All eyes were on the tiny pony sitting on Luna’s back. Twilight nervously waved. “Hi, girls. I can explain.”
A silence filled the room, unlike one which Twilight had ever experienced. She believed it may have been possible to differentiate the heartbeats of each of her friends as they stared at her until…
“Ow!” Twilight cried out, her wings flaring out in agitation before once more folding against her back. She leveled a glare at Rainbow Dash who had one of her purple feathers clutched between her teeth.
Rainbow swallowed heavily and locked eyes with Princess Luna. A shiver traveled down her spine. She hadn’t felt this level of fear, not even when she had stood up against Nightmare Moon. “Heh, j-just checking?” She carefully set the feather down on the floor before taking a few steps backward.
“We see that. Art thou content with your investigation?” Luna raised a single eyebrow, calming herself and remembering that these were Twilight’s friends after all.
“Uh, yeah… Definitely tastes like Twilight’s wings.” Rainbow Dash said, rubbing the back of her head.
“I was unaware that feathers had different tastes… However, it should not surprise me. But, did you have to choose such a garish way of testing? For goodness sake, Rainbow Dash!” Rarity tsked before turning her attention to the toddler riding upon Princess Luna’s back. “It’s obvious to anypony with eyes in her head that the little one could be none other than our beloved Twilight Sparkle. But my dear, what has happened? I could have sworn that only last night you were a grown mare.”
It took a moment for Twilight to think about exactly what to say. Finally, she settled on the truth. “Well, yesterday evening I was...but.”
“And that is what happened. We just left the court and caught the first train home. I can understand if you don’t feel we can be friends anymore. I mean… I am only a foal now.” Twilight found herself gazing at the wooden floor of the library, her eyes locked with it for the entire retelling. Her ears were pressed firmly against her skull as if hoping to block out the sound of her friend’s reactions.
She expected them to leave one by one, maybe all at once, unable to handle that she was a toddler. She remembered what her mother had told her, however, about the love she held for her friends and vice versa. It allowed a bit of hope to fill her as a large hoof gently raised her chin to look into two green eyes which seemed to be smiling at her.
“Land sakes now, Sugarcube. That’s quite the adventure you and the Princess had over the last twenty-four hours. But, I think I speak for all of us when I say we ain’t going nowhere. The elements chose us-bound us together, even. Maybe from that day when we all got our cutie marks. Can’t reckon for sure, what I can reckon however is that well, you’re stuck with us, Twilight Sparkle.” Applejack paused before looking up at Luna. “Ah hope you don’t mind Princess, but Twilight and the girls, an’ of course Spike. They’re my kin. And Apples? We don’t turn our back on kin. Not ever.”
“That is what I had hoped when Celestia revealed the truth of my savior.” Luna smiled as she gave her foal a nuzzle. “And I hope that you will all see myself as kin as well.”
“Oh, but of course your Highness! I do hope you allow Twilight to spend time with us here in little Ponyville. We will desperately miss her when she is away in Canterlot, after all.” Rarity struggled to keep her tears away. Of course, there was every chance that they would drift away as time went on, but she had hoped that it wouldn’t be this soon.
“About that, Lady Rarity, you need not worry about spending time with Twilight Sparkle.” Luna paused as she saw even Rainbow Dash’s shoulders slump “Ah, no. I apologize. I am still learning how to speak correctly. What I mean is that Twilight Sparkle will not be in Canterlot except on the rare occasion. My sister and I have spoken at length and believe that for Twilight Sparkle’s well being, as well as her relationship and mine with my sister, that I move here to the library to keep Twilight in her home and allow her as much...leniency I believe the word is that I am able.”
“T-twilight is staying?” Fluttershy finally spoke up, smiling hopefully as Twilight, Spike, and Luna all nodded. “That is wonderful!”
“Heck yeah! This’ll be awesome! It was sorta hard to teach you to fly since you were grown, but now that you’re Pound’s size I can really teach you!” Rainbow grinned as Twilight poked her tongue out.
“Twitwi is staying and Luna is moving in. You know what that means, don’t you?” Pinkie cried out as she seemed likely to take off to Luna’s amusement.
“I’m going to just say a party in the hope that you do not blast off again.” Rarity rolled her eyes with a slight smirk, fondly remembering the day. She blinked in surprise as Pinkie shook her head “Oh? Then what does it mean?”
“Wellll, normally it would be a party. But since it’s also Twilight’s one thousand and second birthday it means this has to be the most super humongous epic party ever!”
Pinkie’s eyes appeared to become fireworks as Twilight glanced up at her Mother. Luna simply nodded before Twilight toddled over to Pinkie and touched her foreleg with her own tiny hoof. Pinkie glanced down as Twilight smiled up at her.
“I know you want to give me and Mom a super huge party. But, for today could we just have a cake? Y-you, see nopony else knows about me and Mom yet and well, Auntie Tia says the announcement will be in a few days.”
She looked over to Rarity. “She was hoping you’d be up to designing mine, hers, and Mom’s dresses? Apparently, the pony who prepared our coronation gowns has, ah stepped down?” She glanced at Luna, who was smirking a bit.
“D-dresses for all three of you? Oh...oh my.” Rarity’s horn glowed as her fainting couch appeared just in time for her to collapse upon it.
Twilight giggled into her hoof. No matter how much things change some things will remain the same. “Don’t worry, Mom. Rarity does this all the time. Just give her a few minutes,” Twilight said as she glanced up at Luna.
Luna nodded and took a seat. After everything they had already been through, this was the first time she had seen such a smile upon her daughter’s muzzle. I told you, mine poppet, your friends would never reject you.
After a few more moments, Rarity leaped back to her hooves and grabbed Twilight within her magical aura.
“Wha? Rarity! Put me down, I can walk!” Twilight complained, her wings flapping in irritation.
“No time! Come along, Twilight! I must get your new measurements at once! How long do I have to make your dresses? Ah, never mind the deadline makes it so much more invigorating!” And with that Rarity raced from the library with the toddler sitting in her magic and with her forelegs crossed while pouting.
Luna blinked a few times before shaking her head. “Spike, I’m hoping you know where she is carrying Twilight off to?” She glanced down at Spike, who was grinning and giving her a thumbs up. “Very well, then. Let us follow in due haste.” As Luna got back to her hooves, she paused and turned to Pinkie. “I do believe that we will need to postpone that cake.” At the sight of Pinkie’s mane losing its curl, she smiled. “In exchange, I beg of thee to head directly to Canterlot. Once there, inform my sister that I have chosen you to be in charge of the announcement and party to follow directly after. Do you think you can do that, Lady Pinkie Pie?”
Pinkie’s eyes widened to the point Luna almost feared they may pop out before she somehow grabbed both Applejack and Rainbow Dash by their tails.
“What in tarnation?”
“Hey! Let go Pinks. This is so not cool!”
“Needyouboff needtogonow!” And with that, the three ponies appeared to simply vanish in front of Luna’s eyes.
“...Spike, Lady Fluttershy did either of you…” Luna trailed off as both shook their heads. “Right. For mine own sanity, neither did I. Lady Fluttershy, will you join Spike and myself in saving mine baby from Lady Rarity’s best intentions?” Seeing the shy pony nod, she smiled. “Excellent. After you, Spike.”