Tender is the Night
“Aren’t you nervous about today, Twilight?” Rarity asked as the friends walked around Ponyville, enjoying a great day.
Twilight sighed, “Yes. I don’t know if I like the idea, but Celestia thought it would be beneficial, to make me appear more approachable. She says it helped her and Luna when most ponies would only bow and fake smile at them.”
“It’s still five hours on that throne,” Rainbow snorted.
“I know that, but Celestia said I should choose a reasonable time so anypony that has anything on their mind could approach me without worrying they wouldn’t make it in time.”
“So this is like the day court and the night court, just,” Applejack stopped.
“The friendship court!” Pinkie chimed in.
“Yes. Thank you for helping me with this, girls.”
“It is no problem, Twilight,” Fluttershy smiled, “After all, every single one of us represents an element of harmony, so we hold the friendship court together, right?”
They all nodded as they passed the school, taking a look at the clock visible in one of the classrooms through the windows.
“Girls, we should go. The time I set is in half an hour,” Twilight said, before sighing again, “I just hope nopony expects me to know every answer. I’m just a foal compared to Celestia and Luna. My knowledge is limited.”
Applejack placed a hoof on her shoulder, “We know that you’ll be fine, Twilight. And we’ll be at your side the whole time.”
“I know, but this is something new, and I also know that Celestia will watch me,” Twilight held a hoof to her temple, “I feel like I’m on my first exam under the princess.”
“Just give your best, Princess Celestia knows you’ll try your best, I’m sure about that,” Fluttershy whispered with a small smile before blushing and adding, “Uh, I think so?”
“Thank you girls, but we should really move now. I don’t want to be late on the first court,” Twilight said and charged her horn for a quick teleport.
***
“Alright, everypony ready?” Twilight asked as she settled down on her throne.
They all nodded and the purple alicorn reached with her magic for the large double doors, opening them wide so anypony waiting could enter.
There was just one problem with that. Nopony was waiting outside the door.
“I don’t understand this. Celestia said she would spread the world that I would hold my first court. She was sure that some ponies would show up,” Twilight said, her ears drooping against her skull, “Where is everypony?”
“Ah have no idea at all,” Applejack said, “Maybe they will appear over time? Let’s just wait, we still got five hours to cover.”
“This is weird. I told really everypony about it!” Pinkie chimed in, “And I mean everypony!”
The time ran away, leaving the friends with chats and worries alone. Nopony appeared for hours. As the last hour ended, Twilight began to worry.
“Why did nopony come?” she asked loudly before hanging her head low, “Maybe I’m just not important enough. It was a dumb idea.”
“Don’t think about this, darling. Maybe word just didn’t spread around wide enough? I’m sure next time they will all come,” Rarity smiled at her while standing up, “I would love to chat some more, but it is rather late, and Sweetie Belle will be home soon. I should go home.”
“I agree. Next time will be better, Twilight,” Fluttershy smiled.
“Well, I guess we call it here for today then,” Twilight said silently, “The next court is in two weeks. Let’s hope word spreads around by then.”
“It will, ah’m sure about that,” Applejack said.
They all went to exit the castle, but not before a last hug with Twilight, “Just remember, Twilight, smile!” Pinkie said before jumping home, the rest of Twilight’s friends behind her.
“Bye girls!” Twilight smiled, waving.
She continued until they were out of sight, then her smile dropped with the closing of the castle’s doors. Twilight didn’t move a single hoof, she simply stood there, thinking about what she did wrong.
They all bow to me and are hesitant. I’m not their friend anymore, so why should they come to my friendship court?
She slowly moved up to her bedroom, not even in the mood for dinner or anything else. Before she climbed into her bed and closed her eyes, she had only one last thought as her mind wandered to Celestia and how she came up with the idea, how proud she had been of her former student.
I’m a failure.
***
Twilight’s dreams were dark and unstable. At first, everything seemed normal. She blinked as she sat on her throne, the room completely empty. The doors of her castle were wide open and inviting, but nopony was around. Even outside, everything was dull and empty.
“You are a failure, Twilight Sparkle,” Rarity said as she slowly approached the castle, climbing up the stairs, “Nopony would ever accept advice from you, so why even bother making this court?”
“She is right!” Applejack chimed in, “You’re good for nothin’. Even Rares can do better than ya do.”
Twilight shrunk back on her throne, every single word hitting her deep in her heart.
“Nopony will ever come to your court. You’re nopony, Twilight. Just a boring egghead that was lucky enough to get wings. Everypony knows that!” Rainbow Dash spat as she suddenly hovered in front of Twilight.
“You are no fun!” Pinkie glared at her, “And no fun is wrong! Twilight, why are you like that? Why does nopony love you?”
“Nopony loves you, Twilight,” Fluttershy agreed and they all turned their back at her, walking away.
“You don’t deserve our friendship. You don’t deserve to be a princess,” they all said, leaving her alone.
Twilight blinked as the tears started streaming freely, covering her coat and the ground in wet stains. In front of her eyes, she could see the throne room running over the time, days, weeks, months and years. The room slowly got darker, the crystal dull and broken. The room always remained empty.
Twilight watched as the castle of friendship fell apart, and with shock she looked at her side to see her wings disappearing before she found herself in front of Celestia, her former mentor looking anything but pleased.
“You dissapointed me, Twilight Sparkle. I gave you everything, I taught you all I knew, but for nothing.”
“Princess, please,” Twilight sobbed, but Celestia ignored her.
“You are no princess of Equestria anymore, Twilight. You failed me, everypony, but most importantly, you failed Equestria,” Celestia stopped before her horn glowed, catching Twilight in her magic, “Twilight Sparkle. You are hereby erased from Equestria and sent to Tartarus for failing to serve Equestria. May I never have to see you again.”
The princess threw her through a black portal and the world around Twilight ceased to exist.
She screamed upon falling, trying to flap wings that weren’t there anymore, shouting for help that wasn’t ever heard. Twilight had no idea how long she fell, but the impact took its time until she landed in front of Tirek, broken and chained in his cage.
“Twilight Sparkle, so does fate play its cards. Just look at you. As long as you were useful, everypony loved you. But as soon as you proved to be unimportant, to be forgotten, they got rid of you. Those so called friends betrayed you, Twilight, because you aren’t worth anything.”
Twilight tried to shield her ears while she cried loud and openly as she broke down. Tirek was right, her friends were right, Celestia was right. They were all right. She was a failure. She didn’t deserve to be a princess of Equestria, she didn’t deserve to have friends or even walk amongst them.
Every power she had left her, and she was nothing more than a broken mare on the cold ground of Tartarus. She was useless, trapped where nopony would ever rescue her. Nopony even wanted to rescue her.
“This is not true.”
Twilight shrieked slightly as something soft laid over her back. Giving her warmth and strength. Lifting her head, she looked into Luna’s eyes.
“P-princess Luna? What are you doing here?” she asked silently.
“Twilight Sparkle, how many times have we asked you to call us Luna? We are, how did Tia put it? Equals, yes!”
“No, I’m no princess anymore,” Twilight sobbed.
“Who said this?” Luna cocked her head.
“Celestia!”
“Twilight, are thee aware that you are dreaming?”
Twilight’s sobbing decreased as her mind set to work, “I am?”
“Yes, Twilight. We watched your nightmare. From everything bad you could dream, you dreamed of failure. The more pressure, the more you thought it was real, is that correct?”
Twilight nodded before sighing, “But it is true. Nopony came today, they don't need me.”
“Do you really think that?” Luna asked.
“Yes, why else should nopony come? I mean, Celestia and Pinkie spread word about it. I'm useless as a princess.”
Luna lifted her chin and glared at her, “You listen to us now! Everything you did over the last few years was incredible. You helped ponies, made friends, saved Equestria from many threats of every kind. You,” Luna stopped and looked away with a slight blush, “You saved me and helped me during Nightmare night. Everypony owes you so much, Twilight. You deserve your wings and your title.”
“But nopony came to my court.”
“Do you think Tia or I fared any better on our first court? Let me tell you a secret, Twilight. Long, long time ago, when my sister and I freed Equestria of Discord's reign, we opened ourselves to the ponies, made their life better.”
Twilight looked up and unknowingly pressed closer to the blue alicorn to not miss a single bit.
“We offered our ponies a time to come to us with their problems and questions. And so we created the day and the night court. What do you think happened?”
“They all flooded the halls to get to you?” Twilight asked.
“No,” Luna frowned, “Weeks long, our courts remained empty. Not a single pony came to them.”
Twilight was confused, “But why not?”
“Because they didn't know us. And you are experiencing the same. Most ponies don't know you, Twilight. Of course, they all know that you are a princess now, but they don't know you. Give them time,” Luna said gently.
“So all I have to do is wait?”
“Telling everypony who you are helps as well. Step down to them, make you approachable. And no,” Luna cut the question off with a smile, “A small letter telling Ponyville that you are still their friend isn't enough. Tia and I were always counted as goddess. You are experiencing the same from the ponies. They look up to you, and on some level, this will never change.”
“I was so worried. Honestly, I'm still worried. What if I am not worthy? What if I am not at-”
The rest of Twilight's sentence ended muffled as Luna suddenly pressed her lips against hers, leaving the young alicorn frozen and speechless.
“You are worthy!” Luna spoke firmly as she broke, only to chuckle a few moments later, “Oh stars, Tia feared I would break you with this. Maybe I should’ve waited?”
“I don't understand,” Twilight mumbled, her heartbeat increasing by a hundred times as she looked into Lunas eyes.
“Twilight, to me you are worth it, but more than that. To me, you are everything.”
“W-what?”
“I talked with Tia about our nightmare night, and what you did to help me. I also told her about all the other times we met. We know what you feel for us, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna spoke softly before nuzzling against Twilight.
“Why do you tell me now?” Twilight asked, “Why not earlier?”
“I was afraid. Before you ascended, I feared to ask you because I was a princess. But not because I looked down at you, no. I was afraid that this would work and I would have to watch you die of old age while I lived on.”
“I understand,” Twilight said before looking up, “I thought I could hide it better. But now I'm happy I wasn't able to.”
They both looked at each other, longing in their eyes, but in Twilight's also thankfulness. Both mares slowly leaned in until their lips met, this time in a much slower and longer kiss, one that relaxed Twilight completely.
“Thank you, for everything.”
Luna didn't say anything as she silently changed the dream. Changing it from the cold and lifeless ground of Tartarus to a moonlit hill full of fresh grass and flowers. Her wing still draped over Twilight she leaned her body further in as they both watched the beautiful display in the sky.
It was a dream they would forever remember, but not only because of the nightmare, but also because of the soulmate they found in each other.