//------------------------------// // A Long Day // Story: Look Out For Her // by Twilight Glimmer //------------------------------// “Okay, Twilight, calm down,” Celestia said one evening. It was just a little before sunset, and there was a problem that had to be solved before her personal student could be sent home. But this wasn’t a problem that the student had to solve, Celestia had to solve the problem that seemed to be happening a little too much recently. Twilight was having a panic attack. Celestia had told Twilight a dozen times that it didn’t matter that she accidentally forgot to put a comma where there needed to be one in an extra-credit essay that her student had written. She was still going to give Twilight a perfect score because she acknowledged her mistake before Celestia could point it out, but Twilight was convinced that she was going back to magic kindergarten because of her trivial punctuation mistake. The princess had to find a solution, and fast. It already seemed like Twilight was on the verge of passing out from her attack. This is the 3rd time this week that this has happened, Celestia thought, and it’s Tuesday! She sighed and decided to try one last thing, something that would definitely work. “Alright, Twilight, I’ll let this slide if you write me a paper on the importance of punctuation for homework tonight.” Celestia didn’t like to punish her student, and she hated it even more when Twilight didn’t deserve it. But sometimes it was the only way to calm the anxious student down. Also, she knew that Twilight wouldn’t mind doing a little extra schoolwork. “Y-Y-Yes o-of course P-Princess Celestia,” Twilight stammered in between loud, rapid breaths, “I’ll g-get on it r-right away!” Twilight scooped up Spike, her purple and green dragon assistant, and trotted off to her home to begin writing her paper. Celestia was glad that Twilight wouldn’t be walking home alone, but she worried that her student was probably getting attacks at home too. They seemed to get worse and worse as the days went on. But how was she supposed to know that Spike would know what to do is Twilight let her anxiety get the better of her? Then, Celestia got an idea, and she prepared to leave the castle. “Alright, Spike,” Twilight said enthusiastically. “Do we have everything that we need?” “Yes, ma’am!” Spike replied with an equal amount of excitement, though most of it was forced. “Are you sure?” Twilight asked. “Everything has to be perfect!” “I’m sure, Twilight, You’re not going to stay up all night writing that, are you?” “Well, when else am I supposed to write it?” “Tomorrow is Teacher Examination Day, you could write it then.” “I promised the Princess that I would write it as soon as I got home, and that’s what I’m gonna do.” “But-” “No buts, Spike, we need to get to writing that paper.’ Spike sighed, it was no use. Twilight had been pulling all-nighters to work on an assignment or read “just one more chapter” since she was a filly. He had woken up in the morning to find Twilight either sleeping on an open book or with bloodshot eyes because she hadn’t slept at all. Sometimes she didn’t sleep at all for days on end. Twilight’s habit worried Spike. He had seen first hand what happens when ponies don’t get enough sleep. But he couldn’t control Twilight, she was his caregiver, and she could do what she pleases, no matter how self-destructive it was. However, he had to give Twilight credit, she had mastered a spell to make her eyes less bloodshot when she went to class. It was a complicated spell, but she did it with ease. She had found it when- ‘Spike!” Twilight yelled, “I asked you to please make some coffee.” ‘Okay, okay, I’ll get right on it,” Spike said as he walked over to the coffee machine. Once the brew was done, he headed upstairs to give it to Twilight, who was in her study. “Please don’t stay up all night.” Twilight smiled, “Don’t worry, Spike, I’ll be fine. Now go get ready for bed, I’ll be there in a few minutes to tuck you in.” “Fine”, Spike unenergetically replied before brushing his teeth and getting into his small bed. After a few moments, Twilight came in, tucked him in, said goodnight, and walked back to her study to write her paper. Celestia knew that what she was doing was unorthodox, but she wouldn’t be able to sleep until her worries were eased. Not that sleeping had ever been easy since the incident when she had to banish the keeper of the dream realm to the moon. Seeing her sister’s face every single night in the moon was hard, but she knew that it wouldn’t be too long before she could hug Luna again. That is, if Twilight could handle such a task. Celestia sensed that Twilight had some sort of connection with the Elements since the day she became her protege. But to wield the Elements, Twilight would have to be both physically and mentally ready for the inevitable battle with Nightmare Moon. It wouldn’t hurt for her to bring some friends along too, Celestia thought. Celestia teleported inside, hoping that no one would hear. It’s not illegal, Celestia thought to herself, it’s being paid for by the government. Besides, she should be asleep by now. It’s past midnight. Celestia quietly walked upstairs and saw something rather upsetting. Twilight was still awake writing her paper. When Celestia said ‘paper’, she just wanted a report that was about 4 paragraphs in length, but Twilight’s scroll looked to be a few meters long, and she didn’t look like she was close to stopping. Celestia sighed. Was Twilight up this late often? She would have to ask her on Thursday. Celestia cast a sleeping spell on the purple unicorn before quietly putting her in bed. Twilight wouldn’t wake up for 8 more hours, so Celestia would have more than enough time to do what she needed. She cast a noise cancelation spell just to be safe and turned around to see Spike sleepily rubbing his eyes.’ “Terribly sorry I woke you, Spike, but do you have a minute to talk?’ “Huh? Yeah, sure.” Spike stretched his young bones and sat up in his bed. “Should we go somewhere where we won’t disturb Twilight?” “No, you can stay. I cast a sound cancellation spell, so she won’t be able to hear anything.” “Okay, so what did you want to talk about?”