//------------------------------//
// Chapter Five 
// Story: Placebo 
// by Sepulcher 
//------------------------------//

	“...and your name was Ryder,” said Celestia.

Ryder.  A good enough name… for now. Hopefully I can make a new name for myself, one I earned myself.

“If that’s my name, that’s my name,” I said. “I, Ryder, am yours to command, your majesty.”	

I could see Celestia’s connection to me grow, albeit slightly.

“Very well Ryder,” said Celestia.“Your first assignment is to learn about the element of magic. I’ll let you pick which elements after, but for now Twilight’s level-headedness will help you adjust,” said Celestia.

“How long will I study with each pony for?” I asked. “And where am I going to stay?”

Celestia smiled a little. “Two days should be enough for someone like you to get to know somepony intimately. As for sleeping arrangements, there is an empty house in Canterlot I’d like you to have. It hasn’t been used in several years, and it’s in a nice, quiet neighborhood. Of course, if you find an alternative place to stay, here in Ponyville, you may stay there instead.”

I bowed deeply, the remainder of my anger dissipating under Celestia’s generosity. 

“I shall get started at once, your majesty,” I said.

Celestia smiled and shook her head. “I couldn’t ask you to start today, my little Pegasus. Besides, I think some of your friends have a surprise waiting for you downstairs.”

I bowed even deeper. “One last thing. How will I send you the reports of the information I gather?”

“Ask Twilight,” she said. “She has a way of sending her own friendship reports through her surrogate child, Spike.”

“Thank you again, Celestia, for all that you’ve done for me. I hope that I can repay you for everything,” I said, looking forward to a new tomorrow.

Celestia winked at me and unfurled her wings in preparation for flight. “You already have,” she said cryptically before flying away.

I trotted back down the stairs whilst thinking about what Celestia said. What did she mean by that? Those thoughts occupied my mind, therefore I ran straight into a bookcase. Why was it so dark in here, I thought to myself as I hit the ground with books piling atop of me. It’s still midday, isn’t it?

As if to answer my thoughts, all the lights came on at the same time, blinding me, while the six hidden ponies appeared and yelled, “Surprise!”

As my eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness, I saw the whole main foyer of the library decorated with banners, ribbons, and just about every other party-related decoration.

I could feel the other pony’s anticipation in how I would react. I could break any chance of friendship with ease, I thought. First impressions are everything.

I stood up and shook the book that perched upon my head. “Well?” I asked. “What are you standing around for? Let’s party!”

The feeling of pent up anxiety of how I would react melted away into the warm, fuzzy feeling of companionship.

The party lasted until sundown and having described what Celestia had planned for me to the ponies, I felt that my day was pretty much over.

I wish I could describe the party in detail, but with the collection of aches and pains, scrapes and bruises from the whole magical business upstairs, the party sort of passed me by. By the time everypony said their goodbyes, I was exhausted, so I decided to retire for the night. I was just about to fly to Canterlot, when I was startled by Twilight.

“Hey Ryder, I was thinking about what Celestia said, and I was wondering if you… y’know…”

I cocked my head at her quizzically.

“I was wondering if you wanted to stay the night with me. I-I mean with me and Spike.”

I didn’t miss her fumble of words. I decided to ignore it for now. 

“But my studies don’t start until tomorrow, and I don’t want to burden you with anything else,” I said.

“Oh it’s fine!” said Twilight enthusiastically. “I already talked to Spike and he doesn’t mind. It would be just like a sleepover!”

Her enthusiasm was infectious. “If you’re offering out of friendship and not concern, then… sure. I have to warn you though: I don’t know what the proper social conventions are regarding sleepovers. You’ll have to help me.”

Twilight was practically jumping with joy. Wait, she WAS jumping with joy.

“Yay!” she cried. She then realized what she was doing and stopped abruptly. 

“Oh... I’m sorry about that. I don’t know what came over me. I haven’t acted like this since Princess Celestia named me her protégé."

“There’s no need to apologize,” I said, feeling slightly amused. “If something makes you happy, you might as well show it any way that you can.”

It turned out that Twilight had only had one sleepover previously, and it had nearly been ruined by a storm. Only Applejack’s quick thinking and Rarity’s magic stopped Twilight’s first sleepover from being ruined.

Whilst Twilight told me that story, the sun sank beneath the horizon and the moon rose to take its place.

“Looks like the sleepover can officially begin, Twilight. You’re the expert—what do we do first?”