//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6 
// Story: Dreams' Horizon 
// by DrakeyC 
//------------------------------//

“Let’s see…” Moondancer took the pristine pocketbook from the shelf and flipped to a specific page. She scanned it and frowned. “It’s still there.”

Twilight glanced her way from a display of school calendars. “Hm?”

“Page 121 of The Rear Shelf.” Moondancer held the book open and gestured to the page. “They misspelled ‘ominous’ as ‘ominos’. And this is the second edition of the book with a new foreword from the author, so it ought to have been corrected.”

“Oh.” Twilight shrugged. “Maybe they didn’t notice it.”

“I sent her two letters.” Moondancer sighed and put the book back, giving it a forlorn look. “It is disappointing when such talented ponies make such minor errors and refuse to correct them.” She pulled aside to let a stallion pass by her, munching from a bowl of hayfries.

The ‘Author’s Bungalow at Canterlot’ – the inane acronym had made her groan when it opened – was always a bit busy on Sunday afternoons. The other six days of the week the shop was a simple bookstore with a seating area for reading and relaxing. Sundays however, a food cart parked outside and customers were allowed to eat their meals in the seating area of the store, provided they had no unpaid merchandise with them. Thus, Sundays always saw an influx of customers more interested in eating than reading.

Twilight was grateful the food cart days had stayed limited to just Sundays.

She turned back to the shelf of school calendars and raised her eyebrows as one caught her eye. “Ooo, this one is astronomy themed! Every day you get a picture of a constellation, star, planet, or other celestial object, and a brief description of it.” She pulled it down and turned it around to read the examples on the back of the box.

Moondancer eyed the package. “I find it likely there is nothing on that calendar you wouldn’t already be well aware of.”

“Oh, it’s not for me, it’s for Luster. Since the party went so well and it’s the end of our first week of school, I thought I might get her a little gift. She was interested in the myths of the constellations, something like this could be a casual way to feed her curiosity.”

“In that case, it sounds good.” Moondancer nodded.

Twilight picked up a book she had set down on a table nearby and lifted it with the calendar. “I’m ready to check out, then. You?”

“Yes.” Moondancer held up three pocketbooks. “These will suffice.”

The two joined the short light up to the front counter. Moondancer eyed the book Twilight was carrying. “Thank you, by the way. You don’t have to buy me that.”

Twilight glanced at the book – Principles of Magic -Revised Edition- “Well, consider it my apology for forgetting about yours for two years. And I will find it, promise! I’m really sure it’s at my parents’ place.” She looked at a clock on the wall. “I’d drop by and look around, but I’m afraid I have a meeting in an hour.”

“No rush. But I do appreciate the thought.” Moondancer raised her eyes to Twilight’s face. “May I ask what this meeting is about?”

“Luster.” Twilight replied.

The pony in front of them stepped forward, moving the line up. Moondancer smiled. “You seem in better spirits about Luster. Lemon told me you’ve been anxious about her.”

The mention deflated Twilight’s mood only slightly, but she nodded. “I’ve never had to make friends with another pony before by royal command. And Luster starts to pull away whenever it seems she’s getting close to us. I’m not sure what to make of her.”

“Some ponies make friends differently than others. It took time for you to get used to being around Minuette and Lemon Hearts, and even longer for me to.”

Twilight chuckled. “Yeah. No offense to Minuette, but she can come on a bit strong. But I owe you for convincing me that she settles down.”

“You owe nothing.” Moondancer shook her head. “We met by happenstance is all.”

The pony at the counter left and the two stepped up. “You first.” Twilight sidestepped and let Moondancer set her purchases on the counter. She looked at the calendar floating next to her. 

If nothing else, Luster will appreciate the gesture. And, Moondancer is right. We became friends naturally, I can’t expect a friendship to happen because I force it. Moondancer and I became friends because we grew up together, but it took time for me to become friends with Minuette and Lemon Hearts

When Twilight had enrolled in the School for Gifted Unicorns, she’d met Twinkleshine in Mathematics and slowly made friends by virtue of them sitting next to each other and helping each other with assignments. Moondancer had made friends with Minuette and Lemon Hearts when she was grouped with them for an Alchemy project. I’d never given her social circle much thought until that day. I invited her to lunch with Twinkleshine and she said she already had plans. The two groups had gone to lunch and shopping together, and the rest was history.

Moondancer reassured me that she wouldn’t force me to be friends with her friends, as long as I respected that she didn’t want to have to choose between us. But she’s never had to; she just supported me as I got used to them. Twilight smiled softly. I never realized I was handling Luster just like Moondancer handled me. Maybe that’s why it’s worked out so well.

Twilight jumped as something nudged her hoof and she snapped to focus. Moondancer gestured a hoof to the counter, and Twilight gave the cashier her items. As they were scanned, Twilight turned back to her thoughts. I’d probably have never become friends with Minuette or Lemon Hearts if Moondancer hadn’t brought us together. And I’d never have become friends with Twinkleshine if we didn’t arbitrarily choose to sit next to each other. She absentmindedly took the items as the cashier pushed them back to her and slid them into her saddle. Maybe Luster just hasn’t been as lucky to meet the right ponies to be friends with.

The thought made Twilight’s chest swell as she remembered their conversation in the hall last night. But now she has. I was able to do that for her. She could make friends that she stays in touch with for years to come. The realization she’d had a positive effect on Luster’s life that could keep growing was almost prideful. Is pride the right word? It feels selfish to be proud of something like this… honored. Yes, that seems better. I’m honored to have been able to help Luster.

The two exited onto the street and walked around the line of ponies at the food cart outside. Twilight turned to Moondancer. “Do you think you’ll stay friends with Luster even if I’m not pushing the two of you?”

Moondancer tilted her eyes up as she considered the question. “I wouldn’t refuse her if she asked me out like this or wanted to work with me in a class. And she’s a nice pony. I haven’t had much one-on-one time with her, but I think we could get along fine.” She looked at Twilight. “Why?”

“I just want to be sure I’m not her only real connection she forms with us. If she’s a friend now, I hope it’s genuine.”

“I’m sure you’re worrying about nothing.” Moondancer shook her head. “It takes time to develop a bond like that.”

“I know. I just really want this to go well for her. She seems like a genuinely nice pony. She deserves friends she can rely on.” Twilight reached into her bag and held a book to Moondancer. “Before I go to the school and forget, for you.”

Moondancer took the fresh copy of Principals of Magic -Revised Edition- and smiled. “Thank you.”

Twilight looked in her bag at the boxed calendar. “Do you know where Luster is staying? I’ve meant to ask.”

“I believe Minuette knows, she asked last night.”

“Good.” Twilight nodded. “I’ll drop this off to her after my meeting. See you, Moondancer.”

As she waved and turned to the right to head in the direction of SGU, she heard Moondancer call after her. “If you’re not seeing Luster until later, what meeting about her are you attending?”





The secretary looked up from her desk and gave a short nod. “You can head up now.”

“Thank you.” Twilight stood from her seat in the waiting area of SGU’s administrative offices and approached a door behind the desk. She swung it open into a small room, not much bigger than a closet, and closed the door behind her. The floor was inlaid with a circular rune, Old Ponish text carved along the outer rim and swooping lines crossing from one side to the other that, when taken together, formed the image of a swirling sun.

Twilight stomped her hoof twice and the rune lit up with shining gold magic. She lurched slightly as a magic circle rose up from the rune and lifted her into the air, swiftly but gently carrying her up the passage. Locked doors to the second and third floor of SGU passed by her and the circle slowed to a halt at the top of the shaft. The circle spread out to the walls and flashed, and the long shaft below Twilight’s hooves faded below a solid floor that had materialized.

Twilight took a breath. She had been here twice before, once each year when she’d been informed she had won the Clover Award for Achievement. This was the first time she had arranged to come here on her own. She raised a hoof and knocked twice.

“Come in, Twilight.”

Twilight turned the knob and swung the door open.

Princess Celestia’s office sat on the fourth floor of SGU, the size of a classroom with a couple more rooms behind doors that Twilight had never seen. However, calling it an ‘office’ seemed unfitting.

The room didn’t have a solid wall anywhere in sight but for the door frames. Every other surface was a pane of glass, rising high overhead and steepling to give the room its roof, a pane with a sun emblem in the center. A desk and chair were against one wall, another wall had a meeting area with multiple wooden chairs along a rectangular table, and the third wall had a chaise lounge with easy chairs and a circular table.

Celestia’s office had never felt like the office of a school administrator, not even the personal chambers of an alicorn princess. It was more like a welcoming seating room that happened to be where the most powerful pony in Equestria preferred to do her work.

“Twilight.” Celestia looked over her desk and moved aside the paperwork in front of her. She stood and walked around the desk, not looking away. “I hope you are doing well.”

Twilight knelt. “Yes, Princess. Thank you for seeing me. I’ll not take too much of your time.”

“I ask you to only take as much of my time as you need.” Celestia moved to the chaise lounge and sat down. She gestured a hoof to one of the easy chairs. “Come, have a seat.”

“Thank you.” Twilight approached her and sat down opposite her.

“Do you need a drink?”

“No, thank you.” Twilight fidgeted in her seat. Meeting Celestia had never been entirely comfortable for her. She was the Princess of the Sun, the most powerful pony in Equestria in more ways than one. She had been taught to observe proper decorum when meeting nobility, but in her past meetings with Celestia, the Princess hadn’t acted like the handful of nobles Twilight had met before. She was much more casual and relaxed, she didn’t stand on ceremony or silently tut-tut at a slip of Twilight’s manners. It made conversation with her simultaneously relaxing and stressing as she tried to feel out how she was expected to act.

“What can I do for you?” Celestia sat patiently and waited.

“I wanted to speak to you about Luster Dawn.”

Celestia frowned. “Oh? Is everything alright?”

“Yes!” Twilight rapidly shook her head. “No, everything is fine. I just thought that it had been a week since you gave us our… assignment, so perhaps you may like an update.”

“I see.” Celestia slowly nodded. “Then by all means, proceed.”

“Right. Yes.” Twilight paused. She had spent the wait time to come up here organizing her thoughts into a mental essay of talking points to run down, but once she had stepped through the door, her papers were blown away and she now struggled to remember them. “Um… well, it’s going good.” 

What to bring up first? The party, her interest in astronomy, difficulty getting her to open up? That should be first, but what if it gives the wrong impression?

“Twilight.”

She jerked out of her thoughts.

Celestia had a gentle smile on her face as she spoke. “Do you recall what I said when I asked you to be Luster’s friend?”

Twilight’s mind raced. “…I think I could paraphrase?” she laughed awkwardly.

Celestia’s expression didn’t waver. “I said that I wasn’t forcing this task upon you and would not be upset if you refused it, because I knew asking you to be friends with a pony you’d never met before is not a straightforward request.” She peered at Twilight. “Do you know why I said these things?”

Twilight hesitated before shaking her head.

“I said them because I wanted to ensure above all else that you would be comfortable trying to be Luster’s friend. I also told either of you that you could come speak to me if you needed anything, because I wanted to support the two of you in this together if you were having trouble.” Celestia inhaled. “What I am trying to say, Twilight, is that you do not need to be nervous. Even if you were to tell me that you and Luster hate each other, I would not be upset with you.”

Twilight felt sheepish as she finished. “Of course, Princess. Sorry.” Wait… “You said that either of us could come to you? Has Luster spoken to you?”

“Not since our initial meeting, no.”

Would she tell me if she had? Twilight shook her head to dismiss the thought. Of course she would, Princess Celestia would never lie to us about something like this. And even if she did, it would be because she thought it best. She has the wisdom of centuries, after all.

“Now, when you are ready, tell me plainly how things are going between you and Luster.”

Twilight closed her eyes and breathed deep. Plainly. She opened her eyes and exhaled.

“It’s going well. I think Luster and I are getting along great. I don’t know if I would exactly call us friends, certainly not close friends, but we’ve spent time together outside of class. I invited her to a party with my other friends on Saturday and she said she really enjoyed herself.”

Celestia’s expression brightened. “That’s wonderful news, Twilight.”

“Thank you.” Twilight’s eyes darted away. “I just want to make sure, moving on, that she isn’t being friends with them just for my sake or just because they’re friends of mine. I hope she can form real relationships with all of us – or at least, the ones she wants to be friends with.”

“Of course.” Celestia bowed her head. “I knew I had made the right decision in entrusting you with this, Twilight. I had a feeling you were just the pony she needed.”

Twilight blushed furiously under the praise. “Thank you, Princess Celestia. But I didn’t really do much. I just tried to be a good friend like you asked.” She wrinkled her nose. “To be honest, I’ve been stressing about how to do that since this began. I didn’t want to push her too hard or too far, but I knew I had to make the effort somehow.”

“Well, there’ll be no more stressing now,” Celestia said firmly, raising her head. “I think it’s fair to say that you and Luster have begun forging a bond together, and it will continue to grow naturally over time. Luster may not show it often, but she has a very kind spirit. She just needs the right environment to help her nurture and show it.”

That isn’t just an observation. Something about the way Celestia spoke about Luster seemed more intimate than Twilight would expect. “Princess, if you don’t mind my asking, how come you’ve taken such an interest in Luster? I only ask because, meaning no disrespect whatsoever, I usually don’t hear about you taking such a personal role in a single student’s affairs.”

Twilight watched Celestia’s face. The princess remained calm and serene, but Twilight thought she saw flickers of emotion in her eyes, though she couldn’t tell what. Celestia said nothing for a moment and then nodded.

“You are correct, Twilight. Unfortunate though it may be, I am sure many students at SGU have trouble making friends. The difference is that I was made aware of Luster’s difficulties and asked to aid her.”

“By?”

“Her parents, naturally.” The princess raised a hoof and shook her head. “But I am afraid that Luster’s personal life and family is something I’m not willing to discuss without her permission. Luster may be your friend, but she is still entitled to privacy.”

“Oh. Right.” Twilight winced. “Sorry.”

“Not at all. I know you ask only out of concern and curiosity, not to pry. Though, I will say the fact that I was approached about Luster by her parents is something she is not aware of. I would appreciate it if you kept it that way.” Celestia gave her an even look.

“Of course, Princess,” Twilight said quickly. “My lips are sealed.” She mimed pulling a zipper across her muzzle.

Celestia chuckled softly. “Thank you. I leave it to you if you want to tell Luster you came to me. I do not think she would terribly mind if she knew, but it is up to you.”

“I was going to see her after our talk. I’ll mention it to her.” Twilight reached into her bag and held up her present. “I got her a day calendar for the school year. She seemed interested in learning more about the stars.” She held the calendar toward Celestia.

Celestia looked it over, nodded, and offered it back. “I’m sure she’ll appreciate it.” Twilight beamed happily and put the calendar back in her bag. Celestia looked at a clock hanging from the wall. “If there is nothing else terribly pressing, Twilight, perhaps we should adjourn so you can deliver it?”

Twilight looked at the clock. “Oh, yes! Sorry, I’m sure you have lots of big important meetings to get to!” she gave an awkward laugh.

“Not particularly. But I do have work all the same.”

The two stood and Twilight kneeled. “Thank you for agreeing to see me, Princess.”

“Of course.” Celestia draped a wing over Twilight and bowed her head. “If there is ever anything you need, Twilight, you need only ask.”

Twilight stood in place as Celestia moved back to her desk. Her eyes darted to the clock again and the pale orange sun on its face. Anything…

“Actually, if you don’t mind, I do have a quick question. Not about Luster.”

“Oh?” Celestia stopped as she rounded her desk and looked back at Twilight. “Go on.”

Twilight walked up to her before speaking. “Do you know anypony named Sunset Shimmer?”

“Sunset Shimmer?” Celestia’s brow creased as she pondered the name. “I don’t believe so. Is she another student?”

Twilight rubbed her neck. “No. This will sound a little weird, but I’ve been having dreams about her all week. And they’re so vivid and feel so real. I can picture her so clearly like she’s actually here. And I have no idea who she is or why I keep dreaming about her.”

“I see.” Celestia gave a small tilt of the head. “I cannot say what the cause may be, but I would suggest perhaps keeping a journal of when you dream of her and what occurs. If you suspect there is some meaning to the dreams, it may reveal itself over time.”

Twilight’s eyes widened. “I never thought of that. That’s so obvious, though.” She gave a snort and a chuckle. “Thank you, Princess.”

“Sometimes when something is hidden right before our noses, our eyes overlook it until another points it out.”





As Moondancer had suggested, Minuette did know where Luster was staying – as well as her food allergies, birthday, favorite color, and numerous other information Minuette was somehow able to remember without resorting to some sort of filing system to keep track. The relevant information was that Luster was staying in the SGU dorms.

Twilight approached Room 129 and knocked twice. She heard rustling and the clatter of a chair before the door swung up.

“Twilight?” Luster stood in the doorway. “What’s up?”

Twilight raised a hoof to wave. “Hey. Was wondering if I could just talk to you for a sec.”

“Sure. Come in.” Luster stepped back to let Twilight enter.

A small bed ran along the room lengthwise from under the window, with just enough room between the edge of the bed and the opposite wall to walk comfortably. The bed was elevated to allow room for storage drawers underneath, and a desk with a chair was at the foot of the bed. The only other feature of note was the closet behind the door.

Twilight had stayed in one of the first floor dorm rooms during her first year at SGU because the cost was cheaper. She had pleaded with her parents to put her in one of the shared rooms in her second year. As the joke went, first floor rooms were the missing link between bedrooms and broom closets.

Luster hopped on the edge of the bed. “Everything okay?”

“Yes.” Twilight had to wedge against the wall to close the door behind her, grunting as it squeezed past.

“Sorry about the small room.” Luster shrugged. “I kinda like the first floor rooms, though. They’re cozy.”

“I suppose.” Twilight forced an awkward laugh. “I guess we won’t be hosting any get-togethers in your room, eh?”

To her relief, Luster laughed politely. “Probably not.”

Twilight relaxed. “Well, it’s been a week since we were introduced, and I think after last night, we can safely say it’s going well.”

Luster smiled. “Yeah. Thanks for putting up with me. I know it isn’t easy sometimes.”

“That’s not true. But, let’s not argue over it.” Twilight opened the flap of her bag and withdrew the day calendar. “I thought it might be nice to mark the occasion, so I got you a gift.”

She held the calendar out and Luster took it. Her eyes stared as she turned the box over and examined the sample images.

“Oh…”

Twilight winced. “Sorry. Do you not like it?”

“I do.” Luster opened the flap on the box and pulled the calendar out and unwrapped the plastic. “But I didn’t even think of getting you anything. I’m sorry.”

“No!” Twilight cried. “No, no sorries, this is a good thing! Gifts are a good thing! You didn’t need to get me anything, I wasn’t expecting something in return.”

“I know, but you even thought to get me something, and I didn’t.” Luster set the calendar on the table and stood to hug Twilight. “Thank you. And I do like it, really.”

Twilight patted her on the back. “Well, I’m glad.” She pulled back and smiled at Luster. “If you really want to get me a gift, then just keep being my friend.”

Luster grimaced and stuck out her tongue. “That was cheesier than last night’s pizza.”

The two burst out laughing. “I know. It just came out.” Twilight rolled her eyes. “I may not be an expert on friendship, and I’m no social butterfly, but my friendships are important to me. I wanted you to know that it doesn’t matter if we’ve only known each other a week, our friendship is as real as the one I share with any of the others, and I’m glad to have it.”

Luster’s coat turned a deeper shade of pink. “Thank you, Twilight. That means a lot.”

“Don’t mention it.” Twilight winked at her and turned to the door. “If you don’t mind, I have some things to do tonight, but if you need anything, my room with Twinkleshine is 341. Just come up and knock.” She reached for the door handle.

“Twilight?”

Twilight paused as she pulled the door open and glanced back to see Luster watching her. “Yes?”

Luster frowned and shook her head. “Nevermind.”

“No, what?” Twilight waited.

“Erm, well…” Luster snorted. “I know this sounds silly, but it looked like your cutie mark was glowing.”

“My cutie mark?” Twilight twisted her head further back to look at the six-pointed star on her flank.

“Must have been a trick of the light or something.” Luster looked at her curtains and pulled them together tighter with a tug of amber magic.

“Well, if you notice it glowing again, let me know.” Twilight tapped her mark with a small smirk. “Don’t want it acting up and doing magic stuff or I don’t know what.”

Luster giggled. “Sure.”

Twilight pulled the door open. “See you Monday.”

“See you Monday.”

The door to Luster’s room closed and Twilight took a moment to inhale, smiling proudly.

I think this third year is going to be one to remember.






END OF PART ONE