//------------------------------//
// "An Incomplete Interview" 
// Story: Interview with a Heartbroken Princess 
// by twilightsparkle3562 
//------------------------------//

In the days following the emotional interview with the princesses, all I could do was set about sitting at my desk at the Equestrian Journal, putting together the article that would be filled with more than sadness for my readers. But, I couldn't help but feel that I didn't get entirely what I set out to do. In fact, even a part of me wanted to go back and finish what I had started, while another part of me just didn't want to go through with Twilight bawling like a foal again.

"How's it going, Scoop?" asked my boss as he walked into my office. "And I couldn't help but wonder that you've been very quiet among your colleagues. Care to tell me what the problem is?"

"It's just that I can't help but think for Princess Twilight," I sighed moving away from my work for a brief moment. "I mean, when I was interviewing her and all, I couldn't help but feel nothing but sympathy for her. It makes you wonder when you think about it."

My boss raised an eyebrow at this remark and sat down in front of my desk, looking as if he was keen to hear what I had to say to him about Princess Twilight.

"In what way do you say that?" he asked.

"Well, when I was interviewing them," I explained. "I tried to paint a picture of the situation that they were all in and well, I tried to put myself in their shoes. Tirek…he had no mercy and nopony, not even my own worst enemy, should go through what Twilight and her equals went through. It makes me want to turn back time and face Tirek myself."

"Scoop, I know what you are thinking," said my boss. "You want to find a time travel spell and change history, simply because you feel bad for an alicorn princess. It makes you seem like you are in love with Princess Twilight."

"Beg your pardon?" I remarked, sitting at my desk with a wide-eyed expression on my face. "What did you say? That I am in love with Princess Twilight? Do you mean that in a mutual way or…?"

"No," stammered my boss. "I…I…I chose my words wrong. I shouldn't have said that, Hot. I know that you feel sorry because you care. I respect you for your honesty and dedication."

"Well, thanks for your understanding," I said. "But, I don't plan on finding a time travel spell to go back in time. I'm not even a unicorn, nor am I an alicorn. I'm an Earth pony with a profession as a journalist and reporter for a major newspaper. And you know very well and I know very well that we sometimes have to understand our interview subjects a little bit better."

My boss sat back and contemplated just exactly what I was saying. It was him after all that told me that we needed to have sensitivity and restraint in what we do.

"Finding a time travel spell wouldn't erase what Twilight and her fellow princesses went through," I continued. "Along with everypony else affected by Tirek and even Discord when he was allied with him. We have to move on with our lives, no matter how difficult certain events can be."

"You're right," remarked my boss, getting up from the seat in front of my desk. "Well, I think that you should get back to what you are doing. But, for the sake of the business of what we do, I must ask you to try and finish the interview with the princesses."

"But, sir…" I protested, not wanting to put the princesses through the wringer again.

"We have no other choice, Hot," he interrupted, opening the door to my office. "We are a business and we must complete the tasks that we set ourselves up for."

I sighed heavily and accepted what needed to be done. Once the door was closed, I returned to finishing up my article eventually sending it to my boss for editing.

…

Soon, the time came for me to return home and I collapsed on the sofa, exhausted, tired and wanting to just let the floor sink and drag me under the hole. I didn't want to go back and force Twilight to open her wounds up even more, but I couldn't just let this sweep under the rug.

Perhaps that there would be something coming up and put an end to the proposed plan that was being thrown out in front of me. Just then, I heard a knock at the door and trotted over.

"Who is it?" I asked.

"Open the door, Hot Scoop," called a very authorative voice and I opened the door to reveal a messenger from Canterlot handing me a scroll with Princess Celestia's seal on it. "I have here a message from Princess Celestia."

"Thank you," I said and opened the scroll to read what was in front of me:

Dear Hot Scoop,

I am writing this to you in regards to the interview at Princess Twilight's castle a few days ago. All four of us came to an agreement and we wish to sit down with you again and finish up the interview that we had started. Despite the fact that we were reluctant that Princess Twilight not participate in the remainder of the interview. She was very insistent on continuing to participate and finish what she was starting to tell you before her emotions got the better of her. Once you receive this scroll, please respond as soon as possible. Thank you again!

Her Royal Highness,

Princess Celestia

…

I took in what I had read and gave myself a few minutes to think about my response while the messenger waited. It may have only been a few minutes, but it certainly felt like an eternity. Finally, I came up with an answer for the messenger.

"You can tell her highness, Princess Celestia, that I will be willing to finish the interview," I replied. "At their convenience, of course. I do not want them to rush back into something that was stressful for them. Is that understood?"

"Yes sir," replied the messenger and he left, allowing me to shut the door. Perhaps this was a risk for the interview to continue, but it needed to be done. We are a business after all and the Equestrian public needed to know the whole truth.

A few more days later, I heard a knock at the door and I walked over to see the same messenger pony on the other side.

"The princesses wish to see you tomorrow," he explained. "At the Castle of Friendship at Princess Twilight's request."

I didn't want us to continue the interview at the Castle of Friendship, but I had very little choice in the matter. Accepting my fate, I motioned for the messenger to tell the princesses that I was willing to finish the interview at the Castle of Friendship.

But, I could only wonder to myself just how the interview was going to finish…