"Looks like you did a good thing for Ben, sis." Shining comments as he, Twilight and Starlight helps out with the chores around the house. The filly was telling her brothers about what happened at school, especially the sweet parts.

"Yeah, I did." Twilight said with a smile. "I have a feeling that someday, Boris will land on his fat flank soon enough."

"Serve that jerk right." Starlight remarks while rolling his eyes. "I mean, a colt like Ben didn't deserve harassment. The Hearts and Hooves stuff is kinda icky."

"You are too young for romance, Starlight."

"Really; same goes for you, sis. Tell me, you must really like Ben." Shining said to Twilight with a slight smile, making her blush a bit.

"He's a nice colt and a good friend. Yes, he is shy and..." Twilight blushes as she saw her brothers chuckling at her. "Okay, okay, I won't fib any further! I like LIKE him as in..."

"Having a special somepony?"

"Does my silly sister has a thing for Ben?" Starlight ask her sister slyly.

Twilight giggles, nodding while saying, "Yeah...I guess there's something about him...made me feel like I wanted to be with him..."

"Hee hee; Twiley and Benny sitting in a tree...K-I-S-S-I-NG..."

"Okay, enough Starlight." Shining laughs as he noogle his little brother before letting go. "Twiley, I am proud that you have found your special somepony. Have you told him yet?"

"No, not yet," Twilight said to Shining with a blush. "Maybe someday..."

"Well, better hop to it, sis, or you may lose your chance forever."

"Right and try not to make me gag while you're at it." Starlight jokes at this. As a result, his siblings threw some pillows right at him, making the little colt laughs a bit.

--------------------

"You know, Ben, you should've got my help in grooming you. You would've been spared the embarrassment." Celestia said to Ben as she manages to use her magic to restore her son's coat, mane, etc. to normal. "There, if anyone asked, you used a magic potion, okay?"

"Wouldn't that be fibbing?" Ben asks his mother puzzled.

"Can you think of any other way to explain yourself restored coat and mane?"

"Good point, mommy."

"So...how did Twilight like it?" Celestia ask her son in approval as she throws the shreds of mane and coat into the trash. The princess is anxious to see if Twilight likes the Equestrian angel given to her.

"Twilight likes it. I can imagine her being an alicorn right now. Wouldn't that be great?" Ben asks his adopted, making Celestia smile while looking thoughtfully.

"Yes, it would be. You must really like her."

"Yeah, despite Boris trying to keep me away from her; I need to somehow stand up to that creep someday...and conquer my shyness."

"I know if you look deep within yourself, Ben, you will find the courage needed." Celestia said while nuzzling her son. Ben smiles. Besides Twilight, his mother is the best pony for him to have in his life right now.

Ben hopes that someday, he will never separate from her...unless it's to move out and start a life of his own, but the colt will always keep in touch with Celestia, right?

-----------

The scene opens up in the hallway sometime later, where Ben Mare was walking alone carrying his bag. He was off to another of his classes, when...somepony stuck a hoof out and made him trip and fall on his front.

"Hay Benny; how was your trip?" Boris cruelly remark to the guy.

"Yeah, did you have a nice fall?" Boxco remarked off to say.

"Yeah, it was funny than a surprise can of bumps!" Dum Dum pointed out to say this.

"That's can of worms, you dolt!" Boris snapped to scold the idiot for not saying that sentence right.

"Boris, why do you guys always do this same routine?" Ben asked off annoyed to be going through this.

"Well, you can't say that was intentional, you just happened to pass over without knowing I stick my hoof out?" Boris shrugs off to give his excuse here. "But I digress; you're about the second Earth filth I like to toy around at times." He made a sly smirk in stating this matter on messing with Ben here.

"Second?" Ben responded confused, who was Boris's first victim of being picked on?

"Right, the other pony is Hoboken Joe." Boxco stated in recalling who the other pony they make fun of is.

"That janitor guy right over there," Dum Dum stated to point off where the other pony is.

True to words, there was an Earth stallion in his 20s to 30s with brown coat, gray short mane & long tail, plus a little side burns of his in-grown beard, & blue eyes. He seemed to be wearing cloths most matching that of a hobo; even his Cutie Mark was a cross between an apple & some cleaning & workmen equipment. The guy was just working on the floor by mopping. He was clearly a janitor for the school that the fillies & colts are attending to.

"While he maybe an adult, we still get a few good laughs from the fool!" Boris makes a wise crack in how they like to tease this janitor.

"Hay, you shouldn't be mean to him, it's bad enough how much I feel hurt when you keep picking on me!" Ben protest in seeing Boris was being mean to someone else right before his eyes.

"Wow, you sure grew a conscience." Boxco responded stump to hear that from Ben.

"Yeah, he actually cares for a janitor." Dum Dum responded in finding this hard to believe.

"Maybe you both belong together; you both are dirt and try to clean it for us upper class ponies." Boris remarked off in saying Ben is like the janitor, they are both in the job of dirt & make things clean for the higher class of ponies.

As these bullies were laughing & Ben was feeling a little upset by this act...it was soon cut off.

"'Scuse me fellas," A voice interrupts the colts in being the janitor, Hoboken Joe with an accent of a Red-Neck in getting their attention. "But did any of you's leave this somewhere?" He showed to the colts’ eyes, a pretty blue gem stone, sparkling so...beautifully. "I found this here priceless gem stone in the middle of my mopping floors, & saw you all to think…does it belong to yah?" He was asking if anypony was the owner of this priceless gem.

"Actually, it's not..." Ben was cut from saying that it wasn't theirs by the bullies.

"Mine!" Dum Dum shouted to stood as the owner.

"No, mine," Boxco pushed his pal over to make claim of the gem.

"Dolts, you clearly forgotten, I lost that, so it's mine!" Boris snapped to lie to his goons that wherever this gem came from, he'll take claims of it. "Thanks for returning this to me; I'll take it from here." He snatched the gem from Hoboken without any resistance.

And without a word, Boris left with his 'so-called' gem while his goons followed leaving only Ben with the janitor as if they were ghost that were not even cared about by the snobby unicorn colt,

"Sir, they were lying, it wasn't theirs to begin with." Ben tried to let this stallion know that he was tricked by Boris' lie.

"Oh I know that, but they don't." Hoboken Joe made a sly smile in stating that he knew about the lie, but kept it from Boris's group.

"Hugh?" Ben responded puzzled, what did this guy mean?

"You see, that was a Fool's Gem, they may look & seem like they are real. But watch." Hoboken explained while having another gem just like what Boris took, but... "Crack,” He broke it in two, and the instead showed the minerals of a rock. "They're false from the inside even Dragons throw those things up like bad tastes in their mouths." He explained the matter that even Dragons don't like the taste of Fool's Gem, they don't taste right ‘cause they aren't the quality real stuff.

"Wow!" Ben responded amazed to learn of such a thing.

"So you must be the Earth pony, Ben, the colt with a last name of Mare and shaved him something silly on appearance. Hehe," Hoboken Joe turned his attention to Ben, knowing a little about this colt from being an Earth pony & then some.

Ben seem hesitated to respond from both his last name was funny plus about the recent razor situation he had that made him a laughing stock in class.

"Oh now don't feel sad, I'm laughing at myself than at you. Your name is probably better than what I usually go by as a nickname." Hoboken spoke in trying to cheer Ben up that he wasn't laughing at the colt, but in pointing at himself instead.

"Really, what's that?" Ben's curious eyes glued to the janitor, what was worse than being labeled a mare that Hoboken got a nickname that was much different?

"Hobo Joe, that's what a couple of snob stallions call me." Hoboken responded that from his look, rich ponies see him as a hobo on the street. "I work as a volunteer for the task 'too' dirty to get clean themselves and cause I'm expendable since I don't live in any homes other than in the gutter alleys." Hoboken explained about his situation, job life and where he's living.

"Whah...that's horrible!" Ben responded in utter disbelief, a nice stallion was living out on the streets without a home & nobody was caring to help. "If you have such a problem, why are you working & letting those colts make fun of you?" He asked off in why this pony has to live life so harshly.

"’Cause it doesn't matter," Hoboken responded, much to Ben's confusion. "I live my own policy! Ever hear of 'Sticks & Stones, may Bust my Bones, but Words will Never hurt me' nursery rhyme?" He stated in explaining something to the young colt here.

"Can't say I have," Ben shrugs off his shoulders in never coming across that nursery rhyme till now.

"It means that no matter what folks do to you, you shouldn't let what they say badly about yah get to you." Hoboken exclaimed the meaning behind the nursery rhyme itself. "Heck, I've lived through worst & I always look for the positive things in life just ahead of me." He stated that even through terrible situations, he has to overcome them. "After all, some folks are lucky while some ain't, but do I let that stop me? Nope! I just gotta keep my fate & look for a brighter future." From the sounds of it, this janitor was very tough to make a stand.

"Wow; that is something else." Ben responded in feeling so 'awe' by a janitor Earth pony's words.

"Yep, but tell me, word I hear around here...is you's got a filly interested in you. Am I right?" Hoboken nods while giving a smile in now asking something of Ben with Twilight Sparkle now.

"Well...yeah...and we are good friends. But..." Ben nods nervously in agreeing to that term, and he was about to mention something else, however...

"Shoot, but nothing, if she be that special of a pony, then you's got to not let technical things get in your way. Now take a look at me and what do you see?" Hoboken knows that Ben was nervous about admitting about being in love & if he wants to keep it, so this guy wants to have the colt describe him suddenly.

"Um..." Ben looked to Hoboken Joe, but to say what he thinks would be rude, however...

"Be honest, a hobo janitor, no need to feel like hurting my feelings." Hoboken cut Ben off in seeing the nice colt didn't wanna hurt his feelings. "But let me tell you something, what would you say that I got me special pony too and she's WAY outta my league?" He stated about having a pony that's very dear to him too, and was someone that he has no chance getting.

"Who's that?" Ben asked in being curious about now.

"You know that art teacher unicorn with the cheery coat & orange mane with the pretty lemon yellow eyes? Also got that Cutie Mark of a board with a paintbrush making paint globs." Hoboken explained off to describe the mare that Ben was sure to know.

"Miss Mona Crafts?" Ben responded in knowing instantly, who the janitor was referring to? "Our fun art teacher who's love for art & creativity is noted by Canterlot?" Ben knows that the mare is very popular, even in Canterlot, is that who Hoboken was stating in his explain; really?

"Yep, what you say if when I cleaned up something that somepony label as 'junk', and wanted me to throw away? But instead, I kept it ‘ause I thought it was a swell piece of work that some little pony made." Hoboken responded off before telling a story about what happened one eventful day. "But when I come to the class for the daily round, I find Miss Mono depressed, the room a mess, saying she lost something darn important to her that a colleague threw away!" The janitor pony exclaimed the stuff that was sounding very exciting to hear.

"Wha…what happened?" Ben asked with suspense, whatever did this guy do?

"Well I showed the object and she jumped for joy, cause that there was her first artwork as a filly! She treasured it ‘cause her folks said it was her best work she ever did made. And used it for inspiration for teaching other ponies of young age," Hoboken explained with a smile in what happened there afterwards. "I told her that I found it stunning & believed nothing 'that' good belongs in the trash, but within today, not a lot of other fellas see that. And then...a spark happened." He stated that last part off about a 'spark' moment that occurred.

"Really," Ben asked with curiosity, what did this mean, did his teacher & janitor...fall in love?

"Yep, she's always watched how I've been mistreated all the time at work or outside, & no matter the deed, I never let it wound me. It was something she felt...connected, and shot, guess I felt the same." Hoboken explained off about his situation and how Mona Crafts felt something for him. "And she's even thinking to help give me a better life than being the gutter in Canterlot and not some low class Earth pony. Why heck, she wouldn't care about married to somepony like me or how others think, love is not something that comes with appearance, but from the gut." From what he said in this part, it sounds like nopony in Canterlot would stop a big celeb from marrying someone with no class at all.

"Woah; that's all amazing," Ben responded with a smile; that was an amazing story to hear.

"So the lesson in my story is this; don't be afraid of what others think and keep trying to get by & then something good will come your way. Heck, even love isn't impossible." Hoboken Joe smiled in seeing that with Ben, he needs to know that nothing should stop him, not even be stopped from falling in love.

"Gee mister Hoboken, that's some helpful advice, I wish I could help you." Ben responded in being thankful and now he wished to help Hoboken Joe not be such a pushover guy by other bullies around here.

"Well son, I know it's hard for me but you's got a future to build with lots of time, unless of course, you got a way I can work directly in the castle for the princess & be honored, 'Honorary Task Voluntary', then I could laugh myself for joy from here to Manehattan!" Hoboken shrug off his shoulders in thinking, if Ben had connections, get him a job at the castle, like that could be the day, but if it were, he be mighty happy. "Otherwise, it's not how you look that be the point, but its inside you's got to keep strong & never lose yourself, you's hear?" He points to Ben's chest, telling him to not let looks he has keeps him from showing others the real Ben Mare on the inside.

"Yes sir!" Ben nods with a smile, he likes this stallion, he doesn't really know who Ben is but he's treating him like a pony should in helping a colt get through life.

"Good, no mossy along now, these floors ain't gonna clean themselves. Do-dodododoo..." Hoboken Joe nods with a smile before waving his hoof for the little colt to step aside as he sings a little song to himself while cleaning the floors.

As Hoboken Joe continues to clean, Ben Mare looks to him with a little appreciated smile this guy gave him. He lived through terrible things but never lets it keep him down and move forward, maybe this was an Earth Pony to help another like Ben gest over difficult challenges in his life in school, with Boris's bully gang, and his feelings for Twilight.

"Maybe I can talk Twilight's brother Shining to give Hoboken Joe that dream job he's always wanted, if not...maybe mom might." Ben spoke of in thinking about helping the patient Earth stallion live out his dreams after all, he's been good & should be rewarded for that.

---------

Now present time where the story is being told.

"Scuse me," Suddenly, entering Twilight & Ben's story in front of an audience was...Hoboken Joe. Only his side burns had some white to them, since the years he was when Twilight & Ben were younger. "Whoops, sorry, was I interrupting something?" He yelped in seeing something was going on and he was just preparing to do some cleaning work.

"Nah, it's okay Hoboken Joe, we're just telling a story about our days as fillies & colts in school." Ben waved off in seeing there was nothing wrong with the guy being here, they were telling a story is all.

"Shot, that's a nice one, whelp, better get going now." Hoboken Joe waved off cheery in knowing what story Ben's on about, when he was a colt & he was there at the time, just before he turned to leave & come back later.

"Wait, so that was..." Spike suddenly noticed the pony that was here, and then left...was...

"That Hobo guy you told us? What's he doing here?" Phobos responded off in not getting how a hobo from the story is inside the library.

"Come on guys, we've seen Hoboken Joe from time to time. But here's the answer you want." Ben responded that these two Dragons have completely forgotten what's going on to their present moment. "Turns out I helped the guy got his dream after all & then some." Ben stated the forward answer about helping Hoboken Joe during his rough days when he was a colt at the time. "Mom lend him to the library from Canterlot Castle for a while. For while, he wasn't seen as important but he was important in teaching me something that helped me during my harder times in life." Ben rested his left hoof on his chest, feeling that some of that hobo's lessons he told him, helped a lot during his periods, both school...and the Demon Pony thing even if some ponies don't know about it.

"Gosh daddy, this is all so exciting to hear!" Nyx had almost jumped for joy; this was really starting to get her attention.

"And here's the next part in what happened next." Twilight issued off in about to tell what happened in the next part of their story of the past.

---------------------

Later that day, Ben was talking with his mother Celestia once again.

"Mommy, there's something I wanted to ask you..." Ben said to Celestia hopefully.

"Yes, go ahead, son." Celestia said as she looks at some bills, mostly about dealing with railroad plans to build from a place called Ponyville to another called Appleloosa. "I am all ears."

Ben pauses, wanting to figure out what to say. Celestia eyes him then ask, "Well, Ben? Go ahead."

Ben breathes in and out then asked, "When the Summer Sun Celebration comes up, can I attend it in the crowd with Twilight?"

Celestia looks surprised. This is a first. Normally, her son would be hidden whenever he wants to see her raise the sun, every Summer Sun Celebration.

Celestia smiles while saying, "I see. You wish to be with Twilight."

"Yeah," Ben said, rubbing his hooves together. "I know she would want to be there and...well...I don't want her to be alone while doing so."

"Well, then, of course you can attend." Celestia said kindly with a nod.

"Great!" Ben laughs as he jumps up and down, bucking as if in a rodeo. Celestia couldn't help but laugh. This reminds her of herself when she was a little filly. "I can't wait to tell Twilight this."

"I'm sure she would be happy to hear that you would be attending." Celestia said with a smile.

"Oh, I think I also made a new friend." Ben said to Celestia, adding how he made a new friend today.

"Oh, how wonderful," Celestia exclaimed happily, "Who might that friend be?"

"His name is Hoboken Joe, a janitor at my school, nickname Hobo Joe." Ben explains to his mother. "He is like me, being treated like dirt, but he never lets it keep him down and move forward. The Earth pony got through some tough challenges in his life and I betcha he can help me do the same thing, too!"

"That's good to hear, Ben." Celestia said with a smile.

"And, well...I don't wanna sound sudden and I don't know if you could do this or not...but if there's any chance, in the future, that he can work directly in the castle and be honored 'Honorary Task Voluntary?" Ben ask his mother meekly. "I mean, not right now but when the time comes. He helped me and I felt like I should help him back."

"You are absolutely right, Ben." Celestia said with a nod, "I will make him a part of the castle staff and work here."

"Thanks." Ben said with a smile. "When the time does come, don't tell him before then. I want it to be a surprise."

"Oh, I'm sure your new friend will be happy for what you did for him." Celestia said with a smile.

--------------

"Cheese," The students exclaims as a picture is taken in a time later on; It's graduation day as students sat together...all but Ben who sat by himself.

As the students got up and did some talking, Twilight trots up to Ben, asking, "Why didn't you sit near me?"

"Because Boris took my seat and pushes me away." Ben explains in concern. "I'm still trying to get use to trying to be assertive."

Twilight sighed in annoyance at this as she said, "Typical Boris the Animal behavior."

"Tell me about it. I mean, if he's the Animal, what does that makes his stooges?" Ben asks Twilight with a frown.

"His Animal Friends," Twilight remarks, smirking as she did a little joke.

The two foals giggled at that.

"Anyway, you up for a trip to the donut shop? My brother is planning a party to celebrate." Twilight said to Ben happily.

"You read my mind, Twiley." Ben chuckles a bit as he and Twilight left. "Let's find your big brother and get going."

As the two leave, Boris fumes at this. No matter how many tries, that colt is still with his filly.

"I will find a way to deal with that freak soon enough." Boris mumbles to himself furiously.

------------------------------------------------------

At the donut shop, it was on Shining who bought donuts to celebrate his sister's graduations, along with his own. He also got a big surprise for everyone.

"So you're Starlight?" Ben ask Starlight, meeting Twilight's little colt brother. He has seen him a few times before but never spoke to him in person.

"Right, you're that colt that my sis won't shut up about." Starlight remarks, making Twilight blush a bit.

"Starlight," Twilight scolded as she blushed.

"What? Come on, it's true. You always told me how cute Ben was and how much you wanted to..." Starlight began to say, but her sister covered his mouth.

"Starlight, no more romance novels for you," Twilight said sheepishly, making Ben blush a bit.

"All right, everyone, attention, attention, please!" Shining called out, getting the others' attention. "As you know, I have recently graduated and so did Twilight from her own grade."

The guests cheer on with Twilight smiling proudly.

"Thank you. And I got an announcement to make that will change my life." Shining said with a smile.

"I thought you weren't ready to marry Cadance yet!" A friend jokes, making the others laugh as Shining and Cadance blush at this.

"No, no, that isn't it." Shining said with a slight chuckle. "What my announcement is is this: I had recently sent in an application to the academy for the Royal Guards...and I was accepted!"

This got the guests cheering, especially an excited Twilight and Starlight.

"Thanks, so I hope to be in the patrol someday very soon." Shining remarked with a chuckle.

"Hey, maybe someday, you would be the captain!" Another friend cheers out to Shining excitedly.

"Yeah, wouldn't that be good?" Shining ask with a smile as Cadance smiles.

"Wow, wouldn't it be awesome if that were to happen?" Ben ask Twilight with a smile.

"Yeah, it would be." Twilight said with a giggle. It would be great if her own big brother were to make captain of the guards someday.

-----------------------------------------

"Yeah, we had a great graduation party on that day." Ben said with a sigh back in the present. "And believe me, we were amazingly corrected when your uncle did became captain of the Royal Guards."

"Wow." Nyx said with a smile. "So..."

"Then came the day of the Summer Sun Celebration," Twilight said, recalling that event once more.

----------------------

The Summer Sun Celebration has come at last and the ponies of Canterlot are of course there to watch the ruler Celestia raise the sun. Twilight moves up front to get a good look at the event.

"Twilight, you made it!" A familiar voice spoke up. Twilight smiles as she saw Ben nearby, wearing some sort of cloak.

"Ben! I'm glad to see you here, too!" Twilight giggles in delight. "Why are you wearing a cloak?"

"To keep Boris and his goons from seeing me with you, what else," Ben points out in concern. Even being near Twilight would mean Boris will get an excuse to want to hurt the poor Earth pony. Well, still, the purple unicorn refuses to let that creep hurt Ben...not again or ever.

"Well, don't you worry, Ben," Twilight said, "There's no way I'll let that conceited jerk get you this time."

"Thank you, Twilight." The brown earth pony said with a smile, "You're the best friend I ever met."

"And...you're my best friend, too..." Twilight said with a blush. She smiles, noticing that Ben is blushing, while trying to hide it. It makes one wonder if these two ponies really do like one another.

The two friends watch in awe with the others in the crowd as the event occurred; Celestia arrived and raised the sun like she always does every morning or at this great celebration.

"Wow!" Ben exclaimed in amazement as the crowd cheered and applauded.

-----------------------------

A while later, after the celebration was over, the ponies head on home. Twilight and Ben were hanging out while the unicorn said, "Amazing. Celestia was able to do that...with magic even."

"I can imagine that she always has that power." Ben chuckles to Twilight a bit.

"Perhaps...I should do some magic myself. I mean, I am a unicorn and if I practice hard enough..." Twilight said in thought. Who knows? If she studies and practice magic, maybe someday, she will be as good as Celestia herself...or close to her, anyway.

Ben smiles, putting one arm around Twilight while saying, "Twilight, you should go for it. You dreamt of being a great magic user likes Celestia, right? You told me one time. I say again, you should go for it. If you tried your best, you will do fine.

"You're right! I'll do it!" Twilight said eagerly with a smile, "I'll study and practice magic! I'll be like Celestia!" Then she hugged Ben joyfully as she said, "Oh, Ben, thank you so much!"

"You're welcome..." Ben said while hugging Twilight right back. He then let go and gave a weird wave to her. "Well...I gotta go home now. See ya later, Twi."

Twilight wave right back before smiling as Ben departs. She always wonder what's feel so right about being with him. Could it be that Twilight has found him: her special somepony?

And her teasing her big brother who hangs with her foalsitter Cadance was funny enough!

---------------

Twilight's parents were busy with their reading after coming back from the Summer Sun Celebration hours earlier. They saw Twilight trotting in with some books.

"Preparing on doing some summer reading, Twilight?" Night Light asks her daughter with a smile.

"More than that, daddy. I wanna do something this year." Twilight said with a smile. "I wanna learn and do magic!"

"Really," Twilight Velvet asks Twilight with an interested smile. "What made you interested in doing so?"

"Ben suggests it...and well, I wanted so much to be like the princess." Twilight said with a slight blush on her face. "I will be in my room, so...can I not be disturbed so I can practice in private?"

"Of course we'll let you study alone, dear." Night Light replied with a nod.

Twilight nods as she heads upstairs. The parents watch her head upstairs. Twilight Velvet smiles proudly as she said, "Our daughter is growing up. She has a special somepony and is showing a special interest in magic."

"Yes. Perhaps we should watch her sometime. If our daughter gets good at it, we may send an application for her to the Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns." Night Light said in agreement.

"Yes, it would be wonderful if both our children made it to the special schools." Twilight Velvet said with a nod. "Shining already made it into the Royal Guards Academy. Maybe our daughter will make it into the gifted Unicorns one."

"Now if only Starlight would be as interested as his brother and sister."

---------------

Weeks went by. Twilight spend most of it in her room, studying and practicing magic. The mare has a bit of problems at first but she overcomes them with success. Night Light and Twilight Velvet would check in often and see how their daughter is doing.

"Twilight is doing very well...she could be the next Celestia." Twilight Velvet said with a proud look on her face.

"Or be better like our son." Night Light said, getting a thoughtful look on his face. "Perhaps...do you think?"

"Yes, we should enroll her in Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns."

"Our daughter would want that. I will pick up an application for her tomorrow."

--------------------------

The next day, Celestia was checking on applications, seeing which unicorns are edible for her school. So far, there are some positive candidates.

Celestia was about to take a break when one application caught her eye. The princess picks it up and smiles as she saw the name on it 'Twilight Sparkle'. That's the name of Ben's friend.

"Twilight Sparkle...yes, she seems like a perfect candidate." Celestia said with a thoughtful look. Ben has told her a few times before how the filly has been practicing magic, even doing some that would've been difficult for a normal filly unicorn.

Perhaps...could Twilight be the one? Would she be the one to hold one of the Elements of Harmony...and free Luna from her darkness that is called Nightmare Moon? And if that's the case, who knows? Twilight may someday be...

"I must see for myself if my hunch is indeed correct." Celestia said with a chuckle. The princess then put an approved on the application. She plans on sending it back to Sir Spell Nexus so that he will send it back to the Sparkles.

Yes, who knows? If all goes well, Celestia will finally be satisfied enough to reveal Ben's connection to her...and maybe that long waited secret that the alicorn princess kept to herself all these years, involving her son.

-------------------

The next day, Twilight smiles as she was successful in her levitating. This is perfect, the mare took a few hours but she manages to do this. Ben would be so proud of her for doing so. Maybe Twilight would get the princess's attention.

"Twilight," Night Light calls as he and Twilight Velvet trots into the room, with proud looks on their faces. "I see that you are doing well."

"Yeah, daddy," Twilight giggles a bit. She notices that her father pulling something from behind his back: a document marked with a blue ribbon and a red check mark. The filly trots over in curiosity. "What do you got there?"

"Your mother and I did some thinking...we decided that it's time to enroll you in the Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns...and guess what? They approved!'

Twilight looks at the document then smiles eagerly, making her jump and buck. It's a dream come true! The filly is going to be accepted in a school that is founded by Celestia herself!

"Oh, thank you, thank you; thank you!" Twilight exclaims as she dances around her partners. "Oh, I can't wait to tell the other students about this, especially Ben! They would love to hear about this!'

"Oh, I know that they would, especially Ben." Twilight Velvet said proudly to her daughter as she hugs her. "You have been practicing this whole time...and we will be there to support you once you arrive."

Twilight smiles, with her eyes shined. It's a dream come true!

----------------

Ben sat on a log at the local playground, reading his book while waiting for Twilight, his only friend at the school, to arrive. The other foals don't seem to want to hang with the poor colt, mostly because of worrying of Boris's reprisal.

"Hey Ben Nerd," Boris calls out; Ben glances up to see the mean stallion, Boxco and Dum-Dum coming up to him. Oh, not again.

"Guys, come on." Ben said to the bullies with a frown. "I don't want any trouble from you. Twilight and I are just friends really."

"Relax, Ben. We aren't here to harm, just to talk. I got some interesting news."

"What kind of news?"

"What, haven't ya heard?" Boxco ask Ben with a chuckle. "Twilight's parents are enrolling her in Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. If she gets in, our good filly friend is going to be studying under Princess Celestia herself!"

"Yeah, wouldn't that be cool?" Dum-Dum asks with a stupid nod.

"Oh, yeah, I know. Twilight told me herself. I hope she gets in. An unicorn like her deserves that great honor as well as a chance to continue her dream." Ben said with a smile. He hopes that Twilight makes it into that school.

But then, Boris and his goons laugh cruelly, much to Ben's concern as he asks, "Err, what's your problem? Is there something's funny, guys?""

"Oh yeah, we find it funny that you would hope she gets in when it's obvious that you two won't hang around any longer." Dum-Dum remarks in amusement.

"Ben, face it. That school only lets in unicorns, not Pegasi or Earth ponies. If or when Twilight does make it, she will be too busy studying or hanging with unicorns to even be with you." Boris remarks with a sneer, making Ben shocked, "May as well face it. You won't see her ever again because Twilight will be with her own kind."

"But...But Twilight will be my friend and still have time for me, right?" Ben ask in worry. He doesn't want to believe that Twilight will never have to be friends with him. "After all, she's the one who kept me safe and she is my friend. And..."

"Wake up, Earth pony filth! You think Twilight Sparkle hangs with you because she likes you? The only reason why that filly wants to in the first place is because she felt sorry for you! I always picked on those that Twilight will not want me to pick on! You're the first one whom she even bothered to want to deal with and couldn't bear to see me continue my favorite past time any longer!"

"Yeah Ben Mare, wake up!" Boxco teases as Ben is getting close to shedding out tears. "Twilight couldn't stand to let Boris continues tormenting the new kid. Why, I betcha she just hangs with you until she has no use for ya!"

"But...but..." Ben protests yet he close to crying. It can't be true. Twilight couldn't just be his good friend out of pity? Could it?

"Bah! Just comes to show, unicorns are always better than Earth ponies and if they were to even hang with Earth ponies, it's just to use them for their own needs." Boris remarks with a cruel laugh. "And that's exactly how Twilight likes it."

Ben couldn't take it anymore. He gallops off, crying while his bullies laugh cruelly. Yes, a simple lie or an exaggerated one is enough to make anypony go off crying. But at least Boris had made it so that Ben will doubt that Twilight even likes him at all.

"Boris!" An angry yell is heard as a zap hits near the three bullies. They saw an angry Twilight growling as she gallops past them and heads after Ben. "Wait until I tell Shining!"

The goons look worried but Boris doesn't seem to mind getting the hoof by Shining Armor. At least hopefully Ben would never want to be friends with Twilight Sparkle again. The filly is as good as Boris's.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ben sobs as he stood behind a fence while sitting on his hunches. The poor colt thought that Twilight was his good friend...whom he's beginning to like more than just a friend. But could it be true? Does Twilight only being his friend out of pity and not kindness...or love?

"Ben..." Ben stops his sobbing as he saw Twilight coming to him, looking in sadness. "Look, don't let Boris get to you. Whatever he said isn't true."

"But...but when you get into Celestia's school, I won't see you again." Ben said with a sad sniff. "I mean, that place is for unicorns only. You will be too busy studying, hanging with other unicorns or anything at that school to even still be friends with me..."

"Ben, that's not true. Celestia loves all the ponies. She will be sure that the unicorns of her school will be friends with the Pegasi or the Earth ponies. I promise, should I ever get in, that I will do my best to still be your friend and do what we always do."

"Is it true...did you only became friends with me in the first place...because you felt sorry for me?"

Twilight pauses to think. She has no idea why she herself wanted to protect Ben from Boris or to be friends with the Earth pony. Could it be pity? No, Twilight refuses to believe that. Something inside her told her that it's more than pity. Something made her...want to be with Ben that day and even now; like she wants to be...his special somepony.

"I don't know what made me want to be your friend that day, Ben. But I do know this: I am your true friend, I care for you and will always be there to help you and keep you safe." Twilight said gently. "Boris was just being a jealous jerk. No matter what happens and if I would never see you outside of Celestia's school should I make it, I am still your friend and will always be."

Ben sniffs a bit then smiles softly. Perhaps Twilight is right. After all, what does Boris know anyway? Twilight will find a way to hang with him and still be his friend. And who knows what will happen from there? Inside Ben, he knows that deep down that the unicorn truly cares for him.

"Listen, I got something for you." Twilight said as she took out what appears to be a red collar from her saddlebag. The purple unicorn manages to get the thing around Ben's neck while smiling softly. "There, no matter what happens, I will always be with you."

Twilight smiles again. She prepares to head on home as Ben did some thinking, then smiles in determination. It's now or never. He got a question that he himself always wanted to ask her; Best to do so in case that Ben may or may not see Twilight ir or once she does get into that school.

"Twilight," Ben calls out, making Twilight stop to look at him as the colt is shuffling his hooves. "Listen, wherever or not you do make it in, I wanted to know: will you be my friend still...or will you be...my special somepony?"

Twilight blushes eagerly and happily. She already knew her answer: the filly more than likes Ben Mare. The unicorn couldn't believe it but she herself realizes the truth...

"Tell you what: right after what happens at Celestia's School tomorrow, I will give you my answer. I promise." Twilight said joyfully as she hugs the colt and heads on. Ben smiles in hope, he can't wait to hear what answer that his friend will give him tomorrow...

Unknown to the two ponies, three familiar bullies are listening in from behind a fence nearby, Boris was at the top of it, glaring as he stood on Boxco and Dum-Dum who have to stand on each other's back so that their boss will see.

"Of course, I should've known." Boris scowls as he jumps off Boxco and Dum-Dum, the last two fell to the ground. "Twilight Sparkle always preferred Ben Mare...she always did. I'm losing out to an Earth pony of all things!"

"Well, tough luck, eh boss?" Boxco ask Boris as he and Dum-Dum got up from the ground.

"Come on, I betcha there are more fillies out there who would want you." Dum-Dum said with a shrug, trying to show Boris the bright side of this loss.

"No! Twilight is destined to be mine and I am not going to let that Earth pony filth take what's rightfully so!" Boris snaps to his minions sternly. He will do anything to get what he himself wants.

Even if Boris must perform illegal means to do so...

Author's Notes:

Twilight has been accepted to Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns...but what is Boris up to? Yeah, right. Like you all don't know; Time for the next and final chapter as we see Twilight's entrance exam, the sonic rainboom that helps her, Ben Mare turning into a Demon Pony and his self-imposing exile. It all ends here so read, review and suggest.

Hoboken "Hobo" Joe is not only an OC VISION-KING made up just now, but he's kinda a reference to the Muppets Film of 2011. When Fozzie pointed about a Hobo Joe in the audience and the idea suddenly came to him...if there was some kind of Pony hobo, heh, we could almost make a few laughs with the idea. (Especially in present day story usage, who knows?)

The Mona Crafts OC is something just made up. You might say that VISION-KING used the ideal subject of showing young Ben about something to give him the courage to perform something that even a none special Earth Pony like him shouldn't be afraid to say his mind of a popular pretty filly like Twilight despite their type class of the society chart.