Twilight Sparkle bowed her head as Princess Celestia placed a medal around her neck.
"Twilight Sparkle, I dub you my Royal Court Wizard. Your unprecedented magical ability and your bravery make me proud to appoint you as my most trusted confidante in all matters magical."
"Thank you Princess, it is an honour!"
"The honour is all mine, Twilight Sparkle - uh, what is that knocking noise?"
Twilight Sparkle sat bolt upright in bed, rubbing her eyes. The knocking continued - it was the library door. Twilight looked out of the window and the sun was rising. It was a beautiful morning. She then looked at her clock. 7.15 AM.
"Who in Equestria would wake me up at this hour? Urgh! Okay, okay, I'm coming!"
Twilight galloped downstairs, her mane looking bedraggled from sleep and she opened the library door to be greeted by a fraught looking Rainbow Dash who had a towel around her waist.
"Twilight! You gotta help me! I'm dying!"
Her friend cocked her head. Rainbow Dash didn't look like she was dying.
"Rainbow Dash, what is the matter? Come inside!"
Rainbow Dash stepped in, panting and flopped onto the floor of the library dramatically.
"Help me, Twilight! Argh! I'm too young to die!"
Twilight looked cross. Was this one of Rainbow Dash's pranks? If so, it wasn't in very good taste...
"That's enough Rainbow Dash, calm down and tell me what is the matter!"
"Under the towel... please, help!"
Twilight walked up to Rainbow Dash who was lying on her side on the floor and used her magic to lift the towel slightly. Peering cautiously underneath, Twilight could see that under Dash's tail was a fair amount of blood.
"You are kidding me right, Rainbow? This is what you are panicking about?"
Rainbow Dash looked upset.
"What's wrong with me Twilight? Am I going to die?"
Twilight sighed and then smiled. She offered her hoof to Rainbow Dash, motioning for her to stand up.
"No, Rainbow. You aren't going to die... well, not today anyway. Haven't you umm.. well didn't you pay attention in biology classes in school?"
Dash stood and shivered.
"Buh...well... I think so? C'mon Twilight, what the hay is happening to me!"
Twilight hugged Rainbow Dash and ushered her to sit down on the couch. Twilight's horn glowed as she put the kettle on and made a cup of tea for her friend.
"Rainbow Dash, you are having a period... your period... your menstrual cycle."
"My what?"
"I'm surprised you haven't had one before... you have reached the age where you are able to breed, Rainbow Dash."
Twilight gave Rainbow Dash the cup of tea and magicked a book from the shelves. It was called 'Marehood: A guide for foals and parents'. Twilight flicked to a chapter and sat down with Rainbow to show her the book's contents.
"Look here Rainbow Dash. When we fillies get to certain age we start to be able to breed. See this diagram? We have an egg once a month inside us, and when it doesn't get used, it gets flushed out of our body with some blood. The blood is the lining inside us on which the egg 'waits' for something to happen."
"So, I'm not going to die? It's... perfectly normal?"
"Completely! You can take this book and it will explain everything. But Rainbow Dash, how come you came to me and not to the clinic?"
Rainbow Dash looked sheepish and sipped at her tea.
"Well... it's just... I really thought I was going to die... and if I'm going to die then I want to die with my friends..."
Twilight squeaked and hugged Rainbow Dash. It was the cutest thing she had ever heard her say - even though it was slightly morbid.
"Oh Rainbow Dash, you should never worry so much about something! But I am so glad you came to me."
The two ponies talked a while and Rainbow Dash relaxed as she began to understand. Twilight explained along with the book and its pictures how to deal with this messy biological visitor so that life didn't have to be put on hold a few days a month.
That evening, long after Rainbow Dash had gone home to have a bath and come to terms with her body's new behaviour, Twilight Sparkle wrote a letter to Princess Celestia.
"Dear Princess Celestia,
I've decided to start a pony support group where once a week in the library, ponies can come and learn, discuss and read about things that may worry them; friendship, relationships, the transition from being a foal to a young adult mare or stallion, health worries and other such issues which can be difficult to discuss.
I was surprised today that one of my friends was unaware of many of the strange things that happen when a filly becomes a mare. Not everypony is lucky enough to have had the education that I had - and this made me wonder how many other young fillies and mares have worries, problems and conundrums which they need help with.
I hope with this group, myself and others can stop anypony feeling alone and confused about their body, their feelings or just life in general! And maybe I will learn a few things about the magic of friendship too!
Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle"
"Dear Twilight Sparkle, my most faithful student.
What a wonderful idea! This type of service is most common in the larger cities, in fact I have performed the royal opening of a number of support centres in both Canterlot and Fillydelphia. I would love to attend the official opening, should you successfully implement this idea, and should you wish me to of course!
I think your commitment to helping other ponies shows just how much you have learned about the magic of friendship during your time at Ponyville!
It is important to remember that no matter how talented, or brave, or athletic a pony is, they will remembered more for the feats they performed which helped others, than the feats which helped themselves.
I am very proud of you and look forward to hearing how this idea progresses.
Your friend and mentor,
Princess Celestia"