8
“Twilight?” the voice penetrated into the mare’s mind and brought her out of her sleep.
Blinking for a few moments as he eyes adjusted to the dawn’s light, the Princess of Friendship found herself looking up into Rainbow Dash’s face. Slowly Twilight realized she had spent the night on a cloud.
“Where am I?” she asked, sitting up as Rainbow gave her space.
“Just past Sweet Apple Acres,” the pegasus explained, sitting beside the alicorn as she gathered her bearings, “You’re lucky I needed to get the is cloud ready for some rain over the pond or you might’ve kept drifting.”
“What day is it?” Twilight shook her head.
“It’s Saturday,” Rainbow yawned, “and early, too. I hate working the morning shift…”
“Saturday morning?” the Princess groaned, “I really did spend all night on a cloud! Oh no, Spike!”
“Relax, Twi!” Rainbow chuckled, “Spike’s like, what, seventeen?”
“What the-” Twilight gaped, “No! He turns fifteen in two months!”
“Oh, really?” Rainbow blinked, “Well, whatever. Fifteen, seventeen…”
“He’s still fourteen!”
“The point is, I’m sure he can take care of himself for an evening. He probably went straight to bed and hasn’t even woken up, yet,” the pegasus shrugged, “Yeesh, you’re such an overprotective mother.”
“I like being overprotective!” Twilight stood up, “Oh, I’ve been letting so many of my responsibilities slip out from under me… First I fail in my friendship duties, and now I forgot about Spike!”
“I’m sure it’s not all that bad,” Rainbow Dash began pushing the cloud towards the pond, so Twilight flew alongside her to help.
“Are you kidding me? You were all at each other’s throats last night, and I didn’t even do anything!” the Princess frowned, “Worse, I lost my temper with Trixie and made Starlight angry again!”
“You had a right to be angry,” Rainbow assured her, “They really should have let you know what they were doing first.”
“Maybe so, but I overreacted,” Twilight tsked, “Then you and Rarity started saying those hurtful things to Spike…”
“Well, they’re true!” Rainbow scowled, “I mean, could you imagine Equestria being run by a non-Princess? Or even a non-pony? Actually imagine it.”
Twilight shuddered at the idea. Sure, the individual city-states worked well with elections of mayors or governors, with regular ponies in charge. She even found the idea of Spike leading his own city-state one day highly enjoyable, if improbable. Overall, though, she could not imagine all those city-states adjusting well to the idea of a non-pony governing the whole land. Even a regular pony would be a disaster, for their lifespans were not nearly long enough to ensure stability. The reason Equestria prospered was because it was under Celestia’s guidance for so many centuries. An immortal ruler had the additional benefit that the leader’s mind did not addle or dull with age.
“I see your point, but you didn’t have to tell him like that.”
“Hey, I forgot who I was talking to for a moment, okay?” Rainbow sighed, “I was worked up over every pony else turning on Rarity. I mean, what the hay? All she did was defend your title as Princess.”
“It was the way she said it, but…” Twilight sighed again, “I guess you two were only trying to tell the truth. Applejack and the others were being a little aggressive, I suppose…”
“Exactly!” Rainbow laughed as the cloud was in position. She began peppering it with well-placed bucks, getting it to the perfect level of gray. “Spike’s practically a stallion, or the dragon equivalent of one.”
“He’s still a baby by dragon standards…” Twilight pointed out. Rainbow Dash chose to ignore the disparity between pony aging and dragon aging.
“The point is, he’s been around long enough and developed enough, like, mentally and emotionally,” the pegasus flew back and admired her work, nodding in satisfaction, “He can handle the truth.”
“Hearing Applejack and the others say it, though… it doesn’t sound fair,” the Princess mused, “Equestria is built on principles of fairness and tolerance, so how can I justify believing in Celestia’s teachings while also believing Spike won’t be treated fairly just because he’s a dragon?”
“I don’t know,” Rainbow shrugged.
“Maybe it’d help if I knew why you and Rarity support it,” Twilight followed Rainbow Dash as she flew back towards Ponyville, “You’re both kind, supportive, and intelligent mares; how can you support this paradox?”
“Uh…” Rainbow furrowed her brow, thinking, “Well, I guess because life isn’t fair?”
“Explain?”
“I had to work my flank off for years to become a Wonderbolt, and that’s just the beginning. Still, I earned it,” Rainbow explained, “For me to succeed, a dozen other pegasi had to lose. It’s not fair, but it ensures the Wonderbolts are the best, and it rewards those who put the effort in. Rarity agrees, but obviously he ideas are about fashion and business.”
“Is it necessary to call those who don’t make it ‘losers’ and ‘rabble’, though?” Twilight frowned, “I mean, they’re ponies who tried – some of whom gave it all they had.”
“Maybe a few put effort in,” Rainbow scoffed, “and I guess I feel sorry for them. Still, a lot of ponies don’t even try! Not like I did, and not like Rarity did. They don’t deserve it.”
Twilight thought that over. It made sense, but then again, she knew many ponies were held back by other obligations, lack of resources, and other life issues. Not every pony could find the time or afford to put as much effort into training as Rainbow Dash had, or the resources to build a business like Rarity had.
“What about Applejack?” Twilight asked, prompting Rainbow to stop and float in place.
“What about her?”
“Well, her family is always struggling, but she works harder than any of us.”
“She also hangs out with us a lot,” Rainbow scoffed, “She could use that time to, I don’t know, work a second job or something.”
“Rainbow, she already works most of the day…” Twilight frowned, “Ponies need time off. Besides, you hang out with us a lot! And I usually find you napping all over the place…”
“Yeah, well…” Rainbow’s eyes darted around, trying to hold onto her argument, “I earned it, okay? I worked hard, I deserve to play – or nap – hard!”
“Okay, okay!” Twilight said, quickly. What was it with some ponies getting so defensive about what they’d earned? A mental cursing ensued as the alicorn realized that’s exactly what she did the night before.
“Why did you have to use AJ as an example, anyway?” the pegasus groaned, continuing their flight back to Ponyville, “Fluttershy being poor would make sense, since her work doesn’t make money, and Pinkie Pie works a lot, but she spends all her money on making ponies feel better!”
Twilight found herself pondering that. Applejack’s whole family worked the farm, yet they struggled to get enough money together to keep it from falling apart. Pinkie Pie had to live with her employer, but that made sense considering she used her income on party supplies to help cheer others up. Fluttershy didn’t really make money, but somehow had a nice cottage and could afford to take care of her animal friends. Well, actually, considering how close the animals were to her, Twilight wouldn’t be surprised if they built her cabin and helped her make money in some way. Beekeeping, maybe?
“Twilight, did you fall asleep while flying?” Rainbow’s voice cut in.
“Huh, what?” Twilight shook her head.
“You shouldn’t sleep while flying,” Rainbow chuckled, then frowned, “Trust me.”
They said their goodbyes as their paths diverged: Twilight back to her castle, and Rainbow to her next set of clouds. Twilight braked moments before touching down on her balcony and let out a yelp as she nearly stumbled into her assistant. He was reclining in an armchair, reading a newspaper. He looked up at her in displeasure.
“And where have you been, young lady?” he asked in a dead-serious tone.
“Spike, did you move this armchair up here just to set up a joke?” the Princess asked, not sure if she should be abashed at missing the curfew she set, or laughing at the drake’s antics.
“Do you know how creepy it is waking up to an empty castle?” Spike rolled the newspaper up and threw it on the chair as he got up to approach her, “I woke up early today because I was excited, and you know what I found?”
“No…”
“Nothing!” Spike threw his arms up, “I searched the whole castle and couldn’t find any pony!”
“Starlight’s not here?” Twilight frowned.
“After freaking out at her for a magic trick?” Spike crossed his arms, “I probably wouldn’t be, either.”
“I will apologize to her the next time I see her-”
“Guess what!” the aforementioned mare exclaimed as she burst through the doors, a glaring and sleepy Trixie in tow.
“St-Starlight?!” Twilight was stunned at the coincidence. It was even more shocking to see the unicorn grinning madly and prancing in place. The alicorn felt awful when she noticed the other unicorn stop scowling and shrink in fear at being near Twilight.
“Princess Luna invited me to study with her in Canterlot!” Starlight exclaimed.
“What?” Twilight and Spike asked in tandem.
“I didn’t know Luna taught anything,” Twilight smiled, momentarily forgetting how things went the night before, “What is she teaching you? Dream magic? Oracular studies? Monster slaying?”
“Politics!” Starlight squeaked, still grinning.
“…Politics?” Twilight deadpanned. She liked studying as much as the next pony, but how the hay was that more exciting than the other subjects?
“All I ever read growing up were abridged versions of political theories,” Starlight explained, her voice rushed with excitement, “Now I have a chance to really study it!”
“I’m just surprised…” the Princess said, slowly, “You seemed disinterested in the antiques Sunburst and I went through, and you’ve always seemed much more interested in magic…”
“History kinda bores me,” Starlight shrugged, sheepishly, “but politics was my first major attempt at study, remember?”
“How could I forget…” Twilight murmured.
“Well, this time I’ll learn how to do it right!” Starlight pranced in place, “Maybe I can convince enough ponies – and non-ponies, of course – to join me in starting my own city-state! Everyone can see my ideas in practice, without mind control, and will finally see the merit in them!”
“If you say so…” Twilight said, then sighed, “Look, Starlight… I wanted to apologize to you and Trixie about me freaking out last night.”
“Water under the bridge, right Trixie?” Starlight said, gleefully.
“Right…” the magician avoided looking at the alicorn, still clearly hurt.
“We leave next Friday!” Starlight said, “Trixie’s coming with me as a guest! Spike, you can come too, if you’d like; Princess Luna was interested in taking on more students.”
“Really?” the dragon asked, about to turn the offer down. Study politics? Sure, he had fun bouncing ideas back and forth with Starlight, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to-
“Oh, he can’t go,” Twilight said, dismissively.
“Excuse me?” the dragon asked, narrowing his eyes at his guardian.
“You’re too young to go off to Canterlot all alone!” Twilight explained, “It’s practically on another continent!”
“Twilight, it’s only a day or so by train!” Starlight laughed, “Besides, didn’t you go to study in Canterlot when you were younger than Spike? It should be his decision.”
“But…” the alicorn shifted, “I know I’ve been pretty short with both of you this last week, and you probably want some time away from me, but… this castle is so empty without any pony else. I don’t think I’ve ever spent a night alone.”
“Really?” Starlight tilted her head. Thinking on it, if Twilight began living in the Canterlot dorms after hatching Spike, then she would have always had Spike by her side as soon as her parents weren’t. Also, she likely had roommates at some point, too. “You’ll, uh… you’ll have Owlowiscious to keep you company.”
Twilight gave a flat stare at her former student.
“If it’d bother you that much,” the dragon sighed, “I guess I really don’t want to study there, anyway.”
“Oh,” Starlight’s ears drooped, “Y-you don’t want to study politics?”
“It was fun passing ideas back and forth, but I don’t know… actual study is pretty boring…” Spike shrugged.
Twilight felt a little crestfallen. She could tell he wasn’t interested in studying politics, but at the same time it was clear a large part of him not going hinged on how it would affect her. With a deep breath, she stood regally.
“I think you should go, Spike,” she declared.
“You just said-” the dragon began.
“I was wrong,” Twilight stated, “You have a right to a proper education, one I’ve denied you for too long. Studying under Celestia taught me so much, Spike. Maybe Luna can teach you a subject that interests you, and if she can’t, you could explore apprenticeships in Canterlot. You’re young, Spike; you have your whole life ahead of you! Do you really want to be my assistant forever, without ever having tried something new?”
Spike felt himself tearing up at the sentiment. He could tell by Twilight’s cracking voice that this was incredibly painful for her, and the fact she was willing to let him go just to give him new opportunities… Any frustration he still had towards her eroded and he rushed forward to embrace her.
“I-I’m scared to leave…” he confessed.
“Don’t be,” Twilight returned the embrace, “Princess Luna and Celestia are like family. Starlight will be there, and like she said, it’s only a day away by train.”
“I guess it won’t be so bad…” Spike nodded, steadying himself, “I mean, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle will be there also, at least for a little bit.”
“What?” this time Starlight and Twilight asked in unison.
“Princess Celestia summoned them to Canterlot to help with some Cutie Mark problem,” Spike chuckled, “I think Big Mac is going as their chaperone.”
“The mares of Canterlot better watch out with two studs heading their way,” Starlight nudged her female companions. They raised eyebrows at her.
“Who’s the other stud?” Spike asked, “I mean, Big Mac’s pretty obvious…”
“You,” Starlight deadpanned, “It was you, Spike. I was paying you a compliment.”
“Oh,” Spike’s cheeks flushed in embarrassment.
“Anyway…” Twilight narrowed her eyes at her assistant and former student, wondering what was happening there, “…I guess this means we only have less than a week until you two move out.”
“That doesn’t seem like a lot of time,” Spike frowned, already regretting his decision until Twilight wrapped a wing around him.
“Never fear, Spike!” she smiled, “When have I ever let you leave my side unprepared?”
The alicorn enjoyed embracing her charge and she wished the sensation would last forever. There was no greater sensation, truly, than the love between guardian and ward, be it by blood or not. Eventually, though, she had to release him. Looking at the excitement now shared by Starlight and Spike, Twilight felt genuine happiness, but it fell apart when she saw Trixie’s sulking. Twilight felt herself charged with a new purpose.
“Will you three help me with something today?” she asked, drawing all three’s attentions.
“Sure, Twilight,” Starlight said.
“I want you to gather our friends here: Fluttershy, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Discord,” the Princess instructed, “It’s time I resolved our friendship problems. Can you bring them here to the castle? We’ll meet up in the Map Room.”
“Alright,” Starlight nodded.
“If you say so, Twi,” Spike sighed, not entirely enthusiastic about seeing Rarity or Rainbow Dash again.
“As you wish, Princess,” Trixie murmured, avoiding eye contact with a curtsy that made the alicorn’s heart sink.
“Then I’ll hopefully see you all soon,” she gave her most encouraging smile before they departed.
Now all she had to do was wait.
…
“You seem very happy this morning,” Celestia noted as she served her sister pancakes. She had made some for Flim and Flam, but the lack of sleep from the day before had driven to sleep in. “Don’t tell me you’ve finally found a coltfriend.”
“Coming from you, dear sister, that is quite rich,” Luna snapped back with a smirk and both sisters laughed. The laughter steadily trickled into strained smiles at the thought of how single they were, so Luna changed the topic. “Actually, my change in attitude is because I have finally found myself a student to teach.”
“A student?” Celestia’s eyes widened as she nearly dropped her own fork, “Why Luna, that’s wonderful! What are you going to teach them? Astronomy? Old Ponish? All the cheat codes for Super Pony Kart?”
“Hmm, I might actually work some of those lessons in…” Luna smirked, “The main area of focus, however, will be the political sciences.”
“Really?” Celestia pursed her lips, “I was not aware any pony was still interested in the subject. Who, may I ask, is the student?”
“Starlight Glimmer,” Luna said with a smile, though it faded at the worry on her sister’s face, “You do not approve?”
“N-no, that’s not it!” Celestia said quickly, “It is simply that, well, she was something of a radical, and I know you have an interest in… radicals.”
“Says the mare with an interest in bad boys…” Luna rolled her eyes.
“That was over a thousand years ago!” Celestia blushed, “B-besides, that’s not the point.”
“Starlight’s views are different, yes,” Luna went on, “Indeed, she suggests things not even the most liberal of the pony-states has suggested, but I believe some of them have merit. I feel I can learn as much from her as she can learn from me.”
“Then it’s not much teaching, is it?” the other Princess pointed out.
“Perhaps not,” the darker of the alicorns shrugged, “but it will be nice to have a study partner, if nothing else. After all, haven’t you been teaching your two most recent students with a hooves-off approach?”
“Flim and Flam?” Celestia blinked, “I gave them a test to gauge where they stand, ethically. Now I’ve built a lesson plan to mold them into proper business-ponies. Once they graduate, they shall set off to bring the other business-ponies in Equestria to my standards.”
“Very ambitious,” Luna said, “I have seen in Starlight’s dreams, sometimes, that she wishes to form her own city-state. I imagine once we have finished our education, she will pursue it.”
“It won’t be like Our Town, will it?”
“No,” Luna laughed, richly, “I have seen her vision. It is one of the utmost harmony and egalitarianism, one that you would find truly enjoyable. The problem is that she does not know how to make it a reality, especially with her current reputation. I intend to help her, and I trust that she has learned her lesson about forcing ponies into her regime. I promise, sister, it will be entirely voluntary.”
“Well… alright,” Celestia smiled, “I trust you. I am also very, very proud of you.”
Luna felt her heart swell at that and it took all her self-control to maintain her composure. Fortunately, she remembered a detail that had escaped her.
“Oh yes, and she is probably going to bring along one or two friends,” she added, “I am not sure they will join me for study, or explore Canterlot, but I figured Starlight could use the company.”
“An excellent decision,” Celestia agreed, “My, between Starlight and her friends, Flim and Flam, and now the Cutie Mark Crusaders, the castle will be livelier than it has been in centuries.”
“The Cutie Mark Crusaders are coming?” Luna perked up at the thought, having enjoyed her limited encounters with the girls.
“Yes,” the older Princess nodded, her celestial mane drifting with the motion, “I require their assistance in determining what exactly Flim and Flam’s special talents are. Perhaps I can break their unethical behavior easier if they realize they don’t need it.” Then Celestia smirked and added, “And I encouraged them to bring along Big Macintosh as their chaperone.”
“W-what?!” Luna blushed, then coughed into her hoof, smoothing her features, “I mean… so?”
“Not interested?” Celestia pretended to pout, “A shame. I heard you rather enjoyed that carnival – at least, that’s all you were talking about for a few weeks.”
“I-it was just a silly date,” Luna said, then allowed herself a tender smile, “S-still, it might be nice to see him again.” Deciding to return the mischief, Luna asked, “What about Flam?”
“…What about Flam?” Celestia asked, neutrally, after a moment’s hesitation.
“I hear that he is quite charming,” Luna went on, concealing her smirk with extreme effort, “Perhaps, if you are so concerned for my love life, I should ask him to court me?”
Celestia stared flatly at her sister.
“You looked into my dreams again, didn’t you?” she asked.
“Of course not!” Luna seemed offended, then smiled, “I overheard them as I was passing by.”
“Unbelievable!” Celestia threw her hooves into the air, “Am I not allowed to indulge in harmless fantasy in my dreams? It is not as if I would pursue it!”
“Be at ease, Tia,” Luna giggled, “I am only teasing. In truth, perhaps you should pursue it. After his studies, of course; it would not be proper for a mentor to court their students, after all.”
“It’s just a school-filly crush,” Celestia murmured, “Enough about romantic gossip, sister; I just realized I failed to start drafting those changes with you!”
“I believe those should wait until we’ve finished our current studies,” Luna suggested, “If you have ethical business-ponies working, and I have instructed myself and Starlight in the finer points of political science, then we can truly amend the law in a wondrous way, don’t you think?”
“I suppose that makes sense, yes,” Celestia nodded, “Still, I’ve put it off a long time…”
“Tia, it has been over a thousand years,” Luna laughed, “What is one more?”
“I suppose you’re right,” Celestia smiled, tenuously.
“Breakfast was delicious, sister,” Luna yawned, “If you will forgive me, I think I shall retire.”
Celestia inclined her head in approval and watched as her sister walked away to enjoy a well-deserved rest. Alone, she reclined and thought about what to do for the weekend once her obligations were finished…
…
“Alright, I think that’s all of us…” Spike noted, running down a mental checklist as he counted out the ponies before him, “Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Starlight Glimmer, Trixie, and…”
The dragon scowled.
“Where’s Discord?” he asked.
“Oh, he needed some time to recuperate,” Fluttershy explained, “After returning to his family reunion, his brothers were so mean to him! The things they said… Now that the reunion’s over, he wanted some time to ‘get chaotic’.”
“Whatever could they have said to him that he would have found insulting?” Rarity wondered, “I’ve never seen him let anything get him down – other than seeing you feel down, of course.”
“They called him…” Fluttershy looked both ways before leaning in, conspiratorially. She whispered, “…normal.”
Everyone gathered stared at the yellow pegasus flatly, clearly disappointed in the answer.
“He promised he’d be along shortly, though,” Fluttershy added with a smile.
As if her saying so was an invitation, the draconequus popped out of thin air.
“Here I am!” he declared, smiling as if nothing at all was wrong, “Sorry I’m late; I needed to work off some steam, so I turned a portion of the Saddle Arabian desert into powdered sugar and went skiing.”
“You remembered to turn it back,” Fluttershy raised an eyebrow, “right, Discord?”
“Er…” the God of Chaos snapped his fingers, “…yes.”
“Alright then, that’s every pony,” Spike nodded, “plus Discord and me.”
He went to fetch Twilight and returned by her side. The Princess carried herself with the usual level of dignity she used in the presence of nobles and royalty. In the mystical, half-light gleaming off the crystal walls, her purple fur and plumage seemed to glow with an almost divine luminescence that temporarily awed her friends.
“I’ve gathered you all here for one simple purpose,” the alicorn declared with all the regality of a saint. Flashing her wings outward, Twilight gracefully bowed deeply to them. They let out a gasp, still lost in the illusion that they had witnessed an angel laid low, but quickly remembered it was only their friend. “…to apologize.”
“Whatever for?” Rarity asked, still trying to recover from the image. For an instant, Twilight had appeared… somehow more. The others were also shaking themselves out of the illusion. The Princesses were majesty incarnate, and sometimes it was a little much.
“I’ve been closed-minded, and divisive,” Twilight explained, horn still touching the floor, “I haven’t given your opinions the respect they deserve, and I’ve allowed you to drift further apart while I stood by, staying silent. As the Princess of Friendship, this has been a grave error on my part, but as your friend – it’s been unforgivable.”
“Q-quit bowing, already, Twilight,” Applejack drawled, shifting her hat down to cover her blushing face, “You ain’t gotta apologize. We’ve all been acting like a bunch of rattlers stuck in a pickle barrel.”
“Yeah, AJ’s right,” Rainbow rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment, “We’re – I’m sorry, too.”
“Me too,” Fluttershy said, gently.
“Me three!” Pinkie Pie agreed.
“Ditto,” Applejack admitted.
“I have been acting uncouth these past few days,” Rarity confessed, “I do apologize – especially to you three! Oh, and my little Spikey-wikey, of course!”
The group turned their attention towards Starlight, Spike, Trixie, and Discord.
“Trixie already apologized,” the blue unicorn declared, haughtily. Then, with a friendly smile, “but she graciously accepts your apology, Princess Twilight.”
“I don’t recall having done anything wrong to any of you,” Discord crossed his arms. After thinking about it, he added, “lately.”
That left Spike and Starlight. Both felt their blood run cold. They both felt wronged and like they had nothing to apologize for, but they recognized not doing so would just start the whole mess up again. With that sour barb in their minds, they started seeing how their behavior and harsh words – while justified – might have been excessive. With a quick look of confirmation towards the other, they began their apologies.
“I’m sorry for how I’ve been acting lately,” the dragon gave one of his servile bows, “I shouldn’t have lost my temper like that.”
“I’m sorry, too,” Starlight said, simply, but refused to bow. No one else had bowed apart from Twilight and Spike; why should she?
“Well, I might be new to the whole friendship thing, but I say this is cause to celebrate!” Discord grinned.
“Friendship Forgiveness Party!” Pinkie exclaimed, “Give me an hour and I’ll have everything set up in the park!”
“We’ll make sure this is the best week ever!” Rainbow Dash declared, receiving a group hug from Fluttershy and Applejack that the others quickly joined in on.
Twilight felt her heart soar at the prospect of the friendship crisis being resolved. Little did she know, this was only the beginning.