You laid on your bed, bobbing your head to some music going through your headphones. As Evie gnawed on a bone, she was a lot bigger now after years with her she finally grew to the size of an alpha wolf and weigh almost twice the size of a male wolf. Her coat still shiny as ever as she was able to tackle guards with ease, though you never fought that much Riley and Hard Shell had been giving you lessons from time to time. The two taught you basic sword fighting to boxing maneuvers that most guards are taught during their first few months of training.

You aged rather majestically as Celestia put it, your face clean and almost always never marked with any blemishes and your height pretty average along with a few muscles. You weren't bulky but it was enough for you to lift Evie, though you mostly struggled with that.

Anyway you heard knocking on your door as you took off your headphones you rose and stretched your back, walking over to your door you opened to door to reveal a very frustrated Twilight. For a classmate Twilight too aged gracefully, she had a shapely beautiful form as she was a bit shorter then you. She also had this cute little scowl on her when she was mad at you which she was doing now.

"Aiden where is my book on Geographical locations on lost or fallen cities?" You chuckled and rubbed the back of your head as you had borrow it for a last minute study session and never actually told Twilight about it.

"Sorry Twi, I tried looking for it in the library and I went into your room to sorta borrow it." Her nose scrunched up before sighing as she pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Apparently you didn't look hard enough since it took me two minutes to find it." She mentions with borrowed book in her hand as she shoved it towards you, and walking into your room. Your suspicion on Twilight's sudden annoyance was really heighten now, she usually didn't care if you borrowed a book from her. And asked you to always write her a note if you did take anything from her, which you always did. You two always kept your doors opened for each other keeping simple runes on them so you two could use your magic to open it with ease. Only thing besides the right saying to remove the rune covering was a key from the same door which you always had on you, vice versa for Twilight for her.

"Twi, were you really worried about your book? I left a note on your desk saying I was borrowing it and Spike knew about it." She sighs and lays on your bed, her arms splayed across the bed.

"I needed to talk to you about something else too, look today you're going to White Leaf for the first time and this'll really be the first time we aren't together ya know as friends." You let out a laugh as Twilight's cheeks puffed up a bit in annoyance as she punched your shoulder. "This is serious you idiot!"

You continued laughing making Twilight even more annoyed as she got on top of you and glared at you. Trying to keep you focused making you sigh and smiled.

"Relax Twi, it's only gonna be for a couple of days. Besides I have to go, being the Prince of White Leaf is important and apparently the herd in White Leaf are excited. They've begun celebrations and my mom has my family excited, I can't postpone because you're worried." She nods and leans on your shoulder as tries to relax herself.

"I know, I know. It's just think there's gonna be good looking mares that you go after, and you'll forget all about me." You smiled and hugged Twilight.

"Remember what we agreed on, we can have both female and male friends. Otherwise our relationship wouldn't work and we'd be constantly jealous with one another, plus I'm not the severely jealous type." Twilight laughs a little and nods.

"I know you aren't, anyway you packed everything right. Clothes and whatever else you need?" She asks. "And are you really wearing that?" She asks looking up and down.

You wore a pitch black short sleeved button up shirt, with a pair of black jeans and gray short top shoes. Along with your pocket watch and the Hearths Warming gift that Riley had given you.

"Cmon Twi I look great." You mention with a laugh as Twilight rolled her eyes and grabbed your glasses putting them on you before nodding.

"Now you look presentable." She says giggling a bit. "Don't you think Evie?" She asks as Evie stopped gnawing on her bone and sniffed you before barking.

"You think so too huh? If my best friend and dog agree I don't believe I'll look all that bad then." You passingly mention with a smile.

"So, I got an hour until I leave. Wanna look for a book for me to read for 10 hours?" You asked she giggled a bit and nods.

"Cmon, I'll show you one of the best book series of all time. Daring Do." You chuckled and nodded.

Elsewhere...

"I suppose it is lunch time already." Dago mentions looking towards Salvatore. "What do you say we go pay a visit to that butcher that make those t-bones that you like so much?" Continuing on outside the castle and to the courtyard he looks around and spots several reindeer guards as they stood guard around rather grand looking chariot. Dago stops as soon as he recognizes one and approach them.

"Ebrietas? Is that you?" Dago asks

"Hmmm who are you I don't believe we've met." She mentions with a tilt of the head

"Oh it must be the crown." He takes it off and smiles. "Do you recognize me now? It's me Dago, the pony that look after you, after you snuck out to see your dad in action.

"I don't remember, please sir if you don't have an business please leave the area. We're awaiting an important deer to be helping transport." She informs, that surprised both and Dago as they look at her in the eyes.

"You really don't remember me? Ebrietas it's me. Dago, the prince of Canterlot, you told me your dream of becoming a guard, you told me of your linage of guards serving the crown, sure it was almost 10 or 12 years ago, but still you really don't remember?"

"I have no records sir, are you sure you have the correct doe?" Dago sighs and shakes his head.

"No, I suppose I don't. Sorry for the bother, come Salvatore, lets leave the guards alone." Salvatore looks at Ebrietas again before taking his leave.

"I had swore she was Ebrietas, you yourself confirm it, you sniffed her right?" Salvatore just nod

"Then how did we got the wrong doe?"

"Cmon you gave up too easily Dago." She says with a laugh

"What?" Both of them turn around in complete surprise. "Ebri?"

"Hahaha I got you, you're too easy to fool." She mentions with a laugh. She eeps when Dago suddenly hug her and spin her around.

"Ebri, it's really you! I'm so happy." Putting her down and looks at her with a more serious tone. "Don't do that again you really scared me for a second there, I thought you got amnesia or someone did something in your head."

"Please I'm White Leaf's top runner, they can touch me even if they tried." She says with a boasting manner.

"I can see that." Dago gives her a look over. "I see someone reached their dream and became a royal guard, and an elite too? Not bad, Ebri, not bad at all."

"Trust me I've tried my damnedest to get the top spot." She mentions with a laugh.

"I can see that." Salvatore start to nuzzle her side purring as he does. "I got to admit, you really grew up to be one very gorgeous guard, maybe I should join the army if it mean to spend time with lovely ladies like you." Dago jokes while giving her a light push.

"You shouldn't do that unless you're absolutely good at talking with mares, apparently the guy I'm escorting caught the attention of that strict guard mare you told me about when I first came to Canterlot." She says smiling that catches his attention.

"Let me guess, you're escorting a human called Aiden right?" Dago asks

"Yeah! The queen told us he was important and if he was hurt she'd have our heads, whoever he is might get us killed if we mess up."

"Ha! I imagine." He gets closer to her and whispers. "You want to know why all the security and threats to your lives?"

"Why's that? Is he some noble's kid?" She asks he chuckles at that smiling.

"Close, he's the queens' son by birth." He covers her mouth before she can say anything. "Please don't yell, it must be a secret for now, so no reason for your buddies to know, about him yet right?" He takes his finger away from her mouth.

"Y-you're lying the prince was killed at a young age." She says with surprise.

"Am I? Queen Carmelita, told me all about the scent all deers have, it's something to do with your flora magic right? That is why you smell like strawberries and lime? Or is that just a really nice perfume?"

"What does that have to do with the prince?" She asks

"She told me that the scent is heritage and only family members have the same scent, if you get close to him, pay attention and you can confirm it yourself…he smell JUST like your queen which means…"

"Honey and vanilla? No wonder there's a huge festival going on in White Leaf! She's planning a coronation when we get back."

"Oh please, please take a picture of his reaction when he discover he's going to get a crown and send it over, its going to be so funny!" He laughs a bit. "Well I must be going now, hope to see you soon Ebri."

"R-right I'm gonna need to sit down a bit." She says with excitement smiling Dago leaves Ebri to herself as he walked with his pet.

Hours later...

After hours of sitting in a chariot and waiting to arrive to White Leaf. As you did you let out a gasp, White Leaf's trees were almost everywhere and seem to span almost the edge of the world. The forested areas were basically everywhere, a massive tree was in the middle of forest like a beacon to the capital. You got closer and closer to small platform on top of the grand tree and landed down safely, rising from your seat you exited the chariot and walked over to grab your bag. Slinging it over your shoulder you followed a group of guards as they had told you to follow them.

The top of the tree was nothing impressive with only wooden walls and nothing much for decor. As you descended to the lower floors you spotted many decorations adoring the many walls of the castle.

"Sir, the main platform is just through these doors. Please." He says as he turns the knob and steps aside as you exited towards the platform as you heard an enormous roar of the crowd below as you continued forward the crowd got even louder as cheers were heard. You were awestruck as the many ponies cheered and called you great Prince, the words seemed so sentimental as if they were seeing the holy light.

"Whoa." You smiled as you took off your hat, not only did you see deers but humans. All of which were healthy and smiling all happily cheering as they jumped along with the deers in central capital.

"They're our deers my dear, all of them our herd the ones we were meant to protect with all our hearts. They're our energy and soul the reason we were put into power, without them we would surely fall." You turned to see your mom wearing an elegant and beautiful green dress that showed off her figure, a branch like crown on her head as it was adorned with several sparkling flowers that look natural and good looking.

"Mom, I-i can't believe that humans and deers missed me so much. I'm so honored and I don't know what to say." She smiles and steps next to you as they all cheered with louder adornment.

"Mr.Hart." You looked to your left to see a maid a female human maid, she wore a simple maid outfit with tree like branches on her wrists, she was bowing as a crown was on a pillow. The crown was made of dark black branches that look natural, on three different spots of the crown were cherry blossoms along with emerald green medallion on the center of the center cherry blossom.

Taking the crown you place it on your head smiling as you turned to the crowd as they yelled cheers. You had your hand holding your hat. Tighten your grip on it, the crown you had on your head might've been your White Leaf crown but the one you held so tightly was your Ponyvillian crown.

"You hear those cheers? Those are you my young prince, they're for the son of White Leaf who'd return with good gracious. They missed the one they call their child." Carmelita mentions with a smile.

"Yeah, I hear them. They're amazing such noise and pure amazement. My fellow herd! You've witnessed the return of your prince, the prince who was lost from you and raised by a few ponies who cares for me and loved me. They cared for my life and did whatever necessary to keep me alive and feed. And for that I'll always think of them as my parents, my equestrian parents!" They cheered once more as you turned to your mom and hugged her, as she returned the hug years in her eyes as she did.

"I'm glad you're back sweetheart." She mentions smiling.

Later...

After leaving the platform you were walking with your mother as she walked alongside you guiding you throughout the castle. On the lower floors you saw many picturesque stained glass paintings, many ranging from warriors and historic battles. But as you continued forward and throughout the castle you spotted a figure of a man, he was in a lab coat as he held a vial. It looked like it contained hearts, the story continued with the scientist administering shots and ending with him going down on one knee and proposing to a deer mare. She had a shocked and amazed look on her, the next painting was a group of other mares in dresses as one doe wore a luxurious wedding dress, and finally the deer mare holding a human boy.

The story didn't end there, you spotted one where the deer looking up to an angel image of the human boy.

"Mom was that telling my dad's story?" You asked as she nodded.

"Yes, your father was wonderful, wonderful man. He was scientist looking for the cure that infect every human, he did best and when he finally found the cure, he married me." She mentions with a sigh

Sighing you rubbed your eyes as your mother smiled and rubbed your head.

"It's okay my son, this is barely the beginning of a larger story. A family like ours will never be normal, but whose to say anyone's family is normal. All we can do is strive to do our best with life." You smiled and nodded as she looked at the pictures once more. "Your father, your father was ecstatic on starting a family when we got married. He was happy when you were born. Seeing as you were both his son and human at that." You nodded and smiled kissing her cheek as you did.

"As far as family's go, we're the best." You say laughing a bit.

Canterlot...

Not even a day and Dago had missed you, with lunch time approaching he and Salvatore thought about leaving the castle for a bit. As the two walked Dago questioned his cat.

"Where do ya wanna eat pal?" He asks though Salvatore wasn't a dog he had the instincts of one.

"What is it buddy, do you smell something?" Salvatore only spring into another direction with Dago giving chase.

"Salvatore wait! Where are you going?!" Giving chase Dago follows his cat until they reach the entrance of a restaurant where a mare with baby blue coat and 2 tone blue mane walked out holding a huge package tacos before she's tackled by Salvatore who begins eating the fallen and mostly likely dirty food.

"Salvatore no!" Dago tried to stop him, but by the time he pushed him away he already ate the tacos and there was nothing left of it.

"I'm really really sorry miss." He mentions trying to help her stand up and that's when he sees her eye to eye rendering Dago speechless.

"Hey no fair! You owe me 2 dozen tacos for him eating them all pal!" She shouts with annoyance.

"Wha-what? Oh! Y-yeah of course I'll pay for them, and again I'm really really sorry it's just he can get a bit excited when he smells…meat." He notices the rest of the taco and see there is actual meat on it before he looks at the mare.

"Are you an omnivore? How do you do it? I once tried to eat chicken and I spent 3 days with stomach ache." He mentions

"A little bit, but that doesn't matter." She passingly mentions.

"Oh right, right…I should be going get the other 2 dozen tacos, would you watch my pet while I go?" He asks with a smile.

"Sure, just go." She says too hungry to care.

"Ok Salvatore, this lovely lady will take care of you while I'm gone so be nice." Salvatore understood and nods, but as soon as he enters the shop Salvatore pounces at her with an attack of licks and nuzzles. After a few minutes of that she shoved him off in pure annoyance.

"Don't think that'll work on me." She says crossing her arms, she sighs as she looks at the upset tiger as she sighs and rubs the head of his. "It's okay just don't pounce on ponies you don't know." Nodding he continues playing with her until Dago return smiling as he carried at least more tacos then before.

"Here you go 4 dozen- well isn't that a cute scene?" He says smiling as he sees the two get along.

"He's a total cutie when he isn't tackling ponies to the ground." She mentions with a giggle.

"Yeah he's a real sweetheart." Dago takes an extra taco and starts feeding him before giving the rest to the mare. "Again, I'm sorry for what happen he is really a nice boy, that can get a bit excited with food." Dago pet his head as he continues eating paying no mind to the conversation.

"I'm Dago by the way, nice to meet you." He says with a smile.

"I'm Sonata Dusk." She replies smiling the two walk alongside one another and continue on.

"Well Sonata, I see we kinda stumbled into you while you were preparing for eat, we too were on a way to do the same so can we join you?" He asks

"Sure!" She says smiling

"Perfect, then lets…" Salvatore gets behind of Sonata and bumps her flank making her fall in time for Dago to catch her as the two get close to one another.

"Hehehe, sorry for that because of his size Salvatore can somethings get in the way of others." He mentions

"It's okay, I um maybe we should go." She mentions with a blush

"Y-yeah lets." Dago just keeps following her while Salvatore kept a silly smirk on him.