Chapter Two
“Alright Spike, just one more try, and I promise you can go to bed,” Twilight said as she raised her horn to the air, pointing it at a glistening red apple. A faint purple glow appeared around the apple in Spike’s claws. “I just have to focus.” The apple lifted slowly into the air, growing brighter and brighter. “Almost ... there...” Suddenly a loud banging appeared at the door to her library. The apple shot off and bounced around in numerous directions before finally coming to a stop as it laid smoking on the ground. “Who could that be at this hour?” She said, looking towards Spike. As Twilight opened the door Spike’s eyes widened, suddenly losing his drowsy expression. Twilight’s expression lightened in cheer. “Princess Luna!” She ran to the door, filled with excitement and embraced the Princess.
Luna stood in slight shock, looking down at the mare. “Ehem, Twilight?” She gently patted her back in attempt to escape the unexpected contact. “Celestia has sent me to you, saying you could teach me about the ponies of the land.”
Twilight looked up, releasing her grip as she heard her mentor’s name. She stood in confusion for a moment, trying to realize if what she heard was truly what was said. “Celestia sent you to ... me?” Her expression lit up as she started hopping around with a giddy giggle.
“Yes, did you not get the letter my sister sent you?”
“Oh..” Twilight looked over to her desk as she saw the unopened letter resting upon it. “Well ... you see ... I was going to read it once I got this spell down. I guess the time had gotten away from me.” Twilight’s face turned a slight red in embarrassment. She had never forgotten to open a letter from Celestia.
Luna entered, removing her cloak and hung it on the coat rack just right of the door. “Perhaps you should read the letter then. Celestia is better than I at delivering such news.”
Twilight levitated the note closer as she sat on her couch. Her eyes quickly scanning the words, her expression changing again to the bright and excited smile she held previously. “This is such an honor, such a pleasure...” Her words trailed off as she slowly looked to the ground. “Such a responsibility..” She continued as she looked up at the Princess of the night.
The Moon Goddess gave a soft smile to the worried unicorn. “My sister completely trusts you, and so do I. I know that if anyone were to be in trouble you would do your best to save them, to keep the well-being of everypony.” She gently pet her friends mane. “And maybe this will give us some time to become better friends.”
The young mare looked up, regaining a slight grin. “Yeah, I would like that. We would need to meet at some point in the morning though,” She said as she trotted across her library’s floor. “The best way to get to know everypony is to meet them!” She levitated her calendar, mumbling to herself as she crossed certain dates out.
“I will do my best to arrange our meet-”Her words were cut off by Twilight levitating her schedule just inches away from Luna’s eyes. “Oh, you’ve already planned our whole meeting?” She took hold of the schedule replacing Twilight’s magical aura with her own. Luna’s eyes squinted as she read through the day’s activities.
Twilight spoke with a proud grin on her face. “Yep! I thought that first you should get reacquainted with my friends. You remember them right?” Her expression changed entirely as she realized the event she had just brought to light.
“Ah, yes. The other wielders of The Elements of Harmony.” Luna’s eyes stayed on the page as she spoke, her expression unchanged by the topic.
‘She didn’t react at all like I thought she would. Celestia may be right about her being ready to take on the responsibilities of ruling the kingdom.’ Twilight thought to herself as she looked up at the regal alicorn. “So ... does that schedule work for you?” she asked nervously, not trying to seem too anxious.
Finally closing the calendar, she returned it to Twilight’s magic’s grasp. “This is brilliantly thought out.” She said with a faint smile, “It seems that we will be able to learn all you think I need in just a few hours.” Luna then, engulfed in her own thoughts, tried to hide the enormous excitement she had for her upcoming quality time with the mare who has been her only real friend from that very first Nightmare Night. “It’s getting late, I will leave you to sleep.” She said as she returned her coat to its resting place atop her broad shoulders, magically pulling the hood over her mane.
“Goodnight Princess,” Twilight said as she followed the princess out. She wasn’t sure what compelled her to follow the Princess instead of simply staying in her home, but she didn’t think anything of it.
As Princess Luna took flight in her carriage her eyes returned down towards the smiling mare that was watching her ascent. Her thoughts filled with excitement and joy. She could not wait to return to young unicorn’s side. Just the feeling that somepony other than her sister cared for her enough to be willing to put so much effort to her well-being filled her with happiness. Luna walked into the castle; Celestia was asleep and only the night time guards remained. She walked up to her private quarters, removing her royal dressings. As she laid on her bed, joyous thoughts continued to fill her mind. “Only a few days until the meeting..” she said to herself as her eyes drifted shut.
As every closing day and night drew the faithful date closer, Luna’s excitement grew. Finally, the day arrived to see the unicorn that had been dancing around her thoughts for days.
Celestia walked into her younger sibling’s room expecting her to be asleep, but instead was greeted with a warm “Good morning sister!”. She smiled as she saw the joy in Luna’s eyes. “You must be excited if you’re up this early. How did you sleep?”
Luna turned to her sister, smiling widely. She had just woken up, but was already filled with the energy of a young filly just being released from school. “I slept well, despite the unusual timing,” she said as she placed her crown atop her head. She levitated the brush from her vanity desk and started brushing her mane out of pure joy.
“You may leave whenever you like. I have told my carriage colts to be ready for you whenever you arrive,” Celestia said as she started out of her sister’s room. “I wish you the best of luck my little sister,” She walked out, closing the door behind her.
Luna walked down her tower to the balcony that outlooked ponyville. The carriage was exactly as her sister had said. She boarded it, and took her leave for her meeting. As she landed in ponyville, she was met by Twilight in Ponyville Square. “Alright, what is our first task?” She asked trying, but failing to hide her excitement.
“Well, the first thing on the list is Sweet Apple Acres,” she said as she lead Luna down the road. “After that we can visit Sugar Cube Corner, one of the friendliest places in Ponyville.” Twilight’s eyes skimmed across her schedules pages. “Then.... Ah! Rarity can tell you all about the issues of ponyville. She engages in a LOT of gossip and complaining.” She said, her voice growing more and more excited.
Luna smiled in anticipation of learning to be a great ruler. She now realized why it was Twilight who could help her better than her own sister. Twilight was the center of the very elements of friendship. She knew better than anyone what everypony needed. She had realised she was not gaining a mentor, but instead gaining an opportunity to truly learn about friendship.