//------------------------------// // Heavy Is The Head... // Story: Pony Tails // by Bluecatcinema //------------------------------// It was a quiet morning in Ponyville. Twilight had stepped out to get some essentials, and Spike was busy cleaning, leaving Starlight to relax in the castle library... if she could find it. "Really, Starlight?" She asked herself as she wandered aimlessly along the castle's corridors. "You've been living here for weeks now, and you still don't know your way around? Priceless..." As she continued walking, Starlight saw a door that she though looked familiar. "Please, be the door I'm looking for..." She whispered. To her disappointment, the library wasn't behind the door; Instead, it was Twilight's bedroom. Starlight had never actually seen it before, but judging by the neatness of everything inside, it could only be occupied by one pony. "Terrific." Starlight sighed. "Wrong turn again..." Starlight made to leave, but a glint of light caught her eye. She turned to see an object of golden framework, five pink gems topping the points: Twilight's crown. "Twilight has a crown?" Starlight mused. "Guess it makes sense, her being a Princess and all. But I've never seen her wear it." She shrugged. "Guess she's just too humble to parade around with it all the time. And to think, I once accused her of having an overblown ego..." At that moment, it truly sunk in that Starlight was the student to an honest-to-goodness Princess. She had always been aware of Twilight's position, of course, but it had somehow seemed inconsequential before, only useful in expanding her plans for equality in Equestria. Even after Twilight befriended her, Starlight rarely thought of her as more than just another pony... until now. "I never really thought about it before..." She mused. "But Twilight is a Princess, and she chose to make me her student. She chose to take on the responsibility of teaching me, along with all the other obligations she must have..." Using her magic, Starlight brought the crown nearer. "I can't imagine what that must be like." She frowned. "Having so many important duties. Spreading the magic of friendship across Equestria. helping ponies like me... It must be a burden sometimes, yet she manages to find the time to act like a normal pony, to just hang out with her friends. How does she do it? There's still so much about that mare I don't understand. Maybe if I understood her better, I'd be a better student..." She examined the crown closely. "I could ask her about herself, but... what if that makes her think I don't have what it takes? That I can't do anything without leaning on her all the time? Or worse, that I'm somehow getting obsessed with her?" She sighed. "There must be some other way..." She saw herself reflected in one of the crown's gems. "Maybe there is..." Struck by a sudden thought, Starlight pulled the crown closer, and placed it on her head. It was a crazy thought, but she felt like if she could wear the crown, just for a moment, she might just be able to get a better understanding of what Twilight's life was truly like. "Huh, it's heavier than I thought." She admitted. "Definitely going to leave a dent in my mane." She chuckled lightly. "Heh. Maybe that's the real reason Twilight doesn't wear it all the time..." Starlight stood there for a moment, crown atop her head, and felt... nothing. No grand epiphany, no deeper understand of her mentor. "So much for that idea." She tutted. "Another brilliant plan from yours truly..." In the midst of her disappointment, she glanced at herself in the bedroom mirror, and felt a surge of guilt. "What am I doing?" She sighed. "Wearing a Princess' crown? Like that's the only thing that defines Twilight... I should take this thing off. If anypony saw me like this, they'd probably call it treason..." Just then, Spike walked past the open door, sweeping the floor as he went. He spotted Starlight as he passed by. "Oh, hey, Starliiiii..." He trailed off as he saw Starlight, the crown still on her head. "Okay, this isn't what it looks like." Starlight cringed. "Isn't it?" Spike raised a scaly eyebrow. "Because it looks like you're wearing Twilight's crown." "Well, yeah..." Starlight admitted. "But it's not what you think! I just... wanted to understand how it must feel for Twilight when she's wearing this. All the duties, and responsibilities... I just wondered how she does it all. And I know it's dumb, but I thought putting on the crown might help me understand her better." "I see." Spike mused. "You're not going to tell Twilight about this, are you?" Starlight gulped. "Relax, Starlight." Spike grinned. "I think I know just what to do..." A short while later, in the map room, Starlight, still wearing the crown, sat upon Twilight's throne. "I am Princess Twilight Sparkle, and I believe that friendship is the greatest power in all Equestria!" Starlight said, doing a passable imitation of Twilight's voice. "The only things that come close are being organized and extremely well-read!" "Heh-heh." Spike chuckled. "I told you, roleplaying is the best way to walk in another pony's horseshoes... and fun, too. You really nailed her!" "Thanks, my number one assistant." Starlight beamed. "You're always such a big help. I don't know what I'd do without you." "Aw, thanks." Spike chuckled. "And, er... what do you think of that student of yours, 'Twilight'?" "Starlight Glimmer? Why, she's the best student I could ask for!" Starlight smirked. "She's such a fast learner, and-" "Ahem." Starlight and Spike turned to the direction of the sound, and found Twilight standing in the doorway, saddlebags full of groceries strapped to her sides, and a less-than-amused look on her face. An awkward silence hung in the air. "...Let's be honest, this isn't the worst thing I've done in this room." Starlight half-heartedly joked. "Would it help if I said it was his idea?" She pointed to Spike. "Thanks a lot." Spike growled. "Spike, could you take the groceries down to the kitchen?" Twilight asked, a blunt tone to her voice. "Yes, ma'am!" Spike dashed over, eager to leave the room as quickly as possible. "Thank you." Twilight smiled, passing him her saddlebags. Spike departed, leaving Twilight and Starlight alone. "I know you're still new to friendship, Starlight." Twilight declared, using her magic to pull the crown off Starlight's head and over to her. "But I didn't think I had to tell you that you shouldn't take things without asking." "I'm sorry, Twilight." Starlight got off the throne. "I didn't mean to insult you or anything. I was lost, again, and I walked into your room by accident. I saw your crown, and it helped me realise just how much of a Princess you really are." "It did?" Twilight asked. "Yeah." Starlight nodded. "You have all these responsibilities: Spreading friendship, protecting Equestria, teaching me... I just wondered how you could do all that, and still have time to act like a regular pony." "Honestly, I haven't really been a Princess that long." Twilight admitted. "I spent most of my life as a Unicorn, just like you. Guess you can chalk it up to practice." "Oh, right..." Starlight said sheepishly. "I never looked at it that way..." "If you really wanted to know, you could have just asked me about all this." Twilight pointed out. "The thought did cross my mind." Starlight admitted. "But I was worried you might think it was... silly. Or even intrusive. I didn't want to overstep any boundaries, since I am your student, and everything..." "I would never think that." Twilight assured her. "I may be your teacher, Starlight, but first and foremost, I'm your friend. You can talk to me about anything, no matter how silly you may think it is." "You mean that?" Starlight asked. "Of course." Twilight nodded. "In fact, you can consider that your friendship lesson of the day: Friends always listen to each other." "Thanks, Twilight." Starlight smiled. "And I'm sorry about the crown. Spike may have talked me into the roleplay, but I put it on myself. I really shouldn't have done that." "I think I can let it slide." Twilight shrugged. "No harm done." "Except to my mane." Starlight cringed, running a hoof through it. "That crown's heavier than it looks..." "Tell me about it." Twilight smirked. "First time I wore it, I was afraid it might squish my brain if I kept it on too long." The teacher and her student shared a hearty chuckle. "Well, I think I should get down to the library... at last." Starlight declared. "Thanks for understanding, Twilight." "No problem." Twilight smiled. Glad that things had been resolved without strife, Starlight made for the door. "By the way, nice impression." Twilight grinned. "Beats Rainbow Dash's by a mile." "Ah-heh-heh." Starlight laughed awkwardly, desperately hoping for the ground to swallow her up. When that didn't happen, she headed out into the corridor. 'Memo to self: Crowns just aren't your style, Starlight.' She thought, as she sought out her destination. 'Now, where is that library again?'