Teacher’s pet!
Bookworm!
Crybaby!
The jeers kept ringing through Twilight’s head, and they wouldn’t stop. Why wouldn’t they stop? The devastated filly ran into her house. The house was good. At the house she was mommy’s and daddy’s princess, and Shining was her knight.
“Twilight? Shouldn’t you be in school?” Her mother’s voice asked behind her. She didn’t think anypony else would be home. she didn’t think about anything, really. Didn’t think about what she’d do next when she got home. Bad Twilight. Mommy always said to think, and let her brain lead her. That’s what made ponies different from beasts. But she didn’t think, and now Mommy was going to be mad or even worse be disappointed and give her the sad look and- and...
She burst into another set of tears.
“Oh, my baby girl,” her mother comforted, sweeping her into her arms. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
“You-you aren’t mad?” she choked out.
“Of course not. I know my bright star wouldn’t leave school without a good reason. I trust you, Twilight. Now trust me, baby. What’s wrong?”
She told her everything. How she felt like she finally had friends, friends that she could play with and have slumber parties with, but it turned out they were just using her to do their homework. Nopony would actually want to hang out with a bookworm like you, they said. And when she cried, they only got meaner and she couldn’t take it anymore and she just had to run and-
“Shhhh, baby girl. Mommy’s here,” she whispered into her ear.
“But why? Why aren’t I good enough to be a friend?”
“It’s not because you aren’t good enough, darling. It’s because you are too good. I’ve told you the stories of our family, haven’t I baby girl?” Twilight nodded. “Our line is one of the most prestigious in Equestria. While other nobles lounge around, revel in their wealth and left those below them to eat their dust, we help them. We use our knowledge and magic to cure their ills. We write amazing stories that spoke to them, assuring them they aren’t alone, that others feel as they do. Our line is a line of scholars, authors, warriors. Everypony in our line is great. But do you want to know something, baby girl?” Twilight gave a meek affirmation. “When you were born, I looked into your eyes, and I saw this... spark. And I knew in that moment, you’d be greater than any before you. The only problem is, those petty fillies, they see it too. They see your greatness, and they are jealous and fearful. While you change Equestria forever, they will be left forgotten. Because they lack something, my dear. Can you tell me what it is?”
“Smarts?”
“Correct as always,” she said with a wink, earning a small smile in return. “While that is the correct answer, there’s more to it than that. You have smarts, my darling. So much I wonder how it just doesn’t fall out of that tiny head of yours. But you also have heart. You have kindness. And you have strength. Ultimately, my sweet, the thing that you have that they do not is you.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Because while me, your father, and your brother would love to protect you forever, there is a time when you must live on your own. And when others fail to be there, when others mock your pain or do not understand it, there will always be one pony who does. Yourself. All you need is you.”
“I-I think I see, Mommy.”
“I knew you would. Now let’s get you back to school before the teacher throws a fuss, hm?”
And while her mother led Twilight back to school, she reflected on what she had been told. She did not need any friends. They wouldn’t understand her. They wouldn’t be there for her. But she was great. She was strong. When would having friends do anything? All she needed was herself.