“I appreciate the concern, Harmony. But Pearl and I are handling this just fine on our own,” Twilight huffed as she walked down one of the side corridors of her castle.
Floating alongside her was an ethereal and much younger version of herself. Why the Tree of Harmony chose to keep this form was beyond the princess. But it was good to see a familiar face.
“I do not think you truly understand what you are dealing with, princess. He is not what he seems. Ponyville is at great risk now that he is here,” Harmony said, getting in Twilight’s face.
Twilight frowned. “You’re right. I don’t fully understand Forestsong. I doubt I ever will. But I understand enough. I saw things that day that I will carry for the rest of my life. Things that I wish I could forget, but I will never be able to.”
She smiled, earning a confused look from Harmony. “But we also saw something else. Something you can’t seem to see. You see Nature’s Wrath given form. I saw a child lashing out in anger and sorrow at his oldest friend’s betrayal.”
Harmony winced. Even she could not believe that Discord had been so cruel as to violate a kitsune’s shrine as he had. Let alone that of a close friend.
Twilight’s ears fell. “Pearl saw it better than I did. She gave him the friend he needs the most right now. I feel there is a connection there. One neither knows of.”
Harmony wasn’t sure of that, but it was not her place to say. “And what of his family? You do not want to see their wrath.”
Twilight nodded. She had thought the same thing. “Stormbringer could have flattened Pearl and me if she wished to. She pushed Pearl around like a leaf. But she didn’t, and I do not think it was just for Forestsong’s sake.”
Harmony’s head fell. “She understands what invoking the Oath would mean. All of his family does. It is the one thing they fear, for they understand what will happen to the world and themselves should it be invoked. Even his mother, who feared nothing, could not escape this.”
Twilight found this hard to believe, but there was little else she could base this on. “Then I will repeat what I told Gallus. Stay out of this. Keep them out of this. I do not wish them hurt.”
Harmony wanted to argue. But the look in Twilight’s eyes told her that it would do her no good. She had learned much in her time in this form. This was another lesson it seemed.
Once her mind was made up, very little could make Twilight Sparkle change it.
Twilight smiled as they came around a bend. “Now. As much as I love talking to you, Harmony. There is a pony who needs me far more at the moment.”
Harmony nodded, for she could feel the sorrow in Twilight’s heart. She bowed her head before fading away.
Sighing, Twilight shook her head before she came to a stop before one door in particular. It showed signs of being opened recently. And there was only one reason it would be.
Luster slumped on her bed, letting her tears flow, not caring if anyone saw her like this.
Where had she gone wrong? Princess Twilight had never snapped at her like that. She knew what she had almost said about Miss Rose was the worst thing you could ever say about a Pegasus. For Celestia’s sake, her mother was a Pegasus herself. She should have known better.
If there was one thing Luster feared more than anything else, it was her mother’s wrath. She had been overjoyed when Luster had gotten into the School of Magic. Even more so when Princess Twilight had made her, her Personal Student.
For years now, her mom had been trying to instill all the same things she had learned into her daughter’s head. But Luster had tuned them out. And she didn’t know why,
Was it because Cozy Glow was a Pegasus, therefore she couldn’t know a darn thing about magic? No. Even her father, himself a unicorn, had tried to teach her the same things.
And then there was Princess Twilight herself, the literal embodiment of friendship herself. Luster had heard the stories from the teachers at the school. About how the princess had once been like her before moving to Ponyville.
Luster sniffed. The more she thought about it, nothing about this made any sense to her.
A sudden knocking on the door startled her, and she quickly dried her eyes. “Who is it?” She croaked.
“It’s me, Luster. Can I come in?”
Luster dragged herself from the bed and pulled open the door, revealing Princess Twilight with a worried expression, one that fell even more when she saw the tears in the unicorn’s eyes.
Luster could only nod glumly as she let the alicorn inside. Twilight didn’t need to see the tear-streaked bed covers to know what had gone on. It was all she could take as she pulled the unicorn into a hug.
“Luster. I’m sorry I yelled at you earlier. You didn’t deserve that. I have just had so much thrust on me recently that I finally snapped at you. That wasn’t fair of me.”
Luster tried to smile but it came out forced. “Did it have something to do with that wild storm a few days ago?”
Twilight nodded. “Among other things, yes.” She smiled slightly. “I asked Pearl. She is willing to think about taking you with her on one of her trips. But not like this. I won’t lie. She was hurt. Badly, by what you called her. Not as a Pegasus. But as your fellow student.”
Luster was confused. “Why does she care about me? I’ve never been nice to her, no matter how hard she tries. She’s tried being friends with me for years, even when I didn’t want to.”
Twilight’s smile grew as she wrapped a wing around the unicorn. “Because Pearl does care for you, Luster. No matter what, she does. Even now. I won’t speak for her, but you should stop fighting her for a place in my heart. I love both of you dearly. That will never change.”
Luster smiled a little at that. She could hear the sincerity in the princess’s words. “Does this mean I’m still your student?”
Twilight smiled as she fixed Luster’s mane. “You will always be my student, Luster. Just as Starlight and Pearl will always be. But I stand by what I said earlier. You will never advance if you continue to think this way about friendship.”
Luster’s ears dropped. She had been afraid of that. “But what if I don’t fit in? At least in Canterlot, I knew the other students. I don’t know anyone here.”
Twilight shook her head. “That is why I have faith in Ponyville. This is the friendliest town in Equestria. I dare say even on Equus. Just because you are new, that does not mean other creatures will shun you. They may even try and help you move in.”
Luster smiled a bit more. That did sound nice. “Would they know I’m your student?”
Twilight shook her head. “Not unless you told them. And I highly doubt most would care. My friends would not care in the slightest. They didn’t for me when I was Princess Celestia’s student, nor did they for Starlight or Pearl.”
Luster tried to feel upbeat, but it was easier said than done. Twilight could see this, and her ears fell.
“Luster. I don’t know how or where you got the ideas about friendship that you have. But I remember those feelings well myself, for I once had them.”
Luster shot her teacher a shocked look. “Really? But you’re basically the Goddess of Friendship.”
Twilight giggled. “Well, I wouldn’t go that far. But yes. I too once thought that friendship was a waste of time, even though I had ponies who genuinely tried to be friends with me. I only discovered later how horribly I had treated them.”
Luster tapped her chin. “How did they take it?”
Twilight chuckled. “Rather well actually. All but one that is. My friend Moondancer took it the hardest and became a shut-in recluse for several years until we were able to help out of her funk. As I learned long ago, friendship isn’t easy. But it is worth fighting for.”
Luster rolled her eyes. “Sounds kinda cheesy to me.”
Twilight giggled. “Maybe it is. But it is the truth.” She sighed. “I don’t expect you to do what I did, Luster. You must follow your own heart. Not some old wisdom of mine.”
“But what if I fail?” The unicorn asked. “I don’t know anyone here aside from you, Starlight, and Pearl. And I don’t think she’s very happy with me.”
Twilight nodded. “Pearl isn’t happy, yes. But she still does care. You already have a friend in her. If you’re willing. And I say this not because she’s my marefriend, but I think it would do the both of you so much good.”
Luster wasn’t much convinced, but she nodded all the same. “I will try.”
Twilight smiled, as she kissed her forehead. “That’s all I can ask for, Luster. I will have your things sent down from Canterlot immediately. You can have this room if you wish. Or we can find you a dorm room at the school.”
That got a smile out of the unicorn. “Well, um. I don’t know my way around here. So I think I’ll stay here for now. But I could use something to read.”
Twilight chuckled as she stood up. “That can be fixed. Pearl wants to talk to you. I’m sure she can recommend a few books that are worth it.”
Luster’s smile grew, but as her mentor turned to leave, she suddenly remembered something. “Princess, wait.”
Twilight turned back, confused. “What is it, Luster?”
Luster pawed the ground with a hoof. “Just a little while ago, I heard someone come by the door. They sounded like they were walking on paws.”
Twilight blinked. “Could it have been a griffon? I know Gallus is not the only one in the castle.”
Luster shook her head. “There were no sounds of claws on the floor though. Whoever or whatever it was, they were really silent as well. But I could still hear them.”
Twilight thought of that for a moment. She had a good idea of who it might have been. But now was not the time to bring that up. “You can tell me more about this mystery person later, my Faithful Student. For now, though, get some rest.”
Before she could ask more, the alicorn had closed the door behind her and was gone. Leaving a very confused unicorn wondering if the castle was haunted.
Luster slowly blinked her eyes open, the sound of soft paw pads across the floor of the silent room roused her from a pleasant dream. Lifting her head a little she looked about and couldn’t see anything but shadows. Shrugging she closed her eyes and pressed her face into her pillow.
“Shhhh, it's okay. I know” A soft whisper brushing across her ears sent a cold shiver down her spine. Lifting her head up she looked around.
“I know, okay I'll make sure she understands.” The mysterious voice filled the dark room. She half reached for the light switch, but swiftly thought better of it. Her hoof slowly moved back under her covers.
What the buck is going on!? There's nopony in the room. So where is this voice coming from? And who the buck is it talking to?
“Hmm? Oh, sure I can do that for you. It is a clear night. You should enjoy it.” The sound of ceramic scraping along the marble floor forced the young mare to flatten her ears. As her breathing increased she saw the plant from the corner slowly moving toward the open window. Her hooves gripped the blankets as she trembled.
The plant moved slowly across the floor, past her bed, and up against the windowed wall, the light from the full moon illuminating the blossoms.
“There. How's that?” the voice asked again. “Yes, as I told you earlier, I’ll tell her. You just enjoy the night sky.'' The sound of paw pads across the floor dried her throat quicker than salt. She watched as the door handle turned and the door opened.
It was then she saw them. Those twin amber spheres as the light from the hallway hit them. They turned in her direction and stared at her. “Could you please water the plants in your room before going to bed? They get thirsty too,” the voice stated, sounding rather annoyed that it hadn’t been done that night. Before Luster could utter a response the door closed.
The young unicorn’s eyes kept a firm watch at the door. Reaching over she grabbed a tennis racket and held it in both hooves. Pulling her blankets up tight she nervously kept a silent vigil all night long, her young body trembling at what she just witnessed.
Next morning, Twilight kept a watchful eye on the door to the Dining Room, even as she dug into breakfast as if she’d never eaten before in her life.
Pearl rolled her eyes as she took another bite of pancake. “Think she’ll come down? Spike made more than enough for everypony.”
Twilight nodded, sipping on her morning coffee. “She will. Luster would never miss a chance to have breakfast with me. And I told her we would save her a spot. She’s usually up by now though.”
As if waiting for that moment, Luster Dawn slowly dragged herself into the kitchen with a groan, earning worried looks from everypony. She was a white as a sheet of paper, her eyes darting to and from every shadow and corner as if afraid something would attack her.
But what worried Twilight the most was the tennis racket in Luster’s magic, held like a club or sword. Her eyes had bags under the bags, and her mane went every which way.
Pearl gave the unicorn a perplexed look. “What happened to you?”
“Didn’t sleep at all last night,” Luster yawned. “I think this place is haunted.”
Twilight chuckled. “Oh don’t be ridiculous, Luster. There are no such things as ghosts. Especially in Ponyville.”
Luster shot her mentor a bloodshot glare. “Then you tell me what came into my room last night and lectured me on proper plant care? Neither of you did.”
Twilight rolled her eyes. That last part was true at least. “So what did this mystery “ghost” look like?”
Luster shrugged as she sat down at the table, and began to dig in. “I don’t know. All I saw was a pair of amber eyes before it left me alone.”
Pearl choked on her food for a moment, before taking a sip of soda. “Sorry. Something stuck in my throat. Did you say amber eyes?”
Luster nodded. “Yes. And he was talking to the plants as if they could hear him, and they talked back to him. Earth pony magic doesn’t work like that, and I’ve never heard of a unicorn or Pegasus who could.”
Pearl and Twilight shared a look. There was someone who they knew could do this. But was it right to tell Luster about him?
Luster, though, didn’t see the look that was exchanged, too tired and hungry to care. Whoever made these pancakes, however, knew how to make them. She needed this recipe.
At that moment, Forestsong trotted into the room. “I’ve taken care of the garden, Twilight. You really should take better care of it, though. I know a few things that will help.”
Twilight nodded. “Thank you, Forestsong. To be fair, I’ve never had enough time for it. I really do need to change that.”
Luster was perplexed as to who her teacher was talking to. Turning around in the direction of the first voice, she came face to face with a semi-solid nine-tailed fox, who only grinned at her. “Hi.”
Luster screamed, jumping in fright all the way to the ceiling. “If this place isn’t haunted, then what the hay is that?!” She shrieked, pointing her tennis racket at the fox below her.
Twilight sighed. Great. So much for possibly doing this slowly. “Luster, this is Forestsong. Forestsong, this is my student, Luster Dawn. Can you please not scare her half to death in the middle of the night from now on?
“It wasn’t my intention.” Forestsong sat up next to Pearl and grabbed a large cantaloupe with both paws. “Her plant was just begging for water. I had to do something.” licking his lips he cut open a section and started to dig into it.
“I just got that room yesterday. How was I supposed to know I needed to water it?” Luster groaned, before blinking. “Wait. Why am I arguing with a ghost?”
“Spirit, not ghost. There is a difference.” Forestsong looked over at Luster and quirked his eyebrow. “But still, the plant told me it hadn’t been watered in a week. And likes a bit of moonlight.” His eyes focused from Luster over to Twilight.
Twilight gulped. “I can’t get to every plant in the castle. This place seems to get bigger every damn week. Even I can’t keep track of every room with a plant, or when they need to be watered.”
“Ya know when I was father's apprentice. I had so many duties. Besides my lessons I had to do every job he told me to do.” munching on his cantaloupe he continued to talk, “you’ve had three students. Delegate. I swear for herbivores you should really know better.”
Twilight’s eyes twitched. Was she being lectured like a little filly all over again? Pearl’s and Luster's snickering didn’t help. “Laugh it up you two. I might just make you water all of the plants in the castle.”
“Why don’t you? They are your apprentices. Or students. Whatever you call them.” Setting down his empty cantaloupe half he picked up the other one. “What didn’t your teacher do that to you?”
Twilight smiled sheepishly. “Not after I blew up the Potion Lab for the third time. Plants and I don’t mix. Even when I lived at home, I could never get one to live. I don’t have a green thumb. Most of the plants we have were bought by the staff to spruce the place up.”
Forestsong quirked an eyebrow as Luster dropped down next to Pearl. “You have a hundred books on plant identification and care. And you're telling me you're incapable of keeping a plant alive.” Pushing aside his cantaloupe his body shifted to full-size status. Both Pearl and Luster froze in place.
“From this moment on you’re taking care of your plants. Learn quickly.”
“Or?” Twilight trembled, fearing even asking that much.
“You might find your bed littered with poison oak. They grow fast and you have a few bits of it growing under your window.” Forestsong's eyes narrowed. After a moment he shifted back to his smaller form. “Don’t test me on the care of plants. To me they are closer to life than ponies are.” huffing he grabbed a personal seedless watermelon and started to cut into it.
Twilight made a mental note to start reading up on all of this as soon as she was done with breakfast. She had a feeling it would get a lot worse past the first time.
But she also noted another thing. She only hoped she wouldn’t have to ever bring it up.
Without even looking up he nodded softly. “Sorry, I get a bit passionate about plants. And I forget just how young you all are. I miss my forest, I miss my family. Even your garden can keep me occupied only for so long. And me being grounded like this won’t last forever. I know what you were just thinking, and yes I know what it would do. I won’t push things that far. So put it from your mind right now princess. A filly like yourself shouldn’t have to resort to it.” Closing his eyes he felt Pearl’s wing about his shoulder as he sighed.
Luster blinked and just sat there. “Just what the hay is going on here?”
Pearl just shook her head. “It’s a very long story. I’ll be happy to tell you. But after we talk. Once we’re done in here. This is something we should have done a long time ago.”
Luster wasn’t sure what she meant. But she had a feeling that this wouldn’t be pleasant.
Twilight nodded softly as she got up and moved over to Forestsong. “I’m sorry too. You're right, I shouldn't neglect my plants. I’ll start doing better and reading up on them. It’s long overdue. Speaking of that. Starting today Luster, in addition to your studies under me you are going to be responsible for all the plants here inside the castle.”
“What?” Luster groaned as Pearl giggled.
“And Pearl, you still are my student in a way as well as my marefriend, I’m sure you’ll love handling the courtyard plants.” Twilight smiled as she walked out the door, both girls half glaring at Forestsong. Twilight giggled to herself as she heard the slap of a wing upside Forestsong’s head.