//------------------------------// // Next Stop, Ponyville // Story: The Alicorn Prince // by Rightben370 //------------------------------// I.Q. had had his last day with these foster parents and was relieved to be in the custody of his brother with much resistance from the foster family. they went to their old home and as I.Q was packing the rest of his books Bolt told him of a private courting he got with Princess Celestia for Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. I.Q. couldn't contain his excitement and Bolt looked on and smiled at his little brother's joy. ~~~ The meeting was at noon and I.Q.'s stomach was filled to the brim with butterflies but Bolt assured him that everything will go okay. they got to it and I.Q. started to struggle with the spell they wanted him to perform, an age acceleration spell. The more time he took the more nervous he and Bolt looked. c'mon work I've done a teleportation spell for crying out loud this should be easy I.Q. scolded himself. He did all that he could besides channeling all of his magic, he tried to do so with great effort and formed an amount of magic too powerful and ended up not only opening the dragon's egg but also causing him to nearly evaporate the baby dragon inside. "Wow you are stronger than others your age." complimented Princess Celestia, "Thank you your highness." bowed I.Q, "Now now no need for that I wish for you to treat me as an equal, especially since I want you as my personal student." at those three words he nearly fainted but there was a catch, "Sadly your brother must move to Ponyville because of a new guard we are establishing for Princess Twilight." after those words he didn't know what to do, he'd always wanted to go to Celestia's school but he couldn't stand being away from family after what he's been through he had to make a choice between his dream school or family, "Your highness with all due respect I will have to deny your invitation, I don't feel that I could leave my brother after what happened to our parents." he said in a sincere professional tone. Bolt went over to him and whispered, "I.Q. are you sure? you won't get another chance like this." "Actually," interrupted Celestia, "there is another way you can still be apart of my school, I may not be your mentor but how about being the student of princess Twilight?" at the princess' proposal I.Q. once again had his smile slammed onto his face. Not only could he stay with his family but he also was able to learn from a princess, he bowed once again, "Thank you so much for this generous offer your highness." ~~~ Once I.Q. and Bolt got out of the castle I.Q. lost his calm, professional demeanor and went ballistic jumping around and laughing uncontrollably. Bolt laughed himself at his brother's happiness. ~~~ They got to the train station just as the train had arrived, Bolt pulled out the two tickets and they boarded. I.Q. instinctively placed Scorch's portable nest on a shelf in their cabin along with the little blue phoenix. Both ponies got into their bunks, Bolt fell asleep almost instantly where I.Q. guided by the light from his horn read more on the creatures that killed his parents. As the conductor announced, "Next stop, ponyville" ~~~ I.Q. woke to a dark cabin but once his eyes adjusted he saw his parents, "how are you two here?" the two shadowy forms of his mother replied in a grim tone, "that doesn't matter sweetheart." "I am so sorry I should've hidden faster its my fault your gone." sobbed I.Q. his father replied, "the only ones you should blame are those creatures, please don't blame yourself but try to avenge us." they started walking towards him, held him in their hooves as they said in unison, "now you need to wake up, its time to go." before he could respond he was shook awake by his brother. ~~~ "I've just gotten word that the princess will be gone for a few days which gives both of us some chance to get settled." explained Bolt, "It will also give me a chance to look around here." stated I.Q. gleefully. They unpacked in their home on the outskirts of ponyville close to the large tree-like crystalline castle. Once they finished I.Q. decided to take a walk around the main village.