If there was one thing Twilight could claim over the other princesses, it was her size. It was easy to be envious of Celestia and Luna, or even Cadence for that matter. Their figures seemed to lend them an almost swan like grace at times. Meanwhile, Twilight was entirely average size for a mare, if not a hair on the shorter side. And most of the time, she was quite happy with that fact. Whereas the other princesses would almost instantly be recognized, all it took was a light cloak to hide her wings, or a hat for her horn, and at a brisk trot nopony recognized her. Or at least, nopony recognized Twilight till she was already past. The busy streets of shops and vendors soon gave way to more quiet roads of houses.
The house her parents lived in – and the one Twilight grew up in – was a little bit of a trot away from the castle. In a city where the closer to the castle one lived, generally the more expensive it was, a house next to the castle often cost more than what most ponies would make in their lives. Those homes were certainly well beyond what her parents could afford. Still, they lived much closer to the castle than stood to reason, but the house had been a gift. Night Light’s brother never really saw the need of the family home he had been given when he had officer quarters at the castle and a flat elsewhere in the city.
It was a relatively modest house, with a low fence encircling the small yard out front. The architecture was rather conservative, the marble so custom to Canterlot just about the only thing really different than houses you might find in any other city.However, Twilight could look up and down the street to see similar houses – in fact several of them were identical – but it was only this one she identified as home. The softer decorations, such as the recently painted shutters, the garden, and the cobblestone path leading to the door, were all her family’s touch.
Twilight knocked on the door.
“Coming!” A mare’s voice called from inside.
Twilight greeted the opening door with a smile. “Hi mom,”
Twilight Velvet started, shocked for a moment, before embracing her daughter in a hug. A tight hug. “Oh honey! It’s so good to see you.” She pulled away, holding onto her daughter’s shoulders. “What’s the occasion?”
“Occasion?”
“For visiting us, of course.” Velvet chuckled as her daughter shrunk away. “Relax Twilight, I’m just teasing you.”
“I feel bad that I’m not able to visit more often,” she admitted.
Velvet touched her daughter’s cheek. “So long as you try when you’re able, neither I or your father are going to hold it against you,” she said. “You are a princess after all.”
The words didn’t quite settle the flutter of guilt in her chest, but it was close. Truth was, she probably could visit more often. “Thanks mom.”
“So, how are things with you?”
Twilight sighed, and her expression fell.
“Oh, bad day?”
“A little,” she admitted.
“Well, why don’t you come in for supper. Spinning Top and Starbuck are over, and it would be no issue to set up another place setting.”
Spinning Top and Starbuck were longtime family friends, and Twilight could scare remember an age when she hadn’t known them. Starbuck and Night Light had met at work at the Royal Observatory, quickly becoming fast friends. As such friendships go, Spinning Top was introduced to Velvet, who quickly bonded.
In spite of having known them for so long, Twilight hadn’t been expecting there to be company and suddenly didn’t feel so confident. “I wouldn’t want to intrude; I mean I’ve already eaten...” She trailed off at the disbelieving expression her mother wore.
“Though you act the part as a studious filly,” she started, “you’ve never had the appetite of one. I wager you could polish off a bowl of two of macaroni and cheese. It’s Grandma’s recipe.”
It was a near thing, but Twilight couldn’t stop the questioning gurgle of her stomach. Grandma’s recipe for macaroni and cheese was something of legends. “That does sound good...”
Velvet smirked knowingly. “I wager it sounds a little more than just good.” She turned and stepped back inside.
Twilight pulled the door shut behind her as she entered, and smiled as she stood in the entryway. The house hadn’t changed much since she was a foal, save for a few odd things here and there. The table by the door still had the crack in one of the legs from the time her brother had slipped on the carpet and slid into it, while chasing her around the house.
The dining room was very much the quintessential dining room; as customary as they come. A few cabinets storing the fine china stood along the walls, framing the carpet and table. The old wooden table could comfortably fit six ponies, and squeeze in eight. Her father sat on one side of the table, while across from him sat Starbuck and his wife, Spinning Top. Starbuck was a stocky emerald green unicorn, with a wavy grey mane. An accident with a heavy cart had left his muzzle almost imperceptibly crooked. Spinning Top an earth pony with a cream coloured coat and a two toned, red and yellow mane. A fondness for sweets left her just a little plump.
“Princess!” Spinning exclaimed, practically jumping up from her chair.
Twilight grinned sheepishly. “Just Twilight please, Spinning. You’ve known me since I was a foal.”
Starbuck snorted. “I told you dear.”
Spinning grumbled, and whacked him on the shoulder. “She is still a princess now; it is polite.”
“Twilight was never one to stand for tradition,” Night Light said. A deep fear suddenly sparked in Twilight at the conspiratorial grin he wore. “She’d rather–”
“Dad, no,” Twilight interrupted.
“As I was saying, she’s never been one to stand for tradition. She’d much rather sleep. One time during... Gosh, I can’t even remember the occasion now. Anyway, it comes time to rise for the Equestrian anthem, and Twilight’s fast asleep leaning against Celestia, clutching Celestia’s tail like a teddy bear. There’s was a lovely full page shot in the newspaper the next day.” The table broke out into chuckles. “We still have the paper if you want to see.”
Twilight felt a blush adorn her cheeks. “Thank you for that Dad.”
“My pleasure.” Twilight was sure it probably was.
The timer in the kitchen rung, and Velvet rose from her seat. “I’ll get it.”
“So how are things going? Any new monsters or villains? ” Night Light asked Twilight.
“That’s a little specific don’t you think?” Starbuck commented.
“If I’m not vague, she keeps things from us. She tries to keep us from worrying.”
He inclined his head. “Point.”
“No bugbears this time,” Twilight said. “Just paperwork. I’ve come up to Canterlot to do some work.”
“Who’s watching your castle?” Night Light asked.
“Starlight. Knowing her, she’s probably happy to have the castle to herself.” She rubbed the back of her head with a hoof. “I suspect there might be a few renovations in the interest of relaxation by the time I get back, but she could really use the rest. Spike too. Things haven’t let up since Thorax became king of the changelings.”
“Backtracking for a second,” Starbuck said, “is the castle in Ponyville yours?”
Twilight cocked her head in confusion. “I don’t follow.”
“Well, do you own it? The one in Canterlot is owned by the crown, not anypony specifically.”
She had to stop and give it some thought, recalling the conversation with Luna the one time. “Last time I checked, it’s a little up in the air,” she admitted. “There isn’t really a precedent for buildings sprouting up from the ground. In some ways, the concept of ownership is somewhat problematic.”
“But didn’t the rainbow power create it?” Spinning Top asked.
“Yes.”
“And weren’t you one of the ponies who wielded it?”
“Again, yes, but that is assuming that we were the source of the magic, not just the trigger,” Twilight explained. “For instance, when I was the element of magic, it wouldn’t really be accurate to say that the element of magic was mine in a legal sense. So far my research into the rainbow power suggests anypony might be able to wield it under the right circumstances. The magic ‘choosing’ somepony further complicates things, as should it mean the chosen ponies own the castle?”
Spinning scrunched her muzzle in puzzlement. “Chosen? So the magic is sentient or something?”
“Nopony knows. Same sort of situation as the elements of harmony actually. Which brings me back to the initial problem. If I could be considered the owner for having created it, the deed would be split six ways with my friends. The crown doesn’t really have a hoof in it’s creation beyond me occupying it as a princess. And if it...” A realization struck her. “Huh.”
“What?” Starbuck asked.
“I just realized Carrot Top might have claim to the castle too. She’s a farmer in Ponyville and she bought the land the castle’s on for some crop experiments just before it all happened. I’ll have to talk with her when I get back to Ponyville.”
“So who compensates her then? You, your friends or the crown?” Starbuck asked. “I don’t think the Rainbow Power has any bits to give her.”
Twilight stopped, then she covered her eyes with a hoof and groaned. “Alright, that’s it. I’m going to figure out who owns what when I’m done here.”
“So what are you doing here?” Velvet asked as she came back into the room bearing the dish of pasta and a warm baguette. “It’s not like you to drop in unannounced.”
“I had been working up at the castle today, and with my evening free I thought I could use a little break. I’m working on an education reform to help foals who fall below the national thaumaturgic average due to circumstantial factors, such as lack of access to proper facilities or instruction. Thanks mom,” she added as Velvet scooped her out a helping of macaroni and cheese.
“Well,” Night Light said, “my first thought would be ‘it’s about time’, but how are you going to pull it off?”
“I’ve worked out the funding,” Twilight offered. “Some other parts of it still need refinement, though, so the details aren’t quite set in stone yet.”
“No, I mean how are you going to make sure you cover everything and integrate it with what's already there?”
Starbuck nodded with growing confidence. “I think I get where Night is going with this. This about that thing in the paper the other week?”
“What thing?” Twilight asked, looking between Starbuck and her father.
Night Light looked to Velvet. “You can probably tell it better than I could.”
Velvet continued to serve as she talked. “Fancy Pants made a donation to three elementary schools and a secondary school in Canterlot last week so they could purchase equipment to help teach magic. It was quite well received until one reporter raised a question. She asked him about why he didn’t think about donating to Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns instead. He said, ‘The only time I’d even think about donating to that place is if they were raising money to tear it down.’ ” Velvet gave Twilight a wry smile. “Suffice to say ponies are not happy about it, some even going as far as to say that the schools should reject his donations.”
“Understandably!” Twilight declared. “The school helps hundreds of foals develop their talents.”
“It’s unfortunate that I agree with him.”
Twilight gaped unabashedly at her mother. “Why!”
“I wouldn’t come on quite as strong as Fancy Pants did, but the public schools do suffer horribly because of Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns... Well at least when it comes to magic. There's this attitude that any foal who can’t pass the exam is obviously second rate and not worth the time. No one will quite say it, and some ponies don’t intentionally act that way, but it’s how it is.”
“The entrance exam is a little strict,” she admitted.
“It’s more than a little strict,” Velvet said. “Mess up the exam, you’re out unless you pay the retesting fee. Not suited to their brand of testing, you’re out. Can’t meet the certain index of strength, you’re out. The whole school needs to be restructured to allow for a broader range of talents. You were so close to failing to entrance exam, even though you knew more about magic most third years students at the time.”
The test, as Twilight had learned in hindsight, was to cast some form of magic on a dragon egg: Spike’s egg. Few things were as resilient to magic as dragon eggs, to the point they were all but impossible to carry with magic. Even before she was an alicorn, it would have been near impossible for Twilight to draw forth enough magic without a surge. At the time of the test, she had incorrectly assumed that there was a certain spell to hatch the egg, and that the point of the test was to hatch the egg. The only problem was dragon eggs tended to diffuse any complex spell into its base elements. The real purpose of the test had been to draw forth as much magic as possible, the adjudicators basing on their decision on how the egg reacted. Using enough power, regardless of spell, would have hatched the egg.
“Even if I had that time, I could have taken the test again, or tried again next year,” Twilight said.
Night Light cleared his throat. “Honey, we’ve never told you this, but coming up with the money to have you write the exam in the first place wasn’t exactly easy. If you had failed, there’s no way we could have managed to pay the retesting fee. We were so worried that you would be heartbroken when we had signed you up. And the test is a practical test, not theory. Think of all your unique experiences and practice in your first year. Could you have passed the next one without them?”
To that, Twilight didn’t have an answer. She toyed with a macaroni noodle with her fork trying to figure it out.
“The school is great in what it teaches,” he continued, “but it’s better suited for practical ponies to learn theory than those who know theory to learn practical means. As a unicorn, you’d get a better magical education in Manehatten than here if you didn’t make it.”
“If I had failed that test, what would have happened?”
Her parents exchanged a sad look. “We’re not sure,” Velvet said. “We could have seen about getting a private tutor, but that could have cost more than we could afford. Especially considering your understanding of theoretical knowledge limited our choices.”
The knowledge troubled Twilight more than she cared to admit. She knew that the exam had been an important point in her life, for it marked her start as Celestia’s student, but she had always assumed that being a normal student of Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns to be the alternative, even if she was a little delayed. To hear otherwise changed things. It was hard to imagine how different her life would have been.
“I’ll think about it,” she said finally.
“Wonderful pasta, Velvet” Spinning Top said.
“Changing the subject subtly, are we?” Starbuck quipped. He winced as she rapped his shins.
“Starbuck!”
“Thank you Spinning,” Velvet said. “But yes, perhaps we should pick a different topic. Are you working on this reform by yourself dear?”
“Blueblood unfortunately,” Twilight answered with a sigh.
“And that explains the rough day.”
“Blueblood, really?” Starbuck asked. “How is Celestia expecting you to make something actually worthwhile implementing working with him?”
“If it gets bad, I’ll press Celestia on it,” Twilight said. “I’m not about to let him ruin the reform.”
“Enough of this talk of work,” Night Light said with a dismissive snort. “I think all of us hear enough about politics without having to talk about it.”
“Too true,” Spinning Top agreed.
“So how about hoof ball then? Canterlot is doing awfully well this season.”
Starbuck hummed through a mouthful of pasta. “That reminds me, I know somepony who can get us tickets to the finals if Canterlot makes it that far.”
“Really!” Night Light exclaimed. “That’s fantastic.”
Spinning Top mouthed something at Velvet who snickered in response.
“How about you Twilight?”
Twilight cocked her head. “Hmm?”
“I could see about getting you tickets if you want.”
“I don’t mind watching hoofball, but it’s Spike who loves the stuff,” Twilight admitted. “Spike, Discord, and a couple of ponies around Ponyville get together to watch the matches. If you could get two extra, I’d come, but Spike would appreciate it a lot more.”
“How’s the sweetheart doing?” Velvet asked.
“He’s keeping busy. He and Starlight really get along, and he’s been keeping in touch with Ember and Thorax. I’ve been thinking about school too.”
“Finally taking my advice?”
“Sort of,” Twilight admitted. “Agewise, he’s not much younger than me, but he’s a dragon. Dragons mature slower than ponies, so I have to look at different groups. I’m fairly confident Spike wouldn’t have much to learn from school, but then there’s the social aspect of it all. Then, on top of it, I’m having trouble figuring out what grade would be appropriate to enroll him at.”
“Why not look at something else then,” Spinning suggested. “If you’re just wanting him to meet more ponies, there’s all sorts of clubs or activities you could enroll him in. It doesn’t just have to be school. They also are often broader age groups too.”
“I’m still looking, but I’m not sure.”
“Then why don’t you ask him? No sense in enrolling him in something he has no interest in.”
“I probably should,” Twilight admitted. “I’m still need to figure out how to bring up the topic.”
“Oh, and why don’t you ask if he’d want to come stay with us for a week,” Velvet said. “It’s been far too long since we’ve seen him.”
Spike had a rather interesting family arrangement. Publically, he called Twilight Velvet and Night Light mom and dad, given the role they had in his upbringing. But while Celestia had been a little vague on the details the last time Twilight had asked, technically Celestia was Spike’s legal guardian. She had no idea whether that extended enough for Celestia to be considered his mother. Twilight suspected Spike knew the exact details a little better, but kept them to himself due to the fuss some ponies might make. Ever since he had left Canterlot, Celestia had entrusted Twilight to make decisions in her place.
“I’ll talk to him about it,” Twilight said. She stopped, recalling something. “If there’s that hoofball championship game coming up– “
“Probably coming up,” Starbuck cut in.
“-- probably coming up,” she continued, “how about he comes up then? It gives you a bit of time to get ready, and it will be a fun week for him.”
“That sounds like a great idea,” Night Light exclaimed.
“I agree,” Velvet said.
The rest of the meal passed pleasurably, the conversation turning to Spinning Top’s quilting and later the new constellation Luna had set up in the sky. Once everypony had finished their meals, Night Light collected their plates and disappeared into the kitchen. He returned bearing a rhubarb and pear crumble and ice cream. Twilight feared that by the time she got back to Ponyville, the number on the scale wouldn’t be to her liking.