As Sea Spell and High Step entered the Castle of Friendship, they notice that the hallway was immensely gargantuan. It. Was. Huge.
“This way sugarcube.” AppleJack said, taking the earth pony and unicorn out of their gazes.
She guided them both shortly forward towards a large set of double doors, similar in decor to the front doors of the palace.
“We’re all through here havin’ a nice chat’ ‘bout nothin’. Y’all won’ be disturbin’ us anyway.” AppleJack mentioned, obviously trying to calm the other two ponies
“That’s comforting to know.” Sea Spell murmured, remembering what she’d heard earlier.
As all three of them entered the hall, Sea Spell and High Step saw the high ceiling and six, tall thrones each with the respective Cutie Mark of each pony. All were seated, besides AppleJack’s of course. The other five stared at the ponies as they entered
High Step’s Nervousness became more and more evident by her iris and pupil quickly shrinking as her ears drooped.
“Hi, I hear that you both wanted to meet with me?” Twilight said.
“Um...” Sea Spell started as she looked over to High Step “Yes, we are. This here is High Step and I’m Sea Spell-”
“You’re Sea Spell?!” Twilight interrupted, loudly.
“Yes, May we talk about my friend please? She’s not from ‘around here’” Sea Spell said using air quotes.
“Oh, of course. After that however, I would like to speak to you in private Sea Spell. It is important.”
“Sure, but first. High Step, can you explain what happened?”
High Step was still frozen in place, she couldn’t move a muscle; let alone speak.
“High Step, calm down. Everything’s fine, the princess will help” Sea Spell whispered to her.
At the mention of a Princess, High Step bowed “Your Highness” she stated.
“I come from a Place called ‘Earth’ where I am from, horses cannot speak, indeed, I am owned, I am a show horse, one evening colors appeared in my stall, and I passed out, to awaken in my friends ‘house’, and could speak. I do not know what happened, and I am sure my owner is frantic to find me.”
“Wow, i have a lot of questions. Firstly, you were a horse in the human world? I didn’t know they had horses” Twilight inquired
“Yes. They are usually held away from civilisation as, by nature, we are very nervous creatures.”
The questions seemed to never end as Twilight had more and more about horses in the human world until finally, High Step asked.
“Is there a way to get me home?”
I do not know but i am planning to send a letter to the other Princesses and Princes letting them know of your dilemma. We will convene a conference and see if there is any way in Equestria that we can help you.” She stated. “I do hope that there is a way, and that this is of some comfort as the conference may not be held for a few weeks at least.” Twilight continued, the sympathy of being away from home evident in her facial expression.
“I understand.” High Step, surprisingly, answered.
“Now, i have to talk to Sea Spell, in private” Twilight asked looking to her friends and High Step.
“Of course, darling. We understand.” Rarity said, shuffling everypony out of the Hall.
“Now that everyone’s gone, i can talk to you. I’ve noticed your talent with magic is-” Twilight started but was interrupted.
“Lower than average, I know but-” Sea Spell started
“No, I was going to say that you seem to have a natural talent for magic. Who have you studied with?”
This conversation went on for a while, Sea Spell talked about the few travelling Wizard ponies who had been willing to teach her small tricks but, nothing major. Twilight sat there, fascinated at the initiative the Unicorn in front of her took to learn all these spells, as well as the knowledge behind them. The conversation took an abrupt turn when Twilight Sparkle said
“Do you want to study under me? Along with the other Princesses of course” Twilight asked as if she’d asked for a carrot at the market
“What?” Sea Spell replied, shocked at Twilight’s question and her casualty on the subject
“I think you show great promise, maybe even more than i did.” Twilight praised
“Really, wouldn’t the other princesses be too busy?” Replied, anxious that she’d be imposing
“Yes, which is why i suggested you learn mostly under me, It will mean you coming with me to the conference though.” Twilight added. Sea Spell thought for a moment. A moment that seemed to drag.
“I understand if you want some time to think about this-” Twilight started
“I accept, but only if you let High Step accompany us” Sea Spell interrupted. Not realising she had as she was deep in concentration.
“Of course” Twilight replied. ‘Yes, i finally get my own pupil to shape into a model student and pony.’ Twilight thought to herself.
They both exited the hall to join their friends.
***
High Step suddenly looks at the one called Rarity “Forgive me” High Step said. ”I have never seen a pony so beautiful.”
“Oh, thank you, darling.” Said Rarity.
“Who does your mane and tail?’” High Step asked.
“I do my mane and tail myself.” Rarity replied.
“Someone always did my mane and tail for me, I just stood there” High Step then said.
This idle chatter carried on for some time until High Step noticed Sea Spell and Twilight walk out of the Castle towards them. Just as High Step was about to bow again, Twilight interrupted.
“There’s no need to bow, really. We are going to be seeing a lot of each other now, High Step. I don’t have my friends bow to me.”
“I’m your friend?” High Step tearily asked, sensing it a great honour to be a friend of royalty.
“of course.” Twilight replied. “I best leave you and Sea Spell to get home and pack” Twilight continued as she and the other Main Six walked into the Castle.
“It is a great honour Twilight, to be your friend.” High Step said to the closing door.
“Wait, pack?” High Step then realised what Twilight had said.
“Yes, that’s what Twilight wanted to talk to me about. I’m going to be her student and i said only as long as you can stay by my side.”
“Really? I don’t know what to say…” High Step blushed as she said this.
“Yeah, Twilight accepted immediately. Let’s go, i have a lot to pack and we need to shop for you.” Sea Spell mentioned.
“Okay, fine.” High Step decided not to argue as it was getting to the afternoon and they didn’t have much time.
As the ponies walked home they realised that it would be dark if they shopped later so they decided to shop first and pack later.
“What shop do you want to go to first?”
“Um…I guess we would need a tack shop, or… sorry… I guess you do not use saddles or bridles here.” High Step said.
“No, we don’t. I guess Rarity’s Boutique is out of the question then… How about we just get things like a keyboard or something”
“I’ve always wanted to play the Keyboard, maybe Pinkie Pie could teach me, or Spike.”
“okay, so we’ll get you that.”
Both ponies shopped for nonsensical things after the keyboard which was going to be delivered to the Castle tomorrow morning.
As time went on both ponies noticed how it was getting quite dark, they decided to head home and pack what they had.
As they packed, High Step spoke: “I suppose I should take this halter off now?”
“Oh goodness, i completely forgot about that, people must have thought you were weird.”
High Step unfastens her red halter and sets it amongst her belongings.
“That’s better.” Sea Spell started “Let’s get that conditioner off you” Sea Spell then proceeded to do just that.
“I am looking forward to learning to play my keyboard, but how will it work with hooves?” High Step asked.
“It’s quite easy for some. Hey, you never know, maybe you’ll get a Music Playing Cutie Mark” Sea Spell answered with wonder in her eyes. “Then you could play your Keyboard whilst I play… something else”.
“That sounds like it would be fun, perhaps you could even learn a marching tune and we could do a show with my ability to high step.” High step said.
“Sure, that sounds like it could be fun” Replied Sea Spell.
“I guess we should turn in, big day ahead of us” High Step said.
"Yeah, I guess so"
Both of them then went to bed and slept well. Little did they know that some beady eyes were glaring through the window as they slept. At one pony in particular. High Step.