//------------------------------// // Interlude One // Story: Remedial Studies // by Rose Quill //------------------------------// Celestia was silent as she looked over the paper I turned in. Well, not entirely silent. Every now and then she would make a little “Hmm” noise, then silence would return. Ever since I had gone from her little filly to her student, that had been the noises made on my tests or essays. I was actually starting to get nervous after the fifth one and fidgeted on my cushion. Philomena would glance up from her perch every time Mom made a noise, but would return to her preening when she saw it wasn’t meant for her. I had to admit I had missed the bird; she had been a superb partner in the mischief we would pull off before I started getting all ambitious and uppity, as AJ put it. I sighed at the thought. Even here, I still got the rare mention of my past misdeeds. I knew they didn’t mean anything by it, but I could understand where Juniper was coming from when it came to getting away. If not for the fact I thought myself banished, I might have slipped through to ride out the short term memories myself. I might have made things right with Mom sooner. I missed this, I truly did. Celestia put the report down and gazed at me for a moment before speaking. “Do you have anything to add to this?” Her voice was warm and clear, no trace of any disapproval or displeasure. I shook my head, the braid I had tied my mane up in tapping against my barrel. “Not right now,” I said, sitting up in reflex. She had always insisted I sit up proper during lessons, even if they were just in her chambers. The habit had stayed with me, apparently. “She feels like everything is reminding her of what she did while under the sway of the rogue magic. I understand that, even if my experience were by my own misguided efforts. But I think she feels that if she emigrated here, she’ll be able to avoid coming to grips with it. Twilight agrees, and we’ve started getting her set up to experience pony life as much as possible.” “That doesn’t sound like something Twilight would do,” Celestia said, bringing a tea service over. “Well, I think her purpose is to let Juniper get homesick,” I told her as I accepted my cup. “I don’t know how well that’s working, though. She’s been getting training from Slipstream for weather duty and gets back too tired to even make it all the way to her room. The last three nights one of us had to carry her there.” “Mmmhmm.” I quirked an eyebrow at the sound. “I know what that means, Mom,” I said. “What would you suggest we do differently?” “I think it is a well-thought out plan,” she said simply. “Just not one that addresses the root of the issue. Juniper Montage will not look closely at her own deeds without a reason to do so. By thinking she is getting prepared to live in Equestria she is merely getting a second barrier to coming to grips with it.” “I’m starting to think that as well,” I nodded. “As indicated in my report.” “Which brings up another question,” she announced, holding up the friendship report I had handed in. “Several, actually, but I’ll start with the teacher questions first.” I didn’t like the sound of that. “Firstly, I know you’ve been gone for a while and have only been back four months,” she said, eyes skimming the paper. “But your hornwriting is simply atrocious, Sunset.” “You’re going to lecture me about legible hornwriting?” I snickered. “Well, no,” she admitted. “Just an observation. I am more interested, however, in why you wrote a friendship report during your semester break and turned it in personally.” “I couldn’t think of how else to do it,” I admitted. “I asked Twilight and she suggested we ask you. Since we have tea regularly when you’re not on diplomatic trips, I thought I’d just, well, give it to you when I saw you.” The Princess of the Sun nodded. “Sensible. And do you feel you need any advice beyond what we’ve discussed? I feel you know the answer already.” I nodded. “Yeah. I think I may have been dodging the issue too.” “Which brings me to my next question.” she announced with a sly tilt to her voice. “How are things going with Twilight?” I looked at her. “Really, you’re going there?” She sipped her tea and gave me one of those smiles that you couldn’t be sure if it was amusement at what was said or knowledge of what was left unsaid. I sighed, but couldn’t overcome the smile growing on my face. “It’s been interesting,” I answered. “There’s been some awkward moments, mostly from neither of us knowing just what in the hay we’re doing. Mostly, we’ve been doing pretty much what we would have normally done when hanging out. Just with bad flirting attempts and more cheese than a luncheon buffet.” “So…..” “So?” I grinned. “It’s been great. We can debate magical theory or fiction, without having to explain things like I would to Fluttershy or Applejack. And there isn’t any of that weird distancing some couples get when they start dating. All our friends are happy for us. Well, Dash seemed a little shocked, but she’ll come around.” I saw memories flashing up in my head. The picnic dinner that had been our first date through the antiquing we had done to fill out some of the vacant spots in my home two weeks ago, and even the somewhat unnerving (to me) trip to the rare book shop in Hollow Shades just the other day. Don’t get me wrong, I like shuffling through books as much as the next mare, but something about a town completely underground and founded by batponies that worshipped Luna during her exile gave me a little bit of the shivers. Having finally getting to know my Aunt eased a lot of the fear I had of her as Nightmare Moon, but it still seemed off having grown up with everyone looking at Mom as the end-all-be-all of all Equestria. But they did make good fruit smoothies, and their restaurant booths allowed for more privacy than most places. “Sunset,” Celestia sing-songed, bringing me out of my trance. I grinned as I rubbed the back of my head. “Sorry,” I whispered. “Don’t fret,” she replied. “I’d rather see the two of you get lost in good memories than fights. You’ve both had enough of those in your lives, I feel.” “Yeah.” I couldn’t help but see the conflicts wrought by the introduction of Equestrian magic flash before my eyes. The Sirens, Twilight from the human world’s transformation at the Friendship Games, Gloriosa Daisy and the Everfree incident. And Juniper.  “More than enough.” “So, to keep an old mare from pestering you more about your love life,” Mom said with a titter. “How about we discuss your classes for when they resume?” “I’d rather not,” I said. “I still technically have two weeks left in break with you heading to Griffonstone to finalize some of those trade deals the day after tomorrow.” “That’s what I wanted to speak to you about,” Celestia said. “Seeing as how there is only so much you can learn about diplomacy from a book, I was thinking that when I come back you sit in on some court sessions. You’ll be out of the way and won’t need to do anything but watch. I just think it will be more in line with your hooves-on preferences.” I rolled my eyes. “But I hate court,” I whined in an imitation of my fillyhood voice. “It’s so stuffy and boring and all they ever want is more money.” “Sounds like your Auntie is rubbing off on you,” she intoned with a serious face. “Might have to have a talk with her.” I met her eyes and she couldn’t keep up the façade. We both broke out in laughter, then noticed Philomena looking at us with her head tilted as though we had gone cracked. She cooed once in confusion. Despite understanding the question, the look on her face was enough to have us laughing again for several minutes until Raven, Mom’s secretary, poked her head in to remind her of her schedule. “Ah,” Celestia said, wiping a tear from her eye. “You have no idea how much I have missed these talks, Sunset.” I smiled as I rose to leave. “I think I might, Mom,” I said. “If it’s anything like I missed them.”