My Little Lion King

Chapter 3

In Prince Artemis's bedroom, Prince Artemis was reading a book when he heard a knock on his door. "The door is open!" He called out. Dusk Shine opened the door, and walked in as he said "Hey, Uncle Artemis! Guess what?" Prince Artemis sighed, and said "I despise guessing games." "I'm going to be the new prince of Equestria." Dusk Shine said while smiling. "Oh goody." Prince Artemis said sarcastically. Dusk Shine ran to his uncle's balcony looking outside, and said "My dad just showed me the whole kingdom. And I'm going to rule it all. Heh heh." "Yes." Prince Artemis said as he put his book on a shelf. "Well..forgive me for not leaping for joy. Bad back you know." He flopped down on his relaxing couch as Dusk Shine ran up to him, and said "Hey, Uncle Artemis? When I'm prince of Equestria, what'll that make you?" "A zebra's uncle." Prince Artemis said. Dusk Shine laughed, and said "You're so weird." Prince Artemis looked at his nephew, and said "You have no idea." He got up from the couch, and said "So, your father showed you the whole kingdom, did he?"

Dusk Shine nodded, and said "Everything." "He didn't show you what's beyond that rise at the northern board?" Prince Artemis asked. Feeling disappointed, Dusk Shine said "Well, no. He said I can't go there." "And he's absolutely right." Prince Artemis said. "It's far too dangerous. Only the bravest ponies got there." "Well, I'm brave." Dusk Shine said. "What's out there?" "No, I'm sorry, Dusk Shine, I just can't tell you." Prince Artemis said. "Why not?" Dusk Shine asked. "Dusk Shine, Dusk Shine, I'm only looking out fot the well being of my favorite nephew." Prince Artemis said as he rubbed Dusk Shine's head, and patted it with his hoof. Dusk Shine scoffed, and said "Yeah, right. I'm your only nephew." "All the more reason for me to be protective." Prince Artemis said. "An animal graveyard is no place for a young prince." Faking surprise, he said "Oops!" "An animal what?!" Dusk Shine asked smiling. "Whoa." "Faking dismay, Prince Artemis hoofpalmed himself, and said "Oh dear, I've said too much. Well, I suppose you'd have found out sooner or later, you being so clever and all." He pulled Dusk Shine close to him, and said "Oh, just do me one favor. Promise me you'll never visit that dreadful place." Dusk Shine thought for a minute, and said "No problem." "There's a good colt." Prince Artemis said. "You run along now, and have fun. And remember, it's our little secret." Dusk Shine nodded, and ran off. When Dusk Shine was out of sight, Prince Artemis flashed an evil smile because everything was going according to plan.

Outside the the courtyard, Dusk Shine was running up to his friend who is a female version of himself named Twilight Sparkle who was reading a book while her mother who had a moderate purple and light gray mane, light arctic blue eyes, and three purple stars for her cutie mark named Twilight Velvet was brushing her mane. "Hey, Twilight." Dusk Shine said. "Hi, Dusk Shine." Twilight Sparkle said. "Come on." Dusk Shine said. "I just heard about this great place." "Dusk Shine, I'm kind of in the middle of my grooming." "And it's time for yours." Princess Celestia said as she lifted picked Dusk Shine up with her magic, and placed him close to her. She took her blue brush, and started brushing Dusk Shine's mane. "Mom!" Dusk Shine said as he struggled to get away from his mother. "Mom, your messing up my mane." Princess Celestia finished brushing his mane, and smiled at him. Dusk Shine straightened his mane, and said "Okay, okay, I'm clean. Can we go now?" "So, where are we going?" Twilight Sparkle asked. "It better not be anyplace dumb." "No." Dusk Shine said. "It's really cool."

"So, where is this 'really cool' place?" Princess Celestia asked. "Oh." Dusk Shine said as he started to think. Uh...around the lake in Ponyville." "The lake in Ponyville?" Twilight Sparkle asked. "What's so great about the lake in Ponyville?" "I'll show you when we get there." Dusk Shine whispered. "Oh." Twilight Sparkle whispered back. She looked up at her mother, and said "Uh, mom, can I go with Dusk Shine?" Twilight Velvet thought for a minute, looked at Princess Celestia, and said "What do you think, Celestia?" "Well..." Princess Celestia said, but then Dusk Shine and Twilight Sparkle grinned, and said "Please?" "It's all right with me." Princess Celestia said. Dusk Shine and Twilight Sparkle cheered as Twilight Sparkle said "All right!" "Yeah!" Dusk Shine said. As they started to leave, Princess Celestia said "As long as Spike goes with you." The little ponies stopped in their tracks, and Dusk Shine said "No! Not Spike!"