Back in Canterlot, Twilight awoke in her room with Flurry Heart. The Ruler of Equestria had her niece under her wing. She lifted it and saw Flurry sleeping soundly. Twilight let Flurry sleep for a while then raised the sun with a glow of her horn. She then nuzzled Flurry’s head.
“Come on, Flurry, time to get up.”
Flurry opened her eyes and looked around eagerly, as though hoping to see her parents. But as she looked up and saw her aunt standing over her rather than her mother Cadance, it was clear that this was real. Flurry looked down at the bed, her expression and stance the same as a time when Twilight had been angry and scared her when she was still an infant. Twilight watched her niece sadly, being reminded of how she had felt when Celestia and Luna both passed.
“Aunt Twilight!” Flurry screamed.
“I’m here, Flurry,” Twilight said, pulling her into a hug as Flurry began to sob again. “Come on. Let’s go to the dining room for a bite.”
Twilight pulled herself to her hooves. They went to the fancy dining room of the castle where Twilight made them pancakes. But instead of the smiley faces she usually made them with after getting royal cooking lessons from Celestia years ago, she made frowny faces to match both her and Flurry’s moods.
Flurry looked at the meal and back at her aunt.
“They’ll taste better than they look,” Twilight said.
Flurry levitated a fork and knife with her magic and began to eat the pile of pancakes. They tasted wonderful, but Flurry couldn’t manage a smile. Still, this was the only bit of joy she’d felt in days. The young alicorn gobbled her pancakes up, loading them with so much butter and syrup.
“Careful Flurry, you might give yourself a stomach ache,” Twilight warned.
Flurry paid her no mind. But sure enough, after she devoured all of her pancakes her tummy was hurting as though about to burst. She clutched it with a grimace.
“Told ya,” Twilight said with a sigh.
“I want Mom and Dad!” Flurry said.
“Flurry, I know this is difficult to accept…” Twilight said.
“Why did they have to go?” Flurry asked as new tears filled her eyes.
Twilight sighed. “The world can be a cruel place sometimes. There is always going to be darkness in it… I had to face a lot of evil villains before I became ruler. Sombra, Chrysalis, Tirek.”
“But they never killed anypony!” Flurry snapped. “You were there to save Mom, Dad, and me when Sombra had us all caged!”
“Yes… we were all very lucky to not lose anypony until now. I wish I could have been there to protect them. Maybe I could have stopped it.”
Twilight looked away from her niece toward the window as something occurred to her. With this new darkness that had taken form in the rhino creature… what if she was making a mistake with her desire to search for a successor? What if Equestria still needed her? Flurry Heart definitely did right now. Her parents were gone, and who knew how much longer Twilight’s own parents would be around? What if… what if something happened to Flurry someday and she had children? They would be orphaned… and if Twilight gave up her immortality as she was planning to… she would not be here to take care of them like she was for Flurry. Flurry didn’t have any other siblings, so her children wouldn’t have any aunts or uncles to take them in. Plus, she and Flurry were now the only two alicorns left in Equestria.
Seeing Luster Dawn move the sun back so much had filled Twilight with hope. She hoped that Luster could be a worthy successor. Fate had seemed to smile on her the day of Celestia and Luna’s funeral when Starlight had told Twilight she was pregnant, and Twilight had been thinking of Starlight being worthy if she had been younger. Now Twilight was taking Starlight’s daughter as a personal protégé, but now she wondered if it would be right to make her a successor. Maybe, maybe she should just make her an alicorn someday?
Should I stay? Twilight wondered. Rule for a thousand years like Celestia? Maybe I have to now that Cadance is gone, maybe I need to replenish the alicorns to make sure Equestria is safe.
If that was the case, it would take some time. New alicorns didn’t appear very often, Twilight hadn’t heard of any who had come along during Celestia and Luna’s reign. Though Celestia had needed to wait until Nightmare Moon was released before truly training Twilight as a successor so maybe she had spent less time searching for alicorn candidates?
The door to the dining room opened and the Mane 5 walked inside.
“Morning Twi!” Applejack said. “Howdy, Flurry!”
The younger alicorn princess merely looked at the cowgirl pony with her hooves crossed and then looked away.
“We thought we’d join you two for breakfast,” Rarity said.
“If you don’t mind, that is,” Fluttershy added.
“Not at all, in fact I think I could use your help with this,” Twilight said. “Pinkie, you think you can pull an element of laughter thing off for Flurry? She could really use it.”
Pinkie looked at the pouting younger alicorn.
“Oh, is little Flurry a bit sorry right now? Well, let’s do something about that!”
Pinkie Pie took a nearby can of whipping cream before turning around so that her back to them. There was a spraying sound and Pinkie turned back to face them. She now had a whip cream beard.
“Ho ho ho! Who’s been a good pony this year even though it’s been a while since Hearth’s Warming! You need an extra special gift from Pinkie Claus!”
Pinkie then pulled out a long balloon which she inflated and then turned into a bear for Flurry.
“There you go!”
Flurry managed a small smile at the balloon animal which she tried to pull toward her with her magic. She lifted it up. But instead of it coming out of Pinkie’s hooves, Pinkie herself was lifted up with it.
“Whoa! Whoa!” Pinkie exclaimed working to free her hooves. She fell to the floor with a plop. “Your magic is strong! I remember when you were just a newborn and I had to help Twilight take care of you. I couldn’t hold you still! You were able to fly even when I held you!”
Flurry looked at her in amazement.
“I was?”
Twilight nodded. “You were amazing even then. Cadance and Shining Armor were so proud of you.”
“But they’re gone...”
Twilight shook her head. “No… Flurry. They’re still here even if we can’t see them right now. They’re watching over us. One day, we will be with them again. They said it themselves that we would.”
Twilight pulled her niece into a hug.
“But don’t worry. I’m going to do my best to take care of you,” she said, patting Flurry’s back. “It's my responsibility… as long as I live.”
Twilight looked at her friends as they watched the two with smiles.
“Well, Sugarcube, you’ll be pleased to know we took care of the stuff you needed done for the school,” Applejack said.
“Good, thank you. I can always count on you girls to help when I’m down.”
The door opened again, and Spike entered the room with a scroll in hand.
“Twilight! Gallus and the others got that rhino creature! They destroyed him!”
Twilight let out a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank Celestia! It’s good to know that thing is no longer threatening the kingdom!”
“And Shining Armor and Cadance have been avenged!” Spike said, raising his fists in triumph.
Twilight looked at Spike with a frown. “Spike, I know you are angry with that rhino creature. I am too and I know that it had to be destroyed, but it was never about revenge. We needed to keep the lands safe. Well, we best have the funeral prepared for Shining Armor and Cadance.”
The coffins arrived in Canterlot from the Crystal Empire along with the Young Six and Flash’s party of Crystal Empire guards. The next day, Twilight stood in the Canterlot Cemetery with her family just as they had for Celestia and Luna’s funeral a few years ago.
Twilight looked at the open coffins in sorrow. It was not long ago that she had looked at Celestia and Luna in the same way, but this wasn’t something she was prepared for. She knew death would come for all of them someday, but murder wasn’t as easy to deal with as a natural death.
“Shining Armor… my brother… was a true soldier!” she said. “He was never afraid to look death in the eyes and fight to protect what he loved. He… he was the best big brother a pony could ever ask for, and a true prince! Cadance, oh she had so much love to share not only with him, but all of Equestria! When I was a filly, I’d… I’d see her settle arguments with couples. I loved her as much as my brother! They were both taken from us far too soon!" Twilight said, crying slightly as she finished.
Night Light and Twilight Velvet both came up.
“Goodbye my son, I’m so proud of the soldier you grew to be. It was a dangerous job, I was afraid this day might come,” Night Light said. “I always worried that I might lose you. But I hope you are happy with Cadance in the next life.”
“I love you with all my heart, Shiney! Nothing can ever change that!” Twilight Velvet sobbed. “And I couldn’t have asked for a daughter in law more beautiful or kind than you, Cadance! Wherever you both are, I hope you stay together even in that world! May not even death tear you apart!”
The coffins were placed in the earth. Dirt was pushed over them. Twilight had her foreleg around Flurry as the younger alicorn watched. Somepony then approached them. Twilight looked and saw it was Flash Sentry.
“If you don’t mind, Princess Twilight. I have a request,” Flash said.
“What is it?”
“I’d like to transfer here to Canterlot and become Princess Flurry Heart’s personal guard,” Flash said. “Somepony needs to look after her.”
Twilight Velvet gazed at the Pegasus guard. “We are her family, and we are quite capable of protecting her!”
“Yes, but a princess needs to have her royal guards,” Flash said.
“Perhaps we could use the help,” Twilight said. “And I appreciate your willingness to do so, Flash. I think it would be good as you can be my ears for the Crystal Empire. Oh, and there’s one more thing I believe. Gallus!”
The griffon walked up from where he stood with his friends. He’d not brought up the subject of becoming a guard so as not to bother Twilight until she was ready.
Twilight wiped the tears from her eyes. “Thank you for stopping that monster before it hurt any pony else. You will... you will make a fine addition to the royal guard, and may you bring the magic of friendship with you to make every other guard stronger.”
Gallus bowed. “Thank you, Princess.”
“You are the first griffon to be allowed in the royal guard. Congratulations, kid,” came a voice.
It was Starcutter. The sword wielding pony had some bandages on his side.
“Captain Starcutter,” Twilight greeted. “I’m... I'm appointing you to be overseer of the Crystal Empire until Flurry Heart comes of age.”
“You can count on me, Princess,” Starcutter said. “It will be in good hooves.”
…
After leaving Canterlot and returning to Ponyville by train the night they found out Shining Armor and Cadance had passed, Starlight and Sunburst went back to the Castle of Friendship in a much more somber mood than they would have expected. Luster was fast asleep on her mother’s back as Starlight carried her home.
“I can’t believe Shining Armor and Cadance are gone!” Sunburst said. “Poor little Flurry.”
Starlight nodded. She knew that her husband was close to Flurry, having been her Crystaler and foalsitter for the first few years of her life.
“I’m sure Twilight and her family will take care of her,” she said, putting a hoof on Sunburst’s shoulder.
They arrived gloomily at the castle and were greeted by Trixie as they stepped through the front doors.
“Hello Sun and Star!” Trixie cried out as she looked at them. “Did little Luster get in? Hey!” Trixie took a look at Luster’s flank. “She got her Cutie Mark!”
“Shh! Trixie!” Starlight hissed. “You’re gonna-"
Luster suddenly opened her eyes and yawned as the noise woke her.
“You got your Cutie Mark! Auntie Trixie is so proud!” Trixie said lifting Luster off Starlight’s back and spinning her around.
“Did you get into the school as well?”
“Y-yes, Aunt Trixie,” Luster said, a little drowsy. “I did.”
“Great! You are going to the School for Gifted Unicorns!” Trixie exclaimed. “We need to have a party to celebrate! Let’s have Pinkie throw one in the morning!”
Sunburst shook his head. “I’m afraid we’re not in the mood for a party right now, Trixie.”
“What? Why not?” When they told her about Cadance and Shining Armor, Trixie put her hoof over her mouth. “Oh no! Poor Twilight! Poor Flurry! I hope they’re going to be alright.”
Starlight just sighed. “We should get to bed. It’s been a long day.”
The next morning, Starlight and her family sat at the castle table silently eating their meal. Sunburst didn’t say a word or even read a book like he usually did. Starlight thought about Twilight and wondered how her former mentor was doing. Even Trixie wasn’t very cheerful. Luster was the first to finish her breakfast and then ask, “Can we practice magic?”
Starlight looked at her daughter. “Not today, Luster. Mommy and Daddy don’t feel up to it.”
“Aww!” Luster looked down at the table.
Like Trixie, Starlight had expected to spend this day partying. If not for the news of the tragedy she would have gladly been celebrating the occasion of her daughter’s acceptance into the School for Gifted Unicorns. But still, they should at least do something for Luster.
“Hey, why don’t I take you out to the Ponyville Playground?” she asked. “You never get out and play with other ponies. You spend all your time studying magic, I think you deserve to have some fun after all this for getting accepted into the school. You haven’t had time to make friends. It isn’t good for you to be alone.”
“I’m not alone,” Luster said. “I have you, Dad, and Aunt Trixie.”
“Yes,” Starlight agreed. “But we’re your family. Having friends is important too. We’re not going to be with you at the School of Magic, so you need to have other ponies to talk to. Might as well try and make some friends here before you go.”
Starlight took Luster to the playground in Ponyville where foals were laughing and playing games, like sliding down the slide, or playing tag.
Luster hesitated as she watched the other foals. Starlight gave her a little push forward.
“Go on, have some fun!” Starlight said, managing to put on a soft smile in the hopes of encouraging her daughter.
Luster went for the swing, her favorite thing to do on the playground. Starlight stood behind her daughter and gave her a push. Luster giggled as she flew back and forth and the air pushed against her. Luster then released her hooves from the swing and allowed herself to propel forward and land on her hooves with a plop.
“Luster!” Starlight exclaimed. “That is dangerous! You could get hurt! You might have landed wrong and hit your head! Don’t do that again!”
“Sorry, Mommy,” Luster said.
Starlight sighed.
“Excuse me, Headmare Starlight?” a voice asked.
Another mare approached with a young colt who had a light yellow body and orange mane as well as the cutie mark of a hayburger.
“Oh hello,” Starlight said. “Do I know you?”
“I’m Swifty Sandwich. This is my son, Gallop J. Fry,” the mare said. “I’ve put him into your School of Friendship.”
“Hello,” Starlight said looking down at the colt. “I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you yet. This is my daughter, Luster Dawn.”
Swifty looked at Luster. “Well, aren’t you a cutie.”
Luster blushed shyly and hid behind her mother. Gallop, meanwhile, just grinned at her.
“Hey, you want to play?”
Luster looked at him for a moment. Starlight levitated her daughter out from under her.
“I think it would be a good idea to play with somepony,” Starlight said. “Go on… say hello.”
“H-hello,” Luster said. “So… um… you want to play?”
“Yeah!” Gallop said, waving his forelegs in the air excitedly.
“Alright… what do you want to do?” Luster asked reservedly.
“Race!” Gallop stated. “I love to run! Bet I can beat you to the other side of the playground and back!”
Luster looked to where he pointed with his hoof.
“Guess I can try.”
“Alright!”
He assumed a ready to run stance.
“Ready, set, go!”
He and Luster took off. Luster did her best, but Gallop galloped with incredible speed. He reached the other end of the playground before Luster was even halfway there. He turned around and went past her. When Luster got the end and managed to turn and finally catch up, Gallop grinned at her.
“Yeah! I won!” he jumped. “You know what I’m gonna be when I grow up? The fastest running pony ever! Like Rainbow Dash! But on the ground!”
Luster panted hard.
“Wow, you must not do a lot of running if you move that slow. I’ve seen foals that are younger run faster than you,” Gallop taunted. “What do you do all day? Sit around reading books on magic?”
He’d struck a nerve. Luster frowned at him as she continued to pant.
“Yes!” she said through her deep breaths.
“Well, you ought to get out more and move! Magic’s a cheap trick!” Gallop said.
“It is not!” Luster objected. “Magic is the most amazing there is!”
Gallop laughed. “For you unicorns. But you spend too much time on it! You’re never gonna be a good athlete like me!”
“I don’t want to be an athlete. I want to be a spellcaster!”
“Oh, that’s nice. Are you gonna be a firework pony setting off sparks at parades?”
Luster growled. “No! I’m going to be a hero and help save Equestria like my mother has!”
“Your mother has saved Equestria?” Gallop asked, looking in Starlight’s direction. “She’s not Rarity, is she?”
“My mother is Starlight! Starlight Glimmer, haven’t you heard of her?” Luster asked. “She saved Princess Twilight and all her friends from Queen Chrysalis!”
“Never heard of her,” Gallop said. “You sure your mother wasn’t making up ponytales?”
“She wasn’t, and it wasn’t her who told me!” Luster shouted, losing all patience now. “My mother is a great expert on magic and so are my father and Godmare!”
“They can’t be that great if I haven’t heard of them!”
“They are! My family is the greatest set of magic users in Ponyville, I bet in all of Equestria!” Luster said. “And I’m going to be just like them!”
Gallop laughed. “Good luck with that! But you’ll never beat me in a race!”
Luster simply huffed and walked off. Racing wasn’t something she was interested in. That was a passion of Earth Ponies. She was going to follow the path of unicorns and develop her magic skills. This whole playground thing felt like a distraction. Making friends might have been a pleasant thing but it wasn’t going to help Luster grow into a powerful spellcaster. Only devoting herself to the study of magic would do that.
“I wanna go home, Mommy!” Luster said as she approached her mother.
Starlight looked back at the young colt who was now running happily, paying no mind to Luster leaving. “Was Gallop being mean?”
“He said he hadn’t heard of you and that you weren’t a hero.”
“That’s okay, not everypony hears about every hero all the time," Starlight said, then smiled. "Hey! Let’s go get some ice cream. You deserve a special treat for getting into the School of Magic.”
“Really?”
“Of course!”
“Can I have a ponyback ride?” Luster asked hopefully.
Starlight nodded. “Alright.”
She formed an aura on her horn and picked up her daughter with her magic. Levitating Luster onto her back before going to Sugarcube Corner. When they arrived, Starlight and Luster were greeted by Pound and Pumpkin Cake.
“Oh, Starlight!” they said excitedly.
Starlight waved at them. They’d grown up in the last ten years and were no longer the babies they used to be.
“Hello,” she said. “We’d like a small ice cream sundae please.”
“Coming right up!” Pound Cake said as he flapped his wings to go to the freezer area where they kept the ice cream.
Pumpkin beat him there. With a pop she teleported to the freezer. Looking at her brother she giggled. “I beat you again, Big Brother!”
Luster’s mouth fell open. If she had known that spell, she could have easily beaten Gallop in the race.
“Can you teach me that spell?” she asked the unicorn twin.
Pumpkin looked at Luster. “Sorry, kid. That’s a high-level spell. I just learned it last year in the School of Magic. I can only go very short distances.”
“You went to the School of Magic?” Luster asked eagerly.
“Yes, and I learned a lot there.”
“She was able to fly when she was a baby. My friend Pinkie Pie told me that happened when she was babysitting them,” Starlight said.
“Ooh.” Luster’s eyes filled up in amazement.
“But I’m glad to be back in Ponyville now. Once me and Pound are done with Flight and Magic School, we can help run the bakery! Pinkie’s busy being the Party Planner for the Canterlot Galas. She’s there right now.”
“She is?” Starlight asked.
“Yeah. Discord came by with Fluttershy and the others before teleporting off.”
Starlight sighed with a little relief. Twilight’s friends were all with her. That was good.
“Here’s your sundae!” Pound Cake said.
Luster, Starlight and Pumpkin had been so busy talking about magic they hadn’t noticed him make the sundae.
“I was gonna do that!” Pumpkin said.
“You need to keep your eye on the prize, sis!” he said.
Pumpkin sniggered then used her magic to pick up a cupcake nearby and throw it at her brother who flew away. The twins began a sweet fight as Starlight took the Sundae with her magic and sat with Luster at a table.
Luster looked at her mother. “Don’t you want one, Mommy?”
Starlight shook her head. “I’m alright. You just enjoy your accomplishments.”
Luster smiled and stuffed her face with ice cream topped with whipping cream, fudge, and a cherry on top. Starlight smiled at her daughter’s joy then looked out the window through which she could see Canterlot in the distance. She thought of Twilight who was hopefully being comforted by her friends there. She felt sad for not only Twilight’s loss but also for the fact that in a few days Luster would be heading back there. Her daughter wouldn’t be around as much. It wouldn’t be the same, but Starlight was proud and hoped the best for Luster’s future.
…
The days dragged by slowly as Luster waited for the time to come when she would go to the School of Magic. Her parents didn’t spend those days helping her practice like they usually did. They as well as Aunt Trixie had to prepare for the reopening of the School of Friendship. Seriously, friendship seemed to be getting in the way of her studies of magic a lot! The only other action besides that was Starlight sending a letter to Princess Twilight.
Dear Twilight,
I can only imagine the hurt you must be feeling now. I never had any siblings growing up, but I know you were very close with Shining Armor and Cadance. I’m afraid I don’t have any good news to try and cheer you up like I did when Celestia and Luna passed away. Though Luster is very much looking forward to attending the School of Magic. I hope that rhino creature that killed them is stopped soon.
Love your former student and Stewardess of your castle,
Starlight Glimmer.
Starlight sent the scroll with her magic. A reply came the next morning as she and Sunburst prepared to take the train to Canterlot once again to drop Luster off for orientation. Trixie, meanwhile, stayed behind for the School of Friendship’s own orientation.
Dear Starlight,
Thank you for your concern. It does hurt, but I know that Shining Armor and Cadance are both at peace now. That gives me some comfort. I’m pleased to say that Gallus as well as his friends managed to stop the rhino creature. They’ve all grown much stronger with the magic of friendship under your guidance. I look forward to spending more time with your daughter and teaching her just as I taught you long ago.
Love Twilight.
Starlight sighed in relief, “Well that’s some good news. At least it has been stopped.”
“And good riddance!” Sunburst added.
They got on the train with Luster and waited as it sped along the tracks.
“You know, we don’t actually need to take the train,” Luster said.
“What makes you say that?” Starlight asked.
“We can just teleport there,” Luster said. “You’ve done that a few times. It’s quicker and you don’t have to pay.”
Starlight smiled. “That’s true, but not every unicorn can perform a teleportation spell. Plus if you teleport to the place you’re going to, you don’t get to experience all the good things you can see in between. Like this tunnel coming up.”
Darkness swallowed the train moments later as it sped through the tunnel. Luster watched as the outside turned dark and they passed occasional lamps. It certainly was a cool thing to look at.
“Sometimes it's best to take it slowly, so to experience things at their fullest,” Starlight told her daughter. “But teleporting sure does come in handy sometimes. Or it can be fun.”
“There can be a lot to experience in life,” Sunburst put in. “So many spells to master, books to read, things to see, friends to make.”
Luster shrugged at the last one and opened the book in front of her. Her parents had to spend so much time with the friendship business, it distracted them from helping her with magic. Well, she wouldn’t allow it to distract her. Soon they arrived at Canterlot Station and got off the train. Starlight led her family out and was surprised to see a group of familiar faces. Twilight was there, along with the Young Six. Gallus now wore the armor of a Royal Guard as he stood dutifully by Twilight’s side holding his javelin.
“Oh, Twilight,” Starlight greeted the Princess. “I wasn’t expecting you to meet us here.”
“I always greet the students for orientation,” Twilight said, though not with as much joy as she usually did. “And these five wanted to see you as well.”
Ocellus approached Starlight. “Hello, Headmare Glimmer.”
“Hello, Ocellus,” Starlight greeted back before looking at the others. "Silverstream, Smolder, Sandbar, Yona. I wasn’t expecting all of you to be here. Though I heard you took down the rhino creature.”
“That’s right, we gave that monster what for!” Smolder said proudly.
“We never could have done it without you teaching us so much about the magic of friendship!” Silverstream said.
No one noticed Luster giving a small frown. All these mentions of friendship were starting to annoy the young filly. It seemed to come up everywhere with her parents.
“And Yona and friends have been thinking. Thinking about our futures,” the young yak said. “Even though we not at the School of Friendship, it's become like a home to us and-"
“What she’s trying to say is… we want to all come back to the school and work there!” Silverstream interrupted joyously.
“Well, half of us do,” Sandbar said. “Gallus has joined the Royal Guard,” he pointed to the armored griffin who was admiring his new chestplate. “And Yona and I have decided we’re going to help Rarity with her fashion business. She’s starting to look into Yak fashion, and she also needed a male pony model.”
“Yeah, but Ocellus, Silverstream and I all want to help out at the school,” Smolder said.
“Really?” Starlight asked.
“Yes! Yes!” Silverstream yelled with glee. “There’s no place like home! And that’s what the School of Friendship became for us!”
“Well, I do have room in the school for a few new teachers,” Starlight said. “It would be nice to have some familiar faces around and to know that some students eventually became teachers. You’re all hired!”
The former students turned soon to be teachers grinned at the news. Meanwhile, Twilight went about gathering her own students, calling out to various foals passing by as they got off the train.
“School of Magic orientation this way! School of Magic!”
After a few minutes, a good number of foals around Lusters age gathered around Twilight. The princess looked over a list with names on it.
“Alright, Luster Dawn, Silly Sun, Hour Knot, that seems to be everypony,” Twilight said. “Go ahead and tell your parents goodbye!”
Luster turned and looked at Starlight and Sunburst.
“I guess we’ll be seeing you at Hearth’s Warming next time,” Starlight said. “We’ll make sure to write to you every day!”
“Starlight, come on. There’s no need to write to her every day,” Sunburst put a hoof on his wife. “Maybe just a couple times a week.”
Starlight put her forelegs up. “Alright, alright,” she then pulled Luster into a bear crushing hug. “We love you, Luster, and we can’t wait to hear about all that happens!”
“Love you too, Mom!” Luster choked out as Starlight squeezed her. “And you too, Dad! I’ll send you mail when I can!”
Sunburst hugged her next, much lighter than Starlight had. Luster then turned and followed Twilight as the princess led her new students out of the train station. The proud parents waited until their daughter vanished from sight before looking at the Young Six.
“Guess we better head back to Ponyville and fill out the paperwork before we can officially call the three of you teachers,” Starlight said to Silverstream, Ocellus and Smolder.
…
Luster followed Princess Twilight and her classmates as they made their way to the School of Magic. The princess showed them the library, cafeteria, as well as the various classrooms which she and several other magic instructors taught at. Though Twilight was in charge of the school, she, like Celestia, had royal duties and couldn’t always be present. Therefore, she only taught her classes once and a while. The teachers she’d put on staff would cover most days of the week.
They entered the classroom to see a yellow pony with glasses, her mane-style matching the one Twilight had preferred before she’d transformed to look like Celestia. It was Moondancer, the pony whose party Twilight had skipped all those years ago to research the Elements of Harmony. Now the two worked at the School of Magic together.
“Good morning, students!” Moondancer said. “I’m Miss Moondancer. I’ll be one of your regular substitute teachers here at the school when Princess Twilight can’t be here!”
“Wait, Princess Twilight isn’t always going to be here?” One of the fillies asked.
Moondancer giggled. “You can hardly expect the Ruler of Equestria to be able to spend all her time at the school. She delegates her classes for the most part. But don’t worry, she’ll show up every now and then when she has the free time. She enjoys teaching all of you little ponies!”
The young ponies looked at Princess Twilight.
“Do not worry, fillies and colts, Miss Moondancer is a very capable teacher. She would study just as hard as I did when we were both fillies taking classes here,” Twilight said.
Moondancer smiled. “Those were good times, Twilight.”
Twilight nodded. They continued the tour of the rest of the school. The final stop was the dorm rooms which served as houses for students. The School of Magic was a boarding school, so the students lived on the premises. Though those who had family in Canterlot would be able to visit them on the weekends just as easily Twilight had done in her youth. Those who came from Ponyville, Manehattan, or the Crystal Empire didn’t have it so easy and would have to wait till the holidays.
Twilight led them down the halls and divided fillies and colts into pairs as she assigned rooms. “Let’s see... Sillysun and Hournot - you two get this room,” Twilight pointed to a door. “Ribbon and Brightmane - here. And… finally, Luster Dawn.”
Luster’s room was the last door on the right, and she was the only filly to not get a roommate since there were an odd number of them. But she didn’t mind.
“It might be a little lonely sleeping by yourself,” Princess Twilight said as she handed Luster a key with her magic.
The young filly opened the door and found in her room a simple set of furniture consisting of a bed and desk with a lamp on top of it.
“That’s alright, Princess,” Luster said. “I don’t mind.”
“If you feel lonely, you can always knock on one of the doors nearby,” Twilight said.
“I think I’ll be fine,” Luster said. Being alone would allow her to focus more on studying.
“Well, dinner will usually be served in the cafeteria. But I’ll occasionally take the students out to a restaurant in Canterlot. I’ll be doing that tonight as a welcoming present to all of you,” Twilight said. “Just make yourself comfortable and I’ll be back before nighttime.”
Luster hung her saddlebag on a rack near the bed and hopped onto it for a nap. Today was the dawn of a new life for her.
She was going to focus and devote herself to the art of studying magic. Become powerful on her own and make her parents proud.