In just 12 hours, Silverstream will depart for the holidays, leaving Gallus alone at the Academy. Despite her pleas, Gallus refuses to follow or even tell her why. That is, until a special pony arrives that night to his dorm room and poses two simple questions: why did they come to the Friendship Academy? And if the answer is to make friends then...

Why?

Proofread by VerumTee

Cover art from the Season 8 episode 'The Hearth's Warming Club'

No one alive today can say where she came from; simply that she has always been there.

And yet, few ponies have had a greater impact on Princess Celestia's life than Raven, her most faithful aide.

Inspired by and based off of a headcanon put forth by Heir-of-Rick, though perhaps a bit less insidious than what he had in mind. He very kindly provided an alternate version of his image for me to use as my cover image! Text added by me.

All comments and criticism very welcome!

Featured in the Royal Canterlot Library! Go there to read the interview for some behind-the-scenes info on this story!

Translations: Chinese, Spanish!

Quality time is pretty rare when you've got a country to run.

Edited by KidKolumbo.