Misery Loves Company
Princess Celestia just sat there in her office at the School for Gifted Unicorns. Despite the fact that sunlight poured through her blinds, the entire room was nearly pitch dark. Celestia’s eyes shifted downwards as anxiety coursed through her fur. She looked as if she were impatient despite having all the free time in the world.
Without warning, there is a knock at the front door. Celestia barely raised her head as she said “Come in,” in a bit of a meek voice. The door opened as Twilight Sparkle stepped inside.
“Princess,” Twilight said as she took a few steps in before looking up at her mentor and gasping at what she saw.
“Twilight?” Celestia said. “What are you doing here?”
“I heard from Princess Luna that you were suffering badly,” Twilight said as she stared at Celestia’s frazzled mane. “But I didn’t expect you to suffer this badly. What happened?”
“Mr and Mrs Banks,” Celestia said. “Early ago, they chewed me out for wanting to step down from being the Princess of Equestria and….”
“Wait,” Twilight said, completely shocked by her mentor’s words. “You wanted to step down from your position?”
Celestia let out a sigh and said “Yes. Ever since the Banks were able to excuse Golden Lace from that incident with Ditzy Doo during the Iron Stallion competition between Rainbow Dash and Danged Spell, I felt like that was the tipping point, and I wanted to move all of you down to La Maresa, plus step down from being the Princess so I can continue to be your mentor.”
“But it’s because of what Coldnelius Snap did,” Twilight said. “You had no choice but to abort your plans to do that.”
“Yes,” Celestia said. “And once the Banks found out, they chewed me out, threatening to throw myself, Wanda and Sunset into a labor camp and even preventing me from flying and disabling my magic.”
“I imagined how horrible it was when Luna told me about it,” Twilight said. “And not only that, we ran into them while walking towards Danged Spell’s house.”
“You actually did?” Celestia said as she jumped out of her seat and landed her front hooves onto the desk.
“Oh that’s an understatement,” Twilight said. “They acted like they wanted to adopt Sunburst as their own son, claiming they can give him more than a rogue princess and juvenile delinquents like myself, even going as far as to call your field trip to La Maresa ‘Horrible.’ Oh, and they referred to Discord as a fictional character that you and Luna created to scare little colts and fillies like myself.”
Princess Celestia’s jaw dropped. The pupils on her eyes have shrunk down as she was appalled by the words coming out of Twilight Sparkle’s mouth. She slowly got up and approached Twilight.
“Twilight,” Princess Celestia said. “You did the right thing to approach me, as did Luna. She knew I was suffering from the fallout at the fair. But it seems I may not be the only one to suffer from that.”
“So what can we do about Sunburst?” Twilight asked.
“Bring him here,” Celestia replied. “I believe if I can open up to him my problems, then maybe he can find a way to heal, and to prove that he’s not alone.”
“Thank you Princess,” Twilight said as she bows to Princess Celestia before turning around walking towards the door.
But as Twilight approached the door, Celestia got up and said “Twilight,” prompting Twilight to turn towards her mentor.
“Is there anything else?” Twilight asked.
“There’s no need to be formal with me,” Celestia laughed. “After all, you are my apprentice, and a good friend of my daughters Wanda and Sunset.”
The words of Princess Celestia caused Twilight’s face to beam with excitement. She jumped in the air and yelled out “YES,” only to realize that Princess Celestia was watching and giggling at Twilight’s burst of energy. Twilight slowly lowered herself to the ground and said “Sorry Princess. Something I have to get used to.”
“No need to apologize,” Celestia said. “Besides, at least you’re a sight for sore eyes, compared to the Banks.”
Twilight bowed to Princess Celestia before turning around and stepping outside the door. Celestia watched as Twilight exited the door and out of her sight.
“Twilight just reminded me how I’m fortunate to have so many who look up to me,” Celestia said to herself. “She’s my apprentice, and nothing is going to take that away from me. But I also have so many students, including my adopted children. Sometimes, I need to remind myself not to let the bad outweigh the good. But sometimes, it can be hard from the Windigo’s Guild to the Bank Family.”
As Celestia just looked up at the ceiling, she heard a knock at the door. Celestia got up and said “Enter.” Princess Luna walked on in, seemingly in good spirits
“I take it that your student Twilight Sparkle convinced you to talk with Sunburst,” Princess Luna.
“I believe she did,” Celestia said. “But I take it that’s not why you’re here.”
“You got that right, sis,” Luna joked. “I was going to let Sunset walk Wanda and Starlight home. But they were more aware of what Sunburst was going through. They wanted to pitch in and make sure that he does get better.”
“Is that so?” Celestia replied.
“As a matter of fact,” Luna said as she stepped aside to allow Wanda and Starlight to walk through the doorway. “They wish to speak with you.”
Celestia got out of her chair as Wanda and Starlight approached the Princess of the Sun. The two younglings looked really worried, like something horrible happened.
“Mommy,” Wanda said. “I overheard from Aunt Woona about Sunburst’s own troubles. And yours.”
“I’m afraid she’s right,” Celestia said as she gently put her hoof on Wanda’s cheek. “Your mommy has gone through a hard time because of the Banks. And it seems Sunburst’s problems were made worse by those two.”
Wanda looked up at Princess Celestia’s face as the alicorn of the sun spoke. It looked like tears were about to fall from Wanda’s eyes before Starlight got up on her hind legs and gave her a big hug.
“It’s okay, Wanda,” Starlight said as she cuddled the little man’s cub. “I know Sunburst is having a hard time, and if talking with Celestia won’t help, I’ll give him what I’m giving you.”
Though tears continued to flow from Wanda’s eyes, she cracked a smile on her face as she hugged Starlight back. Starlight just held onto Wanda and patted the man’s cub on the back.
“Thank you,” Wanda whispered.
Celestia just stood there, watching Starlight and Wanda hug while Luna walked over to her big sister.
“So,” Luna said to Celestia. “You think you’re ready to help out Sunburst?”
“I’ve got to,” Celestia said, feeling a little more confident and serious. “For my sake, and for his sake as well.”
“Then come,” Princess Luna said. “I know a good place where you and Sunburst can talk together.”
Later that day in the park, the mother bird is seen flying alongside the baby bird as Princess Celestia sat on a nearby bench. Even with her presence, there was barely a soul nearby, with the exception of Wanda, Abigail, Sunset Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle, Starlight Glimmer, Moondancer, Danged Spell, Spike and Pinkie PIe. The younglings watched Princess Celestia from afar as the Alicorn Princess just looked around.
“You think this is a good idea?” Sunset Shimmer asked.
“I’m sure of it,” Twilight said. “Celestia’s had some problems with the Banks, and so has Sunburst. I think there’s more to their problems than they realized, and that’s why Princess Celestia is willing to go along with it.”
“It was bad enough that they tormented Princess Celestia over Golden Lace and the field trip to La Maresa,” Moondancer said. “But they had the nerve to get in Sunburst’s face.”
“You said it,” Danged Spell said. “When it comes to our thoughts on the sour puss Banks, I don’t think we’re a loan on it. Get it?”
“Danged Spell,” the other younglings yelled before they burst out into laughter. Even Wanda and Starlight couldn’t hold it in as they both fell to the ground and rolled onto their backs laughing.
“Guess that’s one way to cheer my classmates up,” Danged Spell smiled.
As Pinkie Pie laughed real hard, she looked up and saw Princess Luna walking alongside Sunburst. Pinkie Pie got up and cheered really loud into the air.
“HE’S COMING” Pinkie Yelled before Twilight reached up and pulled her down.
“Shhhh,” Twilight said as she ran up to Pinkie Pie and pulled her down. “Not so loud. You want to announce it to everyone in Canterlot?”
“Oops,” Pinkie Pie whispered. “My bad.”
Nearby, Sunburst walked with Princess Luna as the two approached PRincess Celestia. Sunburst looked nervous as he swallowed hard.
“You look tense, Sunburst,” Princess Luna said as the young colt walked beside her.
“Yes ma’am,” Sunburst said with a jittery tone coming from him.
“It’s okay,” Luna replied. “Take a deep breath and slow yourself down. I know you got this.”
“I hope so,” Sunburst said. “Considering all we’ve been through at the Ponyville Providence Fair.”
As Luna and Sunburst were ten feet away from Princess Celestia, Luna looked down and bowed to the young colt before taking a few steps aside. Sunburst swallowed hard and walked towards Princess Celestia, who moved to the side and tapped her hoof on the seat. Once Sunburst approached the bench, he jumped up and sat down on the empty spot before looking up at Princess Celestia.
“So I heard you’ve been going through a bit of depression,” Princess Celestia said. “And it’s okay if you want to sigh about it. I’m not here to judge you.”
Sunburst released all of the tension in his head with a big sigh and said “Yes.”
“Luna also told me why,” Princess Celestis said. “You’re still worried after what happened at the Ponyville Fair.”
“You got that right,” Sunburst replied.
“And I’ve been made aware that the Banks gave you a hard time,” Celestia said.
Sunburst’s ears drooped downwards as he lowered his face. He barely glanced up to Celestia as he said “Yes. It’s true. They wanted to take me away from Canterlot and treat me like I’m one of their own children, claiming that they’re the real kings and queens of Equestria to look down at the peasants..”
Celestia’s face went into complete shock. She reached out and put her arm around Sunburst, who looked a bit uncomfortable. Celestia looked down and said “Sunburst, you’re not alone when it comes to the Banks, nor the fallout at the Ponyville Providence Fair because of the Windigo’s Guild. I still think about what happened that day, and I still worry for the sake of the children I unintentionally put in danger.”
“You do?” Sunburst said as he looked up at Celestia.
“Yes,” Celestia replied. “As I stated, I wanted to move everyone down to La Maresa of the Ponyville Providence. Partially because it was an ideal place to raise children, and partially because of the harassment I’ve been getting from the Banks. And unfortunately, they carry the financial power of every political party in Equestria. Even third parties are under the financial burden of the Banks.”
“They are?” Sunburst asked.
“But it gets even worse,” Celestia replied. “After they found out that I wanted to resign from my post and move all of you to La Maresa, they got in my face, threatening to take away my children and put them in a labor camp, even going as far as to take away my ability to fly or use magic.”
“That’s horrible,” Sunburst said in complete shock.
“And there’s a part of me that wants to go all out and attack them,” Celestia said. “It feels so easy to want to take that path, to sink to the level I was when I became Daybreaker. But it would be a horrible idea because it would paint me as a power-hungry tyrant, and it would ruin my reputation in the eyes of every pony in Equestria. Ever since Princess Luna freed me from being Daybreaker, I made a promise to never sink to that kind of low again.”
“So we both have to put up with the Banks?” Sunburst said.
“I’m afraid so,” Celestia replied as she lifted her hoof off Sunburst’s shoulders and placed it on his head. “But we’re not going to be alone on this. As long as we have loved ones at our side, be it family or friends, then we can get through this. I promise you this.”
Sunburst cracked a smile and looked up to Princess Celestia before he said “I actually believe you. Because I still recall you fighting Coldnelius Snap at the fair. You’re willing to protect younglings like me, Danged Spell, Moondancer, Starlight Glimmer, Twilight Sparkle, and even your own daughters Sunset and Wanda.”
“It’s a trait that I never take for granted, Sunburst,” Princess Celestia replied. “And don’t you worry I’ve fought to save Wanda and Chancellor Cinch when the Windigo’s Guild came to Canterlot. And there are others like Buck Withers who are willing to fight for every youngling in Equestria. As long as there are good ponies out there who have a heart of gold and nerves of steel, they will be your guardians. Never forget that, my student.”
Sunburst breathed a sigh of relief as he looked up at Princess Celestia with a smile and said “I won’t. In fact, I think you may have given me a bit of motivation.”
Princess Celestia laughed as she took her hoof off of Sunburst and said “Did I?”
“Well you may have motivated me not just into studying for the test, but also to do some research into our political system,” Sunburst said as he jumped out of his seat, fully motivated. “And I think I feel in the mood to get to work.”
Celestia giggled as she got up from the bench. She landed on her four hooves and said “Well I can’t wait to see the completed project.”
“And I know someone who might be curious about this project,” Sunburst said as he looked at Twilight Sparkle and waved out to her. The lavender unicorn just blushed in excitement as she ran up to Sunburst, much to the surprise of the others.
“Wow,” Sunset Shimmer said. “I didn’t expect Twilight to have full support of Sunburst.”
But suddenly, Twilight ran back up to Starlight and reached out for her, much to the twin-tailed filly’s surprise.
“Come on,” Twilight said. “I think you should motivate Sunburst in this project.”
Starlight smiled as she grabbed onto Twilight’s hoof before the duo ran off towards Sunburst. Sunset, Pinkie Pie, Moondancer, Danged Spell, Wanda, Abigail and Spike just stood there cheering for Sunburst, Twilight and Starlight.
“A project about the politics in Equestria?” Danged Spell. “That sounds like something interesting.”
“When it comes to Sunburst,” Sunset said. “He enjoys putting his mind into research far more than Twilight does.”
“More than any of us do,” Moondancer said. “I know I have a thing for studying the stars in the sky. But when it comes to research, he has me beat in that category.”
“What’s a political party?” Wanda asked.
“A political party is supposed to be a group that organizes candidates into running for elections,” Sunset said. “After all, Equestria is supposed to be a Monarch Democracy.”
“Is it where there is a ruler like mommy is?” Wanda asked. “And yet, the ponies select who gets to represent them?”
“Well it’s something like that,” Sunset said as she, Danged Spell, Pinkie Pie and Moondancer laughed.
“Personally,” Pinkie Pie giggled. “I’m not one who wants to be involved with politics in any kind. They’re far more dangerous than they make themselves out to be.”
Nearby, Princess Luna watched as Twilight, Starlight and Sunburst ran off in the distance, all while her smile never left her face. Princess Celestia walked up to her younger sister with a renewed sense in her body.
“You were right,” Princess Celestia said. “It was one thing for me to be troubled by the Ponyville Fair and the Banks. But it was another to realize that one of my students suffered the same thing.”
“My dear sister,” Princess Luna said. “Deep on the inside, we’re far more connected than we all realize.”
Celestia giggled as she said “Is that why you chose to save me when I was forced into becoming Daybreaker?”
“That was only part of the reason why,” Princess Luna said. “I care for you as a sister. But the sad thing was that I was once jealous of you, because of the potential you had. After seeing you become the nightmare that was Daybreaker, I had to free you just to atone for my own sins of jealousy.”
“But I still wonder who the child that helped us in the past was,” Princess Celestia said. “I have only a vague memory of her.”
“Don’t you worry, sister,” Princess Luna said. “We’ll find out.”
Later the next day in the afternoon, every youngling was seated in class in anticipation while Pinkie Pie sat in a seat right next to the doorway. Golden Lace had a smug look on her face. But it didn’t concern any of the others, especially Sunburst, who was more optimistic.
“Well,” Golden Lace said as she grinned at Sunburst. “You look like you’re in a better mood.”
“Far better than you are at, right now,” Sunburst replied, causing Golden Lace’s tone to change.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Golden Lace said. “Don’t tell me you got the highest score on the history test.”
“Wait and see,” Sunburst said. “It’s far bigger than a mere test.”
Golden Lace turned away from Sunburst as she glanced at Twilight Sparkle and Starlight Glimmer, who had almost as big of a smug look on their faces as Sunburst.
“What exactly does he mean by bigger than a mere test?” Golden Lace said to herself.
As Golden Lace pondered what Sunburst said, Pinkie Pie’s ears popped up. She got up and looked outside the doorway before turning her head towards the students.
“Hey guys,” Pinkie Pie yelled. “I think Princess Celestia is on her way.”
Those words caught the attention of every student as they rose to face the front. Princess Celestia walked inside, holding in her hooves a stack of written papers. She approached the front desk and placed the papers on top.
“Class,” Princess Celestia announced. “May I have your attention? I have the results of the Equestrian early history test. And you all passed.”
Celestia took a seat and used her magic to pass the graded test papers to every student in the room. Wanda grabbed hers and smiled at the A grade. Right next to her, Sunset Shimmer grabbed hers that had an A+.
“We both did it, sis,” Sunset said.
“Yeah,” Wanda said as Abigail rubbed up underneath her leg.
Twilight was able to grab her paper with a big A+ on top. Starlight, Sunburst, Moondancer and Danged Spell also got their respective papers. Each with an A and an A+ on them. Golden Lace grabbed her paper, and there was an A+ on there. But the look on her face hasn’t changed.
“What does he mean by bigger than a test?” Golden Lace said. “I must know.”
“Now that you have your graded test,” Princess Celestia said. “There is another bit of credit I have to award to Sunburst, Twilight Sparkle and Starlight Glimmer.”
“Say what?” Golden Lace said as she freaked out.
“As you are all aware,” Princess Celestia said. “Sunburst, Twilight Sparkle and Starlight Glimmer did an extra assignment that talked about the political system of both ancient Equestria and modern day Equestria, written into an entire essay. As a result, I am awarding bonus points to all three who did this special assignment.”
With that, Celestia levitated her magic and passed the essay down to Sunburst, who grabbed the paper with glee. Twilight and Starlight got out of their seats and walked up to Sunburst with Spike and Abigail right next to them.
“Congrats Sunburst,” Starlight said. “We all did it together.”
“But it was mostly you,” Twilight said. “The moment we began on our special project, you wasted no time grabbing as many books about politics in Equestria and diving right in. I never knew a pony with a bigger obsession over books than I did.”
“Yeah,” Pinkie Pie said as she walked up to Sunburst. “I was able to get a glimpse at your style, and you are as organized as I am when it comes to planning parties.”
“I think you girls give me way too much credit,” Sunburst said as he blushed with an embarrassed tone.
“But you deserve it,” Twilight said. “You’re dedicated to the art of research.”
“I’ve known you since we came into this world at Sire’s Hollow,” Starlight said as she put her arm around Sunburst. “You always enjoyed showing me what’s in the book, and that essay we put together was proof that you were the heart behind us all.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Sunburst said. “I’ve enjoyed my research so much that I feel like I want to dive in even further. It’s always fascinating to see what we can study, and what we know about, or may have missed. Expanding my mind is always something that I take for granted, until now.”
Suddenly, Sunburst’s flank glowed brightly, catching the attention of nearly everyone in class. Golden Lace looked at Sunburst with a hint of disgruntlement as the flash of light disappeared.
“I...I don’t believe it,” Sunburst said as he looked down on his flank. No longer was it blank. Instead, there was an image of a sun with three rays projecting towards the right with blue stars decorating it.
“Is that your cutie mark?” Sunset Shimmer said as she ran up to Sunburst.
“It is,” Sunburst said. “I got my cutie mark. I ACTUALLY GOT MY CUTIE MARK!”
“Congratulations, Sunburst,” Princess Celestia said as she walked up to the young colt. “You’ve realized your own place in Equestria, and your own destiny. And with that, the class will get an early dismissal today.”
Nearly everyone in the class cheered really loud, except for Golden Lace, who jumped out of her chair and marched towards the doorway. Sunburst caught Golden Lace marching out the doorway.
“Hey Lace,” Sunburst said. “Don’t you have a reason to celebrate? After all, you did pass the test.”
“I know that I should never rely on my parents when it comes to tests and research,” Golden Lace said. “After all, I find it more satisfying to pass a test on my own merits to prove how great I am. But make no mistake. I will come up with a special project of my own, and I will prove to be the greatest student in this establishment.”
With that, Golden Lace turned tail and marched out the doorway, completely angry. Everyone just watched her march off.
“That was unexpected,” Wanda said.
“Don’t worry about that,” Princess Celestia said. “Golden Lace may be spoiled. But even she doesn’t cheat on a test. Guess that’s the one trait her parents forced onto her.”
“Yeah,” Danged Spell replied. “Besides, I think Golden Lace just got...SUNBURNED!”
“Danged Spell,” Everyone yelled as they burst out into laughter.
To Be Continued in
A Cute Ceanera to reflect