With an objective now set of interviewing Twilight, or trying too. If she had refused talking to the press this long I wasn't sure how good my chances were, probably better than the rest of the press but still not the best. Either way worst that could happen is she says no.
As I was retracing my steps back towards the library, once more trying to fathom why anyone would build a town like this. I idly wondered if I'd run into the letter carrier again though since it had been about an hour I doubted she'd still be in the area. Still wanted to thank her again as I doubted I'd have found the newspaper offices without her help, least not so quickly.
As I thought she wasn't anywhere on the route back so I'd have to thank her later if I ever came across her again.
The library was right where I left it, still inside a tree rooted to the ground. I made a mental note to ask how and why inside a tree later.
As I opened the door I found Twilight helping a couple of ponies find some books and I waved to her when she looked over before going and looking over the shelves to wait for the other ponies to leave so I could talk to her about the task I was given by the paper.
It took about half an hour for the ponies to leave, mostly do to a third one arriving and needing help. Soon though it was just me and Twilight.
“Hey Twilight, how are you?” I asked her.
“Fine, did you find the newspaper offices alright?”
I nodded. “Yeah, had a bit of trouble but a letter carrier helped me out.”
“Ah that's good, a mailmare would know their way around.”
I stopped and blinked, seriously? Mailmare? Was that the official name or….come to think of it it was called a mailman back home so I guess it wasn't that odd. To not look like a weirdo I nodded once again. “Yeah, I need to remember to track her down later to thank her.”
“If I recall she lived above the post office with her daughter.” Twilight said screeching her chin.
“Ah, okay I'll go by there tomorrow then.” I said making a mental note to ask where that was. “Anyways the paper is given me a trial run on a story before they hire me.”
“Oh that's good, what is the story? I might be able to help.”
I sighed, here came the moment of truth. “They want me to interview you about Nightmare Moon.” I said and her friendly smiled dropped a bit as she sighed.
“I might have guessed, they've been hounding me for one and they are harder to ignore then the others since they are here in town.” she said with the barest hint of annoyance. She looked at me a bit harder then rocked her head side to side as if thinking then she sighed and looked at the floor before turning and heading towards the door to the kitchen. “I guess I can give in and let you interview me since it's the only way they will hire you, and it will get them to leave me alone.” she said with less of the usual friendly demeanor she'd had up to this point.
I blinked in surprise as I had expected her to say no since she had before to whoever came before me. It took me a moment to realize I was just standing here watching her disappear into the kitchen. I quickly followed her just ask Spike came out most likely to mind the front.
Stepping into the kitchen I saw Twilight making tea at the stove. “Mind if I grab some juice?” I asked.
“Oh, I was making tea for us.” She said looking back.
“I figured but….I'm not the biggest fan of tea….”I said rubbing the back of my neck, I know it was rude of me not to accept what she was making but I really didn't like teas and they made me feel sick after a couple of drinks and I'd rather not have her make me a cup and it just go to waste.
“Oh, um...okay yeah, there is some apple juice in the fridge.” She said, I think she was thrown off or surprised by my not liking tea.
I made my way to the fridge and carefully poured myself a glass of juice once I found it, I was more or less comfortable at walking, only stumbling a few times, but I did not fully trust myself with pouring drinks. So I went slow with it and in short order I had the glass poured and the juice put away. It was then I realized the fatal flaw in my plan in that I didn't pour the glass at the table but rather the counter by the fridge, which meant I now had to carry the glass of liquid to the table rather than the sealed jug of juice.
I was as delicate as a surgeon walking my glass over to the table, paying close attention to my three legs, four I was comfortable with, three I wasn't even close. I went very slowly, one step at a time and after almost a minutes I reached the table a few feet from the counter and sat across from Twilight who was staring at me with the most bewildered look on her face I had ever seen.
I felt my cheeks heat a bit and chuckled sheepishly. “I'm still not fully comfortable with my hooves yet.”
She blinked and then slowly nodded as she poured herself some tea and set the pot back down. “So then….where do we start?” she asked and it was here I realized I did not have anything to write with or on.
“Uh...might I borrow a pen and paper?” I asked smiling, such a professional I was!
“Paper? Pen?” she asked tilting her head. “Um...you can borrow a scroll and a quill yes.” she said as the items appeared in her magic.
“Thanks.” I asked taking them as she held them out to me. Great they have electronic music but still used quills and parchment. Glad I knew a bit how to use a quill, contrary to popular belief it is not like using modern writing implements.
I pulled the cork from the ink well and set it to the side before unrolling the scroll and dipping the quill, wiped it on the edge to get the excess off so it doesn't drip and immediately realize I have no idea what to ask. Yup I am amazing at this.
She sits there waiting as I scramble for what to asked. “Uh…..so where were you born?” I blurt out as it was the first thing that came to mind.
“I was born in the upper part of Canterlot. My parents are Twilight Velvet and Nightlight and my older brother is Shining Armor.” she said as if this was a normal thing to be asked.
Okay that's good, I quickly write that down and then it hits me. “Upper part of the Canterlot? Isn't that the capital city?” I asked looking at her. “and the upper part would be for….”
She sighed. “Yes yes, the highest echelons of Equestria, mom is a best selling author and dad is head of the Royal Observatory, as well as my brother being the Captain of the Royal Guard.” she said as her ears dropped while I just stared do to the fact I am sitting her with someone of rather high rank and status, well not rather high, extremely high status.
Her ears splayed backwards and she looked down and I blinked. “What's wrong?”
“Just….ponies tend to….act differently when they find out and try to get my favor because of it as well as my connection to the Princess….” She said still looking down.
“Lonely at the top.”
She nodded. “I just wanted to study things as the times I tried to make friends ponies were either scared off by my status or tried to use me….”
“And so you focused solely on your studies as there was no one to try anything.”
She slowly nodded. “There were a few who were acquaintances of mine but by then I only focused on my books and research…..then I came here…”
“And no one knew who you were and only saw you, and without realizing it you took a chance.” I said and she nodded. I sighed and sat back. “Guess that's why you avoided interviews.” she nodded again and I watched her still looking down.
After a moment I started to write. “was born and raised in Canterlot by her parents and older brother.” I said out loud what I was writing and she looked up at me.
“You aren't writing who they are?” she asked in surprise.
“Should i?” I asked. “I mean I was just told interview you about taking down Nightmare Moon, I don't see how your status or your families jobs has anything to do with that.” I looked up at her. “Do you?”
She blinked at me as if trying to understand what I was saying. “But…..that would guarantee your job.”
“Maybe so, maybe no. But it is clear this is something that has nothing to do with what I was assigned to do nor does it hurt anyone not knowing.”
She blinked and slowly a smile crept onto her face. “Thank you.”
“For what? I’m just doing what I was assigned to.” I said back innocently.
She chuckled and took a sip of her tea. “So what's the next question?” she asked with more life then before, it was clear I made her more comfortable assuring her i wasn't going to talk about her status.
I thought. “Well what are some of your hobbies?” I asked deciding to stick with the more personal questions and work up to the major ones.
“I enjoy reading and doing magical experiments as well as learning new spells.” and I wrote.
“So what's it like being Celestia’s personal Student?” I figured since that was part of how she introduced herself she didn't mind that part being known or it was just such common knowledge it didn't matter.
At this she smiled wide. “Oh its wonderful! Princess Celestia is the best teacher ever and taught me so much about magical theory, science, mathematics, just everything. And she is so kind and caring and always willing to listen…” I sat there trying to keep up as she kept going on about how great Celestia was till I finally just wrote, “It's great.” and just sat there to listen.
It wasn't hard to see how big of a fan of Celestia she was, I made a mental note she was a bit of a zealot and to be careful about that.
After what I estimated was about ten minutes she seemed to wind down and finally took another sip of her tea, looking at it confused as it had long since stopped steaming.
“Sooo…...how did you learn about Nightmare Moon? did Celestia tell you?” I asked as she seemed to use her magic to reheat her tea if it glowing purple and starting to steam again was any indication.
She looked back at me. “No, I was reading an old book I got from the Canterlot Library and it talked about the legend. Something about it gave me a bad feeling and upon further research I found that Nightmare Moon was due to return that very night.”
“I wrote a letter to Celestia about my findings and...she told me not to worry about it and sent me to Ponyville to oversee the Summer Sun Celebration preparation and to make friends.”
“So she knew about the return and her response was to send you to supervise an event?” I asked surprised.
She nodded taking a sip of tea. “Yes, you see the only way to stop Nightmare Moon was with the Elements of Harmony, which required 6 bearers who each have to embody at that particular Elements trait. Applejack was Honesty, Rarity Generosity, Pinkie was Laughter, Dash was Loyalty, Fluttershy was Kindness and I was the Magic.” she said.
“I don't think Magic is a personality trait.”
“It's not so much about personality, but more about aspects of who you are.”
“So….virtues basically?”
“Yes exactly.” She said nodding.
“Hmm….” I wrote and thou thought what to ask next. “So how did you learn about these Elements and how to get them?”
“There was a book here in the library that said where they were and somewhat how to find them.” she said. “I mean….it said where they were but...was a bit vague on how to use them…..now now that's not to say it didn't tell me how to do it!” she said the last part quickly waving a hoof frantically as if to ward off some attack. “I just didn't understand it at the time.”
“So….you had to learn? It was some sort of lesson?”
“Yes exactly. I had to learn to trust my friends and see the good in them and just….see them as friends.”
I nodded and wrote. “It seems a lot could have gone wrong with this entire quest, change one thing and it all comes crashing down.”
She stopped and stared at me eyes widening as if she hadn't thought of that. “I…..I guess you're right….but it did work out!”
I slowly nodded. “Suppose so…..so tell me…..what was it like going after Nightmare Moon? I mean she was an insane alicorn with who knows what kind of power at her disposal and you were just a small group of ponies.”
She nodded and sipped her tea. “Yes….to be honest….looking back...I guess not for how focused I was on saving Celestia….I really don't think I could have made it, I mean don't get me wrong there were many times along the way we're I was scared….just...I wasn't as scared as I think I should have been….once the challenges were overcome I was back on track.”
“So what you're saying was because of getting tunnel vision you didn't notice how terrifying what you were doing?”
She nodded. “I….guess?”
“So….what was it like actually being face to face with Nightmare Moon herself?”
“I guess a lot like going to face her….only….less so….I’m not sure how to explain it….I mean...I was even more determined than before after overcoming all the challenges getting there.”
“I see….so...Nightmare Moon was really Princess Celestia’s sister along?”
“Yes, I was shocked as I never knew she even had a sister.”
“And….she was driven mad by jealousy correct?”
“Yes, back then ponies feared the night and what it held and she worked hard on her nights but no one appreciated it. She was alone and...felt like no one cared….i….really can't imagine how that felt….”
“I’d imagine pretty horrible, she did try to commit regicide…..my question is, is she still mad?”
“No, the Elements drove out the darkness that was corrupting her and repaired her mind.”
“I see...but what's to stop history from repeating itself?”
“Princess Celestia will never allow that to happen.”
“It happened once, who's to say it couldn't again?”
“Because Luna wasn't the only one hurt by it…..i….head Celestia one night a few years ago singing in her room to the moon….I didn't know why she was singing a lullaby to the moon but….the sadness of her voice...and….I think I saw her crying….I know now she was singing to her sister…..and...and nd so ponies don't fear the night as they used to….many enjoy it a great deal actually.”
“Life can be one of the cruelest of teachers at times.”
“I….guess that is a way of putting it.”
I nodded as I thought. “So where is Luna now?”
“With Celestia in Canterlot. She has 1000 years of history to catch up on.”
“Hmm...that must be hard I'd imagine….I mean she is a mare out of time in a world nothing like what she remembers.”
“Yes….I imagine in will take some time for her to learn all she has missed, a lot has changed.”
I nodded as I wrote. “So what are your thoughts for the future now that Princess Luna has returned?”
“Oh I'm sure many things will change. Though I know Princess Celestia will take it slow and ease Princess Luna back into ruler as she learns how things are now.” She said smiling. “But I do know things will change now that Equestria has two rulers, one for the day and the other the night.”
“I have to agree, things are going to get a whole lot more interesting from now on I imagine.” I said as I finished writing. “Well I think I have what I need Twilight. Thank you, this really means a lot.” I said as I got up and stretched then downed the last of my now room temperature juice, not the best but better than cold tea I'd imagine.
She nodded. “You're welcome...and..thank….for not noting who my family is.”
“Twilight I have no idea what are are talking about, didn't you come from a normal family?” I asked and she smiled back nodding again.
With that done I rolled up my scroll and started to head off.
“Don't forget your inkwell and quill.” She called after me and I looked back confused. “Keep it, I have 17 other inkwell and 42 quills.” she said happily.” And I'll be having Spike pick up more next week.”
I blinked at that but who was I to argue with it? I returned and placed the stopper back in the inkwell and moved it and the quill to a poker before heading for my room to compile the interview into something more presentable then my notes.