There comes a time in each mare's life, where they're faced grief and strife, and they need assistance from a hero.
Twilight's case was one most dire, lesser ponies would expire, but Cassandra saved the day in Lesson Zero.
"I see myself as quite the smarty, but I now risk being tardy," Twilight said, "by this I am quite shaken.
And Cassandra, it's well known, that your smarts surpass my own, thus I look to you to save my bacon.
To me you have been like a mentor, won't you help me find my center? Can I count on you to make it better?
I write the Princess every Tuesday, but it's been a barren newsday. She'll be disappointed if she doesn't get a letter."
Said Cassandra, "that sounds rough, but are you looking hard enough? Somepony somewhere always needs assistance.
Perhaps the lesson for today is that when things don't go your way, you must not give up easily, have persistence."
"You know, you're right," she said ecstatic, "our friends are always problematic, I bet one of them is in a bind."
"Shall we start with the dress mechanic? She's usually the first to panic."
Twilight said, "it's like you read my mind."
Rarity was moping around, her special ribbon couldn’t be found, (not surprising, she’s not very clever).
“If only I wasn’t such a slob, I’d be much better at my job, why I’d say this is just the worst thing ever.”
“But here it is” Cassandra said, “I found it with my level head, spitting your bit never serves you well.”
“Why you’re the best, and that is true, here’s a practice kissing IOU” said Rarity, “if you feel so compelled.”
"Well that was useless" Twilight groused, "let's get ourselves to Fluttershy's house, I bet she's scared and needs someone's support."
But she was rather disappointed, Fluttershy had been anointed with the strength to wrestle bears and giants of that sort.
"I suppose it's worth a mention, that I cured her apprehension" said Cassandra rather sheepishly. “To take my counsel I beseeched her, and It seems I'm quite the teacher, we just started training recently.
But here’s something to give a try: She was fighting, find out why, maybe in the process learn a lesson.”
“While that suggestion’s very nice, I’m disregarding your advice, and trying my luck with the one who wears a Smith and Wesson.”
*****
At the farm was quite the view, a one mare demolition crew, a barn being destroyed by Rainbow Dash.
“There is only one explanation! We have ourselves an altercation! Now I’ll teach them not to be so brash!
You see it’s just the perfect plan, I’ll end the fight, I know I can, and then I’ll ask them why they were at odds. And once they have their resolution, I’ll write about my contribution, why I am such a genius, by the gods!”
But Twilight she was sadly erring, this was but a mere red herring, Applejack as usual was no good.
“Ah couldn’t afford to hire labor, so ah asked a personal favor, and ah’m payin’ her in scraps of wood.”
****
“Cassandra, I’m so up the creek, I have no friendship report this week, I just know that I’ll get sent away.”
“Before you panic over school, take a look in this reflecting pool, you’ll see the face of someone who has learnt something today.”
Cassandra's guidance had been sound, but ultimately was let down by overestimating her friend's intellect.
She thought that Twilight Sparkle's mind, was highly trained and well refined, but soon she would be proven rather incorrect.
“Well that went right over my head, I can’t understand what you just said, it’s time for me to take a drastic measure.
I’ll cast a spell on Smarty Pants, put everypony in a trance and make them think that it’s a precious treasure.”
“Ignoring the fact that you haven’t tried Pinkie, that plan of yours sounds awful hinky, there’s a good chance of it all ending in tears.
You can cast the “Want it Need it,” but do you know how to delete it? This may sound crazy but I don’t think it’s one of your best ideas.”
“Cassandra you got one thing right, it does sound crazy - that I might, not have considered all the consequences.”
She grabbed her doll and then departed, ‘tween the trees and shrubs she darted, looking to drop somepony’s defenses.
From her hideout in a tree, she spied a group of fillies three, “very soon, they’ll play into my hand!
Other two and Sweetie Belle, you will do just as I tell, fight over this doll, that’s my command!”
She started on her plan most ghastly, but Cassandra, she steadfastly, swooped in just in time to save the day.
“I’ve trusted you for long enough, now’s the time for getting tough, I’m here to make the problem go away.
That spell is quite well known to me, I emanate it naturally, it truly is a heavy cross to bear.
Ponies fight for my affection, and they all defy rejection, there’s no darkness in the world that can compare.”
Cassandra cast the counterspell, and just like that all was well. She couldn’t help but smirk, “that was too easy.”
She pointed to an odd book shelf, said “Tia please reveal yourself, you were planning something very sleazy.”
The Princess faded into view, said “what Cassandra says is true, I’d formed a plan that went through much refinement. To talk yourselves into a trap, then declare that all you saps, had been roped into my friendship assignment...."
"...but Cassandra was too smart, because of her it fell apart.” Twilight had a sudden inspiration, “that’s really cool, but even better, I’m ready to write my friendship letter, so here it goes with no more hesitation.”
“Dear Princess Celestia, I’m doing fine, thanks to a certain friend of mine, I guess you could call her an overachiever.
She said she could solve everything, she said I should stop worrying, and I was such a fool to not believe her.
So dashing and brave, and so gallant, amazing one pony could have so much talent, she could even be the nation’s matriarchal.
Cassandra’s the best friend for which I could ask, and I’m glad she helped me on this task
Sincerely, your faithful student
-Twilight Sparkle."