//------------------------------// // Prompt #533-Teaching Styles // Story: Ponywatching // by ThunderTempest //------------------------------// Princess Twilight Sparkle gently touched down on the balcony outside of Princess Celestia’s chambers in Canterlot Castle. Inside, she could hear Celestia instructing her most recent student on the finer points of a spell that Twilight recognised as one that she had created. The youngest Princess of Equestria took a moment to fruitlessly attempt to straighten out her mane, frazzled and jagged as it was. Taking a deep breath, she trotted up to the partially open doors, and rapped one gold-shod hoof against them, drawing Celestia’s attention. “Ah, Twilight,” said Celestia, and then she turned back to her student, “Morning Star, we will continue this lesson next time. Between now and then, though, I would like you to read up on Clover the Clever’s golems.” “Yes, Princess Celestia!” said the young colt, and turned to face Princess Twilight. His eyes boggled briefly, but then he seemed to remember that he had been dismissed, and simply bowed to Twilight, before rushing out of the room. “Adorable, isn’t he, Twilight? He is deeply fascinated with you, you know. You are his absolute favourite spell weaver from the Monarch Era.” Despite her current state, Twilight managed a blush of embarrassment at Celestia’s remark. “But enough about that. What did you come here for, Twilight?” “I don’t know if I’m cut out for this, Celestia. I can’t do it.” “Ah,” said Celestia, a smile creeping across her face, “This is about your own student. Rose Petal, isn’t it?” “Not exactly, Princess.” Celestia ignored the official title. Despite the fact that Twilight was now equal to her in stature and even in power these days, when she was nervous or worried, she would slip back to her pre-alicornation habits. “It’s just that I can’t be the calm, caring teacher that you are, Princess.” Celestia chuckled, “And who said you had to be, Twilight?” “Huh?” “Twilight, everypony responds to different teachers differently. I tend to attract the type of ponies who respond to the kind, motherly approach. Luna is the mysterious mentor, who wraps every lesson in riddles and puzzles, and she therefore looks for the type of ponies who respond to that whenever she wants to teach.” “So...what’s my style, then?” asked Twilight, and Celestia smiled. “That, my faithful student,” said Celestia, getting a rise from Twilight with her old moniker, “is something that you must discover for yourself. But one piece of advice that I can give is to simply do what comes naturally when around your student. If she likes it, you will know. If not, then perhaps she was not meant to be taught by you.” Twilight let out a long breath. “So basically, just be myself?” Celestia nodded, “You will discover your own style soon enough, Twilight. It is hardly the end of the world if it takes you a while to do so. Now, is there anything else I can help you with, or would you simply like to have tea? It really has been a while since you just dropped in like this.” “Tea would be wonderful, Celestia.”