//------------------------------// // Slumber Party // Story: Tiny Twilight Tales // by Foals Errand //------------------------------// Celestia watched through the window as Twilight carried Smarty Pants in her mouth, running quickly out of her sight. She frowned and glanced around before lighting her horn to cast a simple scrying spell. “Okay, Smarty Pants. It’s time for me to teach you everything I learned in class today! Don’t worry. There won’t be a test. Not this time!” Celestia frowned as she heard Twilight’s giggles before cutting the spell. She felt shame for spying on her little student, but more than that, she was worried. While pretend play is very important in ponies her age… I worry that not having any playmates may cause problems in the future… She reached a hoof out and knocked firmly on the pink door she had walked to. “Just a second! I just need to finish...there we go!” The door opened, revealing Cadance. Her mane had been pulled back into the high ponytail she preferred for school. A smile quickly formed on her muzzle. “Oh, Auntie! I wasn’t expecting you. Can I hel-” Cadance trailed off as she noticed the expression on her aunt’s face. “Oh, dear. What has Twilight done this time?” Celestia blinked. “How did you know I was thinking about Twilight Sparkle?” Cadance chuckled. She shook her head as she came out of her bedroom “Seen it far to many times on all three of the Sparkle family. So, what is it? Is it something the Greatest foal sitter ever can help with?” “...Maybe, I was watching Twilight play a bit ago and noticed something that is slightly disturbing, at least to me.” Celestia sighed. She closed her eyes as Cadance nuzzled her neck. “Auntie, what did Twilight do this time? It wasn’t a book monster again was it?” At Celestia’s look, Cadance giggled “Don’t ask, but seriously. What is it?” Celestia sighed “Does Twilight have any playmates, Cadance?” “Well… She has Shining Armor and myself when we aren’t busy. But, now that I think about it I don’t think I’ve ever seen her interact with a pony her own age.” Celestia nodded firmly. “Well, that will need to change. Thank you, Cadance.” She gave her niece a kiss on the cheek and trotted down the hall to find Raven, leaving Cadance blinking confusedly. “Um, happy to help?” Raven frowned as she finished the invitations at Celestia’s request. “Princess, I’m not certain this will give you the result you are thinking it will.” “Nonsense! Fillies love sleepovers. We’ll have the smaller ball room all set up. Pizza, mane styling, a few movies. It will be wonderful and help Twilight to be friends with young fillies closer to her age.” Raven sighed but sent the three invites. I hope this doesn’t blow up in the Princess’s face… “A sleepover? You mean with Cadance?” Twilight cocked her head as she scampered after Celestia towards the destination. She had a small saddle bag hanging from her barrel, holding her pillow and Smarty Pants. “I’m afraid Cadance is busy studying for exams, but I think you’ll have even more fun.” Celestia smiled, opening the doors to the smaller ballroom. It was decorated, had a large movie screen against the wall, and a large table full of snacks. Three mares were already inside, chatting among one another. Twilight nervously hid between Celestia’s legs as she noticed beside each mare was a unicorn filly a few years older than her at most. “Ladies! Thank you for coming. I’m sure the fillies will have a great time together.” Celestia smiles as the three fillies came close and bowed. Good to see their mothers are bringing them up right to be noblemares. “Twilight, these fillies have come to spend the night with you.” Celestia smiled as Twilight slowly crept out. “This is Golden Glitter.” The yellow filly bowed her head politely to Twilight, who nervously lifted a hoof. “This is Pearl Radiance.” The white filly also bowed her head “Hello…” “And Gem Stone.” The silvery gray filly copied her friends in bowing to Twilight. “Girls, this is my personal student Twilight Sparkle. I’m sure you’ll all be great friends!” Celestia smiled, not noticing the looks Twilight was getting as she turned to the filly’s mothers “Well, ladies. I think we can take our leave. I doubt the little ones want us around to spoil their fun.” And with that all four adults left the room quicker than Twilight could say, ‘Wait!’ An hour into Twilight’s first real sleepover, and things were going alright. Everything was too new for the fillies to really take notice of the younger filly in the room with them, but that was all to change. “So, Twilight, was it? What do your parents do? I don’t think I’ve ever heard Mommy or Daddy mention a noble named Sparkle.” Gem Stone asked, finally turning her attention to the baby in the room. “My Mommy… My mommy is an author. She writes lots of books and is super busy. And my Daddy studies the night sky. I don’t think either of them are nobles.” Twilight whispered out the last bit as she saw Gem Stone’s eyes widen. “Not nobles? But, y-you’re Princess Celestia’s prized student! How in Equestria could that happen if you weren't a noble?” Twilight sat on the ground, taking her tail in her hooves and glancing at the ground. She didn’t like how Gem Stone’s tone had changed so quickly. “Um well, I-I saw Princess Celestia raise the sun at the last Summer Solstice. And I knew I wanted to be like her so I started studying magic. Like all the time. I even skipped nap time to study under my covers. And so I took the entrance exam and something happened and I was asked to be her student.” Twilight glanced up to see the three fillies looking to one another. “Wh-what did I say?” Twilight went to get up. “No! Don’t come near us! I remember hearing about you now!” Golden Glitter shuddered. “Daddy told me all about you! He said you turned your Mommy and Daddy into plants and were nothing but a danger to Equestria! You aren’t a student, you’re a monster that the Princess is keeping close!” Twilight’s eyes widened as the three fillies raced to the other side of the room, leaving her alone with just her saddlebag. Every few minutes one of them would call out an insult until Twilight pulled Smarty Pants from her saddle bag and held her close. “Look! The monster is a baby too! Bringing a toy to a sleepover! Twilight the baby Monster! Nothing but a tool to the Princess!” Twilight curled into a ball. She covered her head with her tail, trying to shut out their words until the lights dimmed to start the movie. With the darkness, she raced out after the adult, who happened to be Raven. “D-don’t make me go back in there! Pl-please?” Twilight wiped her tears away, trying to appear brave. Raven glanced at the door and frowned. I had hoped this wouldn’t happen… “Of course, Twilight… Come on. Princess Celestia is finishing some paperwork. Why don’t I bring you to her?” Twilight froze and her ears pinned back. “A-alright…” Raven lifted the filly onto her back and carried her to Celestia’s room. After a soft knock she set Twilight beside Celestia’s pillow. “Raven, what is it?” Raven simply shook her head. She looked pointedly at Twilight, who was curled into a tight ball, gulping back sobs. “I-I see…” Celestia gently nuzzled her tiny student “...Come on Twilight...I can finish this tomorrow. Why don’t we order some snacks from the kitchen and you can sleep in my bed, alright?” Twilight nervously poked her head out from her tail, but nodded. “They’re wrong. They have to be… I’m not your tool...Am I?” Twilight whispered under her breath, not noticing the look on Celestia’s face. “...No, no Twilight...you are so precious to me.” She gently wrapped a wing around her, noticing that Twilight’s eyes were closed. “...So very precious…” She smiled as Twilight curled into her.