A Clone Gargoyle's Equestrian Tale

The Beginning: New Friends

Malibu a month later was now starting to enjoy his new life as a pony. He was beginning to speak a bit better than before, and loving his magic lessons from Celestia who saw Malibu as a son now. He recalled being able to lift something for the first time with his horn. She had also introduced him to her other student Twilight Sparkle. He had grown to like her.

....

"Don't expect to get it done perfectly, Malibu. With practice you will have this down," Celestia had said. Malibu concentrated as much as possible but it was difficult to concentrate on his magic since he couldn't control it before.

He grimaced and gritted his teeth when trying to lift just a broom. His red magic aura surrounded it, lifting it just a few inches. Malibu opened his eyes, cheering from his success until he tripped and lost focus. The broom fell to the floor. Malibu growled a bit in frustration.

"Malibu can't do it! He'll never do it!" He sobbed, covering his eyes. Celestia hugged him with her wing.

"Don't give up. This is how we learn from our failures," she assured him. The clone sniffled a bit then decided to try again. He took a breath, closing his eyes, horn lighting up red again.

The broom lifted up a bit higher than before. Malibu saw and smiled, continuing to concentrate, making the broom zoom around now. Celestia giggled as she nuzzled him.

"You did it! I'm proud of you!" She congratulated him. Malibu felt warm inside, happy he was able to accomplish something.

....

After that a while later she brought him to meet her other student. Malibu eyed the mulberry unicorn with her baby dragon nervously. Celestia pushed him forward encouragingly.

He smiled nervously. "Y-you Twilight Sparkle?" She nodded.

"Yes. And you're Malibu? The alicorn?" Malibu pawed the ground nervously.

"Celestia helping Malibu. She become caretaker when I was lost," he mumbled in a sad tone, somewhat speaking a bit better but still learning. Twilight smiled at how her mentor had been able to take in someone else who needed help. She herself was excited about meeting another alicorn but was surprised at what Celestia told her about him, that he had some sort of disorder and was unable to control his own magic.

"Well, I'm glad she found you. I hope we can study together in the future," she offered, holding out her hoof. It trembled a bit though because Twilight herself was never too keen on friendship except with her brother and Moondancer. Malibu looked at her shyly then took her hoof, shaking it.

He felt someone hug his leg, seeing it was the baby dragon. Twilight laughed.

"Oh, this is Spike. He's friendly," she introduced. Malibu smiled at him.

"Malibu like Spike," he said, hugging the baby dragon back. And so sparked the friendship with the gargoyle and the future Element of Magic.

....

Today he got brave enough to visit the town for himself to explore. Celestia gave him bits (which he learned was their version of money) to spend should Malibu find anything interesting in the stores.

Malibu gazed in amazement at the size of the town, flapping his wings a bit in excitement now he had gotten over his nerves about the town.

He explored some souvenir stores and even visited the library, which was enormous. There were more books than Malibu could count. Ponies were sitting and reading what they picked out. Malibu suddenly noticed some ponies sitting together. He recognized Twilight but not the others.

He went over to meet Twilight who sat with one pony who almost looked like her except the colors and glasses, along with a lemon colored pony, a blue pony, and a white and pinked mane pony.

Twilight looked up. "Oh, hi, Malibu," she said softly since it was a library. The blue pony Minuette gave an energetic smile that somewhat startled Malibu. "Oooh, is this your new alicorn friend?" She squealed. Others shushed her, making Minuette blush. The pony with the glasses approached Malibu. "Hi, Malibu, isn't it? Twilight told us about you. I'm Moondancer." Malibu nodded back, shaking her hoof.

"Malibu pleased to meet Moondancer," he said in a quiet voice too. The lemon pony Lemon Hearts giggled a bit but not meanly.

"It's kind of cute the way you speak in third person," she commented. Malibu blushed. "Malibu hopes his speaking can get better," he said. Twinkleshine spoke next.

"We're going to Doughnut Joe's shop for lunch if you want to come," she invited. Malibu felt his stomach growl since he didn't have lunch so he nodded eagerly. He walked out with the ponies to the doughnut place. He had grown liking doughnuts previously.

The group went inside Doughnut Joe's shop. Joe himself greeted Malibu and the other ponies and gave them a fresh batch of doughnuts.

They just sat there for a while, eating their doughnuts and laughing, Malibu feeling joy of having a group of friends to talk to, even if Twilight seemed to be engrossed in her book at that time. One pony who had a camera took their picture because he thought they looked nice sitting together. He gave them the photo and Spike said he would frame it while eating a whole doughnut.

At the end of the day Malibu returned to his new home in Canterlot Castle where Celestia greeted him. He had taken some doughnuts home with him to surprise his momma. They had them for dessert later that evening. Malibu talked to her about meeting Twilight and Spike's other friends.

Celestia went to tuck her now adoptive son more than student into his bed. He looked at her with tired eyes as she stroked his mane.

"I love you, Malibu my son," she said gently, kissing him softly. Malibu yawned when falling asleep.

"Ma-I love you too, momma," he murmured, correcting his sentence with saying I this time. Celestia looked at him with loving eyes before leaving him to dream.