The room was a maelstrom of magic and a singular purple filly floated in the middle of the chaos. Twilight Sparkle’s eyes were aglow and her horn’s light filled the room like a magical inferno. Celestia’s eyes were still locked on her baby brother, just hatched, who was currently several dozen feet taller than he was supposed to be along with the testing proctors and the filly’s parents who’d been turned into potted plants.

She simply couldn’t believe what was happening. A simple magical test had turned into the most powerful surge of magic she’d seen out of a normal unicorn since Clover the Clever had freed herself from Discord’s control. Twilight Sparkle was obviously an Alpha+ level magic wielder, maybe even an Alpha++.

Celestia however had no time left to worry about that, if she did not act soon then the poor filly’s life would be consumed by the magic she wielded. So, with a flash of her horn she appeared beside the filly, uncaring of the beams of bright, unfocused magic that flashed off of her snow white fur. Her own horn flared and she reached down to gently tap Twilight’s horn and cut off the surge.

The effect was immediate; the power in the filly’s eyes disappeared and she fell to the ground in a boneless heap as her little brother shrank back to a more manageable size and several potted plants suddenly remembered that they were ponies. Celestia let out a sigh of relief, this was the worst surge she’d seen in a long time but on the bright side the effects looked fairly easy to fix.

The alicorn’s mind was actually more preoccupied with figuring out what the cause of the surge itself was. All she knew was that there had been an incredibly loud explosion coupled with a surge of magic strong enough to set off Twilight’s inherent powers as well as those of several other unicorns around Canterlot. Celestia frowned as she picked up the baby dragon in her magic, who looked up at her with confused yet wise eyes as he cocked his head to the side.

“I’m sorry, little brother,” Celestia apologized to him as she began to pick up rubble and cast repair spells. “This isn’t quite the way I pictured you coming into this world.”

The dragon frowned at her and seemed to shrug slightly before his eyes closed and he fell asleep. Celestia moved him onto her back, where he immediately grasped on with his claws, and continued walking around the room. After she was sure that the room wouldn’t be collapsing on them all any time soon Celestia returned to Twilight’s slumbering body. Her white furred mother was standing over her with a worried expression on her face and upon Celestia’s approach she looked up at her with a slightly raised eyebrow.

“So... I take it that you’re going to be teaching her yourself?” the unicorn asked.

“It appears that way, yes,” Celestia answered. “An Alpha++ unicorn simply can’t be taught in a normal classroom environment.”

“Good,” Twilight Velvet replied with a small nod as she looked tenderly at the filly and picked her up in her magic. “It appears that you won’t be needing me to carry out your plans after all.”

Celestia frowned. “Only if you permit it Velvet,” she replied. “I won’t ‘use’ her unless you’d rather opt out.”

“I’d honestly prefer that I be the one to do it... but that’s still how many years off?” Velvet asked as she placed Twilight on her back.

“Around twenty,” Celestia answered for her as they began to leave the room, heading for the infirmary.

“Well... we’ll see in twenty years,” Velvet said before casting a worried motherly look back at the snoozing filly. “For now, teaching her to control her magic is all I want.”

“Agreed,” Celestia said with a small nod of her head. Within her own mind however, plans were already being hatched... she’d have her sister back and whether or not it was Twilight Sparkle who cast the spell, she’d be prepared for anything.

“My Queen, as honored as I am that you’ve requested me here, I simply don’t understand why,” the rainbow maned pegasus stallion stated as he sat across from Queen Celestia, a mahogany desk between them.

“That is actually fairly easy to answer, Mr. Prism,” Celestia answered with a small smile. “You see, two days ago your daughter did something that has been impossible for the last... one thousand years.”

“I know... is she in trouble for it?” Prism asked with slightly narrowed eyebrows.

“What? No, not at all,” Celestia said with a wave of her hoof through the air between them. “Quite the opposite in fact.”

“Oh?” Prism inquired. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that your daughter is very special and deserves to be treated as such,” Celestia answered, smiling kindly at him. “Which is why I have made arrangements for the both of you to be moved here to Canterlot.”

“What?” Prism asked, caught completely off guard.

“Like I said, you’re going to be moving here to Canterlot,” Celestia repeated as her horn glowed and a slip of paper and read. “Under Procedure 1029 of the Equestrian Crown’s Royal Decrees, Rainbow Daring Dash and her family are to be brought before Queen Celestia so that she may be educated in a manner that serves all of Equestria,” she read off in a neutral voice before internally wincing at what she knew was coming.

“WHAT?!” Prism shouted, surprise and outrage coupling in his voice in a way that impressed even Celestia. “You can’t do that! We have a life in Cloudsdale! You can’t just force us to move without any warning!”

“Actually, I can,” she replied calmly. “You have the most powerful pegasus in a thousand years as a daughter. I’m sorry but I simply cannot allow her to live outside of my reach.”

“This-this is an outrage!” Prism roared at her. “How are we supposed to live here! I don’t have a job in Canterlot!”

“On the contrary, you do,” Celestia replied as her horn began to glow and another piece of paper floated off of the desk and up to hover in front of his face. “I’m offering you the job as a manager of the Canterlot Weather Team.”

“I... but...” Prism trailed off as he read over the paper. “This... this is more bits than I’ve earned in the last ten years,” he gasped, shocked.

“Indeed it is,” Celestia nodded. “I have looked over your career and found that you’re certainly up to performing the duties required of you to fill this position.”

“But... what about my little Rainbow?” Prism asked, clearly conflicted. “She has friends in Cloudsdale.”

“She will just have to make new friends,” Celestia said, though a smile appeared on her face. “I believe I know a certain unicorn filly who would be overjoyed to have a new friend to play with.”

“I... alright... I don’t like it... but if you order it my Queen then I suppose I have to,” Prism said with a sigh, looking down at his lap.

“Don’t worry Prism, I know that this may seem cruel, but it is for the best,” Celestia comforted him. “Your daughter is unique and I will make sure that she receives the absolute best schooling that a pegasus could wish for. I’m already prepared to pay her way through whichever college or academy she chooses to attend and if you wish I can make the package even sweeter if you have something specific in mind.”

“I... did you say academy?” Prism asked slowly. “As in... military academy?”

“Why yes,” Celestia answered with a smile. “After all, somepony with her skills could go far in the guard corps or the army if she wished too.”

Prism’s eyes narrowed. “You just want to use her don’t you?” he asked her harshly.

“No,” Celestia answered calmly. “I want to make sure that she doesn’t go to waste.”

“That’s the same thing,” he growled.

“I think you’ll find that it isn’t,” Celestia replied. “Your daughter is a valuable asset and if you’re not careful she could end up in serious trouble later in life if she doesn’t have the proper training she needs.”

“She’s still just a Wonderbolt-obsessed filly who wants nothing more than to join the team,” Prism shot back angrily.

“And aren’t the Wonderbolts a part of the Equestrian Air Force?” Celestia countered with an invisible smile.

“I-but-grrr,” the stallion let out a small growl as he saw her logic. “Fine... I still don’t like it.”

“I understand that my little pony,” Celestia told him comfortingly. “However, I promise you that Rainbow Dash will receive the best of everything in life.”

“I... very well my Queen,” Prism relented at last. “I guess... I should get home... tell Rainbow the news.”

“Very well,” Celestia said with a small smile. “Oh, and Prism?”

“Yes?” Prism asked her as he got up from his seat.

“You’ll be living in the Castle itself,” Celestia informed him.

“So that you can keep a better eye on Rainbow?” he asked her with a scowl.

“No, so that you no longer have to pay taxes or worry about finding housing,” Celestia replied easily with a small chuckle. “Honestly Prism, I only want the best for you both.”

The pegasus rolled his eyes slightly. “Yeah, I bet you do,” he said before shaking his head and trotting out of the room, tail twitching angrily.

Celestia let out a sigh, she hated doing this type of thing... and yet it was necessary. Young Rainbow Dash could be a potent weapon against her if any lurking group tried to gain possession of her. Not to mention that if she turned to a life of crime it would be nearly impossible to stop her. A bank robber who can go from zero to supersonic in five seconds was not easily caught.

On the bright side, Celestia knew a lonely unicorn filly who would surely benefit from having another foal around to play with.

“Do... do you have to go?” the yellow pegasus asked softly.

“I guess,” the rainbow maned one replied with a shake of her head. “That’s what dad says anyways... I’m sorry Flutters.”

“I...I... I just don’t know what I’ll do with you gone,” she Fluttershy replied softly, her voice breaking. “You... you’re the only one who sticks up for me!” Tears began to well up in Fluttershy’s eyes and Rainbow Dash put aside whatever dislike she had for ‘mushy stuff’ and stepped forwards to hug her.

“Hey, hey, come on Flutters, you’ll do fine without me,” Rainbow told her comfortingly.

“No I won’t!” Fluttershy replied, tears running down her face as she leaned into Rainbow Dash’s neck. “Without you the bullies will get worse!”

A sigh worked its way through Rainbow’s body. “I know... but I think I have a plan for that,” she said.

“You... you do?” Fluttershy asked her.

“Yeah... I do,” Rainbow replied with a small grin. “Fluttershy, a friend I met at summer camp is moving to Cloudsdale soon and I sent her a letter yesterday... she’ll keep you safe.”

“She will?” Fluttershy asked with confusion, her tears beginning to dry a little.

“Yeah, though to be honest I’m not sure if you’ll like her all that much,” Dash replied, stepping out of Fluttershy’s embrace and rubbing the back of her neck. “Her name’s Gilda and she’s a griffin.”

“A-a griffin?” Fluttershy asked, her eyes growing wide. “You mean the ones that our teacher said used to ea-eat ponies?”

“Um... yeah... them,” Rainbow Dash said awkwardly. “But they don’t do that anymore!” she added quickly. “‘Sides, Gilda’s cool. You’ll see.”

“I-I don’t know Rainbow...” Fluttershy said worriedly. “What if she’s mean to me?”

“Then I’ll fly here and kick her furry flank!” Rainbow replied boisterously. Fluttershy couldn’t help but smile at that.

“I... I guess if she’s your friend then she can’t be bad, right?” the yellow pegasus asked.

“Exactly,” Rainbow Dash answered with a wide grin. “She’s really cool and once you get to know her, I bet you’ll be really good friends.”

“I... I hope so,” Fluttershy said nervously, looking back down at the clouds beneath them. “So... you really have to leave.”

“Yeah,” Dash replied, shaking her head. “Wish I didn’t.”

“Me too,” Fluttershy said softly before a small smile appeared on her downcast face. “Dash... will you write to me?”

“Of course!” Rainbow replied, smiling back. “We’ll be pen pals alright? That way it’ll be like I’m here with you all the time!”

“I... you’re right,” Fluttershy agreed with a nod of her head. “And Dash... one last thing.”

“Yes?” Dash asked.

“Will you spend the rest of today until you have to leave with me?” Fluttershy asked.

"Of course!” Dash exclaimed. “What do you want to do Flutters?”

“Well... I don’t know... I just want to spend some time with you I guess,” Fluttershy replied with a frown.

“Cool, want to get some ice cream?” Rainbow asked her, grinning slightly. “Our last time at the Cloudsdale Creamery.”

“That... that sounds wonderful,” Fluttershy said with a smile before the pair began to walk off towards their frozen delight.

Celestia smiled as she walked towards the nursery and heard a newly familiar voice speaking.

“Where is my sister?” it asked. It was a male voice and while very obviously that of a child it was surprisingly mature.

“She was in a meeting,” another voice replied, this one feminine. “I’m sure she’ll be here very soon though.”

“I hope so, there are still so many things I want to talk with her about,” the male voice said, sounding rather discouraged.

“Well little one, you could always ask me,” the feminine voice replied helpfully.

“I would... but you don’t know as much as she does,” the male replied as Celestia opened the door and found her little brother sitting on a cushion in front of a smiling white unicorn.

The small dragon gave the mare an apologetic smile. “No offense Mrs. Snowheart.”

The two-day old dragon was covered in purple scales and his crest of horns was the same green as his father. It was still a bit of a shock to Celestia that young Spike had such a strong grasp on language. She’d known that dragons learned them through the egg... yet she hadn’t expected it to be that well developed.

Apparently he’d heard almost every word she’d ever said to the egg, including when she’d been speaking Prench to herself as she rehearsed a speech she’d be giving the Prench ambassador.

That being said, while he’d absorbed a great deal of information and knowledge from Celestia there were still giant holes in what he did and didn’t know.

“Oh none taken, Spike,” Snowheart replied with a small chuckle. “I couldn’t hope to ever know as much as Queen Celestia.”

“Only because I have so many more years than you,” Celestia said pleasantly as she walked closer to Spike and gave the little dragon a nuzzle which he leaned into. “You’re free to go Snowheart, I’ll call you when you should return.”

“Thank you, my Queen,” Snowheart replied before she gave them both a bow and retreated from the room.

“So, how has your day been so far?” Celestia asked the little dragon as she sat down beside the cushion.

“It was okay I guess,” Spike replied, looking down. “I’m bored though... there’s nothing to do in this room and you say that I’m not allowed outside of it for another three weeks.”

“Well, you know why that is,” Celestia said.

“Because I don’t know how-how-how-to-” he was cut off as a great burst of emerald green flames sneezed forth from between his lips and flared into the floor. Thankfully the floor didn’t seem to mind a great deal and the flames died a moment later. “To control my flames,” the hatchling finished lamely.

“That is the problem unfortunately,” Celestia agreed, nodding her head. “Anyways, what was it you wanted to talk with me about?”

His young face brightened. “I wanted to know more about that filly who made me all big and stuff! She was trying really hard and pumping a lot of magic into me but nothing worked for her and then there was that explosion and I got really big and it was scary and then you did something and I shrank and fell unconscious.”

Celestia raised an eyebrow slightly at his stream of consciousness but smiled. “That filly was Twilight Sparkle, Spike. She’s going to be my new personal student.”

“She is?” Spike asked.

“She is,” Celestia confirmed.

“So I’ll get to see her again, right?” the dragon asked insistently.

“Yes I’m sure you will,” Celestia answered confidently. “In fact I’d planned on re-introducing you two the day after tomorrow once I had a lesson plan set up.”

“Yay!” Spike cheered. “I’ve been wanting to really meet her since it happened!”

“Why if you don’t mind me asking?” Celestia asked him with a frown.

“Because, she seemed nice,” Spike answered with a grin. “I can’t wait to be her friend.”

"Well, that’s good to hear,” Celestia replied, smiling down at him and giving the dragon another nuzzle. “So, was there anything else you wanted to talk with me about little brother?”

“Yes... am I a Prince?” he asked slowly.

Celestia smiled, she’d been anticipating that question for a while now.

“Technically yes, yes you are,” she answered. “You are officially Prince Spike Firetooth. Your title doesn’t have much power behind it at the moment because you’ve neither proved yourself nor come of age yet but it’s still a title.”

“I see...” Spike trailed off and then smiled. “Cool!”

“Yes, yes it is, Celestia agreed with a chuckle at his enthusiasm. “Just remember not to let it go to your head alright?”

“Right,” he agreed before frowning as his stomach growled loudly.

“Hmm, sounds like somedrake is hungry, hmm?” Celestia asked him with a smile.

Spike nodded his head. “Yeah... guess I am.”

“I’ll go get you some lunch then,” Celestia replied with a smile before she got up. “Be back in a few minutes, little brother.”

“Bye,” Spike replied.

Celestia smiled as she left the room... it was so very nice to have a family again... she did hope that Cadence and Spike would get along well. She also hopped that Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash would get along well together as well... otherwise she didn’t think the Castle would last a year.

Author's Notes:

Happy Easter.

Also, Keatosimo that was the link that Cadence established to the overall plot that you were looking for.