My Little Lion King

Chapter 9

Ever since Prince Solaris died, things weren't going so well. The sky was gray, the farms ran out of food to grow, the businesses and schools have been shut down, and everypony was scalvaging for food. The ponies in Canterlot faired no better. The crime wave there was a lot worse there than it was in Ponyville. At the castle in Canterlot, Prince Artemis was sitting on his throne picking his teeth with a toothpick while Spike who was locked in a cage was singing a sad song. After he stopped singing, Prince Artemis said "Oh, Spike, so lighten up. Sing something with a little bounce in it." Spike then started singing 'It's a small world after all', but Prince Artemis interrupted him as he said "No! No. Anything, but that." Spike thought for a minute, and he started singing a happy song as Prince Artemis sung with him. After they finished the song, Spike muttered "Oh, I would never have had to do this for Prince Solaris." "WHAT?!" Prince Artemis asked in a quick and angry tone. "What did you say?" "Oh, nothing!" Spike said. "You know the law." Prince Artemis said. "Never EVER mention that name in my presence. I..am the PRINCE!" "Yes, sire, you are the prince." Spike said. "I...I...Well, I only mentioned it to illustrate the differences in your royal managerial approaches."

"Hey boss!" Aria Blaze said as she, Adagio Dazzle, and Sonata Dusk entered the throne room. "Oh, what is it this time?" Prince Artemis asked. "We've got a bone to pick with you!" Aria Blaze said. Adagio Dazzle looked at Aria Blaze as she said "I'll handle this." She looked at Prince Artemis, and said "Prince Artemis, there's no food, no water." "Yeah, it's dinnertime, and we ain't got no stinking entrees!" Aria Blaze said. "It's the mares' job to do the hunting." Prince Artemis said. "Yeah, but they won't go hunt!" Aria Blaze said. "Oh...eat Spike." Prince Artemis said as the siren ponies looked at the dragon in hunger. "Oh, you wouldn't want me!" Spike said. "I'd be so tough and gamey, and-." Prince Artemis interrupted him as he chuckled, and said "Oh, Spike, don't be ridiculous. All you need is a little spice." "And I thought things were bad under Prince Solaris." Aria Blaze muttered. Adagio Dazzle gasped as Prince Artemis said "WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" "I said Prince-" Aria Blaze tried to say, but Adagio Dazzle quickly slapped her. Aria Blaze straightened out as she said "I said que pasa?" "Good. Now get out." As they started to walk away, Aria Blaze said "Yeah, but we're still hungry." "OUT!" Prince Artemis said as the siren ponies yelped, and ran away.

-Meanwhile at the Oasis-

Later that night, Dusk Shine, Rainbow Blitz, and Bubble Berry were laying in grassy field while looking at the starry night sky. Suddenly, Dusk Shine burped really loudly, and Rainbow Blitz said "Whoa! Nice one, Dusk Shine!" "Thanks!" Dusk Shine said. "Wow, I'm stuffed." "Me too." Bubble Berry said. "I ate like a pig." "Well, Bubble Berry, you are pink like a pig." Dusk Shine said. "Oh, right." Bubble Berry said. The trio then sighed in content as they looked up at the nightsky. "Rainbow Blitz?" Bubble Berry asked. "Yeah?" Rainbow Blitz asked. "Ever wonder what those sparkly dots are up there?" Bubble Berry asked. "Berry, I don't wonder." Rainbow Blitz said. "I know." "Oh." Bubble Berry said. "What are they." "They're fireflies." Rainbow Blitz said. "Fireflies that..uh..got stuck up on that big..bluish-black thing." "Oh, gee." Bubble Berry said. "I always thought that they were balls of gas burning billions of miles away." "Bubble Berry, with you, everything's gas." Rainbow Blitz said. "Dusk Shine, what do you think?" Bubble Berry asked. "Well, I don't know." Dusk Shine said. "Aw, come on!" Bubble Berry said. "Give, give, give! We told you ours! Please?!" "Nah." Dusk Shine said.

"Aw, come on!" Rainbow Blitz said. "Please?" Dusk Shine sighed, and said "Well, somepony once told me that the great princes of the past are up there watching over us." "Really?" Bubble Berry asked. "You mean a bunch of royal dead ponies are watching us?" Rainbow Blitz asked. They both laughed hysterically as Dusk Shine chuckled a little. "Who told you something like THAT?!" Rainbow Blitz asked. "Yeah, yeah." Dusk Shine muttered. "What mook made that up?!" Rainbow Blitz asked. "Yeah." Dusk Shine said. "Pretty dumb, huh?" "Aw, you're killing me, Dusk Shine!" Rainbow Blitz said as the laughter died out. Dusk Shine then frowned as he looked at the night sky. He got up, and walked away as Rainbow Blitz said "Was it something I said?" Dusk Shine walked to the edge of a cliff, and dropped down on it, making milkweed floss stir up into air, and blow away with the wind.