It was harder to say goodbye the second time. Not only because Majesty was going to have to face off against an annoyed and worried group of friends, and possibly rebuild the relic tower. No, she was also going to have to face off her most devious and wriggly foe: her feelings.
“Are you sure you can’t just cast some friendship magic and do it for me?” Majesty asked, her ears twisting back and forth as she said her last farewell to Twilight Sparkle, just outside the drawbridge.
Twilight Sparkle chuckled, and shook her head. “Nope, that’s the hard part of friendship; you can’t force it, or make magic do it for you. You just gotta speak from your heart. Don’t worry, Majesty; you’ve got this. They already care about you, and they’re already trying to start the conversation. Just … let them.”
Majesty sighed, but gave a tiny, begrudging nod. “You make it sound much easier.”
“Well, I’ve had more practice with friendship; that’s all. Just like you’ve had more practice fighting monsters.” Twilight Sparkle smiled up at Majesty, considering her. “I was looking at your bravery all wrong; I thought it was just running into a group of enemies, horn at the ready, no matter the circumstances. But I think you’re most comfortable doing that. I think the true measure of your bravery will be letting your friends help you when you don’t feel strong.”
Majesty lifted her brows, then hummed out a little chuckle, and shook her mane. She’d been toweled off, hastily, but her mane was still slick with the black gunk that the monster had bled on her. “I suppose that’s a fair assessment. Even if I don’t like hearing it.”
“Sorry,” Twilight Sparkle allowed, offering her an apologetic smile. “I still think you’re one of the bravest ponies I’ve ever known. You just need to direct your bravery into a … new channel. It’s the bravest thing of all to be vulnerable, you know.”
“It’s certainly the most challenging battle I’ve faced in many years.” Majesty considered her for a beat, then squinted. “Did you just trick me into convincing myself to talk about my feelings?”
Twilight Sparkle laughed brightly. “Maybe I’m a Princess of Friendship even when I’m not meaning to!”
“Sure, sure,” Majesty chuckled, and reached out her foreleg, pulling the much-smaller pony into a hug. “I’m going to miss you, little princess.”
“I’m going to miss you too, big princess,” Twilight Sparkle sighed as she returned it tightly, burying her face in Majesty’s broad white neck for a moment. “But this isn’t goodbye. Right?”
“Right,” Majesty smiled, and watched as Twilight Sparkle pulled away, and began to fade from view. “See you later, Princess Twilight.”
“See you later,” Twilight called, as her voice disappeared like a bubble on the breeze, “Queen Majesty.”