It’s been a month now. A month since Luster Dawn realized the true power of friendship. And she couldn’t have been happier. After hearing the story of Princess Twilight’s coronation and seeing her friends, she has befriended so many creatures and ponies.
A couple days later, Princess Twilight assigned her something that has been assigned by her own mentor so many years ago: write down letters explaining any lessons of friendship. It was a start for Luster.
She was on her way to meet Princess Twilight at her old castle at the very moment. It was something about a map she wanted her to see. She couldn’t tell because when she got the letter in the mail, she dropped it in a puddle, resulting in half of the letter getting smudged.
As usual, she waved to any passerby she could wave to. Now that she made friends, it’s easier to be social instead of having to worry about losing a friend.
“Luster! Over here!”
The voice caught Luster’s attention after greeting the wall-eyed grey Pegasus that delivered her mail. She turned her head forward, surprised to see the large castle before her. She must have been so caught up in socializing, that she barely noticed the large structure.
At the entrance, a large purple and green dragon stood next to a carriage harnessing guard ponies.
She ran over as soon as they got her attention.
“Hello, Spike,” the unicorn greeted. “Princess Twilight wanted me to meet her here. Said something about a map.”
“You mean the friendship map?”
“That’s what it’s called?”
Spike glared at her and crossed his arms.
“You dropped the letter in a puddle again, didn’t you?”
Luster’s cheeks turned red.
“Ok! So I have a habit of reading letters while I trot someplace, making it hard to see my surroundings. If my mentor sends me a letter, I have to read it!”
Spike chuckled.
“Trust me. Twilight did it too. But it was more to books than scrolls. Anyway, we should head inside. Can’t keep a princess waiting.”
With that, Spike opened the door and walked inside. Luster followed suit.
The castle, at the moment, was empty, since the caretakers were on a field trip with the students from the school of friendship. It was still as shiny as ever. The first time Luster saw it, she thought she would go blind.
Finally, Spike and Luster reached a big set of doors.
“It’s in there? I was never able to go in there!”
“Well, it’s a friendship map. The Princess figured it would be best to show you the map at the right time.”
Spike pushed it open and held it for Luster.
“Ladies first.”
Luster smirked.
“You didn’t do the same thing outside.”
“That’s because the Princess wasn’t watching me.”
Luster smirked and pointed her hoof to Princess Twilight, who stood there with an amused look on her face.
Spike’s face flushed red before he spoke.
“Making me rat myself out. Good move, Luster. But watch out. I’ll get you back someday.”
The Princess spoke, a smile still on her face.
“If you do, it’s back to chore time, mister.”
Luster held back a laugh as Spike’s face turned into a darker shade of red.
“Anyway, I would like to thank you for coming Luster.”
“No problem, your majesty. You wanted to show me a friendship map?”
“Come with me. Spike, you too.”
Princess Twilight turned and began walking to a large table, with Luster and Spike coming after her.
“This...” the Princess said, motioning her hoof across the large table, “Is the Cutie Map.”
Luster looked amazed.
“Wow! It’s so big!” she turned her head to the seven chairs. “And were those where your friends sat?”
“Yep! Did the cutie marks give it away?”
Luster nodded.
Spike whispered to Luster, “I had the small chair next to Twilight’s.”
Luster smiled before walking closer to the large map. It was shiny and looked as if it had all of Equestria. She couldn’t hold back anymore. She had to ask.
“So... why is this map important?”
Twilight spoke, looking at the map.
“You know about the Tree of Harmony, right?”
Luster nodded.
“Well, a while after I became an Alicorn, the next Summer Sun Celebration was only a short time away. However, on a night where the celebration was around the corner, Princess Celestia and Luna vanished. The sky had both the sun AND the moon, splitting it into two. Even worse, vines and clouds from the Everfree Forest started to cover Ponyville. My friends and I soon discovered we had to bring the Elements back to the tree, where they originally belonged. The tree was dying without them, allowing the vines to spread. When we put the Elements back, not only was the day saved, but a mysterious chest showed up too. We had no idea where the keys were, however. As time passed, we all did certain things that resulted in us getting objects. Not just any objects, though. They were the keys. Soon, all keys but mine were found.
“But on the day Tirek attacked us and convinced Discord to join him, it looked like it was all over. But when I saw my friends and Discord captured, I chose to give up my magic for my friends along with Discord. As a result, Discord gave me a medallion he got from Tirek because he now saw friendship in a whole new light. The medallion glowed, and I saw it was my key! We unlocked the chest, defeated Tirek, and as a result, the chest transformed into a castle!
“Soon, we saw a table emerge in the room with our thrones. The Cutie Map! The purpose of the map was to call a certain pony fit to solve any certain friendship problems in Equestria.”
Twilight rubbed her hoof on the map.
“It’s been dormant for so long now. But looking at it gives me pleasure of all the memories of my friends and I solving friendship problems..”
Spike chuckled and looked at the map.
“Heh. Just imagine. The map suddenly ‘wakes up’ again and calls some random pony to solve a friendship problem.”
Suddenly, a faint glow caught Spike’s eye. Twilight took notice too. When they turned their heads to the glow, their mouths opened in shock.
Luster’s cutie mark was glowing!
Luster turned her head to her flank and took notice too. Suddenly, her facial expression turned to worry.
“P-Princess? What’s happening?”
“The map! I think it’s calling you!”
Suddenly, a projection of Luster's cutie mark emerged from her flank and floated around the map, soon circling around a very familiar area.
“The Canterlot Garden! But why would the map call Luster there?” asked Spike.
“I have no idea,” Twilight replied. “But I think it’s time to head to Canterlot. Because it looks like Luster has to solve a friendship problem.”
Luster gulped. It looked as if this day just got weirder.