Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle,
Here you shall find more diary scrolls, post-completion of my first Friendship Lesson.
You may observe that I've become more analytical and detailed on my interactions with other ponies.
Still, I am following through my original pledge to provide all my entries to you, gradually.
Thank you again for reading and analyzing these passages.
Your faithful student,
Starlight Glimmer
P.S.:
I misplaced the 15th scroll and a fair few after that, I'll try my best to locate them soon!
I really wanted to share my analysis of the 'Trixie incident' with you!
Hope these 5 are sufficient for now!
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10
I feel like I can do anything!
No friendship lesson could possibly be as difficult as that first one... right?
Hoping that Sunburst really doesn't disappear from my life this time.
Not ready to just hang out with him whenever yet, it's still a bit awkward and daunting...
We hadn't spoken for many, many years after all.
Still, maybe I can at least get Spike to act as courier service between us with his magic breath.
He can do that for anypony, right?
Well diary, there isn't too much to report besides my lingering euphoria on a lesson well done.
Twilight confirmed how proud she was of me, and I feel so glad to hear her say that!
I feel like the only way I can really learn how to become a better pony is by following her guidance.
Maybe this ties in to the significance of the similarity of our cutie marks.
We have similar star-like symbols, only hers is far larger, and surrounded by smaller stars,
presumably her friends, the literal Elements of Harmony.
At least, I think they are literal, they did replace the gemstones that had the Element power, right?
Seems like I keep underestimating the power of Twilight and her friends.
Their boundless compassion and consideration for me will always be appreciated!
I simply need to maximize the efficiency of the learning experience to improve my status!
One day I will complete my friendship studies,
and then I will be the friendliest and most powerful unicorn in Equestria!
Nopony will be able to stop me!
Um, from being a good pony, I mean!
Heheh.
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11
Twilight has assigned me to an especially awkward task today:
go around and 'get to know' her best friends better. She says I spend too much time on magic studies.
Well, why not though? She knows the power and importance of spell-craft, too!
Still, I suppose it was nice to get a breath of fresh air every so often...
so long as Twilight or her friends are around.
Pinkie Pie and Rarity were away on a trip to Manehatten, Applejack was busy on the apple farm,
and Rainbow Dash was apparently training for the 'Wonderbolts', whatever that is.
Fluttershy offered to accompany Twilight and I then... but to be honest, she makes me a little nervous.
Besides Twilight herself, Fluttershy was the pony I underestimated the most back in Our Town.
She really enjoyed the politeness and kindness displayed by my citizens, reinforcing my own beliefs.
Sure, I was suspicious of her at first... but I always was with new converts.
It didn't even occur to me that she was intentionally deceiving me, until it was too late.
Beware the quiet ones, indeed.
At one point, Twilight left me at Fluttershy's cottage while she checked on something elsewhere.
The pale yellow pegasus was very gentle and sweet and polite, so similar to my indoctrination.
Yet there was something very different... she had so many secrets to hide, I could sense it!
'It's beautiful this time of year in the meadows, isn't it?' she asked, watching me closely.
Even her animals kept their eyes on me, like her own little citizens...
'Is something wrong?' she then inquired, setting down her tea.
I must've been getting the jitters, because I was frantic to deny!
Fluttershy set a gentle hoof on my foreleg.
'I don't hate you for what you've done, Starlight. You shouldn't be afraid.'
Her words only made me recoil. I demanded how she knew what I was thinking.
She told me we were not too dissimilar from each other: introverted, quiet, cunning ponies.
We both stew dark feelings and thoughts, hidden from the world, until its too late.
I developed the uncomfortable sensation that Fluttershy was vastly more mature than I.
'You taught your ponies to behave in ways I enjoyed, but you denied them their souls.'
She sipped her tea and looked up at the tree beside the outdoor table.
'That's why I had to stop you.'
Angel, her little white rabbit, hopped onto my lap at that point, smiling up at me with his dark little eyes,
before cozying up against my soft fur.
His presence helped me calm down tremendously. Such a soft loving creature!
Fluttershy giggled at that, claiming I must have a way with animals too.
Looking around me, I took in the warmth of the afternoon, the breeze in the wind, the scent of fresh flowers,
the vigilant yet somehow reassuring presence of that colossal bear, grunting at random.
I couldn't help but smile.
Maybe I should spend more time with Fluttershy and her animals.
But perhaps I should work on being less afraid of her quiet strength, first.
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12
Applejack might be the most difficult of Twilight's friends to cooperate with.
True, she doesn't keep her feelings veiled under an 'aura of coolness' like Rainbow Dash.
Instead she makes it fairly clear she doesn't care much for my company.
Today I had helped her with some apple farming, and she spent the whole time nagging me.
'Don't do it like that', 'be careful now', and so on.
Such a stubborn traditionalist!
At one point, I was simply plucking apples off the trees en masse, and she called out for me to stop.
I requested why it was such a bad thing. It was more efficient, right?
'Apples are most juicy and ripe if they fall off from a natural apple-buckin back-kick,
not fancy magic that forces it off, whether it wants to or not', she declared.
What, really? I somehow doubt that. 'I'm serious!' she told me, glaring. Sheesh!
After a few hours, I had finally finished helping out with her farming chores, eager to be on my way.
I had a sneaking bad feeling though, and enhanced my hearing with subtle magic.
'She's over-eager with magic kinda like Twilight, but without the charm or grace!',
she remarked to her silent brother Big Mac.
Well I'm so sorry! Stop comparing me to Twilight Sparkle, everypony!
Just because she's my teacher doesn't mean I should have to be exactly like her!
Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to become her student after all!
No, that's not true... this is an important role that I'm playing now. I need to do this, for myself.
Maybe I can talk with Twilight about it after I've cooled off.
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13
I got a scolding for eavesdropping magic, really?
Why should I have to watch every time I perform magic?
Haven't I proven myself yet to everypony? Why do they have to restrict me in such ways?
Twilight said she would talk with Applejack though, so I suppose shaming me is a fair price?
Whatever.
Spike was helping me set up some equipment for tests in the castle library.
I asked him his thoughts on the matter. The little dragon is impressively wise for his size.
To my frustration, he seemed to side with Applejack though, saying she would know better,
having worked the farm her whole life.
Ugh.
I was about to make a clever reply, when Applejack herself arrived.
She was not even wearing her hat, holding it instead.
I knew this meant something was wrong.
'I'm sorry, Starlight. That was rude and unfair of me to judge you like that.'
I couldn't believe my ears. Applejack was apologizing, to me?
'Course I am, I know a thing or two about knowing when to admit I'm wrong'.
We both smiled and got a laugh out of that.
She offered to help out with my magical tests to make up for it.
'Now I'll do things your way', she promised, with a wink, even.
Applejack performed my magical tests with great efficiency. This data will prove useful in the future.
I'd put all the details here, but you are meant for feelings and thoughts, diary, not data.
I have come to a definite conclusion though.
Maybe Twilight's friends really are special ponies, after all.
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14
There is much less space to fit on this scroll compared to most,
but I felt this encounter had to be described all at once.
Spike's rite of passage will have to wait for the next entry, diary.
Today was the first time I felt truly terrified since discovering the goal of my first Friendship Lesson.
I was wandering about the hallways of Twilight's never-ending castle again, lost in thought.
When around the corner, she appeared, towering and radiant.
Can you guess who, diary?
The most powerful and dangerous pony in all of Equestria.
The great white mare herself.
For a hopeful second, I thought I was just becoming delirious from too much magic studies.
No such luck.
Celestia stared down at me, her expression absolutely unreadable.
Her mane of pale pastel colors waved and swept behind her like a constantly ebbing river.
I saw the hundreds of years of age in that glance, perhaps thousands.
The sun mare had ensnared my full attention with her focused presence.
She knew who I was. Of course she knew who I was! I'm the student of her graduate star pupil!
Of course she knew what I've done.
Of course she knew the threat I had posed.
I had sought to usurp and desecrate her entire civilization!
Every moment she was studying and calculating my mere existence:
a speck of petty selfishness on the vast scope of her endless reign.
'Sweet Celestia!' I accidentally whispered, before putting a hoof to my mouth.
Stupid, stupid!
To use that swear in her presence!
Did I want to anger her with my verbal blasphemy too?
I was about to run blindly in the other direction, when she suddenly burst out in laughter.
Her voice was soothing and melodious to the ear.
No doubt she had mastered its tenor over many centuries.
'Starlight Glimmer, my faithful student's faithful student!' she giggled slyly, all soothing smiles.
'I had hoped we would meet sooner, but...'
Celestia leaned down closer, almost whispering, as though sharing secrets!
'Twilight was insistent that you needed time to readjust to Equestrian life. How do you fare?'
Oh just fine, your highness, just great, I love it here, yep, it's swell being the student of the princess of friendship!
Well, I said something along those lines anyway.
Celestia tilted her head and studied me further.
'I'm very proud of Twilight's efforts, and your own.
After all that you've been through, it's good that you are in high spirits!'
'What I've been through?' I asked, but she did not elaborate, the sly smile on her face still.
How much did she know about me, anyway? Probably more than Twilight!
Then her sister came around the corner, her turquoise eyes piercing my heart.
'So, it is you,' Luna said, cross and stern. 'Be glad your old dreams have failed you.'
The dark night of her mane glittered and shrouded about her, threatening me with nightmares.
'We are here for a lovely cordial tea with Princess Twilight Sparkle,' Celestia soothingly reassured,
likely sensing my confusion and panic. 'You are welcome to join us.
I would very much like to get to know my pupil's pupil', she declared.
I'm very very sorry I am far too busy I am doing important friendship lesson right now thank you!
Or something, something, anything. Excuses poured out like magic.
Luna snorted in disgust, but Celestia merely giggled again.
'Well, perhaps it can wait for another time then. Shall we continue, dear sister?'
The mare of the moon continued staring at me, and I trembled anxiously.
Celestia probably knew most about me, but likely the younger ancient alicorn knew everything.
'Glaring at ponies resolves nothing, especially in regards to their past,'
Celestia admonished Luna quietly, a smooth strength in her tone.
'Let's be on our way.'
Luna actually startled at Celestia's words, turning to look at her, mouth agape.
Her expression and stance softened, becoming somewhat less terrifying.
'Thy will be done, beloved sister,' she responded gently, before trotting off down the hallway in the direction I had wandered.
Celestia remained behind, bending until her face was close to mine, her morning-dawn eyes gazing into my soul.
'You aided us in restoring the Crystal Heart and assuring the well-being of my grand-niece, Princess Flurry Heart.
I thank you for this, Starlight Glimmer.
Furthermore, my protégé Twilight Sparkle trusts you, and thus so do I.'
My breathing finally started to slow, away from the harshness of the night sister, basking in the reassurance of the sun sister.
'May you find more consistent peace in your heart,' Celestia encouraged, before following her sister down the hallway.
It is hard to forget any word that a demi-goddess tells you...
I was a fool to ever seek to defy her.
It would have been the end of me, one way or another.
And somehow, I feel my fate would not have been as benevolent as the one Twilight gave me.
For Celestia is ever vigilant and protective, an eternal guardian of her little ponies.
And now I am amongst her subjects once again.
I understand now why Twilight both fears and loves her.
May the alicorns reign forevermore.
Oh, and I have a request for you, Princess Luna.
Have mercy on me: end my nightmares.
So that I may fulfill your sister's request, that my heart may dream in peace.
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