Princess Celestia teleported into the Golden Oaks Library in a brilliant burst of light. Her royal horseshoes sparkled in the soft candlelight from the center table. Flexing her wings, she trotted over to the window between the bookcases. Peering outside, she could see Twilight slowly making her way towards the library.
Creak.
Celestia swiveled her head around, her ear’s pointing up at the sudden sound. A small, green eye with a narrow pupil peeked through a minute crack in Twilight’s bedroom door. A sad smile briefly flashed over Celestia’s white muzzle as she feigned ignorance of Spike’s spying. Please don’t blame yourself for what happened, Spike.
Hoofsteps could be heard coming from the front door, followed by a small knock. Twilight made her inside towards the center of the room. Her head hung so low that it scrapped against the wooden floor.
Celestia put a hoof under Twilight’s chin, causing her to give out a yelp in surprise. It was almost too much for Celestia to stomach. There was no trace of Twilight’s usual self assurance. Her body quivered pathetically, like a stray leaf trying to desperately to hold on onto its branch in an autumn wind.
“Twilight.” The sudden sound of her name being called out pulled her out of her daze. Celestia stood in front of her, her perfect composure never wavering as she looked down at Twilight. “What could you have possibly been thinking? The want-it-need-it spell? I thought I had clearly warned you of using such dangerous enchantments of that level?”
Twilight slowly lowered herself to the floor. The look of disappointment from Celestia’s violet eyes burned deep into her mind. She hadn’t felt such shame since she that time when she was filly caught swiping a piece of royal cake from the bakery. She remembered Celestia catching her eating the stolen slice in her bedroom. The fear of being caught red hoofed and exposed for what she had done in her earliest years as Celestia’s student. Now that long buried emotion reared its ugly head again. Only this time, it was much worse.
“I couldn’t find a lesson,” Twilight said softly.
Celestia tilted her head, unsure of what her student mumbled.. “What was that Twilight?”
“I couldn’t find a lesson. I hadn’t written a letter in nearly a week, so I looked all around Ponyville trying to find somepony in need of help.” Letting out a small cough, she raised her head to meet Celestia’s face. “ I failed.I couldn’t find anypony who I could help and I would’ve failed you princess.”
A small twinge of pain shot through Celestia’s chest as she continued to listen to Twilight’s recount of her day. “How could you say that you failed me Twilight?” For as long as she had lived, Celestia had never felt such a pain as seeing one of her students so troubled. It had been some time since she had seen somepony so lost, but not so long ago that the wound still didn’t hurt. “You’re one of the most gifted students I’ve ever had the fortune of teaching.”
A small but noticeable blush warmed Twilight’s cheeks. “But I was about to be tardy. How would you even look at me the same if I had failed to keep up with my studies on friendship like you told me?” Small whispers began gnawing away at the back of Twilight’s mind as Celestia’s expression grew crestfallen at her words. I knew it, I knew it. Buck magic kindergarten, she’s going to banish me straight out of Equestria for being such a bad student. Small tears began to form, rolling down the sides of her face and then falling to the floor.
Celestia stood silently, her mind awhirl as she registered Twilight’s words. I saw the signs but chose not to act. I thought being around other ponies would be best for you, my dearest student. Yet now, with everything said and done, it was my biggest mistake to ignore you. How could I have been so foalish to think that they would just go away? Mentally preparing herself, Celestia adopted her usual mask of indifference. “You are a wonderful student, Twilight. No amount of reports would lead me to think of you being incapable. Yet the fact remains that-”
Wham!
Golden Oaks Library’s front door nearly flew off its brass hinges as several ponies stormed into the room. Screams of protest mixed with heartfelt pleas were shouted out before Celestia could quell them.. “Please, everypony. One at a time,” Celestia said loudly into the midst of the cries of Twilight’s friends.
One by one, they began to explain when Twilight first came to them for help. A few guilty looks flitted from one to the next on how they ignored Twilight’s plight. Eventually, each story concluded with Celestia’ arrival. Once everypony was finished, Celestia nodded her head in confirmation. “I congratulate you all by coming to realize the faults in your actions,” Celestia said proudly. Twilight looked up to see her teacher’s usual serene smile rising up on her smile.
“However, I’m afraid I can’t overlook this.” The serene smile corroded away into a gaze of disapproval as each of the element bearers looked at Celestia in utter disbelief.
“Now hold on a sec, Princess.” Rainbow Dash flew straight up to Celestia, making the alicorn take a step back. “Yeah we bucked up, and Twilight might’ve bucked up royally,” causing Twilight to grimace. “But she’s your student. Can’t you just cut her some slack?” pleaded the mare with the prismatic mane. Despite being several size smaller than her, Celestia could hear the tenacity in the element of loyalty’s words.
“Uhmm, Rainbow, maybe you shouldn’t get in the princess’s face like that. If it’s okay with you, you know?” said Fluttershy.
Her words were lost as Applejack stepped up to stand by Rainbow Dash’s side. “Princess, it ain’t my place to honestly question your decisions as a ruler and all that stuff.” Applejack removed her trademark Stetson from her head and placed it against her chest. “But surly you could find it in your heart to forgive Twilight? Maybe just this once?”
Celestia remained as still as stone as Twilight’s friend began to speak up again. It’s because of what I fear in my heart, Applejack, is what drives me to take this action. “My little ponies, I love you all so much. It warms my heart to see how far you are willing to go defend one of your friends. Truly this is the magic of friendship.”
Celestia walked over to Twilight, both student and teacher looking into each other’s eyes. “Twilight, know I wouldn’t make such a serious decision without taking into consideration the possible outcome. It is with a heavy heart that you will be returning to Canterlot with me for a time.”
Rainbow nearly lunged forward again until something pulled her back by her tail. Applejack clenched Rainbow’s tail in her mouth while a light, blue magic surrounded her wings. Fluttershy huddled into a small yellow ball with her wings over her head while Pinkie’s mane drooped around her head with the sound of a deflating balloon.
“Princess...” Rainbow began to protest before Celestia shot her a no nonsense look. Rainbow slowly fell to the ground, the fire inside of her extinguished by Celestia’s serious demeanor.
“We will be departing in an hour Twilight. If there is anything that you would like to take with you, please pack them away. I will return with a chariot for you.” Celestia began to make her way out the door until a small tug on her wing caught her attention.
Spike stood by Celestia’s side, his little eyes bloodshot with freshly shed tears. “Princess, can I come to?“ he asked, a small hiccup in his voice.
Celestia leaned down, giving a motherly smile to Spike. “I’m sorry, Spike. This time Twilight will have to do this without her number one assistant to help her.” She could see the obvious guilt in his tiny, scaly eyes.
“But why?”
Why? An old memory surfaced in Celestia’s mind. A small orange filly ran around Celestia as they walked around Canterlot Castle, talking on and on about how she was going to be a princess one day. How everypony would know her name. Celestia couldn’t help but smile at the red maned filly’s antics, and how she would tell everypony that someday she would become the greatest sorceress of all time. I have already failed one of my students by letting her carry on without proper guidance. I won’t let history repeat itself again, Celestia chastised herself. She would make sure of that this time.
Celestia’s inner monologue was cut short by Spike clasping onto her leg. “I-I-“ Celestia could feel his tiny heart beating like a drum in his scaly chest by how tightly he clung to her.
A feeling of betrayal dug into Celestia’s heart as she watched Spike begin to cry. The poor drake probably felt he was responsible for Twilight’s predicament. The pony who had raised him, was being taken away.
“Spike, I promise you that nothing bad is going to happen to Twilight.” A small purple hankie popped into thin air, drifting slowly into Spike’s clawed hands. The purple dragon turned and ran up the stairs to Twilight’s room and slammed the door behind him. A small set of clicks informed everypony that he locked the door from the inside.
Celestia left without another word, leaving the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony inside of a very quiet library. After a long pause, Applejack walked over to Twilight with her hat covering her face. Two strong forelegs wrapped them around the downtrodden unicorn. “Forgive us, sugarcube. We shoulda listen to ya in the first place.” The orange earth pony slow trotted out the door, muttering country swears under her breath.
Rainbow Dash followed second, deciding to shoot out of the library in a streak of red, yellow and blue.
Rarity opened her mouth to speak but no words seemed to come. Pinkie leaned on the white unicorn, the greying pink pony feeling deathly cold against her. “I think I’ll walk Pinkie home, Twilight. You know, dear. It’s just not safe for anypony to walk around by just by themselves these days.” Rarity tried to force a smile on her muzzle but couldn’t find the strength.
As Rarity and Pinkie left with heads hung low, only Fluttershy remained. The timid animal caretaker stood up with the grace of a swan. She walked quietly over to Twilight, her face hidden behind her luxurious pink mane. A half closed blue eye meet Twilight’s purple one. Fluttershy drew in a small breath before she began to speak.
“Twilight,” said Fluttershy. “I don’t think that anypony could feel worse about this right now than you,” consoled the yellow pegasus. “But Celestia wants the best for you and we all care about you no matter what.”
Twilight watched as the demure Pegasus walked out the door, closing it behind so gently that not even the tiniest creak could be heard. All alone in the dark, Twilight could only hear the sad sobs of Spike crying from her room. The only thought running through her mind now was what would Celestia do to her now?