The door to the treehouse opened slowly the next morning. Tiredly, Twilight trudged through with her saddlebags. She stared into the front atrium, and what she saw immediately brought wakefulness to her eyes, as well as a calm smile to her lips.
"I know I'm back early, but I'm not ready to return the book by Cantergarden just yet," Wavebreaker said with a restless twitch. Her back was to Twilight as she stood before Spike with a list of titles gripped in her hoof. "There's this publication of literary commentary made that addresses the... erm... denser material of Cantergarden and other philosophers. They're written by several esteemed scholars in the collegiate circles—"
"What?" Spike smirked knowingly. "You mean ‘Hoofnotes?’"
Wavebreaker hissed. "Please! I... I just need some help with understanding some of the longer passages! It's... it's not like I'm trying to cheat or—"
"Trying to understand a written work better is hardly what I would call cheating, Miss Wavebreaker," Twilight said as she trotted up.
"Graaugh!" Wavebreaker jumped, startled, dropping her things and forcing Spike to scramble and catch them.
"Heeheehee... I'm so sorry," Twilight exclaimed as she waved an apologetic hoof. "I really gotta learn to stop creeping up on you like that. Still, I couldn't help but overhear: you're having trouble with studying?"
"Well..." Wavebreaker fidgeted, her green eyes darting guiltily left and right. "It's not so much trouble as it is... just tr-trying to stay awake."
Twilight giggled again. "I understand completely. Philosophy has the same effect on me. Who'd think that thinking would be so hard to think about?"
"Yeah. Right?"
"I was gonna go fishing around in the resource section and see if we had any Hoofnotes on Pre-Classical Philosophers!" Spike exclaimed, then frowned. "By the way, where the heck were you yesterday, Twilight? Did you go on vacation or something?"
"We'll talk about that in a moment, Spike," Twilight said. She pulled her saddlebag off and levitated it towards him. "Do me a favor and go put these up in my room."
"Uhhh..." Spike blinked at her things, then at Wavebreaker's study materials in his arms. "What about—?"
"Just put it down for now."
"Sure. If you say so." Spike shrugged, placed Wavebreaker's stuff on the table, then dragged Twilight's saddlebag up the tall, tall stairs.
With a confused expression, Wavebreaker pointed at him. "But... but I thought I needed him to help me find—"
"Wavebreaker, listen to me."
"Huh—?" Wavebreaker's eyes went wide as she found Twilight gently gripping her shoulders.
Twilight looked sincerely at her. "Is this something you wish to pursue? Is this really something you want to study for the rest of your life? A field you wish to make a career out of?"
"Why..." Wavebreaker blinked, then produced a weak smile. "Of course, Miss Sparkle! M-my parents are counting on me to learn up on all these old writers so that I can begin my major in—"
"But is it what fulfills you?" Twilight asked quietly. "Is it what makes you feel whole, complete, and happy?"
"It... it..." Wavebreaker gulped and stammered, "I don't see why that matters—"
"Of course it does, Wavebreaker," Twilight said. "Everypony in Ponyville knows that you are a great swimmer. Being athletic underwater is your talent; it's what you're good at. I'm willing to bet that it's what makes you happy. Am I wrong?"
Wavebreaker bit on her lip. After a few seconds, her eyes fell to the floor between them. "Yes. I... I love swimming." She sighed. "I love it so much..."
"Then why aren't you pursuing that?"
"I would, but... but..." She gulped hard. "My parents... I trust them..."
"Wavebreaker..."
"They've done so much for me; they wouldn't lead me astray. They only want what's good for—"
"Wavebreaker, if you know what is good for yourself, then why rob yourself of the opportunity?" Twilight smiled warmly. "Don't you see? This is more than just a noble pursuit for your future. This is your moment, this is what defines you, this is your chance to find yourself and never let go. I'm sure that your parents love you and want the best for you, but they can never be you. It's okay to trust them, but don't lose faith in yourself. If you let that slip from your grasp, you won't ever be happy. All your days will be fear and doubt... and worst of all, even regret."
The pegasus' breaths became shorter. Her eyes moistened as she looked up at Twilight and spoke in a shaky voice. "I already regret, Twilight. I already regret so much. I love my parents... b-but I just can't do this philosophy thing. Just what do I do?"
"It's a good thing to respect your parents," Twilight said. "And I know that you respect me—and the things my friends and I have done for the good of Equestria. But what's important is that you take all of that, all the things you've learned, and that you respect yourself and follow the conviction of your heart. In an unpredictable world, the only thing you can't afford to lose is faith in yourself. It's not too late to find the path that's destined for you, Wavebreaker. Please, consider this, instead of swimming blindly into the storm."
Wavebreaker stared at her. Slowly, like melting ice, a smile adorned her lips. A lone tear trickled down her cheek as she spoke in a voice that was the firmest Twilight had heard from her. "Thank you very much, Miss Sparkle. I have a lot of..." She glanced limply beyond her study materials and stifled a chuckle. "A lot of thinking to do."
Twilight grinned back. "I know you'll make the best of it."
"Why not?" Wavebreaker stood back, gathered her belongings, and trotted energetically out the door. "What are we alive for if not to be the best?"
Twilight watched contentedly as Wavebreaker exited. The door didn't close before a group of colorful heads poked in.
"Hey! You were right!" Pinkie Pie beamed, then bounced inside, followed by several familiar faces. "She’s back! She is back!"
"Welcome home, darling!" Rarity added as she filed in beside Fluttershy and Applejack. "You most certainly get around these days!"
"Yeah!" Rainbow Dash blurred in, hovering towards the ceiling of the room with a playful frown. "It's almost as if somepony's trying to wreck my cross country record!"
"Hmmm..." Twilight chuckled, shaking her head. "I couldn't possibly be so cruel, Rainbow Dash."
"Listen to you! You sound like a basket of kittens, and all of them full of milk!" Pinkie Pie dove into Twilight with a tackling hug. "It's so, so good to have you back! You sound like you're in a good mood! Good mood Twilight is the best Twilight!"
"How did things go in Canterlot?" Fluttershy asked nervously. "We heard that you made a sudden trip to see the Princess. Is everything all right?"
Twilight hung in Pinkie's embrace. She stared at everypony surrounding her, at their bright and lively expressions. Her gaze finally fell on Applejack. A look of worry hung on the farm mare's freckled face, but it soon dissolved under a bright grin as Twilight smiled back in silent confidence.
"Yes, it's perfect," Twilight murmured. She hugged Pinkie Pie back and shut her eyes peacefully. "Everything is going to be just fine."
This fanfic is dedicated to the prompt made by Fimfiction user TraleRayne, winner of the SS&E trivia blog. Their prompt was this: "Basically, Princess Celestia trolling Twilight. But since there's enough of those kinds of fics, it's actually Luna framing Celestia. Super awesome bonus points if you can write it without letting anyone know it's Luna until the end. Up to you. And that's pretty much it."
In addition to this, they asked that I include their friend's OC pony, Wavebreaker.
"She said her pony is a bit shy and quiet, but will speak her mind when she feels it's important. Also loves swimming and flying."
The nature of this story would not have come to fruition if it wasn't for my having intercepted a conversation in the Noble Jury skype group, specifically when Dream of Ponies put forth: "What would happen if Princess Celestia asked Twilight Sparkle to kill the other Mane 6?"
Much thanks to everyone who influenced the creation of this latest train wreck.
-SS&E