//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6 - Review 
// Story: Study Buddies 
// by fitanon 
//------------------------------//

	There is a pause, and then Celestia sobs once more as she holds you close. Her wing tightens around you as she wraps her large neck around your own. Her choking cries reverberate through your body, and for a few minutes, you allow her to just let it all out. You almost want to cry too, but you lack the energy. Eventually she calms down and pulls away to stare deeply into your eyes. 

"Anonymous...words...words fail to describe how sorry I am...I should never have done this. You did not deserve this pain, this horror..."

You manage a weak shrug.

"It’s...it’s alright I guess...you did what you had to."

She shakes her head violently. "No...no I did not. I went too far and gazed into things I had no business in seeing. What’s more, you were aware for the entire experience...something I did not think was possible."

"So, the sun? The pain? ...being destroyed?"

"A side effect I did not even imagine. I did not intend for you to experience something so unthinkable. I'm sorry...I'm so sorry."

You pause, and then gently bring a hand to her face to wipe her tears. She allows you to do so in stunned silence. You bring your hand back down to rest on her wing.

"...well?"

She blinks. "What?"

"Did I pass?" You smirk.

The Princess just gapes at you for a moment before chuckling warmly. Its a good sound. 

"A non-issue...but yes. Yes you did."

You smile as she rests her chin on your head. You lay back slightly against her and for an unknowable amount of time revel in her comfort, this peace. Shes so warm, and soft, you could stay like this forev-

It hits you.

"...how long have I been out?"

"The process itself was only a minute long."

Your eyes go wide. It had felt like an eternity.

"When I removed myself from your mind, and saw just how in the wrong I was, I had planned to apologize...but you weren't awake...or breathing."

"I...I died?"

"Nearly. I managed to resuscitate you but you wouldn't wake up, so I brought you here and waited."

" 'Here?' "

The Princess unfurls herself from you, revealing the immediate area-

And you feel your heart stop.

White fields, under an impossibly deep blue sky. A lone tree stands nearby, its leaves shining like flakes of silver. Beyond it, rolling white hills extend into the horizon.

This is heaven. It has to be. You don't think you've seen a place quite so beautiful. 

"This is...well, my 'happy' place. I made it as a retreat from the world when the burden of the crown, or life in general became too great. You are the only other soul alive to witness it."

"...it’s stunning." You whisper in disbelief as you rise.

"I brought you here in the hopes that the power of this place would rouse you...I suppose I was right in doing so." Celestia says as she too stands and moves next to you. 

"Actually-" you breathe "-it was that song..."

Celestia flinches and looks away in embarrassment. "It was a lullaby my mother would sing to me eons ago..."

"It was familiar...but I don't know how."

The Princess remains silent for a few long seconds before gesturing to the tree. "Why don't we have a seat over there. There are some things I'd still like to ask- nothing like before though." She adds hastily. "Just things about you that I am curious about."

"Don't suppose it would hurt"

You wince inwardly at that. Your experience with this being and answering questions did point to the contrary after all. Nevertheless, the two of you make your way to the tree and sit at the base of its trunk, facing outwards to gaze across the endless vista. For a while the two of you sit peacefully in the shade of the tree, enjoying the balmy breeze. Everything about this place was comfort, and peace.

The Princess finally decides to break the silence. "Did you ever know your mother?"

"You already know the answer to that."

A sigh. "Yes...I suppose I do...I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It’s not your fault. No, I never managed to meet her, nor do I know why she abandoned me."

"At least she left you in good hands."

"Yeah...the church orphanage was really great...but I couldn't stay forever. Everyone ages out at some point and if they weren't adopted they got enrolled into...foster care." 

You feel the tang of bile creep onto the back of your throat.

"...I'm sorry that didn't go well. I take it that is what drove you onto the streets?"

"First, don't be. Again, not your fault. Second, you saw how bad it was. Every home was overcrowded, or hosted by some complete scum that was only looking for a government hand out."

"And then you were found..."

"And brought back, yes. Soon as I could I became my own person, I escaped. Found a job, and managed to hole up in a halfway house for a year. I may have been jumped between half a dozen schools but I still managed to land a spot at a good university-"

"Where you chose theoretical physics as your subject." 

"Mhm. And library science as my minor"

The questions stop for a time. No doubt the Princess is mulling it all over in her mind. A few minutes pass before she speaks again.

"You love books." She stated.

"More than anything."

"Why?"

"Again you-"

"I would like to hear it from you personally."

You take a deep breath.

"Books...books can never take from you. They can only give. A book won’t hurt you, or insult you, or deny you a meal for a chore you couldn't do. A book can hold a world that you can lose yourself in...that you can escape to."

"And there was one book that stood out for you wasn't there? Tell me about it."

You smile.

"It was about a young boy. He had no parents, and the people he lived with despised him. We were so alike...but he had something. Something that allowed him to...transcend such a life. Something I yearned for...maybe still do."

"...magic."

"I know, it’s stupid. Magic doesn't exist in my world. It was just a fantasy I indulged in...I felt like if I had magic I could make everything alright, that I could change everything about my life that was bad...its why I chose theoretical physics. It felt like...like it was at least close, like it pushed the boundaries like magic did. Kind of a stupid thing to predicate a career in science on."

You feel Celestia rest her head on your shoulder. "I don't think its stupid. It gave you hope, something that does that should never be considered foolish."

"Imagine my surprise, my elation, when I found myself plopped down in a world where it exists."

You feel her smile...and then it disappears. "Tell me about your friend."

"...I...I don't know if I can."

"Why?"

"I don't remember much about them. They were...imaginary, kind of. Most kids imaginary friends are usually people or animals, that have names."

"But yours?"

"Was more like a...guiding impulse? They had no shape or name...it just sort of existed as a...force? Yeah that works. A force within myself but one I knew to be separate...it really helped me in tough times but one day it just...vanished." 

You realize something. It was the last memory Celestia glimpsed.

"It had been with me since before I was born...how is that possible?

No answer.

"Princess? How is that possible? How do I have such memories?"

"I don't know Anonymous...maybe you are just special?" She asks innocently as she rubs her cheek against your shoulder.

You snort. If she knew she wasn't going to tell you. You decide not to push it. You just don't have the energy.

"I have one more question Anonymous, then you may ask however many you desire."

"Shoot."

"Your mother's keepsake...may I see it?"

You blink. You weren't expecting that. With a shrug you reach into your shirt and pull out the pendant.

It was round and silver, with a large sapphire inlaid at its center. 

"It’s beautiful." Celestia whispers.

"It is isn't it? It’s my most treasured possession. No matter how hungry I got, or desperate, I never thought once of pawning it. It would have been a crime to do so, an insult to my parents..."

"I'm glad you didn't." Her expression is unreadable. "Keep it close Anonymous."

You slip it back into your shirt, and then turn to the Princess once she removes her head from your shoulder.

"Now...I do believe it’s my turn to ask questions?" 

She nods.

"Alright...first; you are a goddess aren't you? A deity?"

Her eyes go wide in shock...and then close in affirmation. "Yes. But...but how-"

"When you were in my mind, I saw you...the real you...what you represent. It was...inexpressible Celestia. Never have I felt so...so small, so utterly infinitesimal."

The Princess blushes and looks away. "You are correct. I don't know how you could know this but...yes. I am both the sun and its controller, it is my duty to raise it in the morning and set it in the evening."

You chuckle. 

"And that answers my second question; 'What do you do as Equestria's ruler?'. I am going to assume your sister holds sway over the moon?"

A nod.

"As I suspected."

"Please Anonymous...I know, after all that I have done that it would be beyond my right to ask anything of you...but...please don't tell my little ponies. They know us to be immortal, and powerful...but they don't know the full truth, and until they are ready-"

You hold up a hand and stop her. 
"No need to worry. Your secret is safe with me. Besides, who would believe me?" You smile. "Looks like our 'incident' was a two way street when it came to knowing one another."

She smiles. "So it would appear." A pause. "Weren't you going to ask anything else?"

You look back out toward the horizon and draw your knees into your chest. 

"I suppose I should huh? After everything that's happened I have thousands of questions I'd like to ask...but I won't."

"But why?"

You grin. "Where’s the fun in just being told the answers? I’d like to learn them myself...to learn rather than merely understand." 

The Goddess of the sun's eyes go wide. 

"...that saying-" 

You arch a brow.

She shakes her head. "Never mind...Anonymous there is...there is something you need to know..."

You blink.

"I’m all ears."

Now it’s her turn to gaze into the infinite. Her amethyst eyes dart about as she collects herself.

"What you just said...that would imply you mean to stay here in Equestria for an extended period of time?"

"...If that isn't too much trouble. You saw it all for yourself. Got no family, no really close friends, least any that would miss me.  My loans got cut, which means my education has hit a dead end. I'll be in debt for the rest of my life..."

"So...remaining in Equestria would be preferable?"

"Yeah I guess it would...for the immediate future anyway."

"...what about the rest of your life?"

...what.

"What?"

Celestia closes her eyes. "Anonymous, my faithful student Twilight Sparkle is an utter prodigy when it comes to magic...but even she makes mistakes, quite frequently in fact. The spell used to bring you here was...incomplete; a piece of vital information was missing in her copy of the book."

You don't know where this is going...but you have a vague idea, just not how to feel.

"When a being is summoned from another universe, their link to it persists only for a short period of time. Once that threshold has passed, the link dissolves completely."

...Ooooh hell.

Celestia opens her eyes and looks to you sadly. "That period of time, that threshold...is a mere five minutes after the being has been summoned."

You stare at the Princess for a few moments before turning back to the endless plains of white.

"While possible to return you to your world, being able to pinpoint the exact time to send you back to will be almost impossible. I'm sorry Anonymous, but its more likely than not that you may never return to your own world as you knew it."

"...I see...that certainly makes the decision easier."

Celestia blinks in surprise. "...that’s it? Anonymous you will probably never see the world you left behind again! Aren't you upset?"

"...A little. I will never see another human, or be able to enjoy the things that world had to offer over this one…but I'm an optimist at heart...I can choose to allow that truth to drag me into despair or..."

You give her a winning smile.

"...be grateful that if I had to leave my world behind and be pulled into another, that it was this one."

For a moment the Princess says nothing, before a wide smile appears on her lips. 

"Anonymous...you are an interesting individual...one that I am happy to welcome as a new resident of Equestria."

"I try, and thank you very much Princess."

Celestia gazes into the sky. "You know...I feel I should apologize for something else."

"What’s that?"

"The sweeping generalizations. Not just of you, but your species...your world."

You blink, she continues.

"Your world...is filled with crime, violence, oppression, evil...but also good; a good that shines all the brighter in contrast." She looks to you. "For as many humans that would choose to steal, there are those who give. For as many who would hurt, are those who heal. For as many that spread despair...there are those who champion hope. Your race is one of duality...a fact I forgot when I lost my composure."

She looks away. "I...I needed to know. I needed to know which one you were. A saint, or a hellion..."

"Neither." You say with a smirk. "No human is exclusively good or evil...such concepts are merely ideals, not realities. In my world-"

"-there are only shades of grey, yes...I understand. A person should be judged by their actions, not the unattainable." Her gaze returns to you. "So I'm sorry. Sorry for being so stubborn, so ignorant."

"As long as you understand Princess, consider it a...non-issue."

She smiles, and then stands. "I think we should return to Ponyville. I did tell Twilight and her friends to return to her tree house and await our arrival."

You take one last look around at the splendor of this place, before nodding and rising to your feet

"Just one thing...is there any way we can get back without-"

*CRACK*