feel alone anymore. I want him to feel safe. Since we can’t be there for him at all times, the best we can do is have our guards with him.” Celestia voiced her concerns. “Luna, having guards with him at all times like this isn’t going to help.” Luna snapped. “Then tell me big sister, what would be best?! You don’t know what he is going through, I do! We were both in isolation and separated from others for a thousand years! I was on the moon while he was in nothingness. When I was restored and rescued from being Nightmare Moon, I still had nightmares and am still trying to fit in. How do you think little brother feels? He too has been alone for a thousand years and is going through the same thing I am!” Celestia caught the ‘still’ part. She spoke softly to try and calm her sister down. “Luna, what do you mean by ‘still’?” Luna relaxed. The eyes of Twilight and Celestia were on her as she began. “After coming back and being accepted, I am still trying to heal. I still have nightmares of my time as Nightmare Moon and my isolation on the moon. They aren’t as bad as before, they are happening less frequently, but still feel real. I just want to do everything I can to not only ensure our little brother’s safety, but for him to feel safe and not alone.” Luna dropped to her haunches as she hung her head. “I don’t want him to be sad or scared like I was. I want him to be happy and help him realize he is home and with his family where he belongs.” Celestia gave a soft smile to her younger sister. “I understand Luna, but guards can’t provide the comfort he needs for this. Don’t you remember how I was with you when you returned?” Luan looked back up to her sister. “You kept doing all you could to reassure me that all was forgiven and that it was all over. That we were together and that you would always be there for me.” “Exactly, and did it help?” Luna smiled as she remembered. “Yes, it did help quite a bit.” “And that is what we need to do for Dawn Light, not surround him with intimidating guards. He needs comfort and reassurance, not an armed escort everywhere he goes. Some friends of his own wouldn’t hurt either.” “I suppose you are right big sister, I guess I was just being a little overprotective of him. But he still needs some pony to guard him and keep him safe. While we are at peace with the surrounding nations, there may still be a trouble maker or two that could be trouble for Dawn Light.” Celestia was feeling glad she managed to get through to her little sister. “Agreed, perhaps a guard that is not so noticeable though, one who can be there for him to keep him safe while at the same time not seem like a guard so Dawn Light will be free to interact with others but still be safe. We will need to think about this for a time.” Twilight smiled, glad that the princesses came to an agreement. The question now was who this undercover guard was going to be? That was not for her to know though, and she figured that it would be best she didn’t know lest she accidently blow his cover. “So what now princess?” Twilight asked with a smile. Celestia addressed Twilight. “Now we inform Dawn of what we have agreed upon, but we shall not tell him of this undercover guard. Let him feel that he will be free to do as he pleases without having to worry about guards.” Celestia turned her head to Twilight’s room. “Dawn Light, you can come down now!” Celestia called. Within moments, Dawn Light and Spike made their way out of Twilight’s room and down the stairs, Tooky flying just above and landed on a nearby table. “Sisters, whatever I did wrong I’m sorry. If it was because of how I acted yesterday when I made the others laugh, I promise not to do it again.” Celestia motioned for Dawn to come closer. He was now standing between both his sisters. Celestia put a hoof on his back to begin. “No Dawn Light, we are not mad at you about yesterday, in fact, we would encourage it. It is quite all right for you to do what you can to make others smile much like Pinkie Pie does. It is also all right for you to have friends and join this club they have.” Dawn Light smiled at his big sister’s words. “Really, so I can join the cutie mark crusaders?” Celestia and Luna simply nodded. “And what about the guards?” Luna informed Dawn of what was to be done. “They will be recalled, you will not have to worry about them. There won’t be an armed escort everywhere you go anymore. So you may feel free to interact with the other ponies here.” Dawn’s smile grew bigger. “Thank you sisters. I really appreciate it.” Celestia gave a warm smile as she responded. “You’re welcome Dawn Light. Now if I’m not mistaken, you managed to get yourself a new friend from Fluttershy, didn’t you?” “Oh yeah.” Dawn looked over to his bird Tooky. “Tooky, come on over here.” Dawn Light held out a foreleg for Tooky to land on. He gave a squawk and flew over. “Sisters, this is Tooky, he’s a toucan. Pretty cool huh?” He asked with pride. Luna was the first to comment. “What a wonderful friend you have there, Dawn Light.” Dawn then pointed out something. “And he makes this funny sound when he sticks his tongue out. Go ahead Tooky, show them.” Tooky happily did so and made his funny sound. It was Celestia’s turn to comment. “What a magnificent bird you have Dawn Light, I hope you take good care of him.” “Don’t worry sister, we’ve already gotten to be good friends, right Tooky?” Tooky squawked in agreement. “See, buddies.” The two sisters gave their little brother a warm smile, glad to see him happy. Celestia then got their attention. “I’m afraid we need to get back to the castle now, we left in quite the rush. Take care little brother, we will see you when you return.” “Ok, by sisters.” Celestia disappeared first. Luna went outside and delivered the news that the guards she sent were to return to the castle. Once she finished with that, she too disappeared. Dawn Light was now free to enjoy the rest of the day with his cousins. He figured though that the first thing he needed to do was make sure his friendship with the CMC was still intact after what happened today. They were in school at the time so that would have to wait until later in the afternoon.