//------------------------------// // LP34: Final Exam [General] // Story: Half Hour Horses: Legacy Prompts // by HoofAndQuill //------------------------------// The Prompt: Finals. It was the day of her final exam. Twilight Sparkle walked though the halls of Canterlot Castle, with a slowly growing panic in her heart. She had her final exam today, she knew that, and she knew it was with Princess Celestia, of course. But for some reason she didn't know exactly where they were to meet. Sometimes they had lessons in Princess Celestia's private study, other times it was in the magical containment room. Some of their exams were in old, disused ballrooms or even in the throne room during busy times. The study. That's where she should go first. But... where was she now? Twilight Sparkle couldn't help but trot a bit faster as she searched the hallways. She had just been near the throne room, so Princess Celestia's study should be right here! But there was no door, and the hallway didn't look familiar. She was already late, and even Princess Celestia's patience had its limits! Twilight broke into a gallop. Nope. Nope, not that room either. Was that, Princess Luna's room? She thought she knew all the halls of Canterlot Castle! Was this some closed wing? Was she not supposed to be here? Suddenly, the door she opened was the correct one. Inside was Princess Celestia's quiet, peaceful study. Twilight immediately felt better, and trotted her way inside. Princess Celestia looked up from her reading, and smiled at Twilight. "Good morning, Twilight Sparkle. You were quite nearly late! Oh, and what a lovely dress." "I'm sorry! I know I'm usually here earlier, but I--" A dress? Twilight looked back at herself, and was horrified to find her dress for the Grand Galloping Gala. She had come to school in clothes! Everypony knew that you weren't supposed to wear clothing to school, it was a distraction and disruptive to the learning process. "I'm sorry, I don't know how this happened!" "Well, your exam is there on the table. You have one hour from now, and I'm sure you'll do well. I have every confidence in you, my most faithful student." Twilight smiled gratefully at her mentor and teacher, and sat down at the little desk she often used for these exams. A sort of practiced calm set over her. She always felt right at home with exams and paper-writing. Sure, before the test started she was anxious, usually, but once she was at the desk she always found that she knew exactly the answers required. She signed her name at the top of the paper, and looked down the page. First question... Twilight stared at the words. It was on combining two of the types of magic. Twilight knew magic, she knew it very well. She could cast both of these types, but she knew as well as anypony that that couldn't be combined. But here, Celestia's first question was how to do so. Twilight's pencil, held in her magic, tapped the page once or twice, before she glanced down to the next question. Second question, a full accounting of the history of Equestria, beginning with the events of Hearts Warming, and ending with yesterday. That... that one might have to wait. "I did say that you may begin, Twilight." Twilight looked up to see Celestia watching her, and was suddenly aware that she had yet to write anything. How long had she been sitting here? A glance at the clock showed that she had already wasted ten minutes! Third question! 'List all of the ingredients, from scratch, for the Marzipan Mascarpone Meringue Madness.' That might take even longer than the history question! If Twilight even knew the answer, which she wasn't entirely certain she did. She could feel herself breaking into a nervous sweat as she scanned through the questions. Each one was either contradictory, or too huge, or simple but she couldn't quite remember. Had she studied? What was the test even supposed to be about? The questions were all over the place! Princess Celestia cleared her throat, and looked disapprovingly over the rim of her glasses at Twilight. Since when did Princess Celestia wear glasses? Those looked like the ones that Twilight's magic kindergarten teacher had worn, the one that had always disapproved of how Twilight knew all the answers! Suddenly, a voice cut through Twilight's surging panic, seeming to clear it all away in an instant. "I believe that is enough of that." A blue line of magic cut through the room, and Princess Celestia disappeared into mist. Twilight Sparkle spun around to see Princess Luna standing there, mane and tail flowing gently, and wearing a strangely satisifed look on her face. "Greetings, Twilight Sparkle. Put down your pencil, you have nothing to worry about." "Princess Luna? What did you do? What happened to--" Twilight Sparkle folded her ears back nervously. "... This is a dream, isn't it?" Luna smiled, and stepped forward. The room seemed to shimmer a bit around them. "It is, and how interesting that you realized that so quickly. I must admit, I have seen many school-related dreams, but so rarely are they focused on my sister." Twilight tried to fight the blush she felt creeping over her muzzle. "I... well, I don't know why I'm dreaming about this. I'm not even her student anymore." Princess Luna raised an eyebrow, in a way that made Twilight feel suddenly very foalish. "Really? You don't know why you might be dreaming about failing Celestia?" Lowering her head, with her ears still folded back, Twilight shook her head slightly. "... The Summer Sun Celebration is tomorrow." "It is. Yesterday, you saved all of Equestria. You, and your friends. You gave up the Elements of Harmony. Surely you cannot be worried about a simple performance." Twilight sighed, and looked aside. "But it's more than that. I... I've saved Equestria before. A few times. I've taken tests, and I've cast all sorts of spells. But this is my first time performing official royal duties. I know that Princess Celestia thinks that I'll be a good princess, and that I can do it, but..." Princess Luna watched Twilight as she trailed off without finishing her sentence. "Twilight, my sister has faith in you. Tomorrow is a performance, nothing more. Princess Celestia knows you, we both do. You will do well tomorrow, and I do not know that you are capable of failing my sister when she needs you." "But that's just the thing. What will happen if I do fail her? Not tomorrow, I... I guess that would just be embarrassing. But we've had so many times when we nearly failed to protect Equestria, and what if we don't make it next time?" Luna smiled at her. "You will. I know that it is new to you, but you are a princess. You are more than you once were, and you will not fail Equestria." Princess Luna paused a moment, and spoke more quietly. "My sister and I both know how you feel. Equestria is still here, thousands of moons later. Do not worry, Twilight." Twilight smiled, and nodded. She wasn't sure what it was, some power of the dream, some magic of Luna's, or just the reassurance of a pony she respected, but she did feel better. For now, anyway. "Thank you, Princess." Princess Luna nodded to her, and smiled slightly. "Trust me. My sister used to have similar dreams. Starswirl was not the most forgiving of teach- Oh, but it is nearly morning. My sister and I will see you soon, Twilight. Do not worry, you will do your part perfectly." "Wait, Starswirl the Bea-" But then Twilight Sparkle woke up, sitting bolt upright in bed. She sat there, blinking vacantly for a moment, and then smiled again as she hear Spike snoring from his little bed beside hers. Princess Luna was right. This morning would go well, she would do her big finish for the Summer Sun Celebration, and everything would be perfectly fine. As for the next time Equestria truly needed her, well, she hadn't failed so far. Besides, once she started the test, she always found that she had the answers she needed. Hopping down from her bed, Twilight used her magic to nudge her baby dragon awake, and started getting ready for her first royal duties.