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// Sunday Discussions 
// Story: Building a Different Fence 
// by StormLuna 
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A Discussion With Celestia

Sunday morning arrived and the morning sun woke Moondancer up.  The night before she had a very sweet dream, a dream about her and Twilight committing to one another, eventually getting married and living happily ever after.  She couldn't help but smile as she pulled herself out of bed and said to herself, "What a wonderful dream, I just hope it comes true." 

As Moondancer headed into the kitchen to fix herself breakfast, some of what Twilight said yesterday was still ringing in her head.  What she remembered the most though was Twilight's emphasis on her seeing if Celestia would let her back into her school.  Thinking about this made her nervous, very nervous.  It made her so nervous that she was unable to even eat breakfast.  She did know though that if she was to have any chance of winning Twilight's heart, that she would have to do this.  

While she was waiting until she thought that Celestia would be in the throne room and be available to speak to, something crossed her mind.  She couldn't help but wonder if she should wear her mane up and wear her turtleneck or if she should go like she did when she went to see Twilight.  After nearly two hours of deep thinking she finally decided that she would go as she did the day before.  She said to herself, "It was when you had started putting your mane up and started wearing that turtleneck that you dropped out.  Just go as you did when you were a serious student." 

Two hours had passed and Moondancer finally felt that it was late enough that Celestia would be in her throne room and be available to see ponies.  As she headed to the palace she had a nervous look on her face but knew that such a look would probably not look good to Celestia.  She thought to herself, "Come on Moondancer, you have to go in with a look of confidence!  If Celestia sees you as a nervous wreck she certainly won't think you're ready to be back in her school." 

Moondancer began to be less nervous as she was walking through the city but it would return all too quickly when she arrived at the palace where she was greeted by two guards.  One asked, "Halt, who goes there?"

The other added, "State your business." 

Moondancer gulped, "My name is Moondancer.  I used to be in Celestia's school and I really want to talk to her."  

The first guard replied, "Very well, I shall lead you to the throne room." 

As Moondancer followed the guard towards the throne room she couldn't help but remember the few times she was in the palace.  She couldn't help but remember the time when Celestia had both her and Twilight in the throne room to present them with the Princess's List award for having perfect grades.  Before she knew it they had arrived in the throne room and the guard said, "Princess Celestia, this pony wishes to speak to you." 

Celestia looked up and saw who it was.  She had a curious look on her face and asked, "Moondancer, what are you doing here?"

Moondancer bowed and replied, "Princess Celestia, I have a question to ask you but I'm really nervous about it." 

Celestia asked, "What is it that you want to ask me?"

Moondancer replied, "Well I have rekindled my friendships with Twilight, Minuette, Twinkleshine and Lemon Hearts and Twilight suggested that I talk to you and see if I could get back into your school." 

Celestia had an uncertain look on her face and sighed, "I don't know Moondancer.  I know you were a great student but the fact that you quit showing up to class and withdrew from everypony kind of bothers me.  Being part of my school involves more than just studying." 

Moondancer knew what Celestia was hinting at but knew how to maybe persuade her.  She replied, "Your Majesty, ever since I have rekindled my friendships I have spending a lot of time with Minuette, Twinkleshine and Lemon Hearts and even Twilight and I have begun to meet on Saturdays." 

Celestia gave her a smile and mentioned, "That is true.  I did hear those three talking about how glad they are to have you back and were talking about everything you have done together."  

Moondancer was fairly nervous because it seemed unlikely that Celestia would let her back in but figured that she had come far enough that she may as well ask her directly.  She asked, "I know I brought it up earlier but would you allow me back in your school?"

Celestia sat there quietly for a moment thinking about this.  She remembered how Moondancer was such a good student until Twilight left and she withdrew from everypony, even her friends.  She then began to think about how she had heard about how she had been doing a lot with her old but new friends and realized that this may work out, she realized that since she has true friends and is actively doing things with them, that she may not just quit attending classes. 

Celestia gave her a smile and replied, "Moondancer, I have come to a decision.  I have decided to let you back in my school but you must promise me that you will not pull what you did before.  You must promise me that you won't stop showing up for classes." 

Moondancer replied, "I promise that I will come to classes and I'll study hard, very hard."  She then gave Celestia a curious look and asked, "So when would I resume my studies?"

Celestia replied, "Meet me here in the throne room tomorrow morning at nine and we can discuss your situation and see where you would be best to start since you will basically be a new student after your absence." 

Moondancer gave her a smile and said, "Ok your Majesty, I will be here tomorrow morning.  I look forward to starting school again." 

Celestia replied, "I'm glad to hear that."  Celestia cast her gaze towards the exit and finished, "Well I'll let you go for now because I'm sure you probably want to go and tell your friends." 

Moondancer nodded and left the throne room.  As she exited the palace she felt a level of confidence she had not felt in ages, even more confidence than her meetups with Twilight had provided her.  She knew that her friends would likely be at the donut shop and could not wait to share with them not just one, but two bits of good news. 

Meeting With Her Friends

When Moondancer arrived at the donut shop she discovered her friends were there waiting for her.  The first one to say anything was Minuette, "Moondancer, you're late!" 

Lemon Hearts added, "Is something wrong?  You're never late." 

Twinkleshine added, "We were worried you weren't coming." 

Moondancer replied, "I'm sorry ladies but I had some business to take care of at the palace." 

The three wondered why Moondancer would be at the palace since she had not been in Celestia's school in ages.  Minuette asked, "So what kind of business did you have over there?"

Moondancer replied, "Well Twilight had been telling me I should ask Celestia if I could get back in her school so I finally got up the guts, went over there and spoke to Celestia about it."

The three got very curious looks on their faces as they had never expected their friend to do this.  Lemon Hearts asked, "So what did she say?"

Moondancer replied, "She said yes!  I'm resuming my courses tomorrow morning!" 

Her friends embraced her and Twinkleshine said, "We're so proud of you Moondancer, you have no idea how many opportunities you will have again!" 

Moondancer replied, "I know.  That is what Twilight told me yesterday when I went to see her.  She said that if I could get back in school I'd have a lot more opportunities."  

Twinkleshine gave her a smile and asked, "Speaking of Twilight and yesterday, how did your date, I mean get-together go?"

Moondancer blushed and replied, "It went good."

Her friends got huge smiles on their faces and Minuette asked, "Oooh, is our friend off the market now?"

Moondancer replied, "Not yet but she did take me out to the cafe down there and she insisted that she pay the bill.  She wouldn't even let me pay her for anything." 

The three nodded and Moondancer continued, "And when we got to talking about me going back to Celestia's school, she reached her hooves out and held mine."  Her voice became more dreamy as she continued, "And feeling my hooves in hers felt so wonderful.  I never imagined that Twilight would hold my hooves"  her voice returned to normal as she continued, "even if it was just for discussing me going back to school." 

Twinkleshine gave her a huge smile and commented, "That must have been a dream come true for you, for Twilight to be holding your hooves." 

Moondancer replied, "Well sort of but I know I can't get ahead of myself.  This was only our second date but I do have some more good news."

In unison the three asked, "Does she want a third date?"

Moondancer blushed, "Mhmm."

Her friends reached out to give her a hoof bump which Moondancer gladly returned.  She then continued, "And I was reading in my books that if a situation like this where friends are going for more, that if I can make it through this third date that the chances of us becoming marefriends will be pretty high!" 

Minuette commented, "Well let's hope those books of yours are right.  I don't know if Twilight is feeling the same way you are but if she is, I bet she's probably studied and knows the same thing." 

Moondancer replied, "She did say that we could give a chance for us to be more a shot but I'm not sure if she is feeling the same way or not but given that she was so quick to request a third date, maybe things are starting to build between us." 

Lemon Hearts said, "I certainly hope so." 

After they finished their donuts and parted ways, Moondancer headed home.  While she couldn't get Twilight out of her mind, she knew that she would have to.  The next day would be her first day of school in what seemed like forever.  She thought to herself, "Ok Moondancer, getting back in school is one thing but to really impress Twilight, you're going to have to not only study hard but do just as good as she always did."