Sweetie wished that such an important assignment could've waited a few weeks.
It wasn't that she couldn't have helped Sunset and Starlight when it came to patching things up, but the pressure crushing her bones that was the problem. Screwing things up would've devastated both Sunset and Starlight; mistakes might've pushed them further away. How anypony could've survived under such conditions puzzled her.
Whenever Sweetie first heard about Rarity's exploits with her friends, often involving something dangerous to where her blood froze, she always asked how her sister handled it so smoothly. And whenever such a question left her lips, she recalled Rarity spouting the same answer:
"When everypony is counting on you to do your part, you show how marvelous you are."
There were always some variations to her wording, but the meaning was always the same. And while Sweetie assumed meeting up with a pony as enigmatic as Starlight would've been seen as nothing major to some, it was the exact opposite for her.
Sweetie swallowed a lump. She quickly gazed at the cottages sprawled across the grassland and then turned toward Sunset, the latter occasionally twirling her mane around her hoof.
"I do hope Starlight isn't too mad at us," Sweetie said. The gray clouds above her cast a shadow over the town, likely preparing a rainstorm just in case meeting Starlight went poorly. Rain was one of the last things she needed, but destiny always liked it when the weather matched the mood. "When we met her in the Everfree Forest, she was pretty upset. But do you think she'll want to talk now?"
"I wish I knew," Sunset said, assuming a downcast expression. "I know Twilight and Princess Celestia have confidence in us, but even then, I don't know if it'll be enough to get us on the same page." A sigh left her lips. "Honestly, if she forgave me and left it at that, I'd count that as one of the biggest victories of my life. Friendship feels out of the question."
"But nopony would've predicted Starlight and Twilight becoming friends, right?"
Sunset nodded. "I guess, but that doesn't imply a trend or anything."
"Maybe there isn't a trend." Cracking a soft smile, Sweetie playfully nudged Sunset's shoulder. "But because we can't be certain, it's worth trying to open up with Starlight." She skipped forward, her eyes glued to a cottage isolated from the other houses. The garden that adorned the front of said cottage carried a peculiar aroma; Sweetie knew they came from flowers, but the scents were new to her. "Anyway, I think this is Starlight's house. I remember trotting past it one day."
"Are you sure?" Sunset caught up to Sweetie. "I'd rather not trot into the wrong house."
Sweetie shuffled toward the mailbox in front of the cottage, its metallic frame gleaming under the sun. It was bright enough to where she noticed her reflection. Emblazoned on the mailbox's surface was Starlight's full name. Chuckling, Sweetie couldn't help herself from wondering what reactions she'd have received for asking about a pony few in town knew of.
Humorously awkward stories weren't what Sweetie was searching for; Sunset needed her help. Any strangeness spelt doom for them.
Sweetie took a deep breath. She stretched her forelegs and glanced back at Sunset. "Ready?" she asked.
"Ready," Sunset replied, nodding. "Let's hope for the best."
Sweetie trotted up to the front door and knocked on the purple frame. Yet despite standing as static as a statue for what must've been a minute, no response came. She cocked her head and raised an eyebrow. "Huh? Is she not home or something?" Sweetie rolled her shoulders and knocked again, but nothing followed. "Starlight Glimmer, are you home?"
In a flash, the familiar sound of hoofsteps echoed into Sweetie's ears. She bit her lip, hoping Starlight was wearing even the faintest of smiles upon opening the door. A little pep in her might've made the solution easier to reach; happiness was always appreciated in Sweetie's opinion.
Sweetie forced a bright grin across her visage.
The door nudged open, slight creaks piercing the air.
Starlight was on the other side, peeking out of the doorway and making eye contact with Sweetie. However, not even the slightest hint of emotion decorated her face.
"Um—hello, Starlight," Sweetie muttered, crossing her forelegs. She blushed and smiled sheepishly. "Do you mind if we talk?" With a tightened throat, Sweetie glanced behind her shoulder and stared at the nearby Sunset, then back to Starlight. She cleared her throat. "I know you've had some—difficulties, but I think talking it over might be good."
Starlight raised her head, brow ruffled a tad. "I'm not surprised to see you again." She momentarily paused. "If you're truly determined to apologize for your bullying, Sunset, I guess I may as well let you both in." With sagging shoulders, she sighed. "Princess Twilight and Princess Celestia sent you here, right?"
Sweetie bobbed her head.
"Figures." Weakly pushing the door open, Starlight then stepped back as both Sweetie and Sunset trotted inside, the former closing the wooden frame with her magic. "It's not much, but feel free to make yourselves comfortable. I can get some hot chocolate or cookies if any of you are peckish."
"We're good," Sunset said. "But thank you for the kind offer."
Sweetie followed the pair down the short hallway. The walls were littered with grainy photographs, most of them depicting Starlight or a group of ponies she vaguely recognized at best. Of the group photos present, Sweetie thought she noticed Sunset in the back row of one of them, her smug grin standing out. It was like looking at a changeling disguised as Sunset, but Sweetie knew of its authenticity.
The day where Sunset revealed her past rang in Sweetie's head.
Sweetie turned away from the photograph. While it was intriguing to see a glimpse of Sunset and Starlight's past, especially given how much both of them have changed since then, Sweetie had more important business to attend to.
Starlight's cottage had a warm, cozy atmosphere perfect for relaxation. There was a lit fireplace acting as the room's centerpiece, warmth tickling her coat. A myriad of bookshelves decorated the back walls, though they were frankly modest compared to Twilight's. A few chairs with puffed cushions were scattered about the room's center, a table atop a carpet before them. It was like a slice of Canterlot's luxury.
Taking a deep breath, the tension gripping Sweetie's legs loosened. There was still some tightness in her chest, but she'd have taken any comfort.
"Anyway, take a seat and we'll get started," Starlight said. She casually trotted up to one of the five chairs and sat down. Sunset and Sweetie followed suit, the latter jumping onto the red cushions and sinking into them a little. It was as if she sat atop a cloud. "And I apologize if the furniture isn't to your liking. It was what came with the house when I got it."
"Sorry?" Sweetie blurted out. Her eyes widened, leaning closer to Starlight. "Is that a joke? These chairs are amazing!"
"Yeah, they're much better than most of the chairs I've sat on," Sunset added. She turned toward Starlight and smirked. "You don't have to be humble about it. There's nothing wrong with a little boasting."
"I guess so," Starlight said. She rubbed her muzzle, tapping the chair's left arm with her other hoof. "Anyway, I know you're here to try apologizing again." Her head slowly twisted toward Sunset. "The answer is still no, but I'm curious as to why you ended up bringing somepony with you."
"Sweetie wanted to provide support and add a few things of her own if they came up," Sunset said, briefly squirming in her chair. "And as you said, I'm here to apologize for my past actions. There were no excuses for what I did to you. What matters most is that you're comfortable and happy."
"I can tell you're sorry." Starlight twiddled her mane for a second. "If you weren't, you wouldn't have tried visiting me. But despite this, I'm not sure if you'll truly make a conscious effort to avoid bullying me." Her muzzle scrunched up. "Unless there's no denying it, I'm stuck feeling hesitant."
"If you can tell Sunset is sorry, then how come you can't accept her apology?" Sweetie asked. She arched an eyebrow. "If you know she's sorry, what's stopping you? I know Sunset said she was bratty before Twilight got her on the right path, but what she did to you couldn't have been that bad." Chills coursed through Sweetie's spine without warning. "Um, no offense."
"None taken." A sigh escaped Starlight's mouth. "I know what happened to me might seem like no big deal compared to what I did to Twilight, but being as forgiving and kind as her isn't easy for some ponies." She feigned a chuckle. "Anyway, since you're here, I wanted to share a little bit about myself. Don't worry, it's just about my past."
"Go right ahead." Sweetie leaned closer to Starlight, eyes widened. Her ears twitched. "Take as long as you need."
Rolling her shoulders, Starlight then cleared her throat. "Well, if you insist. Anyway, a lot of my life involved me butting heads with the concept of cutie marks. Whether it was losing my best friend when he got his to wondering what mine was about for years, cutie marks just never made sense to me. While how I felt about cutie marks wasn't bad, the way I went about it was—" her cheeks tautened "—unpleasant."
"I can kinda relate." Sweetie's cheeks flushed. "I used to do all sorts of silly things with my friends whenever we searched for our cutie marks." She snickered, blushing. "I still can't believe that I thought getting a cutie mark in taming tigers was a good idea, but at least I never ended up actually doing anything too stupid." Shifting her eyes about, Sweetie's blushing brightened. "Well, most of the time. And somehow, the answer was right in front of us the entire time."
"And what is your cutie mark?"
"It's in the shape of a shield, which is the same style of cutie mark my best friends got." Sweetie raised her brow and rubbed her muzzle. Looking back on the day that she received her cutie mark, the idea that her friends got ones so similar to hers poked Sweetie's nerves. Sweetie wished she learned more about why that happened. "And I think it's setting us up for something big. Even though mine has a musical note in it, there has to be a reason why they're so similar, right?"
Starlight nodded. "I'd assume as much. What does it represent?"
"My friends and I got cutie marks about showing what other ponies' cutie marks mean. That kinda explains why I still call myself a Cutie Mark Crusader." Sweetie nudged closer to the edge of her seat. Talking with Starlight fascinated her in a sense; the smile adorning Sunset suggested that she felt similarly. "Anyway, what's yours about?"
"I've asked myself that plenty of times." Starlight arched an eyebrow and donned a bemused expression. "I remember getting my cutie mark after casting a bunch of spells in a row for an assignment one day, but they weren't flashy or anything special. It just kinda happened." Starlight glanced over to Sunset, the latter's lips pursed. "You had a flashy moment to coincide with your cutie mark acquisition, didn't you?"
"I did," Sunset said, sighing. "And I teased you about that, which was something I shouldn't have done." She tugged her mane. "But I'm curious, how come the moment you got your cutie mark wasn't so dazzling? Every other pony I've known had some sort of huge event coincide with their cutie mark, whether it was their doing or just the magic involved."
"I guess that's a part of what made me different." Starlight shrugged. "Again, I know you're sorry, but I'm just not feeling it yet." Stretching her forelegs out, Starlight then shimmied in her chair once more. "But as I was saying, all I knew was that I had some sort of talent in magic, but the specifics were lost on me. I performed a variety of spells well, but despite that, none of them were at a level equal to or beyond what those specializing in that talent were capable of."
"Maybe your special talent is that you can do all sorts of spells." Sweetie tilted her head. "Just a thought."
"That's a possibility, but how would I know if that's the case?"
Sunset raised her hoof. "I think I have an idea," she said. "I've been teaching Sweetie about a variety of spells recently, and some of those lessons were with another pony eager to teach."
"Your point?"
"My point is that if you could demonstrate or teach some of the spells you're talented at to Sweetie and I, maybe that can prove your cutie mark represents your breadth of magical knowledge." Sunset donned a radiant, genuine smile. The mere sight warmed Sweetie's heart, the filly wondering if things were going to turn out just fine.
"Sounds like a great plan!" Sweetie chimed.
"We can all find somewhere quiet together and learn about the spells you've mastered or are talented at." Sunset paused, her eyes sparkling. "Does that sound fair?"
Starlight bobbed her head, though she pursed her lips. "If that will help me better understand who I am, then I'm for it. Just try to not do anything sneaky or cruel around me, okay?"
"Promise." Sunset nodded in return. "If I somehow make a mistake, please let me know and I'll apologize right away."
"Then it's settled." Starlight stood upright, her tail swishing about as she trotted back toward the doorway. "Finding a quiet area shouldn't be too difficult, especially with the cloudy weather. And if it rains, I guess we can hold off on doing anything too long or complicated for the time being."
"That sounds wonderful!" Sweetie shouted at the top of her lungs. She bounced around like a rubber ball. "Maybe I'll learn about all those stunning spells you're rumored to know about! And maybe we'll all become friends in the end!" She rubbed her hooves. "This is gonna be one of the coolest lessons ever!"
With her head held high, Sweetie followed both Starlight and Sunset out of the cottage. The clouds had somehow dispersed already, rays of sunlight touching the ground once again and illuminating the dew-covered grass. The town even had a brighter tone to it, more ponies than before trotting outside and mingling with each other. And as Sweetie glanced toward Starlight, the latter forcing a faint smile across her face, Sweetie assumed everything was destined to fall in place.
Maybe it wasn't going to be as straightforward as she expected; Sweetie kept such a thought tucked in her mind.
Something about Twilight's new friend was oddly familiar.
It wasn't that Starlight was somepony Sweetie met in the distant past or even related to somepony else, but her demeanor and attempts at staying optimistic tickled her heart. Starlight had a habit of correcting herself whenever she was being too humble, usually spurred on whenever Sweetie or Sunset complimented her efforts at becoming a better pony or her magical knowledge.
Sweetie saw a mixture of Twilight, Sunset, and Trixie in Starlight. If Sweetie heard correctly, Starlight's arcane abilities were exceptional for somepony her age, and while she may have lacked the precision of some of the most talented magicians, only somepony ignorant would've assumed that Starlight wasn't some sort of magical prodigy. Rewriting Star Swirl's spells, mastering flying magic, and a few other accomplishments earned gaping mouths or widened eyes from both Sweetie and Sunset when Starlight first mentioned them. And they were somehow explained with a soft tone and visage.
There was no denying that Starlight was a peculiar pony.
Without warning, Starlight stopped trotting forward, Sweetie shuddering in response after almost bumping into her.
"This should do," Starlight said. She trotted a few steps forward and gently swished her tail about. "It's quiet, out in the open, and not too far from Ponyville."
Sweetie nodded, then scanned the environment surrounding her. The stones and trees that adorned the grassland were all in familiar spots. Rustling leaves reached Sweetie's ears, a warm breeze flowing past her. She cracked a soft smile seconds later. "This is where Trixie took us," she said as a matter of fact. "I never guessed that this was a popular place to practice magic."
"Well, it does have everything you'd need for practice," Sunset added. Taking a deep breath, she swiveled her head toward Starlight. "Anyway, because I don't know what spells you've mastered so far, I'll let you take it from here." Sunset pursed her lips. "However, I'd recommend starting off with something not too difficult."
A blue aura wrapped around Starlight's body. In the blink of an eye, she was an inch above the ground, gently gliding around Sunset and Sweetie. While she was far from agile, Sweetie's pupils couldn't help themselves from shrinking in response. Saying it was one thing, but actually seeing it was something else.
"That's one of the hardest spells known in Equestria," Starlight said. She touched the earth once more and exhaled. The aura surrounding her body vanished in an instant. "I know Sunset said not to start off with something too difficult, but I feel that demonstrating one of the most difficult spells ever recorded will help explain what I'm about to tell you next." Starlight glanced behind her shoulder, making eye contact with Sweetie. "Tell me, how does one learn spells?"
Sweetie arched an eyebrow. "Learn spells? Why do you ask?"
"I'll explain after you've answered the question."
Rubbing her muzzle, Sweetie then closed her eyes and hummed briefly. The tune quite melodic and soothed her muscles.
At first, she'd have assumed one's talent in magic required a certain kind of cutie mark, and she already knew this was the wrong answer given her lessons and the fact that she was dealing with Starlight. However, there was one commonality among the lessons Sweetie had learned that hinted at the answer.
It all seemed clearer than crystal.
"Practice is how you learn spells," Sweetie answered. She nodded confidently. "Sunset, Trixie, and Twilight all taught me that and have proven why practice is important. I don't know what your story was like, but I'd imagine that practice helped you with learning magic, right?"
Starlight slowly bobbed her head. "I do like that answer," she replied. "However, there's a little more to magic than just practice. You first must know what kinds of spells you're interested in. Learning magic from lessons is how you get started, so keep doing that, but there will come a point where you'll need to learn a spell on your own for whatever reason." A sigh left her lips. Starlight assumed a downcast expression as she sat down. "I researched the flying spell during my plans for revenge. It was a terrible reason, but what's done is done."
"Yeah, that wasn't a good idea." Sweetie made her way toward Starlight. Smiling, she gently tapped her shoulder. "But you're making an effort to become a better pony. I respect that. Heck, I even made friends with former enemies of mine. We all make mistakes and do things we regret."
"That's mature of you to say." Starlight snickered, her lips curled into a soft smile. "Still, what I did was terrible, so it feels tough being able to forgive myself. I can take a little solace in knowing that I'm not the only one with such a dilemma, but will that help me overcome my past? How can I get on the right track?"
"I've gone through it, too," Sunset added. "I know our past is—" she bit her lip "—complicated, but I'm here to help out if you need somepony. And when it comes to getting on the right track, just stick close to your friends and do what's right. It may take some time to see the results, but it can be done."
Starlight nodded and rubbed her eyes. "Thank you. Anyway, that demonstration was more than just an introduction about how important doing additional research in the future, but also how far it can take you." She stretched her hoof out, Sweetie reluctantly grabbing onto it. "This will be important to remember. Even if your cutie mark suggests otherwise, you can cast all kinds of spells as long as you dedicate yourself to the craft and never give up."
"So even though—" Sweetie glanced at the symbol emblazoned on her flank, its colors as bright as ever "—even though my cutie mark means one thing, I can still learn and maybe even master spells that have nothing to do with it? I mean, it'll take a long time and all, but it can be done?"
"Precisely." Standing up, Starlight dusted herself off and stretched her muscles. "I think we should practice one of my favorite spells." She paused, cheeks pale. "And no, it has nothing to do with cutie marks. I'm referring to something actually beautiful." Starlight glanced to her left; Sweetie and Sunset followed suit. "Do you see that flower off in the distance?"
Sweetie squinted at the plant. Its bright yellow petals and small, arm-like leaves grabbed her attention most of all, but how it swayed like a dancer whenever a breeze went past also stood out. How such a flower ended up all alone was beyond her, but Cheerilee probably would've told her something about the seasons. A second later, she nodded at Starlight and smiled.
"We're going to speed up the growth of some of the seeds surrounding it," Starlight continued. "It's safe as long as you do it in moderation. And the flowers won't grow too much if you happen to get it wrong, so take a deep breath. I know it might be hard to believe me, but nothing will go wrong."
Sweetie exhaled, her muscles loosening. "What's the next step?" she asked.
"The first step is having something like this vast grassland before you." Starlight shuffled an inch closer to Sweetie. Glancing at her for a second, she then brought her attention back to the landscape before them. "As most spells involve this when first learning them, you'll want to close your eyes and take a deep breath."
Doing as instructed, Sweetie sensed the remaining tension throughout her body dissipating. If the myriad of spells she had learned under Sunset and Trixie were anything to go by, Sweetie assumed casting it would've taken little effort. But even she knew that concentration was necessary. Confidence wasn't a ticket to skipping steps.
"What you'll want to do is imagine the environment before you," Starlight continued. "Think of the hundreds of seeds that are buried in the soil waiting to germinate and become bright flowers." She exhaled. "Don't worry about imagining the whole field covered in flowers to start off, but let's imagine a nice cluster of them in the center. They'll all have nice, yellow petals and tall stems like the one off in the distance."
Sweetie nodded. Her lips curled into a smile as she imagined the field covered from head to hoof with flowers, bunnies skipping across them and the sunshine illuminating the land. Even the aroma they would've had tickled her nostrils at the thought. The fields just outside of Ponyville were destined for beauty if the results were anything like her imagination.
"Do you have the image memorized?"
In a heartbeat, Sweetie bobbed her head again. She pursed her lips. "I sure do! There's grass and a small flower off in the distance!"
"Excellent! We'll now get to the fun part." Something gently poked Sweetie's shoulder. "Sorry about that, just bring your focus back to the environment and what it'll look like. When you're ready, send some magic to your horn while still imagining that field of flowers."
"This sounds a lot like—"
"Yes, it follows the same principle as teleportation, though there are some differences."
"Gotcha."
Sweetie clenched her teeth as a crackling sound echoed in the air. Her horn itched somewhat. The hairs of her coat stood up as she focused the spell on the fields before her, still imagining that field of flowers. It was all too straightforward in Sweetie's mind. Impressing both Starlight and Sunset would've warmed her heart.
Sweetie's legs quivered.
Now wasn't the time for distractions.
A deep breath left Sweetie's mouth, chest loosening.
She fired the spell; the sensations coursing throughout her horn disappeared in an instant.
With a radiant grin painted across her face, Sweetie opened her eyes.
A lush, green field rested before her. A warm breeze occasionally went past. Dew clung onto the blades of grass just like before, all of them sparkling like stars in the night sky.
It was beautiful, but the wrong kind of beautiful.
Sweetie's throat tightened.
A single flower with pink petals stood before her. It barely even peeked above the blades of grass, the leaves it sported much stubbier and darker than most flowers Sweetie noticed before. However, the flower's petals were as bright and lively as the one behind it. The pink flower swayed a bit whenever the wind rushed past, though its dances were underwhelming.
Her shoulders sagged.
Everything was done properly.
Sweetie arched an eyebrow, head tilted. There was no reason why the field wasn't littered with flowers. Tapping a hoof against the ground, Sweetie pondered whether there was more to the spell than she thought. It wouldn't have been the first time she encountered that problem, though it always poked her nerves. Sweetie turned toward Starlight, making eye contact with the mare.
"What happened?" Sweetie asked. She donned a bemused expression. "I did everything right, but only one flower came up." Sighing, Sweetie planted a hoof to her forehead and gnashed her teeth. "It's even the wrong color, too. There has to be some reason about why I messed up, right?"
"Maybe you didn't exert enough magic," Starlight muttered, shrugging. "This particular spell depends on that much more than others." She squinted at the pink flower, tapping her hoof as she hummed briefly. "The flower looks healthy, but not as much as the other one. At the same time, I bet it'll be just fine if given water and sunlight, so perhaps it's as simple as that."
"So I sort of pulled off the spell, right?"
Starlight nodded. "It's not a cluster of flowers like the one from afar, but I'd say you're getting there."
"But how do I exert magic properly? It sounds as though there's some way to control it, so I'm guessing I'd have to focus more magic into the spell before casting it." Sweetie pursed her lips. Something wasn't adding up. The process of casting the spell stunned her despite Starlight suggesting it wasn't enough. "But what does that feel like?"
"Well, if the hairs of your coat stand up, you're on the right track." Starlight took a deep breath and stretched her forelegs. "Honestly, getting used to how much magic is exerted into a spell comes with age and experience. You almost had some of it, so maybe you underestimated how tough casting the spell would be. Just don't be afraid to exceed what you think your limits are, though do be careful."
"Maybe I should try the spell again, yet I gave it my all last time." Sitting down, Sweetie sighed and crossed her forelegs. While it hadn't stung as much as when she failed lifting the flower, twangs still covered her chest. Sweetie blankly gazed at the pink petals, wishing that they at least looked like what she envisioned. The flower's irregular posture was salt on the wound. "I thought I had it."
"I think you did a fine job," Sunset said. She trotted toward Sweetie and sat next to her. With a soft smile, Sunset then raised a hoof up and patted Sweetie's shoulder. Those sharp twinges poking Sweetie's nerves faded away. "Getting just one flower shows how much you've progressed, even if it wasn't what you planned at first. It's a tough spell, but you were close to getting it right."
Sweetie twisted her head toward Sunset. The pair made eye contact. "How tough is it?"
"It took me a few tries to get a few flowers to sprout." Sunset's smile widened. "In fact, I messed up on my first attempt. While I eventually got the hang of it, it taught me something important about magic and how it relates to casting spells." She caught her breath and placed a hoof to her chest. "Anyway, it shows that controlling how much magic you exert is essential for some spells. And if you exert too much magic, you'll tire yourself out."
"And how much magic does a pony have?" Sweetie adopted a bemused expression. "Does it depend on size?"
"Nopony truly knows for sure." Sunset paused for a moment and rubbed her muzzle. "While I'd love to find out how magic exertion works, it'd probably take years to find out. In fact, even researchers have had difficulties determining how that works. I think it's one of those things we take for granted."
Nodding, Sweetie's eyes widened. She leaned closer to Sunset. "Do you think somepony will discover how it works?"
Sunset quickly bobbed her head in return. "I'm positive. In fact, I believe that—" she playfully poked Sweetie's chest, the latter chuckling "—somepony like you will be the one to crack the code. You've got the curiosity to where I wouldn't be surprised that if such a discovery was under your name in the future."
Sweetie's expression brightened. While she heard about how wonderful she'd be in the future plenty of times, there was something about Sunset's words and the confidence she exuded that warmed her heart. It was the best praise anypony learning about magic could've gotten; becoming Celestia's personal student was perhaps the only thing that ranked above it.
Maybe only one flower sprouting was for the best.
Some failures may have been better than successes; it was something Sweetie couldn't quite comprehend, but it made sense the more she thought about it. Ponies often learned more from failures, even if they were painful. And Sweetie's thoughts pushed her attention back to Starlight, a mare trying to overcome her mistakes.
Starlight's lips curled into a smile as she placed a hoof to her chest. Her shimmering eyes somehow touched Sweetie's heart, the sensation comforting like a blanket.
"Thank you," Starlight said. She wiped her eyes, sniffling. Her cheeks flushed as giggles escaped her mouth. "Maybe this isn't the most typical reaction, but I finally understand where you're coming from." Without warning, she hopped over to where Sunset was and gently wrapped her forelegs around her, Sunset responding in kind. "I'm so sorry that I didn't believe you at first, but seeing how gentle you are with Sweetie Belle, I now know that you've truly changed for the better."
"Apology accepted," Sunset muttered, grinning. "And I'm sorry for how rude I once was."
Starlight released Sunset from her warm embrace. She stepped back, taking a deep breath as her legs wobbled a tad. "I forgive you. And looking back at what we said after meeting again, I can see why Twilight offered forgiveness. There's something charming about it." Pausing for a brief moment, Starlight swiveled her head toward Sweetie. "And Sweetie Belle, I have something else to tell you, but it doesn't involve magic."
Sweetie stared into Starlight's eyes. She trudged closer to her. "What's your next lesson?"
"Never be afraid to admit that you've made a mistake or did something wrong." Starlight took a few steps forward, her gaze glued to Sweetie. The latter couldn't help herself from noticing that the environment was brighter than ever. It was as though the clouds vanished for this one occasion. "Focus on doing the right thing and helping others instead of harboring revenge. The first of those creates happiness for everypony, while the second only produces anguish." She sighed, head hung low. "Take it from somepony who knows how desires for revenge can poison the mind."
Nodding, Sweetie maintained an unblinking visage.
"Anyway, I'm glad both of you spent time with me. I'll be sure to tell Twilight about what I've learned today, and while my journey is far from over, I think I'm on the right track."
"You're doing wonderfully," Sunset said. "As somepony who went through similar struggles, I can say with certainty that things will turn out well. Keep up the good work, and I just know that Twilight will be thrilled when she hears the news." Giggling, she placed the tip of her hoof on her lips. "She wrote me the most charming letter when I mentioned one of the things I had learned."
"I guess we can both tell Twilight." Starlight gently motioned a hoof at Sweetie and Sunset. "Let's head back to her castle. Maybe we can get some snacks if she has any." A rumbling sound echoed in the air, Starlight's pupils shrinking in response. Shuddering, she blushed and snickered. "Magic sometimes makes me hungry."
Another rumbling noise polluted the air; Sweetie's belly felt ticklish without warning. "I guess I could use some food, too!" Sweetie chimed. Springing up into the air, she skipped forward upon landing on all fours. "Come on, everypony! Let's get some snacks!"
Sweetie kept her head held up high as she pranced back to Ponyville, Starlight and Sunset following close behind as they chatted with each other. Hearing the pair having such a casual, calm conversation was like music to Sweetie's ears. Maybe creating a song based on forgiveness was in her future, the idea prodding her mind. And with Trixie, Diamond Tiara, Starlight Glimmer, and others just like them, there was something about Equestria that defined it with joy and compassion.
Sweetie adored such emotions. The song was also something worth considering.
For now, getting Twilight caught up with what happened was much more essential.
Sweetie could've sworn that only a few minutes had gone by since she helped Sunset and Starlight. But not only was sun setting below the horizon as the trio trekked back to Twilight's castle, Sweetie noticed a silhouette in the shape of Princess Celestia flying toward Canterlot. Chances were that the princess was planning on getting some much needed rest, Sweetie wondering what kinds of activities Luna was preparing for.
As for Twilight, her assignments were only just beginning. Her frantic movements upon opening the front door suggested as much.
However, such questions weren't important to Sweetie.
Sweetie peeked her head into the castle's library, Starlight and Sunset behind her. Inside, Twilight was already occupied with organizing a bookshelf alongside Spike. It was as though Twilight had never even left the room. Two dozen or so texts ranging in size from a few thin sheets to being thicker than a brick littered the floor, all of them hoisted up one at a time. Somehow, Twilight wore a smile through it all as she scanned the books' spines and slid them into specific slots.
Arching an eyebrow, Sweetie couldn't comprehend how something that rivaled watching paint dry was considered fun.
Maybe finding enjoyment in such unusual chores was one of Twilight's quirks. Sweetie snickered at the thought.
"We're back!" Sweetie chimed. She gently waved her hoof. "Hi!"
In the blink of an eye, Spike sprung up in the air whilst donning a bright smile. "Hey, Sweetie Belle," he said, dashing toward her with a skip in his step. "How did it go?"
Starlight poked her head through the doorway. Breathing a sigh of relief, she cracked a faint smirk. "It went wonderfully," she replied. "Looking back at it, I'm beginning to realize why Twilight saw so much potential in me. There's still a long way to go, but—" Starlight chuckled, cheeks flushed "—but I feel more confident."
"That's the spirit!" Sunset cheered. "Even if the road is rough, I just know you'll come out as a stronger, wiser pony in the end." She tapped Starlight's shoulder, the latter glancing back at Sunset. "Remember, life is a journey. Things that don't go according to plan can become positive experiences, too. I know I can relate to that."
Starlight chuckled again. "No kidding."
Without warning, Twilight dove toward where Starlight was. Upon arriving, she wrapped her forelegs around the mare and wore the widest, brightest grin Sweetie had witnessed in ages. Sweetie also noticed that a few books hadn't been sorted yet; at least ten of them were still littered across the floor.
"It's wonderful to hear that you've made amends," Twilight said. Her wings stretched out and fluttered to her heartbeats. As she stepped back, Sweetie and company all made their way into the library, warmth circulating throughout the room. "I'm so proud of everypony." She then glanced over to Starlight, the two making eye contact. "See, I told you that you'd get the hang of friendship."
Starlight nodded and rubbed the back of her neck. "Yeah, though these are only my first steps."
"That goes without saying." Twilight tapped Starlight's shoulder. "Anyway, since we're all here again, there is something I'd like to mention." She cleared her throat and folded her wings. "Sunset, in regards to the experiment we've been working on, I think I have an idea of how to approach the equation."
Sunset's eyes widened, her ears twitching a bit as she leaned closer to Twilight. "What do you have in mind?" she asked. "Have you figured out what was missing in our previous attempt?"
"I talked to Princess Celestia about it while you were busy, and despite not receiving any concrete answers, she mentioned something about looking at ourselves and reflecting on how we got there." She tapped her hoof, donning a bemused expression. "The princess has the answer, but she's trying to make it so that I figure out the missing ingredient."
"At least it's a start," Sweetie said. "Maybe it's worth thinking about tonight."
Raising her hoof, Starlight trotted closer to the group, brow raised. "Excuse me, but what is this about?" she asked. "I'm guessing it has to do with magical research. I mean, while it took me a while to figure out how to modify some spells, maybe I could help out." Starlight crossed her forelegs, a sheepish smile across her face. "I doubt I'll be able to contribute much."
"It's fine," Twilight replied. "And since you asked politely, we'd appreciate having you with us. When it comes to research, having one more pony with you is always helpful." Pausing momentarily, she then took a quick breath. "Anyway, we're working on a spell that sends messages from one place to another. While nothing can get even close to a dragon's breath or a magical journal, we're hoping to have something out there in case neither of those are available."
Starlight nodded. "Makes sense to me." She glanced over to where Sweetie stood, smiling. "Do you want to join us, too?"
"Of course!" Sweetie sprung up, eyes sparkling. Anypony aside from a select few would've had the same answer. "I'd love to help out!" As she stood upright once more, a sudden thought glued itself to her brain, prodding her nerves. Many eyes were better than just one or two pairs; Sweetie figured as much with her grander lessons. She gasped. "I know! We should also ask Trixie if she's willing to help!"
"Trixie is definitely talented when it comes to magic," Twilight said as a matter of fact. With stretched cheeks, she then shrugged. "That being said, she isn't exactly the best when it comes to research from what I know of her. She has improved immensely ever since she tried becoming a better pony, though patience isn't exactly her strongest trait. I'll still check up on her and ask if she's willing to help." She giggled, the tip of her hoof touching her lips. "Knowing her, she'd probably jump at the opportunity."
Sweetie chuckled in return. "You've got a point, but she might be helpful. And maybe we could ask another pony, too."
"I know somepony who'd probably want to help," Twilight said. "Her name is Moondancer, and while she's over in Canterlot, she's an even bigger bookworm than I am." Chuckling, Twilight's wings shook briefly. "I'll write her a letter when I can, and once we've agreed on a time, we'll meet up over where the experiment is taking place and get to work. Sound fair?"
Everypony nodded in unison.
"That's excellent." Twilight trotted toward the door. "We should relax for the rest of the day. If we're going to be doing research soon, it'll be essential to rest up and get our minds ready." Her wings twitched momentarily. "I'll have the meeting arranged tomorrow afternoon, so keep your eyes open for any news."
Electrifying sensations coursed through Sweetie's veins. The once distance dream of working with the brightest minds was mere inches away from Sweetie. She almost could've tasted it if she wanted to. And while Sweetie knew that she'd only offer tiny bits of advice at most, just standing with the group and having a voice among their chatter was something worth dancing about.
Sweetie pranced over to the doorway, her friends all following close behind.
Everything she envisioned back when she began her journey was finally just around the corner.