The school day ended, and Stella said goodbye to her friends before boarding the carriage her mother had taken to pick her up.
When Stella took a seat next to her, Luna noticed a drastic change in her daughter’s face. Now she was smiling brighter than the sun, and was nearly bouncing in her seat.
Luna smiled. “I trust you had fun in school today?”
Stella beamed at her. “I did! And I made three new friends!”
The carriage took off.
“Three in one day? That’s impressive. Most foals only make one or two on their first day of school. What were their names?” I knew she could make friends!
“Silver Light, Copper Flame and Star Song. We spent the whole day together. We painted, built blocks, and played house. Star was the mom, Copper was the dad, Silver was the foal, and I was the mailpony.”
Luna grinned, laughing. “The mailpony? Why not the big sister?”
“Cause I wanted to be the mailpony. Can my friends come over tomorrow?”
Luna shrugged. “I don’t see why not.”
The mailpony. Oh, the silly games little fillies come up with.
When they got home, Stella rushed to her room and hurriedly unpacked her saddlebags, throwing everything on the floor, and ran to the kitchen, eager for lunch after her long day at school.
Luna stayed behind to pick up the mess Stella made. I really must teach her to pick up her mess and put things away.
Once Stella was in the kitchen Celestia greeted her. She already had lunch prepared.
They sat down at the table. “Well, look who’s back from her first day at preschool. How were things today?”
Stella didn’t know where to begin. “It was great! I made three new friends and we played together and I learned A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, square, circle, and triangle!”
Celestia giggled. “Goodness. That’s a lot to learn in one day. And what were your friends’ names?”
“Star Song, Copper Flame, and Silver Light. And Mom says that they can all come over for a visit tomorrow.”
“That sounds like a lot of fun. Here.” Princess Celestia scooted a small plate with a triangular piece of bread covered in yellow and red goop over to Stella. “Lunch is served.”
Stella looked apprehensively at what had been placed before her, and poked at it with her hoof. This looks gross. I'm not going to eat it. It could poison me. And then I'd be dead! “Eeeewwww! What’s this supposed to be?”
Celestia laughed. “That’s cheese pizza, silly. Don’t tell me you don’t like it!”
“It’s icky and slimy. And I don’t like it!” Stella pouted.
Celestia raised an eyebrow. “Oh? You’ve had this before?”
“No.” Of course I didn't. If I did, I'd be dead by now!
“Then I suppose you’ll never know the pure delights that come with something so small and simple as this. After all, trying a new food is almost the same as making a new friend all over again.” Celestia grinned slyly as she picked up her own slice and took a bite. “Mm-mm. Like ambrosia, that is.”
Stella jumped to her hooves, her heart beating wildly, ready to run for help if Celestia suddenly collapsed. “No, don't! You'll be poisoned!”
Celestia laughed. “Poisoned? Why would I be poisoned?”
Stella was short of breath. “Pizza… icky… poison!”
“Oh, no, Stella. It's not poisonous. It just looks like this because it's covered in cheese and tomato sauce, that's all. Nothing to worry about.”
Seeing the delighted face of her aunt as she ate the pizza, Stella magically lifted the slice before herself and slowly took a bite, but kept her eyes on Celestia to watch for any signs of food poisoning. That…is the best thing I've ever tasted!
Celestia smiled. “What do we think?” She has to like it now. She can't possibly still think it's poisonous.
Stella didn’t answer in much of a discernable way, only smiling and laughing through her mouthful of pizza. But Celestia knew what her niece was saying.
“Isn’t it just?”
Stella swallowed her bite. “Aunt Celestia, could you make some more of this for when my friends come over to visit tomorrow?”
“Count on it.” Princess Celestia took another bite of her slice.
“But have the royal taste testers try it first.”