“Amor, wake up! It’s almost noon!” Everything flooded into my view again, the bright colors blinding me momentarily.
“Sugarcube, ya gotta get up!”
“WAKEUPWAKEUPWAKEUP!” I could just barely make out three familiar voices from the other side of my door.
“Should ah kick it in again?”
I shot out of bed. “I’m up, what’s the hurry?”
“The princess wants to see all of us, including you.”
“Well, why didn’t you say so?”
“We did! We’ve been out here for ten minutes!”
“Sorry.”
“Just get out here.” I rose to my unsteady legs and began hobbling towards the door. I opened it to see Rainbowdash, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie waiting on the other side. “Finally!”
“Where is everyone else?” I said as I rubbed my eye.
“Already waiting for us at the train station. We came to get your lazy flank out of bed. We’ve wasted enough time already, let’s go!”
“Wait, what am I going to do with him,” I said, indicating towards Hazmat.
“Don’t worry, Spike is going to stop by to bring him to the library soon. Come on!” A rainbow streak took off in the direction of the train station, Pinkie Pie and Applejack barely having to try to keep up, while I buzzed in flight behind them, working my hardest to keep the three in sight. I was panting at the halfway point. I remember it being hard to run on two legs, but I just got these ones, and I wasn’t quite used to them yet. I rounded the final corner to see all six waiting for me. “Man, you are slow.”
“Yeah, thanks for waiting up.” I managed to get out through heavy breaths.
“ALL ABORD! LAST TRAIN TO CANTERLOT!”
“That’s us,” Twilight said. “Come on, let’s not keep Princess Celestia waiting any longer.”
Everyone lined up and slowly made their way onto the train, taking their seats. I found the first empty one and scooted in towards the window, propping my head on my hoof like last time. I felt the seat shift, and looked over to see Fluttershy sitting next to me. “Oh, I’m sorry, did you want to be alone?”
“No no, if you would like to sit there, it’s fine. I probably could use the company. But, don’t expect me to start a conversation.”
“Oh. Okay. Thank you.” The train jerked forward, and we were off to Canterlot. Everyone else was having their own conversations while I sat quietly, thinking to myself, letting my thoughts wander like they always do. I think weird things, like how could such opposites be friends? Pinkie Pie, loud and cheerful, while Fluttershy was quiet and afraid. Rarity, clean and sophisticated, while Applejack was a farm pony. Twilight, the brains of the bunch, and Rainbowdash, an athlete who wouldn’t even admit to reading a good book. Together, these opposites form a dangerous weapon, and Equestria’s last hope. And just then, I nodded off.
……….
“How can you still be sleeping!?” My eyes shot open to meet Rainbowdash’s, who was hovering only inches away from my face. “I swear, you spend more of your time with Luna than you do with us!”
I yawned, showing my fangs without trying. “How much longer?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah, maybe a few more minutes.” I looked out the window to see the snowcapped mountain we were headed to, a large gleaming city hanging off its one side. Good, almost there. I scanned the train car, only to see everyone still going on with their conversations.
“So what do you think the princess wants?”
“I don’t know, it could be important.”
“Yeah, maybe the changelings are back!”
“Rainbow!”
“Right, sorry Amor.”
“No hard feelings.” I closed my eyes, resting my temple on the window. “So no one has any idea why the princess wants to see us?”
“Who knows, it could be anything.”
“Yeah, great.” I had an idea, but it wasn’t anything important, it wasn’t life or death or anything.
“So what do you think, Amor?” I shook my head, focusing on the world at the sound of the unexpected question.
“Well, considering how long it has been, probably something to do with me, but that could just be my paranoia. We’ll see what happens when we get there.” I caught sight of Fluttershy out of the corner of my eye. She looked as if she had something to say, but couldn’t bring herself to say it out loud. “Do you have any ideas?” she let out a nervous squeak.
“W-well…I…Don’t know.” I didn’t hear a word she said. I leaned in close, picking my ear up.
“What was that?” I could tell she was extremely nervous. She leaned in close so no one else would hear her. Luckily, none were paying attention to our conversation.
“I think it has something to do with your lessons.”
I whispered back. “Why does that make you nervous?”
“Because…I don’t…think you learned anything.”
“What are you talking about? Of course I did.”
“R-really? What?”
“You’ll find out later. If in fact that is why she wants to see us, you’ll know. Otherwise, I’ll tell you on the way back. Now let’s stop whispering before anyone hears us.” I sat back up and pretended nothing ever happened before anyone saw me. Fluttershy still looked worried, but she seemed to have eased slightly.
……….
We were escorted through the castle, taking twists and turns until we came to a large set of doors. Two guards used their magic to swing the doors open, revealing Celestia sitting in her throne, a guard on either side of her. “Ah, you’ve made it.”
Twilight, of course was the first to step forward. “Princess Celestia. May I ask what we have been called for?”
“Just checking in. Amor, how have you been doing in Ponyville?”
I stepped forward. “Everything has been fine.”
“And?” I looked at her, puzzled. “Have you learned anything?”
“Of course.”
“Then please, share with us.”
I looked around at all the faces in the room. There was the princess, the stern royal guards, and my friends, sending me comforting looks, trying to urge me on. “Well, I have learned so much from my time in Ponyville, but seven lessons stick out above all else. They may not be the best of lessons, but they are things to live by. I learned that you need to have an open mind to all, whether it be a friend, a pet, or just someone in need. I learned that you should never give up on a friend, even if the chances look slim, or even life threatening. I learned that you need to do whatever it takes to help your friend and comfort them, even if it means lying sometimes. Even if it is against everything you are about, it’s okay to help your friend with something if they need the help.” I paused to look back at the six behind me, who seemed comforted, if not surprised that I learned so much from them. “I learned that, you can’t always be serious. It’s okay to let loose every so often and just have fun and get rid of stress. I learned that helping someone in need is just the right thing to do. If you can find a way to help someone, or anyone, don’t be afraid to do it. Finally, I learned that you need to open your heart, or your emotions will tear you apart. If you hide who you truly are, keep your emotions hidden away, they will ravage you. Just tell someone.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes.”
“Are you certain?”
“I am certain.”
“Congratulations, Amor. You have learned the magic of friendship.” I felt proud of myself. I learned something, I actually found something I’m good at, I made new friends who care about me, and I’m happy. Not on the outside, but all the way through for once. “I can send you home now.”
My happiness was cut short. I took a step back. “I’m not going back.”
“Amor?”
“No. I am actually happy for once. No one cared for me, no one acknowledged me. Now I have friends. I have a happy life. I have emotions other than those of sorrow and hatred. I am not going back there. This is my home now.”
“Is…is that your final decision?”
“Yes.”
She sighed heavily. “Very well. You…may stay in Equestria. You have certainly earned it.” I let out a weak smile in relief. “I am glad to call you a citizen of our fair land.” She stepped down from her seat above us. “I can see that you are much happier here, and I would never want to take that away from anypony. You may stay in Ponyville with your friends.”
“Thank you, princess.”
“And Amor,” I looked up to meet her eyes. “I know you will make the right decisions in the future. Your friends will help you.” I closed my eyes as I smiled. So this is it.