Today was the day of Twilight’s test. We’d worked really hard last night, but I could tell that Twilight was still really nervous about the test. So, when it came time to go get breakfast in the commons area I made sure she got whatever she wanted.
“Who’s the filly with the patchy neck?” One of my fellow students called out near our table. Thankfully, Twilight was busy eating to notice the question. I turned and glared at the pony.
“She’s my little sister and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll treat her nicely,” I told the student.
“Okay, jeez. Sorry,” the student replied sarcastically.
“What was that!?” I growled and lit my horn. Most of the other students in the commons area stopped what they were doing and looked at our confrontation.
“Nothing,” the bully shrugged.
“Sounded like a fake apology to me,” I told him.
“Well, it wasn’t. So live with it,” he replied matter-of-factly.
“I’ve had to live with a lot of things until now. A stupid bully who doesn’t know who he’s messing with isn’t going to be one of the thing I live with now,” I said as I glared at him.
“Bunny?” Twilight asked quietly, making the bully laugh.
“Oh, she speaks. Well good for her,” he laughed.
“I challenge you to a duel,” I said in a low voice. This colt was pushing it too far and I wanted to snuff any further attempts of bullying either Twilight or myself as quick as possible. The bully, to my satisfaction, looked shocked.
“Bunny … it’s time to go,” Twilight whispered, leaning over the table a bit.
“Yeah, you’re right, Twilight. It’s time to go,” I replied without taking my eyes off of the bully. Twilight didn’t move when she saw I wasn’t budging.
“Please?” Twilight insisted. I growled at the bully before sighing and nodding.
“Sorry, Twi. Let’s go, it stinks in here anyway,” I said softly as I began to lead her towards the testing area. Twilight kept close, doing her best to keep up.
“Can you slow down a bit?” Twilight asked from behind me.
“Oh, sorry, sorry,” I said as I realized how fast I was going and slowed down to match Twilight’s pace.
“What’s the matter with you?” Twilight asked in concern. I sighed as my ears drooped a bit.
“That colt got to me and I lost my cool, sorry,” I apologized. Twilight was silent when I noticed her rub her neck out of the corner of my eye. “How’s your neck doing? Still irritated?”
“It is. I thought you had come home so I stuck my head out. I was frozen when I realised it was dad. I think this happened a couple hours after you left,” Twilight said quietly. I swore under my breath.
“We’ll have one of the nurses take a look at it. We have a bit of time before the test and it’d probably be better to have you comfortable. No unnecessary distractions,” I replied. Twilight nodded.
“When I do my summon, what if I summon the Princess?” Twilight whispered.
“Then you’re really, really strong and will pass with flying colors,” I told her before grinning. “It’s that or you’ll be sent to magic pre-school.”
“There’s magic pre-school?” Twilight blinked in disbelief.
“Mhm, and it’s the bare basics. Things you already know how to do,” I smirked as I lead her towards the nurse’s office.
“Oh no,” Twilight breathed, her eyes widening in fear. “Not that.” I couldn’t hold it in any longer and began laughing. Twilight stared at me blankly for the rest of the journey to the nurse’s office.
“Sorry, Twi. I was joking with you. If you happen to somehow summon the Princess then she might just extend the invitation to attend here herself,” I told Twilight as we reached the nurse’s office and walked in.
“Hello, fillies. It’s awful early to… Oh dear, what happened to your neck?” the nurse asked in concern when she noticed Twilight’s neck.
“There was a super glue incident, miss,” Twilight mumbled meekly, pressing into my side.
“Super glue? Well, I have just the thing. A salve that’ll reduce the irritation and help it heal quicker. Come take a seat on the exam table,” the nurse said softly with a smile. Twilight looked at the exam table before walking up the provided steps and laying down on it. The nurse smiled at Twilight again and got the salve from on of her cupboards before walking over to the exam table. “Can you tell me your name, pretty filly?”
“Twilight Sparkle,” Twilight said quietly with a small smile.
“Ooo, that’s wonderful name, Twilight. I’m Nurse Nightingale. You can call me Nurse Night for short,” Nurse Nightingale told Twilight as she unscrewed the lid of the salve and began to gently apply it to Twilight’s neck. Twilight winced at the contact before sighing in relief when the cream soothed her. “Feeling better?”
“I’m feeling a lot better, thank you, Nurse Night,” Twilight said happily once the salve had been fully applied.
“You’re welcome, Twilight. I’m always here if you need help or just want to talk about something,” Nurse Nightingale smiled back as she put away the salve.
“Alright, thank you,” Twilight thanked the kind nurse once more.
“We appreciate it. Twilight was distracted by the irritation and she’s got a test today,” I said gratefully.
“Well, come on back if it feels bad again. Princess Celestia doesn’t like her students being in discomfort or pain,” Nurse Nightingale told us.
“Thanks, we’ll be sure to do that,” I replied as I helped Twilight off of the exam table and started back towards the testing area. Twilight leaned against me with a happy sigh when we exited the office. “Feeling much better, I assume.”
“Mhm. My neck kept me up for most of the night but it’s all good now,” Twilight replied in delight.
“I’m sorry to hear about you losing sleep because of it, but I’m really glad it’s better. Now you can take the test without it distracting you,” I smiled down at her. Twilight giggled at this. “What’s so funny, Twily?”
“Just the fact that I can be happy without the fear of dad,” Twilight said slowly.
“Yeah, it’s a wonderful thing, isn’t it?” I asked softly as we approached the testing area.
“It is,” Twilight agreed and a few moments later, we were at the classroom where Twilight was meant to perform her test.
“Okay, this is it. You can do this, I know you can, Twilight,” I encouraged her as we paused to the side of the teachers judging the test.
“I can do this,” Twilight said nervously before looking at the teachers. They were each looking boredly at their clipboards of notes on other candidates. “Um … e-excuse me?”
“Hmm?” the closest teacher hummed and looked in Twilight’s direction. “Yes? Can we help you?”
“I’m, um, Twilight ... Sparkle and I’m meant to be taking the test,” Twilight said nervously with a hesitant smile.
“Miss Sparkle?” the teacher asked before looking at the list. “Ah, yes. You’re right on time. Come stand in front of the three of us.” Twilight nodded, and after a whisper of more encouragement from me, walked down to the front of the room and looked back at the teachers.
“Hello, Miss Sparkle. Do you have a spell you’d like to perform for us? If you don’t then we can have you try to hatch a dragon’s egg,” one of the teachers said.
“I can perform a summoning spell …” Twilight began.
“Summoning? Alright, what will you be summoning for us today?” asked the third teacher.
“My s-sister … who is r-r-right beside you,” Twilight answered nervously.
“Summoning a pony. Well, that’s a feat to behold in one so young. You may begin when you’re ready,” the second teacher said. I watched Twilight console herself before lighting her horn up. It flickered for a bit in Twilight’s nervousness but then it brightened up. Her eyes were screwed shut in concentration as I felt her magic surround me. I relaxed and did my best to not resist Twilight’s summoning.
A loud boom was heard, and out the nearby window, a circular rainbow extended across the sky. Twilight’s spell faltered before her eyes glowed pure white. Her magic was lit brighter than before and I felt myself get pulled toward her along with the teachers and another presence that seemed more powerful than any I’d felt before.
I watched Twilight in concern as her eyes lost their glow and she bowed her head, closing her eyes while breathing heavily. I heard the teachers gasp while I watched Twilight be enveloped in a golden aura and get lifted off the floor. I looked around and my eyes widened when I saw that Princess Celestia was now in the room with us. That must have been what the teachers gasped about.
“I believe this little filly has passed the test,” Princess Celestia said softly as she looked at Twilight. Twilight looked back and shrunk under her gaze.
“Pr-Princess Celestia,” Twilight squeaked in surprise. Princess Celestia chuckled softly and smiled at Twilight.
“Hello, little one. How’re you feeling?” the Princess asked.
“Surprised. Tired. Drained. Um. Weirdly happy?” Twilight got out in a nervous splutter.
“Most of that is to be expected from somepony who’s magic when wild. For the happiness, I’d guess that you were able to summon me,” Celestia smiled. It was while the Princess spoke that I noticed something about Twilight.
“Twilight! Twilight! Look at your flank!” I told her in excitement.
“I was … trying to … summon my sister,” Twilight replied slowly and pointed to me before registering my words and managing to twist her head to look at her flank. There upon her once blank flank was a six pointed star with others surrounding it. She’d gained her cutie mark. “My cutie mark! I got my cutie mark!”
“Then a double congratulations are in order, my pony. For, you’re admitted to my school, as well,” Celestia told Twilight.
“I … what? I am!?” Twilight gasped. Celestia smiled and nodded.
“You may have been trying to summon you sister, but summoning me, who didn’t know anything about today’s test, is a harder feat to perform. So, you’ve passed,” Celestia said before looking at me and blinking in surprise. “Is that your sister over there?”
“Bunny? Yes, she is,” Twilight nodded and looked at me as well with one of the broadest grins I’ve ever seen her wear.
“Then this isn’t the first time we’ve met, my pony. I met your sister when she earned her cutie mark five years ago in the Sunset Rose field. In fact, I remember a very small version of you, too,” Celestia said.
“You do?” Twilight asked, turning back to Celestia so fast I thought she got whiplash.
“Mhm, I do. Both of you performed feats of magic far beyond your years and experience to earn your cutie marks. Summoning me for you and making a Sunset Rose bloom for her. What are your names?” Celestia replied.
“Twilight Sparkle, miss,” Twilight said with a smile.
“And I’m Sunset Shimmer, Your Majesty,” I told her with a bow.
“Twilight and Sunset. I’m sorry to say, but neither of you will be attending my school for gifted Unicorns,” Celestia told us. My world shattered. Not attend the school anymore? But, that was the plan. Attend school and get out of our father’s clutches. Yet, the Princess just doomed us to living with him indefinitely. I broke down and started crying and pounding the floor in frustration.
“You just said I was admitted, Princess,” Twilight asked confusedly. I was somewhat thankful that she didn’t break down in front of Her Majesty as well.
“I did, but then I changed my mind. For you see, attending this school would be wasting your potential. So, instead of attending here, you’ll both be my personal students,” Celestia said, but I didn’t quite make that out through my tears and pounding.
“Personal ... students?” Twilight repeated in shock and it took my sister’s voice to get through to my mind. I froze as the tears continued to stream down my face to stare at the Princess and my sister in disbelief of what I’d just heard. Personal students? That was unheard of.
“Yes, Twilight. Personal students. You and your sister will study and learn about magic and other things under my tutelage starting tomorrow,” Celestia smiled with a nod. I still couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It was too good to be true. Through the disbelief fogging my mind, I felt Twilight hug me tightly. I instinctively returned the hug as I watched the Princess approach us with her graceful, seemingly effortless stride. I blinked then looked down at Twilight. She was smiling even more than before. A question stuck in my head, though.
“U-um, Princess? Wh-where will we, uh, live?” I asked. So long as we didn’t have to live with ‘dad’, I didn’t care.
“You two move to a more personal and spacious room here on campus and will come to the castle each day for lessons,” Princess Celestia explained. I sighed in relief. We were still safe from the monster we called ‘dad.’
“You hear that, Bunny!?” Twilight asked excitedly.
“Mhm, I heard and it’s wonderful news. Wonderful, wonderful news,” I nodded as tears of joy replaced tears of frustration and sadness. I smiled down at my sister and tightened our embrace.
“Thank you, Princess,” Twilight smiled softly when she turned in my embrace to face Princess Celestia.
“Yes, thank you. We never expected to have something so… amazing happen to us,” I smiled up at the Princess.
“No need for thanks, my ponies. You’ve earned this through your hard work, dedication, and loyalty,” Princess Celestia smiled softly down at us. “Now, let’s get you two situated in your new accommodations.”
“I’m guessing we follow you,” Twilight grinned sheepishly.
“First, I’ll follow you so we can get your things together. After that, I’ll show you to your new room,” Princess Celestia explained.
“We, um, don’t have much, Princess,” Twilight murmured, looking up at me.
“It’s mainly just some things from home and our pillows. We, uh, weren’t the most well off before getting here,” I admitted and expected the Princess to scoff or laugh, but all she did was smile.
“We’ll have to remedy that a little at a time then. For now, let’s go collect what you two do have,” Princess Celestia said softly as she walked up to us. She wasn’t as tall as I remembered her, but she still towered over us.
“R-Right this way then,” I said nervously and began walking with Twilight towards our room while the Princess followed sedately behind us. The students that were still out in the hallways bowed as the Princess passed them and when she passed, they began whispering among themselves. Heh, the look on their faces was priceless as we walked by with the Princess. I’m sure I’d have to deal with some discrimination once they found out what had happened, but that was then and this was now.
When we got to our room, I watched Twilight walk to the bed we had slept in and grabbed Mister Smarty Pants in her mouth while looking at the picture of her and I. I couldn’t help, but sigh a bit as I gathered our other things in my magic and packed them into my bags.
“Do you have everything?” Celestia asked in a very motherly tone. Twilight turned to me with the toy still in her mouth but the picture and pillow were in her magic and on her back respectively.
“Fumsing wong?” Twilight asked me in a muffled, curious tone.
“Just remembering when that photo was taken. It was one of the few times we were both happy in the last five years,” I said softly as I took her doll in my magic so she could talk properly. Twilight licked her lips and then coughed.
“Fur is not good to eat,” Twilight coughed, holding a hoof in front of her mouth. I chuckled softly and shook my head.
“Go into the bathroom for some water before we go,” I told her. Twilight nodded with a smile and levitated the picture back onto the bed before walking into the bathroom. I smiled and waited for Twilight to return in awkward silence, shifting my weight from hoof to hoof, with the Princess standing in the doorway, the picture of patience and understanding. A few moments of this passed before Twilight came back.
“Bunny, the water tastes great! There’s no metallic taste to it at all,” Twilight said happily as she levitated her picture once more.
“Mhm, the pipes aren’t wearing down like ours are,” I nodded before freezing in place as I felt the Princess’ gaze roving over us.
“Hmm, we can discuss your situation as we head towards your new room. Of course, I won’t force either of you to say anything. Everypony has things they’d rather not talk about,” Celestia said after a moment of contemplation as she slowly walked off. I sighed and walked after her, matching Twilight’s pace.
“Did I say something bad?” Twilight blinked, tilting her head at my sigh.
“No, you didn’t, Twily. It’s just that ponies in our situation can be treated differently and I’d rather not get special treatment because of our circumstances,” I explained quietly, hoping the Princess wouldn’t hear.
“Doesn’t everypony have a dad like ours though?” Twilight asked in confusion.
“No, they don’t. Most ponies have a loving father,” I answered softly. Twilight bore a shocked expression and I saw her bottom lip tremble slightly. I sighed and walked closer to Twilight before nuzzling her. “It’s alright, Twilight. We’re out of that situation.” She seemed to calm down with a happy sigh and leaned into me.
“Do either of you two have any questions or concerns about anything?” Princess Celestia asked.
“How big is the room?” Twilight asked.
“Which room? You’ll have more than one in your new housing,” Princess Celestia replied. I gasped in shock. We were getting more than one room!?
“Our … bedroom?” Twilight questioned, the Princess’s words flying completely over her head.
“Your bedroom will be a little bigger than your previous room. You’ll have a small kitchen, some bookshelves, a second floor that you can do with what you will, a full bathroom, and a small living room,” Princess Celestia told us. My eyes boggled. We were getting our own house by the sound of it!
“That sounds ten times bigger than the closet I’ve been sleeping in!” Twilight exclaimed in surprise. I clamped a hoof over Twilight’s mouth, but it was too late.
“Closet? You’ve been sleeping in a closet?” Princess Celestia blinked.
“Boor my hoke life,” Twilight tried to say through my hoof. I sighed in defeat and took my hoof away from Twilight’s mouth.
“Hmm, what else can you tell me of your previous living conditions?” Princess Celestia asked.
“It was stinky, multiple bottles, um … brown water and … I think I smelled something off at one point,” Twilight said with a hoof on her chin, her tongue sticking out in concentration.
“We lived in a run-down house with our father, Princess. This place was luxurious enough as it was,” I said softly.
“What of your mother then?” Princess Celestia inquired. I winced and looked down at the floor.
“What mother?” Twilight interjected with a head tilt.
“Everypony has a mother, Twilight. Even me,” Princess Celestia said softly.
“Ours… sh-she disappeared. When I was five,” I said so quietly I wasn’t sure the Princess heard me, but she nodded slightly and slowed down to walk beside us.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” she said quietly before draping a majestic wing over the both of us. I wasn’t sure how to reply to this. I wasn’t sure I could reply to her kindness. So, I just walked along as I tried and failed to keep my tears in check.
“Your face is leaking,” Twilight said, peering in closely at me.
“Y-Yeah, i-it is. L-Let me t-try to fix that,” I got out before lighting my horn and attempting to dry the tears with some flame. All that happened, though, was a little light show. I couldn’t control my magic well enough to prevent myself from crying. I heard Twilight and the Princess speak about something but I couldn’t make it out over the sound of my heart pounding in my ears.
After what seemed an eternity, we arrived at a small building that was shaped like an onion. A narrow bottom that curved out before tapering to a point at the top. Princess Celestia opened the door with her magic and walked inside with us.
“Welcome to your new home, Sunset, Twilight,” Princess Celestia said and gestured around us as she turned on the lights.
“There’s lights,” I heard Twilight whisper before immediately going to the window and looking out. “Look! It’s the castle!”
“The castle is within walking distance from here. You’ll come to me each day for your lessons,” Princess Celestia told us as I joined Twilight at the window. The view truly was filled by the castle and it was a wondrous sight to behold.
“We walk to the castle? What about those pointy sticks?” Twilight asked, directing my attention to the far off spears at the gates.
“The spears? Those are held by the guards who keep ponies from entering the castle without permission,” I told her when I noticed what she was pointing at.
“They’ll have orders to escort you two to me until you’re more used to the castle’s layout,” Princess Celestia told us. That was a relief, getting lost was a big concern.
“Okay,” Twilight said happily.
“You two will also have access to the Royal Library should you not find a book for your studies within the small collection you have here,” the Princess said.
“Wait, we have books here?” I asked before looking around and noticing at least four bookshelves full of books. My jaw dropped. We had our own library in here!
“Books!” I heard Twilight squeal before she rushed over to the bookshelf on the far right. I chuckled and shook my head.
“You can read them as much as you like so long as you don’t fall behind in your studies,” the Princess told us.
“Bunny won’t let me,” Twilight grinned, turning back to face me.
“Oh, you think so, huh? Well, guess again. I’m with the Princess on this one, but you also have to eat and bathe properly, too,” I told her. I knew that she’d read for hours on end without a break if I’d let her.
“But those things aren’t necessary!” Twilight whined.
“Yes, they are, Twilight. You won’t have the energy to read without eating and bathing will keep you from accidentally smudging the print,” I replied.
“Awww,” Twilight sighed and sat on her haunches.
“Well, if you two don’t have any more questions at the moment. I’ll leave you to get settled. Let me know if you need anything,” Princess Celestia said with a wave before walking towards the castle.
“Alright, we will, Princess. Thank you again,” I called.
“Okay, bye bye,” Twilight waved and beamed at me.
“This is… awesome!” I cheered after I’d closed and locked our door. Twilight laughed and I felt her hug my leg tightly. I smiled down at her and returned the hug before a flash and thud came from nearby.
“What was that?” Twilight whispered, looking up at me with wide eyes.
“I’m not sure,” I answered as I looked around. I cocked my head to the side when I noticed a sealed scroll and a bag on the table. “Looks like the sound came from that bag on the table.”
“Um,” Twilight murmured and let go of me. She walked over to the table and rested her forehooves on the surface before tapping the bag with one of her hooves. A metallic clinking came from inside of the bag. “There’s something in here,” she reported before lighting her horn. Her magic disappeared inside the bag and brought out a golden coin.
“That’s a bit. The thing we used to get food to celebrate that one time,” I said in surprise as I walked over and took the scroll in my magic. “The scroll has the Princess’ mark on the seal.”
“What does it say then?” Twilight asked, her magic bringing out a few more bits from the bag. “It just keeps going!” I broke the seal and unfurled the scroll before reading it aloud.
“My students, Sunset and Twilight. I had forgotten to mention about an allowance you two will receive for materials, food, and miscellaneous other things. I’ve included more than usual should you need to buy some necessities. The normal amount will be supplied to each of you on a weekly basis,” I read, my eyes widening with each word.
“How much is here then?” Twilight whispered, shocked, and keeping the bits in her magic, upended the bag so they wouldn’t spill everywhere. “Whoops,” she said sheepishly when the bits proved a bit too much to handle and she ended up underneath a small pile of them. I panicked a bit and got her out from beneath the bits.
“Are you alright, Twily?” I asked in concern. Twilight coughed and a bit fell out of her mouth.
“How did that get there?” Twilight blinked and levitate the single bit up to inspect it.
“Mmm, magic,” I grinned as I set her on the floor. “You’re not hurt anywhere, right?”
“No, I’m not, but …” Twilight trailed off when we regarded the small pile on the floor that spilled over from the table. “That is a lot of bits.”
“She did say she’d included extra, but this makes me wonder how much she expects us to spend in a week,” I nodded as I stared at the pile of bits.
“We … could eat out again,” Twilight said quietly.
“I think she expects us to, actually,” I blinked as I considered the amount of bits. We could live for months off of this amount alone and we were going to get more next week!
“Wow,” Twilight breathed and placed the bit she had levitating with the others and walked around the table. “What’s that celebration? The one you keep taking me to every year?”
“Every year? That’s your birthday, silly,” I giggled. How could she forget about her own birthday?
“Not my birthday,” Twilight giggled. “The one where the Princess is present.”
“Ah, the Summer Sun Celebration. That celebrates the longest day of the year. The one where the Princess raises the sun after walking onto a stage?” I replied.
“Yeah, that one,” Twilight nodded.
“The Summer Sun Celebration. That day also has the shortest night of the year,” I told her as I put the bits back into the bag.
“Did we go to it?” Twilight asked. “I can’t really remember.”
“We’ve been once. The location it’s held moves from one town or city to another with each year,” I explained as I cinched the cords of the bag. Twilight nodded and walked over to the stairs before heading up them.
“There are beds up here!” Twilight called out. “And huge closets!”
“And here we are without a single bit of clothing to put in them,” I chuckled before walking after Twilight. “Anything else up there, Twi?”
“Just a big window to see the castle with!” Twilight said excitedly and I heard her bouncing up and down on the floorboards. I chuckled and shook my head with a smile.
“Which bed do you want?” I asked when I got to the top of the stairs.
“That one,” Twilight pointed when she stopped her bouncing to the one closest to the window.
“Alright, then that one’s yours,” I nodded as I levitated Smarty Pants and Twilight’s pillow onto the bed before bringing up our other things in my magic.
“Mmm … now what?” Twilight asked once everything was in place.
“Now we arrange our other things as we want them, go get some food, get some groceries perhaps, and come back to get ready for our new life as Princess Celestia’s students,” I said as I put my pillow on the remaining bed. This was the beginning of a better life for us.