//------------------------------// // Chapter 10: The Foal Sitter // Story: The Lost Prince Returns // by Robobrony //------------------------------// Chapter 10: The Foal Sitter Dawn’s two weeks in Ponyville had now ended, much to his dismay. He had gotten to do a bit of crusading with his new friends and fellow cutie mark crusaders, but had no luck in finding his special talent. In those two weeks, he also got more into the Daring Do series Twilight had. Twilight informed Celestia and Luna of this in one of his letters to them and got the entire series for him to fill some space on the book shelves in his room. When Dawn Light had to leave, he was sent off with warm farewells from the element bearers and his new friends, as well as his dragon cousin Spike. Upon his return, he found a surprise prepared just for him. Stepping out of his carriage, he was greeted by his Sisters. Celestia was the first to speak, opening the conversation with “Welcome Home Dawn! We trust you had a good time staying in Ponyville?” “Your letters seemed to show that you were having quite some fun with the Pony folk out there.” Said luna. “I certainly did, it was a wonderful time” Replied Dawn, “though I was sad to say goodbye to my new friends.” His Head hung visibly lower by the end of that statement. Luna came up and nuzzled the side of his face. “Fret not little brother, you will see them again. For now we are just pleased to see you back, and we’re glad to know you enjoyed yourself.” Dawn’s mood perked up again. “Yeah, I’m glad to be home too.” “Dawn Light, it is so good to see you again.” Discord called as he approached and scooped Dawn up in a hug. “Hey Discord, good to see you too. How have things been while I was away?” Dawn asked happily. Discord set Dawn back down as he told. “Oh you know, same old same old. It does get rather boring around here from time to time, and it’s good to have you back.” “I’m glad to be back, Discord.” Celestia cut in on the greeting. “Dawn Light, there’s some pony here we would like you to meet.” Dawn walked past Discord and Luna to Celestia. “Oh, who?” Celestia stepped aside to reveal a tan colored unicorn with a brown mane and tail with a pencil drawing a balloon for a cutie mark. He had a big smile on as he looked at Dawn. “Dawn Light, this is Skript, he’ll be your foal sitter for when we can’t be around.” “Foal sitter?” Dawn questioned with a raised eyebrow. “That’s right your highness, I’m gonna be your new buddy when your sisters can’t be around, but I hope I can still be around even then.” He then turned towards the royal Sisters, “I’m truly honored that you even considered me for this task.” Skript said with a smile. Luna nodded in acknowledgment, before turning again to Dawn “He came highly recommended as we looked for the best foal sitter to keep you company.” Luna informed proudly. “Don’t worry your majesties, I’ll take good care of your little brother.” He then turned back to Dawn Light. “So Dawn, I understand you like Daring Do right?” Dawn was a little cautious of this new pony at first, and simply answered. “Yeah, I do.” “Well have I got something for you.” Skript’s horn lit up and two pith helmets and beige colored shirts appeared. “TA DA, just like what Daring Do wears.” He floated the items over to Dawn for him to take. “WOW, for me?” Dawn exclaimed as his face lit up. “Look Tooky, these two are the perfect size for you.” He pointed out as he took the items in his own magic grasp. Tooky squawked in response from Dawn’s back. “Thanks Skript.” “You’re welcome prince.” And so Dawn quickly found himself in yet another of many new Friendships. Several weeks Later, Dawn Light was back in the castle sneaking around from plant to pillar, looking carefully around each corner. It was not fear that drove him, rather a sense of adventure. He was wearing the pith helmet and beige shirt that Skript had given him when they first met. Tooky also had on a small pith helmet and a shirt as he followed Dawn Light closely. “As Daring Dawn makes his way through the dangerous jungle, keeping an eye out for any trouble, he makes his way to the temple he has long been seeking.” Dawn narrated as he went on. Two guards were following behind as Dawn went about his little game, one guard was from Luna and the other was from Celestia, as always, and both were unicorns. Dawn Light zipped from a potted plant along the halls he was going through to another plant and poked his head around with Tooky right behind him. “There it is Tooky, the entrance to the forbidden temple.” He stated as he eyed the door to his room. “Inside is the treasure we have long been after, I just hope Ahuizoto isn’t here already.” Tooky squawked in agreement. Dawn crept up to his door and slowly pushed it open a crack to peek in. “Hayseed, he’s here already.” He said as he saw a dark shadow standing in his room. Dawn ducked back behind the door and began to come up with a plan. “Ok, here’s what we’ll do, on the count of three, we’ll jump him. We have the element of surprise after all, right?” Tooky nodded. “All right then.” Dawn peeked back into his room, the shadow figure seemed to be searching for something. “Ready, one…….two……THREE!” Dawn flung the door open and the two charged at Skript. He looked back in surprise as Dawn jumped onto his back and wrapped his hooves around his neck. “I got you now Ahuizoto! Give it up!” “Curse you Daring Dawn, you got the drop on me again, but I will have my revenge on you.” Skript said with a smile as he played along. The two just shared a laugh after that. “That was fun Skript, what can we do next?” Skript went into thought for a moment. “Hmmm, I know! Have you gotten a tour of Canterlot yet?” He asked with a smile. “Well……no, the only time I’ve been out of the castle so far was when I went to Ponyille to visit my cousins Twilight and Spike and see the other element bearers.” Dawn informed. “Well then how about it, you want to go see what the town is like?” Skript asked with a bounce. “I would, but……would my sisters be ok with it? And what about the guards?” Skript waved a hoof. “Don’t worry, they said if you wanted to take a tour of Canterlot, it was ok with them that I take you and the guards can stay behind, besides it’s not like there aren’t guards all over town anyways. It’ll be just you, me, and Tooky. So what do you say, you wanna go?” Dawn’s smile returned. “Ok, sure. Thanks Skript.” “No problem little buddy, let’s go.” “OH, hold on a sec.” Dawn proclaimed. Skript stopped in his tracks and looked to Dawn Light. Dawn used his magic to remove his Daring Do costume and Tooky’s, placed them on his bed for now, then put on his royal garbs. “Ok, ready.” Dawn walked up to Skript’s side who gave Dawn a smile. Tooky landed on Dawn’s back and the three left the room. As they walked the halls, they encountered Blue Blood. Dawn frowned at first, but then smiled when he thought he should try to get along with Blue Blood, since they were family and all. “Hi Blue Blood.” Dawn greeted happily. Blue Blood just turned his nose up at Dawn. “Hmpf, hello uncle.” That very word sent a shiver down his spine. Dawn gave a sheepish smile and shuffled a hoof as he spoke. “Listen, Blue Blood, I’m really sorry about that prank me and Discord pulled, and I would like it if we could get along. What do you say we just forget the whole thing and start over? Since we’re family, it would be nice if we could get along.” Blue Blood cocked an eyebrow at this. He paused a moment before answering. “Do you really think it’s that easy to make up? You ruined my coat. If you think I would forgive you so easily, then you are not very bright, for I am the prince here,” he said Motioning to himself Proudly, “and I still say that you are just some homeless foal my aunties pulled off the streets as some charity case.” He lowered his head and looked Dawn in the eyes as he pressed his muzzle against Dawn’s, and said with gritted teeth, “You are nothing but a street urchin to me little ‘Prince’.” Skript too was gritting his teeth as Blue Blood spoke. Dawn was looking like he was about to cry as he cringed at Blue Blood’s words. Having had enough of the insolent princes harsh remarks, Skript got between them and looked Blue in the eyes. “Now listen here bub,” he began as he Pushed Blue Blood back with a jab to the chest, “Just because you’re royalty, doesn’t mean you can act like a royal pain. Dawn Light here is a sweet little kid who just wants to enjoy life and just so happens to be the little brother of Celestia and Luna, which I believe makes him far more fit as a royal than you. Don’t think that just because you’re a prince, I won’t rip you a new one, so I suggest you take your smug attitude and BACK OFF!” Skript was practically leaning over Blue Blood by the time he Finished. Blue Blood was the one cringing now as Skript went off on him, try as he might to maintain his composure. “Now…now see here, I am a prince, you have no….no right to speak to me like that, just who are you to say such things to me?” “My name is Skript, and your ‘aunties’ have put me in charge of taking care of Dawn when they can’t be around. It is therefore my sole mission to make sure Dawn Light is happy, and you being a mule like this is disruptive to that mission. If you want to tell the princesses about this little encounter, go ahead, see what they say. I guarantee I’ll still be here. You had best watch yourself prince.” Skript turned back with a smile to Dawn, who seemed a little confused as to what just happened. “Come along Dawn, we’re wasting time here, and we’ve got a city to explore.” “Uh, ok…..see you later nephew.” Dawn said as he walked past a bewildered and frightened Blue Blood. As they walked, Dawn looked up to Skript who still wore a smile on his face. “Um…..Skript, what just happened back there?” Dawn asked with a bit of confusion. Skript kept his head forward and only his eyes looked at Dawn. “Let me put it this way, I don’t like it when other ponies are mean to sweet kids like you. When Blue Blood was being so mean to you when you tried to make up with him, it just got my blood boiling, so I let him have it. Let’s not worry about that now, we’ve still got a town to look at.” Skript stated as they approached the doors to the castle with a pair of unicorn guards on either side. They lit up their horns and opened the large doors for the two ponies. Skript lead Dawn out and through the gates and into the town. “And here we are, the city of Canterlot, Capitol of all of Equestria.” Skript lowered his head and whispered into Dawn’s ear. “Not really my favorite city, but it’s not bad.” “Why is it not your favorite city?” Dawn asked curiously. Skript began to explain as they walked among the streets. “While the city itself is nice and all, most of the ponies here are rather stuck up, if you know what I mean.” “Not really.” “It means they tend to snub ponies who aren’t as wealthy as they are. If you’re not rich, then you’re not worth their time.” “That doesn’t sound very nice.” Dawn commented. “Nope, but there are a few wealthy ponies here that are actually nice.” “Really, like who?” “I don’t know them personally, I’ve just heard about them. One of them I know that is rather big in the wealthy circles goes by the name of Fancy Pants. He and his wife, as I understand it, are some of the nicer rich ponies. He’s always making charitable donations and such.” Dawn smiled at this information. “Gosh, he does sound nice.” As they walked, Dawn noticed he was starting to attract attention to himself from the ponies he passed. They all bowed respectfully as he walked by. Dawn tried to smile and wave at them hoping for one in return like what he got in Ponyville. Instead, they just bowed to him, no smile and no wave back. “I’m afraid you won’t get a smile out of them like that prince. Since your royalty, these ponies hold high standards and respect for you and will probably do nothing more than bow to you.” Dawn Light was starting to let his smile slip as he realized this. “Oh.” He lowered his hoof and kept walking. Skript gave Dawn a smile. “Hey, come on now. Don’t worry about that. Let’s just enjoy our walk through town. Let’s find a place to grab lunch huh?” Dawn’s smile returned. “Ok, sure, I am getting hungry.” They walked a bit before finding a resturaunt, Skript lead Dawn inside. A unicorn stallion with a white coat and a black mane and tail wearing a tuxedo greeted them. “Good day, welcome to the….” He paused once he noticed Prince Dawn Light. “Your highness, this is quite a surprise, welcome.” He smiled and bowed to the prince. “To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?” Skript provided a simple answer. “We came her for a bite to eat, we decided now was a good time to get some lunch while taking a tour of Canterlot.” “Very good, is the bird with you?” The waiter asked motioning to Tooky on Dawn’s back. “He is, it’s all right if he comes in with us isn’t it?” Dawn asked with a bit of worry. “Normally we don’t allow pets, but you are the prince, and so we can make an exception. Now would you like a table inside our outside?” The stallion asked. Skript looked to Dawn to answer. “Oh, um… outside please.” “Of course sire, right this way.” He levitated two menus from the nearby counter and led the prince and Skript through the resturaunt to a table outside on a patio with a black fence lining it. Some of the tables had large umbrellas over them. The waiter led them to a table with an umbrella. “Here you go, I trust this is to your liking.” “This is fine, thank you.” Dawn said as he and Skript sat down in the chairs and Tooky got on the table. “Here are your menus, what can I get you to drink?” The waiter presented them with their menus. Dawn Light held the menu in his hooves as he looked over the drink selections. “Gosh, look at all these drinks. I don’t know what to get, there wasn’t anything like these when I was around.” He commented. Skript offered a suggestion. “Why not just go with the regular apple juice, you’ll like it.” Dawn looked over to Skript. “Really? Ok, I’ll go with the apple juice. And can we get some water for Tooky, my bird?” “Of course sire.” The waiter said with a nod. “And I’ll have the apple cider please.” Skript informed. “Very good, I’ll have your drinks out momentarily.” The waiter said as he walked off. Once the waiter was gone, Skript asked Dawn Light, “So prince, know what you want to get?” “Skript, you can just call me Dawn Light, and no I don’t know what to get. A lot of the foods on here are things I’ve never heard of. Spaghetti and hayballs? Oat soup? Hay fries? I’ve never heard of any of these. It seems I have a lot more to catch up on than I thought, even when it comes to food.” Dawn stated rather sadly. Skript offered a comforting smile. “Hey now, don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of things, it’ll just take time. Why not try the spaghetti and hay-balls? That’s a good choice, perfect to start off with.” Dawn perked up more. “It does sound good I guess, I’ll give it a try.” As they waited for their drinks, a stallion and mare approached them, both were unicorns. “I say, if it isn’t the young prince.” The stallion said as he and the mare bowed upon reaching the two. The stallion had a white coat, a blue mane, tail, and mustache, had three crowns for a cutie mark, and was wearing a suit with a gold chain hanging out of it. The mare had a white coat and a pink mane and tail. She had a rather slender build compared to other mares. Skript and Dawn Light turned to the two as Dawn greeted them with a smile. “Hello.” “Hello there your majesty, I hope you don’t mind us approaching you like this, but this is a rare opportunity.” The mare said with a smile. “Not at all, I like meeting others.” Dawn stated. The stallion began introductions. “I am Fancy Pants and this is my wife, Fleur De Lys.” “A pleasure to meet you.” Dawn Light said. Fancy Pants then turned his attention to Skript. “And who might you be sir?” “I’m Skript, the princesses hired me to watch over Dawn Light when they can’t. It’s nice to meet you, I’ve heard quite a bit about you.”Skript stated with a smile. “Really, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.” “And this is my friend Tooky.” Dawn introduced Tooky who sounded off in response. “Why don’t you and your wife pull up a seat to join us.” Dawn offered. “Really?” Fleur asked surprised. “How kind of you.” “We are honored you would ask us to join you for lunch.” Fancy pants stated with a smile. “You don’t mind, do you script?” Dawn asked as he turned to Skript. “Not at all.” Skript stated with a smile. Fancy Pants and his wife pulled some chairs over for them to sit at the table. “If I may, what brings you out of the castle today your majesty?” Fancy Pants asked. “Skript offered to take me on a tour of Canterlot, since It’s been so long since I last saw it, I figured why not. Things have really changed since I was……well…..” Dawn stopped there as he didn’t really want to recall his ordeal again. His face had dropped some upon his recollection. Fancy Pants gave a smile. “I think I understand, every pony who read the paper is aware of what happened to you, terrible ordeal that. How are you adjusting with your return?” “I guess I’m doing ok, there sure are a lot of changes from back then though.” Dawn answered. “Like what?” Fleur asked curiously. “Well, for one thing, the homes ponies live in have really changed, they used to be just stone and hay for roofs. Plus there’s all these foods that didn’t exist back then either, not to mention all the fancy looking clothes ponies are wearing today.” The waiter returned with every pony’s drinks and passed them out. “Have you all decided on what you would like to order now?” Dawn Light gave his order first. “I’ll have the spaghetti and hayballs please. Can we get a bowl of fruit for Tooky?” “Of course your majesty, and for you sir?” The waiter directed his question to Skript. “I’ll have the same thank you.” Fancy Pants gave his order next. “I’ll have the garden salad sandwich please.” “And I’ll have the oat soup thank you.” Fleur stated. “Very good, I’ll deliver your orders straight away.” The water stated as he collected every pony’s menu in his magic grasp and trotted off. Once the waiter was gone, Dawn let his curiosity through. “So F ancy Pants, how did you get rich, what kind of job do you have?” “I’m in the trading business. I run a company that trades, buys, and sells with neighboring countries.” Fancy answered happily. “Wow, so you get to meet other ponies outside of Equestria?” Dawn asked with wonder. “Not just ponies, but other beings as well, such as the gryphons, minotaurs, and others of the like.” Fleur stated. Dawn’s smile returned with this information. “Wow, sounds like you have a cool job.” Fancy Pants allowed himself a light chuckle. “Hm hm, yes I suppose so. I even own an air ship for when I need to travel, or when I just need to get away and relax.” “A what?” Dawn asked as he tilted his head. Skript provided Dawn with the answer he was looking for. “An air ship is a ship that floats through the air. It’s connected to a large balloon that lifts it up.” Dawn’s smile returned again. “Gosh, that sounds neat, I sure would like to see that.” “I could do you one better, how would you like to go for a ride in one? It would be an honor and a pleasure to have you join me on my air ship, that is if it’s all right with your sisters.” Fancy offered. Dawn’s face started looking like it was about to split in two from the grin spreading across his face. “I would love that!” He quickly realized what he was doing and took a moment to recollect himself. “I mean, that would be very nice, thank you for the offer Fancy Pants, I’ll have a talk with my sisters and see if it will be all right. Could I invite some friends as well?” “But of course, the more the merrier, how many friends would you like to bring, my ship has plenty of room.” “First,” dawn turned to Skript, “would you like to come along too if my sisters say it’s all right?” Dawn asked. “Sure, I’d love to come.” Skript answered with a smile. “Great, now as for the others…..w ell……I have like ten others I would like to invite along, would that be ok?” “Of course, like I said, my ship has plenty of room, who are these ten friends of yours if I may?” Fancy asked with a smile. Dawn listed off the nine ponies and dragon he wanted to invite along. His cousins Twilight and Spike, the other five element bearers and his three friends of the cutie mark crusaders. When he was done, the waiter came by and delivered every pony’s order and left a small bowl of chopped fruits for Tooky. “Ah, then you know miss Rarity.” Fancy stated upon hearing Dawn mention Rarity’s name. “You know Rarity?” Dawn questioned. “Indeed, she was here in Canterlot some time ago. I had the pleasure of meeting her and spending some time with her, and I was also pleased to meet her friends, the very same ones you mentioned. It would be a pleasure to have them join us on a ride in my air ship. You and your friends are more than welcome to join me on my next Trip.” “Thank you Fancy Pants, I’ll have a talk with my sisters about this and see about arranging it. Thank you for your offer.” Dawn used his magic to lift a fork off his plate and finally took his first bite of his meal and was very pleased with the taste. “Mmmm, this is really good.” He stated with a smile. Skript smiled at Dawn. “Told you you’d like it.” The five enjoyed their meal as they talked a bit more. They all soon finished their meal and the waiter came by. “I trust you all enjoyed your food?” He asked. They all nodded and complimented that they had. “Very good, the prince will be pleased to know that your meals will be on the house since you graced us with your presence today.” Dawn cocked an eyebrow at the term. “On the house? What does that mean?” Fleur provided the answer. “It means they’re being generous and letting us eat for free.” Dawn looked at Fleur, “Really?” Then at the waiter, “Are you sure?” The waiter responded with a smile. “But of course, this is the first time we have had the chance to serve royalty and it will be a big help to our business once others hear word that the prince ate here, not to mention he enjoyed the meal.” “Oh, well ok, thank you.” Dawn said with a light smile. “Yeah, thanks.” Skript said to the waiter. “You are quite welcome.” The waiter took their plates and trotted off. “Well, I suppose we should get going then, thank you for letting us join you sire.” Fancy Pants stated as he stood up with his wife. “We hope to see you again your majesty.” “Good bye Fancy Pants, it was nice meeting you, and you miss Fleur De Lys.” Dawn stated with a smile. The two gave a small bow with their heads and left. “Wow, they were really nice.” “They sure were, it was very nice of him to offer you a ride on his air ship.” Skript stated. Tooky got back on Dawns back and the three left the restaurant to continue the tour of Canterlot. Dawn was feeling eager now to get back home and ask his sisters about this ride in an air ship.