Twilight rubbed her temples with her hooves. They had only just got onto the train to Canterlot and the school children were already causing trouble and giving their teacher a massive headache. Twilight had optimistically said she could look after two classes without any assistance. She was now regretting this decision.
Thankfully the class she normally taught were behaving appropriately. They sat around one of the tables on the train chatting with one another. Twilight turned her gaze over to Apple Blossom. She was sitting alone reading a book. Twilight smiled at first then frowned. She didn’t recognise the book at first, so she got up and went over to Apple Blossom.
“What’s this you’re reading Blossom?”
Apple Blossom looked up at her teacher smiling. “It’s a notebook I found at home. I think it’s my father’s. Did you know he was one of the first ponies to cross over into the Changeling Nation’s realm?”
Twilight nodded and went back to her seat, heart pounding in her chest. “Where had she gotten that book?” Twilight thought to herself. She was sure she had taken all of Spell Bound’s notebooks after the incident. She closed her eyes and tried to think, but now all she could think about was when Spell returned from that adventure.
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“You should have seen it Twily! It was amazing! It was so beautiful! Everything was so shiny and made of chitin.” Spell was jumping up and down on the spot, excited as a school filly, his pupil-less eyes shining with excitement.
“I’m sure it was Spell. Now please calm down. I’m not sure if you’re talking about the cities and buildings, or your new friend Lorien.” This brought Spell out in a blush and Twilight laughed at him.
“That’s not funny Twily. Don’t do that. Or...” Spell brought his voice to a whisper. “Do I need to tell about your crush?”
Twilight waved her hooves frantically telling Spell No over and over till he started laughing. “Calm down Twily I won’t tell. I promised, and I always keep my promises.”
“Thank you Spelly. That wasn’t funny though.”
“Yes it was, and perfect vengeance. Now come on Twily. I’ll tell ya all about where I went, and I promise not all of it will be about Lorien.”
“Good. You can chat my ear off on how amazing she was latter. For now I want to hear about the nation. It could be useful in my upcoming exam.”
The two walked through the Canterlot Castle on the way to Twilight’s room talking and laughing happily.
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Twilight sighed sadly. How she wished that things would go back to simpler times, back to when Spell would give his mischievous smile before pulling a prank on somepony.
“MISS SPARKLE! MISS SPARKLE! IS THAT CANTERLOT?” shouted one of her more excitable students drawing her out of her musings. Looking out the window she saw Canterlot drawing up close.
“Yes Ruby Sky, that’s Canterlot. We should be there fairly soon.” Twilight smiled as a chorus of Yays erupted from her students. She might miss the old days, back when she was still a student at Celestia’s School For Gifted Unicorns, but she loved teaching these kids. They were full of life.
Twilight stole a glance at Apple Blossom and saw she was still reading her father’s journal. “She can keep that one” She thought to herself. “It doesn’t reveal what became of him, and he was still so foolish back then.” She smiled to herself then took a look at the list of Statues she was to take her class to see.
“Right, so I’m bringing them to see the statue of Victory, Knowledge, Discord. Ha, that will be interesting to see again. Hmmm, the Guard Brethren and.....oh no...how could I be so foolish.” Twilight stared at the last statue name in the list. She continued staring at the sheet until the train reached a stop in Canterlot. “It’ll be fine. She won’t know who the statue is, none of the others will.” She took one last look at the sheet and saw a little note written in red ink under the last name.
“It’s time she knows Twilight. It’s convenient all the bearers of harmony are in Canterlot as well. You need to face your shame and fears, and Apple Blossom deserve to know the truth. It’s only a matter of time before she starts going on journeys to find out the truth, just like her father did.
Love, Cheerilee”
“Alright then.....I guess we’ll all be seeing him again tonight.” Twilight said to herself with a defeated sigh. Earlier she was wishing she could see him again, and now her wish was being granted but not in the way she desired.
In the statue garden, the statue they were going to go see was in the middle of another of its internal conflicts. And it seemed Retribution had the upper hand for the time being.