//------------------------------// // What to do... // Story: Remedial Studies // by Rose Quill //------------------------------// I stared at Juniper, completely dumbstruck. “What do you mean, you don’t want to go back?” Starlight sputtered. “If you want to stay longer, we would be glad to have you. I for one would like to see you finally try to race Rainbow. She seemed bummed when you -“ “No! Not for a few more days!” Juniper proclaimed. “Ever! While I’ve been here, not one single, solitary soul has looked at me in fear or reminded me of what I’ve done. And even with you all using magic around me, I haven’t had one flash of guilt or self-loathing the entire time.” I shook my head. “Juniper, you have to go back sometime,” I soothed. “What about your family, your friends?” “You’re one to talk,” she bit out angrily. “You haven’t so much as thought about your so-called friends since you came here!” Her wings flared out as she glared at me, and I felt a small flash of guilt. “So what right do you have to lecture me?” “Because this isn’t your home,” Twilight interjected softly. “Now, I’m willing to let you stay longer, but eventually, you’ll have to return, if only to take care of your affairs.” I spun and looked at the princess, surprised. Juniper’s wings slipped down a little, her posture turning a bit unsure. “Y-you mean that?” Juniper whispered. Twilight nodded. “As long as you agree to go back once to keep your family from worrying, I won’t force you to return.” Twilight assured with a soft smile. Juniper stared at the Alicorn in amazement. So did Starlight and I. “Are you sure about this?” I whispered to my marefriend. She nodded. “I think this is the best course for now.” Starlight stood and looked at Twilight incredulously. “I can’t believe I’m hearing this,” she said before she turned and walked away. Juniper watched her go then ran off on her own, a small weight seemingly on her shoulders. “What are you thinking, Twi?” I asked as we sat alone. “You know she can’t stay here permanently.” “I know.” Her teacup rose in her magic as she quietly drank. She seemed perfectly comfortable with her choice. Normally the calm confidence she held was something I was starting to find alluring, but now it was a maddening mask. “But why…?” “You can’t force this, Sunset,” she told me simply. Her teacup settled on the table and she smiled. “She isn’t ready to face the things she’s done, not quite yet. You were in a very similar place once upon a time, you know.” I smiled a little sheepishly as she reached out and gave me a little nudge with her wing. She and I had talked about the things that had led to my flight from Equestria often since the Battle of the Bands. “So you’re letting her acclimate, then?” My marefriend nodded. “Let her get a little homesick,” she told me, sliding the sugar over. “And I think you and Starlight should start spending some more time with her.” I frowned at that. “Why us, if you don’t mind my asking? I know Starlight and her are friends, but I barely know her.” The Princess of Friendship gave me a smile that looked eerily familiar to the one my mother gave me when she was giving me a new assignment. “You’ll know, Sunny,” she breathed as she leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. Juniper was waiting for me at my house when I got there later that night, shifting her wings a little nervously. I stepped up and unlocked my door, setting the books I borrowed to the side and looking at her. “Wanna talk?” I asked. She nodded. “Want something to drink?” Another nod. As she followed me in, settling onto one of the chairs as I went and fixed a bit of wine for both of us. Today’s lesson had been a bit hard to focus on with Juniper’s declaration fresh in my mind. I hated international law, I decided. “So, what’s on your mind?” I asked as I set her glass down and settled into my favorite chair. “Do you think Starlight is mad at me?” I wasn’t surprised at the question, but I wasn’t sure how to answer. “She’s probably confused a little. Someone announcing that they’re moving into an alternate world is a rather big shock.” “Did it shock your friends when you came to my world the first time?” I took a sip of the wine to give my mind time to shift past the momentary pang of memory. Make me a Princess! “I…didn’t really have a lot of friends back then,” I told her softly. “And I wound up there by pure accident. I was running away from a punishment.” I glanced down. “It turned out ok for me, but it could have just as easily gone hopelessly wrong.” “It’s so peaceful here,” Juniper mumbled. “Forgiving and nobod— nopony here knows me as anyone but a bit of a clumsy flyer.” “You can’t run from your problems forever, Juniper,” I said. “Eventually you do have to face them. It took me years before I had to, but they always catch up to you in one way or another.” The pony across from me screwed up her face as she lowered her glass. “I didn’t come here for platitudes, Sunset,” she spat. “No,” I responded before she could continue. “You came here to ask about a friend. I’m not going to sugarcoat things for you. If you do decide to move here permanently, there’s likely going to be a lot of strings attached. Passage through the portal will probably have to be scheduled with Twilight in advance, you’d have to undergo a massive number of lessons just to figure out how to fit properly in pony society, and possibly have to swear and oath of fealty to the Diarchs." I took a step towards her, gently reaching out and placing a hoof on her shoulder . “But I can tell you this much: you won’t be alone, and we’ll all help you as best as we can. I know I can teach you what you need to know to fit in without too much trouble, we could even have Twilight give us a test guideline.” “You think she would be ok with that?” Juniper asked with an arched eyebrow. I looked at her and smirked. “It’s Twilight,” I chuckled. “She’d probably be so excited we’d have to dodge as she bounces off the walls.” I drained my wine and got up. “Trust me, Juniper,” I told her. “It’s your decision, and Starlight and I will support you either way. We’re your friends, and we really can’t do anything less.” “You really think she will?” came the quiet voice, Juniper’s eyes looking forward at nothing. “She’ll have to calm down a bit first,” I mused. I felt fatigue growing quickly and bed was sounding more and more like a winner. “But for now, just really think. I’m heading to bed. You can stay here if you want to avoid her for a few more hours. I’ve got spare blankets.” “Thanks,” she whispered. “Sunset?” “Hmm?” “When… when you ran...” She hesitated. “Did you ever regret it?” “Every day,” I said, not looking towards her before leaving to answer the siren call of my bed.