The years went by for Luster as she studied at the school of magic. She did many things, not only casting spells, but mixing potions as well. She got the best scores out of any of the students there, rarely missing even a single question on a test. Most of their classes were taught by Miss Moondancer, but Princess Twilight would occasionally take over when she wasn’t performing Royal Duties.
A now teenaged Luster entered the classroom, and found not only Miss Moondancer or Princess Twilight, but both of them at once. Not only that, Princess Twilight’s niece Princess Flurry Heart was also present.
“Good morning Luster!” Moondancer said with a friendly tone. She’d aged quite a bit from when Luster had started out at the school. Her eyes had some bags under them.
Princess Twilight though, looked just the same as Luster remembered her. Yet she was the same age as Miss Moondancer. Was there a reason for that? Luster had heard rumors about the former Princesses Celestia and Luna, both of whom had been alicorns and lived for over a thousand years. But then they’d passed away a short time before Luster had been born. Luster wasn’t sure what to think? Perhaps Princess Twilight had an age spell to make herself look younger as well as keep herself alive?
Luster wasn’t sure, but didn’t ask questions about that. She smiled at Miss Moondancer and Princess Twilight.
“Good morning Miss Moondancer, Princess.”
As Luster took a seat and waited silently as the seats around her filled up with her classmates. She got a book out from her bag and read, ignoring the small conversations from the other unicorns around. Only when Princess Twilight began to speak did Luster look up.
“I have some news for all of you. As some of you may know, my niece Flurry Heart is about to come of age,” Twilight indicated Flurry Heart who was now a full grown pony. “And now that she’s turning eighteen, it means she can legally rule over the Crystal Empire. Her coronation is to take place in two days, and I thought I would invite all of you students to attend this on long field trip. Of course, you will need to get your parents to sign these permission slips.”
As Princess Twilight levitated a stack of papers around to each of the students desks, Luster thought about a small dilemma. How was she going to get her parents to sign this permission slip in time. The mail pony might not make it in time.
“I’ve already contacted Starlight and Sunburst and they’ve given full permission for you to visit the Crystal Empire,” Princess Twilight said.
Luster sighed in relief. That would save her having to send a letter to her parents and risk being too late for the field trip.
“But how are those of us with families outside of Canterlot going to get permission? Silly Sun asked.
“Come to my office after school and I shall take care of that,” Princess Twilight said.
After class, Luster headed back to her home away from in Canterlot. She no longer lived in the foal student dormitories since she’d grown up. Now she was in a tower of her own, the same tower Princess Twilight had lived in when she’d been the student of Princess Celestia. Luster was now grateful for the distance from the dormitories. She’d been fine living there at first, but the other fillies and colts could be a little noisy. But in this tower, Luster was free from distractions with no pony to bother her. As she made her way there Luster heard somepony call her.
“Hey Luster, wait up!”
Luster looked back and saw Silly Sun and two other ponies.
“Hey, we were thinking of going to the donut shop after we got Princess Twilight’s help with sending the letters. You want to come? It will be fun!” Silly Sun said with a wide grin.
“Sorry, I’m too busy,” Luster said. “Got a lot of studying to do.”
She walked off and returned to her tower. Opening her bag, she pulled out the homework pages for tonight and took a quill with her magic. Levitating books and shifting through pages of both the class texts as well as her notebook for little more than an hour. Luster answered the questions on the parchment, though she did narrow her eyes at the ones about making friends. She knew it from the lessons but honestly it was one thing that she disliked about the classes. Sure, Princess Twilight was known as the Princess of Friendship.
Luster had read a lot about her mentor’s old adventures, she and her five best friends had saved Equestria countless times before Luster had been born. But Princess Twilight ruled on her own now as far as Luster could see. Her mother was now Stewardess of the Castle where Twilight had first ruled before coming to Canterlot. Luster remembered the thrones with cutie marks on them. But Princess Twilight didn’t seem to be with her old friends anymore, Luster hadn’t seen them. Most likely their friendship had drifted apart after Twilight became ruler of Equestria. She ruled alone, aside from the Council of Friendship that helped her. Though Luster didn’t know who they were.
She finished the questions relating to the friendship criteria with a slightly frown than double checked her notes and textbook to make sure she was right. Everything was one hundred percent correct. With her work done she could now focus on practicing her spells, so she made her way to the library. The friendship questions had slowed her down by around twenty minutes. Friendship always seemed to pop up everywhere. Her parents worked at a School of Friendship, lived in a Castle of Friendship. At this point Luster was kind of annoyed with it, she just needed to study, friends weren’t going to help her become a good spell caster.
***
In a few days after the other students had gotten their parents permission to leave for the Crystal Empire, Twilight met them at the train station along with Flurry Heart and Moondancer. The naturally born alicorn was now fully grown and tapping her hooves nervously.
“I don’t know if I’m ready for this Auntie Twilie,” Flurry said.
Twilight looked at her niece. “I know how you feel Flurry. I wasn’t so sure I was ready to become Equestria’s ruler back when Celestia and Luna decided to retire,” she looked down, recalling what the Princesses had given up. “But they believed I could do it… as I believe you can.”
“But what if I can’t?” Flurry asked. “I don’t have Mom and Dad around. I’m going to be alone in the Crystal Empire!”
“You won’t be alone,” Twilight said. “Captain Starcutter will be there to advise you, along with Flash Sentry and the others. Starcutters done a good job taking care of everypony since I appointed him regent. He cares about helping ponies a lot. He’ll be happy to help you however he can. Come on.”
Flurry nodded slowly as the train that would take them to the Crystal Empire arrived. They got onto it and soon it took them to the Crystal Empire. Once they got there, Starcutter and a full battalion of Royal Guards were there to greet them.
“Welcome Princess Twilight,” Starcutter greeted with a formal bow as the ruler of Equestria approached. “Its good to have you home as well Princess Flurry Heart.”
“Likewise Starcutter,” Twilight said.
Starcutter hesitated, looking at the students as they disembarked from the train. He leaned in close to Twilight. “May we speak in a little more privacy? There’s a small matter of concern.”
Twilight nodded. She turned over to Moondancer. “Get everypony checked into the Crystal Hotel.”
Moondancer nodded. Twilight and Flurry followed Starcutter as the sword pony lead them to the castle.
“What’s the matter of concern Captain?” Flurry asked.
“It’s the Crystal Ponies Princess. Their spirits are all very low,” Starcutter told them, his expression grim as he looked at some of the ponies they passed with concern.
As they walked through the streets of the Crystal Empire, Twilight got a look around. The Crystal ponies walking the streets sure didn’t look happy. Their eyes were sad as they walked with heavy steps as though carrying an invisible load.
Flurry put a hoof to her mouth. These were her subjects, and they were hurting. She had to help them.
“Excuse me!” she called to one of them. “Can you tell me what’s wrong?”
The crystal pony she asked shook her head. “I’m sorry, I just feel terrible. And I can’t remember things.”
She continued walking while Flurry looked after her sadly.
“This is just like when my friends and I came here the first time,” Twilight said, recalling when the Empire first returned after the curse was lifted. “Ponies were sad and didn’t remember much about what happened.”
“How did you solve it?” Starcutter asked earnestly. “We have to help them!”
“Well we found the Crystal Heart and the Crystal Ponies used it to destroy King Sombra for the first time. Until Discord brought him,” Twilight said. “Maybe there’s something wrong with the Crystal Heart?”
They arrived at the palace which in the very below its hollowed out bottom lay the pedestal holding the Crystal Heart. Twilight took a long look at the Heart and gasped.
“This is a fake! The real one is missing!”