//------------------------------// // Chapter 13: A Family Reunited, Making Amends // Story: The Lost Prince Returns // by Robobrony //------------------------------// Chapter 13: A Family Reunited, Making Amends On the day the king and queen returned, night had fallen. Cosma and Solaris happily tucked Dawn into bed and said their goodnights. Cosma leaned down and kissed Dawn on his forehead. “Goodnight my little prince, sleep well. I’m so glad to have you back.” “Goodnight mom, I’m glad you’re home too.” Dawn said. Solaris then moved in and gave Dawn a hug. “Goodnight son, see you in the morning.” “Goodnight dad.” Dawn responded. He then snuggled up under his blanket with a smile and closed his eyes. Tooky then called out. Dawn opened his eyes again and smiled. “Sorry, goodnight tooky.” Tooky smiled back and cawed before getting comfortable on his perch and closing his eyes. Dawn retook his position and closed his eyes, failing to notice his mother still hovering over him while his dad stood next to the door. “Hunny, come on, let’s let him sleep.” Solaris said in a whisper. “Just a minute dear.” Cosma whispered back. Solaris smiled and walked back to her side. Cosma kept her eyes on her son’s sleeping form. “Dear, come on, he’ll be here tomorrow. We’ll come right to him tomorrow and have a wonderful breakfast with him in the morning.” Cosma finally looked away from her son and to her husband. “Are you sure? What if he disappears again? What if we wake up tomorrow and this whole thing was just a dream?” She said in a worried whispered tone. Solaris placed a wing on his wife’s back. “Dear, trust me, I know what you’re thinking, and believe me, he’ll be here, I promise. Now come on, let’s go to bed and get some sleep. We’ll see him in the morning.” He then started for the door. Cosma turned her side while keeping her eyes on her son. Paused a moment, then continued on out of his room. “Goodnight my little one.” She slowly closed the door while keeping one eye on him until the door was closed completely. She followed her husband to their room and went to bed. All while this was happening, Celestia and Luna were waiting in Celestia’s study for a certain unicorn to meet with them. Both were lying on the floor on pillows in front of a fire place. A knock on the door signaled their guest’s arrival. “Enter.” Celestia said. One of the large doors opened with a small squeak and Skript poked his head in. “Good evening princesses, you wanted to see me?” “Yes Skript, please take a seat.” Luna said with a smile as she gestured to a pillow in front of them. Skript walked in and sat down on the pillow provided for him. “So what’s up your majesties?” He asked with a smile. Celestia started. “We just wanted to know how things are going with you and Dawn Light, he doesn’t suspect anything does he?” “Not a thing, he’s just as happy and chipper as can be.” Skript said. Luna gave a smile as well. “Wonderful, looks like we picked the right stallion for Dawn’s secret personal body guard.” “We are most grateful to you for doing this Skript.” Celestia stated with a warm smile. “Hey, no thanks necessary your highness, Dawn Light is a joy to be around. You two sure are lucky to have him for a brother, and I feel lucky having been given this job as his personal protector. Thank you princesses.” Skript finished with a bow. He raised back up from his bow. “Is there anything else you wanted?” “No, that was all, we just wanted to make sure everything was fine. What about Blue Blood, there hasn’t been any more instances between him and Dawn has there?” Luna asked. Skript’s smile dropped. “No, nothing really. We have passed by him once in a while, but neither of them says anything to each other, Blue Blood even looked gloomy when we passed him.” “I see, he has seemed rather quiet lately.” Luna stated. “Sister, did you speak with him about Dawn?” Celestia’s smile disappeared too. “I did, after that incident at the picnic, I had a few words with him. I hope he is merely thinking about what I told him. I may have been too harsh, but something had to be done. We can only hope, in time, he will get better.” “Very well then.” Luna turned to Skript. “Thank you for your time Skript, you may go now, and I wish you pleasant dreams.” Skript stood up and gave another bow. “Thank you princesses, I wish you both the same.” He then turned and left the room. Moring arrived as the rays of the sun beamed into the bedroom of the king and queen. They slowly rose up from their bed with a sleepy look in their eyes. Cosma’s eyes suddenly shot open in realization. “Dawn Light!” She exclaimed. “*Yawn* What’s that honey?” Solaris asked with a yawn. The next thing he knew, his wife had shot out of bed and out the bedroom, making a mad dash straight for Dawn’s room. She came to his door and used her magic to fling them open, completely ignoring the guards Feather Wind and Night Wing. “Dawn Light! Dawn Light, where are you?” She asked. She rushed over to the bed to see it empty. “No….” She ran her hooves over the bed, feeling around for a young foal’s body. Her search was fruitless. “No…..my baby….” Solaris managed to reach the room in time to see his wife frantically searching the bed for any sign of her son. “Cosma, what’s going on?” He asked with worry. “It’s Dawn Light, he’s gone, he’s not here!” She said on the verge of tears. “Was it all a lie, what happened last night? Was it just a trick of the mind that we saw our son back?” She dropped to her haunches and buried her face in her front hooves as she began to sob. Solaris made his way over to her and hugged her tight and close to his body. “Cosma, calm down, I’m sure there’s a perfectly good explanation.” Cosma looked up from her hooves to her husband. “But what if there isn’t? What if we just saw what we wanted to see after so long without our son here?” She buried her face again and continued to sob. Solaris rubbed his foreleg up and down her side to try and comfort her. “Cosma, calm down, everything will be fine. He….probably just….” His speech was cut off from the sound of a toilet flushing. They both looked up and saw Dawn emerge from his bathroom with a smile. It was soon replaced with a look of confusion as Dawn saw his mother and father in his room. “Mom, dad, what are you guys doing in my room….and why does mom look sad?” “Dawn Light!” Cosma cried out. She promptly removed herself from her husband’s grasp and quickly took Dawn Light in a crushing one of her own. She began nuzzling him as tears streamed down her face. “My baby, I thought I lost you again!” She cried out. Through the nuzzling, Dawn had one eye closed and looked up at his mom with his open eye. “I was just in the bathroom.” He stated casually. Solaris stood up and made his way over to the two with a smile. “You see dear, I told everything was fine, he was just in the bathroom.” “Um, excuse me your majesties, but is everything all right?” Feather Wind asked from the doorway of the room. Solaris looked back at the guards. “Yes, everything is fine, sorry about the confusion. Just….go about your duties please.” The guards gave a bow. “Of course sire.” Night Wing responded. They then went back to their positions. “My baby, my little baby boy.” Cosma said with a smile. “Mom…..you can let me go now.” Dawn said as he was starting to feel crushed by his mother’s hug. Cosma’s eyes shot open, she looked down to her son and responded. “Let you go? Oh no, I’m not taking any more chances. From this moment on, you are not leaving my sight mister.” “Uh, mom?” Dawn questioned. “Cosma, what are you talking about?” Solaris asked. Cosma looked to her husband with determination. “I mean that from now on, my son will be with me at all times and he is not leaving my grasp.” “What?!” Dawn asked with a fearful look. Solaris also grew a little worried. “Cosma, don’t you think that’s a little much?” “Hmpf, not when you lose two children in the span of a couple years and finally get them back after having to wait a millennium. Dawn Light is not leaving my grasp and that is final.” Cosma said with finality. “But mom, you can’t hold me forever.” Dawn argued. Cosma looked down at Dawn with a smirk. “You obviously don’t know what the combination of determination and a mother’s love can do. Now come along dears, we have breakfast waiting for us.” She stood up and started heading for the bedroom door. Dawn looked over his mother’s shoulder to his dad as he was carried past him. “Dad, help, say something.” He pleaded. Solaris gave a tired sigh. “Sorry son, but when your mother makes up her mind, there’s really no changing it. I’m sure it’ll pass…..eventually.” He added nervously. Solaris and Cosma walked side by side down the halls to the dining room with Dawn still in his mother’s left foreleg. Discord happened to be walking by in the opposite direction as he came upon them. “Oh, good morning your majesties, I trust you had a good night’s sleep?” He asked, trying to sound friendly. Cosma kept walking as she turned her head up and closed her eyes from discord. Solaris actually said something but not looking happy. “We did, thank you.” Solaris answered. Dawn then peeked out from over his mother’s shoulders. “Discord, you gotta help me, mom’s gone nutz, she won’t let me go.” He pleaded as he held his hooves out to Discord. “Help….well I…..” He froze in his sentence as the queen had stopped in her tracks and turned her head to give Discord a side glare. He cringed, gulped audibly and started sweating. "Uh, sorry Dawn Light, you’re on your own.” “What? Come on, I thought we were friends!” Dawn declared. “We are friends, it’s just your mother scares me too much.” Dawn let himself slump. “Yeah, I know.” The queen smirked. “Sorry Dawn, good luck with all that.” Discord continued on his way. “Come along Dawn, we’re missing breakfast.” Cosma said cheerily. “Like I have a choice.” Dawn stated. A meal of pancakes was served for breakfast as the family sat there. Celestia and Luna were at their usual seats with Cosma sitting next to Luna and solaris sitting across from Luna. Celestia looked on with a bit of worry, while Luna seemed to be holding back snickers at Dawn’s predicament. Dawn Light was frowning with his forelegs crossed in front of him while his mother used her magic to move a fork between her food and mouth. “Come on Dawn, eat up or your food will get cold.” Cosma encouraged. Dawn gave a devilish smile as he thought up a way to try and get out of his situation. "Mom, I can’t reach my plate, could you set me down please so I can eat?” He asked innocently. “You can use your magic to lift your fork dear.” Cosma answered casually. “Rats.” Dawn said silently and began to use his magic to eat. “Mother, why are you holding Dawn like that?” Celestia finally asked. “Your mother…..had a bit of a scare this morning.” Solaris informed. “I’m not about to let my son out of my sight for even a moment, I just don’t want to lose him again, or any of you?” Cosma said. “Believe me, if Luna had stayed little upon her return, I would be doing the same thing with her.” Luna stopped snickering and looked to her mother. She then faced forward and frowned a little. This time Celstia let out a giggle. Cosma continued. “I just want my son as safe as can be is all.” “Safe?” Dawn questioned. “We’re royalty, we have a bunch of well-trained guards surrounding the castle that’s positioned on the side of a mountain. Not to mention you, dad, Celestia, and Luna have powerful magic at your disposal. How is that not safe?” “Nothing is too safe for my baby boy.” Cosma stated. Dawn slumped again. Celestia stood up and walked past Luna to sit by Cosma’s other side. “Mother, do you really think holding on to Dawn Light will be a good idea? He has friends, ponies he can play with and do things with. If you keep him in your hold like this, he won’t get to play with them.” Celestia reasoned. “Yeah mom, I have friends here, and in Ponyville, the element bearers and three fillies.” Dawn stated. “Plus, Discord and Skript who are here at the castle.” “Really? Discord isn’t your only friend?” Cosma asked as she looked down at her son. Dawn Light then went into everything that happened to him since his return. Becoming friends with Discord, meeting the new bearers of the elements of harmony, the press conference, his time in Ponyville, meeting Fancy pants, even the picnic, though he did leave out the part about his…..accident…so as not to worry his mother or she would never let him go. “Well, sounds like our little boy has been having quit the time since he came back.” Solaris said cheerfully. “I sure have, it’s been great. So you see mom, I’m doing fine. And I promise I’m not going anywhere. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” Dawn made the motions of a Pinkie promise as he said it. Cosma and Solaris looked at him with confusion. “It’s a Pinkie promise, and no pony breaks a pinkie promise. I learned it from Pinkie Pie.” Celestia placed a hoof on Cosma’s shoulder. “You see mother, Dawn Light has been doing great here, and he isn’t going anywhere any time soon, or at all.” Cosma looked unsure at first. “Well……” She turned her head to look at her son, then back to Celestia. “Oh…..all right, I just missed you so much when you disappeared. And when you returned….I….” Cosma looked like she was about to cry. Dawn saw this and reached up to wrap his forelegs around her. “I know mom, I missed you too. It was horrible being trapped in that void. I had nightmares for the longest time because of it. But Luna helped me through those, Celestia too. They were both there for me when I came back and helped me a lot to get over my fears. So I’ll be here for you to help you get over your fears too.” Cosma hugged back with a smile. A single tear escaped her eye. “Thank you son. I love you.” “I love you too mom.” Once they broke their embrace, Cosma slowly set Dawn down on the floor next to her. The family continued to eat happily as they enjoyed each other’s company. Later in the day, Blue Blood was making his way through the castle halls with no destination in particular. His eyes looking down and his ears folded back as he looked deep in thought. Ever since Celestia spoke with him about his relationship with Dawn Light, he had seemed to shut down. He still ordered the servants around, but not in the brash way he usually does, he was also saying thank you to them. He had pretty much closed himself off since then and hadn’t seen his ‘friends’ in a while since that night. Blue Blood was always able to go on like he didn’t have a conscience, but now, it seemed to be eating away at him, chipping at his inner thoughts. Celestia’s words continued to play out in his mind like a broken record. “Have you not put Dawn in the same position you had been so heartlessly placed into?" Those words stuck out more than anything in his mind as he also recalled his time as a foal and was made fun of by others. He soon came to the conclusion that decided what he would do next should he see Dawn Light again. And he hadn’t come to it none too soon as he spotted Dawn Light making his way through the halls with his mother and father on either side. Upon seeing Blue Blood, the trio came to a stop. “Why hello there nephew, how are you doing today?” Cosma asked happily. “Hello Auntie Cosma, Uncle Solaris, I trust you had a good trip?” He asked with a fake small smile. “We did thank you, how have you been?” Solaris asked. “Oh, not bad really, not a lot going on around here.” Blue Blood stated. “I’m sure it was quit the surprise to find you had a little uncle huh?” Cosma asked with a small giggle. “Yes…it was..” Blue Blood said as he glanced at Dawn. Dawn just looked back, not sure if he should say anything. Blue Blood had kept his distance from Dawn ever since the incident at the picnic. When they did meet in the halls, they never said a single thing to each other. “Blue Blood, are you busy? We were just heading out to the garden for some tea to spend time together.” Solaris pointed out. “You should join us so we can catch up.” “Sorry, but I’m afraid I’m busy today, maybe some other time.” “Oh, all right then, we’ll see you around the castle then, take care nephew.” Cosma stated as they continued on their way. After they walked past Blue Blood, he suddenly turned to face them and called out. “Wait, Dawn Light?” The trio stopped and looked back to Blue Blood. “Um, yes?” Blue Blood looked to the side a moment first, then back to Dawn. “Could I…..speak to you for a moment?” “I….guess so.” Dawn responded, not sure what to make of this. “We’ll meet you in the garden when you’re done son.” Solaris stated before continuing. “We’ll be there if you need us, and if you need anything, just call me and I’ll be by your side in no time.” Cosma stated as she walked backwards, not taking her eyes off Dawn. “Okay mom.” “I love you son!” Cosma called out again, still walking backwards. Solaris rolled his eyes with a smirk. “Love you too mom!” Dawn called back. He then faced Blue Blood. “So…..” “So….” Blue Blood mirrored. “What did you want to talk about Blue Blood?” Dawn had given up calling him nephew. Blue took a moment before responding. “Dawn Light, I….well….” “What?” Blue Blood took a deep breath, then exhaled. “It seems that…I have put you in a position that I found myself in when I was a young colt.” Dawn cocked an eyebrow. “Really? What do you mean?” Blue Blood began. “You see, when I was young, I wasn’t really good at anything. And because of it, I got picked on a lot and made fun of. Everypony kept saying how I would never be a proper prince if I didn’t know what my special talent was. It was those events that eventually lead me to be the stallion I acted like before. I saw how the upper class acted and figured if I acted like them, then I would get the respect I wanted. So I just started behaving like they did, and soon, the teasing stopped and I eventually found my cutie mark.” “I could have stopped acting like a….snob…then and there, but I had been doing it for so long, I couldn’t. Eventually, it became the new me and that is the stallion I became. I soon forgot about my past as well which only cemented my personality. I had ended up becoming the bullies that picked on me when I was young and did the same to you.” “You…did?” “I did. I’m very sorry Dawn Light, for everything mean I ever said to you. And I’m really sorry my words drove you to what you did that day that caused you’re accident at the picnic. I only hope you can forgive me.” Blue Blood finished as he hung his head. Dawn was silent for a moment as he took in Blue Blood’s words. A good minute passed before Dawn spoke again. “Blue Blood, I was picked on too before I was sealed away in that void. It wasn’t just your words that got to me that day. There were other ponies in the castle that made fun of me and called me….markless. Said I couldn’t do anything right or never be a proper prince just because I didn’t have my cutie mark. Ever since I ended up in this time period, no pony has picked on me and I was so glad that I was making friends. In fact, Discord was the first friend I ever had.” He paused again. “I forgive you Blue Blood.” Blue Blood looked up with a small smile. “So, what do you say we just forget the whole thing and start over?” he asked. Dawn Light smiled back. “I’d like that……nephew.” “Glad to hear it….uncle.” Blue said as they exchanged a hoof shake. “So, are you really busy or was that a lie?” Dawn asked. “It was a lie.” Blue answered. “Well then, why don’t you join me and mom and dad in the garden for some tea? It’ll give us a chance to talk more.” Dawn asked happily. “I think I would like that.” Blue answered with a bright smile. The two walked side by side to the garden to meet up with the king and queen. The two soon met up with Cosma and Solaris as they sat at a white table set up with pillows around it to sit on. “Mom, dad, Blue Blood said he could join us.” Dawn said happily. “Wonderful.” Cosma said. “But I thought you had something to take care of.” “It can wait.” Blue stated as he took a seat at the table. Dawn sat right next to him with a smile. “Besides, family is more important.” He said as he looked at Dawn. “Well I’m glad you can join us Blue Blood.” Solaris stated. Cosma levitated a silver teapot up and proceeded to pour everyone a cup. “So tell us Blue, how have you been getting along with Dawn?” “It was…..difficult at first, but I’m starting to warm up to him.” Blue stated. “I’m glad to hear it.” Cosma said upon finishing pouring everypony a cup. “Ooh, cookies!” Dawn stated as he saw a tray of cookies with the tea. He managed to levitate the whole tray over to himself then levitated one up off the pile, opened his mouth, and hovered the cookie just in front of him, ready to take a bit. “Ahem.” Cosma cleared her throat to get Dawn’s attention. Dawn looked over to his mother with his mouth still open. He closed his mouth then responded. “What?” “Dawn Light, those cookies aren’t just for you, they’re for everypony here.” Cosma said. “Oops, sorry.” Dawn gave a sheepish smile. Cosma smiled back and used her magic to move the tray back to the center of the table. The rest of the time spent, they merely talked and Dawn listened as the king and queen told Dawn all about the travels they took and all the places they saw. Later in the afternoon, Celestia was taking one of her strolls through the garden when something caught her attention. It was just like the afternoon she caught Blue Blood talking with his friends about Dawn Light. Though, this time seemed different. “Now see here.” Blue Blood’s voice sounded out. “He is my uncle and a prince and deserves proper respect.” He said to the two stallions Celestia had caught Blue Blood with before. “But sire, weren’t you the one making fun of him along with us a while ago?” One of the stallions said. “I was…” He turned his head to the side. “And it was a mistake.” He looked back at them with a stern expression. “If you two wish to continue our friendship, then I suggest you refrain from making fun of Dawn Light. He is a wonderful colt. I made the mistake of putting him in the same spot I was a long time ago. Therefore, I will not tolerate any hurtful words or remarks towards him. Do I make myself clear?” “Y….Yes your majesty.” The second stallion said. “Good, now be gone with you for now, I have things to attend to.” Blue Blood said with a wave of his hoof. The two stallions bowed and backed away. Celestia smiled at the scene, feeling proud Blue Blood was defending Dawn Light. She approached Blue Blood. “I see you are feeling better.” She said on approach. Blue Blood turned to face Celestia. “I am. And I believe I have finally come to my senses. I have you to thank for that auntie. Thank you.” “I’m just glad to see you willing to stand up for your young uncle.” Celestia said. “You were right about what you said, about me putting Dawn in the same position I was. I had become the very thing I hated just to be accepted by others. If I had kept up my treatment of him like that, then he……he may have ended up like me.” Blue hung his head in shame. Celestia used her hoof to raise Blue’s head to look at her. “Blue Blood, while that may be true, you realized your mistake before it was too late.” “I am sorry for my behavior auntie Celestia.” “It’s all right nephew, I see you have made amends with Dawn Light, and that is all that matters.” Celestia removed her hoof from Blue. Blue Blood looked up with a smile. “We have, and I’m glad he forgave me for how I acted towards him. I just know we’ll get along better now.” “I’m glad to hear it. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have matters to attend to, it’s almost time to lower the sun.” Celestia began to walk away. “Of course auntie, have a pleasant night.” Blue Blood said. “You too, nephew.”