In the kingdoms of the Hippogriffons, Novo, her daughter and her subjects were underwater. Some Hippogriffons decided to return to live on land, others preferred to continue to live underwater because they got used to it. Novo still lived underwater, and was sitting on her throne, watching her subjects with a smile.
She was grateful that Storm King was defeated. Although she doesn’t know who defeated Storm King, she intended to thank the pony.
She looked at her pearl that was hanging. Her smile fell. The pearl reminded her of Twilight. When she saw Twilight, she wasn’t trusting Twilight. She tried to protect her daughter that the ponies that Princess Skystar saved, didn’t want good for the kingdom. And did her daughter listen? No. But Pinkie Pie and Skystar started singing a very lively song, she even joined in, believing that the ponies that Skystar saved were no threat. But Twilight took advantage that Novo was distracted to get the pearl! She was grateful that those six ponies were no longer around.
Suddenly, a scroll went over to Novo. Novo picked up the scroll with her hoof to read. “Hi, Queen Novo. How are you feeling after the defeat of the Storm King? If you aren't so busy today, could you come to Canterlot castle? The other princesses and I would like to talk to you. Signed Princess Celestia.”
When Novo finished reading, she went to the surface. When it reached the surface, its flippers turned to hooves.
”I wonder what Princess Celestia and the other princesses want to talk about. Would it be something to do with politics? It could only be that. I just hope it doesn’t take that long.”
Celestia, Luna and Cadence were waiting for Novo in the throne room. The three princesses had different expressions. Celestia was sitting on her throne waiting patiently Novo, Luna was walking in unhappy circles and Cadence was standing in place while waiting for Novo to arrive.
“Sister, will it be long before she comes?” asked Luna, already impatient.
“Luna, she will come.” assured Celestia.
“What if she doesn’t come? What if she’s hiding just to not accept the truth that she made Twilight Sparkle’s friend fight and made her cry?” asked Luna.
“Luna, she doesn’t even know what we’re going to talk about.”
“But why didn’t you write the subject we were going to talk about in the letter?”
“I was afraid that if I said the reason, she wouldn’t want to come.”
Cadence approached Luna and put a hoof on Luna. “Aunt Luna, you’re very angry. What bothers you lately?”
Luna looked at Cadence. “Don’t you remember? Because of Queen Novo, Twilight’s friendship with her friends almost ended. And Twilight is my best friend, I’m not going to be crossed-hoofed.”
Celestia walked over to Luna. “Luna, please calm down.”
“Why should I calm down?!” Luna looked at Celestia. “Don’t you remember that the guilt of Twilight’s friendship with her friends almost ended just because Novo was being selfish?!”
The door to the throne room opened, the princesses looked at the door, and saw a royal guard, next to it was Novo. She was smiling at the Celestia.
When the guard finished his scouting job, he left. Celestia, seeing this, closed the door with her magic.
Novo approached Celestia to hug her while smiling. “Princess Celestia! How long!” Celestia returned a hug with a smile.
When Novo left the embrace she noticed two Alicorns that she never saw. One was dark blue and the other pink. She looked at Celestia. “Princess Celestia, who are these two?”
Celestia pointed a hoof at Luna. “Novo, that’s my sister Luna,” Celestia pointed to Cadence now. “And that is my adopted niece Cadence.”
Novo approached Luna and Cadence to greet. Luna greeted her in an unhappy way, while Cadence greeted her normally.
Novo didn’t understand why the Luna wasn’t in the mood to see her. Was it something she did? Novo looked at Celestia and whispered. “Celestia, why does Luna look like that?”
“Luna is always like that, Novo. She is in a bad mood during the day because of spending the whole night in the World of Dreams,” replied Celestia.
Novo was even more confused. “World of Dreams?”
“Yes. That’s where Luna comes in to stop ponies’ nightmares.”
Novo understood. Now it made sense. “So, what are we going to talk about, then?”
Luna and Cadence approached Celestia, but said nothing. The three princesses had three different expressions while looking to Novo: Celestia had a friendly smile, Luna had an irritated face and Cadence was neutral.
Celestia decided to start talking. “Before we talk about why we called you here, we would like to know how you are. How are the things in Seaquestria?”
“I am fine. Many of the seaponies decided to return to live on the surface because of the knowledge of Storm King’s defeat,” Novo replied as she smiled.
“How nice. I’m glad your subjects are safer now,” said Celestia as she lifted a hoof. Luna rolled her eyes at what Celestia said.
“What are we going to talk about? Is it about Equestria policy?” asked Novo.
Celestia lowered the hoof. “It’s not about Equestria policy, Novo.”
Novo was obviously confused. If not, what would it be then? “What? But then what is it about?”
“During the Storm King invasion, did anything happen in Seaequestria?” asked Celestia.
“Yes. Something happened,” replied Novo, now in a bad mood just remembering Twilight trying to steal the pearl.
“And what happened?”
“Six mares appeared.”
“Do you mind telling us what these six mares were like?” as much as Celestia knew who these six mares were, she didn’t want Novo to suspect.
“There was a Unicorn in white and purple mane, an Earth Pony in color and pink mane and an Earth Pony in orange with yellow mane, a yellow pegasus with light pink mane, a light blue pegasus with rainbow mane and it had a lavender alicorn, which for me was what irritated me the most,” replied Novo. Luna tried to control her anger, but it got stronger, especially when Novo talked about Twilight.
“Why do you think the lavender alicorn was what most pissed you off?” asked Celestia.
“That lavender mare tried to steal my pearl! And on top of that, their friends were distracting me just so she could steal the pearl!” shouted Novo in anger.
“What did you do next?”
“I got angry and expelled her and her friends from Seaquestria.”
Luna couldn’t take it anymore and went to Queen Novo with a very angry look. “Listen here, Novo! How dare you be angry with our best friend Twilight Sparkle?! She just wanted to save the ponies from Storm King!”
Novo’s anger changed to fear. Did Luna just use the royal we and the royal voice of Canterlot at the same time? But why was Luna angry with her? But her expression changed to confused. Did Luna say “Twilight Sparkle?” Was that the name of the lavender alicorn?
“Luna, please calm down,” said Celestia. Although Luna was angry and smoke was coming out of her nose, she went back to where she was.
“The name of the lavender alicorn is Twilight Sparkle?” asked Novo.
“Yes, Novo,” replied Cadence.
“Do you three know her?”
“She was my student since she was a foal until she became an alicorn,” said Celestia with a smile as she remembered when Twilight was her student.
“I was her foalsitter when she was just a filly,” replied Cadence.
“Twilight is my first best friend I ever had,” replied Luna, still irritated. “And because of your selfishness, her friendship with her friends almost over.”
Novo was surprised that the three princesses knew Twilight. But she was more surprised by the last sentence that Luna said. “Wait. How did my selfishness make the friendship of Twilight and her friends almost end? She tried to steal my pearl in the first place.”
Celestia knew that now would be the time for her to speak. “Queen Novo, we understand why you got mad at Twilight, but try to see it from the side of Twilight: We became rocks, and it was up to Twilight to save Equestria.”
Novo was surprised again. “Did you three become rocks?”
“Yes, Novo,” replied Cadence.
“But I really don’t understand. Why are you three on the side of Twilight? She lied to me,” said Novo.
“She was really stressed out, Novo,” replied Luna. “She had already asked you so that she could use the pearl to bring our subjects to your land to be safe, but you denied it.”
“And why should I let her use my pearl?! She might as well have been lying!” shouted Novo, now irritated.
“But why did you think Twilight Sparkle was lying to you?” asked Cadence.
Queen Novo sighed, her anger has gone. “Because there was a time when a unicorn mare with a broken horn came to me to ask if she could stay, I let her stay with me and my subjects. But she had other plans in mind besides living there.”
“What do you mean other plans?” asked Cadence, confused.
Novo’s anger returned. “She planned to steal my pearl!”
Celestia, Luna and cadence were surprised. Novo said unicorn mare with the broken horn? Could this be the same mare that tried to steal their magic and Twilight’s magic?
“Did you say mare with the broken horn?” asked Celestia, carefully as she lifted a hoof slightly.
“Yes. I said yes,” replied Novo, no longer angry. “Why? Do you three know her?”
“There was a mare with a broken horn at the Friendship Celebration in Canterlot,” replied Celestia, “and she was wanting the magic of us and of Twilight. But we deny giving our magic. Tempest Shadow then fought and turned us into stones with a magic ball. But Twilight managed to escape with her friends.”
“But if they managed to escape, why did they come to me?” asked New Queen.
“They had to come to you for help,” Luna ground her teeth. “You’re lucky that Twilight and her friends managed to save Equestria without your miserable help.”
Novo didn’t know why, but she felt uncomfortable with the last four words. Why was she feeling this? Was she sorry? But she shouldn’t feel that. Twilight had distracted her to steal the pearl! Twilight didn’t deserve her forgiveness, not after what Twilight did for her.
“Queen Novo, you owe Twilight an apology,” said Luna.
Novo was surprised and annoyed at the same time. “Me? Apologize to her? The same mare that tried to steal my pearl? Never!”
Cadence approached Novo. “Novo, Twilight is not like Tempest Shadow.”
“But what if she was pretending?” asked Novo.
“Novo, you can trust me, Luna and Cadence. Twilight had really good intentions when she was trying to steal your pearl,” said Celestia.
Novo looked doubtful. Should she trust them, especially Celestia? Celestia was like a friend to her. But should she trust Celestia? Or should she continue to be angry at that Twilight? She really didn’t know.
She started to think. She could see that her daughter Skystar really liked the six mares, especially Pinkie Pie. She even remembered when she and her daughter were invited to see the Songbird Serenade show at the Friendship Festival. She started to imagine something, but she needed to confirm something before. “Celestia, who was responsible for organizing the Friendship Festival?”
“Twilight Sparkle,” replied Celestia.
Novo was surprised again. Is Twilight responsible for organizing this festival? She thought at first that Celestia was organizing this festival. “Wait. Weren’t you the festival organizer?”
“No, Novo.”
Novo couldn’t help but agree that for a young Alicorn, Twilight had great ability to organize a festival. “Did she do it all alone?”
“No. Her friends were helping her all the time,” replied Celestia.
“But why did she want to do a friendship festival?” asked Novo.
“Twilight’s intention to make this festival was for ponies and creatures to become more united.”
Novo smiled. Twilight even had good intentions when making a festival related to friendship. Novo was starting to think better, and started to realize that she was very thick and rude to Twilight. Maybe Novo should have been kinder to Twilight after she stole the pearl. Novo looked at Celestia. “Yes. I think you’re right, Celestia. Do you think Twilight will forgive me?”
Celestia put a hoof on Novo. “Novo, if Twilight forgave her friends for leaving her after she yelled at Pinkie, I can believe she will forgive you too.”
Novo smiled hopefully. “Do you really think?”
“Yes. I think and I’m sure. ” Celestia hugged Novo, Novo returned the hug.
When they left the embrace she looked at the three princesses. “So, are the three of you going to forgive me for being angry with Twilight?”
“I can see that you’re sorry, so yes. I forgive you,” said Celestia as she smiled.
“I don’t know, maybe. Since you made my best friend’s friendship with her friends almost over. But since you’re going to apologize to Twilight, maybe I’ll forgive you,” said Luna with a neutral expression.
“I forgive you,” said Cadence with a loving smile.
“Thank you, princesses. Well, I’m going. I need to talk to Twilight. ” Novo left the room.
Twilight was in her castle, reading a book on the sofa in the living room while smiling. The book she read was about the Starswirl story. She never imagined that Starswirl was the teacher of Celestia and Luna when they were foals and weren’t yet princesses of Equestria.
But her reading was interrupted by knocking on the front door. She got up from the couch and went to the door. She wondered who it was. Would it be one of her friends?
When she opened the door, she saw that it was...
“Queen Novo?” asked Twilight Sparkle, confused.
“Hello again, Twilight,” Novo said as she smiled.
Although Twilight was confused and wanted to know why Novo came to her, she allowed Novo to enter the castle. “Would you like something, Queen Novo? A drink? A food?”
“No thanks, Twilight,” replied Novo. “I came here just to talk to you.”
“Where would you like us to talk, queen?” asked Twilight Sparkle politely.
“It could be in the living room.”
Upon arriving in the living room, Twilight sat on the right and Novo on the left. Twilight Sparkle decided to speak. “So Queen Novo, how are things at Seaquestria?”
“It’s fine, Twilight. Many of the Seaponies returned to the surface after the defeat of Storm King,” replied Novo. “Is it true that it was you and your friends who saved Equestria from Storm King?”
“Yes, Queen Novo. Celestia had asked me to come to you for help, but you know very well what happened when my friends and I arrived in your kingdom. ” Twilight Sparkle looked to the side while her ears were down. She still felt guilty about stealing Queen Novo’s pearl, even if it was for the good of Equestria.
Novo realized the sadness in Twilight Sparkle. “Why is that face?”
Twilight Sparkle was still looking to the side, sadly. “I feel guilty for stealing your pearl, Queen Novo. I’m really sorry. I just wanted to save Equestria from Storm King. I will understand if you don’t want to forgive me.”
Novo was now sad. She knew she was irritated with Twilight, but she never imagined that Twilight would have been sorry. “Twilight, I’m sorry that I got mad at you and kicked you and your friends out of Seaquestria.”
Twilight Sparkle looked at Novo. “Queen Novo, you don’t have to apologize. It was my fault for not having found another solution. ”
“Twilight, don’t blame yourself. You were just stressed because the princesses were counting on you to save Equestria,” said Novo.
Twilight Sparkle was confused. “Wait. How do you know I was stressed because the princesses were counting on me to save Equestria?”
“The princesses asked me to come to Canterlot to talk to me,” replied Novo.
“Really? What did you four talk to you about? Was it about any deal with the Hippo Griffons?” asked Twilight Sparkle.
“No, Twilight. They called me to talk about me getting angry and kicking you and your friends out of Seaquestria.”
Twilight was surprised. She knew that the three princesses cared for her, but she never imagined that they would call Novo to talk about what Novo did. “Did you come here because you wanted to apologize without being forced or did the princesses force you to come and apologize?”
“I came here to apologize without the princesses having forced me,” replied Novo.
Twilight Sparkle was left with a doubt about something. “Queen Novo, why were you suspecting me and my friends since we arrived at Seaequestria?”
“It’s just that in the past, a Unicorn mare with a broken horn came to me and asked if she could stay in my kingdom, as nobody tried to steal the pearl before, I let her stay. But when I least expected it, she tried to steal my pearl, so I managed to stop it before she was successful,” replied Novo.
“Queen Novo, I’m sorry that I put you through this experience a second time,” said Twilight, sadly.
“No. Don’t blame yourself, Twilight. I should have been understanding and let you use the pearl to bring the ponies to stay here. If I had done that, I am sure you wouldn’t have lied to your friends, you wouldn’t have tried to steal my pearl and your friendship with them wouldn’t have almost ended.”
Twilight Sparkle was surprised by the second sentence. “How do you know that my friends and I had a fight that almost resulted in our friendship ending?”
“The princesses told me about what happened after I expelled you from Seaquestria,” replied Novo.
“So, I would like to ask you something, Queen Novo.” Twilight Sparkle started.
“I’m listening.”
“So, if you forgave me for stealing your pearl, does that mean that my friends and I can return to Seaquestria when we want to visit?” asked Twilight to be sure.
“Yes, Twilight. Because princesses have proved to me that you’re not like Tempest Shadow, so you and your friends can always go to Seaquestria whenever you six want,” replied Novo as she smiled.
Twilight Sparkle smiled. She was happy that Novo came to her to apologize.
Novo got up from the couch. “Well, I’m going. Bye, Twilight.”
“Bye, Queen Novo.” Twilight said goodbye with a hoof. “Ah. And one more thing, Queen Novo. ”
Novo looked at Twilight Sparkle. “The name of the broken horned mare is actually Fizzlepop Berrytwist.”