Twilight's met her match, a tome so dense and arcane that even her considerable intellect couldn't penetrate it. Just before she gave up in a tizzy, Starlight suggested a pony that could help; a good friend, Sunburst.
Twilight's met her match, a tome so dense and arcane that even her considerable intellect couldn't penetrate it. Just before she gave up in a tizzy, Starlight suggested a pony that could help; a good friend, Sunburst.
Twilight sank to her haunches, a hoof rising to meet her face just as her face sank to greet it. A weary groan escaped her. She had lost all control, these actions seemingly happening to her rather than being things she decided to do. "How can this book be so... dense?"
Spike hiked a brow as he looked up from his comic. "Mmm? Are you still reading the same one?"
She glared at him in a sudden fit of anger. "Yes. Yes I am reading the same one. That is what a pony does when they're trying to understand something." She tapped at the book with increasing ire. "But this book doesn't want to be understood! It was written by a pony that clearly prayed that nopony else would ever understand what she wrote!"
Spike set his comic aside gently before he hopped up to his feet. "Twilight, as your trusted assistant and friend--"
"I am not overreacting," blurted Twilight, her wings popping open in defense before Spike could even finish.
Spike held up one finger. "You need something to drink." He turned away. "I'll get something. You wait here, and no reading until I get back."
Twilight watched him walk off before she slumped down, falling face-first into the tome that defied her, moaning into its uncaring pages. "Maybe a drink is a good idea..." She sat up, laughing at herself. Spike was not going to bring her that kind of drink. Maybe a calming herbal tea? That didn't sound too awful about then either.
Starlight poked her nose into the room. "Wow, that bad, huh?" The rest of her followed as she trotted towards the frazzled Twilight with a concerned look. "What are you reading anyway?"
"A thesis on arcane distribution along the alicorn and the effects of maturation environmental and historical contributions." She tapped at the rebelling book. "I want to know more why some unicorns have a lot of energy to spare, while others struggle to even make a dim light."
Starlight gave a thoughtful mmm. "Sounds deep." Her eyes flicked to the door as Spike returned, a teacup balanced on a little tray. "Hey Spike. She looks even worse than you suggested."
Spike hiked a brow at Starlight. "Told ya, but saying that where she can hear you isn't all that nice."
Twilight's horn lit up as she took hold of the teacup, setting it down on the book next to the book that defied her. "She starts with anecdotal data but intersperses it with concrete facts when she isn't going off on wild tangents." She threw a hoof at it in obvious frustration. "This when she isn't writing in a horrible mix of modern and old ponish! And don't even get me started on the meat of it! I swear, she may have been a genius, but she made zero effort to be understood."
Spike folded the tray under an arm. "Shame you don't have any magic researching friends to help ya out."
Starlight put a hoof on Spike's shoulder in a firm slap. "Spike, you wonderful genius! She does have one of those."
"I do?" Twilight sat up, hope glimmering in her eyes. "Where are they hiding?"
Spike smiled awkwardly. "Oh, uh..." He was on the spot. He started mentally filing through Twilight's impressive list of friends. "Well, let's see... Moon Dancer?"
Starlight shook a hoof at him. "I mean, yeah, maybe, but no! Sunburst! You two are already good study buddies, right?"
Twilight let her head tip to the side slightly. "I mean, yes. We have engaged in study before, successfully at that. Isn't he busy being my sister-in-law's crystaller?"
Spike snorted at that. "That title? Pretty sure he already fulfilled most of what it came with. At this point, Cadence and Shining are just keeping him around because he can foalsit sometimes."
Starlight rolled her eyes. "He's not entirely wrong. If you invited him over, I'm sure he'd hop on a train and be here in a jiff. I'll send him a letter right now." She vanished with a pop and no warning.
Twilight peered at the spot that had contained her friend and student. "She really has to stop acting before we finish talking."
Spike smiled at Twilight. "Entirely unlike other unicorns, huh?"
Twilight stuck out her tongue as her eyes rolled. "Point taken, I've done my share of hasty actions. Oh well, maybe Sunburst can shed some light on this."
"Like a sunburst?" suggested Spike with a grin.
Twilight threw a small pillow at him, sending it hurtling to bump off his head. "That was awful and you know it." She sipped from the tea he had brought. "Mmm, this is very nice, thank you. You know, I think I'll take a break from this. I should get some test grading out of the way. This book will be here when Sunburst arrives."
Several days later, Twilight, Spike, and Starlight watched a train pull up into the station. Ponies departed it, more than a few being crystal ponies from the frozen kingdom of their origin. Only one of them wore a specific cape that set him apart. "Princess, Starlight, Spike. It's good to see you all," greeted Sunburst as he pulled a suitcase along with his teeth.
Starlight grabbed the suitcase away in her magic, lifting it into the air. "Sunburst, welcome back to Ponyville!"
Spike offered a quiet fist and it was met with a hoof, the two males acknowledging one another without overt fanfare.
Twilight nodded to the visitor. "Welcome. Boy have I got a brain teaser for you." She half turned away. "I'll be glad to have a second pair of eyes on it."
Sunburst fell in with the others, half an eye on his floating luggage. "Nice to be here. What sort of 'brain teaser' do you have in mind, Princess? Starlight said it was some kind of research book?"
"That's hardly describing it," scoffed Twilight. "This thing is a warped view into a lost and dim past, led with care by someone with no concept of how anypony other than herself thinks!" Her mane frizzed as she walked, just thinking about the impenetrable tome that had vexed her so. "The subject matter may be of personal interest, come to think of it."
Starlight answered Sunburst's question before he could ask it, "It's about why some unicorns have so much more magic than others." When Sunburst sagged a little, she nudged him. "That's not a poke at you, Sunburst. Your amazing talent is why you're here, not any handicap. Besides, who knows, maybe you two can figure out a cure for unicorns with this, uh, issue."
Sunburst coughed softly into a hoof, the other three carrying him forward. "Yes, well, um, who did you say the author was?"
"You probably haven't heard of her." Twilight nodded to a few other ponies they passed. "She was obscure even when she was around. Miss Periwinkle Shine?"
Sunburst's ears perked right up. "I've read a few of her works. She does have a particular way of going about things." He nodded with seeming understanding. "The key is--"
Twilight spun on him. "You know how to read her book?!"
Sunburst shrank back a step. "I, um, yes? I've had to go through a few of her works in the past in search of things. Smart mare, sharp enough to get a papercut on, but her way of documentation is very particular."
Twilight grabbed Sunburst, a hoof on either of his cheeks, holding his face still. "You magnificent stallion!" She released him and cantered merilly up towards the castle, leaving Sunburst to crash to his haunches.
Spike snickered softly. "Well, you just got points with Twilight."
Starlight covered her mouth, lest her own amusement be too obvious. "She gets excited easily when it comes to learning new things." Her magic wrapped around him, lifting him back to his hooves. "You'd better catch up with her before she loses a few bolts waiting for you."
Sunburst shook his head in a violent motion. "I'm glad to help, really. She's been a friend of yours longer than mine--" He turned to Starlight fully, a nervous look on his face. "--Is there an etiquette to this? I mean, last time we were trying to save the world. This doesn't seem like the same kind of thing."
Spike hiked a brow at the suddenly nervous stallion. "You'll be reading a book, not dating her."
Sunburst colored deep and swiftly at the mere mention of the word. "O-oh! Um... yes..."
Starlight threw an arm over Sunburst, pulling him close. "Look, Sun, relax. Twilight just wants some help with her research, and you have the skills she needs. Don't stress it out past that."
"Right, of course." He adjusted his glasses, pushing them back up his nose from where they had slid down in the excitement. "Of course. Why would she... want anything other than that." He smiled awkwardly at Starlight. "Besides, I already have a mare friend and I don't want her being upset."
Starlight hiked a brow. "I am not your marefriend, Sunburst."
Sunburst's mouth worked silently a moment before a goofy grin spread. "Oh! No no no! Not 'Marefriend', one word. Mare friend, two words. A friend who is a mare. Just as I am a friend who is a stallion."
"And I'm a dragon friend?" offered Spike sceptically.
"Exactly." Sunburst bobbed his head quickly.
Starlight set his suitcase beside him. "Go on, she's waiting for you."
Sunburst grabbed the handle in his teeth. "Right, uh, see you later?" He advanced on the castle, pulling his suitcase along awkwardly.
Spike raised a brow at Starlight. "That wasn't very nice. I mean, it's not like we have anywhere else to go."
"Says you, dragon friend." Starlight nudged him, then pointed into town. "Let's get a treat, on me."
Spike quickly forgot about Sunburst. "Well, if you're treating, alright then. Sugarcube Corner?"
"Sounds like a date." She led the dragon into the town proper, away from old childhood friends and their careless tongues.
On the path to the castle, Sunburst arrived at the door with one last pull of his suitcase. "Why did I bring so much?" he lamented to himself quietly before raising a hoof and knocking on the great doors to the castle/tower. "Twilight? Princess Sparkle?"
With a loud pop, Twilight appeared just to the right of him. "I was wondering if you got lost, but then, you've been here before, I remember that." She plucked his luggage up in her magic. "Let's go!"
Sunburst smiled awkwardly, a hoof pawing at his beard. "I don't suppose I could have a drink before we begin?"
"Oh, how careless of me. Please--" She gestured inside frantically. "--go inside, make yourself comfortable. I'll get some refreshments, then we can start!" She vanished, taking his luggage along with her.
Sunburst looked to the spot that once held Twilight. Was there an answer that would let him do such spells? It wasn't that he didn't know the spell. He knew a fair few varieties of teleportation and transportation sorceries, but knowing them and being able to cast them were not the same thing.
He had gotten fairly used to... the way he was. Twilight had even reminded him that his knowledge was a keenly wanted commodity. A pony that knew how to research and could dedicate information to memory had their uses, even if they didn't cast any spells. "Even an earth pony could find a use in a magic school," he murmured to himself as he ascended towards the castle. "But I'm not an earth pony..." He tried his best to dismiss the negative thoughts. He was there to help Twilight, and he hoped to do just that.
He would not run away, as he had once before. He would stay and fight, and even if whatever they found was no use to him at all, he could help other ponies, maybe. If some other colt could avoid what he had, wouldn't that be enough?
Sunburst set his luggage aside just inside the castle, done with dragging it around.
"Hey."
Sunburst turned to see Spike waving at him. "Oh, hello Spike. How are you?"
He lifted his shoulders before pointing at the bag. "I'm doing alright. Need a hand with that? You're staying with us for now, right?"
"Exactly right," agreed Sunburst with a smile. "Do you know where I'll be staying?"
Spike hiked a thumb at himself. "Who do you think cleaned up the room? Don't worry, I'll take care of this." He hopped up and came down with the handle in his hand. "This'll be waiting for you." And off he went, jogging away with the luggage squeaking softly behind him.
Assistant dragons were... almost... as good as magic. Not that he had one of those, or knew many ponies that did, except for the one example that had just fled. Twilight had all three, an extensive knowledge of magic, heaps of practical skill in the art, and a dragon assistant. It was almost enough to be jealous over.
Sunburst smiled as he walked further into the castle. Not him. He was perfectly alright just the way he was. He wasn't like his mother, who always wanted just a little more, especially for him. He shook those thoughts out of his head. "Twilight?" he called out, looking for her.
"In here," replied a female voice. He followed it with a quick clip-clop of hooves to see her setting a table with some fine white teacups and a tray of little brown cookies. "There you are." She was smiling quite happily, or was that anticipation? "Come on in and help yourself. Did I hear Spike?"
Sunburst quickly nodded as he closed the distance. He could see the kitchen, decorated to look like a homey place despite the austere crystals that framed everything. A lot of the castle had little touches, trying to lift the spirits of what could easily be an intimidating place. "He took my bags to my room, which I don't know the location of." He took up a cookie in his magic. He could lift and move things around, thank Celestia. He had that much magic. He had magic... He just...
He shook his head, trying to free himself of those nagging thoughts. "Smells great," he complimented. It wasn't hard, it did smell good, and tasted even better.
Twilight magically lifted a cookie of her own and dipped it in her teacup before bringing the sweet and damp thing into her snout to chew on a moment. "Mmm, Spike outdid himself." When Sunburst perked an ear, she continued, "he baked the cookies. He's a whiz around the kitchen." With sudden defensiveness, she put a hoof at her chest. "Not that I'm a slouch! I can bake a mean cookie, but he was already doing it..."
Sunburst smiled easily. "What method do you prefer?" It was Twilight's turn to look confused, so he continued, "there are very different schools to baking." He pointed a hoof at his teacup even as he brought his cookie over to dip into it. "Cross-reference with tea-preparation and it can become quite a field of study in getting them to harmonize correctly." He got some of the combination to his muzzle and chomped off a piece. "Mmm, not bad at all."
Twilight sat up in place, eyeing her cookie and her teacup a moment. "I hadn't thought of that before... You really do know a lot." She chomped the last bit of her cookie and gulped down her tea. "Which is exactly why I'm glad you visited. We'll have that book cracked in no time at all."
Sunburst felt his cheeks warming a little. Being complimented was always a heady mix of embarrassment and nice. "It'll be a pleasure." He gobbled up the remainder of the cookie held in his magic. "Where's the book hiding?" He had the impression Twilight was eager to begin, so he guzzled--He spat out his tea in a sudden spray. It was much hotter than he had thought without a moment spent soaking into the cookie and moving through the air.
Twilight blinked dumbly, dotted with flecks of what Sunburst had sprayed. "Take your time," she assured as a napkin popped into existence and worked itself over her face, cleaning her as it glowed with her magic. "I didn't mean to hurry you. I'm just excited! And who wouldn't be? I've been working on this for over a week with almost no progress." She brought her forehooves together in a joyful clop, the spray already forgotten. "And you'll have us through it in no time, I just know it!"
Sunburst set his teacup down before grabbing a napkin off the table and dabbing himself dry. "Sorry, yes! I can't promise it'll be instant, mind. You were correct when you said her work can be... cryptic, but there is a logic to the madness."
Twilight rolled her eyes. "Why write it down if you aren't going to be understood?"
Sunburst rolled a hoof. "Part of it has to do with linguistic shifts. I'm certain her work was more understandable by ponies of her own time. Philosophical drift also plays a part. She literally did not think the same way we did. I wouldn't hold it against her." The same hoof lowered to run over his beard. "Despite that, I think at least some of it can be contributed to a genuine desire for those that learn from her 'earn' it in some capacity. Have you read her journals?"
Twilight scoffed openly. "Earn it? Isn't study, practice, and application enough to 'earn' knowledge?" Her eyes rolled dramatically before settling on Sunburst. "Still, no. I don't read personal journals very often." Unless they were written by Star Swirl, she silently added. "Were they any good?"
"Fascinating!" gushed Sunburst. "She really had a unique way of viewing the world." He stood up, the cloth of his cloak flowing around him in the motion. "Shall we begin?"
Twilight pointed at the abandoned teacup. "Not thirsty anymore?"
He snatched it up and drank it down, pointedly ignoring the heat. It wasn't nearly as bad as the first time, and soon the tea was gone, vanished into his belly. "All set."
Twilight began to lead the way, allowing Sunburst to follow behind her. His eyes rested on her rump and tail, little else to see. She was a big pony. Becoming an alicorn did that. He had read a few documents on the process. The transition brought about many little changes in the ascended pony. It was only then that he realized he was staring at Twilight's back end and he looked away. It was silly. Most ponies were quite nude. There was nothing to be embarrassed about. Still, he was covered up more often than not, and staring at a princess' bottom felt wrong, especially while considering her anatomical state. "So, um... are you... still growing?"
Twilight looked over her shoulder at Sunburst. "Still grow--Oh! I think I've already experienced whatever growth spurt there was to experience. That isn't to say I couldn't undergo future development, but it appears to have ceased for now." She ascended the winding stairs. "The book is on the third floor," she reported as she went.
Sunburst's thoughts had derailed, considering Twilight's body. "Does it bother you, being perfectly eye to eye with most stallions?" He ran right into Twilight's bottom as she stopped dead in her tracks.
Twilight spun back on him, their snouts almost crashing together with the proximity. "I haven't gotten that large! I'm as large as... you."
The tension built between them as Sunburst raised a hoof behind his head, awkwardly rubbing at his frazzled mane. "O-oh, sorry. I... It's nice?"
Twilight colored faintly before turning back around and resuming her trek up the stairs. "How long do you think it'll take to crack the code of this book?"
She was pretending it never happened. It was, perhaps, the wisest course. Sunburst was not a wise pony. He had messed up and it ate at him. "I really didn't mean that as a bad thing... You're quite, um..."
"Quite what?" Twilight turned an ear back at him, but kept going, her head stiffly stuck forward.
"Quite..." He bit his bottom lip. "I'm sorry, I'm not any good at this. As mares go, you have an ideal anatomical balance, free of disfigurements or imperfections. I just wish I was as good an example of the pony stallion."
Twilight waved the thought away, her head still stuck facing forward. "I wouldn't worry about it. You seem fairly 'free of imperfections' too, Sunburst, though you could stand to learn how to care for your mane."
Sunburst colored dark. Her disparaging comment about his mane was entirely lost. He was free of imperfections?! That was great! He coughed softly. "So! About that book! Depending on its length, it could take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. How many pages is it?"
Twilight's neck almost popped as she dared to stop being stuck looking forward. "About two thousand pages."
Sunburst's jaw dropped. "That many?! Oh, wow... We'll be working on this a while then." He hurried to be beside her, sharing space as they ascended the stairs. "That's larger than any other book of hers I've analyzed. I'm excited to get started."
Twilight smiled, back in her element. "Now you know how I'm feeling. Let's do it."
They rushed up to the small reading room that held the book. There it was, a mighty tome, resting on a round table. It had a celestial theme, with stars sparkling across its cover and a big sun rising over them in clear defiance of how night and day worked. There was no moon.
Sunburst approached quickly, raising a hoof to run reverently over the cover. "Raised imprinting, very nice." His eyes trailed over the cover and its title. "Quite a mouthful, isn't it?" He quirked a smile as he tilted his head to peek at the spine. There was the moon, shining across the wide span of the book from the center of it. "Our first clue."
Twilight's wings shot out. "Already?! Where?"
Sunburst pointed at the moon. "The arrangement of celestial bodies implies a particular pattern for debate and explanation. The fact that the sun and stars are together means there will be a specific examination of what is not normally seen together, but are. The moon being excluded, but still present, especially to the side like that, suggests an impartial third party." His smile grew as he got into the analysis. "But the moon is not impartial to the sun or the stars. It is a false judge, biased. We have to bear that in mind as we read if we are to get into the mindset she was in when she wrote this."
Twilight thumped down to her haunches, gawking at Sunburst and the book. "You figured that out in under a minute?!" She flipped the book open gently and carefully, even bringing over a small box to support the page. The book was so massive that simply opening to the first page could have damaged it without the help. "Keep going! Please."
Sunburst sat down beside the table and began reading. While he did, he mumbled snatches of the words.
To Twilight, it was maddening. The book was written in such an odd dialect, she had read at a snail's pace, and there was Sunburst, burning through it. How had he gotten such amazing research skills?! "It sure is... an odd way of writing, isn't it?"
"Hm?" Sunburst looked up from his reading, taking a moment to remember Twilight was even there. "Oh! Yes, very fascinating, but also very much her style." He waved at the book. "I'm almost ashamed I managed to miss her biggest piece of work! Where did you even find this?"
Twilight burst into a smile. If nothing else, she was good at finding valuable pieces of the past. "Well, you see..."
"I was visiting Baltimare," she began. "Other business had me there, concluded successfully. Since I was there, I decided to at least poke my nose into a few interesting shops before I came home." She waved a hoof around as if looking with it. "And that's when I saw it. In a bookstore, in the back. The owner had given up selling it, and it just sat there, dusty and forgotten."
Sunburst began clapping eagerly at the tale. "What a find! Did you snap it up?"
"Not right away," she admitted, putting a hoof gently on the book. "I didn't know what it was either, yet, but I had a good feeling. You're more familiar with the author, but I didn't have that advantage. In the end, the title promised answers, and the text defied them, and the challenge of it is what won me over."
"And I'm glad it did." Sunburst nodded towards the massive tome. "What a find," he sighed out, eyes closing a little. "You're quite the antiquer." He patted the book gently. "Now, um..." He gingerly peeked at the next page, only to release his magic and let it flutter back down. "We have reading to do. If this follows her usual pattern, which it may not, given its size, we should pay attention to the change of flow between pages. Left and right are not the same."
Twilight leaned over the words, peering with a bit of wonder. "Why would--"
"Ours is not the question why, in this case." He raised a hoof and booped her nose gently. "She did it, and she isn't here to ask the why of it. It's just up to us to decipher it. She enjoyed a good debate so much, she often debated with herself in her writing. The two sides will argue the opposing sides of any issue, attempting to give perfectly reasonable and credible logic to support their side."
Twilight rubbed her booped nose lightly. "That explains some of what I read. I... was starting to think the writer was just insane, and that may yet be the case, but..."
"But she isn't, er, wasn't. She had a razor sharp intellect." His eyes swept over the letters, reading them voraciously. "So... what made you interested in the, uh, topic?"
Twilight leaned in, brushing against Sunburst in order to have a good reading vantage. "Oh, well..." She smiled widely, cheeks squeaking. "Scholarly interest?"
Sunburst glanced towards her. "You saw a challenge and couldn't refuse."
"Basically."
Sunburst laughed nervously. "O-of course." Why would the princess be personally interested in that subject? Neither her nor any of her close friends suffered that issue. "And what a challenge this is," he said to smooth away the awkwardness. "Besides, there's a good chance she never fully figured it out."
"Or she might have," argued Twilight. "If she found it and decided Equestria could only have it when it 'earned' that knowledge, putting it in her hugest book ever sounds like exactly what this mare would do, from what you've told me."
Sunburst's glasses fell down along his snout as he sat up, regarding Twilight. "That... might be the case." Hope dared to reignite in a small ember in his chest. "Let's get through this introductory chapter first, and no, we shouldn't skip it. It sets the tone."
Talk ebbed away as they both absorbed the page. They compared their thoughts on it, even as Twilight looked a little flustered. "We've only just begun, do we need to analyze every page?"
"Every one," assured Sunburst. "Just the way she writes. On the positive, if we take meticulous enough notes--" His words were cut off as Twilight's papers floated around where he could see them easier. She had not been slouching. "Just like that. Nopony else will have to. We're trailblazers, burning a path forward into knowledge for others to follow."
It was Twilight's turn to clop her hooves. "You make that sound much more appealing. Yes, let's be the brave first explorers, even if it's harder and slower than anycreature else will ever have to deal with. They'll walk down the path we left behind. I wonder if they'll think of us?" She waved it away. "It doesn't matter. We'll be doing our part." She reached for the book, but her magic did the actual lifting, very gently turning the page. "Thank you, for coming so quickly. I feel like we can do this."
A knock from the door of the room they were in had both of their heads snapping to see Spike standing there. "Hey, uh, dinner's ready, if you can peel yourselves away for a moment."
Twilight's eyes went wide. "Dinner? Already?! How long have we been reading that first page?!"
Sunburst rose to his hooves and stretched, working out the kinks that had formed from sitting still for so long. "Thanks, Spike. What are we having?"
Spike grinned. "Enchiladas." He watched Twilight's expression fall to potential horror. "Without cheese," he added, pointing at her. Even as she sagged with relief he turned away. "Right this way. You can't keep thinking without fuel."
Twilight nodded softly. "Yes, right. Thank you. Right this way, Sunburst." She fell in behind Spike and soon all three were on the way to the dining room.
Spike raced ahead at the last moment, hopping up onto the table in a spritely display. "Behold." He lifted the metal lid of the platter, revealing the orderly stack of enchiladas, awaiting devouring. "But wait, there's more." With a foot, he yanked off another lid, and his tail grabbed a third, revealing sides to go with it.
Sunburst sank into a chair with a smile. "This is more than I usually prepare for dinner."
Spike set the lids in a pile to the side. "What do you usually have?" He hiked a brow, remembering what Sunburt's home looked like. "Do you usually have dinner?"
Sunburst started to color rapidly. "I, well, sometimes?"
Twilight's glow wrapped around one of the wrapped treats and lifted it quickly over to the plate in front of Sunburst. "Well, we won't be having that. You're my study assistant, and that means you're being fed."
Spike grinned as he speared one for himself. "And if she forgets, I'll be here. Bunch of bookworms get lost in your tomes and lose all track of time." He sank his teeth into the soft tastiness. "Mmm, that's what I'm here for, so ponies don't come to visit one day and find Twilight's skeleton draped over one of her favorite books."
Twilight colored as she sat up. "Spike! That isn't funny." She glanced left and right before taking a sharing of all the offering for herself, assembling it on her plate. "I don't get... that distracted."
Spike leaned over towards Sunburst, whispering, "Usually."
"I heard that."
Spike giggled as he got into eating voraciously. "So, learn anything yet?"
Sunburst shook his head. "We've only just taken the first step."
"Wow, that slow?" Spike grabbed a shaker and rattled it, releasing not salt or pepper, but a light dusting of sapphires over his food. "You two'll be at it forever at that rate. May as well just move in."
That blush was proving contagious, leaping from pony to pony without pity or mercy. "O-oh, um... Will I be staying here while we work on this?" He looked to Twilight, uncertain. "I could get a room in town, if you prefer?"
Twilight was quick to wave a hoof dismissively. "Nonsense. I have this huge castle and most of the rooms are empty. Besides, we already prepared a room for you."
"Correction, I prepared a room for you." Spike grinned at Sunburst. "So you never have to be far away."
"Are the enchiladas done?" Starlight entered the dining room with a smile, which tempered a little, seeing who was already at the table. "Oh, hey... how's the studying going?" She hopped up into a chair and got her own share of the food. "Unlock the mysteries of the universe already?"
Spike stuck out his tongue, wings flapping in a fidget. "They managed to read the first page, Ooo."
Starlight blinked at that. "Wow, that thick? No wonder you called Sunburst."
Twilight shook her head quickly. "We were just getting started. I feel certain that our speed will increase as we grow accustomed to the work. That isn't to say Sunburst hasn't already proven himself, because he has. Thank you, Sunburst."
Sunburst smiled awkwardly. "I'm just as interested in deciphering that book, I assure you."
Starlight leaned in a little. "Well, all work and no play makes a dull pony. Why don't we take a little break from that dusty old thing? It's not going anywhere. We could... play a little board game?"
Sunburst's smile changed a little, gazing at Starlight like a loved, but bothersome, sister. "We're just getting into the tempo of it."
Twilight was fast to bob her head. "Now that we've made the first real dent in this project, I can't imagine pulling myself away from it so quickly."
Even as Starlight sank, her head against a hoof, Spike raised a fork of speared veggies at her. "Hey, I'm up for a little board game."
The two studious ponies finished devouring the food needed to sustain their mighty minds and dashed back to the book with all the giddiness of foals on Hearth's Warming day. Sunburst plopped down before the open tome, nodding to it. "And now we proceed."
"I find it fascinating that she seems to be somewhat misandrist." Twilight wobbled a hoof at the book. "We've scarcely begun, but it does seem clear. With the exception of Star Swirl, who she regarded as having 'The capacity of a mare'."
Sunburst rubbed at a cheek lightly, covering any coloration it might have had. "Those were different times. These days, a pony is measured by their talent and skill, not by their... You know."
"Despite that, if she thought stallions were inherently weaker magic users, her findings may even focus on them for her research on why a given pony may have weaker access to magic without obvious horn defects." Her eyes were on the second page, reading slowly. "What does this mean?"
Sunburst jumped, eyes darting to where Twilight was pointing. "Oh, hmm.." He turned back to the first page, then back again to the second, eyes scanning rapidly. "I think she's referring to something she hasn't yet brought up. Take a note of that to return to later." Sunburst sat back with a sigh, smiling. "She didn't have an editor, not that such a profession was really a 'thing' yet, so her thoughts don't always come down in the right order to make it easy for someone trying to absorb what she wrote."
Twilight huffed softly. "Or, she did this on purpose, to make sure ponies 'earned' it." She made a little scoff of a noise. "Remind me to not do that when I write my memoirs, alright?"
"Alright." Sunburst put a hoof behind his head, his eyes still on the page. "I... doubt you'll have a problem."
"Mmm?"
"I'm sure what you write will be perfectly understandable. I've, uh, already... read some of it. It was... very..." His blush had reached critical levels, muddying his ability to speak. "Very... eloquent! Precise. It's..." He dared to peek up.
Twilight was looking directly at him, which made him freeze. She smiled a little and put a hoof on his cheek. "Thanks. Don't be so nervous though. I promise, I'm not quizzing you on this." She turned her attention back on the book. "Let's do this."
The second page collapsed under their combined mental power in only two hours, a distinct upgrade from the first page. Still, it was only one more page. With such a massive book, neither was fooled into thinking any real knowledge had been obtained yet. Still, they were getting the hang of it. They decided to go for one more page for the night, crushing the third page in only an hour, and finding a hint, but not the meat, of what had confused Twilight on the page before.
"It's fascinating..." Twilight stood up. "You're right, each page seems to argue the one before it. She takes both sides of the debate with equal passion. Tomorrow, we'll see if we can't go faster still. I want to get to page 20 at the minimum."
Sunburst ran a hoof through his frazzled mane. "Challenge accepted. We can, um, do this." He hopped up to his hooves. "Thank you, for inviting me."
Starlight tugged gently on the string, her eyes cast skywards. "So, you see, even when things seem against you..." She leaned her entire body as she adjusted the string in her arcane grip. "It only makes you go higher. That's part of the magic of kites."
Maud nodded in a shallow motion, her eyes with Starlight's, watching the kite dance above them. "Is that why you're flying now?" she asked in her usual monotone.
"Technically," added her boyfriend. "She isn't flying."
Starlight glanced aside at the new socially awkward pony for just a moment before looking back to the sky. He didn't need to be agreed with, or argued against. He just liked offering clarity. He meant nothing by it. This was a fact she reminded herself of often when he was around. "I'm flying... a kite... right now because..."
Mudbriar nodded softly. "You're jealous."
"W-what?" Her kite veered off, carried on a stray breeze. She should have corrected it, but it came back to the earth, landing a few feet away from all three of them. "Why would you say that?!"
Inside the castle that towered over them, two ponies sat side-by-side. Twilight looked a little frizzled, caught up in the research. It was harder to see in Sunburst, as that was his natural appearance. He tapped energetically at a passage in the book. "This is a reference to the argument on page 12. "Like a dam comprised only of loose sticks."
Twilight bobbed her head in quick agreement. "A strong enough current would carry it away, but how would you do that when the current is the issue in the first place?"
Sunburst's hoof traveled to the opposing page. "And should you? Floods are classically a force of terrible destruction, and overflowing a river is a sure way to cause one."
Twilight's hoof came down on Sunburst's, pinning his as she looked at him pointedly. "That is why," she argued. "It must be done with care and a gentle touch."
Sunburst colored suddenly, thinking of things outside the realm of decoding the arcane text. "O-oh, um... Well, I mean... I trust you?"
Twilight smiled at that. "Thank you, I appreciate that confidence, but I don't think we're ready to try this... yet."
"Lunch!" announced a sudden new voice as Spike skipped into the room with a tray of small sandwiches displayed. "You two need fuel to keep those big brains of yours pumping."
Sunburst leaned back, his blush growing more intense with witnesses. "Hey, Spike!" He tried to draw his hoof back, but Twilight still had her hoof down on his, pinning him beneath her wonderful touch. "Um, thank you." He only remembered then that he had a horn and snagged one of the offered snacks in his magic.
Twilight released him suddenly, reaching for one of her own as her magic scooped it up and brought it closer. "You're a lifesaver. Can you get us some tea? I feel like we're really getting into the rhythm of things now."
Spike set the tray down on a small table for the two to reach when they wanted more. "Yeah sure. Got it figured out then? You're looking less stressed today."
Twilight wrapped an arm around Spike, hoof snagged around him. "You have no idea! I was beginning to sincerely dislike this author, but then came Sunburst." She waved her free hoof in his direction. "Like a golden ray from the sun itself, he parted the clouds of ignorance and showed me the wonders laid out in front of me."
Sunburst decided eating his sandwich was suddenly the most important thing he could do, as if he could hide his shame in his chewing. Then it suddenly clicked. "You're quoting her from page 8!"
Twilight grinned impishly. "I had a feeling you'd notice."
Spike rolled his eyes with an understanding smile. "You two are really something. I'm glad it's working out though, really. I'll be back with the tea." He flapped out of the room, narrowly avoiding clipping his wings on the doors. Flying was still an art to be mastered.
Twilight swallowed the last of her little tidbit and slid in closer to Sunburst. "Shall we at least attempt a survey?"
"Hmm?"
"Just looking, no touching." She reached up and touched her horn. "You examine mine, and I'll examine yours." She reached and gently poked his horn. "We'll compare the differences. If there's an obvious blockage, that will be a clue."
Sunburst was ignorant of the salacious implications there, his mind on something else. "Of course! We'll use the Internal Matrix Visualizer spell!" With a glowing horn, he grabbed a book from Twilight's shelves and yanked it over. It flopped open right to the correct page. "Here. Then what we feel will be written down, giving us a visual map."
Twilight's eyes wandered over the arcane instructions. "Mmm. I haven't cast this one before... I gather you're already familiar with it? Let me read it while you go first." She pulled the book closer, reading back and forth over the steps in the spell. "It doesn't look too complex..."
Sunburst did know the spell, and it wasn't entirely beyond his means, though it rested right on the edge of what was. "I'll do my best," he promised, closing his eyes. The only eyes he would need would be the glow of his magic, dim as it was compared to Twilight's. He reached for her horn, hesitating a moment. There he was, casually touching Twilight's horn, the source of her power, symbol of what made her the amazing wizard she was. It was a part she surely treasured and held dear, and she was letting him casually inspect it with his magic.
He shook away those thoughts as he flailed about the room a moment, finding a paper and holding it in his arcane grip. He needed something for the impressions to go onto. "Ready." Only a soft noise of approval came in reply. He felt around her horn carefully. It was a long and slender spire. He could feel the rising ridges, meant to carry magic as a force up from the mind of the unicorn. It was pointed and sharp, as befit a princess. It was larger than his, but only by a little.
The sounds of his discoveries was like a scratching quill, the magic echoing what he felt with his grasping.
"That tickles," giggled Twilight. "I'll try to be still."
Sunburst could feel his cheeks warm. He was casually caressing Twilight in places that could make her laugh, and he hadn't even gone where he needed to, yet. It was time. He gently seeped into the very end of her horn, where the most powerful of magics would need to escape from, and where his weak magic entered timidly. The structure inside felt complex, but... also very purposeful. Internal spirals and helixes served as conduit channels that allowed Twilight to perform her amazing tricks and sorceries with such ease.
Twilight's voice came through his efforts, "I never knew my insides looked exactly like... that." Was she watching what was being drawn as it happened? "Fascinating... Is it alright if I start doing yours now?"
Sunburst tensed. It was time for her to press as intimately as he had done, and was still doing, to her. "S-sure!" He tried to smile. It was no big deal, right? They were working for the betterment of Equestria and its ponies. It was no time to be shy. "Examination while focusing power may yield additional clues."
Then he felt it. She was performing magic, the imaging spell specifically. He could feel her lovely lavender surround his own magic and rush past it, but it never 'left', it was a constant stream. He was bathing in her power, and it was so smooth and pure. He could feel which paths she was using, and which were left dry. He could feel the mechanisms in the horn working gently to help keep things moving in the right direction, but perhaps there was more to be seen?
He pressed further down, carefully, slowly, reaching the root of her horn. He was getting close to her precious brain, where the wonders of her sharp intellect were born. He could hear the scribing going on, following his journey as he went. There was an end. There had to be. In one direction, power, staggering power. It was the reservoir that held her magic ready for use. He dared not approach any closer than he already had. Even the slightest intrusion in that place with foreign magic could have caused her body to react poorly. In the other direction, the softer flesh that made up her brain, as well as the more organic parts that allowed her to minutely control and direct the energy before it reached her horn and its stiffer controls.
She was inside him. He could feel her magic in his horn, exploring and bouncing around. It was... amazing, and distracting. Had she ignored his presence so well when he had done that? He had never felt so vulnerable before. With a casual twist, she could destroy his ability to perform even the slightest hint of magic. Of course, the same could be said for him, but that would be a lie. His magic was not very powerful. By the time he did more than give her a terrible headache, she could throw him across the room.
Not that he would ever do that! He withdrew his magic even as he let it fade.
Twilight murmured something under her breath as she labored. "Mmm, fascinating..."
He could feel her presence, she was still looking over and exploring his horn. Did he dare to open his eyes? Examining and seeing the differences while she was still exploring could make him gasp or do something even more silly, which would throw off her drawing. No, he would remain still and quiet and wait.
"Interesting..." Twilight and Sunburst could feel the touch of her breath, carrying the faint smell of daffodil, as she peered up at his horn, probing around carefully. When she reached the base and found the source of his power, she had far fewer reservations. She hadn't read about the allergic reactions a unicorn could have with the presence of foreign magic in that delicate organ.
She reached casually as if it were any other part of him to be mapped.
Sunburst's eyes snapped open. Suddenly it felt like he had a massive sinus clog. His head was feeling tight and it was growing worse. "T-Twilight?" The pressure was rapidly becoming painful and he cringed even as he tried to sit still.
"Almost done," she sang, ignorant of the discomfort she had caused. She withdrew from his reservoir, leaving the inflammation to finish developing. She felt over the part of his brain that was within reach, dutifully mapping the area without pressing deeper. "And... finished." Her magic faded away as if it was never there.
Except for the blinding headache that pounded in his head. That was surely a reminder that she had been there. He raised a hoof to the side of his head, trying to knead the spot despite quite a bit of bone and flesh between his hoof and the affected organ. "Did you..." His tear-filled eyes looked up at the map she had drawn. Yep, there was his reservoir, diagramed quite well. "You... shouldn't go there." He raised a shaking hoof, pressing it against the bulb drawn on the paper. "It's..."
"I'm so sorry!" exclaimed Twilight, realizing her error. "Are you alright?" He clearly wasn't, brave as he was trying to be. "Lay down." Suddenly her arms were around him. He could feel her soft hooves cradling him as the world fell away. She put him on a cushion. "I didn't know! Please tell me you'll be okay."
He forced a little smile. Even if the pain was intense, being held by Twilight... almost... made it worth it. "I'll be... alright." He tried to force the pain away, as feeble as the attempt was. "It'll calm down... Let's take a little break."
"Yes, a break." She patted his side with one of her soft hooves. "You deserve that. We'll examine the drawings after that."
Trixie threw a leg over Starlight's shoulders, drawing the mare closer. "This is an intervention."
Starlight looked around the dim room as other faces began to emerge. Maud, Spike, Pinkie, and Rarity emerged one by one into the small circle of light on her. Pinkie waved a hoof right where light met shadow. "This is moody and all, but we're here to fix that, right? Is 'moody' the theme we're going for?"
Trixie rolled her eyes. "Go ahead, party pony."
Pinkie seemed to take no objection to the title. With a pull of a switch that wasn't there a moment ago, the lights in the room came to life, revealing a party waiting to be happening. "Happy 'It's so awkward my friend is spending time with my mentor' party!"
Rarity set a hoof on Starlight's shoulder, just beside where Trixie's arm was wrapped. "Darling, honestly, we understand. I went to pieces when Fluttershy seemed to be moving past me."
Trixie gave a little scoff. "While I have never personally had to worry about this." She rose up to two legs, releasing Starlight. "Trixie is here for you."
Sunburst rubbed his head with fading memory of the last experiment. "Let's see what we have."
Twilight was seated across from him at the dining room table, nodding. "While you were recovering, I had started looking them over. The difference is striking."
He took the hoof from his head and leveled it at Twilight instead. "Two isn't a large sample size. We won't know--"
"--Which is why I got Rarity and Trixie to kindly donate their time to have their horns mapped. That gives us three unimpeded horns, and yours." She leaned over the table as Sunburst wilted. "Great minds, as they say. I just wasn't nursing an allergic reaction... that I brought on. Sorry again."
Sunburst quirked a little smile as he sat up. "No no, I mean, if you hadn't been aware of it, there was no reason to suspect it. The reservoir seems entirely harmless until its owner is on the floor."
Twilight cringed softly with a nervous laugh. "Yeah, that's... one way to find out. Shame about that. If the trouble was there, diagnosing it would be... problematic. On the bright side, I mapped mine."
Sunburst blinked with obvious surprise. "You mapped your own horn? That... is quite the feat."
Twilight beamed with pride. "Focusing my magic that specifically and internally was a challenge, but I considered it the least I could do for what, you know, happened. At least now I feel fairly confident that that is not your problem."
Sunburst coughed into a hoof as if to clear his throat. "Well, now that we're past that, let's see them."
With a glowing horn, Twilight arrayed three diagrams of horns on the table between them. Rarity's horn was slender and long, but not as long as Twilight or Sunburst, or as pointed as Twilight. The internal view showed an anatomy that clearly came from the same basic design, but the helix-like structure dominated most of it.
Trixie's horn seemed to lean towards the spirals, with several interconnected from one to the next. She was a touch shorter still.
Lastly was Twilight's, balanced between the two, longest and sharpest with her princess-enhanced alicorn. Sunburst reached out and tapped at all three in turn. "Where's mine?"
With a spot of hesitation, Twilight squirmed and looked up and away.
Sunburst's brows fell with a little snort. "Twilight, we are both aware of what we're dealing with." He spied a slip of paper just under her and reached with his magic to grab it. "Let's get it over--"
Twilight suddenly grabbed the paper in her own magic and pulled it back. "No!"
"Twilight!" He stepped up onto the table to get closer to her and the paper. "You're not sparing my feelings."
"I know that, but--"
"--But nothing!" He gave one more great pull, but she was stronger than he. He ended up tugging himself, falling over onto her with a great crashing of bodies. The contested paper gently landed on their collided heads.
She smiled broadly, giving a quiet sheepish laugh. "I... suppose I am being a little silly." She sat up, causing Sunburst to slide down her front, his snout pressing to her hooves.
With a growing blush, he scrambled upright and sat beside her. "Y-yes. Let's try to remain impartial. This isn't just about me."
"Right..." She gently set the paper down and released it from her arcane grip. "Here it is."
There was Sunburst's horn. Its exterior was nothing remarkable, well within the standards set by the others. The interior, on the other hoof, was markedly different even at a glance. While he had the helical structure and two spirals, there were fine bone protrusions that ran through the patterns. It was as if his horn had tried to close itself off at some point, a spider's web of interruptions in each pattern, ruining what should have been controlling structures. "Oh..." He sighed gently. "That is... ugly."
Twilight reached up a hoof and tapped at the base of the horn. "I detected minute differences here as well. The alicorn minoris muscle group was also being impeded by calcium deposits, much like the rest." She ran the hoof in a wide circle around the horn. "It's a little miracle you can cast magic as well as you do."
Sunburst let his head sink against a waiting hoof. "I'm literally a bonehead..."
Twilight wobbled a hoof in the air. "You're 'literally' very dedicated. You must have worked three times as hard as anypony else at the school."
"And I still failed!" snapped Sunburst in a sudden rush of emotions. "I'm... sorry." He sank, shrinking in place.
Twilight looked around the room in awkward quiet, no sound but their shared breathing before she dared to tap at the paper. "These are the twigs." She ran her hoof along one of the tiny boney spurs. "These are what can be, in theory, washed away with the right water, but what also stops the water from flowing."
Sunburst's ears perked as he sat up, looking over the image, his eyes darting to the three other, healthy, horns without such deformations. "I... wonder how..."
Twilight tapped at the reservoir, reminder of the pain she had caused. "If it's of any comfort, yours appears to be fairly identical to mine, if a little smaller, which could be accounted for entirely by our relative difference in overall size." She pulled closer the diagram of her own horn with her magic. "See?"
He looked back and forth between the two. Hers was larger, that made sense enough. But... no spurs. His reservoir was nice and clean and... "So that's why you were so amazed, when you were looking."
Twilight's ears flipped backwards. "I couldn't be certain. That's why I rushed to get a few other horns to compare to. As you can see." She waved over the collection with a hoof. "There is variation from horn to horn, helping to determine the color of our magic as well as determining part of our 'style' of magic." She rest a hoof on Trixie's. "This was the most amazing to me. It's little wonder her magic is so bombastic and flows the way it does. Rarity's is clearly in favor of precision over raw power, as fits her profession." She hiked a brow. "It makes me wonder how much of this is developed during the maturation process."
Sunburst waved at the diagram of his horn. "Are you saying I did this, to myself, somehow?"
Twilight was quick to raise her hooves even as her magic grabbed a teacup only half-filled with amber fluid to sip from. "No no no, of course not. Your magic use may have helped determine the structures, is all. These bony protrusions were likely going to happen no matter what you did."
"But that's just a theory," he sighed out, reaching to grab a cookie from a brightly-colored plate and chew it sullenly a moment. "Let's refocus. This isn't a pity party."
Twilight's lips quirked upwards. "Pinkie would be upset if she wasn't invited."
They shared a soft laugh at that, some of the tension easing in the room. He chomped down the last of the cookie, speaking around the crumbs that escaped his snout. "Alright, enough of that. We have the problem." He gestured at his diagram as he swallowed. "Let's keep going until we can make this--" He tapped at his diagram. "--into this." He tapped at Twilight's diagram.
Twilight smiled suddenly. "I had no idea you wanted to be a princess, Sunburst. That's very ambitious of you."
Sunburst went redder than the stripes on the plate he had gotten the cookie from. "N-no! That isn't what I meant!"
"I'm just teasing." She nudged him with the flat of a hoof. "You're just fine as you are. Let's continue the research."
"Right." They settled in side-by-side, the massive tome raised in Twilight's magic and thumping despite her care. It flipped itself open to the last page they left off on and Sunburst slid in a support to hold the open page without breaking the spine. "I'd make a fine princess though."
Twilight smirked at that. "I'm sure you would."
Things lightened as they got to reading, discussing, and working through the book. They had the pattern down, finding it easy for each of them to take up the debating side of their half of the book by the way they sat and arguing the points back and forth as vigorously as they could. Sometimes Sunburst won, other times Twilight had the last say. Either way, they took notes and pushed on, trying to get to the wisdom hidden in the book, a little more revealed with each flip of the page.
Sunburst tapped at a particular line. "The current must flow both ways, in to out surrounded by out to in."
Twilight returned the gesture at her own sentence. "The margin of error is too small."
He ran his hoof along the words carefully. "But there are precious few other options. The current must move with trust, or--"
"--or," cut in Twilight. "Or, we accept it as it is, and be thankful that it isn't worse."
Sunburst frowned a little. "That doesn't sound like the Twilight I know."
Twilight suddenly let out a nervous little laugh, reaching for her cup, but it was empty. "Sp--" The call died as she remembered. "Ah, yes, he's out... As I was saying, you're making some large assumptions there. Not wanting to disturb the status quo is... one of my things." She was turning red as she admitted it. "Seriously, what if we break something and you go from hampered magic to no magic at all? An earth pony that knows what it's like to be a unicorn." She shuddered softly. "I don't envy the idea."
Sunburst quirked an ear back at that. "If Applejack heard you say that--"
"--She would chastise me on even comparing you to a proper earth pony, since you don't qualify. Fluttershy has more earth pony in her." She could see Sunburst withering under the counter attack. "I mean, you're a unicorn, and a perfectly good one! Let's keep that... I don't want to hurt you, Sunburst."
"Thank you for your concern." He sat up tall and tapped at his side of the book. "But, I didn't come here to back down, Twilight. I say we read on, she may have found other ways forward, but 'let's give up' is not an answer I will accept."
Twilight nodded slowly, her eyes on him intently. "You're a brave pony." Her gaze returned to the book. "Thank you for reminding me to be one too. Yes, let's put aside thoughts of giving up. We didn't come this far just to throw up our hooves and surrender."
Sunburst's lips lifted into a smile. He had won that debate! More importantly, he had convinced Twilight of something beyond the measure of the words. He was a bra-- "I am?" he whispered to himself before refocusing on the page. He hadn't even considered himself particularly brave. The word jiggled around inside him. He didn't mind the heft of it.
Spike poked his head into the small room they were studying in. "Hey. There's a mare at the door."
Shoving in past him easily, a mare with brilliant orange fur trotted in, her green eyes sparkling as she beheld her son and the princess. "Oh, this is lovely. This makes two alicorns that you've provided vital assistance with, doesn't it dear?"
Sunburst's ears fell limply. "Hi... mom... What brings you this way?" He forced a false smile even as he scrambled to his hooves away from the comfortable place he had at Twilight's side.
Spike rolled his eyes, leaving the 'adults' to deal with their issues without him to help or hinder.
Stellar approached Twilight with a big smile. "And you've sought him out for two different things yourself. I trust you were pleased with his performance with that cutie-map issue, hmm?"
Twilight followed Sunburst's cue but a little late, rising up with Stellar already pressing into her personal space. Only her study buddy and Spike were allowed to casually stomp into her space, well, and Pinkie, but she was Pinkie. "H-he did just fine, from what I hear. Welcome to my abode... Stellar was it?"
"Stellar Flare," completed Sunburst's mother, still smiling. "This is a lovely castle, quite nice. Love the color. I trust this is where Sunburst is staying?"
Twilight nodded shallowly, her eyes on Stellar. "He is staying while we work. Miss Flare, while I would love to say you're welcome--"
"--Charmed to be here," agreed Stellar with the unfinished thought. "Now don't mind me a bit. You won't even notice I'm here!" Her smile widened to squeaking levels briefly before she turned away and cantered away, leaving neither much time to object.
Twilight sank to her haunches, blinking at the door the mare just fled through. "Is she always like that?"
"You have no idea." Sunburst clopped a hoof to his face. "Sorry."
"No, no... family is... family. There's only so much you can do about them." She pointed at the book they had abandoned entirely. "Shall we resume? Spike'll see to Stellar's needs."
"Yes, of course." Sunburst advanced as Twilight settled. Soon, both were back to the comfort of their work. "I didn't invite her," he casually noted in defense.
"I didn't think you had," assured Twilight with a faint smile. "The way Starlight described her father and your mother, I doubt either of you were throwing out the red carpet in this situation." She tapped at the page. "Now, tangentially related, I'm uncertain how much of this is her misandry showing through."
Sunburst leaned to the side, closer to Twilight, to read her portion of the book. "This malady is more common among the stallion population." He tilted his head. "That sounds like a statistic. If it's true, it's regrettable, but it's a number, not a bias."
Twilight raised a hoof. "Certainly, but a number by itself can be very biased. For instance, is it more common among stallions due to nature, or nurture? If this is the result of how stallions are raised, but you assume these numbers are a natural consequence, you're using numbers against stallions unfairly."
Sunburst leaned back, flopping against his haunches away from the book. "Huh... I hadn't thought of it that way before." He quirked a little smile. "When I was a foal, I enjoyed reading spells, and I'd usually show them to Starlight and she'd cast them so easily, much easier than I could. She was talented, even then."
Twilight's pupils constricted a precious moment. "Sunburst... Now, this may, no, it is entirely conjecture, but that may not have been in your benefit. Instead of practicing your magic, you were letting Starlight stretch her wings. You did her a great favor, but perhaps at an expense to yourself." She tapped at her chin thoughtfully, and thoughts of meddling mothers dispelled entirely.
"You may have been experiencing the very start of this condition and instead of struggling against it, you were comfortable supporting your friend. The river didn't flow, and the sticks gathered." Her speech was hastening with her excitement. "And now we're looking at the result."
Sunburst's color drained as he sagged back. "O-oh... I mean... This isn't Starlight's fault..." He shook his head slowly, but hastening with each turn. "No, It can't be! This would crush her. Please! We can't even mention this to her, please!"
Twilight set a hoof on his shaking shoulder, feeling his jittering through her hoof. "Calm down. I won't speak a word of this to her, if you prefer." She glanced away and back. "If we make a breakthrough, I will be obliged to make note of this in the resulting paper, you understand that?"
Sunburst's lips curled into an uneven smile. "She probably wouldn't dig through... that. Just so long as we don't mention it out loud, we're... probably... fine." He let out his breath explosively, gasping for air almost as quickly. "As enlightening as this may be for future victims of this condition, it doesn't bring us any closer to dealing with existing cases."
Twilight nodded in soft agreement as she peeked aside at Sunburst's side of the page. "What was her counter argument?"
"Oh, yes." He turned his eyes back to his side of the book, reading with soft murmurings of the words under his breath. A soft half-laugh, half-sigh escaped him as he shook his head. "Now this is clearly misandry. She's suggesting that it may be best and that colts should be prevented from 'dangerous magics' they are wholly unprepared for."
Twilight rolled her eyes. "I'm sure she thought that was an opposition, but it's a weak argument when you think about it." She tapped at her side of the book. "On the other hoof, here she suggests that if you are seeking to avoid this for any foal of any gender, you should practice vigilantly."
"To keep the river flowing," completed Sunburst with a little smile. "What if I were just to keep... trying?"
Twilight rolled a hoof. "There's something to be said for that. I'm certain you could advance in talent and ability. How much casual use would erode the calcification is another matter, but it wouldn't hurt, from what I've seen so far."
In another portion of the castle, Starlight trot along with a neutral expression, though that changed as Spike came into view with a mare she knew. "Stellar?!"
"Oh, hello Starlight." Stellar Flare smiled brightly at Starlight. "You're still here?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" demanded Starlight with a cocked brow. "I'm Twilight's student and a student counselor at her school."
"Oh, you've done well for yourself. Your father must be very proud." She nodded softly in agreement with herself. "That's exactly why I'm here, making sure Sunburst achieves just as much." She leaned forward as Spike danced off to the side. "You're still his dear friend, are you not?"
"Of course I am." She raised a hoof to her chest. "Why would you even imply I wasn't? We've been friends for... basically ever."
"And as his friend, you have his interests in mind as well, do you not?" She advanced on the mare, eyeing her dangerously. "If you could help make him happier and more successful at no cost to yourself, well, why wouldn't you?"
"Why wouldn't I?" agreed Starlight. "Where are you going with this?" Her eyes were locked on Stellar, barely taking note of the fleeing form of Spike, envying his ability to not be involved with the current conversation.
"I'm sure you've noticed." She circled around Starlight with a prance of a step, her tail brushing against Starlight. "He's in a very... intimate... position with the princess, helping her to... do whatever it is she's doing."
"Read?" offered Starlight with a frown. "They're reading an old book together, that's all. Sunburst wouldn't know 'intimate' if it bit him on the back end."
"Then you see the problem, dear." Stellar stopped in front of Starlight, facing her. "He's too... shy, yes, too shy to even consider taking the next step, but he must, for both of their sakes." She leaned forward, nose almost bumping into Starlight's. "You want him to be happy, don't you?"
Starlight put out a hoof, nudging Stellar back in a rough shove. "It's not my business to go shoving my face into my friend's affairs. Whether he wants to 'take the next step' is up to him, not us, and especially not you!"
Stellar's smile faded into neutrality. "If that's how you feel." Her lower lip trembled a little. "If it's really... wrong for a mother to want the best for her darling son..." She sniffed perhaps a bit dramatically. "I understand..."
Starlight raised the same hoof to her face. "Stellar Flare, if you want what's best for him, you will--"
"--Do my best to make sure this goes smoothly." She nodded quickly. "I couldn't agree more. Thank you, Starlight. It's been a treat." She trotted past Starlight as if their conversation had hit a natural end point.
Starlight looked over her shoulder at the withdrawing mare before spotting Spike. "So... what was that?"
Spike emerged from his hiding place with a shrug. "Dunno entirely. She stormed in here like she was on some kind of crusade or something."
"That sounds right." Starlight's brows lowered together. "Are you going to get rid of her?"
"Do you think Twilight would be alright with that?" He waved in the direction Stellar had gone. "I'd better catch up with her; we have a new guest."
Starlight sighed as Spike ran off after their 'guest'.
Twilight pushed away from the table back in the study room. "I feel like we're making real progress, but I have to see to some school affairs, to say nothing of a lesson I plan to give today." A collection of cards floated up beside her. "I have my lesson plans ready."
Sunburst scrambled up to his hooves, nodding. "What's the lesson?"
"Well, I can't go saying friendship is magic if I don't give more practical explanations. I plan to educate our magically-capable students on the nature of--"
Sunburst suddenly thrust out a hoof. "Oh! I've read your paper on that topic, deeply fascinating. "The Use of Camraderie to Further Arcane Ends" was a real page turner." Smiling brightly, he took a step forward. "May I assist?" He raised a hoof at her skeptical look. "As much as I might... lack in practical application, you know I know how it works. I've tutored Starlight from the start, and I'd be delighted to lend a hoof to other potential wizards."
Twilight's expression eased into a warm smile. "You raise an excellent point. You're really learning how to argue from this mare." She waved a hoof at the ponderous tome they were leaving behind. "Books really are a sort of immortality, aren't they? It's as if she were here, giving us advice." She turned for the door. "Come along, guest lecturer. My lesson plan doesn't include you, so I would ask that you follow my cues this time."
"Of course, professor." He dipped his head as he fell in with her.
Twilight colored softly. "I've never... Actually..." She frowned a little as she left the room with Sunburst. "Starlight has called me that, and I think the girls might have once or twice... I'm still getting used to the title from ponies other than my students."
"You earned it," assured Sunburst as he walked at her side, moving through the castle towards the front door. "This castle is one of your crowning achievements, and you have so many!" He raised a hoof just to waggle it as he counted. "You saved Luna, defeated Tirek, found the Elements of Harmony, reunited them with the Tree of Harmony, largely restoring the Everfree in the process. You--"
She put a hoof to his lips, stopped just a little in front of him. "Thank you, Sunburst, but let's not get confused with the accomplishments of yesterday. We have things to do, right now. That starts with giving these students a quality lesson."
"Yes, ma'am!" He saluted sharply and they went off together, eager to give education.
She let out a soft sigh, watching from outside the room, outside their views. She held binoculars in her magic, held to her eyes as she peered in the window of the classroom at her precious son as he worked with the princess. That had been surprisingly ambitious of him! To think that he'd throw himself right into an educational role, just to be closer to her.
A smile touched her lips. "Bold, but does he have a plan?" She doubted it. He was obviously winging it, and that was not the natural form for a unicorn. Not planning and rehearsing rarely went well for her. Leave the winging to the pegasi, that's what she had learned. Stellar thought back to the last time she had tried something spontaneous.
It had been for Sunburst, in fact, and it went terribly. Though that gave her an idea. Perhaps a little assistance may be in order, with more forethought and consideration. She nodded to herself lightly. She would drive those two into each other's arms and seal the deal.
Twilight nodded to the classroom, largely comprised of unicorns, with one notable exception. She looked to that brightly colored standout. "Ocellus, is this making sense?"
The changeling bobbed her head readily. "It makes sense to me, teacher. The idea that friendship, and relatedly, love and emotion, can have power is something changelings learn from an early age." She raised a hoof to her own chest. "I've made friends since coming here, to this school, and that is a magic I wouldn't want to trade away for anything."
Sunburst rubbed at the side of his head. "I hadn't thought of it that way before. In a manner of speaking, changelings knew that secret before we did."
Ocellus giggled gently. "But it took a pony to reflect the lesson back at us. That was another feat of friendship, to show us what was right at the end of our noses for so long."
Twilight smiled radiantly as she took her place behind her desk. "It was Starlight and Thorax's work that ultimately overcame that hurdle. It was neither pony nor changeling work, alone, that could bridge that divide. That is part of the power of friendship, allowing two to achieve together what neither could hope to do alone. This applies to arcane studies." Her pointer held in her magic tapped at the blackboard. "If you'll turn to page sixty-five, we'll go over the applied theory of harmonic magic."
The students poured out of the classrooms, chatting among themselves about what they had learned. Sunburst sat beside Twilight, watching them go. "That went well. Your lesson, it was quite well put together."
"Thank you," She inclined her head slightly. "But that's easy to say. What was your favorite part?"
Sun tilted his head. "A test? I accept! I found myself wondering if your theory on harmonic magic wouldn't prove useful for our current conundrum." He reached up to tap at his horn with a hoof. "If we cast spells in unison, that may help shake things loose in a gentler fashion than the brute force method we were entertaining the idea of."
Twilight lifted an ear for a moment. "That does sound far less risky. You know the principle, I imagine. You've encouraged us to harmonize our magic previously." She circled her desk, moving for the door at a slow walk. "With the Crystal Heart. That was about when I met you."
Sun hurried to be at her side. "How could I forget? Though your proposed theorum on the intimacy of the spellcasters having an effect on their harmony seems almost foalishly simple once put forward." He shook his head. "As many great ideas do. Nopony thinks of it until it's there, then we wonder how anypony could have missed it."
"Too true," easily agreed Twilight as she advanced into the hallways of her school. "It's lucky then that we do have some knowledge, you know, of each other." She wobbled a hoof between them before putting her hooves back to work in walking. "That will help our magic remain in proper sync during our efforts."
Sunburst hopped forward suddenly. "I know what I want to do!"
"Mm?"
Sunburst circled around in front of Twilight. "I want to do something nice for Starlight. I've been here this long and we haven't done a thing. That's no way for a friend to behave. Now, I know she isn't opposed to shape-altering invocations--"
"--From personal experience," noted Twilight with a little smile. "What do you have in mind?"
"We still have the game board, right?" He gestured vaguely towards her castle, ducking out of the way of a student hurrying past.
"Put away, but we have it," easily agreed Twilight, nodding to the same student, though they offered only a little noise in their hurry. "What about it?"
"How about we play as actual dragons?" He sat and clapped his hooves together. "Just for fun. It's her favorite game, and it'll be a good feat of magic."
Twilight tapped her chin softly. "That sounds nice." She turned and pointed. "I have to get some work done, but I'll consider what we'll need and meet you back at the castle. I don't see any reason why we can't do that. For safety, I'll remain as I am, and you two can play the game. I'll be available to help you all turn back, just in case."
With a shared nod, they parted ways, Sunburst trotting through the halls of the school, considering his idea. "She didn't even ask if we could." He tilted his head as he walked. Did she just have confidence that they'd have no trouble? Perhaps she could do it on her own, without his help, and the harmonizing would be entirely for his benefit.
He felt sure Starlight could do it, if she wanted. She'd already reduced the two of them to foals without breaking a sweat. She was frighteningly good at shaping magic when she wanted to, without regard for the rules that said certain things 'couldn't' be done, like reversing age, a tricky art by most measures, done so casually...
He stepped across the bridge that led away from Twilight's school. Why did she have a moat? It was pretty enough. He abandoned that thought on his way to find Starlight.
Starlight was not in Twilight's castle. She was in the school Sunburst was leaving, in her office, awaiting students to counsel.
It hadn't been a very productive day. Re-organizing her books had long since lost its charm. She balanced a pencil with little nudges of her magic, keeping its tip facing the wood of her desk with as little force as she could to pass the time. When it inevitably fell, she groaned in dismay. "Is this what I've been reduced to?"
A knock shook her free of her thoughts. She swept the pencil aside and broke out her false smile. "Do come in!"
The door opened broadly with a smiling face behind it. Stellar Flare stepped into the office. "Starlight Glimmer, what a lovely office you have."
Starlight's carefully practiced smile faltered. "Oh, hello... How can I help you?"
Stellar took slow and easy steps, showing no hurry. "All this to yourself? The other, lesser, faculty don't even seem to have an office."
Starlight hiked a brow. "Twilight has a larger one, but let's put that aside, what do you need?"
Stellar rolled a hoof. "She owns this school, it only follows, but you are practically second in command, the way I see it. You should be proud."
Starlight's face lowered onto her waiting hooves, cradled as she eyed Stellar Flare. "Uh huh..."
"I'm serious." Stellar reared up, her forehooves settling on Starlight's opposing end of her desk. "But enough of that, I'm sure you have countless things to do." She ignored Starlight's rolling eyes. "I just saw Sunburst trotting off towards the castle, alone."
Starlight's brows raised together. "And why would you want me to know that?" She rolled a hoof, the other taking up the weight of her head. "Aren't you busy playing matchmaker between Sunburst and Twilight? I'm a third wheel there." She suddenly frowned with a thought. "And you are not a staunch traditionalist, like some ponies I know, so I know you aren't even going to mention other options, right?"
Stellar laughed a bit too loud. "What? No, of course not. Perish the thought." She leaned forward over the desk. "I just thought you may want to know. You two are friends, aren't you? The princess looked quite busy."
Starlight's nose wrinkled as she sat back, her hooves coming down in a more classic haunches-positioned sit. "Thanks for the tip. So... did you need anything school related?"
Stellar flashed a bright smile. "This is a friendship school, is it not?"
"Mmhmm...?" Starlight hiked a brow, but said nothing more.
"Are there rules against adult attendees?" She gestured at herself as she sank back to a seated position. "As you well know, there are certainly lessons in friendship I could learn. Why, I want to be my son's friend as well as a mother figure, and though we've mended some of the breaks, there's still so much more to go."
Starlight blinked slowly. "That... is surprisingly mature."
Stellar Flare glanced away. "I happen to think I am quite mature, Starlight. I haven't forgotten what you looked like as a filly. A little respect would be nice, even if we aren't on the best of terms, which is a shame, really." She smiled in her easy way. "You were always my little daughter from another mother. I just didn't know how to approach you."
Starlight's teeth clenched. "That's a very nice thought, so where were you when I needed some help?" She leaned over the desk, her frown deepening. "Where was your worry about me when you were separating Sunburst and me? I don't remember you being too torn apart when I went through... my rebellious phase, or when I left home." She slammed a hoof into the desk, huffing.
Stellar Flare's horn glowed as she caught a statue that had lost its balance in the slam. "I can see this is a sensitive topic."
Starlight took hold of the statue in her own magic and set it back where it belonged on her desk. "No, sorry, that was very... unprofessional." She took a slow breath, trying to recenter herself. "If you really want to join the school, you'll have to apply, like anycreature else. You will not be given any breaks because we know you. In fact, being an adult, you will be expected to pay tuition." She hiked a brow. "Not that I expect a successful mare such as yourself to find that too burdensome."
Stellar Flare waved the concern away. "It's only fair. Somepony has to help pay for the costs of running such a fine facility." She stood up. "Just point the way and I'll get right started. Am I the first adult? How exciting!"
Starlight cleared her throat softly before rising up, stepping down from her chair. "Twilight oversees admissions. I am a guidance counselor. If you have trouble adjusting to things, or during your education, you are welcome to come see me and I will do my best to smooth things out." She raised a hoof as she circled the desk. "I have a one hundred percent success rate." The fact that she had only helped one pony, once, was a point she kept to herself.
"I feel safe with you around," assured Stellar with a little chuckle. "I'll go seek out the princess then."
"Not without me you aren't." Starlight strode with purpose, getting to the door first. "Twilight doesn't need to be surprised by a sudden adult mare popping into her office."
Stellar Flare raised a brow. "And you say you aren't second in command? Lead the way, Starlight." She dipped her head a brief moment before trotting off behind Starlight.
Twilight smiled with just a hint of awkardness. "An adult student... I hadn't considered that." She looked away, speaking to herself quietly, "But I should have." She quickly looked back at Stellar and Starlight. "So, tell me what you're hoping to get from this school? Obviously many of the classes are designed around furthering the study of friendship, but they were designed with foals in mind, so we go over many core concepts that you are likely well-aware of."
Stellar raised a hoof to her chest, lashes fluttering at Twilight. "While I may be a functioning, and successful, adult, my son's visit made it plain that I have much to learn in regards to being a good friend. Celestia knows what mistreatments I may be visiting on my other friends without realizing it."
Twilight glanced to Starlight, who nodded in reply. "Well, that is a refreshingly honest look at oneself." She smiled a little more confidently. "Are you comfortable being taught alongside creatures much less mature than yourself? We will be teaching at their pace." A thought seemed to occur to her, perking up. "We also must insist, being an adult, that you not belittle or attack any of the other students, even if they are of a species you are not comfortable with. We are all friends, here."
Stellar rose to her hooves. "Of course! This is a school of friendship, is it not?" Her eyes wandered over Twilight's office, taking in the details as she went. "Everyone here is a potential friend. I know how to make those, Princess, it's more about... being a good one. Friendship is a two way street and I know I have some darling friends who have given to me. The thought of not returning the favor is galling." She was laying it on thick and it showed in her voice a bit, but she didn't seem to be outright lying.
Starlight dipped her head. "Well, my job is complete. Let me know if she's joining the student body and I'll help her move in."
Twilight nodded to Starlight. "Of course, thank you. Before we get to that, we should go over finances." A scroll appeared beside her head. "Not the friendliest of topics, I admit, but an essential one. We get contributions to the school from the parents of the children, but they aren't much, since we don't even mandate it. As an adult student, this is not the case. Did Starlight mention that?"
Stellar leaned towards Twilight. "I confess, I'm surprised you had rules ready for adult students."
Twilight colored at that. "Not... exactly. It's, here." She turned the scroll to Stellar could see it. "We don't specifically mention adults paying, more that we do specifically mention that foals and creatures young enough to be the ward of another do not pay."
"Works out the same in the end," allowed Stellar with a soft nod. "Hoof over the figures and I'll have my people run through them and get the bits on the way." She sat down with a smug smile. "I'll gladly pay."
Twilight rolled a hoof. "You agree to respect and follow the orders of the faculty? Many of them are younger than you, but if you are a student here, they become your superiors and are to be listened to at all times." A brow hiked faintly. "Will that be an issue?"
"Whyever would it be?" She hiked a brow. "It's a new thing, but new things don't scare me, I promise." Her smile deepened. "Usually, I'm the source of the new things, but I can take this. I have it under control."
"That is precisely what you're giving up," chastised Twilight. "You're surrendering some control to us, to help mold you into a better pony. Do you accept that?"
Stellar's smile turned subtly. She was being challenged, and it was not one she'd back down from. "All I ask is that you leave me better than you found me. Now, should I go find Starlight for rooming arrangements?"
Twilight floated over a tightly-rolled scroll. "Here are the finances, feel free to mail that to your ponies. I'll see you to the dorms myself." She began walking for the door at an easy pace. "Do you have a history with Starlight? She looked tense."
Stellar laughed awkwardly. "What? Oh, of course. We've known each other for practically forever. Her father and I are friends, in fact. I look forward to working with her. Is she a good guidance counselor?" Her magic took hold of the scroll and tucked it away quietly.
"The best we have," chimed Twilight with no hint of even realizing the awkwardness of her also being the only one. "Right this way."
Sunburst wandered the castle, searching fruitlessly. "Starlight? Are you--" His call was interrupted by a door opening in front of him. Out stepped a mildly annoyed looking Spike.
"She's at work." He hiked a thumb in the general direction of the school. "What's up? You look kinda... worked up."
"I'm not worked up," Sunburst insisted. "I'm excited, about what I have in mind." He sat and rubbed his forehooves together. "If she's at work, I shouldn't... bother her."
Spike peered at the stallion. "You look like you have something interesting in mind. Wanna share?" He grinned salaciously. "Is it good?"
Sunburst's eager look faltered a little. "Uh, you know that board game that Starlight likes?"
Spike crossed his arms, his wings mildly unfurling. "The dragon one that isn't like what dragons actually are?"
Sunburst nervously chuckled, "Y-yeah, that one. It's not like dragons would ever run around while boulders were being thrown at them that could knock them into danger. That would be ridiculous."
Spike's confident disdain crumbled, rubbing at one arm with the hand of the other. "Y-yeah," he echoed. "Ridiculous. Um, so, what about it?"
Sunburst looked over Spike in a quick glance. "Oh, um, well... I was going to work with Twilight to cast a little shapechanging magic on Starlight and me."
Spike's brow rose, his own nervousness fading. "Into dragons? I mean, bro, that's a bold move. I'm... not exactly the expert, but if Ember is any hint to go on, when a lady dragon and a guy dragon meet, there's a lot of yelling involved."
Sunburst snorted softly. "You've met lady dragons without yelling at them."
Spike's nervousness returned with a self-depreciating guffaw. "I mean... yeah? Kinda... I'm not your usual dragon, as people remind me once in a while." He rolled a clawhand. "Having ponies as your caretakers will do that. So, uh, yeah, good luck with that?"
Sunburst suddenly perked up. "Hey, wait a minute! Would you like to play with us?"
"Say what now?" He had a skeptical brow raised, leaning against a wall. "So this isn't a try to win her hoof?"
Sunburst blinked naively. "W-what? No! I mean, she's a friend."
Spike waggled his brows. "Me and Rarity are friends."
"Precisely," concluded Sunburst, adjusting his cape. "As friends, we're going to play her favorite board game, but with the full-sized board, and as actual dragons. You're already a dragon, and our friend too, so if you wanted...?"
Spike raised a thumb. "Sure, why not, even if it's just to see you two trying to be dragons, badly. Hey, are you two gonna already have wings?"
"Already?" asked Sunburst with some obvious confusion. It was only then that it clicked that Spike certainly had wings. "When did you get those?! I thought..."
Spike's face split in a triumphant grin. "This dragon's becoming a big dragon." He hiked his thumbs at himself, bouncing a little on his toes. "They work too." He lifted from the ground, wobbling a little in the air. "Still getting the hang of them, but they work!"
Sunburst clopped his hooves together appreciatively. "Very nice, congratulations, Spike. I wonder how the crystal ponies will react when they see it."
Spike snorted as he came back down on his feet. "Wonder if they'll update the statue to match or not. Um, so anyway, yeah, sign me up. I can play a game or two." He thrust a hand forward, met with a hoof as they shook on it, the matter settled.
Starlight emerged from the school, weaving around other students that were dispersing. The school day was complete, and everyone was fleeing to other interests, including herself. "Finally," she sighed to herself, trotting across the bridge from the school.
"Starlight!" called a familiar older female voice, Stellar emerging from the crowd. "Oh, pardon me, Counselor." She dipped her head briefly. "I'm looking forward to starting!"
Starlight forced a smile. "Oh, so you're going through with it? Good luck. If you need any, you know, counseling, you know who to turn to."
"I certainly do." She bumped into Starlight as if they were good friends and trotted past towards Ponyville proper.
The other faculty were the last to come out, Twilight last of all, closing the doors behind herself. "Starlight, just the pony I wanted to speak to. Have you seen Sunburst today?"
"Hmm? Not since breakfast," she easily admitted, watching Twilight approach. "What's up?"
Twilight glanced around. "Ah, he was looking for you before, but, no matter. We have a little plan that he came up with."
Starlight's ears perked up. "Alright, that sounds fun for you two. What does this have to do with me?"
"It has everything to do with you." She grinned wide enough to squeak. "He wants to play your favorite game with you."
Starlight felt some of the drag of the day lift. "What? Really? I... thought he was mostly over that game. I mean, I appreciate the thought, but he really doesn't have to, not just for me."
Twilight raised a hoof to her friend's shoulder. "Don't even worry about it. This was his idea, and there's more to it."
"More?" Starlight raised a brow suspiciously. "What kind of more?"
"He wants to stretch his magic legs. We will be transforming the two of you to play the part. No costumes, because you two will actually be dragons." She reared up, freeing her forehooves to clap together in an eager clapping. "Won't that be fun?"
Starlight's cheeks darkened softly. "He really wants to go that far, for me? After... what I did that last time? I... thought he'd never want to even think about, you know, that kind of magic, especially with me..." She glanced towards the tall structure that was Twilight's castle and their home. "Wow... That's really thoughtful of him. I never really thought about playing it as a dragon, but hay, why not?"
Twilight came back down to all fours, her wings fluttering atop her as she turned for the castle. "Then let's find him and get this going. I've been looking forward to a distraction." She began walking, still talking, "I will not be joining your game, mind. I'll sit out and be available in case of any emergencies. While I have confidence in Sunburst's theoretical knowledge, I don't want to take chances with the return trip."
Starlight's steps were free of the drudgery of the day, her interest piqued. "I suppose that's playing it safe. No reason to take chances just to play a silly game. Thank you." She threw a foreleg over Twilight in a brief squeeze. "That's a really nice gesture, but, wait." She drew the leg back. "You're the one casting the spell, right?"
Twilight shook her head. "It will be a harmonic casting between Sunburst and me. I'll be providing a little 'oomph' and let him take charge in the shaping and directing. It'll be good practice for him and I'll be available if anything goes awry." She pushed the door open to the castle, unlocked as it tended to be. "We can play tonight, if you're feeling up for it? Sunburst seemed quite eager to proceed."
Starlight tilted her head a little. "Do you think he can handle it? No! Nevermind, that was awful of me. Of course he can." She smiled as a brief laugh escaped her. "What kind of friend doesn't have confidence in their friends, especially when he's trying so hard?"
They gathered in a large room, the board carefully spread out across it in a life-sized version of the original game. It was a decadent display of nostalgia. Starlight was sitting on her haunches beside Spike, watching Twilight and Sunburst. "We're ready!" she declared confidently, only the faintest hint of worry in her voice.
Sunburst adjusted his glasses as his eyes wandered over the hovering scroll that held the spell they would be casting. "Who'll be initiating the harmony?"
Twilight pointed at him. "Go ahead." She nodded towards Starlight. "If you would move in closer to him. You two are the targets, and I don't want Spike getting turned from a dragon into a dragon. That would be confusing."
Spike crossed his arms with a skeptical expression. "Would that even do anything?"
Sunburst tapped at the floating scroll, watching Starlight approach out of the corner of his vision. "Likely not, Spike, but it could, so avoiding it is a good idea. Now, this may--"
Starlight held up a hoof. "I've felt transformative magic before, Sunburst. Go ahead." She smiled nervously as she sank down beside him. "Besides, now's your chance to surprise me with it."
Sunburst snort at that. "Let's surprise me first..." His eyes swept over the page fitfully, "I have to get this right." His horn glowed softly and Twilight's followed suit quickly. His light projected upwards and hers reached up to collide with it.
Though Starlight and Spike couldn't see, Sunburst and Twilight were touching on another level. Their magics brushed and danced, each feeling out the other. It took Sunburst a moment to get his flowing in harmony with Twilight, though she was doing the same, the two colors pooling together into one mass of eldritch power.
"Go ahead," prompted Twilight with a smile, looking like it hadn't been that big of a deal for her so far.
Sunburst smiled nervously. That had been tricky on his end, but he had come that far at least. He could feel Twilight's impressive magic power awaiting his mental command. It was a heady sensation, a warmth that ran down his own magic and seemed to spread over him. He didn't get to wield that power very often... ever... "Let us begin." He turned to Starlight, the scroll pivoting with him to remain in his sight.
Starlight leaned to the side, peering at Twilight around the scroll that occupied much of her field of view. She tried to calm the tremble in her breath, thinking happy thoughts, like how Sunburst wouldn't mess it up and turn her into a jellied mass of twitching unicorn parts. Besides, Twilight was there. She would step in if needed, right?
Spike plopped down on one of the stone playing steps, feet kicking slowly as his wings flapped at the same leisurely pace. The unsureness of the ponies was lost on him, just waiting for the game to begin.
Twilight kept her magic steady, her eyes on Sunburst. She had the spell ready to go, waiting for the slightest hint from Sunburst to begin playing her piece of it to fuel his section. She wouldn't be the driver, no, it was a chance for Sunburst to cast a spell of note. "Just like we practiced," she spoke gently with a smile, having confidence in her peer and student.
"Right." He gave the internal adjustment that began the spell and his horn warmed as magic began to flow as well as it could. He could imagine the boney blocks that littered his horn, impeding and muddying that power. The image made him grunt with redoubled effort, following the spell.
With a bright sparkle, Twilight's magic reacted, feeding into his power as she played her half of the duet they had begun. The warmth he had felt redoubled and his entire form began to tingle. Part of that was the shapeshifting involved, he knew, but part of that was raw power that Twilight was sharing with him. It was time to envision. He closed his eyes and held the vision of a dragon in his thoughts. Bigger, with claws, so sharp, but also clever digits. They would have horns, which was good. He had to keep the magic going, and if he could just keep his horn, that would be lovely.
They had to be different colors, as matched the game pieces. Spike had purple down, so that left...
"Very good," spoke Twilight, interrupting his thoughts. "Just like that."
Just like that... He continued through the spell, his eyes opening to review the scroll even as he cast. He was doing it. He could feel the magic growing stronger and stronger, descending on both Starlight and himself, his body throbbing with a growing desire, no, need to change as the magic commanded it. It was time to trigger the actual changes. He raised a shaking hoof to point at that part of the spell.
Twilight's eyes went wide as Sunburst collapsed. It had happened so suddenly, he had been about the finish the spell when his magic had just... stopped, and he went limp. There was no time to ponder the whys or the hows as she grabbed mentally for the abandoned spell. The choices were few but immediate. She could try to release the magic back into the air with hopefully no effect.
She could finish the spell he had brought that far.
She could dive for cover.
The spell was so close to completion that it almost buzzed angrily in her grip. It wanted to finish, so she decided that was the safest option. She dove for cover, just in case. There was no rule saying she couldn't take two of those options at the same time.
"What the?" was all Spike got out, noticing Sunburst collapsing and Twilight diving away from the event.
Brightness filled their eyes and Starlight's startled squeak echoed out. Twilight rubbed at her eyes as she sat up. "Is everypony alright?"
"No," replied Starlight. "But everydragon seems alright." She flexed her blue claws meaningfully, looking over her bipedal and reptilian form with a smile. She had spines that matched her old mane style in coloration and two spiraled horns that struck her as being cool.
It was then that the giddy rush of transformation faded and she remembered. "Sunburst!" She rushed to the collapsed dragon that was only a step away, half-tripping over his prone form. "Are you alright?"
He had been transformed into a lankier orange dragon, also seemingly in that teenaged stage of dragon development. His horn was entirely unchanged though, one unicorn horn protruding right from his forehead, its spirals intact and not very dragon-like. Still, the rest of him seemed to be proper. "Talk to us!" She shook him gently, trying to get a response.
A glow swept over Starlight, lifting her away a little. "Calm down. He's likely fine, but shaking him won't help in either event." Twilight approached at a purposeful stride, her eyes on him. "That was more magic than he's used to, maybe we strained something. Let's give him a moment."
Spike hopped to his feet and hurried over in a little jog. "Uh, is he, you know, alright?" He looked between each person in turn, pausing at Starlight. "Looking good," he said in a tone one might use for complimenting a friend's new haircut, giving a thumbs up before he crouched to get a better look at the downed Sunburst.
Starlight rolled her eyes, which is when she noticed that her vision was off. Oh, that was right. Dragons had slit eyes. She found herself distracted a moment, that little difference becoming overwhelmingly distracting.
Twilight gently pat him down, feeling him with her hooves. "My knowledge of dragon anatomy isn't as certain as my pony knowledge." She didn't reveal that she was no trained doctor, or even a nurse. "But he's breathing. Spike, get a glass of water."
"Water, right." He dashed off in a hurry, abandoning his staring at the new dragon-Sunburst.
Starlight's moment of distraction faded as she shook her head. "Being a new species never fails to throw me off balance at first. Is he alright?"
Twilight lifted her shoulders as she nudged him gently. "I think so. He appears to simply be unconscious."
"That can mean anything." Starlight tapped a new foot on the ground, crossing her arms across her front. "He could be taking a nap, or be seriously hurt in a coma. What did you two find that led you to... this anyway?"
Twilight looked at Starlight, which meant she was looking at her friend's belly. Bipeds got tall fast, it seemed. She craned her neck to meet her eyes. "We're researching what reason is behind some ponies, unicorns specifically of course, have a particularly hard time casting spells while others have no trouble at all."
Starlight rolled a clawhand lightly. "Yeah, got that, but what did you find and how does it relate into us being dragons and he being passed out on the floor?"
Spike came hurrying back, water splashing in random splatters in his hurry, a glass of water clutched between his hands. "Here!"
Twilight's magic wrapped around the glass, lifting it away from Spike. "Thank you." She upended it right over Sunburst without delay, splashing him with the cool fluid.
Sunburst sat up with a sudden sputtering cough. "Huh, wha? Ow..." He raised a clawhand to his head, rubbing at his head and horn before he stiffened, realizing that wasn't a hoof he was feeling with. "Oh, did it work?" He brought his hands in front of his eyes. "It worked! Yes! Ow..."
Starlight bopped him lightly on the head right beside his horn. "You scared us half to death! Are you alright?"
"Ow..." He rubbed at his sore head. "It feels like... It's sore, but I'm alright, I think." He rose to his new feet, shaking and wobbling dangerously. With one hand, he grabbed for Starlight, the other was on his glasses, adjusting them on his new snout. "Alright, alright, I'm steady."
Twilight hiked a suspicious brow. "Are you certain you want to proceed?" When he nodded, she took a step back. "Very well, but I'll be closeby. If you need me, call. If not, I still want to see you after this is over." She turned for a wide-bottomed chair set in the corner. "I'll do some reading while you all play. Good luck."
Starlight helped Sunburst steady himself. "Two legs are weird, huh? I had a little practice with it past the mirror."
"Mirror? Oh! Yes! You mentioned the mirror." He bobbed his head as he tried to stand on his own, taking a few slow steps. "A fascinating place, from the sound of it. Did you see another me there?"
Starlight shook her head as a hand toyed with one of her curved horns. "I'm not used to having two of these, and so curly... By the way, you managed it. I didn't think you could, but you did."
Sunburst's scales went red around his snout. "The spell?"
"Nah, not that, surprising me." She put a hand on her plated chest. "You really scared me, Sunburst. I don't want you to get hurt, so, you know, maybe take it easy?"
Spike snorted softly, drawing their eyes down towards him. "Hey, I mean, good luck and all that, but how often does Twilight listen to when I say the same thing?" He hiked a thumb at Sunburst. "You're cut out of the same cloth or however that saying goes. He won't stop until he gets what he wants or he's crushed by it."
Starlight ran a few scaled fingers over Spike's head-fins. "You're really insightful sometimes, Spike. So... shall we begin?" She gestured at the board they had set up across the room. "Seems a shame to let it go to waste. We're here, we're dragons, let's get to racing, right?"
Spike hiked a thumb at the great dice. "As fun as it looks to roll those, would you mind too much if we use these?" He drew out a smaller set. "I use these for O&O, these are the oversized ones." As normal dice went, they were large, but compared to the great stone dice, they were tiny. "A fair compromise, right?"
Sunburst accepted the dice, taking them as he went to the starting position. "May the best dragon win."
Starlight snickered softly, leaning in to whisper to Spike, "more like the luckiest. Good luck, Spike, may the dice be kind."
With a roll of the dice, they took turns advancing forward around the room-sized map. They kept their claws on the stones, as was proper, avoiding touching the floor beneath them. Sunburst's headache seemed to ease as they progressed and idle banter blossomed between the players.
"So, digging the dragon walk?" asked Spike as he hopped onto the next stone. "It's pretty cool, you know, if you ask me."
Starlight smirked softly at that. "It's pretty interesting. It feels odd having scales." She reached out a claw and brought up the other, feeling her arm and its fine scales. "Which means no fur. I feel like I should be cold, but I'm not."
Sunburst released the dice for his turn and the board shook beneath them. "Uh oh..."
They all laughed as the fake boulder rolled on through and nudged Spike off his path with all the impact of a large foam ball, which it was.
Twilight glanced up from her reading at the noise. "Going well?"
Sunburst advanced forward and set one triumphant down on the last stone, a grin on his reptilian face. "I was just busy winning, is all!"
Starlight clapped softly. "Good job, and thanks for playing, both of you."
Spike nudged the boulder away with a huff. "Yeah, no problem. You got lucky with the dice."
Twilight rose up to her hooves. "That's the nature of this particular game. Now, shall we get you all back to your pony selves?"
Spike blinked softly. "Not me, right?"
Starlight nudged Spike softly. "Unless you want to? You could go to school with the CMC, think of it."
Spike held up his hands quickly, backing away from the draconic Starlight. "Oh, um, thanks, but I'll pass. Nice game, seeya!" He fled the scene, rather than risking becoming a foal.
Twilight shook her head as she approached. "Don't tease him. He's just gotten to... a new stage in dragon development." She looked over Starlight and Sunburst, settling on the latter. "Now then, we have a pony to examine." With a sparkling horn, she returned the yellow-orange dragon to his frizzled pony self. "I don't feel safe just assuming that was nothing."
Sunburst waved a hoof dismissively. "I feel much better now, honest. I bet that'll stop happening if I get used to it."
Starlight set a hand on his shoulder, still a dragon. "Hey, there's nothing lost in her giving you an exam. Better to look and see nothing compared to the alternative." She dug her claws in just a little. "Or I'll have to pick you up and toss you there, rawr."
Sunburst laughed at the attempt at intimidation. "Oh, no, don't hurt me." He stuck out his tongue at her even as he adjusted his glasses. "What do you need then, Twilight?"
"Just for you to be still. Sit down and relax." She waved a hoof downwards for emphasis. "Starlight, done with being a dragon?"
Sunburst perked an ear. "You ask her, but you didn't ask me?
Twilight smiled easily. "Of course. One of you I need to examine, and the other I do not. If she wishes to remain a dragon for longer, there is no harm in that. Besides, I feel confident she could return herself to normal if pressed."
Starlight proved Twilight right in a flash of light, falling to all fours with the sound of hooves against the ground. "There we are, no more scales and all the soft fur again." She ran a hoof over her snout. "Maybe, later, we can try flying as dragons. Spike would like that I think."
Twilight gently tapped Sunburst's snout, getting him to look at her. "Let us begin. You know this spell." She pulled out a piece of paper and the drawing that began to form was quite clear. She was sketching the interior of his horn with the technique they had used earlier.
Sunburst tensed. Starlight was in the room. She'd see the ugly blemishes he had inside. "I..." His face darkened as he tried vainly to be still for Twilight. Closing his eyes was the only action that came to him, awaiting the judgment surely to be weighed upon him.
"Huh," came Starlight's voice. "Is that his horn?"
"Yes it is," assured Twilight, her own horn glowing brightly as she worked. "We're getting a full peek at it, inside and out, for any damage that may have been inflicted during the spellcasting."
"What are these?" Sunburst couldn't see what Starlight was referring to, but he could guess. He could imagine those ugly sharp bony protrusions that she probably gawked at with a face of disgust. Oh, if there was only a hole deep enough to hide in.
"This is different," spoke Twilight. He could hear her hoof tapping at the paper that was scribbling the sketch of his malformed alicorn. "Sunburst, you should see this."
There wasn't anything there he should not already know, right? He cracked open an eye, the other following soon-after. "Wha-huh?" The picture of his horn was still being scribbled out. It still had a maze of boney spurs. The spurs were just a little different. He couldn't even quite put his hoof on how. "It still looks... bad?"
"Well, yes." Twilight nodded easily. "But it's not the same. This attempt jostled something, clearly. I want to finish this exploration." She focused on her magic, the drawing hastening. "There must be a pattern here we're not seeing."
Starlight pointed at herself. "This is pretty interesting. Can I get my horn mapped out like that?"
"I have yours already," reminded Twilight as she worked. "Very normal, like mine."
Starlight huffed. "That's disappointing on some level. You'd think talented spellcasters would show something in there."
"The alicorn seems to be required..." She took a slow breath. "Malformations in it hinder a unicorn, but other than that, it doesn't really help them become 'better'. At least, so far as we have determined, which is only so far." She tilted her head to the side. "The relative shapes and forms of the internal structures surely have an effect, but we couldn't confidently state what those effects are just yet."
Sunburst watched the image being formed. IT was growing close to the base of his horn. "Don't go left," he reminded a little nervously."
Twilight colored swiftly. "I won't! Promise... And... done." She reached up and took the paper in her hooves. "On the positive side, I didn't feel any hints of internal damage or anything knocked completely loose. I don't think you were hurt."
Sunburst let out a little breath. "That's good!"
"That's an understatement." Starlight prodded Sunburst. "You know you're fine just the way you are, right?"
Sunburst colored in his cheeks, adjusting his glasses as his eyes darted everywhere but at Starlight. "I... know that, but does that mean I shouldn't even try? If I can be more, shouldn't I reach for it, a little? I've spent most of my life accepting failure."
Twilight waved a hoof. "We'll take every reasonable precaution." She rolled up the new paper. "Thank you, Starlight. It's good to see you have such concern for a friend."
It was Starlight's turn to darken. "Why wouldn't I?! He's my oldest and dearest friend." She threw a foreleg over him and pulled his startled form closer, his glass going askew. "And I want him safe."
Sunburst coughed softly as if to clear his throat. "I appreciate that, really." He reached up a hoof to nudge his glasses back into position. "But I am an adult, Starlight. I can make my own decisions."
"Oh, I mean, of course." She withdrew her foreleg. "I didn't... Look, I'm just worried, alright, as a friend, not your mother." Her eyes half lidded. "Who's prowling around, if I didn't mention."
Sunburst tensed, looking around as if his mother could pop out at any moment. "What?!"
Twilight sighed. "It's true, in fact." With a sparkle, a scroll appeared beside her head. "She's our first adult student."
"What?!" repeated Sunburst with growing eloquence. "Is that even allowed?!"
Twilight rolled up the scroll and it vanished with a sparkle. "There weren't any rules against it, and she seemed genuine in her wish to learn more about being a good friend, even if I feel certain she has other motives in addition. I will give her a chance to learn, or prove her true colors."
Sunburst sagged to the side, flopping against Starlight. "Will I end up giving her a lecture? That may be awkward."
"If she means what she said, she'll nod and take notes." Twilight rose to her hooves. "For now, we should consider moving on with our day. It's been a full one. Dinner and rest sounds good. Tomorrow will bring new challenges."
Starlight waved lightly as Twilight departed. The moment she was gone, she turned to Sunburst, her magic nudging him upright. "You shouldn't be scared of her. She's meddlesome, but she doesn't want anything but the best for you."
"Easy for you to say." He smirked suddenly. "Or should I write your dad a letter abo--"
He was interrupted with a hoof in his mouth. Starlight was looking left and right frantically. "No! No... that'll be quite fine. I'd rather reorganize my books a few dozen more times than have him lurking around waiting to pinch my cheeks."
"But he only has the best of intentions," assured Sunburst with a cocky grin, turning her words back against her. "No need to be scared of him."
"Yes, right, point accepted." She dusted off her front lightly. "It's... actually kind of nice having a friend." She leaned in a little. "We 'get' each other, you know?"
"I do," he almost sighed. "So help me out! You know she has a plan. She always has a plan. Did she tell you anything? Ask any odd questions?"
Starlight thought back over their conversations. "She's seen you with Twilight."
"Well, yeah." Sunburst nodded quickly, glasses jostling in the motion. "She's in charge of the school, and owner of the book I'm helping to study. What about her?"
Starlight cocked a brow. "And she sees you're spending a lot of time with her."
"Well, see above?" Sunburst seemed genuinely baffled as to where Starlight was trying to hint at. "Why does she care about that? Does she want me to become a professor?"
Starlight clopped a hoof against her face. "I'm sure she wouldn't mind that, not one bit, but I think she's more interested in grandfoals."
Sunburst's face began to darken, a slow but pervasive sweep across his face as it clicked together in his mind. "G-grandfo... Oh... I..."
"That's what I thought your reaction would be." She leaned forward a little. "Have you even kissed her?"
"What?!" He startled back as if a snake had come into view.
"Kiss? That thing ponies who love each other do sometimes?" Starlight smirked a bit at Sunburst's display. "You know what it is."
"I have not kissed Twilight!" he hotly defended, adjusting his collar nervously. "We have done nothing but study and lecture, and that was all I planned on doing."
"And I believe you," assured Starlight, having little trouble imagining Sunburst not taking any action at all with Twilight, or any other random mare for that matter. "But we're talking about what your mom thinks and wants, not me, right?"
"Right..." He stood up with a slow breath. "So, how do I get her off my back?"
"Well, that goes beyond my knowledge, I'm afraid." She rolled a hoof. "I barely got my parent to back off, so I'm hardly the expert there. I'd say to just keep on doing what you're doing. I just wanted you to know she's here, so you don't have a panic attack when you see her, which I bet will happen."
"Right, um, thanks." He reached out a foreleg and gently hugged his foalhood friend. "You're the best. I mean, pfft, really, me and Twilight? As if..." He shook his head as he moved from the room.
Stellar sat, towering over the little ones of different species around her. A pad floated beside her, taking notes as Applejack spoke. She nodded lightly as the farmer went on and on about the importance of teamwork, then raised a hoof to be called on.
Applejack hesitated a moment. "Oh, um, yes, Stellar Flare was it?"
"That it is," She smiled in her easy way, surveying Applejack in a calculating fashion. "I just wanted to say that I really admire a good work ethic. A team that works together, as friends, can get so much accomplished."
Applejack blinked in pleased surprise. "Yes! Exactly right. Have you done a lot of work on teams then?"
Stellar put a hoof to her chest. "One of my specialties. I was, and still am, the lead of The Sire's Hollow Development Committee. It is only through teamwork that we move forward."
Applejack considered with a tap of her chin. "Well, we'll have to see about getting you in another class if you've got this one figured out n' all, but fer now, how about ya give a hand. Occellus, Yona, and Smolder, you're with her. The rest of you, with me. Today's project will be..."
Twilight sat beside Sunburst. The tome was set between them, and they were reading, but Sunburst kept glancing over at her instead of reading at his usual pace, and it was slowing them down. "Are you alright?" She cocked a brow at him. "Need some water, tea? A snack?"
Sunburst let out a nervous laugh. "W-what? Oh, um..." He glanced away. "Sorry, just... thinking about something Starlight said."
Twilight's magic gently nudged the book and its support away across the table as she turned to look at Sunburst directly. "It's clearly affected you. Are you two having a fight? Can I help?"
Sunburst smiled thinly. "You are very nice. I mean, thank you... But no, we're not fighting, promise." He adjusted his glasses despite them being on his face just fine. "It's silly anyway..."
"Share." She smiled much more naturally, unaware of the cause of Sunburst's nervousness. "As friends, we should be open with our problems and feelings and work through them together."
"A-are we... Well..."
Twilight cocked a brow. "Are we friends? Of course we are. That feels like a silly question." She waved at him and herself. "We're sitting here, working on an exciting project, together. I care about you, and I hope you care about me. We're both passionate antiquers and, if this goes well, maybe we'll become eager spellcasters together as well. Even not, your knowledge of the field is considerable." She rose up to her hooves, stretching in place from her long time of sitting.
Sunburst watched her with a soft shake of his head. Why had Starlight corrupted him? He couldn't help but watch her. Her every motion stood out to him even as he catalogued what muscles were involved out of nervousness. "I think... maybe I should recuse myself from this project."
Twilight suddenly staggered. "What?! This isn't even a case, how can you recuse yourself from it?"
Sunburst fiddled with his glasses. "Well, maybe not, but we are arguing each side, like, um, lawyers. Um, it's just..."
Twilight set a hoof on his shoulder. "Tell me the truth."
Sunburst smiled nervously. "I am... no longer unbiased."
"About what?" she asked, hiking a brow. "Your horn is the matter of research. I dare say you weren't unbiased from the start. You're not being logical, which isn't very like you."
Sunburst fell back onto his haunches. Not logical. He wasn't being very logical, was he? "You're right. Let's approach this with clear heads. The draw of attraction in two compatible creatures--" he waggled one hoof closer to the other in the air. "Is the result of a natural prerogative to continue the species. Each looks for qualities in the other that signify a quality partner, with traits that would benefit the species and are worthy of passing on."
Twilight blinked softly, her head tilting at Sunburst. "While fascinating, I have no clue how that relates to anything we were just talking about."
"And you!--" He didn't stop his rambling, caught up in his own spoken thoughts. "You're a princess, powerful, smart, magic, kind... You have just about every desirable trait a mare could have. I mean, you're not as physically powerful as Applejack or as aesthetically sculpted as Fluttershy--"
"Hey!" cut in Twilight, starting to color.
"But the overall package is magnificent," he concluded with a nervous smile. "Any male of your species would... see the appeal, I'm certain. You've probably had to ward away their interest before."
"No?" said Twilight in a small and uncertain tone, starting to sink to her own haunches, staring at Sunburst with wide eyes. "Do you... really think all that?"
Sunburst broke into nervous laughter, running a hoof through his frazzled mane. "And then you have me. Unkempt, with a crippling horn dysfunction that could be passed on to any foal he sired." He nudged at his glasses. "Suboptimal vision and--"
Twilight suddenly swatted his hoof away, sending his glasses sliding across the floor with the violence. "Stop! Just... Stop." She rose to her hooves. "I had no idea you felt that way about me and... I'm flattered... but..." She took a slow breath. "What you need is not a marefriend." He shrank in place, his ears sagging. "What you need is a friend." He perked up a little, looking uncertain. "You should be able to see what makes you special, and there are many things."
She pointed a hoof at his nose. "Locked in that head of yours is a brain of incalculable strength."
"Um."
"Don't interrupt," she chastised, shaking her head as she turned in place. "You have a keen eye, despite your phrasing, for the important things. You can spy value in a pile of debris and are willing and able to dig out that value." She turned sharply, pointing at the heavy tome. "That's why you're here! You've cracked open this puzzle that I was just about ready to give up on. You have no idea how desperate I was, how close I was to throwing in the towel and screaming until my voice gave out."
"Well, yes, but--"
"You saved the entirety of the Crystal Empire." She drove down a hoof with a resounding clop. "They may never erect a statue for it, but you deserve one. If you weren't there, using that mind of yours, where would we be? Doesn't have qualities of note..." She marched directly up to him. "Go ahead and call me a liar."
"No! No..." He shook his head furiously as he stood up. "Never! I mean... Do... You... I mean..." He took a slow breath, reaching for his discarded glasses and gently setting them back on his nose. "Do you mean all that?"
"Of... course I do." The adrenaline rush of her admission was fading, leaving Twilight blushing softly. "Now then... shall we continue?" She pulled the book back over with her magic but the support stubbornly clung to the table.
Just as the tome began to fold open dangerously wide, Sunburst's magic grabbed onto it, lifting it and pulling the support over to keep it upright. "Oops! Let's not break anything's spine today."
Twilight laughed a little. "Let's not. Now..." She glanced up at a clock that ticked quietly. "In half an hour, I need to get to a class. You can't help with this one, alas. It's not a lecture. It will be much more hooves on and we didn't go over this together, so it wouldn't work out very well."
"Right," he said in easy agreement, tapping at the book gently. It was easier to think about work and the tome than the things they had just confessed to one another. "As we were saying--"
Twilight sat down in front of her class. There were many bright-eyed and ready students, and one middle-aged mare. Stellar was watching her and had a notebook ready. Twilight couldn't fault her for looking ill-prepared. "Class, today we're going over the importance, and challenge, of remaining in contact with your friends. It can be easy, with life being what it is, for ponies, griffons, or any other creature to forget the special bonds that brought them together in the first place."
A pegasus raised a wing and flapped it wildly, making a breeze through the manes of other students.
"Yes?"
"I don't get it." She screwed up her face a little. "Why would anyone not talk to their friends? They're my friends! I'd never stop talking to them."
Twilight raised a hoof as she stood up on her hind legs. "That is an excellent question. Most of the time--" she turned towards the chalkboard. "--you don't do it on purpose. They are your friends, are they not, why wouldn't you speak to them? But that also becomes an assumption." Her magic swirled the chalk as she made notes on the board, drawing pictures as she went. "With homework, jobs, parties, holidays, and other things, you think, 'Well, they know we're friends, I can talk to them later." But too many of those, and you lose track of who they are, and it works both ways."
Stellar raised a hoof, remaining seated.
"Yes?"
"What are good ways of re-affirming one's connections?" asked Stellar, looking interested. "If one has allowed it to degrade, that is."
Twilight's ears lifted as she tapped on the board. "An excellent question, Miss Flare, but not one we're covering today. The first step is to try to avoid that in the first place." She smiled at Stellar. "But don't think I'm disregarding it. It really is a good question, and we will get to it." She tapped at the board. "For now, let's pretend you're in school, which most of you are so that shouldn't be difficult."
She drew a picture of a school loosely. "Your friend is not in the school." She drew a pony to the side of the school. "You're quite busy getting good grades and doing your assignments, and you don't have much time in the day to spend with your friend." She circled the pony and drew an unhappy face over them. "How can you address this without slouching on your responsibilities?"
Yona waved a hoof wildly. "Oh Oh! Talk during lunch!"
Gallus shrugged softly. "Write them a letter?"
Silverstream giggled as she answered, "Go for a swim after school. We can work on my assignment underwater!"
The rest of the class peered. That was not an answer most of them could try to replicate.
"Ah, yes, all possible answers." She set her chalk down. "It's important to realize that there are many answers, and to not assume the other person will think of them, or that it's alright to let that precious bond fade. Friendships are built on mutual wish for it, but can be lost when either side lets it. Don't let that be you."
Stellar flinched softly, glancing around at the younger students as they quickly exchanged babbles about the notion. She timidly raised a hoof. "Miss Sparkle, pardon me... but if you're worried you may be doing that... what should one do? Just theoretically."
Twilight directed her ears at Stellar, surprised, but not unpleasantly so, by her oldest's student's interest. "I would suggest you reach out to the other party and spend some quality time to avoid further harm. I'm certain they'll be delighted to hear from you."
She smiled brightly, looking so very hopeful. "Of course. It's... so obvious in hindsight, but aren't most things? Thank you, Miss Sparkle. I'll do just that."
"Your friend will," said Twilight with a little tease in her voice. "Do tell me how it goes, consider it extra credit." She turned to face the rest of the class. "Now, for our next example, a friend has been unavailable. When you try to contact them, they're always busy, running off to something or another. What do you do?"
Answers rang out from one raised arm to the next. There were friendship lessons to learn.
Sunburst trotted across the bridge that linked the school to the rest of the world. It was a nice bridge of stone, without signs of age. That made sense, he decided, with it being so recently constructed.
He was excited, and why shouldn't he have been? He was to give a class! With a glowing horn, he pulled out his notes and reviewed it carefully. "I have to get this right."
"I agree," spoke a female voice that sent shivers down his spine. He lowered the notes to see Stellar Flare seated on the other side of the bridge, watching him. "Hello, son. I'm terribly sorry to intrude on what must be a busy day, but may I?"
A thousand excuses came and went in Sunburst's mind as he stood there looking a little silly. "O-oh, um... enjoying classes?"
Stellar nodded just enough to be seen. "They've been charming, and insightful at times." She rose to her hooves as he came closer. "But I'm here to talk about something more important."
Sunburst's teeth clenched behind his closed lips. Would she ask about his life plans? His romantic plans? His career plans? His plans!? "Yes?" he asked through those teeth, trying to force a smile.
"What do you do, for fun?"
Sunburst crashed to his haunches. Of all the questions she could have asked, that was not one he had thought of. "W-what?"
"I want to spend a day with my son, doing what he enjoys. I want to talk about what he enjoys discussing." She reached a hoof towards him but made no attempt to make contact. "Is there room in your schedule for that?"
Sunburst's jaw worked wordlessly a moment before he shook his head violently. "Who are you and what have you done with my mother?"
She snorted softly at that, a smile curling her lips. "Is that really such a foreign thing for me to ask? I'm not that changeling, I assure you. Adorable little filly, isn't she?" She turned slowly back towards school. "I don't mean to make you late. If you have a time, I'll be there."
Sunburst ventured a little smile of his own. "I'll have to check my, uh, schedule, but, uh, sure. Have you ever tried antiquing?"
Stellar looked baffled at the word. "An-Tee-King, did I get that right? What is that?" She raised a hoof suddenly. "Not that I won't find out, with you, but I've never heard that word before."
"Oh, you'll love it." Maybe, he silently added. "It's a date."
They entered the school together, a friendship lesson applied before the day had even begun.
Sunburst set a pile of papers aside as he trotted past. "What a day," he said to himself, moving for the stairs. "Nothing to relax like a little studying." He thought back over the book and what they had read the day before. "I feel like we're getting... closer?" He opened the door just at the last word to find the room absent of any mysterious tomes.
"Twilight?" He walked into the strangely empty room, just for the door to slap shut behind him.
Twilight's voice rose from the left corner, only visible after he had entered. "I was waiting for you."
"O-oh, Twilight, you startled me." He brushed a hoof over his front and through his frazzled mane. "Are we g--
"No we are not." She stood up from her haunches, stepping towards him slowly. "We have another project to see to first that I consider a higher priority."
"Another project?" His ears twitched softly. "But, we're... making such good progress."
"As your friend--" She reached out and poked him gently on the chest. "--I would be remiss if I didn't take a pause for this. Sunburst, you need help."
Sunburst's ears pinned against his head. "I know that! I mean... isn't that why we're here?"
She reached up and flicked his horn. "Not that. We'll get to that. It's about the thing it's attached to." She trailed her hoof down the horn to his skull. "When you flunked, you thought it was a mark of failure."
"W-wasn't it?" asked Sunburst, sinking to his haunches with a dazed look. "I mean, I literally failed..."
"From one perspective." She slowly circled him, her hoof not leaving him, trailing along his sides in a slow circle. "You shouldn't have been there. You were sick, but your mother, well-meaning, wanted the very best, and she had no idea. How could she know? She set you up to fail, but you tried your best, your absolute best. Let me make one thing crystal clear, beyond any amount of argument."
"What's that?" asked Sunburst in a small voice, following Twilight with his eyes as best he could without turning to face her.
"You got in." She nudged him with the hoof. "You did what plenty of healthy unicorns fail to do. You, a crippled pony, got into the highest school of magic in Equestria. You won that achievement against all biological odds, because you were that determined."
Sunburst sat up a little. "Oh, um... I did that, I guess?"
"It doesn't stop there." She circled to be in front of him, her hoof at his chin, brushing his beard. "My hero, you saved him. If it wasn't for you, he'd still be locked away in a perpetual nothing forever. Instead, he wanders Equestria, seeing the wonders that he helped create and sacrificed to protect." A tear escaped her eyes despite herself. "You gave him life and gave me the chance to speak with him, after so many years of simply thinking of him from a distance."
"S-Starlight had a lot to do--"
Her hoof slid over his lips, silencing him. "Stop that. She helped, surely, but that doesn't take away your contribution. Stop arguing away what you've done. Sit there and accept it. 'I am the pony that did these things.' 'I am the pony that can do so much more.'" She leaned forward, noses almost touching. "I am the pony that will do so much more."
"Is it really that easy to--"
"You said you admire me." Twilight's eyelids lowered to half, peering at Sunburst. "You called me intelligent."
"Y-yes! Of course."
"Then what I say has a higher probability of accuracy, does it not?"
"Well... I suppose?" He tilted his head a little. "Do you really think... I mean..."
"Stop thinking of why not." She stood up. "You are an amazing stallion that has done amazing things and still has plenty more to do. I am absolutely certain of this."
Sunburst quirked a little smile. "Are you sure you didn't call me here to... fix me, instead of reading a book?"
Twilight's brows raised together. "If I had, it would have been worth it. I'm sorry you didn't have someone to talk to before, but that changes now." She placed a hoof against her own chest. "We are buddies, study buddies, one of the best kinds of buddies in my view. If you ever wonder 'would she want to talk about whatever', the answer is yes."
"Even about grandfoals?" he asked before he thought through his words, his thoughts straying back to his mother and her plans and how strangely she had approached him earlier.
Twilight began to go red swiftly. "G-grandfoals? I don't... even have the normal variety yet. I mean, I did just say anything is alright, so..." She rubbed at one of her cheeks with a hoof, looking increasingly awkward. "In order to have grandfoals, I would need to select a mate. Such a stallion should be intelligent, perhaps a touch eccentric and able to follow my-- oh! Whoever they were, they'd need to be alright with my many responsibilities." She shook her head firmly, lost in her own world.
"I am a princess, and a hero, like it or not. I'm called away on duties more often than I'd like. Whoever I partnered with would have to be alright with that, because I couldn't not save Equestria because they're feeling lonely, and asking me to would be... quite inconvenient at best." She shuffled a forehoof, dragging it over the crystal floor. "I sound so cynical saying that. It's not that I wouldn't not care about the feelings of some other pony that agreed to... partner with me, but there are some things that just can't be argued."
Her eyes suddenly focused on him as if remembering Sunburst was there. "And what would your ideal partner be?"
Sunburst almost fell back at the force of the topic shift onto himself. "Oh! Well... She would--"
"Hetero," spoke Twilight as if taking note. "Do go on."
He blushed softly at that. "Oh, um... I... haven't had experience, but I think I would prefer the company of a mare, yes. I mean... I've... I..." He suddenly burst into nervous laughter. "I've been with them since the start. Starlight was my best friend, and I still love her very much, uh, as a friend. Sure, she's a mare, and doesn't see everything the way I do, but that only made her more..." He snorted softly. "I used to be annoyed by it sometimes, but I've grown since then."
"I share your experience." She nodded firmly. "My best friend as a foal was my brother. I've learned to accept and appreciate the company of stallions and am fairly certain, were I to seek romantic companionship, it would be with a stallion." Her cheeks warmed lightly. "Like my brother, come to think of it. Perhaps a little more bookish, but he was pretty bookish before he became a guard, so..."
Sunburst sat up, ears perking curiously. "Shining Armor, right?"
"That's the one," agreed Twilight with a bob of her head. "Have you talked to him much? You do work with him and Cadance sometimes, right?"
"Oh, yes." He adjusted his glasses lightly. "We discuss many things, um, he even runs an O&O game sometimes, when he has a chance. He usually invites me."
Twilight's wings suddenly popped out to either side. "You play O&O?!"
Sunburst blinked in surprise at the strong reaction. "Not regularly, but a little game here and there can be entertaining. I play an acrobat."
Twilight burst into giggles. "An acrobat?! I would not have guessed!"
Sunburst smiled a little crookedly. "It was the class suggested to me when I was learning, and she hasn't died yet, so I stuck with her."
Twilight's ears danced. "She? Her?"
Sunburst had just about recovered, only to start to darken all over again. "Y-yes, I mean... if you're playing pretend, no one says your character has to match you, right?"
"Of course not," she assured, reaching to pat his shoulder gently. "And I'm guessing you're comfortable with it." She raised her brows in unison. "Flexible identity."
"W-what?!" Sunburst shook his head fiercely. "I am definitely a stallion, one hundred percent, promise."
"I'm not doubting that," she assured. "But you can accept a female title without bristling. I'd call that a positive quality."
Sunburst deflated with relief. "O-oh, yes, positive, so, uh, what did you play?"
Twilight's cheeks lit up. "Oh, it was forever ago..." she attempted to demure.
"Come on, I showed you mine, you can tell me yours," he insisted with a gentle smile. "I promise to not laugh, not that I imagine it's that bad to begin with."
Twilight's eyes darted away as she started to turn the rest of her body away. "It was nothing important..."
"You said anything," needled Sunburst, circling with her turning. "Come on, as friends."
Twilight froze, caught in a net of her own making. Could requesting to know her old character be what made her break her recently forged promise. "Do you swear to not share it with anycreature else?"
"Promise." He crossed his hoof over his heart as he smiled at her. "What were they?"
"They is right... I played two at once..." She ran her hooves against one another in slow circles. "Star Slush the Moustached and his up and coming assistant... Twibright Sprinkle..."
Sunburst wandered the aisles slowly. Last time he had come there, it was with two other mares, both closer to his age. One of them had been quite excited, the other wasn't quite into it. The one that walked at his side seemed somewhere in between.
"What are we looking for?" asked Stellar, her eyes darting from one old thing to the next. "This looks like a place Firelight would be... very happy to visit."
Sunburst thought of Starlight's father a moment. "He was... Yeah, um." He reached out and picked up an antique perfume bottle, its chain worn leading to the bladder one had to squeeze made of old and aging leather. "Look, it's like the ones you used."
Stellar smiled at it. "We perfected some scents that are testing very well." She accepted it in her magic, floating it over to herself and spinning it slowly in the air. "Look at this thing, so antiquated. Do you suppose it has any scent left in it?" Without delay, she squeezed the leather with a flex of her magic.
A weak sputter was all she got, the old thing trying its best to comply with her wishes. Her nose twitched softly before wrinkling. "That is not an appealing aroma."
Sunburst put up a hoof just in front of its old nozzle. "Whatever is hiding in there has likely long gone bad over time. Still, it's fascinating to think about how things changed, and how they stayed the same."
"Mmm," She lifted the bottle closer to an eye, peering at how it was put together. "I... think I see what you mean, son. It's so similar to one of mine, and so different all at once. I can see where things changed." A little smile spread on her face. "A pity I don't know the specifics."
Sunburst happily began reciting the specifics of how the design evolved, prodded into it with his mother's subtle prompt. She nodded as he spoke, happy to be spending time with him. It didn't hurt that it was mildly interesting how the technology she used had evolved.
Starlight tapped two pencils on her desk in a lively beat. No foals had come to her for any counseling, leaving her day mostly open. It was just another day of being available, in case, with the vain hope that she could leap into action.
A knock on the door made her jump in place, her magically held pencils dropping to the desk and casually rolling off as if they were making a bid for freedom. "Come in!" she nervously blurted, rather than keep whoever it was waiting.
That was no foal. Sunburst entered with a nervous little smile. "Is this a bad time?" he asked as he brushed a hoof through his frizzy mane. "I, uh, need some counseling."
Starlight blinked at her foalhood friend. "You didn't have to come here for that, Sun. You know I'd talk with you anytime." She gestured to the seat on the other side of the desk from her. "Please, sit. Empathy cocoa?" She fetched a mug in her magic and soon had it filled with chocolate and a few marshmallows. "What's on your mind?"
Sunburst hopped up onto broad-bottomed chair and sat down on his haunches comfortably on it. He accepted the mug with his magic, noting she had one too. Empathy... "I feel like a lot of things are changing around me... and it's a little scary... but I don't want to... hide from it. It's not a... bad scary, you know?"
Starlight nodded softly. "What's the first thing you noticed?" she asked with a gentle little smile. She didn't figure she'd be counseling her friends, but that didn't stop her from trying. She sipped softly from her mug, trying to keep her face in an expression of mild pleasantness.
"Well, um... my mother recently started, you know, prying, but not in her usual way." He rolled a hoof even as his magic tipped the mug to continue sipping from. "She's been actually learning about me, as a pony. She asks questions and doesn't tell me what she wants me to do. It's... uh... kinda nice actually... but different."
Starlight felt a brow trying to rise and actively struggled against it. Careful, professional, supportive. That was her job. "I see," she said, stomping silently on her emotions. "That is quite the difference. Your relationship with your mother was... strained?"
"No! I mean... a little? I mean, you were there, Starlight." He flopped back against the chair he was in. "We talked out the worst of the misunderstandings, but it had ended in a sort of... truce. They agreed to back off of us, and we'd try better at being there, you know, as their family... But I didn't expect her to suddenly turn around and try so hard to learn about me instead of... trying to tell me how I should be."
Starlight set her mug down on the desk as she leaned forward a little. "You have no idea how jealous I am of you right now."
He went pink instantly, ears jumping up. "Oh! Uh, sorry?"
She waved it away. "Ignore that, that was... unprofessional of me, but, uh... Yeah... I'd love my dad to turn a corner like that. He's stopped pinching my cheek, but I can see I'm still his darling little filly, no matter what I do." She clopped her hooves together. "Maybe this school is really working for her. I hadn't considered the effect on an adult, but this is really amazing if it's working this well." She tapped at her chin. "Maybe I should invite him to... No, let's not do that."
Sunburst could see the play of nervousness over her features. She didn't have the bravery to invite her father into town in the hopes he'd have the same sudden change of heart. He chuckled softly at his friend's reaction. "You have a point. I really should be happy, and I am! Really! It's just... offputting. I feel off-balance. I want to be happy... I... I have a mother I want to talk to again, and... it's..."
Starlight reached across the desk and gently brushed away one of Sunburst's falling tears, her words stolen from her at the display.
Sunburst shrank away, realizing he was crying at her touch. "O-oh, sorry."
"No, don't be," she practically whispered. "You're not doing anything wrong, not at all... She is reaching out to you, and this is... different, but you're both approaching this like adults. Thank you."
"Thank me?" He sat up a little taller. "What are you thanking me for?"
"For sharing this." She waved a hoof around vaguely. "You didn't have to. Thank you." She placed a hoof at her chest as she cleared her throat. Her magic grabbed the mug from the desk and brought it over for a loud slurp of empathy. "Now then, was that all that's changed, or are there other things?"
Sunburst's nose darkened from the tip of his nose slowly spreading backwards along his snout. "This also involves a mare..."
Starlight nodded as she sipped from her chocolate. "Yes?"
"It's, uh, about Twilight. She's... interested in me, I think." Suddenly he was doused with a mouthful of chocolate in a powerful spit from Starlight. He pulled out a cloth to wipe clean his glasses.
"Oh! Well..." She set her mug down, blushing at her improper outburst. "I'm sorry, you were saying?"
He ran a hoof over his collar as his glasses floated back into position on his snout. "She described her ideal, um, partner... and it was... like she was describing me." He laughed suddenly. "As if that could be true, um... I could be misunderstanding her entirely."
"I see," said Starlight, her face returning to a strict impartiality. "And what was that description?"
"She said she would prefer--" He adjusted his glasses despite having just put them on. "I mean... is it alright to say that?"
Starlight's eyes darted. She wanted to hear, but he wasn't entirely wrong. She couldn't prod into what Twilight said too hard. "If you'd rather not, but it could help know if this was a misunderstanding?"
He nodded stiffly. "You have a point, alright... She said she would prefer an intelligent eccentric that wouldn't mind her adventures." He tapped at his chin softly, brushing his beard with each motion. "Then she... kinda went on about how smart I was, and how my eccentricity helped her... I'm left wondering if she was trying to... tell me this as clearly as possible without coming out and saying it."
Starlight could feel her heart thumping in her chest. "I... see..." Neutral, neutral. She had to remain neutral. Her face was pressed in a forced display of it. "That must have been unnerving."
"You can say that again!" He reached out a hoof for the desk, his cup of chocolate tipping for a fresh sip. "I thought we were friends, not... potential partners."
Starlight's cheeks bulged as she resisted the urge to anoint Sunburst in a fresh coat of chocolate. With a hard swallow, she nodded. "The line between friend and partner is not as strict as some see it. Some ponies fall from one to the other before they even realize what's happening."
"So I was right?" he asked, sounding scared.
"Is that bad?" She smiled a little. "How do you feel about Twilight?" She couldn't believe she was really giving romantic advice to her friend. Imagining Sunburst in a romantic situation stressed her in a whole new way. He was supposed to be her cute little innocent stallion, never even knowing what a mare's attention was in that way.
"A-are you kidding?" He laughed a little hysterically, setting down his cup. "She's, like... It's like... It's like my dream is coming true, and I'm terrified I'll wake up at any moment, or I'll say something stupid and she'll wake up and realize I'm a horrible choice in a partner and call the whole idea off."
Starlight reached for his hoof, gently patting it with one of her own as she looked into his frightened eyes. "You can't live like that, Sunburst... Even if this does end badly, you have to move forward. You know she's not a mean mare."
"No! No..." He took a slow breath. "Of course not... if things don't work out, I suppose we'll simply return to our old relationship, right?" He cringed visibly, teeth clenched. "Right? This won't ruin our friendship, right?" He was shaking a little with obvious fear. "I don't want to mess that up."
Starlight couldn't resist but stroke his hoof gently. Her friend needed her. She could feel his uncertainty and fear. "Sunburst. Look at me." His eyes rose to meet hers and she stared into his. "Sunburst, it'll be alright. Repeat that."
"It'll.. be.. alright." He tried a little smile, shallow as it was, shaking all over.
"She's likely going through the same thing," she noted with a little grin. "She's probably wondering how badly she messed up telling you, and wondering if you'll run away never to be seen again. She is exactly as scared as you are, even if she shows it differently." She leaned forward. "So you have to be brave, not just for yourself, but for her too. She deserves a chance to try this, and so do you."
His ears lifted, twitching slightly as his shaking ebbed. "Do you really think so?"
She smirked. "When it inevitably gets awkward, you come back here and tell me all the juicy details. We'll work it out."
"You are the best!" He suddenly dived over the desk, hugging her tightly around the neck and clutching tightly to her. "Thank you!"
Her magic gently pushed him back as she laughed. "That's enough of that, but, hey, feeling better?"
"Yes, thank you..." He glanced away and back. "So how do I start this? Is there a proper ritual to observe?"
Starlight barely resisted the urge to bury her face in her hoof. What had she just signed herself up for?
Stellar smiled as they walked through the streets of Ponyville. "I can't describe how nice this is... I mean, for the longest time, I thought... you needed me, and that was important." She veered a little, walking quite close to Sunburst. "You were my little lost foal... But you're not that, you're something even better."
He perked an ear at her, one hoof raised to his glasses. "What am I now?"
"You are my son." She tilted her head. "My friend, and my wonderfully amazing creation. You... are not living the life I would personally have chosen, but you are also not... me, so that's perfectly fine." She wriggled her nose. "I feel like I'm being quite awkward about this."
He dared to take a step into her, thumping his side against her side. "You're being perfect is what you're being." His smile grew more sincere as they walked. "Today, I want to do what you want to do. You've been shadowing me, it's about time you had a turn."
Her smile broke. "Oh, dear, I hadn't planned for that. Can we do that tomorrow? I appreciate the offer, and will gladly take it up when I'm ready."
He nodded firmly. "Tomorrow then, so... uh... may I ask you something?"
She cocked a brow. "You've been doing that so far. Is something wrong?" Her eagle eyes ran over him. "We are friends, go ahead."
"Right, friends." He ran his hoof along his collar. "Well, when dad first... How did he let you know he was, you know... interested?"
Of all the questions, that was not the one she had running through her mind. Her ears went up as her eyes widened. "Oh! Well..." She cleared her throat. "He approached me in a very... specific fashion that he had calculated was effective in my specific case." She gestured at herself, then at Sunburst. "As you can see, he was correct. Each... time is a special thing. If you... have a mare you are interested in, or a stallion! You should consider how they would want to be approached."
"How they want to be approached," he echoed thoughtfully. "Right, um, thanks. For now..."
They walked off together in pursuit of a pleasant day.
Twilight flopped onto her cushion with a tired sigh. "Spike, do I have any appointments between now and tomorrow afternoon?"
Spike saluted before flying up to snatch a scroll from a shelf and unfurling it with a flick, letting it roll onto the ground. "Well, let's see... You have to grade the papers from second period." He tapped at the scroll as he enumerated various responsibilities. "Huh, you have an eleven-AM social event."
Twilight blinked at that. "I don't remember that. Who with?"
"Doesn't say." He shrugged helplessly. "Just a time and place. It's flagged high priority though."
Twilight sat up with a little frown. "I wouldn't make an appointment without saying who it's with. Did you write that one down, Spike?"
"I don't remember doing that." He shrugged softly. "Well, it doesn't push anything else out of the way."
"Well, where is it?" Twilight rolled a hoof at Spike. "Maybe that will be a hint."
Spike lowered the scroll enough to peer at Twilight over the top. "It's in the eleventh library."
"Eleventh... oh!" She turned to look upwards at where the library was. "That's where Sunburst and I are working..." An ear skewed to the side. "Did I make a promise to Sunburst and forgot?" She shook her head quickly. "Well, good thing I keep track of these things on the schedule. I'll be certain to be there. We've been making good progress."
Spike raised the scroll back in the way, hiding a soft snicker. He had some idea what could be happening.
Twilight trotted down the hallway, stopping when she saw a scrap of paper affixed to the wall. "What is one plus one?" she read from it with a quirked brow. Her horn glowed as she plucked it free, but there was another waiting to be seen. "What if the answer could be greater than two?" she read as she snatched the paper, shaking her head.
"It is time to form a party." "This adventure may end well, or not, but it is worth the attempt." "What I'm trying to ask..."
As she read the last one, she had reached the library. She plucked the paper free and tucked it away, looking to the slightly ajar door that led into the library. Curiosity burned in her as she reached for the door, not with her magic but with a hoof, gently nudging it open.
"Will you j-join my group?" asked a nervously smiling Sunburst. He was dressed ridiculously. His mane was done up in a long flowing ponytail and his actual tail was braided. Instead of his robe he seemed to be wearing a flowing dress that looked suited for dancing. Hovering beside him was a long staff.
Twilight blinked slowly at the sight, the papers falling free of her magic to scatter on the ground. "S-Sunburst?"
He raised a hoof as he coughed softly. "Y-yes, but also a noble acrobat. I would... like to cordially invite you." He stood up and grabbed the floating staff, trying to swirl it around as smoothly as he imagined his character did. He was not as agile as his character by far, and with a mighty crash, flopped to the ground, the staff rolling away.
Twilight hurried forward, helping him sit up. "Sunburst! I mean... This is... What are you asking... exactly?"
Sunburst sat up with her help, smiling with a little laugh. "Well, um, I was... trying to be... Well... Twilight Sparkle."
"Yes?"
"I want to try dating you. There, I said it, no problem." It was only after he said those words that it struck him. He had just proposed to Twilight Sparkle, Princess, high wizard. "Um... if you..."
Twilight's eyes were getting wider and wider. She fell back on her haunches, staring at him. "I... I mean... Oh Celestia, I have no experience in this stage of friendship!" She hopped up to her hooves, her horn glowing as she grabbed for books in the room. "What is the proper response for this situation?! Wait here!" She suddenly burst from the room, galloping away in a tizzy.
Sunburst blinked at the empty space that had held Twilight. "That... went well?" He wasn't sure how to rate how that had went. Twilight hadn't denied him. It could have been worse.
Twilight drew in ragged gulps of breath as she manically flipped through books, searching for an answer. "There has to be one... Where did I put it!?"
"He asked, huh?" Starlight walked in from the door leading out of that particular library. "And you responded about as well as I imagined you would."
"Starlight!" She vanished, only to appear beside Starlight, throwing herself at her fellow spellcaster. "Tell me you have practical experience with the courtship rituals of the average pony."
Starlight hiked a brow. "There are no average ponies anywhere in this castle, that much I feel certain of." She poked Twilight right on the nose. "And we're not animals with rigidly defined 'courtship rituals'."
"Of course we're animals," argued Twilight with a roll of her eyes. "What do you think we are, plants? Please! You have to know!"
Starlight applied a hoof to her face. "First step, calm down. He's still Sunburst."
"R-right, Sunburst..." She raised a hoof and slowly extended it in time with her breath as Cadance has showed her. "Just Sunburst, a stallion that's proposed to me."
Starlight raised a brow. "He asked you to marry him?"
Twilight blinked softly. "What? Oh, no. He... wanted to begin courting me."
"Then that isn't a proposal, at least not the big one." She tapped Twilight's rapidly swelling and contracting chest. "Calm down. You know who he is. He won't do a thing that you don't let him do."
"R-right... but I'm not worried about what he will do!" She threw her hooves wide apart. "I'm afraid of what I will do! I don't know how to handle this! I mean, I've read books, um, fiction... about ponies... kissing... and... things like that."
Starlight's eyelids lowered as she smirked. "Oh, so you've read romances before? Great, now throw that away. He isn't some lost prince and even if you happen to be a princess, those won't help. He's just a friend that wants to try a little more. He wants to treat you like a princess, no matter what your title happens to be. He wants to go do fun things with you. He wants to be a friend that a kiss on the lips isn't off the table with."
Twilight suddenly grabbed at Starlight's shoulders. "Stop telling me what not to do and tell me what to do!"
Starlight's horn glowed as she tried to nudge Twilight back, but the panicked princess would not be warded so easily. "Calm down, do that, please. Let's approach this calmly, like two adult ponies."
"Yes, of course, two adult ponies." She pulled back her hooves and flopped onto her haunches. "I left him there! He must think I'm a terrible pony." She clopped a hoof on the side of her head. "I'm not doing this right at all!"
"No one does," assured Starlight with a little smile. "Slow breaths. He's more worried that he messed up than anything you did, I promise. Now, first thing's first."
"What's that?" She looked at Starlight with hopeful eyes, as if the answer to all of the issues were coming.
"Do you actually like him or not? Do you want to try dating him or is it time to let him down gently?" She rolled a hoof softly. "Don't feel obligated either way, but since you're asking my opinion, I think this could be a great chance for you to at least try."
"Have you had a coltfriend?" Twilight leaned in all the closer. "How did it go? Did you have foals?!" The last was almost a squeak, her voice lapsing into hysterics.
"Twilight, really... do I look like I've had a foal? Have you ever seen a foal around?"
"That's no guarantee!" squeaked Twilight as she shook her head. "I mean... alright, so... how did it go?"
Starlight softly coughed into a hoof. "I've had a coltfriend before... When I was, you know, kind of ruling a town in my perverted view of a utopia, I was the most eligible mare there... I had my pick." She shook her head slowly. "That wasn't... you know, healthy. I had fun, and so did they, I think, but maybe someday I'll try it without the whole power complex angle that kind of colored the whole thing."
Twilight threw up a hoof. "How is that different from what Sunburst is proposing right now?! I'm a princess, his princess. I have clear and obvious--"
Starlight popped a hoof into Twilight's mouth. "Calm down. One, you're not his princess. He's Cadance's. Two, he really likes you for you, not your title. If you stopped being a princess, he'd only like you more, not less. And finally, three, I'm fairly certain you're not going to throw him in jail if he messes up, and he knows that. You are a mare who happens to be a princess, not his princess."
"Not... his princess..." She tilted her head a little. "I mean, that's not exactly true, but I think... I see what you mean." She took one more slow breath with an extending hoof. "We're friends, and have been, without the whole... title in the way. Plenty of ponies treat me as Twilight Sparkle, random unicorn. Some of them don't even seem to notice I have wings now, and that's fine, he can be one of them, alright, sure... What do I do next?"
Starlight began to wonder if she had made the right decision in encouraging Sunburst to take the next step. "You can go back to where you left him and apologize for running off and talk about it?"
Sunburst cleaned up the small mess he had made. He collected the scraps of paper Twilight had dropped in her panic. He set the prop staff aside out of the way and made sure all the books were where they needed to be in the library. It was as if he'd never asked that question, minus still being dressed like how he imagined his acrobat would fashion herself.
He snorted into a mirror, looking himself over. "It doesn't... fit me." She had smooth and silky hair, his mane and tail remained frizzy on the best of days. "Maybe that's why?" No, that was silly. Twilight wasn't scared off by a frizzy mane. There were so many better reasons for panic.
Had he chosen the wrong angle of approach? He thought she would like the O&O theme of things, and she liked being teased mentally, so the workup with the writing should have gotten her going, but it had all crashed down at the last minute, to say nothing of how he had literally crashed. He had pulled that move off before! Once...
"Calm down, what did she say," he counseled himself. She had been asking what to do. She was... scared. She was just as scared as he had been. "She wasn't scared of me." He smiled a little as his glowing horn started pulling lightly at the braids of his frizzy tail, trying to undo them. "She was... unaccustomed to the situation." And so was he! They had something in common. that was comforting in a way.
He sat down in the hallway just outside the room, unsure where to put himself. Did he wait for her? Would she return, or had he scared her into hiding for the day?
"Sunburst?" Twilight peeked around a corner, clearing her throat. "My... apologies, and thank you for still being here." She emerged a step, though still seemed to be using the corner as cover. "So... dating... Have you... dated before?"
Oh, of course, many times! "No..." There went the idea of trying to sound confident. "Have you?"
A princess with no idea how such a basic thing worked? Ridiculous! Of course she-- "No..." She smiled a little. "Maybe... we could figure it out, together?" She pointed past him, to the door that led into the library. "What's one more mystery between good friends? We're making such good progress on one, I bet we'll have this new one down before we even finish the next chapter."
He felt a chuckle bubbling up from deep inside of himself. "Y-yeah!" He tapped a hoof on the crystal floor gently. "I promise I won't bite. You don't have to hide, promise."
She tilted her head. "I was... also worried you were... maybe worried about me? I mean..." She stepped closer a little. "I am a princess, and that... carries expectations..."
He ran a hoof through his frizzy mane, eyes on her. "What stallion doesn't see his mare as his princess?"
Twilight rolled her eyes. "Mister Cake sees Missus Cake as his partner. Those two are almost enviously even." She came closer another few steps. "Do you really see me that way?"
He blinked softly. "I... don't know. I admire many things about you." He brought up his forehooves to rub them against one another nervously. "But you do too, right?"
"Right." She sat down beside him. "We are two intelligent unicorns, which seems to also mean we're a mess." She laughed softly, shaking her head. "Are you sure you want to be involved with a 'nerd', 'book worm', and 'recluse'?"
He blinked at the words chosen to describe herself. "Are you talking about me or you? I'm not sure."
Twilight sank back with a dazed look. "Oh... huh... Well then, I suppose we can be alone, together."
He grinned softly. "You're a princess of friendship and headmare of a school of the same. You're not alone that often."
"But I like to be," she argued. "I've learned that social company is good, but that doesn't stop it from being draining. I'm not Pinkie Pie. I swear, that mare is literally powered by contact with other ponies."
He raised a hoof behind his head. "Give me a nice book and an interesting theory and you've made a good day. So, I mean..." He fidgeted in place a little. "I don't... I wouldn't mind you being there." He cracked a little smile. "You feel safe."
"Safe?" She tilted her head at the curious word.
"That came out wrong." He frowned at himself. "I mean... I feel like I can talk with you and you understand what I'm saying and when you don't, you just ask a smart question to figure it out."
Twilight reached for him, running a hoof through his mane down to the ponytail he had going on. "You look ridiculous... but thank you, for going through all this, for me. I expect this sort of thing from some ponies, but... I bet it was harder for you."
He pinkened along his snout softly. "I... was hoping you might play along. I even wrote a little adventure for us to go on, me and Twibright Sprinkle."
She burst into giggles. "You did not!"
With a pop, a sheaf of papers appeared floating in the air. "I did so," he defended, pointing up at the papers. "I included a branching narrative depending on the actions you decided."
Twilight's horn glowed as she snatched the papers from him, flipping through the papers rapidly. "You did! That is so thoughtful! And I went and ruined it. I'm sorry." She tilted her head left and right. "A little cliche there... Oh, nice twist." She flipped onwards. "It's lovely..."
He rubbed behind his head. "I... it's not as important as... knowing I said it... So, um... What... you know... what do you say?"
She looked up from the papers, confused a moment. "What do I--oh! I mean..." She glanced left and right. "I guess... we could... try?" She flashed a bright smile. "Let's approach this like two eager explorers? I, um, motion we start by making it clear that we'll botch this, often, repeatedly." She shook her head quickly, ears flopping about in the violence of it. "But if we remember that we are friends, we can... maybe get through it, right?"
He reached for her right hoof, cradling it between his hooves. She went stiff as he gazed into her eyes. "Twilight, I... promise to try my best to be your coltfriend. If, um, you ever decide it, we go back to being normal friends, poof, like that."
She yanked her hoof back, her face on fire. "I... ditto."
He smirked at that, chuckling through his own blush. "You'll be my coltfriend? How daring of you."
Her mouth worked soundlessly a moment before it was broken with laughter. "I didn't mean that and you know it! Don't challenge me, mister, or I may take you up on it." She reached and booped him on the nose gently. "Silly stallion."
He poked her in the side. "Silly mare," he returned fire, standing up. "Now that we are, um... settled on that, shall we continue our research?"
"Oh, yes." She hopped up and trotted around him towards the library. "I don't think the current chapter will give us much to work with in your situation, but her findings on developmental pathways for the condition are fascinating."
"I agree." He followed her towards the heavy tome that was the true starting point of their new adventure. "Even if nothing else results, perhaps we could encourage Princess Celestia to enstate some early-foalhood screening to look for and help alleviate the symptoms of the condition from future generations."
The thoughts of romance were cast aside as the two fell right back into study mode without preamble. "It wouldn't be unreasonable to instruct unicorn doctors what to look for. There are steps that can be taken to minimize the effects of this disease." She plopped down at the table, drawing over the heavy tome in her magic. "It's a true crime that this wasn't done long before now."
Sunburst softly shrugged. "We had to 'earn' this knowledge." He gestured at the heavy book. "There's even a chance she tried to bring it up, but the ponies of her time weren't ready to accept the ideas she was putting forward. On the other hoof, Celestia has faith in you, as do many other ponies." He nudged against her. "Your odds are greatly enhanced."
She colored a little before she shook her head. "I refuse." She crossed her forelegs with a huffy expression. "I won't go in front of Celestia unless you come with me. You deserve to be credited with these discoveries as my equal, not my assistant. Why, it could be argued that I am the assistant. You're the one that broke the code to even starting to read it in the first place!"
He fidgeted with his glasses as his eyes darted around. "O-oh, I mean, if you think? She isn't... so bad... Our princesses are nice ponies, like Cadance, and, um, you."
Twilight's nose wrinkled. "Cadance and I are created princesses. We earned it in our own ways. Celestia and Luna are on another level. They were always... amazing." She sighed out in a fit of hero worship. "Treat her respectfully, but you still deserve to be there."
"Of course." He reached with his magic and flipped to the next page. "Shall we continue?"
"Let's."
Spike pulled back from the doorway with a quiet little snigger.
"They in total panic mode?" asked Starlight with a hiked brow. "I don't hear panic from here."
Spike thrust a thumb at the library. "They went back to reading that big book of theirs."
Her eyes rolled slowly. "Really? All of that talk of being boyfriend and girlfriend and they just... go back to reading?"
Spike lifted his shoulders. "It isn't the same. He's sitting even closer to her, and she doesn't seem to mind."
"So they've advanced from studdy buddies to studdy buddies with snuggling privileges?" Her brows went up together. "That feels like a perfectly adorkable thing for the both of them. Well, whatever." She turned away from the room. "If they're not freaking out, then I did my job."
Spike stepped forward to keep up with the retreating Starlight. "So, hey, not upset?"
"About?" she asked without even looking back at him.
"Well, you know." Hiking his thumb seemed to be in high demand that day. "Sunburst, you know, with Twilight? Wasn't he, uh, your coltfriend?"
Starlight stopped, blinking. "He was my friend as a colt, not a coltfriend, there is a difference." She turned to Spike, leaning in at him dangerously. "Ember is a lady dragon and you're friends with her. Are you two a thing now?"
Spike lit up instantly. "N-no! I mean... I think she'd tear me in half if we, uh... tried... that? Besides, my heart still belongs to one special pony." He sighed out softly. "And she's all the mare I need..."
Starlight reached out and poked him right in his pudgy belly. "Well, there you go. He is a friend, but not a coltfriend. I like playing board games with him. I hope, should I ever decide to get one, my future husband will do more than play board games with me." A wicked grin spread on her face. "Maybe we'll exchange mind warping techniques."
Spike blanched at the idea of Starlight Glimmer, but happened to be a stallion. "You have other likes than that, right?" He nervously laughed. "Besides, mind warping spells are, um, not allowed, right?"
"Yeah yeah." She turned back to begin descending the stairs. "I was joking, Spike. Mind spells just makes everypony else get all grumpy. They really should learn to let go and enjoy having someone else in charge for a little while. It can be refreshing."
Spike let her go ahead for a small while, considering what she said. Sometimes, he had to wonder just how thorough her reformation had been.
He groaned softly. A call had come from outside his bedroom, but that was all the sound he felt fit to make, hiding beneath the warmth of the blanket in a curled ball.
"Sunburst?" asked Twilight from outside, her voice muffled through the door. "Spike made some breakfast and it smells really good," she called. "Are you in there?" She clopped a hoof against his door gently.
He said something, he was certain of it. She only heard a faint grunt of a sound and frowned at it. "Are you alright? I'm coming in, is that alright?" When a response didn't arrive, she willed the door open. "What are you doing still in bed?" She approached at a light walk. "We both have things to do today."
She took hold of the corner of the blanket and gave it a soft pull. Her annoyed expression gave way to one of concern. "You don't look so hot," she worriedly noted of her coltfriend, reaching out for him. He said something she couldn't make out, so Twilight ignored it, placing a hoof on his head. "You're burning up. Spike!" Her magic wrapped around him, hefting him into the air in her powerful magic.
She broke into a swift trot, Sunburst hovering behind her. "Spike? I'm going to the hospital right now." She thought she heard a reply, and assumed that was sufficient. Wasting no further time, she vanished.
She appeared in the front room of Ponyville Hospital, trotting towards the front desk.
"Where... are we?" asked Sunburst as he weakly kicked out a hoof in a slow cycle.
Twilight spied an unused gurney and set him on it gently just as a nurse hurried up to her.
"Hello, Princess," greeted Nurse Redheart. "Is something wrong with him?" She stepped up to the gurney and gently began to poke and examine him. "Hmmm... Can you hear us?"
"Mmmyes?" he weakly replied.
"That's good, no loss of consciousness." Redheart nodded firmly. "Where does it hurt?"
He raised a shaking hoof along his body until he could poke his horn.
Twilight blanched at the sight. "We've been working..." She trailed off, her own horn glowing brightly. "Do you have the facilities for a quick horn scan?"
"Of course," assured Redheart with a little annoyance. As if their hospital wasn't equipped to deal with all manner of ailment. "This way." She pointed and began to move to push the gurney when Twilight's magic snatched it away, the princess hurriedly trotting away with it. "Or... you have it." Redheart sighed softly as she followed along.
As Twilight approached the examination room, Redheart tossed her head towards it. "In there. Princess, while it is lovely you are showing personal interest in your friend--"
"--Boyfriend," hissed Twilight before she realized what she had said and began to color brightly.
"That makes it even more important." Nurse Redheart placed herself between the gurney and Twilight. "Go wait in the lobby. You'll--"
"--No! I mean, I have to see what turns up. This is a project we're both invested in." She pointed past Nurse Redheart. "Just pretend I'm not even here."
She scowled at Twilight but slowly turned away. "You may be a princess, but this is a hospital." She pulled Sunburst's gurney into position and lowered a panel that was attached to the wall to be just behind his head. She pressed a button with a hoof and a bright flash overtook the room. "Mmm..."
Slowly an image came into view on the screen, showing Sunburst's skull and horn. "Here we are," she announced, pointing at the monochrome image. "You've suffered an internal splinter and it came loose."
Twilight hurried forward to see it. A nub of one of his many internal spikes had come free and lodged in something soft. She winced at the sight of it, imagining what it had come from. "This is my fault..."
"No," he grunted, slowly rolling over to face her properly. "No..." He reached for her with a shaking hoof, but Nurse Redheart came between them.
"He'll be just fine. We just need to gently remove the splinter and he'll be back on his hooves in no time." She nudged his hoof with her nose, pushing it back against him. "Now, if you'll allow us to work, Princess?"
Twilight dipped her head and turned from the room hesitantly. "I'll be just outside, Sunburst... I won't go anywhere, promise..." With that said, she finally pulled herself away, her hoofsteps heard retreating down the hall they had come.
Redheart let out a breath with relief. "That's some marefriend you have there." She reared up, putting her hooves on the gurney. "I'm going to take you to see a nice doctor and he's going to make you feel much better, alright?"
Sunburst nodded a little, but remained where he was, watching the ceiling scroll past as he was pushed along. He heard her talking to another pony, the doctor, he presumed. This was confirmed when a new pony face leaned over him. "Don't you worry. You'll take a little nap and be better before you know--" He was out like a light.
Applejack poked her head into the hospital, looking around before spotting Twilight looking nervous and fidgeting in a seat that was just a little too small for her. "There ya are. Twi, Spike said you were comin' here an' ah had to know what fer. Everythin' alright?" She trotted towards her friend, ears perked.
Twilight jerked upright, forehooves clopping against the bottom of her seat in her shuffle. "Oh! Hello, Applejack. It's, uh, well..." She glanced towards the hall that Sunburst had vanished down. "Hopefully... it's... nothing."
"A pony don't come down to no hospital cause 'nothin'' happened." She leaned in, a little smile on her face. "Ya can tell me. What's goin' on?"
Twilight sagged with defeat. "Sunburst tried to defeat his condition with brute force, and I helped him! And now he's hurt and... it's my fault..." She raised her forehooves, rubbing one against the other. "They're--"
Her words were cut off as Applejack suddenly grabbed her in a hug. "You don't never say that again." The hug was tight, almost painfully so. "Don't you ever go blamin' yourself. It ain't right... It... ain't what they want..."
Twilight felt disarmed. Her emotions became a jumble as she wondered what she had stepped on with Applejack. "I'm... sorry?"
Applejack drew back with a little wry smile. "Nah, I'm the sorry one, alright?" She wiped away a forming tear. "I remember the last time ah... thought that... Tweren't good for nothin', really... Just lucky Big Mac was there, so, uh... is he alright?"
Twilight gestured with a toss of her head. "They're operating. She made it sound like it was... a routine problem, but I don't remember any unicorn I knew having a bone splinter... there..."
Applejack winced softly. "Up there?" She pointed up at Twilight's horn. "Or somewhere else?"
With a sudden pop, Starlight appeared, hovering over the ground a moment before she landed. "Where is he?!"
The other two pointed down the hallway. As Starlight started into a gallop, Applejack threw herself at the other mare, the two going down in a pile.
Twilight shook her head. "Did I look that silly?" Her magic wrapped around both of her friends, pulling them apart and setting them carefully on seats beside herself. "Sunburst is being treated for a bone splinter," she informed with a point up at her horn. "They said it should be a simple fix."
Starlight huffed softly. "I presume no one at the school will be angry at me for being here instead. I'm not letting a friend go through this without being there." She drove a hoof into the seat she was on with a firm clop.
Twillight paled softly. "I forgot to--"
Applejack raised a hoof in front of Twilight. "Already handled, sugarcube. Once Spike came runnin' over to tell us, we assumed you'd be a might bit busy today.
Starlight nodded firmly. "That's how I knew to be here." She leaned to the side a bit, trying to get a better view down the hallway. "We could shrink to the size of a fly and get a peek?"
Twilight rolled her eyes. "While arguably effective, we shouldn't... interrupt them while they work."
Applejack crossed her forelegs across her chest, one hoof tapping at an arm. "The only thing we kin do right now is wait and hope. He ain't givin' up easy, ah promise."
Sunburst woke from a dreamless sleep, blinking his eyes. The great pain in his head had changed from a savage stabbing that echoed through his body to a soft ache that felt more like what one would get from studying a little too long. He raised a hoof towards his head with a little hiss. "Did... everything..." He looked around, but there were no other ponies present.
The door to his room burst open, making him jump in surprise. He fell from the bed, but landed on his hooves, wobbling but upright. He saw Twilight, Starlight, and Applejack hurrying towards him and tried to put on a brave smile. "You all came? I mean, you didn't have to..."
Starlight bonked him beside his horn. "Don't you even start with that! I swear, just enjoy having friends."
Twilight slipped between Starlight and Sunburst. "I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have encouraged this!"
Sunburst frowned at her words. "It was my choice and I don't regret it," he said with conviction, stomping a hoof down and wobbling for the motion before his strength returned. "I mean, this is great!"
Applejack tipped her hat on her head, peering at Sunburst. "How's this good again?"
Sunburst put his hooves up in a wide wave. "Don't you see? I mean, it's not good the thorn got where it did, but it's still one less thorn. If we can do that, again, without letting the sliver get away, we could make real progress!"
Twilight shook her head slowly. "You could have been seriously hurt, and you're already thinking about what we do next?"
Sunburst lifted an ear at his marefriend. "Am I wrong? Besides, I'm fine, mostly." He bounced from hoof to hoof, only stumbling once. "I should maybe take today off."
Starlight poked him on the end of his snout. "Maybe? Yeah, you're going home and getting some sleep if we all have to pick you up and drag you there."
Applejack nodded in agreement. "Ah'm ready t'do it. Ain't no good for ya to be runnin' about jus' after this."
Twilight's horn began to glow gently as a bubble sprang into being around Sunburst. "Starlight, would you assist me?"
"With pleasure." Her horn joined in the glow, the color of the bubble changing subtly as their magic harmonized.
Applejack laughed as she backed away. "Yer in luck, ya got two unicorns with their eyes set on ya. I'll leave ya to their gentle mercies." With a last tip of her hat, she trotted away, certain that all was under control.
Sunburst was hefted up in the bubble, floating over the both of them. "Hey! I can walk!"
Twilight pointed up at him. "You can, but you won't."
Starlight nodded in agreement. "Just sit back and enjoy." With a loud series of pops, they all vanished.
Redheart poked her head in the room, looking around before nodding. With satisfaction, she flipped the 'occupied' sign to 'available' for the next patient that might require the space. Another pony saved, and the day wasn't even over.
A soft knocking at the door made Twilight look up. "Who's there?"
"Just a lecturer," came a male voice.
She smiled. "Sunburst, come in. What's up?"
The door glowed under his power as he trotted into her office, sharing her smile. "Hey, Twilight. I was thinking, um, as boyfriend and girlfriend, we..." He noticed she was turning red as he spoke and glanced around nervously. "I was just thinking we should do something, you know, together?"
Twilight tapped a hoof on the desk in a nervous fidget. "What sort of thing did you have in mind?" A thought derailed her. "Are you completely recovered from, you know"
"Oh, yes!" he quickly defended, waving a hoof at her. "I'm perfectly fine, minus the part we know about. As if I couldn't recover with, um, such wonderful friends." He adjusted his glasses with a soft cough. "I was thinking... we could do something we both enjoy." With a glowing horn he pulled a two tickets free, floating them over to rest gently in front of Twilight.
Twilight slid over a hoof as her horn wrapped around the tickets, lifting them into view. "Baltimare Treasure Hunt?" Her eyes went wide. "Really?! I hear they have all sorts of things there! Ponies bring all manner of knick-knacks, hoping they found something amazing." She was bouncing in her chair a little, the tickets bouncing along with her. "I never had a chance to attend."
Sunburst rubbed behind his neck. "You should, uh, thank my mom."
The tickets fell to the desk in surprise. "Your mom?"
Sunburst moved the same hoof to point out the closed door he had come through. "She gave them to me suddenly, out of nowhere. She's, uh, really taken to the lessons of the school. I've been trying to think of nice things to do for her. It's... really nice, we, you know, actually hang out now."
Twilight's smile returned, but it was a gentler smile, happy for her friend. "That's really sweet. I really need to look into expanding into the adult student base. There's so much we could be doing for Equestria..." She tapped at her chin thoughtfully before nodding once. "When is the, oh, it's right here." She floated the tickets back up to look at the dates scrawled right on the front where two ponies in outfits like Daring Do were brohoofing with cartoonishly big grins. "Two weeks? That's sufficient time to arrange things."
Sunburst grinned almost as wide as the images as the tickets floated back to him. He accepted it from Twilight's magic in his own, tucking them away in his pocket. "So you'll go?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," she agreed, hooves going wide. "I mean, unless the world actually calls, um, you know. If the cutie map decides that's a good time to glow or something." She sighed wearily. "We'll have to hope that doesn't happen. You understand, right?"
Sunburst put up his forehooves, the flat directed at Twilight. "Of course! I mean, you told me that before we, um, committed to this mutual experiment. You're a princess, and a hero, so, um, things will come up." He moved one of the hooves behind his head. "I hope they won't stop this though. If you can't go, then I won't either."
Twilight clopped a hoof down. "No! Just because I can't go, um, if I can't go, doesn't mean you should stay behind and be bored."
Sunburst smiled awkwardly. "Better than going and knowing you're busy doing hard work while I'm goofing off. That's hardly fair." He stood up and turned for the door. "We'll just have to hope Equestria doesn't mind us both going and having fun."
Twilight watched Sunburst leave and swiveled her chair towards the window, gazing out over the courtyard where some of her students were eating lunch or milling about. A flash of light caught her attention and she sat up sharply. It was a sudden bit of glare from the bushes. She vanished.
She appeared beside a startled mare. It was Stellar Flare. "Why are you spying on my office?" she demanded, pointing at Stellar's binoculars even as they were trying to hide themselves behind Stellar.
Stellar laughed nervously as she backed away a step. "I was just worried... After you two... got together, I was thinking, what a nice way for them to spend some time, but then, what if he didn't actually present the tickets and something went wrong?" She suddenly sagged. "I'm doing it again, aren't I?"
Twilight gently set a hoof on the older mare's shoulder. "Actually, I wouldn't quite say that. It was a very thoughtful gesture, just, you know, up until the spying part. If you wanted to know how it went, you should ask him, or even me." She tapped the binoculars with her magic. "Save that for birdwatching."
Stellar's expression recovered quickly. "Well, how did it go? Are you both going?"
Twilight couldn't help but get her old grin back, squeaking. "Yes! Speaking of that, however, I should get started on setting things up for my absence. Never a moment of rest." She vanished in a puff of sparkles, only to reappear a moment later. "Thank you." She was gone once more.
Stellar smiled at the space that once held the princess. "And neither will blame me if they enjoy their time alone, together..." She sat to rub her forehooves together softly. "This much scheming I can be forgiven for." And if they didn't do a thing, well, she created the opportunity. It was up to her son what he'd do with it, if anything. She trotted free of the bushes, pondering them just spending the weekend gazing at various bits of junk.
If they had fun together, wouldn't that be a victory of its own? Stellar nodded to herself. She'd be happy with that. That wouldn't stop her from hoping for more. Who said a mare couldn't dream?
"Pony okay?" asked the young yak that stood to a bit to her right. "Talking to self."
Stellar went rigid, caught in the act. "Oh, nothing's wrong, I promise. In fact, everything is going well." She smiled at the yak who returned the gesture. "In fact, I'm feeling particularly good. Want to go get a treat?"
Yona's eyes widened with envisioned treats. "Yona like cupcakes, almost as good as traditional yak food." She advanced past Stellar, towards the exit of the school. "Yona show way to Sugarcube Corner, is best place for cupcakes."
Stellar led the yak foal away with a satisfied smirk.
Rarity tittered softly. She had gathered with the other faculty when Twilight had called them "Really, darling, are you certain?"
Twilight lifted an ear at her friend. "Why wouldn't I be sure, and what's so funny? Did I forget something important coming up?" She tensed with fear, her schedule appearing with a puff for her to check.
Rainbow suddenly divebombed the schedule, knocking it out of view and replacing it with herself. "It's not that, you egghead." There was no malice in her tone, grinning at her friend. "What she means is, 'Are you sure you want to go off with your new boyfriend, alone?'"
Fluttershy shook her head. "I think it sounds... nice. I hope you have a delightful time."
Applejack tipped her hat in solidarity. "Yep, you two go on and leave it to us. We won't let anything bad happen around here, promise."
Pinkie bobbed her head fiercely. "Oh for sure! Hey, will Starlight be the headmare again?" She looked over to where Starlight was suddenly looking shocked. "I heard you got the hang of it. That makes you more qualified than any of the rest of us." She wobbled a hoof at the rest of the faculty.
Starlight dipped her head towards Twilight even as her magic grabbed a cup from a table nearby and got to filling it with water. "If you want me to, you know I'm here for you. But, uh, the girls did raise a valid point." She hiked a brow. "You two barely know how to... be a couple. Take it from me, suddenly sharing close quarters can put a good bit of strain on things if you haven't tried it before."
Rarity tilted her head. "That wasn't precisely the angle I was reaching for. Still, she does raise a valid point. Will you two be sharing hotel rooms?"
Rainbow's brows wagged salaciously. "I bet they are." She flew in a little closer. "And I bet it won't even matter." She suddenly broke into a snickering fit. "Nevermind them, go and have fun."
Pinkie waved a hoof wildly. "Be sure to get me a souvenir. Oh, and send a postcard or two!"
Twilight smiled at her friends before settling on Starlight. "If you could, that would be delightful. Um, tell Discord he's not permitted to endanger the students. You won't have to get replacement teachers." She waved a hoof at the rest of her friends. "They'll still be here and ready to lend a hoof if things get unruly."
"Why, of course, darling." Rarity nodded, looking to Starlight. "You shouldn't even hesitate if any little thing bothers you."
"Yeah," agreed Applejack. "We're friends besides workin' at the same place. We'll get through it, togetha like."
Fluttershy looked left and right. "Where is he, exactly? Isn't he a part of the faculty now?"
Twilight waved a hoof at that. "He hasn't officially moved here. While he is assisting while we work on our project, he hasn't committed to becoming a full-time friendship lecturer. Besides, he knows what's going on, this was his idea."
"Speaking of that." Rarity glanced in the direction of Twilight's castle. "How is that going, dear? I haven't heard much about it."
Applejack snorted softly. "From what I hear, great, except the parts where Sunburst hurts himself."
Twilight quickly colored red at the mention of that incident. "That was as much my fault as his, and he's recovered nicely. We'll be more careful moving forward, I assure. We're decoding the book at an acceptable rate and I predict results in approximately one moon's time."
Rainbow landed beside Rarity, still snickering. "Well, that sounds like it's all settled then. Twilight will run off for a romantic getaway and we'll handle the school for a little while. I'll go tell the Wonderbolts to ease up while you're gone, just in case." She was gone in a flash of rainbow hues, darting out a window that hadn't been open a moment before she got there, but hung open afterwards.
Twilight darkened at the implications. "We're not doing it for... that... It's a chance we've both been looking forward to. I wonder what sort of things they'll have." She sighed, imagining all manner of historical artifacts that could emerge at such a convention. "I'd better bring my bits..." It wasn't a free thing. Ponies often wanted to trade or sell their various trinkets, even if some, or most, of it was entirely garbage. "In either event, I'm glad we have that sorted. Thank you." She spread her wings and promptly vanished.
"Anyone notice she does that more often?" Applejack gestured at the empty space that once held Twilight.
Rarity shrugged. "If I ever had the time to perfect such tricks, I'd consider using it more myself, though that would deny ponies the chance to see me strolling through town."
"And that would be awful!" Pinkie bobbed her head with obvious agreement.
Fluttershy wrinkled her nose at Pinkie. "You already do that."
"Do what?"
"Teleport. I've seen it, you know... before."
Pinkie looked confused a moment. "Don't be silly, Fluttershy. I'm not a unicorn." She stuck out her tongue and blew a ripe raspberry. "Really, an earth pony, teleporting..."
Applejack laughed nervously. "Uh, yeah, perish the thought." She hopped up to her hooves and started for the door. "Well, let's be ready."
The meeting was over, and they dispersed, idly chatting as they went.
Rarity slid in beside Starlight. "I have a few suggestions..."
The train rumbled beneath them softly. Sunburst tapped his forehooves together with building nervousness. "I wonder what sorts of things ponies will bring?"
Twilight sat across from him, one arm around a sizable bag that jumped slightly with each little bump the train hit. "I brought some of my own. That's half the fun. Just because I didn't see the value in them, maybe some other pony will!"
Sunburst adjusted his glasses. "I had been wondering what that was... I, uh, didn't bring things myself. I'm way too excited to see what's there."
Twilight gestured at her sack, then Sunburst. "No big deal. The treasure hunt needs both kinds of ponies, and lots of the attendees will be playing both parts at different times. I won't be sitting around all day with this stuff." She nudged the bag. "I want to see what's there too!"
They shared a giggle of nerdish glee before looking out the window. Sunburst looked aside at Twilight, still facing the window. "Oh, I got us a nice room at a hotel there. Once I mentioned you were coming, they practically insisted."
Twilight's ears went up. "You didn't promise them any public appearances, I hope?" she asked with a voice full of nervous worry.
"Quite the opposite." He put a hoof to his chest. "I made it clear you desire privacy and peace while in the hotel."
Twilight hopped across the small divide between benches and hugged Sunburst tight, but briefly. "Thank you! Last time I went on an 'all paid' vacation, I was the main attraction and I don't want that again."
Sunburst had darkened considerably from the hug. "O-of course, um... I think we're almost there." He fussed with his collar-line softly. "Say, uh.. how do you get along, you know, with your parents?"
Twilight tilted her head. "Those are actually who I went on that vacation with. I love them dearly, each in their unique way." She settled back in her seat, one arm over the bag of junk of potential historical value. "My mother's a real daredevil. Give her a chance to feel excitement and she'll jump on it, in it, or over it as the case demands."
Sunburst smiled at the vision of a slightly-older Twilight riding a motorcycle through a flaming hoop. "Wow, and your father?"
"I took after him quite a bit." She tapped at her chin softly. "He loves numbers and organization and making things fit together."
"But you're a combination." Sunburst nodded firmly. "You seek answers and you're willing to go out of your safety zone to find them. I'd say they did a great job."
Twilight started to darken swiftly at the idea. "O-oh, um, thank you. I mean, I guess... I'm making this awkward..."
"I didn't mean to embarrass you!" He looked away, laughing nervously. "It's really nice that you're close to them."
Twilight turned the conversation around with a smile. "Not that you aren't. You and your mother have made a wonderful recovery. She is a fastidious student, I should point out." She nodded softly in thoughts of her school. "I was a little put off teaching an adult at first, but it's... actually kind of nice in a way. She doesn't have the 'growing up' lessons to learn. The trick there is breaking bad habits when they run counter to the lesson being offered."
Sunburst leaned forward a little. "I never... really talked to her about her filly days in school. She sounds really excited about it now though. I think... part of it is just getting a chance to... you know, be with me." He laughed tensely. "That feels so weird to say, but... thank you, again. It's like I found a friend I had forgotten I ever had."
Twilight leaned back with a satisfied expression. "This is part of why we opened that school, to make a real difference in everycreature's life and how they approach others. Even if someone doesn't come there, they may be touched in part. A kindness can spread."
"Undoubtedly." He perked up. "I think we're slowing down?"
The train was slowing slightly. The outside shifted from suburbs to dense urban jungle suddenly as they passed into the proper city limits. "We're almost there." He hopped down and his horn glowed, pulling down his small suitcase. "Where's yours?"
Twilight pulled her sack closer. "Well, we have these, but also... those." She pointed a hoof at a larger suitcase in the overhead area.
Sunburst tried to grab them with his magic, but it was much heavier than he expected. He grunted with effort, barely managing to lift it a few precious inches. They came down, bending the elastic bands that cordoned off the area.
Twilight's horn lit up as she took hold of it, pulling it free. "Sorry. I may not be Rarity, but I still have things I consider 'essential', especially since we're not camping out and it shouldn't be a big problem once we unpack in the hotel."
"Of course." He eyed the heavy suitcase as he pulled his own close.
The train came to a soft stop and the conductor called out, "Baltimare! If you're bound for points past, please remain seated until the others have finished disembarking or boarding."
The two of them scooted off the train, taking a moment to look up at the city they were in. "It's not Manehattan," noted Twilight as she started towards the curbside. "--But it's magnificent in its own way."
Sunburst hurried ahead of her. "I know where the hotel is." He waved eagerly until a cab pulled up, a powerful earth pony with a wagon rigged behind her.
"Where to?" she asked with a gesture of her head for them to hop on.
Sunburst floated his luggage in and hopped after it as he quickly gave the address, pointing for extra effect. Twilight was just a moment behind, sitting beside him and shuffling in place. "Huh, all the taxi pullers in Manehattan I saw were stallions."
The taxi puller smirked at that as she began trotting. "Well, welcome to Baltimare." She merged with the flow of traffic and had them going at a good clip. "Now, don't mind me any, but don't get too caught up in the name. We love all sorts of ponies around here. You two tourists? Ya look it. Ain't not a problem, promise." She was going at full speed as she chatted on without their replies being needed.
"We got landmarks for miles. Ya brought yer cameras? Get some extra film 'cause yer gonna need it." She raised a hoof, still ambling along at full speed despite its missing presence. "Right there's the bell of freedom!"
Twilight and Sunburst both turned as one to see the massive bell that occupied the center of a plaza they were zipping past. "Oooo," they spoke in unison, both aware of its historical import.
"What, no flashes? Must be your first time." She suddenly swerved to the left, cutting off another pony that snorted and waved a hoof at her, but she paid him no mind, charging into the parking area of a tall building. "Here ya go, good as new! That'll be four bits." She held up a hoof expectantly.
Sunburst started to get his coins out but Twilight put a hoof on his side. "Allow me. You and your mother are already paying for so much of this trip. Let me lend a hoof." He blushed, but relented, allowing her to put a five bit coin in the mare's waiting frog of her hoof. "There you are, and thank you."
"Ain't nothin'." She tipped her hat and trotted away, likely in search of her next ride.
Sunburst started for the door, but didn't get far towards it before a grinning bellhop in a smart red suit zipped up in front of him. "Oh, um, hello?"
"Greetings and welcome!" exclaimed the bellhop, his grin impossibly wide. "You must be Sunburst, and you are our special guest." He waved as a trolley was wheeled over, but instead of just being an empty place to put luggage, its sides were covered in fabric. "If the ma'am would please hop aboard, we'll get her in without anypony being the wiser."
Twilight tilted her head in amazement before poking her head inside. It was still a basic luggage trolley, just with the added curtains. "You didn't have to go this far..." She hopped up despite her words, her suitcase floating in behind her. "Thank you."
Sunburst tried to take hold of the trolley and get it moving, but the bellhop's magic refused to budge.
"Think nothing of it," insisted the still grinning pony. "Let's get you to your room." He trotted away with Twilight.
Sunburst was left behind with his suitcase. With a soft huff, he trotted after them. They passed through the opulent entry hall, where ponies ranging from refined to obvious tourists lounged about. They passed a small eatery that emitted enticing scents that drew his gaze, but he had to keep going to keep up with the eager bellhop that was wheeling his girlfriend away.
The elevator arrived with a chime and ponies spilled out around them. They ignored the curtained dolley and the bellhop attached. Sunburst had nothing to draw their attention, just another unicorn, and they were soon dispersed.
The doors were already closing! Sunburst rushed ahead and shoved his hoof in just in time for the doors to bump against it and start opening once more. The bellhop was inside, looking none the worse for wear. With a little snort, Sunburst walked in and stood beside the trolley. "Everything alright in there?"
"Everything's just fine," came Twilight's voice. "It's a little confining, riding like this. I don't think I'll make it a habit."
A few other ponies squeezed in as the elevator stopped at other floors, but as they hit the tenth floor, the bellhop started for the door and others shied out of the way. Sunburst scurried after them. Away from the entry hall, the halls were much more quiet, carpeted, and still. There weren't others on the hallway they were led along. "I took the liberty of getting your keys for you," reported the bellhop as he stopped in front of a door. "Here we are."
He floated out two keys, dangling from keychains that had the room's number easily visible. Sunburst took both in his magic, ignoring the bellhop's extended hoof. "Thank you." In a moment, he had the door open and pulled Twilight and her trolley inside with a sudden yank.
She yelped and fell out of the trolley into a tangle of limbs. "Oof! Oh, we're here?" She bounced right back up with a smile. "Wow, nice place."
Before she could look back to the hopeful bellhop, Sunburst casually closed the door. "Yeah, isn't it?" It was only then that he took a moment to actually look. There was a small mini-kitchen, a large tub, one... large bed. He blinked rapidly. "O-oh, uh, wait..."
Twilight didn't seem to notice any problems, hurrying over to a small fridge and popping it open. "Fully stocked," she noted with a smile. "And all complimentary? How much did it cost to get this room? We haven't even started and I already feel like I'm being spoiled."
Sunburst coughed softly into a hoof. "Not that you don't deserve it. Even if you didn't have a crown, you'd be, um... you know... my princess..." He squeaked out the last bit, blushing as he smiled.
She suddenly kissed his cheek. "Thank you! Now let's unpack and hurry over to the convention center. I have to register as an exhibitor, and the sooner we start, the sooner we're done." She was half-pronking away in excitement, leaving the flustered Sunburst to slowly crash to his haunches.
Twilight gently set down the cart they had ended up with. "Thank you."
The pony behind the counter nodded towards her. "Of course, ma'am. We would have brought you down if you had given us a call."
She shook a hoof. "No time for that, I really must be off. Let's go." She pointed to the door, grinning at Sunburst.
"Let's," he gladly agreed and they trotted side-by-side back into the streets of Baltimare. The hotel Sunburst had selected was just across the street from the event and a quick dash across said street had them in front of it. Inflatable treasure chests and enormous fake bit coins decorated the way up to the walls of the convention center.
Just over the doors lead in, the two grinning ponies that were on the card were present, though they were dressed in a different outfit. they were still grinning and brohoofing, with an old-looking treasure chest floating just over their heads, despite neither being a unicorn.
"Symbolizing a trade," spoke Sunburst without being asked, pointing up at the picture. "Those two are the mascots of the event. Expect ponies to be cosplaying as them and other famous figures of antiquing."
Twilight tilted her head. "I never read much about either of them, or I might have tried my hoof at it." Beside her floated her bag of potential treasures, moving at her pace, until they didn't. She stopped immediately and turned, noting a new pony, a rotund earth pony, was casually feeling over the bag with inquisitive noises. "Can I help you?"
"Where did you get this bag from?" he asked, tapping it gently. "Its manufacture fell out of favor dozens of moons ago."
"It's..." She cut herself off. Nothing was 'just a bag'. "I've had it for a long time now. Is it that special?"
"A vanishing minority," gushed the stallion. "Hold onto it. It'll get more valuable by the year, especially to collectors. They just don't use this fabric anymore. I hear the plant involved is having no end of trouble, and even if it recovered, they've already transitioned to a new one."
Sunburst smiled at the exchange. "We're not even inside yet and you have a treasure."
"Tell me about it," eagerly agreed Twilight with a happy smile. "Do stop by my booth later, Mister...?"
"Patina. Patina Sheen," introduced the stallion, offering a hoof. "A pleasure to meet you both."
Sunburst suddenly perked up. From his cape floated a brochure with the two grinning ponies on it. He flipped through it quickly. "You're a guest!"
"That I am." He smiled lightly. "I usually charge for my viewings, but I was overtaken in a moment of weakness."
Twilight nodded towards him. "Well, thank you for that, and nice to meet you too. I'm--"
"Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship," he cut in. "Another reason I wasn't too worried. Why, depending on what angle you view it from, I may be the less famous of us two and I should be paying you for the privilege of it." He looked to Sunburst. "And who is your companion? He strikes at my recollection, but I can't quite place it."
"Sunburst," he quickly spat out, offering a hoof and tapping it against the famous antiquer's. "I've read one of your books, Chests Off Cliffs. It was a real page turner!"
Twilight waved a hoof at Sunburst. "He's being modest. He's not 'just' Sunburst. He's the crystaller of Princess Flurry Heart, savior of the Crystal Empire, and a key player in the recovery of the Pillars."
Patina burst into laughter, his fat jiggling in the motion. "Crystaller, that's where I remembered you from. Quite an upset there. Now, I imagine we all have things to get to, so I won't take up more of your time." He nodded softly, then trotted past the couple into the building, many other ponies watching him go with intent eyes. The attendees of the event apparently knew him.
Sunburst nudged against Twilight. "The event hasn't even started and we're on the right hoof."
"You can say that again." With a smile, she trotted forward and pushed into the convention hall proper. Her eyes swept over the open space. There were other ponies, but it was the day before the event itself, so there were only so many of them. Still, they were already gathering.
Sunburst spotted a directional sign and pointed. "Over here. It says you need to be... that way." They veered to the right and ascended some stairs. "I'm guessing that's your line right there." Ahead of them were about five ponies in orderly file. The table they were queued to get to had a sign that read 'Exhibitioners'.
"Looks like the place!" Twilight advanced on her target with a grin. "You don't have to wait with me though."
"I'm here to be with you," countered Sunburst. "A little waiting won't hurt me." As they joined the line, he let his eyes roam the surroundings. "Who'd have thought we'd run into the Patina Sheen, and he said your bag's worth something."
Twilight raised a hoof. "He said it will probably eventually be worth something." She floated the bag in front of herself. "Right now, it's just a novelty."
"Right, once more people replace their bags and clothing made of this fabric, it will be worth more." He leaned forward, squinting at the bag. "I hadn't even noticed the fabric switch. I bet Rarity could tell us about it."
"I imagine she could." Twilight tilted her head. "If I'm not too blown away by a weekend of treasure hunting, I'll ask her about it."
A paper floated from within Sunburst's cape and a quill followed soon after, making a little note. "I'll remind you. What do you think they have?" His eyes had wandered to the other exhibitors, all but one burdened with their goodies, though they were concealed. One in a bag much like Twilight's. Two others had big plastic crates, and another had a heavy-looking chest.
"We won't find out until later." Twilight giggled suddenly. "Can't wait. Thank you for bringing me here. It's been a while since I went somewhere entirely for the fun of it instead of on some kind of mission or another."
"You deserve it." Sunburst circled around to Twilight's other side. "You're next, then I'll go back to the hotel room."
"Mmm? Tired?"
"Oh, well, I'm not an exhibitor." He rubbed behind his head nervously, fussing with his frazzled mane.
"Nonsense. You're my assistant. They'll let you in." She trotted up when it was her turn. "Hello!"
"Hello," returned the pony working the table. "I don't suppose you have the Elements with you? That'd be a crown--" She pointed at Twilight's crown. "--display." Her horn was glowing, already pulling free a lanyard and a nametag that read 'Twilight Sparkle' and said 'Exhibitor' on the bottom third. "Here you are.
Twilight pointed at Sunburst. "Could he have one too? He's assisting me."
That caught the mare off-guard. "Oh? Um, one moment." She ducked under the small table, small noises revealing her doing something unseen. "One moment..." She popped back up with a new nametag on a new lanyard. It had no name but it had an exhibitor tag on it. She was wielding a black market. "Name?"
"Sunburst." He dipped his head towards the mare. "Does it cost extra?"
"Nah, each table gets two badges. We just prefer you tell us before the day of, but it's not the end of the world." She quickly scribbled Sunset's name on the badge and floated it towards him. "Here you are! You're both signed in and ready to exhibit. Do you know where your booth is?"
Sunburst lifted the brochure for the Treasure Hunt. "Twilight is in booth D5." He thrust a hoof at where that was on the map. "Where's the room and I think I can find the rest." After a point, he and Twilight were walking together. The exhibitor hall wasn't far from the sign-up desk.
Entering it, it had a lot less decoration than most of the rest of the hall. It was wide and vast. Many tables had nothing on them yet, their owners not arrived. Others were being set up, ranging from people placing their things haphazardly on their table to others constructing ornate shelving units to hold and highlight their goodies.
The noises of ponies setting up filled the area with busy noises. Twilight and Sunburst were both a little stunned as they slowly wandered towards their table. There were so many things they wanted to go look at. "This is one of the reasons I signed up to exhibit," she whispered to Sunburst as they went. "We get a sneak peek."
Sunburst chuckled with agreement before he pointed at the empty table that would become Twilight's. "Well, since you registered me as an assistant, I may as well help." As soon as Twilight set her bag down behind the table, both of them set to plucking things out of it and starting to lay them out in chronological order, alphabetical order when the times were close enough. "This one's not even old yet..." He was peering at a plastic action figure of Maneiac.
Twilight gestured at it. "It's not, but they messed it up." She pointed at the colorful alternating bands of green that made up her hair. "See, two of the same color right next to each other. They caught it and fixed it basically immediately, but that means--"
"--There aren't many with the defect." Sunburst nodded in understanding. "If someone's a fan of the series, they may take an interest. So how much time are you going to spend exhibiting? I know you don't want to spend all weekend trying to sell your stuff, right?"
"Right." she bobbed her head and reached a hoof, her magic reaching the rest of the way to snatch the brochure Sunburst had been consulting. "I have a selection of panels I really want to get to." Colors began to appear, highlighting. "And some I specifically want to go with you, when the hall is closed." New colors appeared. "If you'd mark which ones you want to get to, we can work this schedule out with minimal difficulty."
Sunburst burst into soft laughter as he took the brochure back in his magic. "Let me have a look... Mmm, this..." He didn't magic the colors on, instead drawing out a quill to underline bits of the schedule. "Oh, we both want to be at this one..."
Twilight leaned in for a peek. "Recovered Treasures of Seaquestria? How could I not see that?" She looked sidelong at her table. "We may just have to close up for that." She shrugged. "Not as if I'm here for the bits, I say we make like Rainbow Dash and just do it and worry about the consequences later."
He nodded with a soft 'hmm'. "I'll get some containers with locks so we can put things away when we're not actually here." He underlined another. "I want to go to this one with you."
Twilight tilted her head a little. "Oh, I've done one of those, with the girls."
"You have?" he rubbed at his cheek nervously. "Did you like it?"
Twilight nudged his shoulder with a hoof gently. "I would be delighted to try one with you. I didn't expect there to be an escape room at an antique event, but I guess they're popular. What's the theme?"
"Keys from the past, locks of the future," quoted Sunburst with a smile. "We'll have to bring our thinking hats for this one." He glanced at Twilight's table. "If we're all set up here, we could take a look around?"
"With pleasure." She moved to the next table where ponies were still setting up. None of them offered objection to her gawking, so they did just that.
"Authentic Neighponese?" asked Sunburst, carefully lifting a vase from the table in his magic. "It even smells right."
"There's a smell?" Twilight hiked a brow at her studious companion.
"Oh, yes." He bobbed his head. "They used a particular ink. If you've smelled it once, you never really forget it. I've seen forgeries forget it though."
A new male voice joined the conversation, "day 0 customers are the best kind." Their curiosity was noticed by the booth's owner. It was just the start of a busy weekend.
They returned to their room. Twilight set aside a small bag of things she had gotten then and there. "It hasn't even officially begun and I already love it here!"
Sunburst set down an ornate lamp that looked like a genie could spill free of it at any moment. "You're telling me? We'd better get some rest so we're ready for when it really starts."
"We should eat." She hopped up on the bed as her magic grabbed the phone off its hook and pulled it over to herself. "I don't use these that--"
She was interrupted with a male voice speaking from the piece she was holding, "Hello, front desk, how can we make your stay even better?"
"Oh! That works. Hm, I wanted to order something to eat."
Sunburst peered at Twilight speaking to herself. He hadn't used a phone at all before, but he was fairly sure he could guess what it was. Magic? Probably magic. "Who are you talking to?"
"If you'd look at the brochure that should be on your night stand, it has our full menu. Once you've decided which tasty option you want, give us a call and we'll speed it over to your room," encouraged the stallion on the phone. "Is there anything else I could help with?"
Twilight's eyes darted about, spotting the small book. "I see it. I'll give it a look and call you right back, thanks." She hung up the phone and pointed. "Let's pick dinner."
Sunburst saw what Twilight was looking at and willed the book over closer to the both of them. With a flip of a hoof, his magic opened it and he flipped through. "Food, food... Here we are." He turned it so they could both peer at it. "Are those menu numbers?"
"Prices," corrected Twilight. She noticed his cringe and put a hoof on his shoulder, easily done with her on the bed and him sitting beside it. "You're my assistant, so I'll cover it."
"Right, uh..." Even with her permission, he skipped past the higher numbers. "The light grazer salad looks nice."
"Not feeling hungry?" She reached out and down for the menu, tapping. "I'm going to start with an alfafa sub with dipping sauce." Her horn was already glowing, grabbing for the phone.
Soon the food arrived, borne on the back of a smiling stallion. As soon as the door was opened, he trotted inside. "Here you are." He bumped himself and the food slid right off of him onto one of the dressers neatly. "If you need anything at all, give us a call!"
Sunburst waved at him as he moved to depart. "Thank you." His eyes moved back to the food. Both plates were covered, so he took care of that, lifting the metal trays away to reveal two plates.
"There it is." Twilight grabbed her plate with its big sub and sauce, drawing it over to herself in her magic. "Eat up!"
Sunburst looked around for a place to sit down. He could sit on the ground, or in the tub, or on the bed, where Twilight was already snarfing down her food. "Handle this like an adult," he muttered to himself, approaching the bed. He hopped up with his plate hovering beside himself and sat down. His head was not removed by an upset Twilight. She didn't even seem to notice his hesitation.
"Is it any good?" she asked, pausing her eating. "Mine's really nice."
He lifted the plate to his mouth and took a big bite of greens and purples, catching half a tomato along the way. "Mmm, not bad," he decided after considering it. "So when do we need to get up?"
With a pop of sparkles, the convention schedule appeared. "The opening ceremonies are the first thing. They're starting some kind of scavenger hunt there." She pointed at Sunburst. "And I expect you to do it."
He started. "Me?!"
"Well, I'll be busy half the time with my booth," she explained. "When you aren't at a panel, keep looking for the scavenger hunt." She grinned widely. "Think of the prize."
Prize? He wrapped his magic around the brochure and Twilight's glow faded, allowing him to take it. The scavenger hunt promised to be challenging and exciting, and there was the prize:
A mystery crate containing finds by ten of the most famed treasure finders!
It had a list of names, including the stallion they had met earlier that day. "Wow... I do want that..."
"So do I," gushed Twilight. "Get it, so we can both pore over it. Please." She cleared her throat. "I don't want you missing any of the events you planned though. If you win, great. If not, let's promise right now to not be upset about it."
"Right, not angry." He nodded before taking a bite of his food. Though he was eating slower, his smaller plate of food made him about as fast overall at finishing it as Twilight. "We have a weekend full of things to do it seems."
"We sure do." Twilight waved at a few of the lights in the room, banishing them. "Let's try to get some sleep."
She was soon settled in, banishing the remaining lights, but she saw Sunburst sitting there, looking odd. Then it hit her. "Oh! I didn't think of that." She sat right back up. "This is like a sleepover, isn't it?"
Sunburst blinked softly. He hadn't thought of that angle. "I... guess?"
"And you're waiting to play some sleepover games, but we really do need some sleep." She patted the pillow beside her own. "Go on, they're soft."
Sunburst took hold of the pillow in his magic and slid it a few precious inches away as he laid down on top of the blanket rather, flopping into position.
"You're going to get cold," chastised Twilight. "They keep the air conditioning up fairly high from the feel of it." Her magic dimly grabbed at the corner of the blanket and yanked it out from under Sunburst in a sudden pull, wrapping it over him gently. "Isn't that better?"
Sunburst was amazed on two levels. One, she had pulled that so quickly and perfectly that he hadn't even moved. Two, he was under the same blanket as Twilight. He could feel her heat. She was laying down just inches from him. His marefriend was sleeping with him.
Well... that is what marefriends and coltfriends do, right? "Yeah, thanks. Um... goodnight." He decided to be bold. He would do it! He leaned in towards her, lips pursed. Suddenly he was headbutted.
Twilight leaned up suddenly, sitting up and reaching over for the clock. "I almost forgot to set the alarm. There we are. Are you alright?" She peered at Sunburst, a hoof over his nose.
He shook his head quickly. "I'm fine..." He drew his hoof away, the stinging fading. That had not worked.
"Get some sleep." She casually planted a kiss right on the end of his suddenly-not-sore nose. "See you in the morning." She flopped right back into position and was out like the lights she had snuffed.
Sunburst sank back to the sheets, his head resting on his pillow as he stared at Twilight's sleeping form. Maybe that had worked out just fine. He soon followed her into Luna's realm.
Twilight hurried across the street, Sunburst at her side. They were far from alone. An entire crowd pushed in the same direction. Some diverged off, but many had the same destination in mind. They poured into the building where the crowd split again. Some were diverted off towards registration.
Others, like Twilight and Sunburst, were already checked in and were swept onwards. Some went off towards the display hall, and others ended up where they wanted to be, the main hall of treasure, where the welcoming ceremony would be held.
Both Sunburst and Twilight were wearing their badges which were quickly checked at the door before they were allowed to get seats beside one another, looking up at the grand stage in the front.
"Are you ready!" came a sudden voice, an earth pony mare sliding in along a wire from up above to land on the stage.
"To find treasure!" A male pegasus came in from the other end, though he didn't need a line and zipped in on his own wings, landing just across from the mare. Their hooves met in a thunderous clop, both grinning. They were dressed as the mascots of the convention and with their silly grins and met hooves, they looked the part almost-perfectly.
The crowd exploded in cheers and clops and stomps. Twilight giggled softly at the display. "That looked fun."
Sunburst bobbed his head in ready agreement. "I hear they try to one-up themselves every year."
"That wasn't--"
Twilight's objection was cut off with a sudden bang. Dropping in from the roof, bits of debris falling around the them came four new ponies and a griffon, all dressed as thugs. "There'll be no treasure on my watch!" snarled the griffon, a saber held in his hand.
The crowd erupted into boos, but also wild cheering, excited for what was happening.
A choreographed battle ensued, with poorly swung punches somehow knocking the bad ponies to the ground. The griffon kept missing until he didn't, drawing his blade dramatically over the stallion's belly. The adventuring stallion collapsed with a yelp and everyone gasped.
Twilight leaned towards Sunburst. "He didn't actually touch him with that sword."
"I know, play along," whispered Sunburst in return, watching the drama.
The griffon was laughing, approaching the stallion with a sneer. "Was that the best you had?"
"No... I still have... a friend!"
"What?" He turned just in time for the mare half of the duo to lash out her hind legs. She didn't actually make contact with him, but he went flying, flopping to the ground with a grunt of utter defeat.
She turned to the crowd, smiling widely as the bad guys scuttled off the stage. "When the adventuring heart remains true, we can't be defeated! Never stop looking for treasure!"
The crowd cheered as she helped her partner up to his hooves. "It's good to see you all here," stated the male. "We've got a convention so full of treasure to find, I hope you brought an extra bag for it all! And don't forget, it's not just the treasures that fit in a bag that you'll be hunting."
"That's right." She bobbed her head. "The most precious treasures will be right here." She pressed a hoof against the chest of the male and he returned the gesture.
"In the hearts of the ponies you meet and in the minds of the ponies you talk with." The hooves raised to poke one another in the head. "Let's not just look for treasure, but make it, here, with all of us!"
Clopping came from across the crowd, moods high. "And now that we have your attention." The mare made a dramatic sweep as a chest raised up from below. "We know what you want to hear about. We pulled every stop there was and invented a few more just so we could pull them too."
"That's putting it mildly," agreed the stallion with a big grin. "We have a scavenger hunt worthy of any true treasure hunter. The more things you find, the more you'll win, but there can only be one winner of this." He ran a hoof over the big chest. "Inside are ten wondrous items, verified already to be worth the trouble on their own individually."
The mare shook a hoof chastisingly at the crowd. "Now, I shouldn't have to say this, but the greatest treasure is already in this room, in the crowd." She waved a hoof at everypony wildly. "So we don't want to hear about anyone being a poor sport about this! If you forget the nature of a good treasure hunter, you will be disqualified. Help each other and lift each other up. If no one finds all the pieces, well, then no one gets the prize, and that'd be sad, wouldn't it?!"
Ponies poured free of the main hall, chatting animatedly about the convention as a whole, and the scavenger hunt.
"It's right there!" came the a sudden cry. The crowd heaved as ponies pushed and tried to get at what had been found. Sunburst considered joining the rush, but opted against it. "Twilight, teleport me right there." He pointed to the center of things.
"Be careful." Suddenly he was gone, whisked away by her magic.
He popped just over a stack of papers. "Everypony!" he shouted as loud as he could. "This is a test. Let's do this properly. Form a line and I'll hand it out." He floated up the stack of papers and took one off, offering it to the nearest pony. "There's plenty here, let's be good adventurers about it."
While there were some surprised murmurs about who this strange new pony was giving orders, the fact that he was handing out the first needed item freely had ponies filtering past him instead of wondering about it for too long. He gave out every sheet he had, the last pony giggling with barely restrained joy as she pranced away.
He was left with nothing but a few new frazzles in his mane. "Oh..." He hadn't even gotten one for himself. "Oh well..." It was better to have defused what could have been a riot that hurt a pony, he decided.
"I'll just have to look twice as hard for the next one." He floated out the original list, scanning over it. "Overlooking the welcome, I reign from on high with the rising sun." He cracked a grin. That hadn't been the first item on the list, he picked one at random, but he felt sure on that one.
He turned back to the main hall and oriented himself, figuring out where north was, then he looked up and around. "Rising sun..." There was something stuck up in the rafters. He was sure of it!
"I have to get to the hall," spoke Twilight, breaking his thought. "You'll be alright?"
He jumped in surprise. "Oh, yes! Say, before you go, can I get one more teleport?"
Twilight tilted her head. "We really shouldn't make this a habit, but where did you need to go?"
He thrust a hoof up at the rafters. "I'm sure there's another, longer, way to get up there, but..."
"Be careful, please. I don't want my boyfriend falling and hurting himself." Her horn started glowing softly, brightening to a flash as she banished him away to where he wanted to be. "I forgot to ask if he got the first thing." She shook her head and trotted towards the exhibition hall. She has knick-knacks to sell and have appraised.
Sunburst appeared with a pop, landing on the narrow walkways. He glanced down and regretted it instantly. Why were they hiding them in such dangerous places? He could see it though. A basket held a bunch of something, likely for ponies to take one. He just had to cross the beams towards it. With slow steps he approached, daring not to have more than one hoof off the walkway at a time in a slow inching forward.
A pegasus darted up ahead of him and grabbed one of the little pins in the basket with a happy cheer. The stallion spotted him coming. "Uh, pretty sure you should be coming from that way." He pointed to a wider walkway that led to the basket.
"I didn't know about it." Sunburst kept nudging forward, working towards the basket with an almost-shuffle.
"Want a hoof?"
Sunburst smiled. "Please, if you can." Suddenly he was lifted up, the pegasus flying right under him and carrying him over to the basket. "Oh! Thank you." He grabbed a pin with his magic. "Let's head back down."
"No problem to help out a fellow adventurer, right?" The pegasus descended smoothly, letting Sunburst hop free. They met their hooves in a firm clop. "Heh, I feel like the mascots."
Sunburst was grinning, and feeling a bit like the happy mascots himself. "Yeah. Let's keep looking."
"I have to get to a panel." He pointed with a wing. "Good luck!"
"Good luck!" He waved at the fleeing pegasus before looking back at his brochure to make sure he wasn't missing a panel himself. There were so many more things to find!
Twilight sat down behind her booth, eyes scanning over her trinkets before looking out at the aisle in front of her.
"Ready?" It was the first pony she had bought from, the stallion beside her.
"Not entirely." She grinned a little. "I've overseen a convention before, but not participated as a dealer myself. It's... different."
"Don't worry about it." He tapped at his table with a broad hoof. "Just don't sit there."
"Don't sit here?" She stood up and peeked as if she might be sitting on something. "Why not?"
"I mean, you can if you want, but try not doing that. Shout, call. Greet ponies and get them over to look at what you have. It's easy to just sit there, but if you want to move what you have, put in some effort."
Twilight noticed a mare wandering right past her table, not even glancing at it. "Hello there," she called out. "Do you like the Power Ponies?"
The mare paused, looking confused a moment before her brain processed who had called to her and she turned to look at Twilight. "Yeah, a--" She stopped, seeing the Maneiac figure. "Oh wow!" She pointed a hoof at it. "Why's that here? This place is for antiques, right?"
Twilight gestured with a slightly over-dramatic sweep of a hoof. "But this is already an antique. Can you spot what makes this one different?"
The mare leaned in to peer at the figure, picking it up and turning it around carefully. Her presence drew over a stallion to peek at the table. "Wow, nice collection," he complimented before reaching for a button. "Ooo..."
Twilight could only smile. Things were looking up! "That was the button worn by Commander--"
Sunburst trotted along with a proud smile. He'd found three things so far! And he was just in time for his first panel. He slipped inside and trotted towards down the aisle, considering which seat to take.
An analysis on the preservation of corrodible metals. How could he miss that?! He listened to the lecturer eagerly, waving a hoof when he had a question. His smile waned a little as it pressed on. It turned out he knew as much as the lecturer on how to keep shiny keepsakes shining and new.
Disappointed, he quietly made his way free of the hall and pulled out his scavenger list. "At least I have something to work on." He looked to the next hint. "My hunger unending, it is only in foreign guts of the slain that you will find me." He tilted his head at the hint. "How morbid."
He shook his head. "Let's take this one step at a time." He wandered with purpose. Hunger unending. The food court? There were four food stands right in the convention hall right beside one another, awaiting the chance to sate the attendee's appetites.
"In foreign guts..." He looked from one to the next. Roasted carrots? Not foreign, no guts. He made a face at the idea of guts being involved with food. The next stand was offering hay burges. Again, dometic, not guts.
"Psst." Sunburst jumped. It was the pegasus from before. "You showed me where the other one was, there." He pointed to a stand and a particular offering.
"Griffon roasted links?!" Sunburst took a step forward. "Of course! Um, thanks!" They paused long enough to share a triumphant meeting of hooves before he dashed over to the stall. Just behind the display for the links was the basket, tucked in the corner of the stall. He lifted one free and tucked it away with a little giggle of joy.
A glance at the clock showed it was soon time for Twilight to want to start moving for her own panel desires. He hurriedly trotted through the crowd of adventurous ponies, making his way into the large room that held her and all the others offering trinkets.
Already he could see tables were less overflowing. The various trinkets that the attendees had in their bags, hooves, and magic were not on the tables. He ambled up to her table with a smile. "Woah, look at you!"
Twilight's wings spread wide. "I know! It's been amazing." She gestured over her collection, half of it removed. "I never knew selling things could be satisfying. How'd it go?" She leaned in close, over the table. "Did you find a lot of the scavanger parts?"
He pulled out the list. "I found 3, 5, and 8. Oh, and 9." He surrendered the list to her. "If you spot any on your way..."
"Of course." She tucked the list away as she circled the table. "Thanks for watching the table for me. If it keeps going this well, maybe we can just shut this down and focus on the convention itself."
"That'd be nice." He plopped his bottom down on the seller's side of the table, ready for customers. "Go on, have fun."
Twilight took the chance and began her trot free of the hall, only to run right into a smiling mare. "Oh, um, sorry about that."
"Think nothing of it, Princess." She giggled with a growing grin. "Welcome to Baltimare!"
"It's been a nice city so far," easily agreed Twilight. "I'm sorry, but I'm trying to get to a panel."
"Which one? I'll show you the way." She waved the way forward and turned away, though remaining close to Twilight.
"Thank you?" She held up her brochure with the panel highlighted. "Organizing the unknown."
"Wow, you're as smart as ponies say. This way!" She proudly walked in front of Twilight, giving any other pony that seemed to want to approach Twilight a dreadful glare. With her help, the way was quite clear. "Here we are." She gestured to the open doors that led to the panel room. "We should meet again later. Do you have dinner plans?"
Twilight dipped her head at the eager mare. "I haven't even gotten your name yet?"
"How silly of me." She put a hoof just at her lower lip. "I'm Star Catcher, and you are Twilight Sparkle, a thousand times more important than me." She laughed airily despite her self-deprecation. "A pleasure to help."
"Thank you, Star." She tossed her head towards the door. "I'm heading inside. I'm afraid I can't promise anything about dinner. Sunburst would get upset if I made plans without him."
"Him?" She leaned closer, eyes half-closing. "Sunburst, Sunburst... Wasn't he... the royal crystaller?"
"You have me at a disadvantage," she confessed, sliding towards the door. "I barely know you at all."
"We should fix that." She put a hoof on her chest. "I'll see you around the convention, Your Majesty. I'll treat you and Sunburst. Is this one of your friendship quests? How exciting!"
"Oh, well, not exactly." She took another little step towards the door, almost escaped. "It was nice meeting you. Have a good day!" She fled into the room.
The walls across from the door had numbers posted on them. "That's odd..." She pulled out the scavenging list and scanned over it. "It is the ideal way to grow."
Twilight smiled as she approached the numbers, forgetting the panel for a moment. She went right up to the numbers and put a hoof on a 1, then another 1, then 2... She followed the numbers along, getting to higher and higher numbers until she arrived at the final number, the largest one there, at least that belonged to the sequence. There were many other numbers that went past it, but they weren't part of it.
She pressed 277 in and it fell back. She leaned up and peeked inside with a glowing horn, spotting a basket inside. "Yes!" She snatched the pin just before the flap sealed itself shut.
Twilight returned to her table at an easy walk. She nodded at the stallion that had been stationed beside her. "How are things going?" Her eyes wandered over his collection, which seemed to be just as plentiful. "Are ponies not biting?"
"Oh, they are," he replied with a chuckle in his breath. "I just keep restocking as they sell."
She considered that a moment. "Why not put out everything you have?"
"Because what looks like it's more rare gets more attention." He tapped the table lightly. "Like your table."
Hearing them speak perhaps, Sunburst suddenly chimed in from nextdoor, "Hey Twilight! Just about finished here."
Twilight blinked, leaning over to get a view of Sunburst and her table. There were a precious few things remaining on it. "I hadn't brought much... Maybe I should have--"
The stallion shook his head. "Don't think about it that way. If you do another, think about it then. This is your first time, right? You did great!"
Sunburst bobbed his head in agreement as he stood up. "This opens up our schedule nicely, especially if you just want to take these back home." He gestured over the few trinkets remaining.
"You will not do that!" came an excited female cry. A griffon landed, her talons closing around an amulet, her eyes focused on it. "Where'd you get this from?!"
Sunburst fell back in surprise, but Twilight moved in beside the griffon. "It was at an antique store in Ponyville, origin: unknown. It has clear--"
"It belongs to griffons," she called with the clarion cry of the hawk she half was. "I must have it!"
Twilight rolled a hoof towards the amulet clutched in the griffon's talons. "I'll be happy to sell it, perhaps at a discount if you could tell me what makes it so important?"
She suddenly thrust the amulet forward dangerously close to Twilight's face. "Can't you see it? It was worn by the King Grover, forged in dragon's breath over an active volcano in the middle of a heat wave just to get it right. How much?"
Twilight opened her mouth to speak, but there was a hoof in the way. Sunburst had recovered and was smiling uneasily. "Before we get to that, what will you do with it? If it's a societal treasure, will it be put in a museum or somewhere like that?"
The griffon blinked, disarmed a precious moment. "Museum? I was going to just... you know, have it."
Twilight nodded at Sunburst, sharing his wavelength. "It's free, if you promise to put it somewhere that all griffons can see it. They don't have to be able to touch it, that could hurt it, but see it, perhaps in a glass box? You could show it off."
"They'll be so jealous," agreed Sunburst with a smile.
"So jealous," the griffon agreed, hugging the amulet close. "You got a deal! I'll park this thing right where everyone can see it and know that they'll never have it."
With the happy griffon wandering off, Twilight lifted the two remaining items and tucked them in her potentially novel bag. "I vote we dedicate the rest of the weekend to enjoying this convention."
"Seconded." Sunburst raised a hoof before circling the table to join Twilight. "Plenty of light left in the day."
"Is there?" Twilight turned to the door, squinting at the window visible through it. "It's early evening, I think."
"Wow, I lost track of time." He put a hoof behind his head. "Well, we should get something to eat. I'm not sure either of us ate a thing all day."
A soft rumble from Twilight's midsection agreed with the idea. She colored faintly. "Alright, let's do that. That reminds me though." They began walking out of the dealer's area, emerging into the convention proper. "Keep an eye out for--"
"Hi!" Star Catcher was there, smiling brightly at the both of them. "All done?"
Sunburst jumped with surprise, glancing between the new mare and the fidgeting Twilight. "Um... a friend of yours?"
"We just met earlier today." Twilight smiled thinly. "How'd you know I'd be here?"
"Well, you went to that panel and I checked how long it was, and I figured you'd come back here afterwards, and here we are! So, what kind of food do you two like? I'm treating, remember!"
Sunburst looked over the earth pony mare curiously. "I'm sorry, you are?"
"Nobody," she assured. "You can call me Star though. You, on the other hoof, are Sunburst, royal crystaller, and..." She waggled her brows. "Royal consort."
Twilight's face lit up. "Don't say it like that! I was thinking we'd just grab something from the foodstands." She pointed towards the food court. "We both have other panels we want to see today, so a sit down restaurant won't fit in the schedule."
Star took a firm step in the direction of the foodstands. "Let's get going then. What would you like? The roast carrots are nice, if a little sugary."
Sunburst quickly trotted up beside her. "Excuse me... Star was it? Twilight is tired and wants to decompress."
"That's why we're getting something to eat." Star nodded confidently.
"She wants to decompress," he repeated. "That means only being around ponies she already knows. We are both introverts." He waggled a hoof between himself and Twilight. "We'll be happy to talk to you, maybe later?"
"Oh! Oh... well..." She glanced around fitfully before curling on herself and drawing out a business card. "Call me." Once Sunburst had the card in his magic, she dipped her head at the both of them and trotted away, ears falling as she went.
Twilight blinked as she drew up beside Sunburst. "That was... Thank you. I wasn't sure how to tell her to take a step back." She raised a hoof to apply it to her own face. "Princess. Of friendship... And I still get tongue tied around ponies that are too aggressive socially. I must look like a real foal."
"Nah." He bumped up against her with a gentle smile. "Let's get something tasty to nibble on and just unwind, alright?"
"That sounds great." She leaned back against him a moment, seeming to draw strength from his familiar presence. "Those roast carrots actually sounded good, I admit. What do you think?"
"Roast carrots it is."
They secured their food, roast carrots on buns with a big bowl of hay fries to share between them and sat down at a table to eat and say nothing. It had been a busy day and both were ready to do a lot of saying nothing. They chomped their food, making the soft noises of appreciating the food, but no words flowed between them.
And both were pretty happy for it.
Twilight lifted the scraps from the table in her magic, floating them past the other attendees towards the trash. "That wasn't bad."
"Mm." Sunburst's eyes were on the convention brochure, examining the options. "Oh, we should sign up for the escape room. I'm pretty sure you have to reserve a time slot."
Twilight bounced to her hooves. "Let's get on that then. Maybe we'll spot a treasure or two on the way.
The two giggled with shared joy as they walked off. Sunburst scanned over the list as they walked. "Hey... One of these, 'Locked in with you, you can escape without me, but you shouldn't.'" He tilted his head. "Think it might be in the escape room?"
Twilight gave a single firm nod. "Excellent deduction. Let's get over there."
They hurried through the crowd, weaving about other ponies that seemed to be milling about far more aimlessly, to speak nothing of the ones that did have targets and were moving just as quickly, causing narrow misses through the packed halls. They turned down into a narrower one that had far fewer ponies. The second door on the left had a large sign that declared it to be the escape room. It had a picture of the mascots with alarmed faces, the ceiling slowly closing on them as they worriedly searched for ways out.
Twilight pointed to the sign. "Pretty sure we're in the right place. Now where are the ponies that work here?" She didn't see anyone standing around looking official.
"Maybe inside?" Sunburst trotted up to the door and willed it open, but the handle just wiggled a bit, locked. "Huh..."
A tinny voice came from the sign, "Room's in use."
Both of their ears perked at the sign. Sunburst spoke first, "Oh, we wanted to sign up to play?"
Twilight nodded in agreement. "We hope there are slots available?"
"Mmm," came the reedy, likely male voice. "We're pretty full up..."
Sunburst's ears fell. "There has to be just one slot? There's only two of us if that helps?"
"Well... we have one." Some papers were rustled around. "If you can come by at midnight? Only spot open all weekend."
Twilight made a face. "Not ideal, but if that's the only choice..."
"Afraid so."
Sunburst nodded. "Then we'll take it!"
Twilight considered with a soft 'mmm'. "Do we need to bring anything?"
"Just a thirst for adventure and sharp minds," said the male. While his speech was written for excitement, he lacked all the drive to bring it home. "Can I have your names?"
"Twilight Sparkle."
"Sunburst."
The sounds of a quill scratching at a paper came through the speaker. "Got it. See you then." More quietly, perhaps not knowing he was still audible, he said, "So much for sleep tonight."
Sunburst turned to Twilight. "Alright, that's handled. Now you have a demonstration to get to, right?"
Twilight waved in the direction she would go. "And you don't, so why not come with me?"
He smiled at that. "Since you're offering..."
Together they cut through the convention. With the progressing of the day, it seemed many ponies were slowing down. There were others that were wide eyed and grinning, the night owls of the community.
"I knew you'd come here." Star Catcher was right beside the door leading into the demo Twilight was heading towards. "How was dinner?"
"Oh, just fine." Twilight nodded. "But we're just in time."
"I know, right? Let's go." She moved to enter with Twilight and Sunburst. "This must be extra exciting for you, being a unicorn."
"Well, yes, it's about magic." She looked towards the front as her eyes darted, looking for two seats, preferably just two seats, but there was plenty of room about. She would not lose Star that easily. "The use of magic in repairing priceless artifacts is a fascinating topic."
Sunburst was looking around as well. "And one above the level of most ponies, from the look of it."
There were, at most, about twelve ponies in the hall, scattered loosely about in the seats facing the stage and waiting for the demo to start.
The three of them plopped their bottoms down on seats next to one another. Sunburst, then Twilight, then Star.
Star clapped her hooves together softly. "I don't know how to do magic myself, for obvious reasons." She tossed her head, mane bouncing, no horn in sight. "That doesn't stop it from being interesting."
The lighting suddenly dimmed. "Have you ever dropped something at the worst time?" asked a familiar male voice.
Light snapped on in a spotlight down on the stage, showing a broken plate. "Thought it was the end of the world?!" asked another familiar male voice.
"Don't you worry," they said together, emerging from the darkness on the right and left side of the plate. "Because we have the best--"
"Most expedient," said Flim.
"Most Fantastic," continued Flam.
"Never can be beaten method of restoring the lost!" they finished together, waving hooves meeting as they grinned. Their horns glowed bright green, magic sweeping over the plate as it hovered with its various pieces. With a loud pop, the plate was restored, shining and new as it floated over to a pedestal that wasn't there a moment before.
Twilight cringed, realizing who was giving the demo. Sunburst and Star seemed entirely unaware of there being a problem.
Flim trotted to the left in a lively little step. "Professional repairs are costly."
"Not to mention slow," added Flam, moving in the opposite direction. "With our new--"
"--patented--"
"--guaranteed!"
"Invention," continued Flim, waving at what looked like a colander with a horn shape thrusting from it. "Anyone with a few drops of magic can effect a wondrous display."
Flam waved a hoof over the sparse crowd. "Can we get a unicorn volunteer to demonstrate?"
Twilight suddenly slid to her hooves.
Both of them flinched, but none of the other ponies were rushing to stand up. Flim waved to her. "Step forward, Princess Twilight Sparkle. If you can verify the efficacy of our amazing--"
"--fantastic--"
"--spellbinding--"
"--machine, then there won't be a shadow of a doubt." They nodded towards one another in growing agreement. The colander/helmet was held in their magic, waiting for Twilight.
Twilight did not advance, instead sweeping a hoof back to Sunburst. "A proper challenge. This unicorn is quite talented in theory, but lacks magical strength. If he can use your device, then you've impressed me."
Flim and Flam's eyes turned towards one another, surprise showing a moment before they recovered. Flam waved at Sunburst. "Then, please, step forward good stallion. We'll put this right to the test."
The other ponies in the room were sitting up. Disappointment in the lack of in-depth arcane analysis was fading away. Twilight Sparkle had issued a challenge? And they were taking it up? Perhaps something interesting would happen.
Star Catcher hopped down and offered a hoof to Sunburst, smiling brightly. "Um, thank you?" He wasn't sure what to do. Snubbing her offered hoof seemed rude, so he took it, sliding himself down with her, not really needed, support. He hurried past her as soon as he hit the ground though, trotting up towards the stage.
Star sat back in her seat, eyeing her prize - a few strands of hair. She carefully slipped them into a little plastic bag and tucked it away, giggling to herself in victory.
Flim and Flam approached Sunburst as he stepped up onto the stage. "Here you go." Flim slipped the strange helmet onto Sunburst's head, putting his horn into the sleeve that projected from it. "Now, while a unicorn could, as we had, learn to do it themselves, that requires--"
"--too much effort," continued Flam without a pause. "Not to mention time--"
"--precious time." Flim nodded. "Now, sir, you have no experience with this, we assume?"
Sunburst thought of the broken crystal heart. "I know of repair spells, but I haven't really used them, myself." He had gotten other, stronger, unicorns to do it. "So what do I do?"
A cart suddenly wheeled in from a darker part of the stage. On it balanced a fine plate, a teacup on a saucer, and an antique baby rattle. "Which of these--"
"--do you like the most?"
Sunburst looked between the three before pointing at the teacup and saucer. "I like the colors on--" He didn't get to finish. With a sudden shove of green magic, the two were knocked free of the cart and shattered on the stage, becoming countless pieces.
"Oops," they both echoed as one, smiling cheekily.
Sunburst clenched his teeth, backing up a step in surprise. "What? But--"
"--Now it's broken," agreed Flim.
"But you could fix it," noted Flam. "Just focus on the pieces and think of how lovely it was just a moment ago."
Sunburst looked out into the dimly lit crowd. There was Twilight, watching him intently. He closed his eyes and took a soft breath, trying to calm himself. If it messed up, that wasn't his fault, right? He directed a hoof at the broken bits of ceramic, imagining the pleasant colors that had attracted him to the set in the first place.
Quietly, the tray rolled away under the influence of green magic, the other two delicate items spared the wrath of the brothers.
"You're not casting a spell," noted Flim with a smile. "Just let your magic run up through the apparatus and think of what it used to be."
The image of his imperfect horn's insides flashed in his mind, all those ugly bone spurs jutting out at odd angles, cursing him to know but never join the ranks of master spellcrafters like Twilight and Starlight. He shook his head free of the image. A teacup, on a saucer. They were delicate and lovely. That was the image he focused on, willing his magic to flow.
The sleeve his horn was in warmed. The helmet buzzed in odd ways, but he couldn't see what it was doing. Twilight could, tilting her head at its many glowing lights that twinkled in and out of sight. She doubted it needed nearly as many as the brothers had festooned it with, but she pondered if some of them served some sort of purpose.
"Do you think it'll work?" whispered Star, standing right beside Twilight close enough for their pelts to touch. "Looks like it's doing something."
"Something, alright..."
Sunburst frowned at the collection, but that broke as they began to jitter and shake. They glowed with his magic and he smiled hopefully. Would it work? Was his magic enough to do... whatever the two ponies had set in motion? He imagined the saucer more strongly. What was the purpose of the teacup without the dish it sat on?
The remnants began to lift from the ground, swirling around one another with flashes of light. His horn was growing all the warmer, almost painfully so, but he focused on the tea set as it began to come together bit by bit, glued together with the utmost of care and not a mark left behind with each piece.
"Behold!" cried out Flim. "If he can do this with only having seen it a moment, imagine what trained collectors and keepers of precious artifacts could accomplish?"
Sunburst snorted softly at that. As if he didn't qualify as a trained collector. He sat on his haunches, shaping the air with his forehooves as the saucer came together, tinking as it landed, ready to be used.
He let out an explosive gust of air. "Enough..."
Flam tilted his head in confusion. "Enough? You haven't finished putting the cup together."
Sunburst reached up, carefully removing the helmet. "It's a wonderful invention, really, but it's getting uncomfortably hot..."
Flim snatched the helmet away from Sunburst's hooves and almost dropped it in surprise. Thankfully, Flam caught it before it hit the ground and set it aside carefully. "Just a few minor glitches to work through," he assured with a bright smile. "Thank you for helping us demonstrate."
Twilight approached at a spirited trot. "I must confess, I am surprised, and impressed." She nodded towards the helmet. "If you can get rid of that defect, you may have a real treasure on your hooves."
She had said the secret word. Ears went up across the room at the mention of treasure. Some were checking their brochures as if her words may have been a clue to the scavenger hunt.
Flim looked surprised at Twilight, Flam echoing the expression in mirror. "You are?" they both asked.
She nodded softly. "Being able to restore damaged artifacts and keepsakes?" She gestured to Sunburst. "Usable by any unicorn? I can support the idea, but only if they don't injure the user during the process. Work on that, and bring it by."
Both of their faces lit up into smiles. "We'd be honored," assured Flim.
"Flattered," added Flam.
"We're on the case," they echoed, the helmet lifting in their combined effort. They scurried off in a hurry.
Sunburst nudged a few broken bits of ceramic on the stage. "A pity they never fixed the teacup. It really was a nice one."
Twilight snorted with a half-smile. With a glowing horn, she restored the cup as if it wasn't a big deal, setting it on the already repaired saucer. "There we are. I'm not sure we'll ever hear from them again, but..."
An enthusiastic clip-clop drew their attentions to Star Catcher, watching them intently. The other ponies were scattering, the demonstration clearly over, but not Star. She was gazing at the two most popular ponies left in the room with a big smile. "You don't have any other panels scheduled for today, so--"
"--How do you know that?" asked Twilight with a raised brow.
"Oh, do you?" She tilted her head at Twilight. "Which one?"
Sunburst hopped down from the stage, rubbing at his horn lightly. "Well, there's the escape room at midnight."
"Ooo!" Star bounced in place. "Who are you going with? That's a team activity."
Twilight coughed into a hoof. "We only reserved it for the two of us, and that's hours away."
Star bobbed her head. "If the room is yours, they won't complain so long as it's up to six ponies." She pointed at herself. "I'm good at puzzles, promise. Please let me help!" Even as Twilight and Sunburst looked unsure, she leaned in with a little smile. "Besides, you're going for the big treasure, aren't you?"
Both of them looked towards her. Sunburst perked his ears. "Do you know something about it?"
"I may know where one of them happens to be." She smiled grandly, her eyes half-lidded. "I can show it to you after we win the escape room pin. It'll be nice and dark so nopony else will see us going to it." She dipped her head. "And if we both end up winning, I'll gladly cede it to the more popular ponies." She pointed at the two of them. "That's you two."
Twilight put a hoof behind her head. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt too much..."
Sunburst nodded softly. "No cheating, though. We want to work through the puzzles the fair way."
"I promise." She put a hoof over her heart. "Besides, I haven't done the escape room myself, but I have heard there's a pin in there, but I bet you two figured that out way before now, as if I have a chance against two amazing ponies like yourselves." She took a step away, pivoting towards the door. "As you said, it's hours away. Want to do something while we wait?"
Sunburst pointed off into the convention hall. "Actually, there was a thing I wanted to get to, and since this event is over, perhaps you could come with?"
Twilight started for the door, one ear turned to Sunburst. "What panel is that?"
"Not a panel." He trotted alongside Twilight gesturing with a toss of his head. "There's a gaming room and they're playing out of print roleplaying games?"
Twilight gasped dramatically. "Ogres and Oubliettes, purple box edition?!"
"They have one sitting there," reported Sunburst with a growing grin. "You don't get to play with the original, of course, but there are copies."
The two giggled with shared geek-joy as Star Catcher rushed to catch up. "Oh, that sounds fun."
Sunburst blinked, remembering they had a third wheel. "You play O&O?"
"All the time," she laughed out. "I'm sure I'm not as good as you two, but I'd love to give it a try if you don't mind too terribly?"
Twilight rolled a hoof as she walked. "I'm a little rusty myself. I'll follow Sunburst's lead." She glanced at Star pointedly. "He'll be a little overwhelmed holding one newbie's hoof. Let's not overtax him."
"You're absolutely right," yielded Star Catcher, backing away a few steps. "I'll catch up with you both at the escape room. Have fun!" She cantered off without a single word of objection, leaving them to delightful near-solitude, if one ignored all the other ponies milling about towards various convention events.
Sunburst leaned in close to Twilight as they continued their hike. "You know how to play O&O just fine, don't you?"
"I learned from the purple box first. I'm more familiar with it than the current revision." Twilight smirked a little. "Forgive me, for I have been naughty."
"Forgiven." He bumped against her and the two broke into an eager trot towards the gaming room.
They pushed into a large room. It was well lit with ponies gathered around tables of various sorts ranging from bright-eyed fillies rolling dice to elder stallions stroking their beards as they considered the board before them. They looked to be playing all manner of games, but both Twilight and Sunburst gravitated towards the glass display.
In a case all of its own, one of the original Purple Box sets. "Created so long ago," sighed out Twilight, gazing at it through the thick glass. "I wonder if it has all the parts?"
Sunburst tapped at the plaque beneath the glass. "They claim so, never even opened. The wrapper's been reinforced to keep it airtight despite its age." He tilted his head a little. "Now I wish Starlight was here."
Twilight blinked at that. "That was sudden."
"She loves board games." He smiled as he circled the sealed and encased game. "I bet she would have gotten a kick out of it."
"True. Well, since we're here, are we going to play?"
"Are you?" A new male was standing a bit behind Twilight. "Do you know how? The newbie table is over there." He directed them towards a table that had two foals and two equally lost looking adults chatting.
Sunburst moved to her side. "She's been playing longer than I have."
Twilight smirked faintly. "I have one of those." She tossed her head towards the case. "Not mint condition anymore..." And perhaps quite dusty with disuse, but she didn't mention that. "I think I'll manage."
The cocky earth pony stallion burst into laughter. "Spirit! Good. You'll make great sport as I crush you. Come, if you dare." He turned towards a table where three other ponies sat watching them. "Tonight we venture into the Eternal Pit of Anguish, and only the bravest, most stalwart souls have a chance of emerging."
He took his rightful place behind a grand screen that concealed what he had written down or what dice he rolled. "Are you all prepared? Two more join the party."
One of the players, a mare with glasses as large as Sunburst's, waved at the new players. "What classes are you playing? We have a guard,--" She gestured at a female unicorn that tossed her mane at being mentioned. "--an elemental spellcaster--" She pointed to herself as she said that. "--And a nurse." She waved at the largest of the players, a gruff looking stallion, the least nurse-like of them.
Sunburst bobbed his head. "Sounds like you could use an acrobat." He sat down on an available mat, a bag floating from his cloak to hit the table with the rattle of dice.
"Mmm, you have the obvious pick taken, maybe something new..." She casually snatched one of Sunburst's die, tossing it with a clatter. "Forest ranger it is!" she called at the result.
The storyteller snorted softly towards Sunburst. "They didn't add the acrobat until the next version."
"Oh yeah." He rubbed behind his head, thinking quickly. "Scoundrel then."
"Now that the party is gathered." He waved his hooves over the screen, grinning menacingly. "Prepare to have it dashed. You all stand before..."
And so the game began. Their storyteller was out for blood, as he had advertised. He jumped at them any time they made a mis-step, smirked when the dice rolled against them, and cackled when they suffered.
Despite that, the game seemed to be going well, if tensely. It was always a struggle, but it was a struggle they were winning. "I summon an ice wall to buy us a moment," desperately called out the elementalist. They were in a panicked 'repositioning' better called as a blind retreat.
"You scurry away, the roars of the demonic forces behind you a terrifying serenade in your hurry..." The adventure continued, ever deeper into the cursed place they had found themselves.
A heavy hoof clopped the table. "I use Second Wind."
"Under the gentle attentions of the nurse." The storyteller nodded at the big stallion. "You regain consciousness with a loud gasp, images of the fell creature that had knocked you so low still vivid in your mind."
Twilight cringed even as she bobbed her head. "Alright, we have to approach this carefully." She thrust a hoof over the board. "The next room may be a way out."
Sunburst rubbed his hooves together. "I saw something shining in there. It could be valuable, or deadly. Maybe both..."
The guard unicorn stood up a few rooms later. "I'm really sorry, but I really need to get some sleep. Good luck!"
Ponies began to glance at the closest clock. It was a quarter to midnight. Sunburst slapped a hoof to his cheek. "Wow! I lost all track of time."
Twilight bobbed her head. "I don't regret it, but we should go too." She offered a hoof towards the storyteller. "Thank you for the game, and apologies we didn't die horribly."
The storyteller met the offered hoof with a loud clop. "There's always next time," he promised with a grin. "You were all a fantastic group. Any of you local? I'd love to get a group going."
Sunburst quickly waved between himself and Twilight. "Ponyville."
"Canterlot," admitted the guard as she fled.
The nurse stallion softly nodded. "Local."
The elementalist raised a hoof, waving it excitedly. "Local too! I'd love to play more of this."
Twilight and Sunburst left the three to discuss potentially getting a group together. Twilight yawned as they exited the room. "It's getting late. I'm looking forward to bed as soon as we do this escape room. How hard do you think it is?"
Sunburst looked over the brochure quickly. "Two keys out of five? Guess it's not a super brain teaser."
"Good." She shook herself out as she walked. "Did I mention I'm feeling--"
"--Hiya!" Star Catcher had found them. "Is it time?"
Both abruptly came to a halt, startled. Twilight barely resisted the instinct to lash out with her hind hooves at the sudden presence. "We... were just heading that way, yes."
Star trotted past them, towards the room. "Let's go see if the last group's done then. How did your game go? Did you two win? I bet you did."
Sunburst snorted at that. "He was out to murder us."
"And it was great," finished Twilight with a smile. "I really felt like I was on an adventure, just, you know, one that wouldn't actually end the world if I messed up."
Sunburst nudged against her. "So, actually less stressful than usual?"
Twilight rolled her eyes. "Amusingly, yes, exactly that. Playing O&O feels strange when you--"
Star grinned at her. "--Actually save the world," she finished for her. "You've done it not just once either, I checked. Thanks, by the way."
Twilight blinked softly. "You're welcome?"
"I bet you don't get told thank you nearly often enough." She moved to be on Twilight's other side, so she could be as close as Sunburst was being, nudging her. "You deserve it though! Where would Equestria be without awesome ponies like you?"
Sunburst cleared his throat, pointing at the escape room sign they were approaching. "Let's see if they're ready for us or not." There was no clock close enough to spot the time. He closed the distance to the sign and gently rapped his hoof against the cardboard. "Are you in there?"
"Yeah," came the reedy reply of the operator. "They're just finishing the reset. You're a few minutes early."
Star leaned in past Sunburst. "How did the last team do?"
"43 minutes, 23 seconds," read off the tired male. "Not the record."
Twilight perked curiously. "What is the record?" She snorted almost as soon as she had asked it. "I shouldn't approach this like Dash."
"25 minutes, ten seconds," dutifully replied the tinny-sounding stallion from his remote vantage point. "They're finished. Let them past and you can come in if you want, just let me know. No touching anything until I give the official start bell."
The door to the escape room cracked open and a team of two pegasi trotted out. They nodded at the future players. One of them, a mare with a cocky smile, laughed. "Don't you worry, we made sure it was extra difficult, just for you!" They shared a hoof-bump and trotted off together, snickering.
Star stuck out her tongue at the two before looking back at her celebrity partners. "Ignore them. I bet they're not even allowed to tweak it per try."
Sunburst nodded in easy agreement. "That would make the record pointless if they kept adjusting it as they went." His horn glowed as he willed the door open, the handle turning without resistance. "Let's see what's inside, shall we?" He held it open, waving inside with a hoof.
Twilight strode in with a curious glancing around, Star just behind her. Soon all three had entered the room and the door behind them clicked loudly.
"You are now locked in," came the voice of the operator through the intercom. "Will you find the way out? Um, be sure to have fun though. When you hear the gong, you can start."
The room looked like a Southern Equestrian tomb, with mummified ponies and ceremonial golden masks and other such things dotting the room. Implements of ancient rites dotted the tables and strange heiroglyphs glowed with blue-tinted light along the walls.
Twilight nodded at the room as a whole. "Let's approach this logically. Sunburst, left. Star, Right. I'll take the center. Call out anything you find that looks interesting and we'll figure this out."
A low gong echoed from the intercom, the effect mildly hampered by the tinny quality of the speakers being used. "You may begin," he said, as if the gong wasn't enough of a hint.
Sunburst broke into a short-lived gallop. "Vials..." There were many bubbling containers, and some heiroglyphs written just in front of them. Fortunately, he recognized the dialect. "Take a deep drink of the color of sunset, then wash it down with a touch of bloom. Belly fortified, the answer will become clear."
Twilight perked an ear, hearing the riddle being spoken. "Is there a red-orange?"
Sunburst hefted up the reddish color in his magic. "Right here! And the second part?"
Star shook her head. "Bloom sounds like a plant."
Sunburst clopped his hooves. "Of course, green." He hefted up the second. "Here goes!" He chugged down the reddish juice that turned out to be orange juice with some coloring. "Mm?" The green was lime, fizzing as it went down with a mild carbonation.
A loud click sounded out as the table in the center of the room unfurled out to either side, a new platform raising into sight. Twilight clip-clopped her hooves. "We're doing great, let's take a look here." Her eyes swept over the new tools brought up from below. "How morbid, a trepanation kit... and more writing." She ran a hoof over the letters. "In ponish, thankfully. 'Don't lose your head, keep your cool. The answer is locked in a skull too.'"
They looked around wildly for a skull, but there were no such things in sight. Star leaned against one of the mummies. "If only they could tell us..."
Twilight bounced up to her hooves. "Of course! Check the mummies for holes in their heads."
"I found a lock," called out Sunburst, pointing at an ornate padlock that held a chest closed.
Twilight quickly dashed from mummy to mummy, checking each, but Star beat her to the right one, tapping at the top of one of their heads. "Here it is, a hole." She leaned in to peer into the darkness, but Twilight's magic reached past her, snatching out the key as quickly as Star could get out of the way.
Without asking or checking, Twilight hurried the key over to Sunburst's lock and it slid in perfectly. With a sharp twist, the lock fell free, allowing Sunburst to throw open the chest. Inside was a glove and a snowglobe and no writing at all. "Huh..." he muttered softly, things were getting more tricky.
Twilight hurried over, peering at the cloven glove. It was made for a creature with a split hoof, it seemed. "Hmm..."
Sunburst lifted the globe free and shook it gently. Little flecks began to dance, not snow, but sand, raining across the little pyramid inside.
Twilight suddenly smiled, looking up towards the pyramid that was in the room. "Is there any sand?"
Star waved wildly from the right side of the room. "A bucket of it over here."
Twilight grabbed the bucket in her magic and upended it over the pyramid. "No wonder they take so long resetting the room." The sand spilled everywhere, cascading over the little pyramid. With a deep rumple, the top of the pyramid slid to the side. A severed hoof popped free, making them all jump back. It was fake, which they noticed after their moment of surprise.
Sunburst rushed towards it, the glove floating beside him. "Cloven," he noted, pointing at the fake hoof's cloven end. He popped the glove down on the fake, working it around the fake fur and snugly into place.
With a soft chime, the limb retracted into the pyramid and words sprang into being on the wall behind the pyramid.
You're doing great, don't give up now. How do you get out? I'll show you how.
Star tilted her head at the words. "It's not showing anything..."
"Show you how," muttered Twilight thoughtfully. "Sunburst, is the chest empty?"
Sunburst returned to the chest and reached inside, feeling around before he lifted up the entire thing, peeking at the underside of the cover of the chest. With a grin, he held aloft a smaller key. "Key!"
That prompted Star to motion, looking around wildly. "Where's the lock? Is that the door key?"
Twilight snatched the key in her magic and tried it in the door leading out, but it didn't fit very well, nor did it turn when she tried. "Nope, has to be another lock."
Sunburst pointed at the words on the wall. "Show us how!" He took the key from Twilight's magic in his own and hurried over to the period after the word 'how' on the wall. He tapped the small key against the small hole and it vanished inside a hole concealed by simply assuming it was a period. With a turn, the door behind them clicked open audibly.
Sunburst drew in a breath, music welling in his chest, only for Twilight's hoof to suddenly cover his mouth. "No songs," she hissed before rushing to the door and pulling it open. "Time!"
"Twenty minutes." A pause. "A new record." The sound of a quill scratching on paper sounded through the room from the speakers. "Nice job."
Star wobbled a hoof. "Where's the pin?"
Sunburst's eyes widened. "Right, no leaving without that. Hey, where's the scavenging pin?"
"Right here," replied the stallion out of sight. Three pins fell from the ceiling. "You just had to ask for it before leaving."
All three of the puzzle solvers claimed a pin with a smile. Star pinned hers right onto a vest she wasn't wearing a moment prior. "We did it! As if I had any doubts with two amazing ponies like you two working with me."
Sunburst put a hoof on his chest. "Um, can we... sing now?" He smiled awkwardly. "I don't get the urge that often."
Twilight rolled her eyes as a little smile spread on her snout. "Yes, we can sing now."
And so they sang with joy, all flowing smoothly from throats that seemed to have forgotten any fatigue they once had. "And I'll catch every star," sang out Star during it, causing the other two to stop. "What? It's your turn."
Twilight inclined her head a little. "I think it's time--"
"--I want to go to sleep," interrupted the unseen pony over the speakers. "Sorry, but, uh, really. Good night. Please close the door behind you."
The three hurried from the door, clicking it shut behind them. Sunburst nodded at Twilight, then Star. "Please tell us exactly how you 'catch' stars?"
Star Catcher started to blush brightly. "Oh... oops, said that outloud... Um, it's nothing bad, really. I just... like catching their attention." She smiled brightly, coiling to pull a book free into view in her mouth. She set it down in front of them and flipped through it, showing a dizzying variety of hoofprints, hair clippings, pictures, and other mementos of famous ponies from Celestia down to local celebrities. "It's what I do."
Twilight drew the book closer with her magic, flipping through it slowly. "This is quite the collection."
Star sighed gently. "It's... like they're with me. I'm just... a little pony." She held her hooves up close together. "Tiny, easy to forget... When I'm next to a big pony... I don't feel quite as small." She reached a hoof towards her own book. "You must think I'm so strange. I'm sorry, um, thank you, both of you, for letting me hang out with you a little while."
Twilight and Sunburst shared a glance before Twilight burst into a sudden new yawn. Sunburst took the lead with a smile. "You're not strange, I mean, not more than other ponies. I need to get Twilight to bed, and myself too... We'll see you tomorrow?"
Star was turning away, ready to be dismissed harshly. An ear perked up, brain catching up with what was said. "Tomorrow? You want to be with me?" She perked right up, bouncing up and landing facing them. "For sure! Let's finish the scavenger hunt. That'd be something... Maybe I could be a little celebrity if..." She snorted softly. "No, I'm being silly again."
Twilight sleepily nodded. "Get some sleep. Let's go."
"You heard her." Sunburst waved gently at Star before leading Twilight away, offering his body for support as they made their slow way back towards their hotel.
Star watched the two go for a moment before sighing out. She drew out the few purple hairs she had secured from Twilight, securing them in a little bag. "I'm going to treasure this... So modest." She kissed the plastic baggie and snapped her book shut before heading off for the night.
Twilight collapsed onto the bed with a weary sigh. She looked over when she felt Sunburst climbing up beside her. "Good job," she sleepily murmured.
"You too." He glanced away before sliding closer to her. His sleepiness was lifted a little, being so close to Twilight, under the covers. He dared to ride the wave of victory and gently kissed the end of her nose. "I wanted to do that before, but Star was there, watching."
Twilight wrinkled her nose and giggled at that. "She is an odd one, but I had one waiting for you too." She went in for a return kiss. Sunburst was already trying to reply and the motion had their lips meet. Both of their eyes snapped open, staring at one another. He tilted his head so the kiss could deepen, their heads coming closer as their eyes drifted shut.
It could have become something larger, if they didn't slip gently into Luna's domain like that, cradled close together.
Twilight woke first. She was no longer kissing Sunburst, but her hooves were feeling his back. She was hugging him close, and he was hugging her in kind. They were pressed close together and she began to blush brightly, realizing how intimate they were being. "S-sun..." Despite her misgivings, it wasn't all bad. He had a nice scent that tickled at her nose, and feeling him breathe softly against her was... kind of nice.
She ran a hoof slowly down his back. "Sun?" She tensed, feeling his hoof replicate the motion and grasp her bottom. "Sun?"
"Mmm?" His eyes opened, then snapped wide, realizing where he was and what he was doing. "I'm sorry!" He moved to scramble away, but Twilight held him fast.
"Calm down," she urged. "We're not doing anything a girlfriend and a boyfriend shouldn't be doing." She rubbed the delicate end of her nose against Sunburst's, looking into his terrified eyes. It was comforting, in a way, for him to be the scared one. She had no idea what she was doing, outside of the romance novels she had read. "No one's hurt."
"No one's hurt," he echoed, taking a slow breath. "Um, good morning?" He dared to hug her gently. "I... Um... It's nice waking up like this."
Twilight considered that a moment. "It really is." Was that why ponies found special someponies? She rested her head on his shoulder, snuggling against him. "Thank you."
"What for?" he asked cluelessly, holding her.
"For letting me experience this." She leaned back, looking at him directly. "For liking me. For being a pony I like. For being you, and wanting to be with me... For a lot of things." She smiled timidly. "Are you happy?"
"I'm... I don't even have good words." He nuzzled back at her, sniffing at her clean fur. "I'm very happy, we'll start there." He wanted to hold her forever, but doubted that would be practical for either of them. "Want to get up?"
Twilight drew her hooves back and sat up in bed, yawning softly before she hopped spritely from bed. "I vote for a bath before we head back to the convention. I don't know about you, but I could use one."
Sunburst blushed as he sat up. "Is it that bad?"
Twilight rolled her eyes. as her glowing horn hefted Sunburst clear of the bed. "No coltfriend of mine is going to be stinky, mister bachelor's life." She trotted towards the bath, hauling him along.
"You're taking this very well." He leaned towards her from inside his prison of magic.
"Taking what well?"
"I mean, you know... us... being a thing?" He gestured at himself and Twilight. "Every time I really think about it, I feel like I'm going to have a panic attack. I mean, I'm happy! Really, very happy! But I don't... know what I should be doing half the time."
Twilight set the frazzled stallion down in the warm water of the hot tub. "One, this is what books are for." She climbed down after him. "Two, this is what friends are for."
He tilted his head at her. "How would friends h--" He cut off. "Wait, you asked the girls?"
"Each and every one of them." Twilight nodded softly. "Not all of them had relevant experience, but they had plenty of advice to share. Cross-indexed with the fiction and non-fiction sources, I've been able to tabulate a reasonable course of action." She raised a hoof clear of the water. "I'm happy to say that it's been quite effective!"
Sunburst sank mostly into the water as a cheerful laughter erupted from deep within him. "Of course. Why would I even think it could be something else?" He reached a wet hoof for her cheek. "I love the way you do that."
Twilight began to color swiftly, going quiet and staring at Sunburst. He squirmed at her gazing. "Um... did I... do something wrong?"
She shook her head quickly. "N-no! I mean... it's only natural that a boyfriend would be enamored with the habits and tendencies of his girlfriend." She nodded firmly, trying to convince herself as much as anyone else. "All according to plan."
Sunburst set his still dripping hoof on Twilight's lips. "And, sometimes, you have to throw away those plans, and that's alright too."
"Alright... too..." She leaned in and their hooves met a precious moment before they slid past each other. The two locked in a tight embrace, the water swirling around them in teasing eddies, but their mind was more on each other than the faint tickles of the moving water.
The scents of the other and the taste of their mouth was far more important. They became quite clean by the time they were done. Clean and close, they both felt entirely ready to tackle the next day of the convention.
They secured a light to-go meal that they were still chewing on as they strolled across the street to the convention proper. Twilight reached up a hoof to poke at the floating schedule/brochure. "Neither of us have a panel we specifically wanted to get to right this moment. Why don't we do a little scavenging?"
Sunburst swallowed what he already had in his snout before nodding. "Sounds like a plan to me, let's see..." He flipped the booklet over to the scavenging clues. "We have most of the pins... 'Where the last adventurers bid tearful farewell, to things that must end, but never truly dies.' Mmm..."
Twilight cocked a brow at the clue. "Well, who are the 'last adventurers'? I wasn't aware we were running out of them, technically being one myself more often than I care to admit."
Sunburst clopped his hooves together, his breakfast burrito jiggling dangerously. "What if they mean 'last' as in 'previous' rather than 'the final'?"
Twilight perked at that. "Right, yes... Previous adventurers... Things that must end... It has to be here." She waved a hoof at the entirety of the massive convention center. "So what ended here?"
"The last convention?" posited Sunburst in an unsure tone.
"You're a genius!" She flipped through the brochure quickly. "But where they hold the closing ceremonies this year may not be where they did last year..."
"What are you talking about?" Star Catcher emerged from the milling crowd, smiling brightly. "Good morning! You don't have any events planned, so are we scavenging?"
Sunburst quirked an ear at the mare, noticing she still proudly wore the pin they had secured the night before. "Actually, yeah. Do you know where the closing ceremonies were last year?"
"Over there." She turned and pointed at a room that appeared to be a occupied by a panel. "The con chair gave a real sappy speech last time, made ponies break into sobs."
Twilight smiled victoriously. "Sounds like exactly the place we're searching for. Let's go!"
As they headed for the room, Sunburst moved next to Star. "Hey, uh, how do you know our schedule?"
"You have it written down," she answered as if it were obvious. Star leaned in, peeking around the half-open door. "There's a panel going on," she whispered back to the other two.
Twilight pointed past Star. "Well, we'll just be--" She stopped dead, freezing as she strobed from her rump. She looked over her shoulder with her ears pinned. There was her cutie mark, casually buzzing and blinking, demanding attention. "I..." Her head hung. "Why now?"
Sunburst put a hoof on her shoulder. "Saving Equestria rates a little higher than this. I understand. We should--"
"No!" Twilight clopped a hoof down. "I'll go, your mark isn't glowing. Stay, enjoy, have fun, and--" Pins floated free of her, decorating Sunburst's robe quickly. "Get that treasure, if you can. Bring that home, and I won't even be that upset in the end."
Star Catcher looked torn. "I never thought I'd get to see it happening." Her eyes were on the glowing cutie mark. "But, yes. I'll help Sunburst and we'll bring you the prize." She saluted sharply. "It's the least I can do for a hero of Equestria!"
Sunburst glanced at her before looking to Twilight. "I'm perfectly willing to--"
"Please, don't." Twilight put a hoof on his lips. "Enjoy yourself, and get that treasure." She turned and her wings shot out. She took to the air over the majority of the walking crowd and was rapidly lost to sight in a hurried retreat.
Sunburst shook his head with a sigh. "She's going to be jealous, even if she says she isn't."
"I wouldn't be entirely sure." Star Catcher grinned as if she knew something. "I bet part of her is happy to be called."
Sunburst perked an ear. "She wasn't having fun with me?!"
"No! No, not that." Star sat so she could wave her forehooves. "I mean, the other ponies, her friends, get called more often than she does, and I think she likes the excitement."
"Oh..." He quirked a little smile. "I hope she has fun, now, uh.. Star was it?"
"That's me," she confirmed, slapping a hoof against her chest, then pointing into the room. "We have a pin to find."
Together, they crept into the panel room as quietly as they could. A panel of three ponies were discussing something animatedly at the front of the room. They split up, looking for the tell-tale basket that held the pins.
One of the ponies, a stallion with a sharply-cut beard, leaned forward towards his microphone. "Looks like we have ourselves a couple of treasure hunters!" The crowd erupted into chuckles and giggles. "Should we tell them where to look?" The crowd had some yeahs and nays, but the yesses seemed to be the majority.
Another of the panelists, a plump mare, pointed just beside the panel itself. "Right here."
With reddened cheeks, Sunburst hurried up, snatching two pins and fleeing from the room. "Thanks!"
Once outside the hall, Star Catcher burst into giggles. "I was talked about by somepony famous..."
Sunburst tilted his head. "Not the way I want to be talked about, but we got the pin." He floated over Star Catcher's, which was soon added to her vest. "We're on pace to beat this." He drew out the brochure and had a peek. "In darkness dwells, in light revealed. One must be brave to find me."
Star Catcher tapped a hoof on the floor. "If they haven't fixed the lights downstairs, it sounds like it."
"Are they that bad?"
"Worse." She grinned. "They usually put up tape to keep ponies out. Harmless, but dark. No shows go on down there."
"But... there could be a pin."
"Could be," she easily agreed, starting to trot. "Besides, you're a unicorn. I bet you could make some light if you wanted."
"I'm not sure that'd be a good idea, or maybe it would be." Audibly doubting himself, Sunburst followed after the mare that was not the mare he had wanted to spend the weekend with.
They descended several sets of stairs, the noises of the convention quieting away. It seemed most had little reason to go down that far. There were no signs pointing ponies to events or event rooms. Only a simple black cloth strap quietly discouraged people from pressing on past the small room into the dark tunnel that thrusted free of it. She pointed a hoof. "Right where they left it. I bet there's a pin in there."
"In light revealed," intoned Sunburst, his horn glowing softly as he ducked under the cloth strip and started down the hall, his hooves echoing with every step. "It's so... empty..." It wasn't a large hallway, width wise, but it felt empty and alone with the way his motions echoed about. There was nothing in the hallway that he could see, just a waste of interior space.
Star Catcher pointed to a door as they passed. "There used to be things down here, I think." She rattled the knob with a hoof. "Locked. I doubt they want us to hurt the convention center, so let's assume locked doors stay locked."
"I can agree with that." He nodded to her and pressed on down the tunnel. "If it is behind that door, they messed up." Emerging from the dark, he saw the end of the tunnel. The basket was just laying there, casually dropped at the end of the tunnel. "Or it's right here." He willed two pins free, passing one to Star. "Three to go!"
She clip-clopped her hooves together. "We're doing great. Do you think they'll add my name to the next convention pamphlet?"
"Hmm?"
"Well, I mean..." She squirmed in place. "It'd be nice, to be an important pony, just for a little while. You're probably used to it."
Sunburst shook his head. "I'm not that important. I just know some important ponies." He started for the exit, pushing back through the dim hallway. "If I vanished, I doubt anyone would be too torn apart."
"Don't say that," hissed Star Catcher as she caught up with him. "It's not even slightly true. I bet Twilight would be beside herself if anything happened to you. Princess Cadance would also be beside herself if something happened." She cocked a brow. "Then there's your mom. I bet she'd lose it if something happened to you."
Sunburst blushed brightly at the mention of his mother. "H-have you met her?"
"I may as well have." She nodded knowingly. "She's kind of a funny mare, always looking for the future. Her town looks up to her and she's important, at least locally." She let out an envious sigh. "I'd like to meet her. I wonder if she could make a plan for my life? I'm no good at that sort of thing."
"Woah there." He waved a hoof in her general direction. "You do not want her casually making plans for you."
"Why not? I bet it'd be nice to try at least once..." She glanced aside at Sunburst. "You turned out nicely."
"Well, um..." He rubbed a hoof against his other foreleg as he walked along on the other three. "I guess so, it took... some work." He cleared his throat suddenly, pulling the brochure back up. "Next up! I am in constant motion, watching you all with highest authority."
Twilight landed softly on the steps to the train station, hustling right up them towards the ticket counter. She glanced back at where she had left Sunburst. "Have fun," she murmured to herself before considering what her glowing bottom could mean. Maybe it was a very important mission? Maybe it was two bickering ponies that just needed a little nudge.
She had no way of knowing just how important the call would be, just that it needed her specifically, and taking others along that weren't on the list wouldn't do. "The map is... It knows what is best." Even if that meant she had to leave the convention. She sighed as she trotted hurriedly through the crowd.
She began to color, thinking of how things had been going. Maybe Sunburst had a point. She really was falling into things quickly... But... Was that bad? They both seemed to be enjoying it... Weren't they? He was enjoying it, right? "Two to..." She blinked softly, recovering from her distraction. "Sorry, one for Ponyville." She set some bits down and got a ticket in return. "Thank you."
She quickly moved to the platform, standing beside where the train would arrive. She thought of Sunburst, searching for those pins. Star Catcher was there. Was that good? What if she... caught... Sunburst?
"Stop being silly," she chided herself. "She's just a lonely pony that looks up to celebrities." Which Sunburst was considered by her admitted point of view. "So she'll do her best to impress him so she can hang out with him." That wouldn't hurt anypony, right? Besides, if she hadn't nudged him, he might have never kissed her.
She felt her cheeks warming once again, thinking of the several short and long smooches they had shared. "Not in front of the girls," she quickly decided, fanning herself. She wasn't ready to kiss where they could see... That was part of what made the convention so... She sighed softly. Duty came first. She had to see what the map wanted, and go fix whatever problem it was pointing her towards.
That was her job, and Sunburst knew that. He knew that and wouldn't get mad at her, or... they weren't meant to be in the first place, and maybe it'd be better off if... they realized that sooner rather than later. She felt herself sag a little with the downturn in her thoughts. He would accept her responsibilities. Hay, he had come running once when he was called. He knew what it was like.
She smiled a little. "I'm being foalish." They both knew exactly what the score was.
Sunburst perked up with a thought. "Is there a pony in charge of this? You mentioned one before right?"
Star bobbed her head. "Yup. What about him?"
"He has authority, and, I imagine, moves around a lot." He stroked his beard lightly. "Think he might have some pins?"
"Of course." She clip-clopped her forehooves before hopping up to all four. "Let's find him." She tapped at her chin. "He would be in the autograph room for ten more minutes."
It was a time that Sunburst appreciated her creepy knowledge of exactly when and what famous ponies were doing. "Do you know where that is?"
"Follow me." She set off at a lively trot. "This is exciting. It's not often I really get to help an important pony out." She turned an ear towards him. "We'll get all the pins before the end of the day."
"That'd be nice." A thought tickled at him. "Do you think anyone else is closing in on it?"
"I hope not! There can only be one winner, so let's hurry up." She redoubled her motion, breaking into a full gallop through the crowd of ponies, bobbing and weaving among them.
Sunburst hurried after her, apologizing to the ponies he bumped along the way. "Pardon me, sorry, excuse me..." He wasn't sure how she managed to move so quickly in the dense convention, but at least he kept her in sight, and soon they arrived at the autograph room.
There was a long line waiting to get inside. Star frowned at it. "Mmm."
Sunburst caught up with her, panting. "Where... is he?"
She pointed past the line. "In there, oh!" She went up to the door, skipping the line. "Excuse me?"
One of the convention staffers waved at the line. "No line skipping."
"I'm not trying to get an autograph. I needed to talk to the con chair."
The staffer hiked a brow and looked into the room. He waved a hoof inside of it and gestured for somepony to come closer. Soon a stallion emerged, looking between the staffer and Star. "Something wrong?"
Sunburst smiled brightly. "Just a couple of treasure hunters. We hear you may have something we need."
He laughed at that, reaching a hoof into a pocket and producing two pins. "Good luck. Having a good time?"
"A great time!" Star hopped in place with a smile. "Just two more."
"That few? Well, better get back to work. Good luck." He ducked right back into the autograph room, leaving them to their scavenging.
"Well, " sighed out Sunburst. "One of them is going to be hard... Let's go for the other one." He pulled up the brochure and ran his eyes over the clues. "Request from the royal vault three things, each twice as grand as the one before it." He looked to Star Catcher. "Any idea what a 'royal vault' would be?"
She frowned at that, the two going quiet a moment before she reached for the brochure. She flipped through it with a soft muttering. "Maybe... something... Oh!" She slapped down a hoof on the page she was looking at. "That's what the convention store's called. How could I forget that? Well, there aren't any important ponies there..."
They broke into a trot. She didn't dash away that time, allowing Sunburst to keep up with her as they wove through the crowd towards the convention store that had 'ROYAL VAULT' displayed over the table in bright gold. There were only a few ponies nearby, one looking over what it offered, others loitering.
Sunburst advanced towards the table, peering over the wide selections of treasure hunting-themed trinkets. "Huh..."
Star pointed past him to a price list. "That has the whole list."
His eyes lifted towards it and he frowned with thought, mouthing numbers silently a moment. "Excuse me?"
One of the convention staff sitting behind the table looked up at him. "Yep?"
"I would... like... One pencil end, one pin, and one magnet." He pointed to each thing in turn, each exactly twice as expensive as the one before it.
"He requests it," noted Star with a big grin.
"Oh, well, since you're requesting it..." He reached under the table and came back up, siding something just under his hoof. "Here you are, something to make it better." Moving his hoof, a pin was revealed.
Sunburst plucked up the pin in his magic. "Can she have one too? Thanks."
"Yeah, sure. You actually want that stuff?" He produced a second pin, sliding it towards Star, who added it right to her vest.
Star shook her head quickly. "Just came for this, but thanks!"
"Yeah, thanks." Sunburst nodded at him and turned away. "Now for the hardest one..."
Twilight watched the scenery slowly scroll past. "Why didn't Celestia teach me that trick?" If she could send a letter to Spike like the princess could... Then again, how would he reply? His replies went straight to Canterlot, and would not reach her. She didn't have a phone in the castle, a fact she was considering doing something about.
She looked as far ahead as her vantage point allowed in the train and sighed loudly. It would take days for the train to even finish getting to Ponyville. By the time she arrived, he would already be done with the convention. "Maybe he'll have a treasure box..." She smiled at the thought of it. She really wanted to prod at its contents, and he would be helpful for that as well.
Her head sunk against the glass of the window. "So this is what it's like." Having a special somepony had downsides. As nice as it was when he was around, being forced away felt almost equally bad. Her mind turned to how they would celebrate when they were reunited. "We'll translate another twelve pages." She nodded firmy to herself. "Then we'll fix that little problem of his."
Her thoughts strayed towards that problem. She tried to imagine having it herself, her magic stymied by an unfortunate roll of the dice. Would she have ever managed to hatch Spike, or do most of the other things that made her Twilight? Would she even try? Would she have found some other fascination besides magic to fixate on? She smiled a little, deciding that was very likely. What she would have picked to obsess over, she couldn't even guess.
What would Sunburst have been if he didn't have that condition? What wonders would he have already accomplished? She sighed softly, squirming in place. That wasn't a productive line of thought. Better to look to the future, curing him, and offering hope to foals. The future could maybe be free of the disease. Wouldn't that be wonderful?
She nodded with rising determination. She was certain Sunburst felt the same way. He wasn't bitter about the past, he just wanted to fix the present and the future. And they'd do just that! She sat up tall. "But first thing's first." She had a cutie map quest to fulfill.
"What's so hard about it?" She read over the line out loud, "Right where you start, you might trip over me when the whistle blows."
Sunburst sighed gently. "I know where they are, or were. There was almost a stampede towards them and I handed them out to ponies. They're all gone."
Star tilted her head. "That was really good of you, but if they're all gone..."
"Yeah..." He rubbed behind his head. "That was silly of me..."
She prodded him on the closer shoulder. "I say we turn them in."
He blinked at that. "But we're missing one."
"And if they're decent ponies, they'll count it anyway. You were busy being a good pony and keeping people from getting hurt." She nodded firmly. "If they say no, well, their loss. Hmmph."
He nodded at her. "Oh, well... you have a point. Unless we trade for one of those pins, there aren't a lot of other options."
She grinned. "Well, if they say no, then we try the trading thing." She hopped up in place and came down facing in a new direction. "Onwards, to adventure!" She giggled as she walked. "This is fun."
They went to the room specified in the scavenger hunt. It was out of the way of most of the major traffic lines, just on the side of a small hallway. 'Treasure' was hung up on a sign over the door, and idle conversation could be heard drifting out of the door.
Inside the room were two mares and a stallion seated around a table. On the table was the treasure chest. Sunburst smiled on seeing it, figuring that meant they weren't too late. "Excuse me?"
All three looked over, their conversation dropping instantly. The mare closest to the door stood up. "Do you have all the pins?"
Star waved dramatically at Sunburst. "All but one, and we have a good reason for that one."
The stallion cocked a brow. "Yeah?"
Sunburst cleared his throat softly. "Well, yes. The one I missed was the one placed just outside the opening ceremony. The ponies were ready to riot towards it."
The other mare lifted her shoulders. "And you didn't want to push in?"
"Not exactly..." He rubbed behind his head. "I passed out pins in an orderly fashion so nopony would get hurt."
The first mare smiled a little. "And you ended up with nothing for yourself."
"Yeah..." He rubbed a hoof over the floor. "Kind of silly, I suppose. I had them right there, but I wasn't thinking about that."
The stallion leaned forward, still sitting on his chair. "Sounds to me like you remembered the number one rule."
The second mare bobbed her head in agreement. "Besides, we already knew you did that."
Sunburst's ears went up. "What?"
The first mare rolled her eyes. "They weren't suppose to mention that, but it's kind of hard to miss. You were coralling that crowd of rabid treasure hunters like a champ." She clopped her forehooves. "Of course we're going to count it. Not like you didn't get to the basket. Let's see all the other pins."
Sunburst eagerly collected up all his pins, plucking them free of his robe to set them on the table between the three staffers. "Here we go. It was a team effort, with Twilight, Star here--" He waved at her as he mentioned her. "--, and myself."
Star began to blush brightly. "Aw, I didn't help that much..."
The first mare counted over the pins while studying each in turn. "Not bad, looks like you have them all." She swept the pins back towards Sunburst. "See you at the award ceremony."
Sunburst blinked softly. "Oh, is that when the chest is given?"
The stallion shook his head. "You won't be the only one with them all. There's a contest for who gets the grand prize and who gets the runner ups."
Star's ears fell. "Wait, but... we did it fast."
The second mare snorted softly. "You're not even the first one, so be happy, since if it was first come, you'd already have lost." She produced a big red ribbon with a treasure chest on it. "Keep this, it'll get you into the contest for the chest. Win it, and you get the chest. The runner up prizes aren't bad though. Look on the bright side."
Sunburst took the ribbon in his magic. "Right, okay. What will the final contest be?"
The second mare grinned wickedly. "That'd be telling! Be there and be ready."
Star raised a hoof. "If it's alright to say, how many others have gotten this far?"
They shared a look among themselves before the stallion shrugged. "You're the fourth valid one." He snorted softly. "Some ponies tried to cheat, but we saw through that."
"Really?" Sunburst raised a brow at that. "That's not really in the spirit of things."
The first mare shook her head. "Exactly not. Hey, if it helps, I kinda hope you win. You're a treasure hunter with a good heart."
Sunburst was free to do as he pleased. With the pins turned in, there was nothing in his way from visiting the rest of the panels he had an eye on. Some were nice, some were bland. All had Star Catcher, eagerly moving with him. The only times he got away from her side was when he made a stop at the little colt's room, or the one time he was called up to the stage to give a word about the crystal heart he had once helped repair.
"I'm sorry to ask this," she said, looking away awkwardly. "But I need a favor and I'm hoping an important pony like you could maybe spare it?"
Sunburst tilted his head with confusion. "Want some backup getting a hoofprint?"
"No! No, nothing like that." She waved her own hoof before coughing. "I messed up my reservation... Since Twilight's already gone off to do important business, you must have some extra room. Can I... borrow it?" She grinned widely enough for her cheeks to squeak softly. "Please?"
Sunburst inclined his head the other way. "Oh! Well, that won't do..." He thought back to his overly-spacious hotel room. "Yeah, sure, what's the big deal? Plenty of room."
"You're the best!" She pounced at him, hugging him around the neck and casually sniffing him since she was so close. "You really are a good pony, so important, and still so giving."
Sunburst laughed a little nervously, backing away from the eager mare. "What else would I do, leave you on the streets? Besides, um, we're like treasure buddies or whatever you'd call that."
"Exactly!" She bounced in place eagerly. "You're out of panels you wanted to go to, where to now?"
Sunburst floated out the brochure and checked the schedule, eyes scanning methodically. "Let's see, mmm, no, mmm... Like you said, I've really gotten to all the ones I wanted to get to today." He considered visiting the game hall, but that was more fun with Twilight around.
"Maybe we should retire? You have to bring your things over, right?"
"Oh yeah. I'll meet you at your hotel in the lobby." She dashed off suddenly, vanishing into the crowd.
Sunburst was left blinking. "I never told her where that was." She likely knew it, he decided after a moment, shaking his head. He wasn't sure where she got half the information she did, but he got moving back for the hotel.
Twilight ran a hoof slowly down the window beside herself. "I can't take this..." Waiting on a train was boring enough on its own. Usually she had company. One of the girls, Spike, Sunburst, anyone. Then there was the fact she knew Sunburst was off having an exciting time. One she told him to have!
"Think...." Her glowing horn yanked out her suitcase from the above compartment and it landed beside her, still glowing with her magic. "While trains are convenient and safe, they don't have to be the only way to travel." She glanced back at her spreading wings.
That was an option... She could go straight there without bending and winding and stopping. Her eyes crossed a little as she looked up at her horn. She could teleport, but there was a limit on how far that went. She knew it was possible to hop further, with practice. She was proud of how far she had honed her ability since her first awkward jump with Spike what felt like a lifetime ago.
They had arrived, sizzling and burnt, but largely intact. She could make the same jump without effort. What if she pushed herself to that point again? She'd be a little crispy, but she'd also be there faster...
She hopped up to her hooves, wings wide. "Next stop, Princesses and Wizards!" She vanished in a sphere of lavender magic, gone along with her suitcase with the faint smell of something burnt being left behind.
She materialized with a shower of sparkles, her wings catching the air just as she began to fall. She could smell cooking pony, but it was far more mild than her first awkward teleport. Her suitcase floated beside her. "Yes!" She pumped a hoof victoriously, knowing she was already ahead of the train, and moving directly for Ponyville instead of the meandering path the train took.
"I only need to do that a few... dozen more times." With a soft sigh, she vanished.
Sunburst waited in the lobby, tapping a hoof softly. "Over here," called a familiar female voice. Star was hurrying towards him, two large suitcases attached to her sides, rolling along with her energetic trot. "Right here. Thank you again."
He waved it away. "Not even a problem." He turned for the elevator, waving at the pony behind the desk. "She'll be with me the last day."
That pony nodded softly, silently reminding herself that it was none of her business that a guest was staying with a different mare than he had started with. The room was paid for and wasn't being made a mess of. That was all that mattered in the end.
Sunburst was first into the elevator and put a hoof out to discourage the doors from closing as Star Catcher wriggled in with her attached luggage. "Did I mention you're the best?"
"Once or twice." He awkwardly smiled as he pulled his hoof back, allowing it to close and start its journey towards their floor. "Now, uh, the room's kinda..."
"Don't even worry about it." She shook her head violently. "Even if it's a hole in the wall, the fact that you're willing to share it means so much to me!"
Sunburst chuckled nervously as he crossed over to his door and floated the key into the door. "That's not exactly what I meant." With a soft click and a turn, he bid the door open. "Here we are."
Her jaw fell open. "Oh... Oh." She took a few stiff steps forward. "My research implied this was... I hadn't... you're sure I can stay here?" She turned in place slowly, her luggage squeaking as it moved with her. "Is that a pool?"
"More of a tub, a, uh, hot tub." He willed the door closed behind them and moved for the big heart-shaped bed. "Oh, right, uh... we only have... one bed." He began to color.
She joined in his coloring, tittering with an energetic sort of nervousness. "Oh, um, that's fine! You were planning on using it with your important friend, Twilight. You two are... a thing, right?"
"Yes, a thing!" he almost shouted before he got control of himself. "We are boy and girlfriends, yes."
"How romantic!" She started to wriggle free of her suitcase. "I am so jealous... The entire convention was a romantic getaway, and her duty interrupted? That is a shame and a half..." She sighed out and slumped to the floor suddenly. "And now I feel awful."
Sunburst blinked at that, tilting his head. "What's wrong?"
"I... may have lied a little bit." She smiled nervously at him.
He hiked a brow at her. "About what?"
"There... promise you won't hate me forever!"
Sunburst blinked at that. "It can't be that bad, can it?"
"Maybe," she squeaked softly. "There was no reservation mixup... I just wanted to... be with you, one night, you know..." She put a fetlock over her head as she shook it. "I'm such a silly mare. I'm so sorry! It's just... It's nice being around you. If you want me to go, I will."
Sunburst looked her over. She looked pained and miserable. He felt sure she would leave if he asked, but would be sad about it for basically ever. "Um, so long as we have clear boundaries, it's really not a problem." He looked across the room before willing his own suitcase open, pulling out some tape. He quickly had it laid out, taping a line right down the center of the bed. "Here we go. You get that side. I get this side."
Star clopped her hooves with a rebounded joy. "Deal! Now, um, I want to enjoy this tub." She divested herself of her vest quickly and set it aside as she mosied up to it. "I never got to try a real hot tub before. I bet you have tons of times."
"Um, just a few times," he admitted as he watched her. "It's nice though."
"Why aren't you getting in?" She stepped down into the water and shivered as the heat poured into her. "Ooo." She took another step, sinking in right up to her neck. "Lovely... It's like the tensions of the day, pfft, gone, like that."
He made no move to join her, instead grabbing for the hotel menu, perusing it as he heard the soft splashing of his guest enjoying the tub. "Want anything in particular to eat?"
"What do they have?" she called out curiously. He looked up to see her rubbing some kind of shampoo into her mane vigorously. "Do they have a big hayburger?"
"Um, yeah." He tapped at it. Most places had some variety of it, so far he could tell. "Want some hay fries with it?"
"Please! Did I mention you're the absolute best?"
He wryly smiled at that. "Just... a few times." He felt like he had repeated that line before. "Let me put in the call."
Stellar sat with a content smile on her face. The class was going on around her, but they were going over remedial things a foal needed to learn, so she tuned it out without remorse. She was a happy mare. And why shouldn't she be? She imagined her love-dumb son off at that conference with his lady friend, together, in that romantic, and expensive, room.
They would find love even if they had to trip over it. One thing would lead to another... She sighed softly at the thought, her smile only deepening. Perhaps she would become a grandmother before she got all wrinkled. That would be nice. They would move on from courtship to...
Applejack raised a brow. "Something funny, Stellar?"
She had tittered without thinking about it. "My apologies, teacher, please, proceed."
"Thanks kindly." She rolled her eyes and resumed her lecture.
Yes, they could get married, and then she would have a new daughter. What would being the mother in law to a princess be like? She tilted her head as she thought about it. Not that different from how things already were. She doubted Twilight would invite her to royal matters. She just might get to visit royal dinners more often and be expected to play the part.
She saw no problems there. Dressing properly and acting with decorum were both things she knew how to do, and if it meant her little boy would be happily involved with Twilight while pursuing real work with real consequences? She couldn't think of a much happier ending than that.
"Stellar Flare," pointedly stated Applejack. "Since you seem to be so intently focused, perhaps you'd care to answer this question?" She pointed up to the backboard.
Stellar's eyes refocused on the board, where a problem involving apple trading was laid out. "Oh, yes, of course." Her horn glowed as she grabbed the chalk from across the room. "If Little Shine gives 2 apples to..."
Twilight snapped back into existence in a shower of sparkles. "Finally!" she cried, Ponyville visible in the distance. She let her wings work, carrying her forward rather than immediately teleport again. That was tiring and she was feeling frazzled from all the jumping she had been doing.
The gentle brushing of the evening air against her fur felt refreshing in comparison. The small bits of frizzled fur were washed away as she flew, as if the air itself were grooming her. She allowed her eyes to close, flying forward with a happy smile. "Soon." She would be at the table and see where her talents were needed. She wondered a moment if any others of her friends had been called as well.
Sunburst awakened to find Star Catcher right there. She was asleep, on her side of the bed, drooling a little. She seemed far less worrisome in her current state. He smiled at her sleeping form and slid carefully to his hooves. Since she was asleep, he decided that would be a fine time to get his turn in the tub over with.
With a glowing horn, he set his glasses and robe aside carefully, then descended into the water. It was just as nice as he remembered it. Thinking of Twilight, he reached for the shampoo and began working it into his unkempt mane, trying to care for it like he imagined she would have.
He wondered if any sign of it would remain when they got back together. Would she be surprised, in a good way? He had a girlfriend, a thought that brought a nervous smile to his face. Maybe looking a little nicer wasn't... entirely a waste of time? If it made her happier, that would, in turn, make him happier, would it not?
He took the time to care for his mane, trying to ease out those frazzled edges. It wasn't perfect, but his mane wasn't used to it.
"Huh." At some point, Star had woken up, and was watching him. To his surprise, after the fact that he realized he was being watched, she hadn't tried to join him. She was watching quietly from the bed, yawning into a hoof. "I didn't think you'd spend much time with your mane."
He blushed a bright red. "I don't, normally... uh..."
She burst into soft giggles. "Are you doing it for Twilight? That's so sweet! You are too good!" She hopped down from the bed, stretching out. "And you've ruined everything."
He blinked at that softly. "Pardon?"
She shook her head. "It's alright. As ways of being foiled go... I'm pretty happy. Thank you, again."
"P... pardon?" He pulled himself free of the water, wetly dripping onto the ground in a great rush. He stepped on a button and hot air began blowing over him, forcing the water to flee faster. "You can't just say something like that without explanation. What other secrets are you hiding?"
She put a hoof to her chest. "I am Star Catcher."
"I knew that part."
She snorted softly. "I'm working towards it. I... catch great ponies doing not nice things... prove they don't live up to the pedestal we put them on." She thrust a hoof at Sunburst. "But you never did a not nice thing. You were nice and sweet the whole time, even to someone who just admitted they lied to you. You're loyal and gracious. When they said you might not get the treasure, you didn't try to pull rank and yell and scream."
Sunburst adjusted his glasses, getting them back in place. "I, um... you're welcome?"
She waved it away. "You gave away the pins rather than let any ponies get hurt. She ran off to save Equestria rather than enjoy her weekend with her wildly loving boyfriend. You two are just so..." She sank to her belly on the bed. "Thank you."
He pulled his robe over his 99% dry form and approached her. "So, um, now that you know this... What do you plan to do?"
"Hang out with you?" She smiled nervously. "If you'll let me... I won't get any dirt, but that's alright. Being with someone popular who actually deserves to be popular, that's special..." Her smile turned into a grin. "Besides, we have a chest to win for your busy girlfriend."
Twilight's head made a nice thump as she let it smack down onto the magic map she had come from.
"Now you know how it feels," taunted Rainbow Dash. "Seriously though, you better go back."
With a cry of frustration, she vanished.
Rarity shook her head. "We really need to get with the times. A phone or two in Ponyville would save so much trouble, really."
Pinkie lifted her shoulders. "Unless that's part of the plan?" The other girls and Spike looked at her oddly. "What? What if the map takes into account how long it takes her to get here, so she had to leave for it to work right?" She shrugged a little. "I've heard stranger things."
Spike joined in her shrug. "I mean, could be? Well, she's off." He waved at the floating cutie mark. "Back to Baltimare."
Sunburst sat down with others. The room was packed with ponies, their eyes on the stage ahead of them. It would soon be time for closing ceremonies. With it, they'd find out who got all the pins and would be taking home the prize chest.
"Are you ready for adventure!" asked one of the mascot cosplayers, waving a hoof over the crowd.
"Well too bad," retorted the female mascot, sticking out her tongue. "It's over."
"Not so fast!" He held up his hooves at her. "We have one bit to go before it's done."
She clopped a hoof against her head. "Oh, right! The chest! How silly of me."
They both waved to the back as the chest descended from the sky in a spotlight all of its own, coming to a rest on a dark pedestal. "Here it is," they both cried.
The male waved over the crowd. "But only one of you can go home with it."
"Who will it be?!" exclaimed the female, bouncing in place. "Will the ribbon holders please advance."
Sunburst hopped up to his feet and nodded at his companion. She grinned and followed after him, advancing onto the stage. "Thanks again," she whispered as they went.
There were six groups in total. They were not the only to show up there with more than one pony with one ribbon, acting as a team. The male mascot reared up, hooves cycling in the air. "Looks like we have some competition! Are they trying to take our jobs?"
"Don't be silly," scoffed the mare of the two. "They're inspired by us. Alright. These lucky and clever ponies found all the pins. They're going home with a prize, but will they go home with the prize? Let's find out!"
The crowd clopped and stomped in applause for those who had reached the final step. The male gently waved them down. "Alright alright, let's get this started. The first element of a good hunter is..."
"Luck!" The mare twisted her head, sending a six-sided die tumbling across the floor.
It landed on a 3, and the stallion pointed at one of the groups towards the middle. "And you're out, but you'll get a prize. Go on into the back." He pointed the way. "You're a great hunter for getting this far.
The pony pointed out sagged in defeat. Done in by a roll of a die. Sunburst swallowed nervously, standing just beside that eliminated pony. "I hope that's the only time it's just luck."
"Just down to five," cried the stallion excitedly. "Next up, knowledge." He went to to the start of the line, asking a challenging historical question. The mare followed him but asked the next group, the two alternating down the line.
"This pony was so pedantic, he literally wrote two books about it and managed that while teaching historically clever ponies how to be clever."
Sunburst jumped, realizing the question was directed at him and Star. "O-oh, well, pedant, hmm..."
"Clover the Clever?" asked Star, tilting her head. "Is that the clever one?"
"Exactly right." The mare clopped her hooves happily. "But we need to know the other pony."
Sunburst leaned forward. "Oh, then I know! Star Swirl the Bearded! Um, nice guy, if you can--"
The mare raised a brow at Sunburst. "You know him? Um, correct! You pass to the next round!"
As the mare wandered off, Star leaned in. "Seriously, you know him? I'd love to meet him! How do you meet ancient ponies?"
By the time the questioning round was over, the teams had been winnowed down to three.
"Wait!" One of the double-doors leading outside burst inwards, admitting one frazzled and heaving Twilight Sparkle. Her wings were not properly folded, shaking as they seemed to try to tuck in place, but simply failed to do so, remaining 80% curled. "Wait..."
The two mascots looked over at Twilight with equal surprise, with the stallion recovering faster. "Look here, one of the members of our teams is rushing to support their friends."
"Isn't that nice?!" The mare gestured at Twilight, prompting another round of stomping from the crowd.
Twilight smiled nervously as she hurried up the aisle and hopped up beside Sunburst and Star.
Sunburst tilted his head in confusion. "You already fixed the map problem?"
"It's here," she hissed. "I rushed back. Hey, nice mane." She reached up and touched his unusually straight mane, which was about when she noticed her own was a mess of frizzles. "We've swapped places."
"The next rite you've all done already," noted the mare mascot. All three teams looked confused. "The escape room! You've all done it. Slowest team is out." She pointed for the rightmost team, sinking their ears and tails. "Sorry."
That left only two teams remaining. One of them, Sunburst recognized. It was the pegasus he had worked with to get a few pins. The pegasus waved at him and he returned the wave.
"All in good spirit, right?" asked the pegasus with a smile. "Whoever wins, we'll let the other have a peek."
Twilight returned the wave, thinking she was involved. "They seem nice."
The mascots met their hooves with a loud clop. "Our last two teams," they said in eery sync. "Have good spirit."
The stallion nodded. "Always nice to see two treasure hunters remembering the first rule." He pointed at Sunburst. "Willing to sacrifice the chance to get a pin for the safety of others."
The mare pointed at the pegasus. "Ready to give a competitor a lift when they were in trouble and give a clue to put a smile on a pony's face."
The crowd clopped in approval of the good deeds of the two ponies. Twilight tilted her head. "Who was in trouble?"
Sunburst blushed at that. "I would have made it, slowly... Um, thanks, again."
"No problem." The pegasus saluted before turning to the mascots. "What's the last trial?"
"A fine question." The stallion bounced back and gestured as a table rose up from below. "What we have here are some treasures."
"And some fakes," noted the mare. "Your job is to pick three things."
"Two real, one fake." The stallion nodded severely.
"And knowing which is which is important!" The mare bounced in place. "Come forward and start examining."
The room grew quiet as both teams advanced on the table and began looking over the trinkets and googaws there. Twilight gestured at a teacup that lifted with her magic. "Doesn't this look familiar?"
Sunburst tilted his head before blinking. "It's the one I repaired!"
Star shrugged. "So it's real, right?"
Twilight waggled a hoof. "Look closer." She leaned in and sniffed a little. "They bought a cheap one for their demonstration. Not a crime. Sensible, really."
Sunburst took it in his own magic and set it aside. "Well, we have our fake then. We just need two real ones."
"Got one," claimed the other team, a unicorn setting aside a golden ring.
Star gasped loudly, reaching out and putting her hooves on either side of a horseshoe. "This one! This one this one!" She pulled it close. "I met the guy that wore this one, he was like you guys. As big and great as they made him out to be."
It was quite a large horseshoe, too large for the average pony. Twilight lifted her shoulders. "I don't see any obvious problems. Sun?"
Sunburst squinted at it carefully before it clicked. "Is that one of Rockhoof's? That would qualify as historically important... provided it belonged to him in the past, and isn't one he was recently wearing."
Twilight lifted the shoe in her magic, squinting at it. "No... this is the real deal."
Sunburst perked up. "Oh, yeah. That can't be what he wore." He nodded with shared confidence. "Just need to find one more."
Star looked confused as they set the shoe aside. "I don't get it. Why're you two so sure?"
Twilight pointed at it even as her eyes swept over the other potential artifacts. "It's made of Old Ponish metal, and it has the wear and tear, but it's far too degraded to have skipped the time between then and now."
"Oh..." How they had discerned that so quickly clearly evaded her. She shook her head free of the fog and looked to the table.
There were many potential bits and bobs, but Sunburst found his eyes on one in particular. It was an old-looking clock, its hands no longer moving. He lifted it carefully in his magic, maybe eight inches across on its fancy wooden panel. "OOooo."
Twilight swiveled an ear at his noise. "Very nice, mmm, fairly classic example."
He nodded in agreement. "From the height. I wouldn't even be upset if this was one of the grand prizes."
Star tilted her head at it. "It's just a clock."
"And the other was 'just' a horseshoe." He set it beside the clock carefully. "We're ready."
"You heard him!" The stallion mascot jumped over, the crowd cheering as he examined the three things he picked. "We got this from the Flim Flam Brothers." He pointed at the fake. "They fixed it after breaking, but that doesn't make it a historical find of any value."
"Yet," chimed in the mare. "Maybe a century from now we'll be gasping with amazement."
"But not today," agreed the stallion, nudging it aside. "If your other two are legit, you're in."
"We're ready," claimed a unicorn from the friendly pegasus' team.
The mare hopped over to their side of the table. "Perfect! We'll go back and forth. Let's see..." She leaned in to look at the first of the three things they had found. "This topaz necklace was said to be worn by one of Somnambula's dedicants after she was gone." She reached out and lifted it carefully. "They say it's still good luck to wear it."
The pegasus spread his wings. "So it's real, right?"
"Sure is!" She set it down carefully. "Your turn."
The stallion nodded with that grin stuck on his face. "Next up, we have a horseshoe forged without the help of modern convenience." He shoved his hoof against it, but it did not stick. "Did you know ponies had to put in a lot more work to get them to stay in place back in the old days? Trained farriers were trusted with the task, and once you had one on, you kept it there."
"Forever!" gasped the mare, scandalized.
"Well, until it wore down." He shrugged softly. "Looks like this one was getting there. A true find!"
The mare waved to the next artifact. "Next up on this side, we have a very special tiara." She nosed it up onto her own head. "How does it look? I could have been a queen." She cantered in place, showing it off a moment as the crowd chuckled. "Though who actually owned it is something of a mystery, it was clearly made for a very important pony."
"Is it real?" asked the stallion. "Or is it just you making it look so nice."
The mare tittered, waving the compliment away. "Oh, you! It's real!"
Star leaned in closer to her co-conspirators. "They have two real ones, they have this."
Twilight shrugged. "We'll just have to 'have' this too."
Sunburst considered, stroking his unusually soft beard. "What happens if we tie?"
The stallion pointed at their clock. "Do you know what time it is?! Well, this won't help. It stopped working when its key was lost, hundreds on hundreds of moons ago."
Twilight's ears perked. "Oh, I can help with that." Her horn glowed as she reached inside the thing and carefully wound it up the manual way, her tongue sticking out a little in concentration as she worked the gears carefully.
It dinged several times, hitting an hour and resuming soft little ticks. The stallion clip-clopped his hooves. "And it's still working, how wonderful. If a new key were made, or its owner was as talented a unicorn, this clock could be given a little more time." A few polite chuckles emanated from the crowd. "It's real. Two real and one fake. If their last one is real, you did it!"
"Ooo." The mare turned to look at the last one they had. "And if this one's fake, they did it too." She reached a hoof for it and picked it up. "This one's from a famous story, about when Celestia was first becoming a true princess of the land."
The team nodded in unified agreement.
"A truly fanciful tale, with wild embellishments that don't stand up to casual thought." She lifted the shoe that looked like a primitive version of the slippers that Celestia still wore. "But... Even if the story was full of holes, these shoes were not. Confirmed and catalogued, we had to borrow this lovely thing from a museum, which means it's real!"
The crowd gasped. They had picked three real things and no fakes. The winner was decided and cheering erupted. Ponies clopped their hooves when not stomping them on the ground, the room erupting into positive bedlam.
Sunburst waved at the pegasus he had so briefly known. "Hey, good job, right?"
The pegasus's smile wasn't entirely sincere. "Yeah, I mean... Yeah. We did our best." He looked away and back, clearly uncomfortable.
Twilight extended a frazzled wing towards him. "Let's share the first look at what we competed over."
Star bounced in place. "I won?! I mean, sorry, we won?! Ooo!" She pranced in place, looking ready to explode.
"You won!" agreed the duo as they trotted side-by-side to the chest. They put a hoof to it on either side of its lid and opened it with purposeful slowness, only to pause half way. "But," noted the stallion suddenly.
"You know," said the mare in the same questioning sort of way.
"Since we have two teams so close..."
They both let the lid fall and turned to the two teams, grinning. "Maybe the winners want to share?"
Star blinked softly, looking confused.
Twilight and Sun both looked over at the other team, struggling to look composed in the face of defeat. They shared a look, then nodded at the mascots.
They threw open the lid. "That's the spirit," they cried together, revealing a stash of exotic artifacts. "We're in this together!" The crowd cheered, and the other team perked up, looking suddenly hopeful.
Star blinked slowly. "Ohhhh." She put a hoof to her face. "I was the one being slow and less good there, sorry, yeah, let's share!"
The winners got the first pick, then it went back and forth, the ten treasures divided evenly between the two with hoofs thrust out, bumped and shaken. The closing ceremonies went on without them. People were thanked, ponies laughed and cried and promised to come back the next year.
Twilight felt something and glanced back, her mark was glowing in a particular way. "What? I didn't do anything!"
Sunburst tilted his head at that. "Where did it... send you?"
"Here!" She waved her hooves wildly at the general area. "It sent me here and all I did was play that contest. I mean, I'm happy we won and everything, but..."
Star put a hoof on her chest. "Well, I learned something."
Twilight blinked at that, turning in place to face Star. "What did you learn?" A pony with a lesson learned meant maybe she had done something, somehow.
"That just because I look for naughty ponies doesn't mean I can't be naughty myself." She put a hoof on her chest. "I wasn't even thinking about the other team when we won, I was so happy. That wasn't nice of me. I was only famous for a hot moment and I was already ready to forget about other ponies."
Sunburst put a hoof on her shoulder. "But you did the right thing in the end, so it's alright. Oh! We split the treasures between the teams, and Twilight and I can share what we have, but which things do you get?"
Star held up her hooves. "I only want something a lot less valuable."
Twilight tilted her head a little. "What's that?"
Star pointed at Twilight's chest, then Sunburst's. "Can I have your badges, please? That'll be the perfect last souvenir. Meeting you two has been a real treat and I never want to forget it." She drew out her book of famous people bits and bobs. "Please?"
She was soon trotting off with a look of utter contentment. She had done it all, found good famous people, become famous, for small value of fame, and got so many keepsakes to treasure forever. That had been a convention worth attending.
Twilight put a frazzled wing around Sunset. "So... what happened while I was away? She was acting interestingly. What did she even mean by 'looking for naughty ponies?'"
Sunburst laughed nervously. "It's, uh, her thing. She looks for famous ponies and waits for them to show they're not as good as people think they are. We, uh, surprised her." He adjusted his glasses idly. "By being nice."
Twilight tilted her head. "Good surprised or bad surprised?"
"Good surprised, I think." He nuzzled her cheek lightly. "You look worn out. We have one more night in the hotel. Let's get back there, relax, and do a lot of nothing."
"That sounds... really nice right about now." She sighed contently as they walked off together.
Back in the hotel, Twilight collapsed onto the bed with a weary sigh of relief, sprawling out so wide there was little room for anyone else. "I still don't entirely get it. Did you two have some kind of... thing?" She weakly rolled a hoof. "Something I couldn't be there for?"
Sunburst thought back on it. "Yeah... I think so... Oh! Nothing tawdry." He coughed into a hoof softly. "I mean... Want something to eat?"
"Smooth." She smiled despite that and her horn glowed as she picked up the phone receiver. "Hello?"
"Front Desk, how can we make your stay even better?"
Twilight smiled a little. "Hello there. I'd like to order dinner. A celebration feast!"
"Ooo, then I recommend two salmon steaks with the works and a little cake on the side. Should I have it sent up to your room?"
Twilight tilted her head. "Not what I would have picked, but, sure, let's try that."
"On the way, ma'am." The phone went dead with a click.
Sunburst took the receiver from her in his own magic, gently setting it down where it came from. "What did you order?"
"Salmon steaks and a little cake." She sat up slowly. "I never had a really fancy salmon before. I hear they're pretty good."
"A celebration feast." He thrust up a hoof. "Speaking of that, I want to see what we won."
Twilight popped open the chest. They had given up half its contents, but they still had the chest. "It'll take time and study to properly analyze these, of course." She sighed softly. "I really wanted to have a look at that staff."
Sunburst hopped up beside her and leaned against her softly. "Yeah, that did look interesting." It had been selected second, just after their first pick. "But we got the crown!" He hefted up the heavy metal band with its many jewels. "This thing is brimming with magic. I wonder what functions it has."
"Possibly quite a number." She pulled it closer, the glow around it turning into a mixture of their colors. "Each jewel could hold a different spell, with some designed to work in tandem for greater effects."
The food arrived with a little extra. The serving stallion set down a bottle, an ornate glass affair, on their endtable. "Compliments of the house. Congratulations and thanks for staying with us." With it came two equally fancy-looking wine-glasses and a gesture towards the stocked fridge that held accessories for it. "Enjoy."
Sunburst waved softly as he left before shrugging. "We already have a fridge full of drinks, why this?"
It floated up in Twilight's grip as she pulled it over for a look. "Mmm, I'm no expert in alcohols, but it looks... special. Maybe they heard we won?"
"That's nice of them." He floated up the two glasses and held them near the bottle. "It couldn't hurt to try them with the food."
With a loud pop, Twilight had the cork free and turned the bottle carefully, half-filling each glass with the dark reddish fluid. "I don't drink very often, but this is a special day."
He nodded in quick agreement. "I normally limit myself to tea or maybe coffee, but today is special." The colors around the glasses shifted as she took one and he took the other. "To, uh, successful teamwork." He raised his a little higher.
She raised her own. "To successful teams." They met with a soft melodic tink of glass on glass, both vibrating in a way that would have been hard to accomplish if they were physically holding the glass. The meal began properly then, chomping on fish and its bed of greens and washing it down with the wine.
Sunburst softly mmmed in approval as he ate. "Funny thing."
"Hm?"
"I read somewhere you're supposed to pair white wine with fish. Why red?" He shrugged softly, taking another bite. "Not that it doesn't taste good."
"Huh, maybe salmon's an exception?" She shrugged as she took a sip from her glass. "Seems to work together nicely to me." She looked up, feeling something close to her face. It was a glass, but it was not her's. "Sunburst?"
"Just offering a drink." He adjusted his glasses, cheeks mildly blushed.
"Only if it works both ways." She floated over her own glass towards him.
Both glasses raised, the two drinking from one another's glasses, little giggles escaping them as they did so. The glasses quickly swapped back into place. Sunburst gestured for the wine bottle as it lifted. "That little trick emptied us. Easily remedied." Soon their glasses were refilled.
Her meal vanished into tasty memories, demolished by the hunger she had built up through the day. For all of Twilight's frazzles, her long distance jumping had left in her a powerful hunger. She had finished first, and was soon sitting in front of Sunburst, watching him eat more sedately. "Um, hi?" But she didn't respond, just watching him.
He cut off some fish and scooped it up with some greens on a fork before making a big show of opening his snout wide, but the fork never arrived at his own mouth, instead drifting towards Twilight. She squealed with joy and opened her snout to receive it, giving an appreciative mmm as she chewed and swallowed. "I really worked up a hunger today, sorry."
"What did you do? How did you get there and back so quickly? Did you fly as fast as Rainbow Dash the entire way?" He got another serving of food for her. "You alright?"
"I'm fine, promise." She opened wide to receive the next offering to her magical altar of power. "It's just, you know, I didn't fly that far and fast, I teleported, constantly."
His fork dropped, clattering on the plate. Thankfully it didn't have food on it at that point. "Twilight! That's dangerous."
"Maybe a little." She wobbled a hoof. "I've had a lot of practice, and I made it, as you can see." She gestured over herself with a hoof. "All in one piece, and no fifth leg that I can determine."
He plucked up his fork in his magic, working on the next serving. "You didn't have to."
"On the contrary, I barely arrived in time as it was." She gave a soft flap with her ragged wings. "Now, please... can we just not argue about that?"
"I'm sorry..." He offered up another snoutfull of deliciousness. "I just worry about you, for you. You... I wouldn't want you to be hurt."
She suddenly leaned forward, their foreheads bumping together, horns side-by-side touching. "What kind of boyfriend would want to see their girlfriend hurt? That's only natural," she rolled her eyes, perhaps a bit tipsy from too much of the celebration wine. "But this girlfriend happens to be a hero." She rubbed her forehead on his. "So I'll be the one rescuing you, Mister, and you'll look cute while I do it."
Sunburst felt his cheeks warming at the proximity. It was kind of nice having Twilight that close, but maybe a little intimidating too. He wasn't sure how to react but to get more food into her. "I may have to rescue you sometime..."
"Would you?" Her stance shifted subtly. "I mean... would you? When I'm scared and the odds seem piled against me, would you come then?" She drew back a little, a few tears leaking from her eyes. "When I'm not even sure the girls can pull it through, will you?"
"Of course!" he quickly blurted out, lowering his fork back towards the plate. She didn't look like she wanted to eat at that moment. "I don't care what's standing in the way." He leaned forward to try to bump heads, but found his head never reached anything. Instead, his lips did as she moved to catch them with her own. They were kissing in an awkward angle that slowly evened out as he realized what had happened.
She pushed him over, tipping him backwards as she advanced over him. With a mental shove, she sent the plate sliding across the room and she climbed up on top of him, still kissing.
Sunburst was shocked, but...
They had a very pleasant evening.
The next morning, Twilight woke up, putting a hoof to her head. She felt bleary and wobbly, but the sleep had helped. "Sunburst?"
"Mmm?"
"It's morning." She gestured at the windows, welcoming light into the room. "Time to rise and shine."
He sat up with a wide stretch, yawning explosively. "Oh, alright. Our train's at two." He rolled/fell from bed to his hooves and began stretching out. "Thanks, um, for the weekend. It was really fun."
She reached down from the bed and bonked him on the nose lightly. "It's not entirely over."
"Well, I mean..." He rubbed behind his head. "It technically is, being Monday and all."
"Oh yeah." She hopped down beside him and started for the bath. "Let's wash up and get packed."
As they bathed, Sunburst kept glancing towards her when he thought she wasn't looking. At least, until she was staring at him just as he glanced. He jumped back in the water, sending it sloshing.
"What's wrong?" She shook her head. "You're acting peculiarly."
"No, I mean, yes, a little?" He smiled nervously and half-sank into the water. "I mean... haven't things, you know, changed a little?"
She canted her head left, then right. "Not the way I see it. We are girlfriend and, you know, boyfriend. It's not like we..." she trailed off, remembering how the night had ended. "Oh." Her cheeks began to warm brightly. "Oh..."
He shrank a little. "Should I have said no?"
"No!" She blurted, jumping for him, though the water made it a slow and ponderous movement that didn't carry her to his side as she had planned. "I mean... we had... a good time... and... I don't think... I'm not going to regret it..." She leaned in and bumped her nose against his. "And I don't want you regretting it either, alright?"
He smiled a little, nervous though it was. "It was a special weekend, and one I won't forget..." He raised his hoof from the water to brush her wet cheek. "Thank you for it."
She moved closer, but did not go for a hug or a kiss, instead squeezing a dallop of shampoo on his mane and raising her hooves to work it in vigorously. "Now, about this mane. We're going to tame it, you and I. You looked really nice yesterday."
He laughed, looking up at the sudsy mess she was making of his mane. "Under your hooves, I can believe it. I'm, uh, glad you liked it..." It had been a gamble, but one that had paid off. "Since we're conditioning..." He returned the favor to Twilight's mane, lathering it with his glowing horn. "We'll both look nice on our way back home."
"The two prettiest ponies on the train car," she agreed in a sing song, snickering. "Well, provided Rarity doesn't suddenly show up. I imagine she'd laugh at the both of us, thinking we know a thing compared to her about how to treat a mane." She pulled over the faucet on its hose, starting to rinse Sunburst clean of his suds. "I'm perfectly happy with my working knowledge. Not all of us need to be runway ready at any given moment."
Sunburst waited for her to be done, grabbing the spout with his magic the moment she released it to get her mane clean of soap and conditioner. "As if you need it. You're plenty... You're beautiful, you know that, right?"
Her cheeks lit back up. "Sunburst!"
"I'm only speaking the truth." He put a wet hoof over his submerged chest.
"I'm a nerd," she spat out. "An egghead, as Rainbow Dash likes to point out."
"Lucky for you, that's exactly my type." He kissed her on the nose gently. "Let's nerd it up, together."
"It's a date," she agreed in a soft sigh. She pulled herself free of the tub, shaking herself free of water and sending it everywhere. A towel floated over to finish the job, rubbing vigorously at her pelt before working more carefully at her mane and tail. "What do we have to pack?"
"Not much." He emerged after her but resisted the urge to shake, lest he get her wet just after she dried herself. He stepped away to make some room before letting it loose. "We've really been fairly tidy. If we take the treasure chest as it is, well, then it's already packed, so that's convenient. Let's just get the little things." He pointed at a few things scattered about the room that they had brought with them. "I already packed my spare capes."
"Good stallion." She trotted off, her magic grabbing the stray things to tuck them away in their suitcases. "Remind me to thank your mother."
"Mmm? Oh yeah! This... was kind of her idea, and treat. We owe her a thank you."
Twilight put a hoof to her cheek. "If this is how she acts as a mother-in-law, I don't see why ponies speak badly of them."
Sunburst went still.
"What?" She turned to face him, only processing what she had said a moment later. "Oh! I mean, oh... I mean, we're not, uh... there... yet..." She shook her head vigorously. "That does remind me though, you need to really meet my parents, and I need to reintroduce you to Shining Armor."
"Uh, I know Shining Armor, fairly well in fact." He tilted his head. "Introductions aren't needed."
"Sunburst, the nice and smart stallion that saved the day, is not the same pony as Sunburst, the pony that is involved with your sister." She gestured to the left, then the right. "I may not be an expert on how brothers think, but I feel certain this is worth a reintroduction and formal announcement." She huffed suddenly. "Would you believe I didn't know he and Cadance were getting married until the last second?! Hmmph, I'll show him how it's done. You tell your family about these things, it's just the way it's done."
They stepped off the train, horns glowing with shared effort of drawing their luggage and their new prize chest along with them. "There you are," spoke Stellar with a bright smile, trotting towards them. "The lovely couple. How was the trip?"
Twilight tilted her head. "I thought Pin--" She was tackled from the side under a pink mass, her world put back in order by her presence. "Nevermind," she laughed, hugging her exuberant friend gently. "Nice to see you too, Pinkie."
Pinkie bobbed her head. "I missed you both so much! I mean, I guess Twilight a bit more, no offense or anything, but I know her better and we do stuff together and yay you're back!"
Sunburst reached up to adjust his glasses lightly. "It's good to be back. Thank you, Mother. That was a lovely trip."
Stellar's expression warmed with the compliment. Her shrewd eyes took in his own expression, quickly determining that she had made the correct decision. "That's new..." She noticed the chest, not a part of their original luggage. "Did one of you buy it?"
Pinkie was suddenly beside the chest, sniffing around it like a curious dog. "Never saw it before. Smells important!"
Twilight sat up without Pinkie mounted on her. "We won it, with a minimum amount of drama." Her horn glowed as she lifted a hoof in time, gesturing dramatically. "I present treasures of Equestria's past!" The lid flopped open, displaying the artifacts to their curious eyes.
Stellar approached curiously, looking into the chest. "How fascinating. I confess, a lot of it just looks old, not valuable..." Appreciating the past was not a habit she had. "This looks nice though." She plucked up the glittering crown, polished and so shiny in the light of the afternoon sun.
Pinkie snatched the crown right out of Stellar's magic. "Oooo! It's a stallion's crown. Those are rare."
Sunburst and Twilight blinked at Pinkie in unison. He responded first, "How can you tell that?"
She shrugged a little. "It doesn't look right for a mare's crown, and it's not a tiara." She set the crown back in the chest and knocked it closed. "Need any help getting this home?"
Soon they were moving, the burden more distributed among them, with Twilight and Sunburst each pulling along their own case by themselves and Pinkie pushing the chest along.
Stellar walked at Sunburst's side. "I hope things went... well." She wanted details... "Anything you want to share?"
Sunburst smiled awkwardly, not rushing to disgorge private information to his mother, however... "Oh! Twilight, can you come here a moment?"
She veered off to get closer to him. "What's wrong, Sunburst?"
"Nothing! Mother--" He gestured a hoof at Twilight. "May I present my girlfriend, Twilight Sparkle. You two may have met before, but--"
Stellar looked confused a moment, but it cleared away. "A pleasure to meet you, Twilight. I hope you treat my son well. If he gives you trouble, you tell me about it." She gestured at herself. "I'm Stellar Flare, but you can call me 'Mom'."
Twilight gave an off-guard chortle as she raised a hoof to her face. "Nice to meet you, again. Mother and student, what a combination. You know we're not..." She rolled the same hoof through the air slowly. "--married or anything just yet."
"The offer remains." She nodded firmly. "Now--" She tossed her head towards the tall tower/castle they were next to. "You two go settle in. I expect I'll see you both tomorrow, in school."
Pinkie pushed the chest up the steps with some effort, leaving it right in front of the door. "There we go. I'll tell all the others that you're back safe and sound." She saluted sharply and vanished in a puff of pink smoke.
Stellar shook her head. "Is there a friendship class explaining her?"
Twilight joined the head shaking. "Maybe as a post-graduate study..." She coughed softly into a hoof. "Be that as it may, it is good to be back, and thank you, for the trip. It was delightful." She offered a raised hoof and soon she and Stellar were sharing a gentle hug.
As that happened, Sunburst slowly made his way up the steps. As tough as they could be, he decided he was doing better than the first day he had arrived. Maybe active magic practice had been doing some good for his horn? He smiled at the idea and made the remaining distance with a smile.
"Hey Sun." Starlight opened the door to the castle from inside, her magic grabbing his luggage and pulling it in without even a delay. "Welcome back. How'd it go?"
His cheeks warmed instantly, and she saw it, laughing. "That good, huh? You stallion, you." She turned back inside, but paused half-turn. "What's that?" She pointed at the chest seemingly abandoned there.
"Oh, take that in too. Twilight and I won it at the convention." He tapped it once with a hoof even as it began to float, already in Starlight's grip. "It has all kinds of interesting artifacts to examine."
"Anything magic?" She hiked a brow. "Or, you know, all 'historical value'."
He fidgeted with his glasses. "Mostly the latter, but there is one--"
"--We were hoping you would help us examine it," cut in Twilight, joining them. Stellar was moving off to other things. "Let's get everything inside and put away before we get to that. Something to look forward to."
Suddenly all the luggage, including the chest, plucked right up and floated over Starlight's head. "Just tell me where you want it."
They all laughed gently as they vanished into the castle, the door closing behind them.
Sunburst, Starlight, and Twilight were seated around a small table. On the table rested the crown in its shiny mystery. Twilight gestured at it. "From preliminary examination, every gem you can see is enchanted with a different spell, meaning this crown could achieve a dizzying number of effects, to say nothing of any potential combinations that may await us."
Sunburst raised a hoof. "There's also the fact that Pinkie seemed certain this was a stallion's crown."
Starlight lifted it in her magic. "In that case, why haven't we already put it on a fine stallion's head?" She moved the crown towards Sunburst, but the glow around the crown altered with Twilight's interference, holding it back.
"Not so fast. We don't know what it might do!"
Starlight tilted her head a little. "There is exactly one way to find out right now. Besides, you want to try it, don't you, Sunburst?"
Sunburst rubbed behind his head. "Uhh, I mean, yeah, I want to know what it does..."
"That doesn't mean we throw him in the line of fire to find out." She set the crown back on the table. "We can do this methodically."
Starlight stuck out her tongue. "If he's not trying it, I could if you'd rather not risk your boyfriend."
Twilight and Sunburst both blushed at that as Starlight laughed.
"What's going on in here?" Spike peeked around the corner through the doorway. "Oh, hey, nice crown." He licked his lips. "Looks tasty..."
Sunburst chuckled at that, some of the tension broken. "Hey, Spike, look what we won." He gestured at the crown on the table. "It's very magic, but we're not sure what it does, exactly."
He flew in, small wings easily holding him aloft. "Huh... Really magic... Do you think it takes unicorn magic to, you know, get it going, or could anyone try it?"
Twilight picked up the crown in her magic. "Well, this I'm willing to try. Most likely, it will do nothing without some magic to nudge it into action." She floated it over towards Spike. "Want to try it on?"
Spike nodded quickly with a grin. "Crown me, Twilight. Make me the king I was always meant to be."
Twilight rolled her eyes with a little laugh at Spike's dramatics. "Of course, My Liege." She set it down gently on his finned head. It was a bit oversized for him, leaning to the side a little. It did not do much.
Spike flew over to a mirror to gaze at his enhanced regality. "Aw yeah, lookin' good!" He flexed and strutted there. "Call the castle servants! I have a decree for them."
Starlight shook her head. "Unless amusing Spike is a magical effect, nope, nothing happened. Guess we need to put it on a unicorn's head to get much out of it." She side-eyed Sunburst. "Oh, where will we find a male unicorn ready at this time of day?"
Twilight clopped the table with a firm strike. "That's quite enough of that. Starlight, are you willing to help us examine the crown?"
Starlight flinched back at Twilight's burst of somewhat-angry authority. "Alright, alright. Let's do it the slow way. Spike? We'll need that back."
"Aw." He flew over to set the crown back where it had started. "Good luck. I'll get some serious studying tea."
As he left, Sunburst raised a brow at Twilight. "You have studying tea?"
Starlight could but roll her eyes. "You're surprised, really? I bet Spike and she have a system worked out with exactly what kind of tea or coffee is called for in a host of situations. Wake up, sleep time, study, panic, panic flavor 2, panic flavor 3--"
"Hey!" Twilight was blushing brightly. "We do not have three flavors of panic tea!" Her voice lowered. "Only two." Coughing softly into a hoof, she pointed at the crown with the other hoof. "Now, as we were saying, we should start with examining the larger jewels. There's one big one here." She reached out and tapped the literal crown jewel. "It may be the center of the magic involved, and if we decipher it, the rest may fall into place easily."
Sunburst gestured to Twilight. "That spell you used, the one we employed to graph out the interior of a horn. Perhaps that would be useful here?"
"Excellent idea!" Her horn glowed as she pulled out a piece of paper and set it on the table. A quill dutifully danced over and slowly began to sketch out the gem from the inside as she concentrated on the task. "Ooo, it's insides are... delightfully intricate... I expected a simple... crystalline... pattern..."
The other two unicorns watched as the sketch continued, detailing an inside to the gem that belied its simple ovular outer-shape. Starlight whistled softly. "That's really something. All of that, inside that smooth rock?" She reached a hoof to a completed portion, trailing along the patterns and paths. "It really does look like it maybe controls way too many things at the same time, say... all the other gems in this crown."
Sunburst smiled. "Yes, which means this is probably the thing you'd want to put magic in to start the process. Sensible enough, really, and where I would have guessed, but it's good to see proof of it. What's the history of this thing? That would go a long way in telling us what it should do."
A book flew in much as Spike had, flopping on the table beside the still-drawing picture. "Here you are." Twilight nodded towards it, her eyes locked on the gem. "It should be in there, I think. Time to study."
"One of my favorite things." He casually opened it to the first page and began to flip quickly, clearly skimming. "Crown, crown, crown..."
Starlight clip-clopped her hooves together. "I'm not going to just sit here. I'll start on the smaller gems." She got out some paper and a quill of her own, starting to map each smaller gem much more quickly. Though they were smaller, they were just as much a confusing network of passages and energy lines. Each was a masterpiece of arcane engineering, waiting to fulfill some unknown purpose. "I'm getting more and more excited! I want to see this thing work."
"Here it is!" Sunburst slapped down a hoof. "Look, it has a picture." He twisted the book around between his forehooves to show it off to the two mares.
And so it was written that when Princess Platinum found a very special somepony and a proper wedding was arranged, she would not be satisfied marrying a normal unicorn that would be only her consort. She commissioned a grand crown be forged with dazzling gems of deep arcane worth to accompany.
The gems would act as an all-purpose magical tool, building on and enhancing the unicorn's magic, enhancing them. There was a dark side.
Sunburst huffed. "Why do they always have a dark side?"
Starlight shrugged. "This one's pretty mild as dark sides go." She pointed to the passage that explained it. Princess Platinum had no interest in creating a king that would depose her, so the crown would only work with the input of a royal mare. Her presence and will was needed to keep it going. Lose her faith and it would stop working and the unfortunate stallion would be left where they started, at the least.
The book didn't go heavy into details about that, since it didn't happen.
Twilight lifted her forehooves in an expansive shrug. "Well, that isn't so bad. You have a royal mare right here." She directed one of her hooves at herself. "And she has no particular issues with you wearing this crown. I can't even imagine you doing something bad with it."
Starlight waggled her brows. "He may use its awful magic to study as no pony has ever studied before!"
Sunburst softly coughed into a hoof. "I will keep my wild urges at bay, promise. Uh, well, if Princess Platinum made it for her boyfriend, I doubt it was very dangerous, or that would be remembered. Getting married, plonking this on a pony's head, and they explode; people would talk about that."
Twilight stuck out her tongue at the mental image thus conjured. "You would think so... Well, then shall we?" She lifted the crown in her magic, angling it towards Sunburst. "I mean, you are a boyfriend of a princess. We're almost repeating history here, though the book didn't mention any lessons we should be learning from the fact."
Sunburst gently took the crown in his own magic. "Well, sure. I mean, we all want to know how it works. If it's not a cursed artifact, why not?" He raised his hooves as the crown floated over. He lowered his hooves and the crown lowered with it, resting on his head. Everything went dark for him. He stopped moving, staring ahead.
In his mind, he saw a mare approaching him in a slow and sultry walk. "My hus..." Her voice trailed off as she looked over him. "You are not him." Her blue eyes narrowed a little. "I may be but an echo of the lovely Princess Platinum, but even I can see that. Did you steal the crown?"
She did not wait for him to reply, her horn glowing brightly as she pulled something precious from within Sunburst's stunned head. "No, not a thief... She's dead..." The phantom sank to her haunches. "For countless moons..."
"I'm sorry?" Sunburst rose shakily to his imagined hooves. "Uh... where are we?" Around them were countless lines and swirls. Dizzying fractals that branched out in three dimensions bedazzled the eyes, seeming to change depending on the angle they were viewed from. "Is this inside the crown?"
"This is my home." She sat and spread her hooves. "I, a small shred of Princess Platinum, the only tiny piece left, if your mind speaks truly." She heaved a sigh that had no air. "You cannot imagine how this feels..."
"I can imagine," he said, defying the words she had literally just said. "It must be awful... Do you want me to go?"
"No!" She took a step forward. "No... I've been alone for so long and you're so fast to throw me back into that darkness? No. Tell me, what Princess gave you the crown? Show me her."
He thought of Twilight, barely a flash, but it was enough for a double to appear before Princess Platinum. "Hmm... An alicorn?" She circled around Twilight, appraising her. "How good is she at magic?"
"Very," quickly replied Sunburst. "My name is Sunburst, by the way. She's Twilight, my girlfriend." He blushed at the admission.
"Girlfriend?" She hiked a refined brow, tossing her pink mane. "You are not even wed, not even betrothed, and she would trust this crown on your brow? You have her trust, or she has no idea what she has done."
"I would like to think I have her trust." He canted his head a bit to the left. "I wouldn't ever do anything to hurt her. She was my friend before my girlfriend."
Princess Platinum stepped closer to Sunburst, raising a hoof to brush along one of his cheeks. "Mmm, loyal, good. A stallion should be just that to a fair princess, though she is not as fair as I am." Being a white pony with pink mane, she was quite brighter than the purple Twilight. "Tell me, and be truthful, you already know I can see straight through you. Will you use this crown for her benefit?"
Outside the dream realm, Twilight and Starlight blinked at the suddenly unresponsive Sunburst. Starlight pulled the book over to peer at it. "They don't mention this part."
"Is that all you can say?!" She hopped to her hooves and quickly circled the table to Sunburst. "Sunburst? Are you alright? Should we take off the crown?"
"I'd vote against that." Starlight rolled a hoof towards the crown. "Something's going on I bet, and yanking that off may make things get ugly.
Twilight tilted her head a little as she leaned in close. "I think it's glowing..." The largest jewel was dimly shimmering. "Something is happening..." She crashed to her haunches. "Something good?"
"We can only hope." Starlight lifted her shoulders. "Too late for regrets now."
"That's easy for you to say." She waved a wing at Starlight in a few frantic flaps. "Your boyfriend isn't the one with his brain maybe being melted by an ancient artifact?!" She clopped both hooves to her own head. "Why did I think this was a good idea?!"
Spike peeked his head in, sighed, and withdrew. It was time for panic tea #2.
Sunburst took a half-step back, but it didn't seem to actually bring him any further from the ruler of that strange domain. "I... Yes, of course." He wasn't sure he'd only use it for her benefit, but saying anything but yes felt foolish to him.
"You're lying." She poked him right in the center of his chest. "But only a little... A little lie is sometimes called for in royal circles." She smiled thinly. "Let us revisit that question from a new angle. Do you swear to never use the crown in any way that would impede or harm her?" She gestured at the floating transluscent statue of Twilight. "She isn't me, but she is a princess, and I won't have another princess being betrayed at my hoof."
"Never intentionally," he quickly blurted. "I mean... I don't even know how this works. We're study buddies, not rivals."
Platinum blinked at that. "Study..." She reached out and brushed his glasses. "Is she as studious as you appear to be?"
"Oh, um... yes?"
Platinum smiled gently. "How adorable... a demure book-loving princess, and a partner that would eagerly hide in the same pile of books... Adorable..." She leaned in closer, fluttering her long lashes. "Very well then. Your ardor appears to be true. Your faith, sincere. You love her, and more than simple propriety demands. How... fortunate for her."
Sunburst took a step forwards. "Wait, did you not... love your husband?"
She smiled, a haunted smile. "I thought I did, once... I learned he did not return the feeling. He agreed because I was a princess, and feared saying otherwise. He agreed because he thought he had to. He whispered sweet words, because he thought he had to. He held me in his hooves... because he thought he had to..." She sank a little. "My true self never learned this, but how could I not? His mind was open before me. I saw the truth, the naked truth of it. He had no love for her, only fear and obligation. I kept him in line, but I could not force him to care for me..." She reached for his nose, booping him gently.
"Your princess is very fortunate indeed..."
Sunburst suddenly started awake, eyes blinking rapidly. "What?" He was just as quickly tackled to the ground with a frantic Twilight hugging him tightly. "Woah-hey, um... I'm alright, promise..."
Starlight waved a hoof at their prone forms. "See, that wasn't so bad. You may want to avoid choking him to death though. That would defeat the whole thing."
"Oh, um, yes." Twilight scrambled back up to her haunches. "What happened? Are you really okay?"
Sunburst sat up with an unsure smile. "I met Princess Platinum."
Twilight's eyes widened. "What?! Details, now."
He pointed up at the crown firmly on his head. "Huh, you would have thought being knocked over would have..." He reached up and tried to remove the crown, but the crown was quite firmly attached. "Oh, uhhh...."
Starlight's horn glowed as she grabbed the crown and gave a firm yank, drawing a yelp from Sunburst. "Nope, pretty stuck on there. At least it looks good on you."
"Um, thanks." He rubbed at his head, trying to calm the flesh she had just tugged on. "She's in here, a small piece of her. She wanted to be sure I'd be loyal to my princess."
Twilight tilted her head. "Well, seeing as you're awake now, I assume you passed her test?"
"I think so..." He rubbed at his cheek. "She seemed so sad though... I mean, she's, you know, happy for you, Twilight, but she only just learned that the real her is long passed, and her husband never really loved her."
Twilight flicked her ears back, cringing. "Oof, that's a harsh way to wake up... Is she alright?" She peered at the largest of the jewels. "I have nothing but respect for Princess Platinum," she spoke to it, unsure she was being heard. "I will handle this crown with the utmost of care."
Sunburst smiled a little. "It feels warm. I think she heard you and she's, I'm not sure, happy? Content?" He stood up, his eyes upwards on the bits of the crown he could see from that angle. "Well, it's official now."
Starlight hiked a brow. "What's official?"
Sunburst pointed at Twilight. "I belong to her."
Twilight darkened rapidly, blood flooding her cheeks. "Sunburst! You are an adult pony with certain rights. No creature can own you!"
Sunburst softly tapped at the secured crown as he paced around the room. "She, uh, the bit of Princess Platinum, will make sure of it."
"No!" Twilight clopped down a hoof. "I don't want that."
Starlight rolled her eyes. "He's already fallen for you, may I remind? I doubt much will change." She leaned forward a little, her chin on her hooves. "Besides, what's a little mental magic between good friends?"
"Starlight!" Twilight's wings shot out in either direction. "Sunburst... Please don't talk like that. You're not mine. You are an independent pony. If you decide you don't want to be around me, then I formally give permission for you to do that." She nodded firmly, eyes on the largest jewel of the crown. "You hear that? Don't force him to do anything. I trust him, all of him."
Sunburst perked an ear at a voice only he could hear. "She really loves you," the voice whispered as if from inside his skull. "I said much the same thing to my special pony... He said yes, but his heart said no. Do you trust her just as deeply?"
Sunburst smiled faintly. "Whatever happens, uh... I'm happy, here, with you." He leaned in and touched noses with the blushing Twilight.
With the panic tea available, all three drank and calmed down. Sunburst nodded towards Spike. "Huh, this is pretty good at getting the edge off."
"Patent pending." He flashed a thumbs up as he lifted into the air. "Have fun, you three." He was gone in a flap.
Starlight rolled a hoof lightly. "So, are we looking for ways to get it off Sunburst, or are we exploring this strange and new artifact for all its worth?"
Twilight inclined her head at Sunburst. "I'll defer to you on that. If you want us to focus on getting that off your head, then it will be our priority. We talked you into putting it on! This is as much our fault."
Platinum's spirit whispered gently, "She is full of concern for you. A mare full of love." There was a fond almost-jealousy there. "I felt that before..."
Sunburst reached up and tapped the crown gently. "Well... it's not hurting me, but will take some getting used to. It would be nice if it didn't keep talking to me without having a body to go with it."
"I could draw you in here, if you prefer. Then we could speak face to face."
Sunburst frowned softly. "Alright, lesson time." The two other mares in the room looked at him with some confusion. Starlight glanced at Twilight, brows raising as she did so.
He moved his hoof to gesture at the largest jewel. "Show me how to use this thing."
"Ah, yes. How silly of me." Princes Platinum's echo gently laughed in Sunburst's head. "Let us begin with the basics. Simply perform magic. Go on. Surely you know at least one spell."
"I have a particular one in mind." Sunburst hopped up to his hooves and walked right out of the room without a word to the others. They shared one more look before quietly moving after him, walking along behind him a small distance as he wandered the castle.
He found what he was looking for in one of Twilight's many libraries. He willed the book off the shelf and set it on the table, flipping through it. "Here we are..."
Twilight leaned in over his shoulder. "Why would you need to synthesize an arcane pony? That's a very advanced spell. Do you want my help?"
Sunburst jumped in surprise, having forgotten he had company. "Oh! Hey, both of you. Um... Let me at least try this. Give me a hoof if it looks like it's going wrong."
Starlight rolled a hoof. "Go on and wow us, Sunburst."
He studied the spell back and forth, mumbling to himself as he did so. When he was sure he had it down enough to follow along without stumbling, he began the spell. His horn began to glow as he began the subtle muscle movements that directed the flow of magic.
"Wait," came a soft echo. "What is this? What is this?" He felt a sudden stuffiness in his horn. "No no no no, what is this?" He tried to ignore it, to continue the spell. "Unacceptable! You are a princess' consort, and she demands a spellcasting peer."
The crown glowed, a thin beam of silvery light reaching out in a flash, touching Twilight's horn. She yelped in surprise, but her horn didn't explode or even hurt. "What the..."
"Yes yes yes, we'll fix this..." urgently whispered Platinum. "You'll have a horn to match hers, just a little shorter, a little. She is the princess. You understand. Your place is just under her, where she can hold you."
He was still trying to cast the spell, almost halfway through it as his horn throbbed in a strange way. Itchy pain erupted through it and his scalp and he clenched his teeth, trying to work through it. In front of him, light began to gather as if somepony were pouring a big carafe of pure light into the shape of a pony, a unicorn. He imagined Princess Platinum, and that was the shape the light took as it slowly filled in from the bottom up.
Starlight blinked slowly. "Uh... I heard some stallions like that kind of thing, but..." She reached out to gently touch at Sunburst's working horn. "Are you casting this, or that?" Her eyes darted to the forming structure of light.
Sunburst narrowed his eyes, working so hard on finishing the spell. A few little drops of light coming down to finish the construct's ears. The spell should have been beyond him, but he was doing it. Excitement blended with other emotions in a heady mix that he tried to ignore.
With a flash, the visage of pure light took a step, the light flaking away to reveal a pony of many colors, matching the image that Sunburst had witnessed. He let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding, gasping for breath. "Alright... Okay... Now we... just need one more spell."
The newly forged pony slumped over suddenly, casually flopping to the floor lifelessly. Twilight arced a brow. "It won't do much unless you make it do something." She reached past Sunburst to tap at the book. "It says so right here. But, uh, before we worry about that..." She floated a mirror in front of Sunburst.
Sunburst gasped at what he saw. His horn had become slender and a little longer. It was a perfect match for Twilight's, though it remained the same brown/orange. More importantly... "She... cured me, I think?" He reached up a shaking hoof to tap at the horn on his head. His horn?
Starlight shrugged. "Well, guess you can stop reading that book now."
"No!" He hopped up to his hooves, shaking his head. "Even if I am cured, forever, we should keep going. Countless unicorn foals stand to benefit from our work. No other foal should have to go through what I did, and we can't very well put this crown on each of their heads."
"What is it you speak of?" came the whisper. Magic drew the answers from his mind. "How sweet of you. You studied with selfish desperation, but you will continue with altruism. A better motivation. I have done well this day."
"Stop whispering like that," Sunburst shook his head a little as he put the first book back. "I need one more spell."
Twilight moved her hoof to his shoulder. "Alright, enough questions, just one. What spell do you need?"
He smiled at her gently. "Thank you. I need a psyche projection spell."
"Oh! That one! Why didn't you ask?" Her horn glowed and a book popped into being. "I've used that one before."
Starlight huffed softly. "I remember it... You were riding a pony figurine and driving me crazy with it."
She stuck out her tongue as she flipped open to the proper page. "Here you are. Why are you projecting yourself?"
He scanned over the writing as he spoke to no physical pony, "Can you cast this spell and hop into the body I made for you?"
"I can cast whatever I want," claimed Platinum with a haughty confidence. "But I don't have a physical horn, so I will borrow yours. I trust you don't mind that, seeing as this is your idea." His horn tingled, then went numb. He could distantly feel magic happening up there, but he wasn't the one doing it.
The crumpled form of Princess Platinum blinked open her eyes, revealing her dazzling blue eyes. She slowly sat up, making no noise as she looked around. She took a slow inhalation, filling her lungs before letting it out. "That is what that feels like... It's been so long..." She put a hoof to her throat. "Talking..." She felt the vibrations her talking caused, seemingly fascinated for a moment. "You..."
She turned on Twilight. "You are a fortunate princess, and still alive, which is a thing I cannot claim."
Twilight blinked dumbly at the walking historical figure before her. Sure, it wasn't the first one she had met, still... "A pleasure to meet you, Princess Platinum."
Starlight was far more flippant, waving a hoof. "Heya."
Platinum fixed her gaze on Starlight. "Who is this one, who has only spoken with an utter lack of decorum?"
Sunburst waved at Starlight quickly. "This is Starlight, a good friend of both of us."
"Nice to meetcha." Starlight tilted her head. "So this is the presence that controls the crown then?"
"'This' is Princess Platinum." She set a white hoof on her chest. "Since the rest of me is gone, I have the truest claim to the name of all living ponies. I trust my original self will voice no complaints."
Twilight tapped two hooves together nervously. "About that... There are lines of succession to consider. You stopped being a princess when you, the original you, perished."
Platinum scowled at that. "You would take my royalty away from me? Royal blood and royal countenance does not fade with time."
Sunburst raised both hooves. "No no no! I mean, of course you are a princess, but you can't take on the responsibilities of a... acting princess. You're a retired princess."
Twilight tilted her head. "That... sounds about right." She smiled a little. "Sorry for the bad phrasing. Yes, a retired princess."
Platinum's snout wrinkled in distaste before it eased. "I suppose it would be difficult... For all of my... bluster... I don't know the proper avenues of statecraft. My original self never saw the need to give that to me."
Starlight approached the faux-pony with half-lidded eyes. "So, what did she give you? What do you know?"
"Intrigue," she sang out. "Romance, skullduggery, and how ponies think." She tapped her head gently. "Of course magic." She leveled the same hoof at Sunburst's crown. "I was to control that, and with it, the magic of my husband, so knowledge of magic was of great importance." She leaned in a little towards Sunburst, peering at the crown. "An outside view... It's a little... No, it's lovely. I suppose it is, in many ways, the closest I can call to a 'body'."
Starlight hiked a brow. "Well, you have one now." She gently poked the retired princess in the side. "How long does an arcane body last?" She looked to Twilight and Sunburst for answers.
Twilight rubbed at her chin thoughtfully. "Not for too long, though there is nothing but fatigue that would stop you from making a new one. I admit, it's nice to speak to you, instead of only hearing about you through Sunburst." Her ears perked. "That reminds me! You had better not be forcing Sunburst to do anything. He is perfect just the way he is."
"That is a bald lie." Platinum wore the smuggest grin. "His horn was clearly defective. You should be thanking me for altering it."
Sunburst looked up at the altered horn in his field of view. "Oh, uh, I am thankful, really... I don't... I'll need some time to even wrap my head around that."
"Your future-husband knows how to be thankful, a good trait." Platinum smiled with self-satisfaction even as Twilight began to darken dangerously.
Starlight bumped into Platinum, almost knocking her over. "You be nice to Sunburst. If you aren't, I'm rude enough to do something horrible to you."
Platinum scowled at Starlight and Sunburst's horn began to glow at once. "I have enough magic to defend myself, you ruffian!"
Twilight threw herself between Platinum and Starlight. "Now now, let's not get carried away. We're all in a new situation, so let's take a step back, relax, and work things out."
Sunburst glanced between his glowing horn and Platinum. "Hmm, I was curious if the arcane body could do magic itself, I suppose not."
Twilight shook her head softly. "Could you imagine if it could? Besides, even if it could, it would be using itself up to do it, and that would be counter-productive." The two of them nodded in agreement.
Platinum smiled at the exchange. "You two are possibly more adorable than I can handle, but I will do my best."
Sunburst sat beside Twilight. They were in their favorite room, where the study had begun. Before them was the book that has started them down the path that had led to their different trails becoming one.
"She's arguing that chemical bleachers may be effective," noted Sunburst from his side of the book.
"But would almost certainly cause damage." She tapped at her side of the book. "Unless an extreme amount of care and precision were brought to bear, it would harm delicate magic organs."
"Replacing one source of magic impotence with another," sighed out Sunburst. "This seems like a dead end of an idea, but I can see why she thought of it."
Princess Platinum wandered away from the castle. She wanted to see what the new age had brought to Equestria, and everypony else of importance was busy. She was a grown mare, so she saw no reason to bother them. She just wandered off.
She could feel the line, the tether that led back to the crown still on Sunburst's head. Magic flowed through it, keeping her form stable and vigorous. Of course, it also flowed out of Sunburst, but he needed a little practice to get his spellcasting better.
Platinum enjoyed the sensations of movement. Each clopping stride brought her closer to the other people of the age, and it was new and novel, at least for the moment. She had never been properly alive. She knew what it was, logically, and she had felt indirectly though the two pony heads she had ridden.
Having her own body was a nice change of pace. Passing into the town, ponies seemed to take casual notice of her, as well they should. She was a lovely mare with dazzling eyes. She was a princess, even if she couldn't act in the role.
"Darling?" A pony that looked like she could easily be Platinum's sister stopped in her tracks, peering at Platinum curiously. "It's like looking into a distorted but still lovely mirror. Nice to meet you, dear. Are you new in town?"
Platinum gave the slightest of nod. "I am newly arrived. A pleasure to meet you, Miss...?"
"Rarity." She gestured to herself and dipped down a little. "And to whom do I owe the pleasure of speaking with?" Her almost-double had a soft pink mane and tail, though cared for just as lovingly as Rarity's purple mane. They had soft curls, as opposed to Rarity's specific appearance.
"Princess Platinum," she announced with great pride. A thought struck at her. "Are you a descendant of mine? That would explain it nicely."
Rarity's cheeks lit up and she tittered, covering her mouth with a hoof. "Oh, me? Pfft, I... would like that, but I don't think it is the case." She thought of her parents, and trying to envision them as distant descendants of the Princess Platinum... "Wait..." She tilted her head slowly, looking over the pony before her. "Did you say the Princess Platinum?"
Platinum gently waved a hoof at herself. "That is my name, dear subject. Could you--"
Rarity gasped loudly, cutting off Platinum. "I had no idea! I'm so... how are you here? Were you caught in a time vortex with the others? I would have thought I would notice such a thing..."
"Not exactly." She raised a fine brow at Rarity. "Others?"
"The Pillars of Equestria," said Rarity in an educating tone. "They walk Equestria, quite out of time. Much like you, I should think. Poor thing! If you need any help at all, you just ask Rarity." She put a hoof on her chest. "I'll do my best to put things right."
"We appreciate your willingness to serve your princess." She looked Rarity over, wondering... "Tell me, do you know Princess Twilight Sparkle?"
"Twilight? Well, of course. We're best friends, just the best." She nodded softly, looking happy to speak about Twilight. "Well, besides the other girls. I really shouldn't rank them. That's unseemly at best. Oh dear, listen to me ramble on. What about her?"
Princess Platinum smiled gently. This pony would be an information source, if nothing else. "How does she strike you, as a ruler?"
Twilight set the bookmark down carefully in the book and closed it with equal reservation, lest she damage the massive tome. "You've been very focused today. I thought the crown distracted you?"
Sunburst looked up awkwardly at the crown. "She's been quiet the entire time. Maybe we've reached a new level of cooperation?"
Twilight tilted her head left and right slowly as she peered at it. "Perhaps. She didn't seem like the kind of pony that would just... go silent. Well, let's not look a gift horse in the mouth." She coughed softly into a hoof. "I suggest some practical work after that theoretical sparring match."
"What do you have in mind?" He stood up onto his hooves, eager to do something with Twilight.
She pointed up at his altered horn. "You cast one spell, but it was with her actively interfering, or possibly assisting. We don't know which is which. Time to perform some magic on your own and see what happens." With a pop, a new, much more slender, book appeared and dropped to the table.
Her magic flipped open to a particular spell. "Try this one."
"Al'Dofar's confetti blast? Don't tell Pinkie this exists." He chuckled softly as he ran his vision over the spell, soaking it up eagerly. "Alright."
"You read quickly." Twilight perked an ear at him.
"Reading is easy. Memorizing is easy. It's the casting where I trip up." He looked up at his altered horn and focused on the magic. A strange sensation came almost immediately. Magic wasn't flowing the way it normally did. It was smooth and unimpeded, that he felt certain of, but it wasn't... his?
Twilight seemed to notice his strange expression. "What's wrong?"
He tapped at the alien horn, releasing his hold on the unformed magic. It spread out in a little puff of useless arcane energy. "I... have a theory. Can you map my horn again?"
"Certainly." She drew out a new piece of parchment and got to work, focusing intently on his horn. "Does it hurt?"
"No, not at all, just... please."
"Of course. This is... uncanny..."
She soon had a drawing produced, and pulled out a second parchment to put beside it, her own. The two were identical, except one was shorter. "She really did copy my horn, down to the smallest detail."
He tapped at the new drawing. "Exactly as I had feared. She took... Imagine you had a flute your entire life. It was banged up and warped but it was what you practiced with day after day after day. Then somepony comes along, takes it, and replaces it with a new one that's a different size and has holes in different places but it's all shiny and new. Will you play better or worse?"
Twilight frowned at the mental image of her horn somehow also being a flute. "I could see how that would go... poorly at first, but... with practice? You could learn to use the new horn, possibly much better than you could the old one." She rolled a hoof. "If you want, or...?"
He crooked a little smile. "It's kind of... nice, having a matching horn with my special somepony. Do you... think it looks good on me?"
She blinked at the question. "It looks fine, but so did your original one. It's more important that it's attached to you, Sunburst." She rolled her eyes. "Fizzlepop may explode with joy if she knew a horn transplant was a possibility."
"Who?"
"The pony I butted heads with and eventually befriended? Storm King?" She rolled a hoof. "She's out on a personal quest right now anyway, so moving along. You have a point there. If we did replace a broken horn after the pony who had it was so used to using it, they would be entirely incapable of magic use for a time. There would need to be rehabilitation with the new horn."
"Yeah..." He looked up at his horn curiously. "Would you... be willing to do that? I mean... I trust you, Twilight. Can you help me learn how to use your flute?"
She burst into laughter. "I will not! But I will help you with my horn, which is not a flute." She leaned forward in a quick dart, pecking his cheek. "Silly Stallion."
He sent a little power up into his horn, trying to feel around, though it was hard to focus inside one's own horn. "I want to give it a chance. It's a lovely horn, even if it is so much prettier on your head."
She blushed a little. "Stop that... A horn is a horn."
"Until it is on your head. I could write a thesis on the matter if you prefer." He nodded with certainty.
She rolled her eyes at that, laughing softly. "I don't doubt you would if I asked for it. Let's save our literary power for the book." She gestured at the grand tome that had brought them together. "As you said, even if we do get you using this... properly, this is not a feasible solution--"
"--for countless foals," he finished. "We need something we can put in the hooves of a random physician and they can use to diagnose and treat this in any unicorn foal that they examine."
"Right." She tapped at his horn. "We also need to send you back."
"Back?" He blinked softly. "Throwing me out?"
"Nope, worse." She grinned a little maliciously. "You, my fine stallion, are being sent back to Magic Kindergarten." She clopped her forehooves together and rubbed them. "I'll be your school matron, of course. Prepare to learn."
He laughed gently, having never learned to associate that with a panic response. "Sounds great, especially if you're the teacher. I'm ready to learn at your hooves." He dipped his head towards her a moment before standing up. "I suppose I should start with light production."
"An excellent idea." She clopped her hooves once more before standing with him. "Just get the magic moving, which should make light. That's a fine start. While you're working on that, I'll get some educational books." She vanished with a puff of sparkles.
He rolled his eyes softly. Of course she would search for the right book for the problem. It was her thing. He wasn't opposed to the notion either. For the moment, he focused on getting magic moving through his horn. He had never realized that a horn had a 'feeling' until one was replaced with another. He could feel the magic bouncing around through Twilight's delicate and dazzlingly complex passages.
It was a subtle sensation at best, one easily forgotten about if one experienced it day after day. But that wasn't the case. He was working with a new horn after a lifetime with another one, and each time the magic bounced off of something, he could feel it.
It didn't help that he was focused on it, working his way towards the end. He would have to learn.
Then forget. The forgetting felt really important. If he had to concentrate on his horn instead of the magic he was trying to form, he'd be no better off than where he was with a broken horn.
Sticking out a tongue a little, he pushed onwards until a little spritz of magic emerged from the tip of his new horn. It wasn't much, and it couldn't be called a glow, but it was a start. "Next step, see last step." He let the magic fade, then started from the bottom.
Rarity led Platinum along, looking quite happy to be doing it. "Now, I confess, this is a little town. It's full of lovely ponies, but if you're expecting the finer things in life... there are only a few sweet oases in this vast desert." She gestured towards her own shop down the road. "There's my boutique, for a start. Fine clothing to make the royal mare pleased."
Platinum nodded gently towards it. "It looks lovely from here." She had no interest in looking at it any closer in particular. "But Twilight does not rule this town? Her castle is right there." She pointed up at the tower/castle with disbelief on her face.
"Oh my, no." Rarity shook her head. "As I told you, Twilight's role is more of... an ambassador. She smooths problems between creatures, be they ponies or not. She has no... domain, as it were. One exception to that." She pointed her horn at a smaller structure not far from the tower, but still visible at a distance. "That is her school."
Platinum raised a brow at it. "A school is a curious domain for royalty to preside over... Of course, a school could be within a larger domain; nothing wrong with that, dear no." She shook her head. "But is that it? She rules over her own castle, and a school?"
"That's it," agreed Rarity. "She is a very particular princess. She does her role well, I should think." She perked up. "Oh, she's also saved Equestria about half a dozen times or so, but I've lost track to be completely honest. I help, sometimes." She placed a hoof on her chest. "Me and the rest of the girls, that's just one of the things we do."
Platinum circled around to be in front of Rarity. "Topic change. Princess Celestia, who have they replaced her with?" She said the word princess with unusual disgust, her snout wrinkling.
Rarity cocked a brow. "Why, nopony else, dear. She still reigns." She pointed up at the lofty heights of Canterlot. "From up there. Have you been to Canterlot, or was that after your time?"
Platinum scowled at the distant city. "We can hope she's improved since then..."
"Improved?" Rarity reached out a hoof and set her leg around Platinum, drawing her closer. "I detect gossip. Spill it."
Platinum was silent a moment before a wicked grin spread. "If you wish it, my loyal subject. Very well." She nodded softly. "When I first met her, she was a mewling whelp. She didn't even have a cutie mark! They still put her in charge, like that! An immature yearling for a ruler! How outrageous, is it not?"
"Scandalous," agreed Rarity, though she didn't sound as utterly convinced. "What trick did she employ to gain such a lofty title?"
Platinum rolled her eyes. "What else? It's right in her name. She moves the sun, nudging it up and down... I suppose for countless moons now. You would think she would grow tired of it, but here she is, still doing it." She shook her head softly. "Do unicorns even practice for the role anymore? That used to be a big thing, tremendous..." She could only distantly recall the fact, but it was there.
Rarity shook her head quickly. "I'm afraid not. I've never heard of a single unicorn practicing to move the sun like she does. I do suppose with her around, there's precious little need."
Platinum smiled wickedly. "It will be a rude surprise when that need returns and there are no unicorns trained for the task." She looked over her tour guide a moment. "Subject, what is the fanciest thing to experience in this... charming... village?" She said the word charming with the deepest of insincerity.
"That's Rarity, Your Highness. Now, hmm." She circled in place before her expression brightened. "Of course. There is no better place to be treated like royalty. This way." She began showing the course to her favorite day spa. "When I want to just relax and be treated like a princess, this is the place for it. They'll be delighted to have a genuine princess under their caring hooves."
Twilight appeared with several books floating around her. "Alright, everything from 'What is that on my head?' to 'Twelve Basic Spells'" She set them down in a neat pile on the same table that held the weighty tome. "How's light practice coming along?"
"Still getting a feel for it." He focused on building magic and a soft glow started at the base of his horn, working upwards a little faster than the first few times to end with a little sparkle at the end. "Your horn is amazing, even more so from the inside. I can't wait to get past this... awkward stage. Good news though."
"Mmm?" Twilight made one of the books float back up and opened it to the first page. "What's that?"
"I'm almost certain she just changed the horn. I don't feel like I'm... moving an... alien muscle, whatever that would feel like. My reservoir is intact, and there was never anything really wrong with that, and all the related muscles therein, so it's still my mouth on the flute, to return to that description."
"You sure do like that comparison." She gently nudged against him. "Now I know this will feel foalish, but you are like a colt, discovering their horn for the first time. Let's approach it just as gently." She turned the book so it faced them both, with her just beside him. "So you noticed that little nub on your head..." She began to read it with him.
Fortunately, it was not just about teaching a colt not to be worried about that thing on their head, but did have some practical usage advice and little practices to get more acquainted with the workings of one's horn.
Twilight tapped at the page on one such study. "You should try this, maybe put off the light practice until you have this down."
He tilted his head at it. "It feels so... basic... Then again..." He looked up at his horn. "Maybe skipping to making light is the wrong approach. I mean... I want to do this right..."
"And I want to help you." She leaned against him gently.
"Thank you." He bumped against her in kind. "We'll start here, Teacher." He leaned his head against her and bonked gently against her with the crown he still wore. "Forgot that was there."
Twilight reached up a hoof and nudged it back a step. "We should ask her, the next time she seems... awake? If we can't take that off sometimes. It's not like I need you to wear it constantly, and she fixed your horn, so you don't need whatever magic amplification that crown offers."
With crossed eyes, he looked up at the crown on his own head. "How do I use that? She said I should just use magic and it happens, but it hasn't so far. I think I'm missing a step..."
"Another question for her, next time she's available to do so. Is she still being quiet?"
"Completely silent." He nodded softly as he focused on the foal practice, working through each simple step. "I mean, I'm kinda grateful for the break, if we're being honest."
"I can easily imagine that." she nuzzled his cheek. "We'll get through this, together."
He warmed at her affection. "It's, uh..." He fumbled for the words. "Nice, I mean... You know... having somepony."
"That goes both ways." She draped a wing over him. "The fair and equal exchange of laments and triumphs is an integral part of a healthy relationship."
"You're quoting a book." He smirked softly at her.
"Guilty." She put a hoof at her chest. "Now tell me I'm wrong."
"I don't want to lie." He touched his nose to her cheek in return. "I need to practice..."
"It's the only way," she agreed, waving a hoof at the books. "If you need any help at all, just call. Oh, I imagine Starlight might also be alright, once you're past the basics. She loves a good excuse to practice magic."
He imagined some of the practice sessions Starlight had described. "I'm... not quite at that level."
"Give it a try, just set clear boundaries." She rolled her eyes. "If you don't specifically rule it out, she'll find it. That's the kind of pony she is. She means well."
"I know." He adjusted his glasses lightly. "She's a good pony, and a good friend, just..."
"Yeah." She hopped up to her hooves and started walking. "I'll let you get to your practice. Don't hesitate if you need anything, even company."
She walked away, leaving him to his foal practices. They were insultingly simple, but they had to be, to get used to working with a horn. He started the practice session from the top, carefully going through each step, even as visions of his foalhood self danced in his mind. He had done many of those practices once before, back then.
"Almost nostalgic..."
Lotus smiled at her dignified guest. "It is a pleasure to serve you. It is very rare for princess to visit."
"Almost never," agreed Aloe, seeing to Rarity's needs with a matching smile.
"Yes, very rare." Lotus nodded as she gently dabbed a mud mixture onto Platinum's face with a brush in her mouth. "We will make you glow even more than you already are."
Platinum smiled with a closed mouth, pleased that the servants knew their better, and beheld how gorgeous she was. "You say this is the 'Royal Treatment?' We would deserve no less."
Lotus bobbed her head all the more firmly. "Oh, yes yes. Royal Treatment, the works! Why, usually it is only Miss Rarity that partakes of the entire package."
Platinum raised a brow. "She has good taste."
"Amongst the very best." Lotus spread around the soothing cool mixture, getting Platinum's face covered, but avoiding her lips. "You can speak, if you want, just relax."
"I will do just that." Platinum resisted the urge to nod with that. "Tell me, what exposure do you, my dear subject, have to royalty on a day to day basis? Do they frequent this luxury establishment?"
Lotus inclined her head lightly as she set the brush aside and got a much smaller one. "You are the first, I believe."
"Yes, the first," easily agreed Aloe, already fluffing Rarity's eyelashes. "You should bring more with you, Miss Rarity. We would love to help them."
"Love it." Lotus gently began working at Platinum's eyelashes. "You are lovely start to work with."
Platinum inclined an ear, listening to the curious accent they had. "If you have never had a royal visitor, how did you come by the name?"
"This is what a royal pony deserves."
"Yes, Deserves." Aloe and Lotus nodded in time despite not even facing one another, unified in agreement.
Platinum was quiet for a time, not speaking at all until she stopped feeling the attention around her eyes. "I must decline the massage."
Lotus' ears perked up. "Oh? Why would you not want that? It's divine."
"Wonderful," agreed Aloe.
"Fantastic," chimed in Rarity. "Whyever wouldn't you want it?"
"I am a princess," half-sang Platinum. "Any masseuse would need to be personally vetted by me and in my permanent employ. Seeing any other pony for such an intimate thing? Scandalous! I will not besmirch my fine name in such a fashion." She wrinkled her nose at the thought of it. "I understand the common, modern, pony is alright with it, and they can have it, but I am royalty, and demand to be treated like it, which also means I must act the part. So, no, you may paint me as you wish, but no massage."
Aloe and Lotus both pouted softly, but continued despite being denied that part of the process. Lotus tilted her head a little. "We presume everything else is fine?"
"We will permit you to touch the royal hooves." She wriggled all four gently with a little smile. For however she denied the massage, she seemed eager for a hooficure.
Platinum strode ahead of the commoner that had been helpful so far. "Sufficient. Your suggestion will be remembered, my loyal subject."
Rarity tipped her head as she followed along. "Always a quality place for a divine day. Now then, dear, I imagine you have much experience I would care to plumb."
Platinum half-turned towards Rarity. "Hm? You have need of my royal acumen? Whatever could be on your mind that requires such a thing?"
Rarity rolled a hoof softly. "Not royal, per se, but you lived in the time. I would love to hear about the fashion thoughts of the old days. Properly managed retro styles can be all the rage, and fun besides. Proper royal attire, what was it like?"
Platinum coughed softly into a hoof. "Oh, yes, I see... Well, we suppose we can offer some assistance in return for your devotion. The most distinguishing feature one must bare in mind is--"
Rarity nodded along, a quill floating beside her and taking notes as loyally as Twilight ever would have. "Excuse me, dear, but..." She rolled a hoof softly. "Those are all stallion guides. The only time you mentioned a mare was for matching with them."
Platinum stomped a hoof. "I'm getting to it! Have some patience, subject, or I can find something else to do." She turned up her nose with obvious irritation. "In fact, maybe we should go."
"Wait! I mean, ever so sorry, Your Highness. I spoke out of turn." She raised a hoof over her chest. "Have it in your heart to forgive a silly seamstress. I would love to hear what you have to share."
"Perhaps another time, or perhaps not. For now--" She didn't walk off. She simply ceased to be almost in the middle of the syllable. With the grip on the magic released, the body she had been inhabiting promptly ceased to exist.
Rarity clucked her tongue against her teeth, eyeing the empty space that had been Princess Platinum. "Royalty..."
Sunburst finished the last repetition with a soft sigh. "Alright, I've almost got a hang of this..."
"Hang of what?" asked a familiar voice in his head.
"You're back!" He jumped in place, looking around for her physical body. "Did you have a nice nap?"
"Nap?" He had the impression she was close, almost leaning over his shoulder. "I don't sleep, future husband of the princess."
"We haven't decided that!" He shook his head in defiance, turning red in the cheeks as he did so. "If you weren't sleeping, where were you?"
"I am under no obligation to tell you. What are you doing?" The information flowed from his mind. "Why are you practicing magic? You should already be skilled enough. Go ahead."
Sunburst tilted his head a little. "I tried, it didn't work very well."
"Oh, that's logical. Try again."
He shook his head slowly, trying to pull the information from the way she spoke, but her mind was not open to him as easily as his was to her. "Alright, so..." He reached out a hoof and willed the book he had been reading to lift.
It sprang up into the air without hesitation, floating in front of him right where he wanted it. "Huh? It's... working better now?" He looked up and saw the jewel at the front of the crown was glowing softly. "Oh... If I need your help, does that really count?"
"Of course it does. You want to cast a spell, and the spell happens, just as you envisioned it. However would that not count?" There was an impression of a shrug. "Besides, it's certainly far faster and less embarrassing than what you were doing a moment ago. Really, nopony can see the princess' consort doing such foalish things."
He wrinkled his nose as he stood up. "That reminds me. Twilight wanted to know if I can take off the crown sometimes? I really don't need it if you've fixed my horn."
"You just admitted you do need me," she pointed out in a snobbish tone. "Without me, you'll be doing foal's work and no magic worthy of calling it magic. Do you want to spend years learning how to manifest a cantrip? I mean, really, think of how silly that will make the princess look."
He frowned at the image of Twilight protecting his lack of magic, but... "I already didn't have a lot of magic, that part isn't new."
"You could lift things and not eat with your hooves like a proper unicorn," taunted Platinum with a little snort. "Good luck doing that now."
"You did this!" He threw up a hoof with an exasperated huff. "You made it worse."
"Nonsense. Your old horn couldn't have held up to the magic I will allow you to do. Now Twilight's horn, on the other hoof; she has a fine horn and it will service you, and her, delightfully."
Sunburst put a hoof to his head, massaging at a forming headache. "Look, these books were given to me by Twilight herself. Learning from the start was her idea, alright? She supports me."
"Admirable." One of the books suddenly hopped up, Platinum casually using his new horn. It flipped open and she skimmed it with his eyes. "Now it's your turn to return that warmth and love. Spare her the awkwardness."
"You don't..." He set his hoof on the ground, taking slow breaths before it hit him. "Right, look... She likes teaching."
One wouldn't think an entirely mental construct could blush, but Platinum managed it, bursting into a series of titters. "Oh! Oh my! Why didn't you just say that in the first place? If this is a little game between the two of you, then I shouldn't stand in the way. Be her good little student and make her proud."
He let out a relieved sigh. That wasn't exactly what he had meant...
"My old husband and I had a few little games... Harmless, provided they were kept in private. If it will enhance things, I will allow you to remove me."
Sunburst's ears pricked up. Would it be that easy? "Oh, thank you." He reached up and the crown came right off, no longer affixed to his skull. "Just like that?"
"Until you step outside." Her voice was a little distant. "Or important ponies come visiting. We can't have her consort being seen without magic and proper pomp. Don't you worry about it, I'll take care of that. You just leave it to Princess Platinum."
He carefully set the crown down on the table that held the books and the great tome they had been working on. His horn felt funny, free of the crown for the first time since he got the new one. He reached up and rubbing at the area where it touched his head, pondering the situation a moment. "Um, so, thanks... Are you still in my head?"
"Of course, Princess Consort." Her voice was distant and faded, but clearly present. "You'd have to put much more distance between us before that ceased to be the case. Now, I desire to learn too."
He twitched an ear at the crown. "You're going to listen in on our lessons?"
"I know how to do magic! Not that... I want some books on modern etiquettes and fashions. If you have an up to date book on heraldry and family lines, that would also be delightful. Stack them up beside me and I will busy myself. If I'm the only Princess Platinum, then I'd better be ready to assume that position properly. It simply will not do for me to be ignorant."
He tried to lift the books on horn practice, but he ended up just knocking them right off the table as if he had swept them aside. "Oops." He had to gather them in his hooves. "I'll see what I can find."
"If you don't see them, ask the princess. She seems quite detail-oriented when it comes to this. I should imagine she would know exactly where to look."
"Right." He scurried from the room awkwardly, books tucked against him. He made it outside and fell back against the door. "Free..." He wasn't wearing the crown. He had broken the curse!
"Am I that difficult? Come now--"
He squeaked and jumped in place.
"We're still bound," came her muffled voice. "Now be a good husband and see about those books. We demand something to at least read while you two are playing your little game."
"Right," he said out loud, though there was nothing there, except Spike.
Spike had a brow raised, peering at him on his way past. "Uh... you look worried. Hit a hard part in the books?"
"That works." He tucked the books away in his pocket. "Do you know where Twilight is?"
Spike pointed in the same direction he was walking. "She went to the school. She said to make sure you got some tea and a snack and didn't starve to death while she was gone."
"She did not!"
"Well, no." He stuck out his tongue. "But I can read between the lines. You start a new interesting book and forget to move? Twilight does that sometimes. One of many reasons it's good to have me round."
Platinum's voice nudged in, "what is the position of this little dragon? He speaks with confidence. Does he have a title?"
Sunburst opted to not reply to Platinum. "Always good to see you, Spike. A snack actually sounds nice, then I have to find Twilight."
"Snacks are this way." He made little gun-shooting noises as he continued his forward stroll. "I was just gonna make a little lunch. I'll make it for two."
Platinum casually drew the information from him. "Ah, her familiar. How fascinating... I had no idea a dragon could be forged with that bond. Twilight continues to impress me in new ways, even if she is a little dumpy looking."
"Hey, Twilight's very pretty!"
Spike looked over his shoulder at Sunburst, blinking. "Uh... if you say so? I mean... Dude, I never really looked at her that way, and I think I'll avoid even trying."
"Ah, yeah, sorry." Sunburst followed after him, a hoof behind his head. "Just a thought that escaped."
"Been there." He waved it off, dismissing the awkward moment. "I mean, she's alright, but she isn't... Rarity." He sighed with the gentle rumble of lovestruck dragon.
"He has good taste," gently whispered Platinum. "But I presume he is no royal at all. That makes sense. Making a familiar royalty? How uncouth that would be. Go, feed yourself, then remember my books!"
"So, uh, what's for lunch?"
Spike gave a double thumbs-up. "I was planning on keeping it simple, but tasty. Lightly toasted cheese toast, just the way Twilight doesn't like it. But she doesn't have to eat it, so no losers here."
Sunburst licked his lips. "She doesn't like that? Sounds good to me. Garlic?"
"Of course." Spike hopped off the stairs and made his way towards the kitchen. "Still a little wet from the butter. You know a good one when you have one, and if you leave it to me, you'll be getting a great one."
"I trust you, Spike." Sunburst glanced around. "While you work on that, do you know where Twilight would hide a book on royal families?"
"Or current fashion or etiquettes," reminded the voice in his head.
"Huh? Hmmm." He turned in place with a frown. "I think that's on the fourth floor? Wanna say library seven up there. Go ahead and peek, I'll have it ready by the time you get back, I bet."
"On it, thanks." He saluted and started right back up the stairs.
"A loyal subject of her's, I can see easily. Much like you, though you two have the lovely dash of shared interest and affection. Do keep that up."
He frowned softly as he scaled the many stairs. "What about you? You technically belong to her."
"There is no technicality there. I do belong to her." She sounded a little annoyed by the fact, but she did not argue it.
It was a curious sensation. As he read the book alongside Twilight, trying to absorb and work through the dense language, he had the impression that his 'guest' was going the same. Platinum was quiet and didn't even give that background feeling of looking through his eyes.
All the better, he decided. He was free to be himself. "This is an interesting notion..."
"Mm?" Twilight glanced over from her half of the tome. "What is she proposing?"
Sunburst tapped at the book lightly. "Radical but theoretically one time surgery. It would have to be performed on a fully grown patient with the condition, but could be done as early as early adulthood, barring any growth spurts up here." He reached up to tap his altered horn.
Twilight made a little face. "I'm not sure you could pay me enough bits to want to have anyone cutting into my horn, and I can't imagine I'm the only one who would feel the same way."
"But if it worked..."
Twilight tapped her chin softly before she nodded towards her side of the book. "She argued that such invasive procedures could lower the life expectancy of the average unicorn. While many could, potentially, lead perfectly fine, magically-active, lives, there is a risk of complications that we can't just ignore."
"But to deny the option?" Sunburst arched a brow. "If it was made clear what the benefits and risks are, at least ponies would have a choice to try and solve... this." He threw a hoof at the book as a whole.
Twilight nodded slowly. "You... may have a point. We should keep going, but keeping this operation a secret..." She leaned over to see the diagrams that were on Sunburst's side of the book. "It wouldn't be the right thing to do. Would... you trust it?"
Sunburst winced a little. "It's... hard to give an honest answer. I cheated." He tapped his altered horn. "I have your horn now. I just have to finish learning how to use it, rather than fixing mine... If you offered it to me while I was busy failing at Celestia's school? I woulda taken it in a heartbeat... Probably for a few years after that, come to think."
He sat back a little, a gentle smile spreading on his face. "After that, I kinda... just resigned... 'I'll never have real magic,' was just a fact I had to accept."
Twilight shook her head quickly. "How terrible! This is why we're doing this. No pony should just have to... accept that. Really." She tapped Sunburst's side of the open tome. "Let's get this copied and sent to the medical colleges. The sooner they can review and assimilate its learning, the better."
Sunburst suddenly grinned. "Most ponies have to accept that, Twilight."
She blinked, disarmed. "What?"
"There are more tribes that can not use magic than those that can. Any earth pony or pegasus is going to have to accept that magic is just not going to happen." He nodded softly as he spoke. "They do get other talents, of course, but that fact remains."
Twilight blinked her eyes slowly. "Oh... well, yes, I suppose that's true. Fluttershy will never weave an enchantment, but she will stare down a creature that turns you to stone with a mean look." She wobbled a hoof. "So I'd say she's still pretty magic, just not, you know, our magic."
"How your friend, Applejack, lands all the apples in the baskets when she kicks a tree is pretty magic," Sunburst easily agreed. "We should examine that."
"Maybe after this." She tossed her head towards the book. "Let's take a break to transcribe this surgery. We need to have it in as plain a language as possible, using modern terminology in the writing and on the diagrams." She suddenly grunted. "If we had this, why isn't it already being used?!"
"Wouldn't be the first innovation to wait a while before ponies realized they were sitting on a good thing." Sunburst nodded softly. "Let's get started." He drew out a piece of paper in his mouth.
"Not ready for motion yet, I gather?" She was watching him hold the paper in his mouth. "Do you have light working yet?"
He dropped the paper on the table, blushing a little. "Oh, um..." His horn began to glow softly, but it had his color of magic, not Twilight's.
Twilight noticed that with a tilt of her head. "How fascinating. Guess that proves the color comes from the inside, not the horn. Good to know."
He looked up at his glowing horn. "Yeah, go figure. I'm getting a hoof on it, bit by bit. Speaking of that... We need to talk, about Platinum."
"Princess Platinum," came a voice in his head. "What about me?"
Twilight seemed to notice his distraction. "Is she back?"
"Yeah, uh, I meant to ask about her position." He rolled a hoof softly. "She may... be a magical item, but she has intelligence and will. She has desires and can be reasoned with. What would it take to have her recognized as a person?"
Platinum blew a sudden and very un-royal raspberry in his head. "They would never!"
Twilight tilted her head. "Well, hmm... I'll need to review the existing..." She trailed off with a growing frown. "I'll ask Celestia if this has ever happened before. If she is fully thinking and has both feelings and the ability to tell right from wrong, then it wouldn't be very ethical to keep her as a slave."
"Your princess is... so soft. I can see why you like her. I would have laughed this entire topic away..." She didn't sound certain if she was for or against the notion. "To... be free. Is that really something I could do? What would I do?! My... All I know is overseeing the husband of the princess! I don't even have a body, and that crown hardly qualifies!"
Sunburst smiled a little. "She's scared."
"Scared?" Twilight arched a brow. "That's a curious reaction to considering her freedoms and rights."
"That is exactly why it's terrifying. She doesn't know how to be a free pony. She would need a more permanent body to live in, and she would have to learn how to live in modern day Equestria." He rolled a hoof softly. "Considering where she's come from, and been raised as, this is an alien way of life."
"I... could see that." She leaned in towards Sunburst. "Can you hear me, Princess Platinum?"
"I can."
"She can." Sunburst nodded.
"Then let me be clear; even if Celestia tells me there is nothing stopping this from happening, it won't happen unless you actually want it. You will be the most rare of pony." She smiled a bit oddly. "You'll have the choice of being born. Take it, and you will gain all the benefits, and responsibilities, of citizenship."
"I need to think about this."
His mental space became clear. "She's withdrawn. She's thinking about it. So... you're going to ask Celestia?"
"After we finish this." She drew a quill over in her magic. "Let's get to writing."
They refocused on the task at hoof, penning up a procedure that went from step to step without any confusing philosophical ramblings. It was not a time to discuss the ethics of the matter, but they did include complications to be wary of and potential responses to them.
The diagrams they basically copied from the tome as they were, just updating the keys of the lines pointing to things with more modern names for each procedure and bodypart referred to. There was no need to assume a random doctor would be versed in the older variants of Ponish.
Satisfied, both sat back. The scroll they had created floated in front of them in Twilight's magic. She gestured at it with a smile. "Our first real result. This will change lives."
Sunburst thought back towards his young adulthood, wondering how different it would have been if that very paper they were going to send in to the world had already been there. "Yeah... I hope some young pony has their... you know, their hope given back." He reached up and gently ran a hoof along the thick part of the scroll. "You know where it has to be?"
"I do." Her wings spread out wide. "This seems like a fine time for a break. I'll fly off to the post office and get this on its way. But first..."
She hugged Sunburst, drawing him close. He was stunned a moment before he awkwardly returned it, the two embracing in a quiet moment.
"We did it," she whispered. "I mean, we're not done, but we've done something... I'm tempted to tell Pinkie about it so she can throw one of her parties."
"You know she wouldn't hesitate." Sunburst gently waved towards the door. "Go on, get that going."
"With pleasure!" She took flight, not to the door, but instead through a window, only pausing long enough to push it open.
Sunburst came up along the same path and closed the window gently, smiling. He wouldn't get those years back, but he got a Twilight, and she was worth a few years he figured, nodding to himself. The bitter kernel of regret was softened, thinking of the girlfriend he happened to like.
"Love."
He frowned at the voice in his head. "Feeling better?"
"Still considering things, but you love her. Don't be coy in your own mind."
"You realize, if you become free, you won't be attached to me, or Twilight anymore. I mean, you can be our friends, if you want, but you have to get out of my head."
"Why?" He could feel her tilting her head just a little. "Whyever would that be? Managing you is what I know best. I dare say I'm doing a fabulous job at it. Watching you grow into your position is a great pleasure."
"You know, you could be helping so many more ponies."
"Hmm? Enough, come here."
Suddenly he was in a small sitting room. He was plopped down right on an impossibly soft cushion. Across from him was Princess Platinum, smiling at him curiously. "That's better. You weren't doing anything, so talk to me properly. What do you mean?"
He looked around, startled. The walls were covered in exquisite art of different mediums. Dangling jewelry competing for space with flat paintings. Sculptures dotted every available surface. "Oh... hello. I meant you don't have to just help me. If you're free, you're allowed to offer your services to so many other married or betrothed ponies that could use a helping hoof."
Platinum clopped her hooves. "A fascinating idea, but there are even less true royals these days than there were back when I was first created. Most of them are either already married, or still very single. I checked." She gestured and a book appeared floating over her hoof, then another appeared beside it only to be joined by a third. "They keep good records of these things. Thank you for bringing the material to me."
Sunburst smiled a little. Being thanked by her seemed a rare thing. "My pleasure, but it doesn't have to be royalty."
She frowned at that. "I wouldn't want my lovely crown resting on the brow of some common-born pony. Ugh, the propriety! That would... no! No, I will not casually touch the heads of... ew, darling, just ew."
He shook his head with a little smile. "That's why you would charge a fair fee for your service."
"This isn't about money! I don't even need it. It's not like I require sustenance." She shook her head in refusal. "I don't see how that helps."
"Think about it." He stood up. "First, if you are a free pony, you can always tell a pony no, even if they have the bits. Second, a high price will dissuade the lowest and attract higher-breeds of clients. They may not be royal, but nobles, and successful merchants?"
Always good to hear from you. A sapient magic item? I have seen that before. You are already linked to one such thing, if you include the elements of harmony, which are now ingrained in the very living tree of harmony. Have you found another? While I am curious, you did ask your question first. I have no objection to any creature in my kingdom, even if they may lack a pulse or other things we might consider required to live.
So long as they obey the laws of the land and the place they live, and they come with friendship, why should I turn them away? Now, just in case, if you were considering creating such a thing, please don't. That path is filled with perils of both philosophic and practical natures and your time could be better spent on other projects.
On the other hoof, if you have simply located one, welcome them with open arms, but do gently dissuade whatever pony fabricated them. We should not get in the habit of creating people on a whim. It's a bad habit.
Delighted to Hear From You, Princess Celestia
Spike rolled up the scroll he had just finished reading. "And there it is." He hiked a brow at Twilight and Sunburst in turn. "So..."
"Thank you, Spike." Twilight took the scroll with her magic, tucking it away on a shelf. "That means the law won't be what decides this."
"I will be," came the voice in Sunburst's head. "Ugh, my fate decided by Celestia of all ponies, but at least she didn't get in the way. How the country hasn't fallen to pieces already is beyond me."
Sunburst canted his head faintly. "She's awake, and heard."
Spike rolled a small claw. "So is she doing it, or not?"
"Your dragon servant is completely lacking in etiquette... This is a momentous consideration... To start, a body. I can create one on my own, I've done the spell through you before. But the crown, me, doesn't make magic. It only focuses and channels it. I work with my wearer's magic."
Twilight was watching Sunburst. "She must be active, with how distracted you look."
"Very," he agreed with a quirked smile. "She's saying she could create her own body, but needs a source of magic power."
Twilight frowned a little. "I can imagine that would be an issue. Most magic items draw from the power of the pony they are being used by. A magic item that wants to use... itself, would have to resort to self-cannibalization, and that would hardly be productive for long. Hm." She tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"Or I could just stay here. Dear, for how little skill you had, you have a reasonable amount of power to draw from." Platinum's contentment echoed over the line easily. "Would that be so terrible?"
Sunburst flinched back. "I mean, you could, but you deserve better than that, Platinum."
"Princess Platinum," she sternly reminded him. "Are you going to find an even better royal consort for me to coach?"
Spike rubbed behind his head. "This is kinda weird. It's like there are four people here, but I can only see, or hear, three of them."
"Put the crown on and I can fix that for our pushy little dragon."
Sunburst hopped to his feet. "Sure. Where is her crown?"
With a sudden pop, Twilight summoned it from where it had been resting. "Right here."
"Fantastic." She took hold of Sunburst's horn and casually lifted the crown and drew it over. With it resting on his head, her voice became more clear. "That's more like it. Now..." The spell began, slowly forging the body of magic that would be Princess Platinum.
Spike cocked a brow at the sight. "I'm going to guess that isn't Sunburst doing that."
Twilight shook her head as she sat back down. "I should imagine not, but we'll soon be able to speak properly with who is in a moment."
Knowing what to do, the forged body didn't even have a chance to fall over before Princess Platinum hopped into it, blinking open her eyes. "There we are." She reached over and casually plucked the crown off Sunburst's head, popping it on her own. "It was made for a stallion, but it is still a crown."
Sunburst smiled as he settled back down, glad the strange sensation of someone else using his horn had faded. "It looks lovely on you."
"I can make any crown look good, dear. It's just a thing I do." She smiled confidently before turning towards Twilight. "Fellow Princess, you seem to be a source of many answers. What do you recommend?"
Twilight smiled radiantly, surprised that Platinum would consider asking her. "A self-filling magic item would be impractical, but something that can hold magic, far less so. You would need to have it refilled by unicorns when it started to run low."
Spike shrugged softly. "So you'll have to eat like the rest of us, you just eat magic."
Platinum tilted her head a little left, then right. "Well... That could be part of those fees Sunburst was mentioning."
"Fees?" Twilight shook her head. "I'm afraid I missed that conversation."
Platinum idly waved a hoof once towards Sunburst. "He recommended I offer my services as a stallion tutor with a considerable fee to dissuade uncouth souls from wasting my precious time. Including a 'refill' as part of that fee would also dissuade pegasi and earth ponies."
"And dragons?" Spike shrugged softly. "Not that I need advice on how to be a stallion."
Sunburst canted his head a bit to the right. "You sound happy about that. I mean, dissuading pegasi and earth ponies."
"And why shouldn't I be?" She rolled her eyes. "I know... it seems more common for the various tribes to intermingle, but I still prefer the company of fellow unicorns. That is just the way I am and I don't see that changing any time soon. Hmmph, as if I'd have much to discuss with a random mud pony or a bird brain."
Spike hiked a thumb towards the door. "And that's my cue to take this show on the road." He walked out with a loud whistled tune, the door slapped shut behind him.
Twilight smiled nervously. "You... really shouldn't call anypony either of those things."
"What, the truth?" She arched a brow at Twilight. "Really, dear, you know you're better." She suddenly stopped. "Wait, maybe you don't... Were you born like... that?" She gestured towards Twilight's wings.
"I was, and still consider myself to be, a unicorn, thank you. That doesn't change the point."
"Nor does it mine. You know unicorns are better. We're the ones with magic." She put a hoof on her chest. "Now, don't get me wrong. The other tribes have their place, of course they do, and they are delightful in their own, lesser, ways. I'm not suggesting we harm them or anything. It's just that if I were to spend time with a pony, why would I pick anyone not a unicorn?"
Sunburst stood up with a slow breath. "I'm not sure how to reply to that..."
"Fine fine, let's focus on the matter at hoof." She pointed one of those up at her crown. "You'll make a reservoir for magic, yes?"
Twilight smiled nervously. "I'll have to look into it. Since you've already gone through the effort of making a body, why not enjoy yourself for today?"
"Fabulous idea." Platinum fluttered her lashes at Twilight. "There is a lack of nobility in this town, but there is at least one pony I feel at least a small bit of connection with." She trotted for the door, closing it far more gently than Spike had.
Sunburst glanced after her. "Rarity?"
"Rarity," agreed Twilight with an awkward smile. "That got... interesting..."
"She's from a different time, literally." He rolled a hoof. "We literally tell cautionary tales about how the pony she's modeled after was so incredibly tribal she considered freezing better than getting along with the other tribes at one point."
"I thought she got better..." Twilight shook her head. "I mean, the tribes did come together during her lifetime."
"Out of necessity." Sunburst tilted his head. "It may have taken a few generations for it to really sink in. That first one... well, you have her." He gestured where Platinum had gone. "'They're perfectly lovely, so long as I don't have to deal with them.'"
Twilight made a face. "I can't say I'm sad those days are behind us. Now... that makes things tricky. Do we still set her loose on Equestria?"
Sunburst frowned at that. "Of course. I mean... she's still a pony and deserves our help, even if she has antiquated views. If we stopped her from living just because of that, we wouldn't be much better."
Twilight grunted with annoyance. "We need to make it perfectly clear that she just can't... say those things. It's awful. Can you imagine Fluttershy being called a 'bird brain' or Pinkie being called a 'mud pony'?"
Sunburst smirked a little. "Fluttershy might take it as a sort of compliment. She likes birds. Pinkie would correct you that she comes from proud rock farmers, not mud ones."
Twilight applied a hoof to her face, snorting softly. "You may have a point there, still, you just don't do that."
Sunburst shrugged softly. "Just telling her not to say what she thinks isn't really fixing anything though." He suddenly clopped his forehooves with a smile. "Why don't you make whatever reservoir you plan to make work with any tribe? If an earth pony or a pegasus can recharge it, she'll end up interacting with them a little."
Twilight tilted her head. "Which could go very poorly."
"It could." He shrugged. "But what can we do other than give her a chance? We should introduce her to the rest of the girls too. They're all heroes of Equestria, and more of them are not unicorns."
"That is true." She tapped her chin. "One of them is an ambassador as well, a royally appointed position."
Sunburst laughed at that. "She's also Pinkie, and you're the royal that appointed."
"That changes nothing," sang Twilight, sticking out her tongue. "And with Rarity there, she can help smooth things over. If even Rarity, prissy little lovable pony she is, can see the qualities in, say, Applejack, maybe she can help Platinum come around."
Sunburst rose to his hooves. "That all sounds great. How can I help?"
Twilight frowned a little. "The next step involves tricky spell work..."
"And tricky spell work requires exact knowledge." He raised a hoof. "Don't presume I can't help. You'll want a proper metal and gem combination that can hold the magic reliably and won't degrade with successive charges. I have a few ideas, but I'm going to defer to another pony that would know even better."
He leaned in a little. "It will also help with the other concern."
"Oh?"
"Not telling!" He trotted for the door with a cocky smile.
Twilight shook her head at his departing form. "Spike?!" she called out.
Starlight appeared instead. "He stepped out. What's up?" She glanced around suspiciously. "Already done studying?"
"We've changed projects, for the day at least." Twilight smiled a little. "Actually, you're perfect come to think. Sunburst is researching materials for this, but we'll need to create an enchantment that can reliably hold, release, and recharge with magic given by any pony of any tribe."
Starlight's brows raised together. "You want something that'll suck the power out of an earth pony? Why are we creating a Tirek spell?"
Twilight shook a hoof quickly. "From a willing pony. Ideally, the pony should have to specifically set out to give some of their power to it. It shouldn't harm the pony or hinder their natural regeneration of that power. It's a donation, not an attack. Are you up for the challenge?"
"Does Celestia raise the sun?" Starlight cocked a brow. "A magic challenge worth sinking my teeth into? Let's do this."
Starlight moved her hoof in precise ways as she muttered under her breath. "The second resonance..." She squinted her eyes as she visualized what the spell would theoretically do. "This will put a lot of aetheric stress on whatever material we use."
Twilight nodded in agreement, a scroll in front of her a mess with her own writings on the plan. "Sunburst said he was on that case. I trust him to have an answer."
Starlight smiled a little. "You know, it's kind of nice having a turn."
"Turn?" Twilight cocked a brow. "A turn at what?"
"You." Starlight pointed at Twilight directly. "He isn't the only pony that enjoys pitting their brain against yours. How long has it been since we had a proper magic duel?"
Twilight colored faintly. "Has it been that long? I'm sorry!"
Starlight rolled her eyes. "Yeah yeah. Miss Princess was busy falling for my filly-hood friend." She narrowed her eyes a little with a predatory gaze. "You know you're stuck with me even if you two go all the way, right?"
Twilight's blush only grew in intensity. "I wouldn't dream of sending you away just because I developed another relationship." She raised a hoof and waved it wildly at the castle in general. "It's not like I'm hurting for space, Starlight."
"True." She shrugged softly. "It'd be nice if you considered me in your schedule though. I don't want to get rusty, and even if I complain at times, I do enjoy your lessons on friendship." She smiled gently. "I know they're post-grad studies, but who's ever finished, right?"
Twilight reached over and casually booped Starlight on the nose. "You have been an outstanding friend through all of this. Let's finish this project before we plan the next one, but I promise to get some 'Starlight-Twilight' time onto the schedule." She nodded once firmly, self-satisfied with her resolution.
"I'll tell Spike," sang out Starlight as she resumed the work of spell-weaving.
Sunburst descended into the depths of the tunnel. That was where crystals resided. It was also where... "Oh, there you are." He hurried towards the frocked mare in a hardhat that was casually chipping at a wall. "Maud, do you have a moment?"
"You can't own a moment," noted Maud, turning to look at Sunburst.
"I suppose not. I need your geological expertise." He smiled at the earth pony mare. "It's for a project Twilight and I are working on that'll let a pony live a relatively normal life."
Maud set her pickaxe down gently. "Sounds important." Her face was impassive as it usually was. "What do you need?"
"Air," he joked.
"True," she replied as if that was a valid answer. "You have that. Glad I could help."
"N-no. We need a stone, a crystal likely, that can hold, absorb, and release magic steadily and repeatedly without becoming warped or damaged."
Maud lifted a hoof to her chin. She didn't tap, she just held it there as she paused in what one would assume to be thought. "Hmm. Those are very rare."
Sunburst broke into a big smile. "But you know what we need?"
Maud nodded lightly. "It's hard to get, but it would be the best." She coiled on herself and pulled a book free. She had it open at her leisurely pace and pointed to a picture of a sparkly geode that was a vibrant yellow in shade. "Properly mined and set, it becomes capable of incredible magic storing."
"Speaking of setting..." Sunburst nodded at Maud, his hope raising. "What would it need to be set in?"
"Platinum would be best."
Sunburst had to blink. "Well, I doubt she'll complain about that."
"Who?" Maud inclined her head faintly.
"Princess Platinum."
Maud nodded softly. "Did you pull another historic pony out of the void? That's a bad habit." She spoke her accusation with her usual monotone, not sounding terribly upset by it.
Sunburst huffed out a little gust of air. "I could stop any time I wanted to. She needs this--" He pointed at the sparkling gem displayed in Maud's book. "How do we get our hooves on it?"
Maud seemed to consider that a moment before pointing to the east. "It's in the dragon lands. They don't like sharing."
Sunburst blanched at that. "Oh... Well, that complicates things." He clopped down a hoof. "I won't give up though!"
Maud nodded mildly, reaching for her pickaxe. "If you get any, let me see it." She went right back to her casual mining as if nothing had really happened.
"I'll need your assistance even after I have the stone." He stepped up beside her as she chipped at the wall. "You know how to work with this stone, right?"
"I do."
"Can you--" He aborted the question. "Will you help me?" he rephrased with a smile.
"Sure." She set down her pickaxe once more. "If you bring me the platinum and the crystal, I will put them together for you. You intend for a pony to wear it?"
"Yes." He raised a hoof to his chest. "Like a pendant I imagine."
"I can do that." She sat in place on her haunches. "I'll consider the manufacture while you get it. Don't die."
Sunburst blinked at the curious well-wishes. "I'll try not to..."
"That would be awful," she noted in her placid tones, not sounding all that upset about it. "Maybe you should take Spike. He's a dragon."
"He is." Sunburst smiled at Maud, even if it wasn't reflected. "Great idea. May I borrow this book?" He pointed to where the picture of the gem resided. "I need to know what it looks like when I go for it."
Maud reached with her mouth and casually tore the page free. She held it towards him with her placid expression.
He accepted it with his magic, floating the page free. "Oh... I'll bring this back. It'd be a shame for your book to be missing a page."
"Thanks." She took up her pickaxe. "Good luck." She resumed her work without further ado.
Sunburst trotted free of the cave and veered back towards Twilight's castle. "Time to talk to a dragon." He didn't have to search very hard to find the drake.
Spike was in his room, assembling some kind of action figure with a magnifying lens over one of his eyes. He looked up and blinked owlishly when Sunburst knocked on his door. "Who is it?"
"It's me, Sunburst?"
"Oh, hey man." Spike set down his tweezers. "Door's open." As the door opened, Spike was pulling off his monocle and setting it aside. "What can I do for ya?"
Sunburst floated over the paper. "I need a very specific kind of gem."
Spike raised a brow at the yellow gem. "I don't have any of those." He licked his lips. "Wonder what it tastes like...?"
"I need it for Princess Platinum." He rubbed behind his withers as he said it, awkwardly squirming.
"Pass." He waved a claw away. "Little Miss McTribist can get it herself if she wants it so bad."
Sunburst shook his head. "Now, c'mon Spike. We can't stoop to her level. She needs our help, and we, being enlightened modern ponies, and dragons, will help, because we're good people."
"Yeah..."
"Besides--" He shrugged gently. "Maybe we'll get enough that you can see what it tastes like."
"Now you're talking." He gave an emphatic thumbs up. "So where is this thing? Need me to fly over to it or what?"
Sunburst gestured with his horn to the east. "It's in the dragon territory. Seeing as you're an ambassador..."
Spike put a claw over his face. "Oh... You're asking a lot out of me for a pony I don't really like."
Sunburst smiled nervously. "You're doing it for Twilight and me, not her. Think of it that way."
"Right..." He crossed his arms a moment before he hopped down from the stool he had been perched on. "Let's get this over with. I vote we talk to Ember. If we just barge in there looking for it, it'll just end up causing trouble, mostly for ourselves."
Sunburst began to follow after Spike. "You're sounding awfully responsible all of a sudden."
"Hey, I am the ambassador." He puffed out his chest. "I have to know how to, you know, ambass or whatever. We'll get this handled."
Platinum smiled lightly at the sight of the peasant's little shop. It was gaudy and showy and everything she'd expect of a commoner, but Rarity was, at least, a successful commoner. She also had manners. There was far less shame in being seen with a merchant that composed themself properly.
She knocked on the door with her magic. "Princess Platinum has arrived," she sang with a cocky smile.
"Darling!" Rarity's hooves approached the door quickly and it swung open, revealing Rarity's smiling face. "You vanished so suddenly last time, I was afraid I had offended."
"Perish the thought," assured Platinum. "I simply had duties to attend to. You know how it can be."
"Of course." She huffed softly. "This is why I enjoy a good little break when I can manage it." She glanced back into her store. "Speaking of that, I'm working on a very large order this moment. I'd love to host you, but this really can't wait."
Platinum blinked. She was being denied?! "What sort of project is this?"
Rarity turned and headed inside, leaving the door open for Platinum to follow her. "Coloratura is looking for a new outfit. She's reinventing herself, so her old stage outfit simply won't do at all, dear." She gestured a hoof at the three ponyquinns she had set up, each with a subtly different dress.
"I'm sorry, but who is Coloratura? She isn't a noble or a royal." She had read about all the modern day ones. "Yet she has the money to have you design several dresses that you may not even use?"
"Oh, darling, no, most of the money these days resides in those that could not be called royalty." She smirked faintly. "At one point, she did insist on being called Countess Coloratura, but she's moved on past that."
Platinum frowned at that. "She should not be making claims of such a thing without the land and title to go with it. I'm glad to hear she's abandoned such boorish behavior. Now... what manner of profession requires these?" She waved a hoof over them. "They draw the eyes to... uncouth places."
Rarity hiked a brow, considering Platinum's words. "She's a singer, dear. She performs and is quite popular, or was. This is why this reimaging must go off without a hitch!" She put a hoof to her chest. "I'm flattered and honored she selected me to oversee it and I don't plan to let her down."
"What image are you attempting to convey?" she asked with a mildly disgusted tongue. "I'm afraid I don't quite grasp what you're going for."
"Well, that is the question, isn't it?" Rarity pointed to each dress in turn. "The song I heard her perform implied a more sedate and warm impression." The first dress was also the most conservative. Lovely, but not at all provocative. "She used to be more... faux-royal, as you can guess by the name. She was aiming for haughty and unapproachable. Too good for you and all that."
Platinum frowned a little deeper. "We don't act that way as some sort of... screen. We are often busy handling things the average pony simply cannot comprehend. We are 'haughty' because our thoughts are occupied with keeping the world safe and operating for the sake of everyone else."
Rarity detected she had tripped over her new friend's sensibilities. "Darling, dear, I understand this, really, I do. This is Coloratura's old motif I'm speaking of, not you, heaven forfend. No no no. If I were designing a dress for you, it'd be completely different on almost every level." She put an arm over the top of Platinum's withers, drawing the royal pony closer.
Platinum smiled, her frazzled nerves calming down. Rarity was a model citizen, she quietly decided. She deigned to allow the touching. It was kind of nice to have a friend.
Sunburst stepped off the ship onto the hard volcanic rock that made up the dragon lands. "I hope they can get along while we're doing this."
Spike shrugged, flying just overhead. "You've said that a few times... in the last hour. It's too late to worry about that. Let's find that yellow snack and get home."
"Yeah..." He waved at the ship, already touching off. "They'll come back in a few days, and we'll go home, hopefully with a prize."
Spike thumbed up in reply. "Sure thing. Now, where is Ember hiding...?"
Together, they pressed inland in search of treasure.
Starlight tapped a hoof down on a scroll covered with dense notes. "So all a pony would have to do, in theory, is place a hoof against whatever we find that can hold the magic and--"
"--press firmly while saying the magic word." finished Twilight with a smile. "Easy."
"Simple enough, even if everything else about it isn't." Starlight tapped at that cluttered scroll. "In order to get the magic back out again..."
"Repeat the processes with the other word." Twilight nodded in acknowledgment. "There remains a problem."
"Hm?"
"What if she runs out? If she runs out, she's just a crown again, and won't have a hoof to press against anything." Twilight extended a potentially impotent hoof. "What does she do then?"
Starlight frowned at that, considering a moment. "One part of me says we should just set whatever Sunburst is getting right into the crown, but I imagine she wouldn't like the idea of altering the crown at all, and I can't even say I blame her entirely." She shrugged a little. "What if we messed up and pfft, no more Platinum?"
Twilight cringed at the thought of casual murder, accidental or not. "With such a complex, not to mention historical, artifact, we shouldn't consider modifying it, no. I can't think of too many ways around it... She really just has to not run out. Monitoring that will become an important part of her new life."
She smiled a little. "This could be a learning experience. At first, she'll have to remain around trusted friends who can rescue her if she forgets."
"That reminds me." Starlight stood up, slowly stretching away the kinks from their furious design work. "When do you plan to introduce her to all the girls?"
A timely knock at the door had both looking towards it. "Come on in," called Twilight.
The door swung inwards, permitting Princess Platinum to approach. "Princess Twilight, I am afraid I require your assistance."
"Ah, yes." Twilight could see the princess was looking a bit pale and just faintly transparent. With Sunburst away, she couldn't draw magic from him. "You're already learning what we were just talking about."
Platinum looked a bit confused, but stood there patiently and expectantly.
Twilight lowered her horn towards Platinum, firing a beam of magic right into the core of the magic-forged form, slowly refilling it. "When you have the magic battery, you'll have to remember to use it whenever you even begin to feel drained. If you run out entirely, you'll be just a crown on the ground, and in no state to replenish yourself."
Starlight rolled a hoof. "Which also means keeping track of how full it is too, since if it's empty, no recharges except the personal way Twilight's doing right now."
Platinum darkened in her cheeks, her color restored and vibrancy coming back quickly. "This is... far too intimate to be doing with random ponies, even if they were of Noble or Royal lineage. No, if they can fill this 'battery' of yours and I can dine from it, alone, in private, that would be far better."
Starlight gestured at Twilight. "But you don't mind her doing it?"
Platinum shrugged at that. "She is literally my princess. However I feel about it, I am hers. If there is one person in the entirety of the world I would allow, it is she."
Twilight tilted her head faintly. "I'm flattered, really... but once you have the battery, you'll be equipped to be independent, then I will release you to be your own pony. You won't be mine."
Platinum inclined her head in the other direction. "You say that, dear, but surely I would still be your subject, would I not?"
Twilight shook her head. "I'm not really that kind of princess. You'd be Princess Celestia's if anypony's. Unless you became a student of friendship, there would be no tie of authority between us."
Platinum frowned at that, though her eyes strayed to the magical notes. "Oh dear, how wickedly complex." She approached, eyeing it curiously. "Is this what will enable my liberty?"
Starlight puffed out her chest, smiling proudly. "We cooked it up and it's ready to go. You'll be able to recharge from any pony you want to and pull it back out without breaking a sweat."
Platinum cocked a brow. "Any unicorn, you mean, right?"
Twilight slid between Starlight and Platinum, laughing nervously. "We actually meant to bring that up..." In a more graceful way, she silently added. "It's still entirely up to you who you wish to work with, but if you allow a well-mannered pegasus or earth pony, they can recharge you just as well as a unicorn."
A frown spread on Platinum's face. "How... would that even work? They don't have magic, dear. Will a pegasus just... flap their wings at me?" She stuck out her tongue a bit at the mental image. "Distasteful."
Starlight rolled her eyes. "Nothing so 'barbaric'. All they have to do is put their hoof on the battery and say 'Accord'. It will draw magic right out of them, no horn required."
Twilight smiled and gestured at the scroll. "It's good to have options. Besides, even back then, there were ponies of other tribes that could be considered noble."
Platinum's brow went right back up. "Name two."
"Chancellor puddinghead," started Twilight, tapping her forehooves together. "Commander Hurricane. If either of them wanted your services, you would...?"
Platinum considered a moment as a smug smile spread on her lips. "I would savor it. They were quite rude to me and will pay a premium for my assistance."
Starlight raised a hoof. "But you'd give it?"
"And have them whine and cry about how I spurned them? No, I'd rather relish in their discomfort. They'd know they owed me." She laughed haughtilly at the imagined scenario. "Almost a pity they're not here to make this a reality... Oh..." Her good mood seemed to deflate. "Oh..."
Starlight tilted her head at that. "You look upset. What's wrong?"
"I... just realized how... long they've been gone. They're really..." She sank to her haunches. "I must look dreadfully foolish. I should have faced this a long time ago, but here I am, just facing facts..."
"No!" Twilight moved towards her with a scowl. "Don't even start saying that. You just... realized ponies you knew very well are gone. You should feel bad. That's normal and healthy and you just... feel that. I promise neither of us will think less of you for having feelings."
Platinum smiled gently at Twilight. "Are you certain I couldn't become a subject of yours? You are almost too kind for a ruler. It's still unseemly for me to fall apart like that. It's not like we were... friends... anymore than out of what was needed for our people."
Starlight shrugged softly. "Unless you want to go back to being a filly?"
Twilight rolled her eyes. "There's nothing technically stopping her from making a filly body if she wanted to, but she also does not need to do that, seeing as we already have one adult student at my school."
Platinum's ears perked up. "Oh, that's... not a terrible idea. Now I see why you keep her around. Rough around the edges, but just as sharp as those jagged bits." She smiled brightly. "Perhaps that would be best. I'm full of... outdated ideas. I would rather the world go back to them, but that seems increasingly unlikely..."
Twilight blinked softly. "Wait, you're serious?"
"Deadly so." Platinum nodded lightly. "As a filly, I can learn this new and strange world without looking nearly so unseemly while I do so. Just like that colored pony Rarity is assisting, I need a reimaging." She put a hoof to her chest. "And this is just the way to do it. Positive side effect, smaller body means less magic is used to make it."
"Well, that's true..." She put a hoof behind her head. "You would be a filly in pony's eyes. They won't let you do things a filly shouldn't do."
"Being a crown--" She gestured up to the crown perched on her own head. "--I have no insatiable appetites. Were I a drunkard, I could see how that might be an issue. The only thing I need to do is instruct stallions how to best please their mares. I doubt colts will care for my advice."
Starlight snorted into laughter. "Oh, wow, imagining you coaching some lovestruck little colt as a filly. That's almost too cute! Please, do that."
Twilight shook her head, putting a hoof between them. "Don't rush into that... Before you go making any decisions, I want you to meet some important ponies."
Platinum perked up, rising to her hooves. "Nobles?"
"They're important enough to compete," announced Twilight with a proud smile. "The heroes of Equestria, former bearers of the Elements of Harmony, and my dearest friends. They are also instructors in my school. If you're going to become a student of my school, it's even more important that you meet them all."
Starlight gestured at herself. "I'm a guidance counselor there. If you ever feel out of sorts, you come chat with me and we'll get it straightened out."
Ember hopped up on a rock. "Spike! What are you doing here?" Her eyes went past him to the pony just behind him. "And you brought a friend? I don't think we ever met?"
"Sunburst," he introduced himself, dipping his head. "Nice to meet you."
"Yeah yeah, what's up, Spike?" She swatted him on the back.
Spike almost toppled with the powerful blow. "Oof, hey Ember! Nice to see you again."
"You didn't come by just to visit." she rolled a taloned hand. "Or did you?" She cocked a brow, looking curious. "You never visited just to visit before."
Spike rubbed an arm with the opposing hand. "I'd love to say I did that, but not really."
"Figured." She smirked a little before pointing at Sunburst. "I'm going to guess it involves him. What do you want?" She pointed the question at Sunburst.
Sunburst's horn began to glow as he pulled out the paper with the picture of the gem he was looking for. "I need some of this for a friend. Do you know where it is and could I have some?"
Ember snatched the paper out of the air and held it up to study a moment. "Mmm... Yeah, I know that. Dragons have a very specific use for it."
Sunburst blinked softly. "What use is that?"
Ember smirked, glancing at Spike. "There are wyrmlings around, so I'll spare you. Before you get any crazy ideas, we crush it for a drink."
Spike scratched softly at a cheek. "So I shouldn't try a little bite?"
"Go for it." She shrugged. "It's not poisonous or anything."
Sunburst was left with more questions than answers. "So... it's not rare?"
"Not if you're a dragon." She hiked a thumb. "There's a specific volcano that's lousy with the stuff. Every time it erupts more gets thrown out into the surrounding area. I doubt we'll ever be that short on it. Why, got no volcanos like that out there?" She turned the thumb to point where they had come from."
Spike shook his head quickly. "Afraid not. I never even saw this thing until Sunburst showed me a picture."
Ember shrugged softly. "If it had a real use, I'd consider trading it. Whatever, you want some? Let's trade now." She leaned forward. "Now I ain't an idiot. It does something fancy or you wouldn't be here, so spill it."
"You already know Rarity, I hear?" Twilight gestured with a sweep towards her fashion-minded unicorn of a friend.
"Darling!" Rarity stepped forward with a bright smile. "Always a treat."
"The sentiment is shared." Platinum smiled gently at the one that could be called her first true friend of the era, made of her own volition. "And the others?"
Twilight turned towards the other girls. They were all gathered in a spacious room in the castle. Music played jovially in the background. Party things, provided by Pinkie, were strewn everywhere, along with refreshments and games. "This is Fluttershy, former bearer of the element of kindness, animal expert, tamer of Cerebus. She is a teacher at my school and operates an animal sanctuary you should visit, it's quite nice."
Rarity cocked a brow. "Why didn't I get such an illustrious introduction, dear?"
Starlight threw a leg over Rarity's withers, drawing her close. "She already knows you. You two are buds, you don't need to be introduced."
Fluttershy tried to stand straight, resisting the overwhelming nature of Twilight's introduction. "I just did what I could... It's nice to meet you, Princess Platinum. You're from the founding of Equestria? Did you know Twilight played you in a pageant?"
Platinum blinked at that, her eyes darting to Twilight. "She had failed to mention that. I do hope she portrayed us favorably? It... is odd to think we have become something to be portrayed at all in such a manner..."
Twilight laughed nervously at that, a hoof behind her head. "It was for Hearth's Warming Eve, a tale of how the three tribes came together. Besides, Rarity did that part. I played your assistant."
Platinum cocked a brow much as Rarity had. "I imagine it overly simplified the entire thing, but I suppose that can be forgiven... Those were different times, for different ponies..." She looked back to Fluttershy, considering her. "When you see a unicorn, what is your first thought?"
Fluttershy looked disarmed by the question. "Oh, um... Do I know them?"
Platinum smiled thinly. "Let us presume you do not. First thought, no inner editing."
"Well, um, I'm... a little shy..."
Rainbow rolled her eyes. "It's in her name, but she's getting better."
"Thank you." Fluttershy smiled towards Rainbow. "I would probably leave them alone unless they were in trouble, but I'd do that with most ponies. Them being a unicorn doesn't change that."
Platinum raised a hoof to her chin, resting it there, not tapping. "But if they were in distress, you mentioned, you would approach?"
"Oh, of course." Fluttershy quickly nodded. "To ignore a pony in trouble? Why... that wouldn't be very nice."
"I see..." She looked on to Rainbow Dash. "Since she spoke, why not introduce her next?"
Starlight waved up at her, releasing Rarity. "That little speed devil right there is Rainbow Dash, capable of the famed Sonic Rainbow, member of the Wonderbolts, that's a quasi-military performance group of considerable prestige, and former bearer of the element of loyalty."
"Rainboom," corrected Rainbow with a roll of her eyes. She zipped down towards Platinum, a hoof extended. "Put 'er there, your majesty."
Platinum stepped back awkwardly, her raised hoof coming down to support herself. What a strange blend of formal and outrageously presumptuous! "Charmed..." She did not move to meet hooves. "When you think about earth ponies in general, what are your thoughts?"
Rainbow snorted softly. "Pity they can't fly, but they're alright." She vanished in a trail of rainbows, suddenly beside Applejack, throwing a leg over her. "One of my best buds here doesn't have wings, but don't let that fool you, she's a real athlete that can keep me on my hooves." She took off, leaving Applejack wobbling.
She was beside Twilight. "And look at this one, she was just a unicorn at first, no wings, but all brains. I mean, sure, I didn't 'get' her at first, and she's still a super egghead, but she's a good pony and a great friend that I wouldn't give up for the world."
Twilight snorted softly. "That title's become something of a joke between us at this point."
Platinum's head slowly bobbed, considering things. That thought was interrupted by a sudden new presence beside her.
"Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie, but you can just call me Pinkie." She was right next to Platinum as if emerging from nothing, already holding a cupcake in a hoof up towards Platinum. "Something sweet for a sweet new friend. I mean, I guess we're not technically friends yet, but we can be! That'd be nice."
Twilight went tense. "Pinkie... I told you--"
"--She's not getting into the party," argued Pinkie with a little huff. "You did not come here to stand in one place and look all serious. This is a party, relax."
Platinum took a few quick steps away from Pinkie, regarding her. "I believe I saw you working in a bakery as I walked past."
Pinkie gasped dramatically. "You did?! And I didn't notice a new pony? Something must be broken with my Pinkie Sense." She tilted her head left, then right. "Well, I know you're here now."
"Quite... How do you manage working with such dangerous, and yet delicate, things with only your mouth to employ?" She gestured at Pinkie's snoot. "Surely you risk burns with such an inappropriate profession, do you not?"
Pinkie blinked rapidly, fluttering her lashes at the thought. "That's silly. I have hooves." She thrust forward one of them. "They work great. Besides, we have oven mitts, they work too! I mean, they don't 'work' work, they mostly just don't burn. That's a kind of work, right?" She smiled brightly. "I made all this!" She threw the same hoof wide, gesturing to the party-enabled room.
Applejack casually nudged Pinkie away and took off her hat, dipping her head at Platinum. "Beggin' your pardon, Yer Highness. Pinkie's just... Pinkie. She's special in all the good ways, and some of the other ones. She don't mean no harm none."
Even as Pinkie blew a raspberry at Applejack, Platinum regarded the earth pony farmer. There was a pony she could comprehend... "You're a farmer, yes?"
"Best apple farmer around," announced Applejack with pride. "I hear ya already had a taste from mah brother, Big Mac. Kinda tall, red?"
"Ah, you two are related." Princess Platinum smiled gently. Yes, this pony made sense... "That apple was delicious. I could taste that earth pony blessing of agriculture. You should be commended, so I'm doing just that. Excellent work."
Twilight coughed softly into a hoof. "She is the former--"
"--pardon, dear." Platinum turned her gaze to Twilight, a quizzical look on her face. "Why are all your friends 'former' things? Did they do something wrong to stop having this title?"
Twilight rolled a hoof. "Nothing of the sort. We all returned the elements, me included, to the tree of harmony. There they grow in concert, helping to protect Equestria. We still have a... gift of sorts from them."
Applejack nodded towards Twilight. "Though it only comes out when we really need it. We get all fancy rainbow like, kinda tacky, but just as effective."
Pinkie stuck out her tongue. "You don't like being extra colorful?"
Rainbow shrugged. "I already have enough colors, thanks. That's a bit of an overload." She shared a firm hoof-bump with Applejack, the two in agreement.
"I see..." The world she was entering was so very different from her own. "I... need to think." She turned to flee the room, in a stately manner. It simply did not do to flee in a panic. What would the commoners think?
Pinkie popped up in front of her, cutting off her exit. "Hey, this is your party. There's no reason to go away."
"I need time to think," more firmly insisted Princess Platinum, her horn magic grabbing Pinkie and thrusting her aside, sending the earth pony tumbling with the force of it.
Platinum tried to resume her departure, but her legs refused to quite cooperate. They were fading, causing her to stagger. "N-no..." Not then. Anytime but then!
Pinkie sat up with a curious expression. "It's not nice to push ponies around, but are you alright?"
"No, she's not." Twilight advanced on Platinum's fading form. "We'll be back..." She draped a wing over her fellow princess's form, concealing her in part. "I have you..."
"Thank you." She leaned against Twilight, accepting the reprieve. "I've bungled this..."
Sunburst considered how to phrase it. "We only need one bit of it for one specific pony. It's not a big deal, in the large picture, but it would be for that one pony."
"So they're ready to pay?" Ember smiled with a calculating look. "What do you have?"
Spike rubbed behind his head with a hand. "Uh... Our ongoing friendship?"
Ember's brows fell in unison. "Really?"
Spike shrugged emphatically. "Does it look like I'm hiding a lot of stuff?"
Sunburst cleared his throat softly. "I imagine, if some crystals are more common in different places, there must be some that are equally rare here but common in Equestria?"
Ember gestured at Sunburst. "He's getting the idea. Yeah, now we're talking. You promise an equal amount of equally rare crystal in return, on Spike's 'dragon honor', and we have a deal."
Spike gasped dramatically. "I never told you about that!"
"Twilight talks." Ember smirked softly. "And I know you take it seriously, so you better not welch, or I'll tell everyone you don't have any dragon's honor."
"No!" He threw himself at Ember's feet. "We'll be good, promise!"
Ember reached down and patted Spike gently on the head. "Stop looking so sad. I know you will be, or we wouldn't be making a deal without having the crystals already here."
Sunburst took a step forward, a cautious smile on his face. "Well, great, we have a deal. I know just the pony that could figure out the perfect crystal and we have to see her when we get back anyway. Now, do you have this here?" He held up the picture with his magic.
"All I got is already crushed up." She shrugged softly. "But I know where to get it, so let's get moving." As she began to lead the way, she turned her attention to Sunburst. "So, you're friends with Spike?"
"Huh? Oh, yes."
"How's that work out?" She shrugged softly. "According to Twilight, we're buds, but I don't know her, you know? I wouldn't say we're pals." She hiked a thumb at Spike. "He helped put me on the throne, you can't exactly forget that. And he was a really nice guy doing it, so, yeah, we got history."
Sunburst nodded towards Spike. "We know each other, and we have some things in common."
"We do?" asked Spike, looking confused.
"Of course we do. We both like reading." He nodded with certainty.
"Dude, I read comics mostly."
Sunburst raised a hoof. "I do too, sometimes."
Spike's interest was captured. "You do?! What series?" He took to the air to be beside Sunburst's head. "Why didn't you bring it up before?"
Sunburst rolled a hoof. "You were busy, which I understand. I'm busy a lot too. Twilight keeps us both with lots to do."
"Now that I can feel." Spike thrust out a hand. "Guess we really are friends."
Sunburst met the hand with a hoof and a shake was completed. "You didn't think we were before?"
Spike shrugged helplessly. "I didn't think about it a lot? Twilight says someone's a friend, I kinda go along with it."
"See, that right there." Ember snorted a little smoke. "She can tell me what friendship is, but I'm not just gonna be friends with whoever she tells me to. Spike's a bud, and we have a reason for it; I like that."
Sunburst dipped his head. "I can only hope to earn that too."
"Don't hold your breath." Ember was smiling as she said it. "No offense or anything, but I don't feel even a spark of chemistry there. Doesn't mean we can't be friendly though."
The dragon lands were very geologically active. With volcanoes dotted around, belching gasses into the air where magma wasn't flowing free, Sunburst kept close to his draconic friends. "Pity I'm not so... heat resistant." He was a pony, covered in too-flammable fur. He veered well away from any strong source of heat they happened on.
Ember snorted a little smoke. "You'll never know the pleasure of a lava bath, pity. That's our target." She hiked a thumb at a crooked caldera. "Time to start using your eyes. The gem likes to hide in little rock pockets. Like..." She looked around with a little frown before she almost tripped over a little hard stoney rock. "This!" She grabbed it up and smashed it against the hard ground.
Inside was the yellow stone, already broken from her savage smash.
Spike shook his head "Alright, so... next one, we give to Sunburst so he can maybe open it more carefully. I'll take that one though!"
"Yeah, sure." She tossed both halves to Spike, forcing him to juggle them a moment before they were back under control. "Go easy on that. It has... interesting effects on dragons."
Spike hiked a brow at that, holding the rocks but not chomping into them just yet. "Yeah? Anything I should be... worried about?"
She lifted her shoulders, advancing onto the caldera proper. "If you like being loopy and silly, eat up. Pretty popular with some dragons, but know your limit."
Spike did not know his limit. He didn't even know what it was until shortly before. "Yeah..." He sank his teeth into it just close to the edge, breaking off a little bit to try. "Tastes funny." He chewed musingly.
Sunburst raised a hoof cautiously. "Maybe keep it to that little bit and see how it, uh, goes down?" His eyes turned to look across the caldera. "So... is this a volcano we're next to?"
"Usually yes, around here." She shrugged softly. "This is a spot where eruptions land. We should maybe finish and get out of here. Pretty sure at least a third of us would be really unhappy if the lava began to fall."
Sunburst cringed at the mental image of being in a sudden bath of molten rock. "Yes please!" He snatched for a little rocky ball. "Is this one of them?"
"Nah." Ember pointed to the one Spike was holding. "More grey, less black."
"Right..." If only Maud were there, he mused. Surely she would have spotted it instantly. He snatched another rock up, but it was more brown. He tossed it aside and scrambled up a small incline. "Oh..." Just past it it seemed like an entire field of the little rock balls. "I think I found them."
Ember took flight, landing just next to him. "Ah, yeah, here we are." She reached down and picked up one about the size of Sunburst's head. "This enough?"
Sunburst's horn glowed as he took hold of it. "Perfect. We can cut it down to what we need, I'm sure. For now, let's keep it safely inside the rock." It was not as light as one might have hoped, but he was fairly sure he could handle it. He tucked it into a saddlebag rather than float the considerable object along. "Now we just need to get you something in return."
Ember hiked a thumb towards Equestria to the west. "Spike knows what's around there. It better be tasty, and rare."
Spike blinked. "Oh hey, how common are fire rubies around here?"
Ember arched a brow. "Why, you got one?"
"I could maybe get one...?"
"I'd take one of those..." Ember cracked a little smile. "If you can get one."
Spike nodded firmly. The action sent him off balance and he collapsed against Sunburst with a worried gasp. "Woah, uh... my balance just kinda went off."
Sunburst gently hefted Spike up to ride him. "I think you're feeling that gemstone."
"Oh yeah..." Spike rubbed behind his head. "I do feel... relaxed."
"Yep, that's what it does. Makes you relaxed and dumb. Some dragons can't get enough; don't be one of those. They're no fun to be around." Ember snapped her fingers. "Oh yeah, and no flying. Until you feel 100%, stay out of the air, unless you like crashing head first into things. You've been warned."
Sunburst smiled gently, glancing back at his passenger. "You just relax and let me carry you. You may want to get rid of the rest of that stuff though."
"Yeah..." Spike tossed a half of a sphere away. "I don't need to be like this. Hey, Ember, thanks. You're... awesome."
Ember smirked at that, starting to make the trip back to where they had started. "I'd be more flattered if you didn't sound like a dragon that barely knows their tail from their horns. Went right through you, I see." She didn't sound overly surprised at that. "Take care of him," she fired in Sunburst's direction.
"Yes'm!"
"They must think me an uncouth bore..."
Twilight was standing near the wilted Platinum. She shook her head at the defeated royalty. "They're concerned, not making fun of you, I assure."
"This was a festival, in my honor." She put a hoof to her chest. "And how did I spend it? Asking awkward questions and not engendering any contacts; save the ones I already had. I completely failed on every level..."
Twilight rolled a hoof. "Well, maybe a little--"
Platinum groaned, planting her face in a cushion.
"--but, you are not the first historical pony they've ever met. You're going through a rough period, and that's understandable. You can make this better."
"I attacked her!" Platinum thumped a pillow. "Whatever my opinions of her breeding, I assaulted her. That's... just not forgivable. I panicked and I wanted to escape and I... attacked her."
Twilight settled down next to Platinum. "And you know how we can fix that?"
Platinum lifted an ear. "Is it time to be jailed and/or banished? You are my princess, I am ready to accept what discipline you have ready to give me."
Twilight smiled a little. "I've been in that position... almost exactly. I was ready for my princess to give me what I deserved... and she brushed it all away. I was... happy, but I think that wasn't exactly what was needed." She stood up. "You do need discipline."
"I am ready," squeaked Platinum, her ears folded back. "To what dark corner are you sending me?"
"You are Pinkie's for exactly one week, to be extended if needed."
Platinum blinked softly at that. "Pardon, dear... what do you... mean?"
"You will be her assistant. You will help with her chores and remain at her side. You will learn from her and further your study of the modern pony by taking direct part." She held up a hoof. "For the duration, you are not Princess Platinum. You're just Platinum, a unicorn of no special note, here because Pinkie, in her kindness, offered you a room."
Platinum sat up slowly. "What a terrible punishment," she barely whispered out. "Devious and cruel..." She reached up and gently took off her crown. "I will do my best, and that will suffice." She set the crown, herself, on the ground before herself. "I... hope I am still welcome here? Pinkie cannot sustain me."
"Of course." Twilight reached for Platinum, gently drawing the royal close. "I'm not banishing you, Platinum. In fact, I hope you learn a few things and come back better than before. You should still seek me out when you feel drained, but you can get help from other unicorns if you make friends." She lifted her shoulders. "We're working on the more long term solution. Hopefully Sunburst will be back soon."
"I can feel him, distantly. We are still bound, until you tell me not to be. He is alive, which is good. I can say little more than that. He is dreadfully far away... Are you alright with your lover being so far removed?"
Twilight pointed at the quieter Platinum. "He's only off on that trip for your sake. An arcane battery that will perform as well as we need it to is not easy to come by. But, I have faith in him."
"Faith." Her ears fell a moment before perking up. "Yes, well... I should begin my punishment. Is she at her bakery?"
"She usually is." Twilight smiled gently. "She doesn't hold grudges, just be kind to her and she will return the favor gladly. You may even have some fun if you allow yourself to."
"I offer no assurances of the likelihood of that..." She started for the door with a soft sigh, ready to assume the role of a common pony.
Pinkie bounced in place. "This is fantastic! We're gonna have so much fun!" She threw a leg over Platinum, drawing her tight. "Do you know how to cook?"
"I'm afraid not." She cocked a brow. "I... had servants to tend to those things."
"No time like the present to learn. Follow me!" She began pronking towards the kitchen. "We'll start with simple stuff. We'll use alchemy to turn liquid into a solid."
Platinum blinked at that. "I thought you said we were cooking?" She followed after Pinkie, starting to appear curious.
"Cooking is alchemy. Tasty alchemy!" Pinkie clopped her forehooves excitedly before she grabbed a pot and set it under the water faucet. "First we add water, a vital ingredient for many alchemies. Water has many amazing properties that makes it great for this."
"Such as?"
"Well, for one, it doesn't burn." She tapped her hooves. "For two, things dissolve in it." She tapped her hooves again. "For three, heat spreads in it instead of collecting in one spot. You put a fire under a pony and you don't end up with a warm pony, do you?"
Platinum stuck out her tongue at the mental image. "You get a burnt bottom, I should imagine."
"Exactly, but if that pony was water, you'd get a warm pony instead." She took the pot, half-filled with water, and placed it on the stovetop. "Begin the heating!" She turned the knob and got a fire going cheerfully under the pot.
"Pardon... teacher... but what exact alchemy are we performing?" She cocked a brow, curious and doubtful at once.
"Easy peasy." Pinkie grabbed an egg and set it on the counter. "That is an egg. It's filled with goop."
"I know what an egg is filled with." Platinum reached for the egg with her magic, making it spin gently a moment as she inspected it. "What are you proposing?"
"Without touching the goop, we'll turn it from a liquid to a solid, pfft, just like that." She clip-clopped her forehooves excitedly. "Like magic!"
"Oh! We're making hard boiled eggs... I've had those before." Platinum relaxed a little, but then she tilted her head. "Wait, but this has a hard shell. and feels... wrong." The hard boiled eggs she had experienced were usually very warm, and the eggs were fragile and... "The inside should not be goop."
"And they won't stay that way." Pinkie snatched the egg with her strangely prehensile mane and plunked it in the boiling water. "With the hot water all around it, it begins to transform."
Platinum leaned over the top of the stove, looking down into the bubbling water and the egg that wobbled and danced, trying to avoid those bubbles. "Do we have to do something? Some sort of arcane spell to complete the ritual?"
"I love you," burst Pinkie in a fit of giggles. "Nope! We just have to wait... This is one of the simpler alchemies, but stick with me." She thumped herself with a hoof. "I'll show you how to do all kinds of... delicious... magic."
Platinum dared a little smile. "Thank you... So... you forgive me?"
"You didn't apologize."
Platinum blinked at that. "This is true. You would accept me, and begin teaching me, despite that?"
"You need a friend. Lucky I like being a friend." She smiled brightly at Platinum.
"Yes... well... I apologize. It was unforgivable to attack a pony with magic. You did nothing to deserve that."
"Forgiven," she sang joyfully. "Now...." she snatched the egg free of the water with a deft splash of a hoof, somehow not burning herself. "Let's see what our alchemy has produced!"
Maud looked up from the gem she had been examining. "Welcome back."
"Technically, they're here, not back."
Maud nodded lightly to her boyfriend, but her eyes were on Sunburst and Spike.
Sunburst approached, the great rock in his bags coming free. "Here we are. When Ember smashed one open, the crystal inside shattered, how delicate will it be?"
Maud reached out a hoof, accepting the stone easily as if it weighed very little. "Once properly cut, it becomes more resilient." She produced a hammer and a began chipping at the stone gently. "This will take a while."
"We're barely on schedule, which means we're just in time!" Pinkie took a sharp right off the road with her wagon. "Welcome to your fir--second modern party!"
Platinum was trotting along beside the wagon, keeping up with Pinkie and her load of baked goods. "How lovely..." They had arrived at an open area, lush grass and bright flowers, along with benches, and ponies already enjoying all three of those things. "We are to deliver these, are we not?"
"And we--" She lashed out a hoof, kicking her cart. The cart exploded upwards, unfolding into a dazzling array of prepared treats. "Have!" She slipped free of the harness and danced out of the way as hungry ponies began to swarm the offerings.
Platinum moved to weave through the crowd towards her pink employer when a small pony, a filly, crashed into her. "Pardon."
"Yeah, excuse you," retorted the filly with a sneer. She wore a tiara and was peering at Platinum intently. "Look at what Pinkie dragged along."
"I don't, like, know them," admitted another filly that was with her, a grey earth pony filly with glasses.
"If they're helping Pinkie do deliveries, they're obviously not very important." The first turned up her nose.
Platinum felt rage burn in her cheeks. How dare that little earth pony even imply she was... She couldn't even finish the thought! She was Princess Platinum! "What is your name?" she demanded with a scowl.
"Diamond Tiara, and you better remember that." She turned away, thwapping Platinum with her tail.
Platinum was ready to tear the little filly apart, but a hoof gently landed on her shoulder and drew her away. "Sssshhhhh," came the soft insistence of her caretaker. "I know she can be... a challenge at times. She's getting better, honest."
She whirled on Pinkie instead. "Did you hear how she addressed me?!"
Pinkie nodded softly. "Yeah, she's like that, but she's also just a filly. We can't get super mad at fillies." She leaned in a little. "Besides, it's way more fun to tell on them to their parents."
Platinum's ears went up, some of the red fading from her face. "That does sound... pleasing. But if she is that ill-behaved, will her parents discipline her properly?"
"Oh, trust me. I know exactly which parent to say what to." She nodded with sublime confidence. "She is going to be very upset to hear her daughter was badmouthing a princess, and she doesn't hide that, especially from little Diamond Tiara."
Platinum brought her forehooves together with a sublime smile. "You have put me entirely at ease. May I trust you with delivering the news then?"
"For a friend? Of course." She gestured at the cart with a hoof. "Say, you want one? Feel free."
"Pinkie, I have little objection to little tastings... but I'm just... a shell of magic. The food would do nothing for me." Her tongue extended slightly as she thought about it. "Ugh, except float around inside there waiting to be gotten rid of."
Pinkie tilted her head left and right. "We should fix that. If you could eat food, maybe you wouldn't need so many recharges. You could make your own magic, like a normal pony."
"That would also necessitate all the things eating does." She perked an ear at Pinkie. "Things I have never actually performed, I remind. Tasting and swallowing, this I can do, there's little that could go wrong... I'll abstain from the aftermath of these actions."
Pinkie tilted her head back to the left. "Well, alright. That's your choice, Platty."
"Platinum."
"I was just being friendly." She stood up and reached with her mane for a cupcake, drawing it over to chomp down in one big bite. "Say, when you're all princessy again, you wanted to help ponies, right?"
"Hmm, yes." Platinum glanced towards the sweet treats that were diminishing in numbers quickly. "Not in the same fashion as you, Miss Pie. We both will help ponies, and expect compensation."
Pinkie nodded without argument. "You'd help a pony that really needed it, if they didn't have bits, right?"
Platinum blinked at that. "That... Are they of dignified descent?"
Pinkie blinked softly. "I don't think any pony has a 'dignified descent'."
Platinum huffed at that, tossing her mane. "Are they of noble or royal lineage?"
"Oh! Well, uh, let's say not?" She shrugged her shoulders emphatically. "What if I needed some help?"
"Well, for one, you're a mare. I know how to coach stallions. If you wanted me to coach a potential boyfriend or other suitor into being a better partner for you, I could do that?"
Pinkie burst into giggles. "Oh wow, now I'm tempted, but alright, alright, so let's just pretend I have a boyfriend, and I want you to coach them, but I'm low on bits. What now?"
Platinum hiked a brow high, regarding her pink jailer. "Well... First..." She wasn't sure how to proceed, frowning with thought. "I... would... rather not? Please don't be angry with me."
"Is it because of the bits?"
"In part." Platinum glanced at the festive ponies and back at Pinkie. "In... part..."
"What's the other part?"
"Dear... you remain an earth pony." She waved a hoof at Pinkie. "I..."
"And? Have we or have we not had tons of fun?"
Platinum put a hoof behind her head, squirming uncomfortably. "We are having a perfectly agreeable time, for a punishment."
"Are we friends?" She suddenly thrust a hoof forward. "I'd like to be friends."
Platinum peered at the offered hoof a moment. "We are... agreeable acquaintances... Pinkie, please... Can I have more time?" She slowly turned for the road. "Everything is different. I understand my ways may not... be ideal, but they are who I am, I can't just change them on the spot without abandoning myself. You don't want a mentally unsound ancient artifact, do you?"
Pinkie suddenly burst into laughter, throwing a leg over Platinum's neck. "Well, when you put it that way, I suppose we don't, but even if you weren't an ancient artifact, I'm not trying to make you upset, Platinum."
Platinum's expression brightened a little. "I believe you... and that should mean something."
"It does! It really does!" Pinkie bounced back a step. "Thank you. Now, if you would, let's clean up the mess and get the wagon back to Sugarcube."
Maud sat back, regarding the gem. Extracted from the stone, it was a bright yellow instead of the dull grey. "And now we begin carving." The chipping resumed.
Sunburst glanced aside at Mudbriar. "So, you two are an item?"
"Technically, we are not."
"Oh, what are you then?"
"We like one another." He nodded softly. "We enjoy the other's presence."
Sunburst glanced between him and Maud. Their emotionally stunted speech certainly seemed to be in sync... He wondered if it would stand the test of time, then a vision of Twilight appeared in his mind. Would his relationship stand the same test? Was he even being a good boyfriend, wandering off as he did...?
"Did you bring the platinum?"
He jerked out of his thoughts, looking up at Maud. "Oh, right!" He dashed off to buy some of the precious metal.
As he dashed across town, he ran into a pony he knew. "Twilight!"
"Sunburst! Good to see you back." She approached with a bright smile. "You caught me in the middle of something, but more than enough time for this." She offered an arm.
He slipped under it, pressing to Twilight, his fears fading a moment. "It's good to be back. I just need to buy some platinum. Maud's making the pendant for us."
She squeezed him gently. "Hmm, the book was right."
"What book?" He inclined his head towards her.
"It said that distance could strain a relationship, but the removing of that distance can create a moment of even closer ties. Let's not make that a habit, but it was nice having you back."
Sunburst blushed softly, head lowering a little. "Oh, well, um, can't promise that. You get called to save Equestria, or the map could call us. Let's just be, you know, understanding. I'll be home tonight for sure, let me just get this finished."
He fled away, leaving Twilight pondering. "Home..." Perhaps it was time to consider that... She moved on to finish her own chores, setting the thought aside for the moment.
Spike eyed the copious yellow shavings, considering. "Nah, I shouldn't."
"Shouldn't what?"
"Oh yeah!" He dug into a pocket and pulled out the other half of the rock he hadn't dropped. "This is for you."
Maud paused her carving to step over and lean in. "Thank you." She took it from him and set another stone where it had been resting. "Trade."
"Oh, I mean... wait." It was a heart-shaped red gem. "Woah, just what I was hoping to find! How'd you know?!"
"Lucky guess." She resumed chipping carefully at the yellow gem that was starting to shine with the care and lines it was being given, able to capture the light in brilliant sheens.
"Have it!" called Sunburst as he hurried back into the chamber, an ingot of platinum hovering beside his head. "I hope Twilight doesn't mind having the bill sent her way."
Spike hiked a brow. "This is all basically her idea, so she better not."
"Thank you." Maud plucked the ingot away. "Now..." She took firm hold of the ingot between two hooves and squeezed with barely a grunt. The bar began to glow dimly. She pressed all the harder, the glow becoming more fierce. The bar began to melt in the intense pressure and she shaped it as if it were simply clay ready for hoof-sculpting.
With a snatch, she grabbed the yellow gem and set it in the still hot metal, letting it cool directly onto the gem, grabbing it and sealing it in place. "Almost." She plucked out a file and started working on the rough edges she had made, soon rendering it into a lovely pendant, only missing a cord to dangle around the neck. "Here you are. Spike already paid."
Sunburst accepted the cord-less pendant in his magic. "He did? Thanks, Spike."
Spike gave an emphatic thumbs up. "Let's get this to Twilight and Starlight so they can do whatever crazy magic things have to be done."
"Thanks again, Maud. You're a real lifesaver." He nodded to her, then Mudbriar. He and Spike fled back towards the castle, their treasure well in grasp.
"Sunburst!" Starlight spotted him first. "Spike! Two fellas I'm glad to see." She grabbed them, one arm around either of them. "How was the tri--Oh!" The pendant bumped right against her face. "A success?" Her eyes crossed, trying to get a good view of the yellow-gemmed pendant.
Spike gestured up at the floating thing. "Ta da! As promised."
Sunburst nodded. "This should be able to do everything you need it to; provided you have the magic worked out?"
"As if there was a doubt." Starlight rolled her eyes as her magic took the pendant from Sunburst. "No chain? I'll fix that, but that's not the important part. It's time to weave some magic." She clopped her forehooves, free of the two males. "I haven't had a chance for a good enchantment in a while; looking forward to this."
She trotted away from them, pendant floating with her. "Now where did I leave those notes..."
Starlight's horn glowed brightly, but precisely, a thin beam of concentrated magic slowly etching into the interior of the yellow gem she was focused on. "Just a cross here..." Nopony promised that enchantment came easily or quickly.
Twilight stood beside Sunburst and Spike and Starlight. Across from her were Pinkie and Platinum. "It's good to have you back," greeted Twilight. "I mean, it isn't as if we hadn't met a few times."
Platinum nodded gently. "I understand, dear. This marks the end of my punishment, if you think I have learned sufficiently?" She inclined an ear. "You know, the original Platinum would never have suffered this. Fortunately, in this case, I am not her. I was designed to not reign at the top, being, well, an object."
Twilight canted her head faintly. "If we proceed, you will not be just 'an object'." She raised her hooves to make quotes in the air. "At least, anymore than I happen to be an object, or anypony else in this room."
Starlight drew out the pendant with her magic, a fine silver cord trailing behind it, attached. "That partially depends on what Pinkie has to report."
Pinkie sharply saluted. "I am pleased to report that Platinum now knows how to bake a cupcake, from scratch! I was impressed. It can take ponies a long time to get that down." She smiled at Platinum in a manic grin. "Sure you don't want to be a baker instead?"
Platinum waved a hoof gently. "I will abstain, Miss Pie." As Pinkie's face fell, Platinum smiled gently. "I will enjoy the ability to prepare a treat, should the occasion demand. Thank you for sharing this skill with me."
"You're super welcome." She bounced in place, looking pleased with herself.
Twilight gestured between Pinkie and Platinum. "While I'm glad she's applied herself to her temporary position, how did she do otherwise?"
"Oh yeah." Pinkie twisted an ear towards Twilight, the other aiming at Platinum. "She's still, uh, adjusting? She's a good pony though. 8/10, would bake with again. She even managed to deal with Diamond Tiara without exploding, so bonus points!"
Platinum dipped her head towards Pinkie. "Thank you. I may never entirely... think like a modern pony. I am not one of those." She arched a brow. "That doesn't mean I can't change... I have found... earth ponies can be passable conversationalists, and to spend time with one is not... unpleasant..." She put a hoof behind her head. "I... must sound horrible, from your view... But it means something, to me, dears. To say I would spend time with a pony is a... significant thing."
Sunburst stroked his wispy beard. "What about pegasi?"
"I haven't had much chance to decide yet... One step at a time, dear." Platinum's eyes rose to Twilight's. "Have I passed?"
Twilight gestured to the floating pendant. "I say you have. Now, to use this is simple. A pony places a hoof against it and says 'Accord'. To draw magic, it needs to be in contact with you and you say 'Compact'. It will take a small amount, not enough to hurt a pony, and when you draw from it, it will recharge you to capacity, provided it has enough power."
Starlight pointed at herself. "Getting those numbers right was quite a trick, but I'm very happy with the results. Go on, test it!"
Pinkie suddenly reached up, brohoofing the pendant. "Accord!" She and the pendant glowed softly for just a moment. "Huh, did it work? I don't feel any different."
Starlight drew the pendant away from Pinkie. "As Twilight said, it doesn't take enough to harm a pony. Now, since Pinkie generously provided a sample..." She turned the pendant towards Platinum. "See that glowing bit at the bottom? It'll fill up as ponies donate towards it, and deplete as you recharge, so you can see how much you have at a given moment."
"How lovely." She tried to take it from Starlight, but her magic could not easily snatch it from the expert spellcaster's grip. "Is there more?"
Twilight nodded. "There is. With the taking of this, you become a pony. You will withdraw from Sunburst and be free from him and also me." She pointed at herself. "I may be a princess, but I stop being your princess."
"O-oh, yes... Yes, of course..." She shuffled on her hooves softly. "Where... would I live? I don't technically require sleep, but walking around at night waiting for everypony else to awaken sounds like a dreary existence. I... imagine my castle is nothing but dust at this point." She sighed softly. "I remember it well..."
Starlight threw a hoof in a wide arc. "We're not throwing you out, Platinum. Er, Princess, whatever. You can stay here while you get your hooves under you."
Platinum looked to Twilight.
"She's not lying." Twilight turned to the stairs. "You can take a room on the fourth floor. I expect you to--"
"I'm not leaving." Platinum perked an ear. "Pinkie, thank you once more. With your help... I feel confident enough to approach this properly. Princess Twilight Sparkle, will you accept me into your school? I would learn the ways of modern friendship and social interaction. With a degree earned, I will then be ready to set out on my own hooves, as you put it."
Pinkie clip-clopped her hooves excitedly. "Woo! Yes! I mean, say yes. She'll be in my class and we'll have tons of fun!"
Twilight wasn't as quick to agree, looking thoughtful. "As a foal?"
"I no longer believe that measure is required. You forced me to approach ponies as I am... and I was not chased out of town. I will come as I am." She gestured to herself. "I feel... ready, and a little scared, but ready!"
Sunburst approached with a smile. "That's great! We'll be here if you need help or have questions, that's what friends do."
Platinum twitched an ear at him. "Are we friends? I know you've been... looking forward to when I depart you..."
Sunburst's enthusiasm deflated as he glanced around. "Oh, well, I mean... Look, I don't want anypony in my head."
"Even with consent?" asked Starlight suddenly, a wicked smile on her face.
Sunburst began to color red rapidly.
Platinum scowled at Starlight. "His princess is right there! Really, darling, how uncouth."
Twilight softly coughed into a hoof. "I'm going to have to side with Platinum on this one. You will not entrance my boyfriend, kindly." His blush did not abate at her defense. "Now... Yes, I approve. There are forms to be filled, of course, but for now..." She waved forward.
The pendant moved under Starlight's control, gently looping around Platinum's head over her ears and coming to rest on her gently. "You're a pony," declared Starlight. "Congratulations!"
Sunburst perked up, feeling something change. "Oh, did you just leave?"
"I did. That also means..." She pointed at his forehead.
Sunburst's eyes crossed to get a look at the thing he normally ignored. "W-what?! I mean... why?" His old horn was back upon his head in all its malfunctioning glory. "I was just getting used to the new one..."
"Its existence was an ongoing effect, I'm afraid." Platinum dipped her head softly. "You will need a solution that is not magic."
Twilight huffed softly, glancing aside at Starlight. "A lesson we've both learned, haven't we?"
"Says you." She stuck out her tongue. "Sometimes magic is just the right answer... and sometimes not. The trick is learning to tell. Now, Sunburst, don't panic. You and Twilight are making great progress, right?"
"Yeah... I, uh, just feel odd now..." He put a hoof behind his head, looking around. "For just a moment I felt really selfless. I didn't have the problem, I was helping other ponies with it, you know... like a hero... But... here I am..."
Platinum was suddenly there, raising his chin with a hoof. "Don't pout in front of your princess. She is perfectly aware of your good morality, and I should hardly think this will change it. Now, I will go find my room and acclimate to the idea of having one of those. It's been quite some time."
As Platinum trotted away with a smile, Twilight bumped against Sunburst. "I'm more impressed with how you behaved when you thought it was no longer your problem. You were ready to push ahead with equal vigor. Oh! That reminds me." With a pop, a scroll appeared. "The first successful procedure was completed!"
Pinkie gasped sharply. "Woah! ... What?"
Sunburst took the scroll in his weaker, but more familiar, grasp. "Did they recover? I mean--" He looked to Pinkie. "This is to cure ponies of my problem." He pointed up at his glowing horn. "Performed on the young with early detection, it may allow them to live perfectly magically normal lives."
"It's a little early to be certain of that." Twilight rolled a hoof through the air. "But! They're alive and healthy. Look about three lengths down."
He scrolled down, rolling the paper as his eyes fanned left and right. "Huh, huh, mmm, Oh! Patient reports feeling 'clear headed' as if they had suffered a cold forever and never noticed until it was gone." He plopped down onto his haunches. "Wow... That's... That's great!"
"This sounds like party time." Pinkie slid over beside Starlight. "Magic party time. You up for helping me set up?"
"Let's do this!" They went off together to plan an appropriately magic party.
Twilight smiled at the two and looked back at Sunburst. "It's nice having true friends. They both looked so happy for us. I told the hospital to update us on that first patient."
"Yes! For sure... We need to know how they do, in the long term... Still, even this much is very encouraging. I... kind of want to stuff my face in that book and resume work."
"You too?" She began moving for the stairs. "Last one there's a smudged page."
He gasped dramatically, racing to her, then past her. "No teleporting," he yelped on the way past.
She spread her wings as she trotted with a smile.
"No flying either!"
She giggled, having had no real intention on flying, but enjoying the reaction.
Twilight stood before the class. "This isn't the first time, but we have an adult that wishes to join the school. They will be your peer."
Stellar lifted an ear curiously. She wouldn't be the only adult present?
"Let's have a warm welcome for Princess Platinum." She waved to the door that opened with her magic.
Princess Platinum entered to many staring eyes and slack jaws. She dipped her head towards the class. "I look forward to learning modern socialization alongside you, dears. Let's be attentive."
Silverstream tilted her head almost ninety degrees. "I'm not an expert on pony history, but aren't you, like... a bajillion years old?"
"I beheld Celestia when she was no princess and had the barest of flanks." Platinum smiled confidently, feeling only pride at the fact.
Yona raised a cloven hoof, waving it wildly. "Oh oh oh! Did her mane wave around back then?"
"It did not." She looked to Twilight. "Where should I sit, My Princess?"
Twilight laughed nervously. "Call me teacher, not princess. You are my student, not my subject." She pointed to an open desk. "Why don't you sit there?"
She settled next to Occelus and Stellar.
"Psst," whispered the only other adult in the room that wasn't the teacher. "Are you the Princess Platinum?" Her eyes glanced up at the crown and down over the rest of the pony, then on to the yellow gem of a pendant. If there was a time she would have wanted her history-loving friend around...
"A pleasure to meet you, dear, but we should save conversations until after class."
"Exactly right." Twilight nodded properly, her magic closing the door. "Now, as we left off yesterday, approaching a stranger can be quite intimidating, but it is a vital step towards making a new friend. Can I get a few ways you'd try to break the ice?"
"Bleaching is just out." Sunburst stuck out his tongue. "I know I'm reading the pro side, but we know enough about horn biology to know that's a terrible idea."
"It'd clear the spurs along with most of the natural channels..." Twilight shook her head softly. "And it's almost permanent in its damage. I've read papers about it. It's very much against the law to subject a unicorn to such a treatment." Her magic grabbed at the edge of the paper and flipped to the next page, abandoning that thought.
"Back when she was writing this, it wasn't as well understood. I can see why she thought it was at least a possibility, you know? But yeah." He brought down a hoof on the next page. "Onwards."
Sunburst's magic made a page buried deep glow softly. "I still want to try this one."
"Hm?" She flipped back hundreds of pages at once with a weighty thump. "Yes, hmm, then... oh. This is risky."
"It would require trust on the part of the patient and skill on the part of the operator, but I have two mares I trust completely with this sort of precision magic. Besides, it's, um..." He began to color softly. "It's a little romantic."
Twilight smiled a little awkwardly. "How is my throwing magic through your horn at all 'romantic'?"
"Intimacy and trust." He raised a hoof with each word. "Being exposed and knowing the other pony could do so much wrong, but that you can trust them?"
Twilight rubbed at her warming cheek. "I... suppose I can see that. Do you trust me to work magic through your horn as if it was my own?"
"It's not exactly that." He shook his head quickly. "You'll work with me to work magic through my horn, far more than would be healthy, normally. We'll force the issue, while you constantly test and work free the spurs, without letting them end up where they shouldn't be." He tapped at the book. "Adults very rarely grow new spurs, meaning one procedure is likely to have lasting effects."
Twilight lifted an uncertain ear. "If we don't mess up and render you magically crippled... I... would hate to be the pony that did that to you, Sunburst..."
Sunburst leaned to the side, touching against Twilight. "I trust you. Even if... a mistake were to happen... I won't hold it against you. This is my idea."
Twilight smiled wistfully as she let out a slow breath. "Even if I take that at face value, with you accepting your new, even more harshly restricted, magic level, I would be guilty, and I'd have to look in the mirror and know that I did that to you. I'm not sure I can... handle that." She sucked in air through her teeth. "I'm really sorry."
"I did mention two mares." He raised a hoof. "I would have preferred you, and don't tell her that, but Starlight is a second choice. She knows how to use magic very well."
"She does," allowed Twilight slowly. "And she's less prone to... guilt, per se. If you even mention the idea to her, she'll probably start doing it before you finish explaining it."
Sunburst laughed at that. "That sounds like her. That's how it was when we were foals. I'd find a spell and start telling her about it, and fwoosh! She was doing it to see what it looked like and how it worked."
"That does sound like her," she agreed with a little smirk. "Are you certain about this?"
"I feel certain she could do it, if I trust her to do it. We understand the condition enough to allow for the try."
Twilight's magic wrapped around the stack of internal horn pictures. "Let me approach her first. I'll explain the situation without you being there for her to jump ahead with. I want to make sure she's at least fully informed from the bottom to the top."
He looked ready to argue that, but the words never finished rising. "That... may be a good idea, yeah. You give her the full rundown before she starts." He stood up and stretched languidly. "Mmm, I think I want to take a break anyway, we've been going since morning."
Both of their eyes turned to the window to see the sky was red with the hints of evening fast approaching. Twilight laughed nervously. "Nothing like a good book to really draw you in. I'll go find Starlight." She promptly vanished.
Sunburst carefully closed the book to be ready for their next studying session. With things reasonably put away, he trotted off to find something to eat.
Starlight looked over, the kite that flew above flittering in the breeze gently, its string held in her magic. "Hey Twilight. Enjoying the day off?"
School was closed that day, or they couldn't have studied through the entire thing. "Very much so. I wanted to talk to you about a magical procedure that requires strength and precision in equal quantities."
Starlight's ears went up. "You have my attention." She began drawing her kite down from the sky. "I figured after that enchantment, I'd be done with heavy magic for a while. What do you have for me?"
Twilight floated over the drawings of the insides of unicorn horns. "Remember these?"
"Mmhmm. That one's mine." She tapped a page with a hoof. "What about them?"
"We have a theoretical procedure that would have you working closely with a pony to help clear their magic pathways." She switched to Sunburst's sketch. "The idea is to work with them to channel a great deal of magic through their horn, loosening the spurs and then to get the spurs out safely as they do it without causing internal injuries."
Starlight whistled softly. "This... sounds more like a 'me' plan than a 'you' plan, if we're being honest. I mean, hay, I'm up for it, especially if it'll help Sunburst, but I can't imagine this is super safe."
"It would help Sunburst, in theory... And you're right, this is more... your thing, which is why I'm here. He did name you specifically, to note."
Starlight smiled at that, a bright expression. "Did he? Aw, good to be remembered. Does he trust me with... this?" She wobbled a hoof at the whole of the sketch of Sunburst's horn. She reached out, taking the kite that was close enough under an arm. "I mean, I'll do my best, of course, but..."
"He knows that, and he trusts you." She glanced away and back. "He... asked me first."
"That sounds like a terrible idea," spat out Starlight forcefully enough for Twilight to jump. "What? Really. You two are special someponies. You don't do surgery on family. That's just a bad idea. Silly Sunburst." She rolled her eyes. "That's why you declined, right?"
"Oh, yeah!" she lied poorly. "So here we are. You two are friends, but not... that."
"Right, exactly. There's a difference." Starlight nodded confidently. "So do you have the spell already worked out?"
"We do!" She brought out a smaller notebook and floated it towards Starlight. "Read this thoroughly before you start, please."
"Twilight." She rolled her eyes. "This is a pony's life here. I'll be careful, promise."
"This from the same mare that casually swapped the cutie marks of our princesses?"
Starlight hiked a brow. "Worst case in that situation, they banish me and jail me where I am banished. In this case, I hurt a really good pony forever. I'd say this has higher stakes, if we're being honest." She huffed out a laugh, smiling. "I bet I could get out of any jail they put me in anyway."
Twilight rolled her eyes. "You likely could, but you won't be doing anything that would make them want to put you in jail, right?"
"Well... I guess I'll cancel those plans." She sighed dramatically. "I'd best tell Trixie."
"I knew it!"
Starlight booped Twilight on the nose. "That was a joke. Now shoo. I have a book to read, a sensation I am certain you are very familiar with."
With warm cheeks, Twilight turned back towards the castle. "Yes, right. Thank you for taking the time to review the material first. I... will have faith in you, just as Sunburst already has shown. There is no way this can be considered a, uh, universal solution. It requires--"
"--too much magical skill," finished Starlight. "I gathered that. Any solution for a disease that crops up more than like a few times per generation is too widespread to say 'go find a super great wizard to fix this.'"
"Exactly." Twilight smiled a little, looking over her shoulder at Starlight. "On the other hoof, we do have that promising procedure to use on young cases. If it's effective enough, we may have already succeeded."
"But..." Starlight rolled a hoof. "It's trickier on adults, and Sunburst is one of those. So we either get him under the best surgeon we have, or..."
"He submits to the skilled touch of a foalhood friend." She turned to face Starlight. "The more I think about this, the less of a good idea it seems. I mean, you two may not be in a... relationship in the same way, but he's still a friend! A dear friend... You can't do this objectively."
"Magic isn't objective," retorted Starlight with a snort. "My emotions are a part of the spells, you know this. My desire for him to be safe and whole will help, not hurt. Twilight, you're worrying too much. Now shoo. Reading time." She promptly vanished in a puff of sparkles.
Twilight sighed at the empty space. "I hope you're right..."
Stellar smiled brightly. "You have no idea how lovely it is to have a real peer in the class. I mean, the other students are precious, and I do listen to them, but they're... well... foals."
Platinum tittered softly. "She had failed to mention there would not only be another adult, but a unicorn as well. This is a treat for both of us, dear. I simply must know so many things that I hope you are willing to divulge. Little things." She put up two hooves close together. "Little things you probably don't even think about."
Stellar hiked a brow. "Try me."
"Very well..." How bold this peasant was. It seemed to be a common thing of the time. She tried to push it aside. She wanted a friend! Stellar seemed sharp... "What manner of ornamentation do modern unicorns accept for what occasion?" She pointed up to her horn, poking free of her crown. "What is suitable at a luncheon, or a ball, or a wedding?"
"I could have a full spreadsheet on your desk by tomorrow." Stellar tossed her mane, eyeing Platinum with a cool confidence. "Give me a week and we'll have a focus group complete for analysis. Now, personally, I prefer my 'ornamentation' a little lower." She raised a hoof to the string of pearls that adorned her neck. "And that crown of yours is simply georgeous."
Platinum's smile only grew wider. Her opinion of Stellar was rising rapidly. "What exactly is a 'focus group'?"
Stellar laughed, but it seemed with Platinum rather than at her. "Oh, I love it. Dear, come with me. I'll tell you all about it while I give my assistants a call. We'll get them on the case."
Platinum began to walk with Stellar, expression turning curious. "Assistant? You are not a noble, I believe?"
"I'm not," easily agreed Stellar. "That doesn't stop me from having influence. I'm what you would have called... mmm... a merchant? A community leader and a merchant. I have bits and respect, and there's a lot you can do with both of those. To start, horn ornaments, what's in and what's not. Let's find out."
Stellar put an arm around Platinum and she tensed a moment before going with it. Stellar seemed like a pony worth knowing. "If you are a community leader... how do you not already know how to socialize?"
"That is a longer story... I'll share if you return the favor. I want to know how I ended up with a lovely princess for a schoolmate."
Starlight gestured at the map. "So, I'm ready, but I also have an exciting idea to propose."
Sunburst softly blinked. "Um... Like?" He wasn't sure how much he wanted to hear about 'exciting new ideas' with an already risky procedure.
Starlight waggled a hoof at the map. "This is a literal force of harmony. It selected you once, and me. Ha... that was a time. Either way, it knows us."
"You're talking as if it was a thinking, living... thing." Sunburst hiked a dubious brow, raising a hoof to adjust his glasses.
"And Platinum isn't?" She rolled her eyes. "Just because it doesn't chat with us very often... ever... doesn't mean it's unaware. It clearly makes decisions and tries to do good. Let's have a little trust in the thing we hurl ourselves across Equestria at the behest of."
Starlight ran a hoof along the edge of the cutie map. "It's not only aware, but my bits are on it being frightfully powerful. At least, it would be scary if it wasn't also super nice. I mean, it spends all day looking for friendship problems for us to solve. This isn't what a bad thing does."
Sunburst nodded softly. "Right, I mean... sure, it helped us out by making us face a problem. I get that, but how does that relate to this?" He pointed up at his horn.
She reached up right past his hoof to poke his horn. "The entire idea is to make your horn more harmonious, so magic can flow through it better, and you'll be an even better agent for it. I think we should incorporate it into the process. It has more than enough magic to lend to the process, and I think once we... impress on it what we want, it'll be all for it."
Sunburst quirked a smile. "I'll owe the cutie map a favor then?"
Starlight shrugged at that. "I've heard of worse fates. You'd already go trotting off if it asked, wouldn't you?"
"Well, yeah..." He rubbed at a cheek a moment before standing up fully. "So, alright, what's the full plan? You're going to just ask it nicely?"
"I don't think it works like that." She hopped up onto Twilight's throne just to leap from there up onto the map's surface. "Hello down there. Would you like to do a bit of magic with me? It'll be fun, promise." The map did not reply, other than casually returning things to sight as her hooves stopped being pressed through them.
Sunburst smirked softly, watching Starlight. "No, I should think not, but you wouldn't have brought it up if you didn't already have an idea, so let's hear it."
Starlight tapped a hoof through the mountain that held the illusion of Canterlot. "I will perform the process right here. You'll lay down about where I'm standing and then we work. It'll know what we're doing as we do it, and it'll help if it approves, or give us a clear 'stop that' if what we're doing is unharmonious.
She shrugged with a little grin. "Maybe it'll toss a friendship problem at us the moment it decides, or new magic will join the effort. Either way, we get something out of it."
"Or... nothing happens?"
She leaned forward towards him. "Right, also possible, but then what did we lose? Nothing. Either way, it won't hurt anything. I feel pretty sure the map won't hurt a good pony like you, Sunburst."
"This is incredibly reckless." He reared up and put his forehooves atop the table, hauling himself up next to Starlight. "Exactly your style... I said I'd trust you, and that hasn't changed."
"Fantastic!" She brought her forehooves together with a smart clop. "Shall we begin? No time like the present."
He laughed nervously. "Did you get Twilight's permission for... this?"
"Just lay down right here." She gestured across the table. "Let us begin."
Stellar sat on a bench. Next to her was a royal princess of countless moon's age.
Platinum's eyes moved from one pony to the next as they walked past them. "What are we doing, precisely?"
"Research," gladly chimed Stellar. "Watch and listen. This is one way you can learn about the movements of the day." She inclined her head more subtly across the way. "Note that mare. She always arrives here about this time of day, waiting for another mare that seems to be a close friend."
Platinum looked across to the green unicorn that sat in a curious way for a pony. "I see her, but spying and gaping are hardly 'proper' sports, dear."
"Don't stare," softly cautioned Stellar with a little smile. "Just observe. Now, from when you're from, royals were the center of things, were they not?"
"They were," she sighed out. "This no longer seems to be the case."
"Au Contraire." She raised a hoof. "Lyra, dear, have you a moment?!"
Lyra perked up at her name and pointed at herself. When Stellar nodded, she slipped down and crossed the busy little road to get to them. "Hey Flare, what's shaking?"
Stellar gestured at her royal companion. "Remember that play you took part in? This is the Princess Platinum."
Lyra's eyes widened. "What?! No way!" She turned to Platinum, looking her over intently. "Woah... You may be telling the truth. Neat! Nice to meet you." She performed a sudden proper bow, rearing up to deliver a bipedal bow. "I'm Lyra Heartstrings. Not sure why you're in sleepy Ponyville, but we're happy to have a big name around if they're happy to be here."
Platinum smiled gently, her spirits lifting. "Thank you for the greeting. This is ... nice." A pony that actually treated her immediately like she was important? That was more than nice... "Tell me, what would you recommend in this village for royal taste, dear?"
"Woah, you sound a little like Rarity." She was smiling as she said it, implying it wasn't a bad thing. "Huh, royalty... You try the day spa out? It's pretty good."
"Funny you should mention her. I met her and she took me there immediately."
"Called it!" Lyra pumped a hoof with victory. "She's practically the town princess, if not for, you know, not actually being a princess, like you! That's pretty cool. Do you have a castle?"
Platinum's ears fell a little. "Alas, no... The family castle is long gone, renovated into... that." She pointed up at Canterlot high above.
Lyra turned to see what was being pointed at. "Seriously?! You know I'm from there, right. I lived there until I was an adult. There are way more royal-class things up there, let me tell you." She suddenly hopped up onto the bench next to Platinum and across from Stellar, sitting in her curious way. "It's nice to meet a fellow unicorn from the heights."
Platinum started to smile a little more. Stellar had pointed her directly at a potential friend. "I'd like to hear more about it, Miss Heartstrings." Her eyes fell to Lyra's cutie mark. "Are you a musician?"
"Sure am." A lyre appeared with a flash of magic, hovering over her head. It began to play a soft little tune, cheerful but subtle, not disturbing the conversation. "I'd love to perform for a princess. Tell me when you're available for a show and I'll gather up the other local musicians. There are more than a few of us around here. We'll put on a special show and put you in the first row."
Special seating?! Her smile was only growing. Platinum nodded gently. "You certainly know how to treat royalty... I think I... would be delighted to attend such a performance, especially one in my honor. How could I say no to that, darling? Yes, you gather your peers and we'll arrange a proper time." She glanced back at Stellar. "I presume you are already familiar with Miss Flare? You appeared to know her."
"Stellar? Yeah. She's relatively new to town, but we've chatted a few times." Lyra nodded firmly before reaching a hoof around the princess, not touching her, instead offering the hoof to Stellar.
Stellar met it with one of her own in a little clop. "Nice to see you. I had a feeling you might enjoy meeting Princess Platinum. Now, I am obliged to note that she isn't an acting princess."
"Pshhh, as if that matters." Lyra drew her hoof back and slapped both forehooves down on her knees. "She's a living historical figure and former princess of all us unicorns. A little respect is in order. I mean, I'm not usually 'big' on the whole royal 'thing', but hey, you deserve it."
Platinum inclined an ear at Lyra. "Are all your companion musicians unicorns as well?"
"Nah. This is mostly an earth pony town." She threw a hoof wide. "Your ears will be teased by the melodic wonder that is Octavia Melody. She plays the cello and is an earth pony and is super good at it. You'll love it. She's also very refined, so stick around, I bet you two will hit it right off."
Her friends kept suggesting more friends! Did she just need one to get the ball rolling, as it were... "I will see her. A cello, you said?"
"Can't miss it. She's the town's best cellist. She's also a great pony in general. We're buddies, bound by music." Her lyre softly twanged. "The best kind of bind there is, in my lonely opinion."
Platinum wondered how an earth pony could hope to play a cello competently, but she had the will to keep that question to herself. "I can't wait to see how she plays."
Stellar nudged Platinum softly. "Say, what is the story behind that? I had been meaning to ask." She pointed at the dangling large jewel around Platinum's neck. "It's glowing just a little."
"Just a little?" She looked down and gasped. It was alarmingly low! "I really need to keep a better eye on that..."
Lyra peered at it with equal curiosity. "What's the story behind that, or is it just a pretty thing? I mean, nothing wrong with a pretty thing on a pretty mare."
"Lyra, here you are." An earth pony trotted out of the crowd, eyes on Lyra. "I hope she isn't bothering you."
Stellar waved the thought away. "As if Lyra could bother me."
Platinum quirked an ear at the new pony. She somehow sounded like she was in a position of authority over Lyra... An earth pony? How did that... "We were discussing a mus--"
Lyra suddenly poked her dangling jewel. "You were telling us this story."
"Oh! Yes, of course dear." Platinum cleared her throat, not that she had mucus to build there like a living pony. "This holds my... power? It's like... the belly of a pony. Food, in the form of magic, goes here, to sustain me."
Bon Bon hiked a brow. "Curious... How do you get more magic then?"
"Princess Twilight and her assistants were quite thoughtful." Platinum nodded in soft appreciation. "Any pony can place their hoof on it and say 'Accord' to give a small portion of their own magic. Not enough to hurt, or even really be noticed."
Bon Bon suddenly touched it. "Accord." The glow at the bottom of the jewel became a little brighter. "Seems safe," she said with just a hint of distrust. "Lyra, we have an appointment to keep, let's be off."
"Oh? Yeah! Right. See you later, Platinum. We'll get that concert set up." Lyra hopped down beside Bon Bon. "Onwards!"
When they were gone, Stellar nudged her new friend. "Watching and listening can open whole new avenues of possibility."
"I see..." Platinum angled the jewel in her magic to see its glow. "Why do earth ponies feel compelled to give their magic without thought, or permission?"
"Bon Bon's just like that sometimes." Stellar shrugged softly. "She's much nicer when she's running her candy shop. I think all the sweets around her makes her sweeter by some form of osmosis."
Starlight's eyes were glowing along with her horn. She could feel her magic rushing around and through Sunburst's horn as she encouraged him to release more and more of his own energy, building the intensity and heat of the exchange. His eyes were little more than glowing spots, just as overwhelmed in the procedure.
She felt a buzzing in her hindquarters. She couldn't hope to see what it was without stopping. Did she dare? With a soft grunt, she began to limit the magic, lowering the crescendo back down while keeping a careful feel for any spurs that could have been knocked loose in the interim.
One did come free, but she snatched it and whisked it away into a little jar that sat beside the table for just such emergency. "Got one," she reported proudly as the glowing faded away. "But what is that?"
"The same thing I feel?" asked Sunburst, blinking his clearing eyes and looking back at his rump, where his cutie mark was pulsing softly.
Starlight hopped up to her hooves. "Ah ha! The table is giving an opinion! Where is it pointing?" She hopped clear of the table to have a hope of actually seeing what it displayed.
Sunburst stepped off more sedately, adjusting his glasses as he went. "Or there's actually a friendship problem in need of us. That'd actually be kind of nice."
"The odds of that happening right now feels low." Starlight extended her tongue briefly before she looked over the cleared map. The cutie marks displayed were Sunburst's, Twilight's, and her own, all orbiting Twilight's castle. "I'm... not sure how to take this?"
Sunburst inclined his head faintly, a hoof at his glasses as if to hold them in place. "Oh, hmm... Maybe it's just... saying we should stop? I mean, not just... stop... per se, but not what we were just doing. We should keep working."
"Where is it sending me?!" Twilight burst through the doors with a big smile. "Who am I with?!"
Sunburst looked over at the incoming Twilight with a smaller smile of his own. "You're with us, here."
Everyone's rumps began to glow again as the symbols faded from the map, as if they had completed the friendship quest.
Twilight slowed to a stop. "Oh... That's never happened before. I don't understand; I was just teaching a class on the importance of proper greeting techniques. Did that need to be interrupted just so... we could all meet here?"
Sunburst gestured with a point of his horn at the table. "Starlight thought we should do the surgery here, so the table could weigh in if it wanted to."
Twilight's eyes went wide, but Starlight was faster to respond, "And it did! It seems... to want us to stop and talk, and here we are."
Sunburst lowered his hoof to the ground and moved around the table towards Twilight. "Well, I suppose we shouldn't argue with the massive artifact of destiny."
Twilight shook her head slowly, blinking back to normal eye width. "You were doing that on the table?! Anyway, um, sure, here we are." She gestured back at school. "My class is already cancelled and the students dispersed, so no point rushing back now. What did we need to talk about?"
Starlight gestured between Sunburst and Twilight. "I imagine it's between you two. It just wanted me to cut it out, which I have." She dipped her head towards the table. "I'm done."
Twilight started towards the table and the ponies around it, but stopped. She lifted an ear, hearing something. "Spike?"
He flew in through the same doors. "Yeah! Letter!" He held one clutched in a hand and soon handed it over to Twilight, who floated it up for a proper reading.
"Celestia is passing a message from Cadance."
"Through me," noted Spike with a raised brow.
"Through Spike." Twilight smirked faintly. "Cadance is wondering when her favorite foalsitter is coming back from his visit."
All eyes went to Sunburst. "Oh, yeah... I have been visiting for quite some time... I probably should go back."
"O-oh, yeah, I guess," almost echoed Twilight.
Starlight hiked a brow. "How about 'no'? You two are helpless, I swear. Neither of you want this, so don't do it." She prodded Sunburst in the chest with the flat of a hoof. "You have a girlfriend; or did you forget? That's worth moving for."
His cheeks began to quickly darken. "We're not... married, and I have--"
"You two aren't married because you're not wildly impulsive." She gestured to herself. "That's what you have me around for. Now I'm not saying go galloping to fix that, but you two moving apart? Nope! I'm putting a friendship veto on that."
Sunburst looked over to Twilight. "Is that a thing?"
"I am not aware of a 'friendship veto'." She smiled a little. "But I can appreciate the sentiment. Sunburst, this really is up to you. Me and Starlight would be happy having you around, as a friend."
"And more," added Spike quickly, brows wagging salaciously. The mares shot him a dirty look. "What? It's the truth. They're a 'thing'."
Starlight fixed her gaze on Sunburst as she casually hopped up onto Twilight's throne. "She isn't wrong, this is your choice. I just wanted to be sure you two were actually making a choice instead of just doing what other people ask you to."
"Right, my own choice..." He looked to Twilight's hopeful smile, Starlight's confident expression, and Spike's curiosity. "I mean... If I did... move here, I'd need to get my things out of my home in the Crystal Empire."
Twilight gestured at Starlight and herself. "You have us two. Do you really think it'll take more than a day to sort that?"
"I was going to say that, thank you for jumping in." Starlight nodded with satisfaction. "Moving a bunch of books? Not a big deal."
Twilight clopped her hooves. "Ooo, then we get to add your books to the collection. You know what that means?!"
"Book sorting day?" sighed out Spike without nearly the enthusiasm that Twilight seemed to have towards the idea.
"Book sorting day!" she said much more confidently, dancing in place. "Maybe a whole weekend, considering how many books we're adding. One of my favorite things. Oh, Sunburst, you'll join us, right?"
She was smiling at him so brightly. He put a hoof behind his head, unsure how he could even consider refusing. "Of course! I mean... they would be my books. I should help, um... I also need to tell Princess Cadance."
Twilight stepped towards him. "So it's time for a visit, because we have other things we need to do there, and this is the perfect time!"
"We do?"
"Did you forget?" She slid past him, purposefully letting her side brush his. "I have to introduce you to my brother, again, as my boyfriend. I said I'd do that, and now is the best time to do it."
Starlight saluted suddenly. "I'll make sure the school stays in one piece and cover your classes, Twi."
"Thank you very much." She turned to Spike. "I'd like to entrust Spike to my classes though. Running the school and doing the classes is a bit much to ask of any pony that isn't already used to it."
Starlight's nose wrinkled a little. "Oh, fine. But I still call dibs on the Friendship is Magic class." She clopped her suddenly glowing hooves together with a ready smile. "I'll show them some real magic..."
Twilight held up a hoof to direct her voice in a whisper to Spike, "Keep an eye on that, please."
Spike saluted, then flew off.
Sunburst pulled out some paper and held it and a quill in his magic, starting to scribble busily. "Let's warn them that we're coming, then we can be off."
Twilight suddenly swatted the paper aside, making the quill drag a big splot of black ink across it. "No, this can be a surprise. Let us just show up with the good news. Surprises aren't uncalled for, just... not at the point of the wedding. Ugh, BBBFF..." She snorted, nostrils wide a moment. "Let's go get some tickets."
"Already?!" His glasses fell out of alignment, a hoof rising automatically to push them back into place. " If you're alright with it?"
"It was my idea, and we're leaving things in capable hooves. We'll inform the girls on the way." She giggled as she walked. "This is going to be fantastic!"
Starlight put a hoof in front of Sunburst, stopping him from following her for a moment. "Told you. She wants you, dummy. Don't be so hasty to throw that away. You two, I swear..."
"I'm going," he huffed. "Good luck while we're away... and wish me some?" He dashed to catch up with Twilight.
"At least I don't have to explain to Shining that I'm snatching his precious little sister away." She smirked, watching Sunburst flee. "No envy there."
They were on a train, rolling along towards the Crystal Empire. Sunburst was darkened in his cheeks, rocking in place a little. "The, uh, girls were really happy."
"That's an understatement." Twilight was looking out the window, leaning on one arm. "They were ecstatic when we explained what was going on."
"They've visited before a few times... what's the big deal?"
"Never to announce this." Twilight hiked a brow. "It's a big deal! I'm still miffed I never got to experience it myself before they were already tying the knot, remember?"
"Oh, yes, that's true." He nodded softly. "Didn't she end up being... Chrysalis? Maybe that's why they didn't tell you earlier. I mean, she could have interfered with it. How long was she replacing Cadance?"
"I... am not certain." She tilted her head a little. "And I never even... considered that before. Huh... Huh..." She tapped at her chin with a hoof, sitting upright as she did so. "Wow, that... entirely recontextualizes the entire thing... Sunburst!"
"Huh?" He jumped at being exclaimed at. "What? Did I do something?"
"You just saved me from being a total jerk to my brother. He may not have even had a choice in the matter, and I was ready to rub it in his face. That would have been so awkward for him..."
Sunburst smiled gently. "Let's just enjoy it for what it is, instead of trying to worry about things that already passed."
"Exactly." She firmly nodded. "These are my hangups." She made a box like shape with her hooves, moving them around the imaginary edges of the box. "I am putting them away." She set the imagined box aside. "I'm going to see my brother and tell him good news and he'll be super excited and maybe start crying."
Sunburst stepped down from his bench and hopped up beside Twilight, leaning against her gently. "Do you think he'll... approve of me?"
"You two are already friends. Why wouldn't he?" She hiked a brow. "And if he doesn't, I know a few weaknesses of his."
He laughed at the mental images that sprang into his mind. "Be kind to him. He's a busy husband and father."
"I won't leave any marks."
He wasn't sure how comforting that assurance was. "I hope, uh, Cadance isn't too upset."
Twilight twitched an ear at Sunburst. "About?"
"I am her #1 foalsitter, and if I move to Ponyville, that obviously comes to an end."
"Oh, that's true..." She tapped a hoof against the cushion she was seated on. "She is a pony of love, though. I doubt she'll stand in the way of her foalsitter finding a special somepony, even if it means some inconvenience. She'll find another pony to fill that role."
Sunburst suddenly smiled. "Just like she stopped being a foalsitter and found a special somepony? That worked out for her."
"And now she can pass on that favor." Twilight leaned to the side, peeking out the window. "I can see the empire coming up. This is going to be great!"
The train came to a smooth halt and ponies stepped free. The empire was in sight, though there was a hike between the station and the city proper, meaning a brisk trot through the cold winter before one reached the temperature-controlled interior of the city.
Twilight hurried alongside Sunburst. "Do you think, someday, all the weather across the world will be properly controlled?"
"That would be a lot of work for a lot of pegasi," mused Sunburst, trotting easily. "Though the protection around the Crystal Empire is entirely magical in nature, so maybe something like that? But then you'd be robbing pegasi of their identity."
"More like liberating them to pursue other things," countered Twilight with a raised hoof as she ambled on her other three. "Pegasi can do other things besides manage the weather. Imagine what innovations we're missing out on because they're occupied with that?"
"Remember the time the Crystal Heart shattered? Now imagine there were things like that all over, waiting to break and cause a sudden catastrophe."
Twilight's face contorted into displeasure. "That would be bad... There would need to be failsafes, definitely. Here we are." She hopped across the band between snow and grass, suddenly entering the warmth of the city proper. "Much nicer."
Sunburst walked across the line without a hop, shaking free the frost and snow that had gathered on him. "I'm back," he announced to no particular person. "Um, should we go right to the palace or I can show you my place?"
Twilight bumped against him, her side pressed to his a moment. "We should announce ourselves, allow for an hour of shock and amazement, then we can get rid of our luggage. I have a schedule!"
He smiled at that. "I feel quite silly for not seeing that coming. Lead on."
With a glowing horn, she pulled at their luggage easily, rolling across the smooth stones of the city street. "I want to see their expressions!"
He, far more quietly, hoped they were nice expressions, but kept such thoughts to himself, focusing on approaching the castle that loomed ahead of them.
"Twilie!" Shining Armor spotted them as they wove through the city. He approached with a big smile, a few guards trailing behind him. "What are you doing here?!"
"Shinie!" She threw her hooves side and he came in, the two hugging affectionately. "Did I catch you in the middle of something?"
"We were just inspecting a few things, nothing that can't wait for a little sister." He looked over his shoulders. "Go ahead without me."
The other guards saluted sharply, then trotted off into the city, apparently knowing where they needed to be.
"And you brought Sunburst back with you." He was looking to Sunburst with the same easy smile. "Today's a lucky day!"
"About that..." Twilight gestured at Sunburst. "I need to introduce you."
Shining blinked at that. "I know who Sunburst is, Twilight. Don't be silly."
Sunburst cleared his throat. "This is a little, um, different."
"Was some kind of spell cast that made you think you're actually a little filly?"
Both of the visiting ponies blinked with befuddlement at Shining.
"What? It could happen... So, what are you introducing us for, Twilight?"
Twilight turned as she extended a hoof not quite at Sunburst but across his front. "Brother, I present my boyfriend, Sunburst. Sunburst, my brother and potentially yours, Shining Armor."
Both stallions peered at one another. Shining Armor went more rigid than he had been a moment before, taking a slow breath. "I... see..." He inclined his head faintly. "I thought your other friend, Starlight, was closer to him?"
Sunburst began to blush. "O-oh, well, you see... We're just friends... um... good friends, sure... but nothing romantic..." He shuffled in place, growing rapidly more awkward.
Twilight, on the other hoof, was rolling her eyes with a sardonic smile. "If she wanted him, she'd throw an arm over him and headlock him until he gave up, or maybe she'd shrink him down to a toy and put him in a jar until he acknowledged her feelings."
Shining laughed loudly, maybe a touch too loudly. "I could imagine that, but... no, he's... your boyfriend." He looked between the nervous Sunburst and Twilight. "And you're his girlfriend?"
"Yep," confirmed Twilight without hesitation. "We are enjoying a perfectly pleasant courting period as we grow more familiar with one another's patterns and social circles, which includes this very meeting."
Shining approached the shaking form of Sunburst, looking him over with new eyes. "And you're taking care of my little sister?"
"Yes, Sir!" he squeaked.
"Cadance has to hear about this," he suddenly mused, glancing towards the palace. "And you..." His gaze returned to Sunburst. "You! My sister?" He suddenly burst into laughter, throwing an arm over Sunburst, hugging him. "Our acrobat was secretly a mare-stealer?!"
Sunburst burst into an awkward little laugh. "O-oh, yeah, crazy huh?"
"Come on, we have to tell Cadie." He dragged Sunburst along, keeping an arm over the helpless little scholar stallion. "And we need to have... a little talk."
Sunburst swallowed heavily, but had little choice but to be pulled along, not willing to physically resist Shining's firm grip.
Twilight seemed to have no idea of the discomfort. The reveal had gone quite well in her eyes and she trotted along after the two stallions, her magic drawing their luggage along with them. "I can't wait to tell Cadance the good news."
"Twilight!" joyfully called Cadance as she spritely trotted across the wide hall of the palace. Attached to her side was Flurry Heart, both of their eyes on Twilight with joy on their faces, unified in their happiness to see the bookish princess. "I wasn't expecting you. Why didn't you tell me you were coming?"
Shining slid in next to her, kissing Flurry Heart before returning his vision to Twilight. Sunburst was still captured under the arm away from Cadance, keeping him close. "She was too busy kissing on her boyfriend," he teased with a little smile.
Cadance's eyes widened. "What? No. You're joking! You have to be!"
Twilight blinked softly before a little frown developed. "It's not that impossible of an idea! I've researched heavily on the topic for optimal results."
"Which is... exactly why I am surprised." Cadance approached with a more gentle smile. "Where is this boyfriend? Surely you wouldn't come to announce this without them?" She looked left and right, but there were no new ponies there to appraise.
Sunburst looked like he was quietly hoping to be consumed by the floor. Twilight remained ignorant to that, pointing at him. "Cadance, meet Sunburst, my--"
"--Him?!" she interrupted, eyes going wide once more. "I mean... congratulations..." She raised a hoof over her mouth. "I've been nothing but rude today. I blame it on skipping our greetings."
That cue was enough. Soon they were clopping hooves and shaking their bottoms in their traditional greeting and calling of ladybugs. "Much better. Now, really, congratulations! I'm beyond overjoyed to hear two dear friends found one another." She looked over each of them intensely as she spoke, pressing her perception just a little to the left, into the realm of connections.
A bright band tethered the two announced romancing ponies. There was love, fear, respect... Wonder... She smiled gently, liking the collection of colors and their relative strengths. It was not a bad connection. "You two are... happy together."
She saw another band, connecting her Shining and the quietly shivering form of Sunburst. Those colors were very different... "Shining, you will not tear apart Flurry Heart's crystaler who has been nothing but a fine friend to us and foalsitter to her."
"What? Me?! No! I'm not losing a sister, I'm losing an O&O player." He squeezed Sunburst closer, drawing a helpless squeak from the pony he outclassed physically and magically. "Wait... Wait wait wait. I am losing something else." He finally released Sunburst to face him directly. "Are you... staying here?"
Cadance shook her head slowly. "Of course he isn't, Shining, nor would I want him to..."
Sunburst tilted his head towards Cadance. "Y-yeah... uh... I was going to move... to Ponyville? If that's...alright?"
"Of course it is." Cadance was suddenly between them, setting a hoof on Sunburst's shoulder. "I am very happy for you. We'll have to find a new... foalsitter of course, but that's our problem, not yours."
A soft squeal turned eyes to Flurry who was reaching for Sunburst.
He smiled and leaned in, letting her grab his snout between her hooves. "I'll miss you too, little Flurry." She squealed and squeezed at him, largely ignorant of what was being said, but happy to have a grip on Sunburst.
Shining casually pushed Sunburst back away from Flurry's hooving. "We still need to have... a talk. Why don't we let the mares catch up while we do that?" He tossed his head away, hinting at the back of the room, perhaps past it.
Twilight was looking at Cadance, letting Shining escort Sunburst away. "I'm doing everything by the book and it's going so perfectly!"
Cadance inclined an ear at Twilight curiously. "Is it?" Her experience with ponies trying to do romance 'by the book' was far less sunny. "Tell me about that. I want to hear it all."
Twilight suddenly started to go red. "Should, um... Some parts of it probably shouldn't be said... here."
Cadance arched a brow high. "Have you two done things you would be uncomfortable with Flurry knowing about?" Twilight's awkward shuffle was answer enough for that. "I see... Not everything by the book then. Good."
Twilight blinked softly. "Good?"
"Yes, good, of course. Romance is not some... rote process. Do this, then do that, and you're done, love!" She leaned in, pressing nose to nose with Twilight. "Love is a great mystery, unique to each pair of ponies that experiences it. Trying to boil it down to unchanging steps... I have no idea how you... I take that back, that is perfectly 'you'..."
Twilight smiled awkwardly at the mare she saw as much as a big sister as anything else. "How... was it with you?"
"Let's compare notes." She extended a wing and gently nudged Twilight away from prying eyes, where they could speak of such personal things more freely. "I feel certain you have many notes to share."
A weighty book appeared over Twilight's head, floating along placidly. "Maybe a few," she admitted.
Shining Armor got Sunburst into a smaller room and willed the door shut with a twinkling horn. "Let's talk..."
"Oh, um... sure..." Sunburst looked around, realizing where they were. "Oh, the game room." There was a table, and the storyteller's screen was still set up. Dice were scattered around. "I'll... miss this." No way he could play O&O there if he moved so far away.
Shining prodded him firmly in the chest. "You were going to just move away without letting us finish? Not cool, Bro."
He blinked at that. "Finish?"
"Your character has to get a proper send-off." Shining nodded firmly, eyes locked on Sunburst. "The other players need a chance to rib you about finding a girlfriend, and I need a chance to wrap my head around you... and her... doing... things..."
"O-oh! I mean... uh... yeah! That would be... nice?" He swerved around Shining, moving for the table. "How's the game been going while I was away?"
"We could have used our acrobat," laughed Shining as he circled the table the other way. "We managed, somehow... Hey, uh... You treat her right. If she tells me you ever didn't..."
He didn't need to finish that threat. Sunburst bobbed his head quickly. "Of course! I mean, she was already a friend... and a great pony. I wouldn't ever want to hurt her."
"I hope you do more than just not hurt her." He smirked a bit. "My sister deserves an awesome boyfriend that'll do everything she wants out of a boyfriend."
"Like a BBBFF, with more on the lips kissing?"
He put a hoof over his face. "Let's never describe it like that ever again."
Cadance floated her bundle of joy into the waiting hooves of a servant. "Now you have some fun and be a good girl until mommy gets back."
Flurry cooed until she saw Cadance was leaving and made a sad sniffle. The servant pony was quick to nuzzle the little foal and distract her towards more interesting and less saddening things.
Liberated from her spawn, Cadance led the way to a small room and sank down on a large cushion, gesturing with a hoof to another just across from her. "Have a seat."
Twilight willed the door closed before hurrying over. "I had no idea... I mean, I just assumed such details were not public knowledge."
Cadance hiked a brow. "They are not public, but I am also not in public, Twilight. We are friends, and I care about you. You trust me a little more than a random pony, I hope?"
"Of course!" blurted out Twilight, darkening in her cheeks a little. "I didn't mean that. This is just new to me. So! Where do we... start?"
"Right where you are." Cadance reached with a wing, brushing Twilight's cheek and turning it towards herself fully. "I'm not here to judge you, Twilight. When did you first realize you had feelings that could go beyond friendship?"
"Beyond?" Twilight squinted a little, thinking back. "I wouldn't classify it as 'more' than friendship. It's just a different kind of friendship, with very similar demands and rewards, but some new ones too, and some are put to the side. For instance, most romantic ponies live together, so the risk of simply not seeing one another is dramatically reduced, though you do still have to make time to be with them."
Cadance drew her wing away as she smiled gently. "Spoken like a true princess of friendship. If it makes you feel better, I view friendship as a different variety of love, that could become 'proper' love, in the right context. I love you, for instance, but I hope--"
"--Of course," cut in Twilight. "We're friends, good ones at that... That's why I came here, to announce this to you and Shining. I want you two to be involved."
"And I am honored you did that." She leaned up, wings extending a little. "More importantly, I am so very happy. Oh, Twilight... you were always... It is hard to view someone you foalsat for as... not a precious little foal to be protected... I... should have kept you in the loop as we... did things... but it felt so awkward. That you are ready to turn that around and be the bigger mare is humbling."
Not that Twilight was actually larger than the princess that looked down at her. "I.. actually..." She tapped her hooves together awkwardly. "I was ready to rub your noses in how I didn't find out until you two were basically already being married."
"But you didn't... What changed your mind?" Cadance suddenly smiled. "If it helps, I feel embarrassed about that even if you never chastise me about it."
"I blame Sunburst." Twilight gave a most proper nod. "He brought up an excellent point on extenuating circumstances... but since we're talking about it, I can ask. How long were you... replaced, you know, by Chrysalis?"
Cadance's smile faded, smothered by uncomfortable memories. "I'd... rather not think about those times, but your friend, your boyfriend is a kind pony. When his face isn't buried in a book, he is capable of the occasional sudden leap of empathy that belies his usual introverted nature."
"Like me?"
"Yes, like you." She booped Twilight on the nose with the flat of a hoof. "You two... I should have seen it coming. Are you reading a book together? Comparing notes?"
Twilight felt heat rushing back into her cheeks. "How did you know?!"
"It just seemed inevitable that you two would bond that way." Cadance's glowing horn grabbed a small box off a shelf and drew it through the air. "Now... we need to discuss things only mares can freely discuss."
Twilight blinked softly. What could only two mares discuss?! She dared not voice her question, instead locking her eyes on the floating box and the mysteries it contained.
"While affection and emotional bonding are critical, there is another half to romantic relationships that can kill it as surely if left to chance and allowed to decay." She set the box down on her cushion just ahead of herself. "A mare must please their stallion, and be pleased in kind. Twilight Sparkle, I am going to teach you about how two ponies find physical--"
A loud thump interrupted her speech. Twilight had suddenly passed out and was collapsed across the floor. Cadance blinked softly at the sight before she burst into a short little laugh. "Oh dear..." Perhaps her 'grown up' Twilight wasn't quite ready for that discussion.
Sunburst nudged his little miniature representation of himself, if he were a spritely acrobat instead of the bookworm that he was. "When's the next session?"
"Hm? Oh, tomorrow." Shining sat down behind the storyteller's screen. "You'll come, right? I was serious, we should get a chance to tie up loose ends... they'd want a chance to say bye..."
"Of course!" Sunburst willed the figurine up into the air, floating beside his head. "I'll miss them too, and you. I mean, not that I'm going away forever or anything."
"Of course not." Shining tapped a die, making it rattle forward. "But there's a difference between living next to someone and them being a country away."
Sunburst's figure dropped from numb magic. "Oh! We're being silly!"
"Hm?" Shining's ears perked up. "Something hop into that sharp mind of yours?"
"Yes, gotta go." He bounced to his hooves. "I'll be there, tomorrow!" He galloped out of the room without a further word, leaving Shining blinking at the space he had once occupied.
"Huh..." Shining stood up and circled the table. When he could see it, he plucked up the dropped figurine with his magic and set it carefully where it had started. "I'm sure it'll be something great." Sunburst was a reliable pony, he decided. Twilight could have chosen far worse ponies to be with.
Twilight blinked open her eyes with a gasp, looking would wildly. She was in a bedroom in the Crystal Palace. "What... oh..." She remembered what she had fainted in the middle of and began to go dark in the cheeks. "That was not... my most mature moment."
She hopped down to the floor, her hooves clopping on the hard surface as she began circling. "She's going to think I'm just a little filly all over again! Gah!" She threw up a hoof, shaking it at some unseen force she could blame it all on. "I need to... Consider this." She curled the same hoof to her chest and slowly extended it away, breathing with it. "Calm..."
"Twilight?" came a muffled male voice, followed by a soft clopping knock.
"Sunburst? Come in."
The door glowed before Sunburst came trotting in. "Cadance said you'd be in here. Taking a nap?"
"Uh, yeah, something like that." She laughed nervously, eyes darting a moment. "How did things go, with Shining?"
"About that! I need your help. How hard would it be to make something I can see and talk through?"
Twilight slowly blinked. "I know a few spells for that. I'm honestly surprised you don't know more than me, considering your specific studying focuses."
"Well, sure, but I was thinking of an enchantment." Sunburst rolled a hoof. "And I can't really... do those. I was hoping you'd help."
Twilight's expression brightened. Rare was the day she could show up Sunburst's magic knowledge. "Silly stallion. I used a perfect spell for just this situation and it doesn't require enchantment at all! It even works across a great distance."
Sunburst's worry seemed to abate, hope shining in his eyes. "Really?! What spell?!"
"I used it once to provide mentorship to Starlight when she was in Canterlot and I was still in Ponyville," explained Twilight as she turned for the windows, walking away slowly. "Projecting your mind into an inanimate object is surprisingly simple!"
Sunburst blinked slowly, standing still a moment before his head went upright sharply. "Oh, of course! I was looking at this from the wrong angle. I know the spell you're talking about. How did I not think of that?! Yes, yes... I just need the spell..." He circled in place as if it may be written on the walls of the room.
Twilight shook her head. "I know the spell, and if you calm down, I'll gladly share it with you." She pushed open a window with a hoof, allowing some fresh air in. "But you have to listen to my problem. Fair trade."
"You have a problem?" Sunburst crashed to his haunches. "Of course! I mean, I'd listen without you doing me favors at all."
"Thank you." She turned away from the window, moving to sit in front of him on the hard floor. "Now, as we go over this spell, imagine me, alone... with Cadance. We're having a perfectly lovely conversation about love and friendship and... then she brings up... more intimate, uh, physical aspects of love."
Even Sunburst could see Twilight was going more and more red. "It's alright," he tried to reassure. "I mean she is the princess of love... she's gonna do that."
"I know! I know... I even knew at the time, but I still... kinda... passed out." She raised her hooves over her face. "The next thing I knew I was in here, and then you showed up and--"
"I can guess what happened after that." Sunburst leaned forward and kissed her right between the eyes. "It's alright."
Twilight burst into laughter, pushing him away with a hoof. "Thank you, um, but really. That was horrible timing! She must think I'm a little filly all over again. She had just told me she was getting past that, and I couldn't even handle a little mature mare chat?"
Her blush suddenly intensified. "A chat that I never mentioned to you!"
"Never mentioned what?"
"You kn-- Oh, yes, exactly." She nervously laughed, glancing around. "What do I do?!"
"You go get a nice drink of water, calm down, then you walk up to Cadance and tell her you're ready to continue your conversation... assuming you are ready to do that. If not, then you don't, because that's what adult ponies do." He suddenly leaned in close. "Is your brother going to try to give me a similar, uh, talk? I don't think I'm ready for that!"
"You mean he didn't?" Twilight tilted her head, blinking. "What were you two talking about then?
"I mean, he did, kinda? He was very protective and made sure to make sure I knew that. He will not be a happy pony if I don't do my best to be a good boyfriend." He went quiet a moment. "I am... a good boyfriend, right?"
"If ever I feel this is not the case, I will say so. You're not Princess Celestia, I can tell you when you mess up." She stuck out her tongue a little. "But, alright, so no real... advice, just stallion posturing. That's almost adorable." She smiled a little lopsidedly. "BBBFF... So, about that spell! Let's get to that."
"Yes, please!" A book floated from him as a quill joined it. "I am ready to learn. Is it really simple enough for even me to do?"
"Stop selling yourself short. You have only grown as a spellcaster over the time I've known you. You'll get this, I feel confident. Now, to start..."
They spent much of the afternoon going over the spell and practicing it, each taking turns possessing different things they could find in the room. Things with images or, even better, in the shape of a pony were, by far, easier to possess. By the time the sun began to grow heavy in the sky, Sunburst was looking confident in the trick. "And I know exactly how to use it..."
Shining Armor sat in the storyteller's seat, perched behind his grand platform as he looked across his players. "Anyone see Sunburst?"
The others shook their heads. One adjusted his glasses lightly. "I only just heard he was back. I hope he didn't freak out and skip the session. That would be sad."
"Yeah," agreed Flash Sentry. "I wanted to say bye at least."
"That will not be required!" came a sudden new voice, making everyone at the table jump. The little pony acrobat hopped in place with some effort, hooves spread wide, but they had always been spread wide, caught mid-stunt. "For I am here and plan to stay!"
Shining blinked softly at the animated playing piece. "O... kay... Wow, yeah, that is... interesting." With a glowing horn he plucked up the little pewter figure of their acrobat. "Is that you, Sunburst?"
"It is not," argued the acrobat, shaking their little head with a silly grin on their face. "'Tis I, Sun Hopper; your loyal acrobat. I am ready for adventure!"
Flash suddenly snatched the figure with a quick wing and slapped it down on the table. "Hey, that's cool and all, but we still owe you a hazing."
"Hazing?" The smile faded to concern as the figure meekly hopped back a little.
The first spectacled player gave a predatory smile as he clopped his hooves together. "Of course. We can't have one of our own get a mare without some mild ribbing."
"And congratulations," added the second with a little nod. "I mean, Twilight? Not a bad catch."
Shining suddenly coughed. "Let's not go over the details of what makes my little sister a good or bad 'catch', if you please. Besides, tonight is about Sunburst, even if he intends to continue attending the games."
Excited talk bubbled up as congratulations were gotten out of the way and Sunburst was nudged about good-naturedly.
By the time the game itself resumed, Flash had to ask with a raised brow, "So how will you roll the dice?"
"Oh, uh..." Sunburst hopped slowly in place, looking around. There was a die, almost as big as him, with its many sides. "I got this." He bounced against the die and it wobbled a little before falling a whole one side over. "Or not..." He tapped a hoof against his chin, able to bend and move, though it felt 'right' to be in the default pose the miniature was in before he got involved. "Somepony else is going to have to roll for me, I'm afraid."
"Dibs," called the glasses-wearing pony.
"That's settled." Shining nodded properly. "Now, last time we left off, you were..."
Twilight gently tip-toed from the room. Sunburst was limp in place, his mind fled elsewhere as she had taught him to do. It was adorable, but also something she endeavored to not interrupt. She barely made it out of the door when she felt the presence of another and looked up sharply to see Cadance walking down the hallway with Flurry attached. "Oh, Twilight. What lovely timing."
She smiled nervously, glancing around as if maybe for a distraction, but none were easily available in the crystal hall. "Cadance! Hello there. How are you and Flurry doing?"
Cadance glanced over and down at her little filly who burbled contently. "I think she's fine. It'll be nice when she can answer that more directly, but I'm told that is also when parenthood is put to the real tests." She returned her gaze to Twilight, finishing her trot up to her fellow princess. "I look forward to it. Tell me... do you plan to join the mother's club? We offer delightful benefits."
Twilight's face lit up as she backed away, only to thump against the door she had only just closed.
"Don't be like that, Twilight." She reached out a wing, gently scooping Twilight away from the door. "Walk with me, and I'm not trying to pressure you into anything at all, promise."
Twilight started to walk, the stiffness of that moment fading with the clopping movement. Perhaps a walk was just what she needed, she silently thought to herself as she looked up at the larger princess beside her.
"Twilight... I asked that because... you mentioned you have... done as couples do. That could result in foals, given time and love, and I don't want that to be a surprise, to you, or him." She suddenly smirked a little. "I say that, but it will be a surprise to him. It always is to poor stallions. 'How did that happen?!' they cry, as if they had nothing to do with it."
Twilight felt her redness returning, but, somehow, walking kept it from getting too bad. "Ha... yeah... silly stallions."
She suddenly swept in with a powerful rotation of her neck, face adjacent to Twilight's. "Is that something you want, or are even prepared for?"
Twilight squeaked and jumped away. "I have so many responsibilities!"
"And I do not?" Cadance smiled gently, reaching a wing to tease at Flurry as she walked. "I am a princess, I remind. We have stressful moments all the time, and calamities in need of a guiding hoof. I have things to do, and raising my foal is one of them."
"I suppose that's true..." Twilight shook her head. "But, forgive me for saying this, you are not usually putting yourself in harm's way in titanic clashes to save all of Equestria." She threw a hoof wide. "I'm not sure it would be a good idea for me to... basically retire from that while I do the whole... mom thing."
A hoof suddenly came down just behind her horn, pressing down on her gently as Cadance walked on her other three hooves. "I would not be able to sleep at night if I thought you wanted it but decided against it out of being such a good pony you were afraid the world couldn't wait while you did it. Besides, you have friends who would rise to the occasion, hm?"
A sly smile spread on her snout. "I should imagine Starlight would be quite eager to take your place just one time for world-saving exploits."
Twilight tensed with visions of Starlight rushing into trouble with the other girls and how her brand of magic problem solving could end. "Ah, yeah... So, I think I will just not. I mean, you two--"
"Had a foal basically as soon as we were properly wed. But I'm not saying to do as I did." She raised a hoof to her chest, the one on Twilight quickly clopping down to reestablish her balance. "We are all different, and I want to support you, Twilight... Speaking of that, have you told your parents? They will be beside themselves."
Twilight's ears pricked up with thoughts of her loving mother and father. "You and Shining were the first family to get the news. Actually, I take that back."
Cadance raised a brow as she turned down a new hallway, nodding to a guard in passing. "Who found out before us?"
"His mother was there, in Ponyville." Twilight tossed her head in the vague direction of Ponyville. "She was the first to know."
"Well, that's one parent down then." Cadance chuckled from deep inside. "Does she approve?"
Twilight choked out a laugh. "Approve? I was afraid she'd do something crazy to... push things forward. In the end, she helped quite a bit. She gave me a book that's full of useful advice, and she arranged this lovely little weekend vacation for Sun and myself."
Cadance darkened, though it was hard to see in her pink fur. "You... had a weekend vacation?"
"Oh, yes." Twilight nodded, ignorant of Cadance's reaction. "We went to this delightful convention for antiquarians. That reminds me that we still have other artifacts to examine..." She raised a hoof to her chin. "Did I mention we got a working enchanted crown commissioned by Princess Platinum? Ha, that was a weekend..."
"I see..." Cadance went quiet for a time, walking with Twilight as they wove aimlessly through the halls. "Tell me... Did she arrange a nice comfortable room with a big... bed?"
"And a big hot tub too," agreed Twilight with a smile. "We were some of the cleanest ponies at the convention if the smell was anything to go by." She laughed at her jest before looking around. "Where are we going, anyway?"
"Nowhere in particular." Cadance glanced back to see Flurry was taking a nap. "Twilight, you had... Nevermind. Nevermind." She shook her head slowly as she walked. "I am not your mother, more of a big sister, I suppose. Come to think of it, that is precisely what I am, your big sister-in-law."
"My favorite sister." Twilight leaned over, pressing her side to Cadance and avoiding Flurry Heart. "Look, Cadance... Let me say thank you. I know I'm a little... awkward... but not because I don't appreciate your input. Thank you."
"And it is a pleasure to serve that role." She leaned over and planted a kiss right beside Twilight's horn. "If you ever get confused or scared, you tell me, right away. Don't even hesitate. You know this palace is always open to you, right?"
"Who's scared?!" she squeaked. "I mean... I have it all worked out." A book floated into view. "I'm following the steps and it's working great, like I said."
"About that... What comes next?"
Though his hind hooves couldn't leave the base they were attached to, he bounced and gestured and approximated the acrobatic feats he was accomplishing within the game. "And..."
A die clattered. "14."
"I stick the landing!" cried Sunburst, falling to their tiny knees triumphantly.
Shining politely clopped his hooves. "Very good, you've made it down the trap-filled hallway with some time to spare. Your friends are still looking to you with worried eyes, the boulder racing towards them, you--"
"I pull the lever!" Sunburst made a quick pulling motion before returning to his default stance, hooves spread wide in mid-athleticism. "C'mon guys!"
Flash shook his head softly. "That is both amazing and freaky at the same time." He reached with a wing to nudge his own, less animated, figure forward. "I get out of there."
The game was going well, and fun times were being had. Ending on a dramatic note, a roof coming in to possibly crush them all to paste. "We'll find out what happens next time." Shining's eyes went to the little figurine. "You'll be there, right?"
"Wouldn't miss it." Sunburst bounced in place. "So how is it? Great right? I can still play from Ponyville like this and not say goodbye at all."
Flash set a hoof carefully on the mini's head, holding it still. "Dude, that's awesome, but... it's... not you. I wanted to say goodbye to the fluffy scraggly maned stallion that is my friend, even if I'll get to see him for game day, which is great, don't get me wrong."
"Oh..."
The glasses-wearing pony adjusted those glasses. "Where are you hiding, really? You're still here in the palace, right? We want to say bye as friends, not just as players."
The other player grinned. "Besides, we owe you like a dozen noogies and we can't give those to you like this."
Sunburst hopped back as well as he could with a hoof on him, which wasn't very good. "Oh, well, maybe I should keep hiding then."
Flash tipped him over easily. "Nope, wrong answer. Now you get twice the noogies."
"It's the rule," agreed the first that had suggested it, nodding gravely as if following some solemn tradition. "Now come here and accept your dues."
Shining suddenly smiled. "I'll send the guards if you don't come on your own, and if you're still here, you're not there, so it shouldn't be too hard if I guess right."
"Okay okay!" He wiggled his little metal hooves. "I'm coming. Keep it together." The figure suddenly went solid as if he had never been there.
They prepared to give their friend a proper send off.
Shining and Cadance stood before the new crouple. They glanced at one another, and a soft nod from Cadance prompted Shining to continue, "We're both excited to hear how things go. So long as you two are honest with each other and yourselves, we don't see there being too many problems you can't face."
"Exactly so." Cadance reached out a hoof to Sunburst's chin, raising it a little. "I know you are nervous, and let me tell you a secret. I was just as nervous, when I realized Shining and I were becoming a 'thing' more than just two young ponies enjoying a few dates."
Twilight seemed to be less nervous, smiling easily even. "I got this."
Shining cocked a brow. "One day you won't get this. It happens to us all, but when that happens, don't panic. You're both great ponies, and I'm sure you'll figure it out, so long as you don't convince yourself nothing can ever go wrong."
Soft hugs and goodbyes were shared. Sunburst became redder by the moment, not used to receiving that sort of attention from either of the royal couple, and instead he got it from both of them. "Thank you, um... We'll take some of my books with me, but we'll be back for the rest."
"Of course, let me know when, and if, you wish to surrender that house." Cadance looked in that direction. "It's sad to think you won't be in it, but this ending is also the start of a wonderful thing."
Shining nodded towards Sunburst while looking at Twilight. "You're taking away our foalsitter and one of my players."
"And I provided a way for him to continue being at least one of those things." Twilight stuck out her tongue softly. "I will not be made to feel guilty about it. Come on, Sun, we have one more set of ponies to visit before we go home." She began to walk away at a firm stride.
Sun waved one last time before hurrying to catch up with Twilight. "Do we? I thought we were done with this trip."
"Technically, sure, we could call it quits there, but that went so well, why not go while we have the tempo down?"
"Go where?"
Twilight looked over her shoulder at him. "My parents' house, of course. I already met your mom, only fair you meet mine."
"Oh..." They went back to his house and collected many books in neat floating piles, then to a wagon. With a great haul of literature, they moved to the station. "We got almost everything." The idea that all his books could fit in the wagon, even if it was a nice-sized wagon, was somehow humbling to him. "I thought it'd be more..."
Twilight twisted an ear towards him. "The ones you left behind are not even yours. You can--"
"--no! No... I do have some things back there that aren't books that I would..."
"Are you alright?" Twilight stopped drawing the wagon along and turned towards him. "You sound... off?"
"It's just... weird... I haven't had a move like this before... When I went off to school, I had nothing with me but a few things, and I remember just... hoping Mom would take care of the rest. When I moved out of college, I barely had anything, and took it all with me..." He tapped his forehooves together, sitting on the ground. Each pony that passed him felt like a silent accusation. "Now I've built up a life, with stuff, and..."
"Sunburst..." She moved around the wagon and pressed her nose to his cheek. "I know exactly how you feel."
"You do?" He quirked an ear at her, watching her intently.
"I will remind that I didn't even get the pleasure of 'moving in' to the castle I now live in. My... old home was obliterated, with many of my precious keepsakes still inside... That was a rough day. When your life is... changed... like that, it feels, well, just plain bad." She touched her nose to him in the exact same spot. "I felt bad... The girls were there for me though. They helped me get through it, and I hope I can help you get through this too. At least your stuff is all... intact, but I know feelings don't always work that way."
"Yeah..." He forced a little smile. "I have a really great pony to mope next to."
"The best." She went to bump him, but he turned his head as she came in, and their lips met, turning it into a soft kiss instead. She drew back with a bright blush, glancing nervously at all the other ponies in the street that had witnessed it.
"You're an item, Twilight." He took the wagon's handle in his teeth and resumed tugging it towards the train. "Get used to random kisses."
"Ha, yeah..." She sounded far from convinced as she began to follow along. "You seem to be in better spirits all of a sudden."
"Good company helps." Not that he actually felt entirely better, but knowing Twilight was there, and a part of his life, was certainly a positive factor.
The train chugged along the tracks peacefully. Sunburst's considerable load was parked in a cargo train, to be dropped off in Ponyville even as they continued past it. The girls would come and get it and whisk it away to the castle by the time they actually returned to Ponyville for real.
But he wouldn't be there for the first part, no, he had to go on to Canterlot, a city where he had come as a foal, only to crash and burn. "This is where I first learned of my limitations," he sighed out, watching what passed the windows. "I wonder how things might have played out, if I had passed the tests. If I had become a wizard instead of... just a scholar of magic..."
"We can't really know that." Twilight was across from him, looking out the same window. "We can only guess and wonder, and that mostly just makes you sad, unless you decide that alternative present is completely worse than this one. Like if I hadn't passed my test, I... wouldn't be who I am. I would never have come to Ponyville, or met my dearest friends. I'd never have become a princess. I probably... would never meet you." She shook her head softly. "Nope, I'm pretty happy things went exactly the way they did."
Sunburst rolled his hooves around one another. "Well, when you put it that way... If I had stayed in school, I wouldn't have met Cadance and Shining like I did. If I did meet you, it would have likely been in a professional capacity, brief and done... I would have had basically no reason to go to Ponyville, so I wouldn't have met anyone there either." He closed his eyes for a time. "I might have made new, different, friends, or not, but I wouldn't want to trade away the ones I have now for 'maybe' friends."
Twilight bobbed her head. "Exactly right. You are living a life that is worth living, Sunburst. Never forget that."
"I'm still saying bye to a lot of people."
Twilight hopped down and right back up again, joining Sunburst at his side. "That can be hard. Just don't make the mistake I did." She rolled her eyes.
"What mistake was that?" Distracted from his own thought he looked towards her with curiosity.
"Basically I forgot all my old acquaintances. I got so swept up in new friends and a new life and... You're already avoiding that." She set a hoof on his shoulder. "I was really glad to help you keep in contact with them, and continue your game. It's about more than the game itself, of course. Those are your friends, Sunburst."
"Yeah..." He thought back to the roughhousing he had received when he physically showed up. "They really do care about me... I'm glad I'll be there. I mean... the game's good, for sure, but we do more than just... game." He tapped the edges of his hooves together. "We talk, a lot. Whenever one of us is having a problem, it always comes out eventually, and we're friends, so we, you know, work it out."
"I had to rebuild those bridges... Some at great expense to the ponies I had abandoned." She lowered her ears for a moment before they sprang back up. "Which is why I'm glad we're not repeating mistakes. By the way, Spike plays O&O with Big Mac and Discord, if you're ever looking for another game that's a little closer than the Crystal Empire."
"Spike... and... wow, that has to be interesting." He shook his head at the scenarios that played in his head. "Is Discord like a super powerful wizard or something?"
"Archer, last I heard."
Sunburst blinked softly, struggling to process how that worked. "Not what I would have guessed... Spike... a brave and valorous knight?"
"Wizard."
Sunburst put a hoof to his face. "That's O for Two. Hm... Big Mac... Well, if Spike didn't take up the knight mantle, and Discord's playing an archer... is he the knight?"
Twilight clopped her hooves together in a smart clap. "You got it! I'm sure they'd accept a new player, especially one already versed in the game."
"I'll consider it, but no promises... It's not like I don't already have a game to be in." He leaned over against her suddenly. "It's nice having you next to me instead of across from me.
The conversation died companionably there, the two leaning against one another and enjoying the ride.
They arrived in Canterlot with the soft jolts of the stopping train. "Canterlot!" A moustached pony wandered down the aisle, announcing the arrival. "Please disembark in an orderly fashion if you're stopping here."
Twilight bounced to the floor. "Now, I know this city has different feelings for you, but this is where I'm from, originally. I was born here, and my parents still live here."
Sunburst stepped down more sedately. "So you know where all the fun places are."
"I sure..." She trailed off with a little frown. "I mean... Hm. Come to think of it..." She began wandering towards the exit with a thoughtful expression.
"You spent all the time with your cute nose in a book, didn't you?"
Her cheeks lit up a little as she thumped her side against his. "Maybe! A little... I know where the good libraries are, and a few fantastic bookstores come to mind." She raised a hoof to her chin. "Actually, and the movie theatre. My BBBFF loved taking me there when he could, and we'd watch all kinds of things."
She suddenly perked up. "And my friends! The ponies I told you I made contact with again. We should meet them, and they'll want to know about... this too. You'll love Moon Dancer. She's as huge of a nerd as we are."
His ears perked up at the idea. "Does she enjoy studying magic?"
"Loves it." Twilight grinned triumphantly, having found something she could surely offer. "Now let's go. We have parents to surprise."
"Oh, right. Are you sure this is a good idea?" They had given no warning of any kind. "I mean, this is kind of sudden."
"Well, yes, it is... Father will be a bit annoyed, he loves his schedules more than I do, but Mother, on the other hoof, will be delighted. Nothing like a good surprise to get her heart pumping, which is exactly what she wants. Let's go make a happy mother."
He couldn't think of a good counter argument to that, so he trotted at her side, winding through the streets of Canterlot. His eyes wandered over the stately buildings as they went and the ponies that belonged in them. It was a place he had belonged, once, long ago.
That time had passed. Perhaps it was for the best. He smiled a little, choosing to believe it was.
The door opened with a faint glow around the doorknob. "Hel--" The mare's voice cut off as she saw who was at her door. "Twilie! And... Hon! Twilight's here!" She was grinning with joy and already charging Twilight with fire in her eyes.
Twilight put up her hooves, trying to explain quickly as the oncoming train of motherdom steamed towards her. "I'm here with an announce--"
"--can wait until after hellos." She threw her arms around Twilight and hugged her daughter tightly. "Ohhh, so good to see you! You didn't tell us you were coming; we weren't ready at all! Did you just happen to be in the neighborhood?"
Sunburst watched the two quietly, just keeping quiet. Speaking up at that moment felt awkward at best.
"Did you say Twilight?" Night Light peeked out the door. "Oh, hello there." He had spotted Sunburst. "Dear, it looks like she brought a friend."
Twilight wriggled free of the fierce hug. "That is exactly what I wanted to talk about. Mom, dad, may I present a very special somepony?"
Velvet inclined her head faintly. "Wait, let me guess..." She squinted as she looked back and forth between Sunburst and Twilight. "Is... he a new teacher at your school?"
"Not technically wrong," allowed Sunburst with an off-smile.
Twilight moved beside Sunburst and threw an arm around him. "He is, but that's not why I brought him here. May I present Sunburst, my boyfriend."
Night Light flopped bonelessly to the ground. Velvet waved off his dramatics. "He'll be fine." After that was said, it was her turn and she squealed with unadulterated child-like glee. "My Twily's come with a boyfriend! Aw! You two look precious together." Her horn glowed as she yanked a camera out of the house and began snapping pictures of the both of them. "I need to know everything! How did you meet?"
"Why am I on the ground?" He pushed up from where he had fallen. "Oh, hello Twil... oh..." It seemed to be coming back to him. "And you are..."
"Sunburst, Sir." He dipped his head towards what could maybe become his father in law. "Nice to meet you."
"You've ruined my schedule." With a glowing horn, he started to pull a large sheet from inside the house, but Velvet's magic joined the glow as she pushed back on it.
"You will not ruin this moment with your strange notions. Twilight's life isn't for us to control and it never was." She had an iron gaze locked on Night Light, teeth set.
"But..." The paper sagged before it was whisked away under his wife's power. "I was sure she wouldn't get involved for at least ten more moons."
"The best parts of life are the parts you don't see coming." Velvet nodded with satisfaction at her own wisdom. "Now, Sunburst? Welcome!" She threw her fore hooves wide. "You're my son now, get used to that. I am going to spoil the Celestia-loving heck out of you."
She advanced on the scared-looking stallion and began fussing at his mane and beard without a hint of reservation, smoothing some of his frazzles. "I have a conditioner that could do wonders for that, you should try it. Now get to spilling it. I want to hear every single thing."
"O-oh, well, yes, we... first met in the Crystal Empire."
Night Light smiled at that. "My daughter met her special pony right next to where our son lives with his? That's destiny is what that is."
"Now you're getting it." Velvet nodded firmly, seemingly pleased with Night's recovery. "Was it love at first sight?"
"Not exactly." He rubbed behind his head.
"We barely noticed each other, that first time," added Twilight. "But we met, and that set the pieces in place to fall just right later."
Velvet began to clap excitedly, only to stop just as quickly. "Come inside! Why are we gabbing on the stoop like this?" She led the way into the house, giggling along the way. "This is just too exciting! Keep going while I get everyone some snacks."
Night Light was suddenly at her side, kissing her cheek. "You stay and listen. I'll get the snacks."
"You're the best."
"Only when you're not in the room."
They shared a fond nuzzle with matured love, still alive and strong. Night trotted off towards the kitchen to fetch refreshments. That left Velvet watching the new couple with a big grin, ready to hear more.
Twilight cleared her throat softly. "To make a long story short--"
"--Every single thing," casually reminded Velvet. "I want every tawdry detail."
Twilight began to darken quickly. "You are not getting that, Mother."
Sunburst's eyes wandered over the decor of the room. "Did you... ask Shining Armor for that?"
"He said no too, but that doesn't stop me from asking." Velvet rolled her eyes. "You'd think being someone's mother would entitle you to hearing the entire story."
"Yes, as I was saying..." Twilight gestured at Sunburst. "I called him to help crack the code on an especially thick tome that was driving me nuts!"
"She was a mess," agreed Sunburst. "But the book really was a challenge, but one we dove into, together, and have been making progress on ever since. It's been quite the project."
"Ooo!" She drove her hooves together in a loud clop. "Study buddies turned steamy? I've read stories with that plot before... Hon! How's it going?"
"Right here." Night Light wandered into the room, a platter of snacks floating next to him. He set it down on the coffee table in easy reach of most of the ponies there. "Pardon me for asking, Sunburst, but how are you at keeping to a schedule?"
"Dad!"
"No, it's, uh, alright." Sunburst smiled nervously. "I'm not late to personal appointments," he declared proudly.
"Good good, but... scheduling?"
"Uh... Not... the best? I don't usually keep schedules, but I can follow one just fine."
"We'll have to work on that." He took a cracker with his magic and popped it into Sunburst's snout. "No stallion's going to get involved with my Twili without knowing how to create a properly annotated schedule."
Velvet rolled her eyes. "Tell me about your adventures. You've done something exciting, I hope, not just studying all day every day?"
"Well..." Twilight trailed a hoof over the floor. "We did take a weekend trip to a convention for antiquarians."
Sunburst perked at that, detecting opportunity. "We competed in a scavenger hunt that had us running and solving puzzles, oh, and we did an escape room."
Velvet smiled brightly. "Now that's more like it! Did you win?"
Twilight bobbed her head. "We sure did. Have you ever done an escape room?"
Night Light buffed a hoof on his chest. "We set a record in one."
Velvet rolled her eyes at that. "We were the first ones in there."
"That still counts," defended Night Light with a stricken expression.
"Still, it was fun and such a team-building experience. We had to put our heads together." She leaned over and Night Light bumped his head against hers in a literal display of the event.
Twilight nodded in soft agreement. "I've done two of them now, one with my girlfriends, and now one with my boyfriend. Hm, this is becoming a habit..."
"A generational habit," added Night Light with a smile. "Some of the best kinds. Maybe you should tell your foals to try escape rooms with ponies to find who their special friends are."
Velvet prodded him in the side. "Or how about we don't do that, dear. Really..."
"You two must be so proud." He was still looking at the decorations. There were so many trinkets from Shining Armor and Twilight's life to see, mixed in with the happy moments of Twilight's parents. "Your children, uh, have done so much."
Night Light followed his gaze. "They've given us a lot to be proud about. To think, one's a princess, and the other's married to one. It's probably for the best we don't have another foal. That'd be a hard act to follow up."
Velvet hopped up to her hooves. "I'm done being a mommy. I mean, no, that came out so wrong." She raised a hoof to her chin. "I'm done being a mom to little foals. I did that, I'm done. I'm perfectly happy being a mother to grown ponies." She suddenly threw an arm over Sunburst. "Like you!" She popped a cracker into his mouth much as Night Light had. "Now tell me what gets your engine running."
"I..."
"She wants to know what you like doing," helpfully noted Twilight, a hoof over her face.
"Oh! I love studying magic. I play Ogres and Oubliettes. I... enjoy teaching, I've found." He stroked his beard as he thought about it. "Any day I spend with Twilight is a day well spent."
A bright flash filled the room as Velvet took another picture. "You are just too sweet! You need to get out there and try a few more exciting things. You and Twilight, I swear, though she does get her excitement fill from saving the world on a semi-regular basis, so I'll give her a pass." She leaned forward dangerously. "I don't think you have that excuse."
"Oh! You play O&O? Now there's a fascinating exercise in accounting." Night Light bobbed his head in eager agreement. "Tell me, what edition are they up to at this point? Gosh, I played back in the 2nd edition days."
"I've played that one!" Sunburst perked up. "There was a book of that in my parents' house, and I couldn't help reading it... so I played once or twice with Starlight."
"What did you play as?"
"I was the storyteller." He pointed at himself. "I made stories for Starlight and she had a lot of fun. It was a good time. They're up to third edition now, but I keep hearing they're planning on a fourth, but that's been a rumor for basically ever."
"They really should just set a release date." The scheduled stallion shook his head in dismay at the rest of the unorganized world. "Good on you, though. Being a storyteller is a true test of organizational skills to keep things moving properly."
Twilight cleared her throat. "Before you grill him too much, I will note that he has saved the Crystal Empire."
Velvet threw a hoof across her front as if snapping fingers she didn't have. "Oh that's right! You helped when little Flurry caused a bit of trouble. She's such a little dear... but that was a mess."
Night Light nodded softly. "Quite an unexpected turn of events. Now, we really should make a new timeline." A fresh blank sheet floated into the room. "You've made of mess of my old ones, but that's alright, making new ones is half the fun."
Twilight suddenly stood. "Don't let me get in the way of that. I just wanted to be sure you two were in on what was going on. I'd feel terrible if my own parents had no idea until the last moment."
Velvet snapped a shot of Twilight's evasive expression. "Don't you worry, I'll help your father decide what should happen when." She leaned in, whispering softly, "and proceed to not follow it. You two trot along now, congratulations!" She kissed Twilight's cheek then quickly moved to give Sunburst's burning cheeks equal treatment.
Night Light suddenly thrust out a hoof. "Wait! I mean, you're not just going to visit us for an hour, I hope? You're always welcome here, Twili. Why don't you at least stay the night?"
Velvet canted her head. "That sounds lovely. Twilight, dear?"
Twilight tapped a hoof on the ground. "Hm, well... Alright. We'll stay here tonight."
Night Light pumped a hoof in victory.
"However, right now, I want to take Sunburst around the city to see some things, and other ponies, if that's alright?"
Velvet made a shooing motion. "Go on then. We'll have dinner waiting for you both when you get back."
Twilight rapped her hoof against the door. "Minuette is a little--"
"Twilight!" cried the mare, her door swinging open quickly to reveal her brilliant smile. "And a... no, wait, I remember this one..." She stroked her chin as she looked over Sunburst intently. "You are that stallion that Twilight mentioned... From that crystal place, right?"
"Good memory." Seeing as he had never actually spoken to Minuette, but... "I think I've seen you visiting before?"
"She gets everywhere," easily agreed Twilight with a nod. "Minuette, this is Sunburst, my boyfriend."
"Hush your mouth! Oh. My. Celestia." A camera floated out of the house and began blinding them with shots of the two of them. "Time to gather the girls!" With a shrill squeal, she fled back into her house in a stampede of hooves.
Sunburst looked across to Twilight, blinking away the afterimage of the flash. "So, uh... She seemed happy for you."
"She's an excitable pony, usually in a good way." Twilight rubbed over her eyes with a fetlock. "And she tends to know where everyone else is, so I figured we'd start here."
The squeal returned with a doppler effect, raised as it approached until it just stopped, Minuette standing in front of them. "Let's go!" She threw an arm over each of them. "Oh wow. I want to hear every little thing, but save it until we have everyone here. Why repeat yourself, you know?"
She was leading the way a moment later, trotting with the same smile, apparently full of joy. It did not take her long to take them to each of the 'old squad'; Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine, and lastly, Moon Dancer.
The last was not at home. She was at the nearest library. Minuette rolled her eyes when the group bounced off her house. "She's gotten better, really, but she's still pretty into her books. That's just her, you know? We understand. We can pry her away from her studies once in a while and she really has fun."
Twinkleshine trotted up next to Sunburst as they approached the library. "You look like the kind of stallion that'd enjoy this place."
"I've been here before..." It wasn't the school's primary library, but he'd been there. "She was a student of Celestia's school too, right?"
"Graduated with good grades," answered Lemon Hearts. "Pity she likes reading and theory over, you know, actually using what she's learned."
Twilight put a hoof forward as she walked. "Don't be like that. She enjoys what she does and there's nothing wrong with theoretical research. It takes all kinds to advance magic. Oh, I should mention that we were all students. It's how we met."
Minuette bobbed her head eagerly. "We're all magic ponies, it's what we do. I mean, mine's no big deal, but it was good enough I guess."
Twinkleshine rolled her eyes. "You control time, Minny. How you keep seeing that as nothing is beyond me."
"You have tons of magic of your own, missy." Minuette rolled her eyes but was still all smiles. "Here we are." She waved inside the library. "Begin extraction." The three friends nodded in familiarity, advancing with purpose.
That left Twilight next to Sunburst. "They seem to know what they're doing..."
Sunburst nodded softly. "Huh, guess they've had to pull her away from her books more than once. Should we help?"
Moon Dancer appeared a moment later, huffing for breath, her eyes on Sunburst. "You!" She was pointing at him with a shaking hoof. "Crystaller... Flurry Heart... Senior!"
"Uh..." Sunburst tilted his head at the heaving Moon Dancer. "I was that, yes. Hello."
"Yes, hello." Moon Dancer approached him directly, just shy of touching noses. "Your rapid recollection of the appropriate sorcery is matched only by your reported lack of skill. I hoped to meet you someday. We have much to discuss."
The other girls came trailing out after Moon Dancer. Minuette was laughing at the whole thing. "We mentioned Sunburst was here and she took off running like she forgot her oven was left on. You shoulda seen it!"
Sunburst was blushing terrible, shying away from Moon Dancer. "Oh, um... nice to... meet--"
"You are Moon Dancer, I am Sunburst." Her shaggy brows went down. "Reverse that. Now we have met, again. I saw you in school. You were my senior. I wanted to talk to you, but I never thought of a good time to approach you. Besides, you were my senior, so..."
Twilight gestured at her flustered boyfriend. "As you seem to know, this is Sunburst, my boyfriend."
"Boyfriend?" One brow went up as she looked at Twilight with the same eye, then it went down and the other perked as she looked over Sunburst. "Boyfriend... I..."
Minuette suddenly threw an arm over Moon Dancer. "Remember what we told you."
"Are you certain?"
"Absolutely!"
Moon Dancer took a slow breath. "Alright, speak my feelings, even when I'm not sure..." She pointed at Twilight. "I used to love you." She lowered the hoof and pointed the other at Sunburst. "I used to love you. This is awkward, very awkward."
Sunburst crashed back on his haunches, blinking rapidly. "Uh, we... uh... never met?"
Twilight flopped down in much the same reaction, left in the same daze. "Oh... this is... quite an admission..."
"You drove me to desperation!" she suddenly cried. "I mean... you don't cry like that over a... just friend... You were my best friend, and... I was young and stupid and... I thought we'd be together forever... get old, together, read, together..." She tapped her chin softly before raising the hoof to adjust her broken glasses. "And you, even worse. I was just a filly, and stupid, so stupid. I... had a good imagination, too good."
Sunburst was just darkening right alongside Twilight, both imagining what Moon Dancer's fillyhood imaginations had envisioned for the both of them without their knowledge.
Lemonhearts shook her head slowly. "Awkward..."
Minuette strode past the knot of tense emotions. "C'mon! It's time to celebrate and catch up!"
Twinkleshine nudged against Minuette from the side. "Minny, let them be. They need to work this out. We can party about them later."
"But..."
Lemonhearts came in from the other side. "They have feelings to work out." With the two mares pressed against Minuette, they led the cheerful mare away despite her protests, leaving the three nerds alone to sort their emotional books.
Moon Dancer was the first to move, starting a light walk. "This way. We should... go somewhere more private."
The other two trailed after her, glancing at one another as they went. Words were scarce, but they went, retreating to Moon Dancer's dilapidated home. She waved them in, then closed the door behind them with a heavy sigh. "This is a complete mess. I'd rather just... forget I said anything, but the others wouldn't forgive me if I did that. It's your fault, by the way. You made me remember I like being around other ponies, sometimes."
Twilight pointed at herself with a wry half-smile. "Princess of friendship, it's in the job description. Seriously though... Moon Dancer, I had no idea... Are you... alright?"
"No." She trotted up towards them. "I am burning bright with extremely uncomfortable amounts of jealousy right now, for both of you, and it loops around, right around, to self-loathing, since the pony I can most easily blame is myself. I didn't even dare approaching you." She turned to Sunburst. "And you, I had you, and I let you go, then I cried myself to sleep instead of chasing you." She turned to Twilight. "I could have... I could have run after you, but I didn't, and I can't take that back. I was too busy being angry and hurt. Hay..."
"Hay... The other girls got to you before me, and they... They never had these feelings." She sagged in place. "I am a failure at emotions, Celestia take it all. No wonder I'll die alone."
Sunburst pulled at his collar. "Well, uh... It's... nice to meet you?"
"Moon Dancer..." Twilight reached out a hoof and Moon flinched away, but only so far. She touched the hurting mare on the shoulder. "I didn't come here to hurt you, ugh, again."
"You're good at that." Moon smiled a little awkwardly. "Have you begun reproduction?"
Both blinked emptily. Sunburst recovered first with a laugh. "Everypony keeps asking that! We... aren't aiming for a foal right now."
"Oh..." Moon tapped her chin softly. "Have you discovered any new magical practices?"
"Actually--" Twilight sat up with a prideful smile. "--we have uncovered a medical procedure that could save countless future unicorn foals from a life of magical restriction."
Moon brought her hooves together in a single little clap. "Congratulations. I wish I could have been there... Share the details? Does it involve cranial vessel reformation?"
Sunburst shook his head quickly. "Thankfully nothing related to bloodflow. It's a less invasive but still delicate procedure on corrupted horn growths." He pointed up at his own horn. "The treatment is safest on younger unicorn foals, making it of questionable use to me specific--"
Moon suddenly grabbed his collar and yanked him forward and down. Her eye was dangerously close to his horn, her own glowing softly. He could feel her magic push into his horn without a moment's delay, prodding and feeling around. "Fascinating... So this is why your practice levels did not match your considerable research talents. I was always curious..."
Twilight separated the two with a glowing horn and spreading hooves, floating them apart a few feet. "Ask before you start throwing magic at a pony, Moon."
"Ah, yes, of course." She adjusted her glasses, glancing at Twilight. "Your horn grew in quite well, and has only improved with your princess status. Very long, very straight."
Sunburst laughed awkwardly. "Your horn is, uh, nice too."
"My horn is acceptably average," countered Moon. "It serves me well enough." She took a step towards Twilight. "So... it's over then?"
"What is?" Twilight tilted her head at her friend, eyes wandering over her.
"My fantasies." She put a hoof to her woolen covering. "They're officially weird now. I have to stop thinking about you, and him, that way. You two are a thing, so I would... be a bad pony to think about that."
Sunburst cleared his throat suddenly. "I mean... uh, yeah, kinda..."
"We could herd," suddenly blurted Moon Dancer. "I'll be the omega female. Twilight can be the alpha. I'd be alright with that. I'll study how to do it, promise. I know it's... barely done these days at all and ponies will talk, but who cares about them? We can study, together, and be together, just us and our books."
Twilight took half a step back away from her unraveling friend. Moon's eyes were trembling along with the rest of her. She was desperate, and Twilight could see that easily enough. But what could she say to deflate that awkward moment without further bashing Moon's delicate mental state. "Well, you see..."
Sunburst suddenly put a hoof on Moon's shoulder, looking her in the eye. "I know how you feel."
"How?! I very much doubt that." She frowned at the male she both hated and desperately wanted all at once, her emotions knotting tighter and tighter. "Please tell me how..."
"I regret my past quite a bit at times..." Sunburst hung his head a little, but kept his eyes on Moon Dancer. "I wondered how things might have gone, if I hadn't given up, run away from school. I wonder what life would have been if I had been born with a working horn... I... wondered so many things." He pointed his other hoof at Twilight. "But she told me something important."
Her eyes darted to Twilight and back to him. "What was that?"
"The life you have is worth holding on to. You can always make it better, but we can't walk backwards on life."
Moon Dancer nodded with painful stiffness. "Of course... I... Consider it? That would make life better, I think... Or not... Just tell me, or walk away, I guess... You could do that..."
Twilight held up a hoof. "One moment, please. We need to discuss this."
Moon Dancer was in no particular shape to really stop them. "Go ahead. I'll be here..."
"I will be back, promise." Twilight moved purposefully for the door, Sunburst at her side. They didn't share words until they had fled the building together.
Sunburst let out his breath once they were a few steps away. "That was not what I expected..."
"Nor I..." Twilight glanced towards the dilapidated hut. "But I made this, in part..."
"You made your decisions, she made hers." Sunburst reached out to poke Twilight right on the chest. "I know Starlight kinda... lost it for a while, but that was her decision, not mine."
"But you didn't throw her aside for having feelings." Twilight hiked a brow. "At least that's not how I heard it went down."
"She also didn't propose we make up for lost time by getting married." He lifted his shoulders. "Look, I'm not trying to talk bad about her. She's in pain, I get that. I want to help, but I do have to insist that this isn't your fault."
Twilight smiled timidly. "I know I could just say that, and it'd be mostly true... but that isn't really how I do things. Sunburst, why don't we invite her?"
Sunburst's ears went up with a widening of his eyes. "To herd?!"
"No! No, I mean, to visit, get out of this hut, be with us, not alone? Just as friends, nothing more." Twilight looked towards the house and the unicorn it contained. "She's probably really worried right now, half expecting us to just... walk away."
"A small part of me thinks that might not be a terrible idea... but we aren't like that." He sighed out that last bit with a half-smile. "Do you think it'll help?"
"I... don't know, but leaving her here to regret and wallow sure sounds bad." Twilight returned to the door they had fled from. With a raised hoof, she clopped on the door. It opened before she could come in for the second strike.
"Twilight! What a surprise!" There was Moon Dancer, freshened up with a false smile, clearly trying her best to look representable. Her glasses were curiously missing, and her hair was let down, looking like Twilight's, if in different colors. "How can I help you?"
Twilight canted her head at her partial doppelganger. "Moon Dancer... nice to see you?"
"Very nice." She glanced past Twilight at Sunburst and back. "So... you've made a decision?" She was smiling, full of hope, ready for misery.
Twilight held up a hoof in front of Moon's face. "Let's be clear from the start. You want to be with us, not with us."
Moon lifted an ear curiously, but didn't argue.
"Let's return to your initial... proposal." Twilight cleared her throat as she sat up tall. "If we did assemble a herd and you did accept an omega position, that would entail that you would not have any romantic involvement to begin with. While a member of the family, you would not reproduce. That is how omegas work."
She raised the same hoof again, putting it over Moon's mouth just as she was about to object. "However! In these enlightened days, we already have a position for someone who is family, but not that kind of family..."
"We do?" Sunburst had joined at her side, looking between the two mares.
"Of course." Twilight nodded firmly. "They're called friends, and far less often expected to reside at the bottom of the social totem pole."
Moon Dancer's jaw twitched softly before she shook her head. "I understand... You'll be going now? Have a safe trip," she sighed out in defeat.
Twilight set a hoof on Moon Dancer's shoulder. "Moon, would you care to come with us, as a friend? We could use another pair of eyes on our studies, and you'll get to see Ponyville, meet my other friends, who are also dear and treasured parts of our family, and maybe could become part of yours?"
Moon blinked softly, looking off balance. "You... mean--" She reached out a hoof of her own, but poked Twilight right on the nose instead of resting it anywhere. "Sorry, I really should get my glasses back on."
Sunburst drew the glasses over with a glowing horn. "Here you are." He gently set it on the mare's nose. "I think the idea sounds lovely. I never had the chance to meet you, as a pony. " He reached up, prompted to adjust his own glasses. "And her friends are great, a little overwhelming at first, but they grow on you."
"If... you say so. I mean that! Um..." She shrank back a little. "Let me get some things." She was gone, but for what seemed like just an instant, returning with a little bag slung over her back. "Ready."
Twilight smiled faintly. "First step, we meet the girls and finish today. After that, you get to meet my parents. I don't think you ever have met them before? Another thing to fix." She turned and began leading the way.
Sorrow had given way to hopeful futures.
That evening, Velvet and Night were surprised when three ponies returned instead of the two they expected. Velvet's eyes were on Moon Dancer, examining the mare. "Hello there, miss..."
"Dancer, ma'am." She dipped her head gently. "I'll be visiting with them." She pointed towards the couple. "Nice place." Her eyes were drawn to the various memorabilia, spending far more time looking at Twilight's keepsakes than Shining Armor's.
"Oh don't call me that." Velvet stuck out her tongue, watching the new mare. "I'm not old enough to accept that. I'm Twilight Velvet, but you can go with just Velvet, unless you want to confuse the other Twilight in the room."
"I'm Night Light, but Night's just fine," added her husband with an easy smile. "So you're a friend of theirs?"
Twilight quickly bobbed her head as she hopped up onto the couch. "I've known her since the school days."
"We were inseparable," sighed out Moon Dancer, forcing a smile. "It's nice to be here."
"Let's play a game." Night plucked out a box among many from a shelf. "Pastures and patties! It's been too long." He set it on the dining table. "Just the thing for while we wait for dinner to be done."
So the game was played. Sunburst and Moon Dancer both seemed intent on figuring out the right move statistically. Velvet gladly rushed ahead, taking whatever move struck her fancy without looking back. Night Light already had a plan, the paper it was on looking well-worn from many games. Twilight was the moderate for a change, considering each move briefly before pushing her piece along.
Night arrived at the goal first, but the game didn't end there. He seemed just as happy to watch everyone else race to get second place. His well-tested plan for victory was not to be toppled that day, but he didn't rub it in.
Sunburst and Moon Dancer were neck to neck for second place, each within three places of the other as they inched towards the end. The chance squares both of them had been avoiding. They seemed to be bad as often as good, and were hard to plan around.
Velvet had no such reservation, tripping over half of them on her meandering path. "Ooo, what did I get." She floated up a card from the top of the chance stack. "Switch places with the pony most ahead, huh." Suddenly Sunburst was in last place, and she was out in the lead. "Woo!"
The two older ponies wore the first and second place prizes, with Moon Dancer trotting in at third place. "That was fun." Velvet hopped to her hooves. "Let's check on dinner."
Moon willed her glasses off, cleaning them idly. "Excellently played. That was poor luck, not a lack of skill."
"You did good too, congratulations." He offered a hoof towards Moon. After a brief pause, she reached and their hooves met with a soft clop.
"Great game you two." Twilight was putting the game away, willing each piece back into the box exactly where it belonged. "But I'm ready for dinner. Is it ready?"
It was, and they ate, gathered around the same table with less games involved and more dinner plates. The food was tasty, but Velvet seemed to be paying less attention to her food. "Moon, I can't help but notice... you keep looking at them."
Moon went rigid, caught in the act.
"If you're a friend of Twilight, think of me as a mother."
Sun laughed softly at that. "You are eager to expand your collection of foals, Mom."
"Any day I can," she sang out with a grin. "Now out with it, Young Mare."
"Oh, well..." She brought up her hooves to rub against one another. "It's still... surprising, that they're an item."
"Oh don't even tell me about it." Velvet snorted softly. "I was quite shocked too, so I feel you there, girl." She patted Moon's shoulder, missing what other emotional knots the unicorn was facing. "They're both happy though, so let's be happy with them. Are you two getting eloped after this?"
Twilight and Sun both went a deep red instantly. She recovered first. "Mom! Why would I do that?"
"Carried away with the passions of youth?" Velvet grinned at her daughter. "Please invite your mother. She'd be really sad to miss that happy day."
"Mother... Really... Should that day arrive, you will all be informed long beforehoof so you can make proper travel arrangements." Twilight willed some food onto a fork, then to her mouth.
Moon Dancer suddenly chimed in, "Have you ever considered why we do that?"
"Do what?"
Moon Dancer pointed at the fork held in Twilight's magic. "Technically, nothing stops a unicorn from directly taking food in their magic and putting it in their mouth. It's not as if our magic could become dirty, or get dirt on our food. We literally gain nothing, directly, from the act."
Twilight frowned at her fork, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "Hmm..."
Sunburst raised a hoof suddenly. "I know! It's to fit in with other ponies."
Moon Dancer smiled with satisfaction. "That is part of it, but not all of it. It became a status symbol to have them, then a status symbol to have better ones. A fine set of china meant you were a unicorn of means, buying something you didn't strictly need. To a unicorn, they are one of our earliest luxury items."
"I've read about that," suddenly interjected Night Light. "They used to say different cutlery added different flavors to food, with suggestions like 'always use steel for pasta'." He laughed softly. "Mostly a bunch of phooey if you ask me, but it's good to plan these things out."
Some of the tension that had hung in the air gently broke, conversation starting to rise and fall more naturally. Moon Dancer had succeeded at wiggling her way into things, and the dinner finished without any odd events.
Then came bedtime. After-dinner drinks and chat over, both of Twilight's parents wished them a good rest, and went off towards their own bedroom. Twilight led the way towards her room. "It may be a little crowded today, but not as much as you'd fear. At one point, I shared this room with Shining before they got us seperate rooms. If I can manage with him, I'm sure the three of us will be fine." She willed the door open into the darkness, lightning a candle a moment later.
Moon Dancer stepped in with wide eyes, looking around the sacred and unknowable vault that held Twilight so long ago. She circled slowly in place, taking it all in with mute amazement.
"I looked the same way," admitted Sun with a smile. "It's something else, isn't it?"
The room was full of decorations from Twilight's fillyhood, a peek into that past that couldn't be seen otherwise.
Twilight was blushing at having ponies gaping at her old stuffed toys and things. "Enough of that, ahem. Let's get some sleep. We have a train to catch tomorrow."
They had gone to sleep, Twilight and Sunburst on the bed, Moon Dancer given a fluffy makeshift bed on the floor.
When they awoke, she was not there. She was curled up on the bed towards its base, their hooves just shy of touching her. Sunburst was the first to awaken and discover this, blinking softly in the gloomy room. He was confused at first just being in a strange room on awakening, but there was Twilight.
She was a calming presence, a smile on his face before he sat up and his back hooves brushed against something warm and soft. "Huh?" He magicked over his glasses onto his face, squinting at the lump that slowly resolved into being a sleeping Moon Dancer.
She rolled over in place, her eyes open. "I hope I didn't startle you."
"Oh, um, no... but why are you on the bed... with us?" He moved to slide to the floor with a soft clop. "There was barely any room."
"It was better..." She sat up, eyes on him, though glancing towards Twilight. "May I be honest?"
"Please."
"I am incredibly jealous... Not in the 'ha ha ha, let's plan some stupid revenge' kind of jealous. I'm not... that dumb..." She rubbed at her cheek a moment before she hopped down just in front of Sunburst. "Just, you know, what I could have done, but didn't... Don't you have those kinds of regrets?"
"Too many to count," half-laughed out Sunburst, a little smile on his face. "Hey, look, we can't change the past, but we really are in the middle of a big project, and I really think you'll enjoy being a part of it."
Moon inclined an ear to the side before perking both up, studying him a moment. "On a level of 1 to 10, how complex would you place this endeavor?"
"10 for comprehension," easily admitted the stallion. "The actual process.... 8-9? Mostly in the 'how do we do this in a way that won't kill or maim ponies' way. I mean, we could wipe all horn spurs from existence if we wanted, but not with any good results to those carrying them."
Moon rubbed along her chin with the flat of a hoof. "You rate the comprehension higher? Fascinating... I'm pretty good at deciphering text." She set her hoof down and stood up. "We'll figure this out."
With a growing smile, he pat her shoulder. "Fantastic, good to have you on board."
"We'll find a solution in no time," came a sudden new voice, Twilight leaning over the side of the bed, looking at the two of them with a bright smile. "With Team Celestial, how can we fail?!"
Moondancer tilted her head. "Team Celestial?"
Sunburst got it with a smile. "We're all named for celestial things. We have Twilight, Sunburst, and Moon Dancer. Day, night, and what comes between."
Moondancer looked between Twilight and Sunburst. "That... describes the situation far too uncannily. I do not usually subscribe to the idea of a forced destiny, but this makes me reconsider... Thank you, both of you. Let's put our intellect to work."
Their hooves met in a three way bumping. It was time to start the day. Showers were had, breakfast was eaten. Parents were said goodbye to with warm hugs all around.
The trio made good time through the city, only pausing to buy tickets at the station. "Don't even worry about it," assured Twilight as she purchased all three for them. "This is our idea, we're not going to make you pay for the ride."
Soon they were on the train. They didn't get a private car, instead just sitting with everypony else. Sunburst and Twilight were side by side, with Moon across from them. Sun was watching the scenery as they descended the mountain. "You know, a small part of me wonders what the odds are each time, you know, of the train just careening off the tracks while we're this high up."
Twilight nudged him with a snort. "That isn't going to happen."
"Not technically true." Moon adjusted her glasses much as Sunburst had the habit of doing. "According to historical data, there is a 0.2% chance of that event occurring, working entirely on a probability basis on how many times it's actually happened."
They were both staring at her, a little stunned. "What? An average of 500 trains passes over these tracks without incident. Safety measures usually minimize the injuries on the 500th train. I can only recall one incident that had the train actually make the entire trip from the tracks to the ground." She pointed a hoof down at the ground so very far below them.
Twilight swallowed heavily. "Oh, well... that's good at least... Let's hope we're not train #500." She and Sun leaned in closer, sharing in their short-lived fear of crashing train cars.
Thankfully, the train did not have an unkind experience with gravity that day. They made it to Ponyville, all their hooves where they should be.
Only Moon has anything to carry with her, and it was just the bag she had at her side, so they departed the train smoothly when it arrived, spilling out with the other ponies onto the station platform.
"Twilight!" came an excited cry, Pinkie waving wildly. "Over here!"
Twilight smiled at her excited friend. "You're not that far away. I can see you. Pinkie, this is--"
"Moon Dancer, we've met." Pinkie thrust a hoof out towards Moon and it was met in a soft clop.
"Ah, right, I forgot. That's one friend down. She's going to be stay--"
"--I'm on the case!" Pinkie saluted and dashed off so fast a pony-shaped cloud was left behind.
Sunburst chuckled softly as he walked towards the exit. "You'll be getting a party shortly, be ready for that."
"She made fast friends with my other compatriots." Moon followed after Sunburst, Twilight after her. "I expect the same level of extroversion."
Twilight gave a single powerful 'Ha'. "She makes Minuette look like a shut-in at times."
Moon perked an ear back at Twilight. "How do you survive?"
Sun stepped to the side, holding open a door with his horn. "She makes really good cake."
"Ah." As if that explained the great balance that was in effect. Together, the trio ascended up towards the castle two of them had started from. "So this is yours? It's.... big."
Sun nodded in agreement with Moon. "My thoughts exactly."
Twilight blushed softly as she approached the doors. "I didn't get to choose how big it was, it just... happened. She willed the door open. "Spike, Starlight? We're back!"
Moondancer trotted up with the others, entering the crystal palace. "Oh, are those your things?"
There was their luggage, stacked just inside the door.
Twilight rolled her eyes. "I had hoped somepony would put them away, but that works." She whisked her luggage away with a pop of magic. "Spike? Hmm. Oh! Today's a school day. Those two are busy being responsible and here I am, shouting for them."
Moon glanced in the direction of the school. "Ah, yes. I would like to visit that."
"You could guest-lecture, if you're feeling up for it." Twilight trotted towards the kitchen at an easy pace. "I'm sure you're full of interesting facts the students would love to hear."
Moon tried to hide the flinch that came on her. "I'm not... I don't have a syllabus ready."
"It's ok." Sun bumped into her from the side. "Once you do it once, it comes naturally, honest."
"If you say so..." She scurried after Twilight. "This looks homey..." The kitchen was downright cozy compared to the cool crystals of what she had seen. "I don't normally think of decorations, but this is nice."
Twilight turned away from her fridge back towards Moon. "You can thank my friends for that. They really went out of their way to make the castle more like home. The kitchen is one of the bright points for sure."
Sun did not enter, grabbing a banana from outside, floating along in his magic. "Did you want to see what we're working on?"
"Please." She set her bag aside casually. "That is why I'm here." None of the three were sure that was the only reason she was there, but it certainly was the reason they were going with.
"It's a real horn-bender, written in contrary debate thesis format." Twilight closed the fridge and trotted out with an apple, chewing on it as she walked.
"Ooo, a classic," Moon agreed as she followed. "Especially popular with authors that are unsure themselves of what results to draw from their research." She began to ascend the stairs towards the book with the others around her. "Though it did see limited popularity when writing about politically sensitive topics, where having a clear opinion for or against a given topic could result in a pony being jailed, or worse."
Sun shook his head as he climbed, the banana reduced to a peel. "I don't think there are too many political rammifications here."
"I disagree." Moon didn't slow or stop as she argued. "This is a book that says that magic is not simply a matter of 'good breeding' or 'bad breeding', but can be acted on and addressed, making a pony better at it after the fact. The idea could have been seen as quite controversial at certain times of history."
Twilight raised a hoof to her chin as she walked. "I hadn't considered it from that angle before. You could be onto something there. I'm already glad we brought you in." With a smile, she opened a door with her magic. "Here is our project room."
Moon advanced past Twilight, examining the room critically. "Mmm." She saw the book, the massive tome that had defined their life for the last few months. "Oh. This is a big one." She approached more cautiously, as if stalking the book. "You've made considerable effort." It wasn't hard for her to see the heavy bookmark that noted where they left off.
Sun closed the door behind them. "It's been a passion project for a while, yes. We have one technique published and being tried on actual ponies, but we aren't done. We could find better ways that can help more ponies with this issue."
Moon looked up sharply at Sun. "You didn't finish and you published?! That's... reckless... to say the least."
Twilight raised a hoof. "I will accept the responsibility. It's only applicable to foals, but it seems like a real winner for them at least, if they are diagnosed early enough. The trick is requiring that they be diagnosed, which is far from assured... Some ponies just mature into magic later, and that's perfectly normal."
Sunburst bobbed his head. "That's what my mother thought, even as she sent me off to school... That I'd 'get better' as I practiced more and more. Um, well, I guess I did, a little... but..."
Twilight crossed to him quickly, setting a hoof on his shoulder. "You are an amazing wizard, Sunburst. Let's finish figuring out how to make you an even better one."
Moon swiveled an ear off to the side. "That lines up with what I had observed of you..." Her wandering eyes spotted a paper and she willed it up into view. "Is this you?" She was holding the diagram of Sunburst's horn, spurs nakedly visible. "Fascinating..."
"Speaking of that. If you would sit down, I'd like to add your horn to the collection." When Moon's eyes widened, Twilight laughed. "I just mean a drawing, like this. I promise your horn will be entirely unharmed."
"Oh, of course." She blushed softly at her foalish misunderstanding. "When you're ready." She sat down lightly. "What is the average time to completion?"
Sun shrugged lightly. "It took us about five minutes? But Twilight's had practice now, maybe a little less?"
"I'm already on it." With a glowing horn, she began to explore Moon's horn, a new paper with a fresh quill starting to fill out with an interior view of Moon's horn.
Soon a new drawing appeared, scribed faithfully in Twilight's magic. It resembled her own horn, in variety and precision, with no spurs of maladies in sight. It was the horn of a pony that could perform great spells, with the proper training and will.
Sunburst stroked along his beard as he studied it. "With a horn like that, why aren't you using it more often?"
Moon darkened, a blush growing rapidly. "I like studying..."
Twilight shook her head as she turned to face the large tome. "And you're very good at it, and we're about to do that, but you like casting spells too. You don't fool me."
"I like new ones," mumbled the mare on the spot. "So... shall we begin?"
Her horn-picture was added to the others and they all gathered around the book to resume reading. With a dramatic turning to the next page, eyes began to sweep over it. "Mmm... This is dense," agreed Moon. "I see what you mean, but far from impossible..."
"Not impossible," agreed Sun. "We've made it this far, it just takes time."
Later, Spike peeked his head into the room to see the three unicorns squished up against one another, all three reading from the same book in quiet. He vanished for a time, returning with a kettle of tea, cups, and a small collection of cookies that he set down beside them.
They didn't even notice until the scents penetrated their occupied minds. Perhaps least used to the scent of a Spike cookie, Moon was the first to stir. "Mm? Oh, hello, Spike."
"Hey, don't forget to drink something." He poured out a cup and held it out towards her on a saucer. She took it even as the others began to stir. Soon all three of them were sipping and dipping their cookies, taking a needed break from their studies.
Moon pointed at Sun's horn suddenly. "As fascinating as deciphering this is, why have we not attempted to actually discover the solution instead of hoping somepony did it before us?"
Sun covered his horn ineffectively with a hoof, glancing about. Twilight shook her head. "There is no risk in reading a book. If we try to fix Sunburst, things could go wrong. Then again, Mister Impatient there did try doing it the fast way once."
He laughed nervously at that. "Yeah... The table stopped us."
"Table? Ah, you mentioned that." She clopped her forehooves together. "That is in this castle too, isn't it? I'd like to see that, when we're done here."
Sunburst set his cup aside, mostly drained. "I still don't know how a table can do that, but magic can be a bit crazy sometimes. Shall we resume?"
As they reached the end of each page, the debate began, with Moon playing the middle ground between the two extremes offered by the book. They began to progress with an almost joy of discovery and shared work.
With another solid tenth of the book burned through, they sat back, tired and a bit hungry. Twilight wobbled a hoof. "Her theories on why the malady came about are charmingly out of date. I think it's safe to ignore that part of things."
Moon and Sun both nodded in easy agreement. Ponies had a better grasp on how traits were passed on from parent to foal then they had back then. Moon tapped lightly at the open page. "On the other hoof, I really want to finish this section. Using the moon as a focus? Is that possible for any pony save perhaps Luna?"
Sun shook his head. "I couldn't say, but I am just as curious." He stood up and began to stretch. "But that's for tomorrow. For now, let's get something to eat."
Unknown to them, they had not stirred themselves from studying on their own. When they descended, the smell of food became stronger, beckoning their hungry bodies to the table where Spike's prepared feast awaited them.
Starlight was already there, talking with him with a smile. "--gonna bring the new pony there, maybe tomorrow?"
"Nah, give it a week at least," argued Spike with a dismissive wave of a hand.
Starlight noticed the others joining and her eyes went to Moon. "So, visiting, I hear?"
Moon quirked an ear. "I hadn't--"
Starlight pointed past the new mare. "You left your bags in the entry hall, we connected the dots."
"Oh." She glanced back where the bag had been, but appeared to no longer be. Climbing up onto a seat, she peered across at Starlight. "Where is it now?"
"In your room, of course." Starlight smirked faintly. "You are just precious. So what's your name?"
"That's Moon Dancer," helpfully provided Spike, hiking a thumb at her.
"Moon Dancer, how lovely." Starlight leaned forward, head touching her hooves. "But Twilight and Sun went to spread the news, not gather recruits. How did they end up with you?"
Twilight tensed with a nervous laugh. "Well, you see, she's also an expert in magical research."
"She's already been helping," added Sunburst.
"And that has almost nothing to do with it," flatly countered Starlight with a cocked brow. "You three look dangerously nervous, so spare me the drama and just tell me the drama. I'd rather not stumble over it."
Moon glanced at the others before letting out a soft breath. "Alright, I'll say. These two--" She gestured a hoof at Twilight and Sunburst. "--have become romantically involved. I hav--had feelings for them both and was... somewhat... shamefully poor at hiding that fact. Now I'm here because they feel bad for me."
Spike put up his hands. "Enjoy dinner." He hopped down and flapped away, rather than staying for that particular conversation.
Starlight had a brow raised at Moon, studying her quietly a moment. "And you feel... exactly how?"
"Like I'm the third wheel on a perfectly good bicycle." Moon sagged a bit in place. "But I'm enjoying my visit. and wish to complete our work."
Starlight rolled her hooves slowly. "Very good. We're getting somewhere here. So what is it you want to do?"
"Um..." Moon glanced at the other two that were staring at her. "Well... I would like to find the answer to Sunburst's problem, as a friend, to them both." She licked over her lips. "And maybe when this is over, I'll go up to some ponies I thought about and... tell them how I feel."
A new cup floated over, with chocolate inside, hot and steaming, a bit of marshmallow floating in it. "Very good! I had a feeling you knew what needed to be done."
Twilight blinked owlishly at the exchange. "Did you... just fix that?"
"You made me the school counselor," she retorted in a dry snap. "I learned a thing or two." Her smile returned, bright and cheerful. "Now, you two. No hard feelings?"
"No! No... I would be delighted to have you with us while we finish this." Sunburst bobbed his head. "And I hope you find a pony at least half as amazing as you are."
Twilight shook a hoof quickly. "No objections here. Moon Dancer, as a friend, you will always have me. I apologize, again, for being such a lousy one before."
Moon Dancer suddenly thumped Twilight on the head. "You were more than that," she hissed before sighing. "But that's in the past, I get that. I do... Let's solve this thing, for his sake, and so many others. Then I'll just have to... go say hello to ponies in a new way."
Starlight pointed across at Twilight. "She has a literal book on romance. She used it to hitch up with Sunburst."
Twilight went red rapidly, but did not argue the fact.
"Would you be willing to lend it?" Moon turned in her seat to face Twilight fully. "After reading that, I imagine I would be far more confident."
Twilight put a hoof behind her head, laughing nervously. "Starlight knows a great book copying spell, we could both have a copy without a problem."
"That sounds like permission," sang Starlight, vanishing.
Sunburst laughed softly. "That's our Starlight, um... Are you actually feeling better?"
"No! I mean, not entirely..." She worried her hooves together. "But the way you talk. The way you walk... It's really kind of obvious. I've read enough romance novels to know where I would fit in, at best as the awkward friend." She raised a hoof to her chest. "I'd... rather be a real one that you don't groan when she walks into the room."
"That doesn't change our promise." Twilight set a hoof on her shoulder. "We're here for you, as friends, and as coworkers. We have a mystery to solve."
"Yes!" Moon extended a hoof and soon two others came in to tap against it. They were unified behind their purpose. They would solve that disease, one way or another.
Food was devoured eagerly and they climbed back to the study room. With thoughts of romance dispelled for the moment, the tension that had been there was lifted, allowing them to focus on the work in front of them and press even further into the tome.
Moon tapped at the book. "Why not use the elements?" That section was arguing the merits of even trying to use such rare and potentially untrue artifacts. "I know you have them."
"I used to." Twilight pointed off towards the Everfree. "The Tree of Harmony has them back, and I don't have the right to go taking it back."
"A shame..." The reading continued, that idea tossed aside.
When study time was over, they dispersed, but twilight set a hoof on Sun's shoulder. "One moment." She looked around, making sure they were alone. "I want you to come with me."
"Are we star gazing?" He followed Twilight curiously, but they didn't go up to where the telescope was. They went to Twilight's room. "What can we study here?"
"The breeding habits of the average unicorn," stated Twilight in dry analytical tones. "It's quite the challenging series, I hear. Care to study it together?"
Sun began to turn bright colors. "O-oh! I mean... I would be delighted?" With a false smile of nervousness, he followed her into her room, and they applied equal rigor to determining the nuance of that new friend of knowledge.
Moon Dancer's eyes swept left to right over the crisp new text of the book. It held no secrets to remedying horn maladies. It held no great society-changing whispers.
It could maybe change her world as much as any of those things. She brought her bushy brows together, silently mouthing along with the words a moment before rewinding and going over them again. Who knew the socialization process had so many rules?
Still, having it laid out like that... She made a mental note to thank Twilight, for having the book, and Starlight for pointing her towards it. She set the book down, tapping at it with a hoof gently. There was nothing to do but... put theory into practice. She would have to walk up to a pony, preferably one that matched her ideal characteristics, and say hello.
Mare or stallion. She reached up, brushing her taped glasses aside to rub at her face. She knew more mares than stallions, which meant she knew more mares that met her desirable characteristics. That was simple math. A larger sample size was sure to cause that.
She deflated suddenly with a weary sigh. For all her thoughts, she actually didn't know many ponies of either sex. She had her close friends in Canterlot, a few escapees in Ponyville, and all the rest were, at best, acquaintances. Twilight and Sunburst, clearly, were already disqualified. Hay, she'd tried that negotiation and it hadn't gone well, no...
She blinked softly, realizing something. "There is a stallion." There was one male she knew. He was kind, caring, understanding, and ready to support her. It was a male that didn't mind that she studied a lot, and was already accustomed to that. He knew how to cook and clean and do lots of things she wasn't actually very good at.
He was also... young. Too young? She frowned as she stood up, adjusting her glasses into proper position. There was only one way to find out.
"I wish to court Spike." She looked across the desk at Starlight. "Please advise me."
Starlight nudged a cup of steaming cocoa over towards Moon Dancer. "And what brought this... idea on?"
Moon's horn glowed as she lifted the cup for a soft sip. "It's logical. He knows me. I know him. He's already used to the company of a female engrossed with study. We're friends, and I don't care that he's a dragon. I feel we could become more compatible, with time and effort."
"Well... alright, but you know he's a baby dragon, right?" Starlight hiked a brow. "Not that I'm judging! Just bringing up the facts."
"He is no longer a baby dragon," countered Moon, an image appearing against the wall, showing the life stages of a dragon. "He started as an infant." She pointed at where the chubby-cheeked little wyrmling was just emerging from the egg. "Then became a child, not a baby." She moved on to where a young dragon ambled around on two legs, about Spike's size. "But then, and this is the important part, they leave this stage behind with a very clear physical change."
She drew a magic circle around her magic image, highlighting the new wings of the dragon in the next phase. "He is now a young adult. A 'teenager', if you wish to phrase it another way."
"You are not a teenaged mare," pointed out Starlight, sipping from her own cup. "You are very much an adult. You've made it through school and pursue a career."
"He's very mature for his age..." Moon glanced at Starlight, the image on the wall fading away. "Am I being foolish again? You were very... blunt before, and I appreciate that. Be blunt, tell me."
"Well... alright." She set her mug down. "I think you're... a little desperate."
"Are you saying Spike couldn't be an ideal partner?"
"No! No... He's a wonderful dragon, and a fantastic friend." She smiled gently. "But he's still growing, learning who he is. He has moments of... wisdom, it's true, but he's still a kid under that, and he deserves that. We all deserve a chance to be kids."
Moon Dancer sagged a little, worrying her forehooves together. "Has he not shown... interest in mares yet?"
"Only one specific mare," sighed out Starlight. "That just can't end well..."
Moon sat up, ears focused on Starlight with sudden focus. "Hm? What mare?"
"Ugh, he's smitten with a unicorn, Rarity. She doesn't return the affection, at all, but it hasn't slowed him down. He keeps hoping, and she keeps casually walking all over him. Sometimes I just want to scream!" Starlight threw up her hooves before realizing what she was doing. "Um, not that we're here to talk about that. Let's refocus on you."
"If I were to return his affections, would it be less or more healthy than this one-sided infatuation with Rarity?" asked Moon, calculations almost visible in her nerdish eyes.
Star thumped her head against her desk. "I... suppose that would be healthier, a little, if it meant he moved on."
"Excellent." She brought her hooves together with a joyful clop. "What are the qualities in Rarity he seems to admire the most?"
"Honestly, sometimes I'm not sure. I think it may be a purely physical thing. He just likes the way she looks. Don't get me wrong, any good relationship is made better when both sides like the way the other side looks. I mean you'll be looking at them a lot, it only makes sense... but it's kind of shallow for that to be the only real attraction."
"Shallow... but exploitable." She hopped down from her chair. "Excuse me, and thank you. You have been a fantastic help."
Starlight watched Moon Dancer leave, considering how she could have handled that better. "At the very least... this promises to be interesting to watch."
"It's open," called Rarity as she ran her sewing machine, working steadily. "Welcome, darling, to..." She glanced over and saw the frumpy unicorn known as Moon Dancer entering. "Oh, hello there. You're Twilight's friend, aren't you?"
Moon Dancer looked towards the voice and began the study Rarity intently from ears to hooves and back and forth. "Mmm."
Rarity blushed softly and tittered, raising a hoof over her snout as her machine slowed to a stop. "Dear me, you shouldn't stare like that. You'll make a mare nervous. How can I help you today?"
Moon pointed at Rarity's mane. "What conditioner do you use?"
Rarity blinked in surprise. "Oh, well, there's a question nopony usually asks. You want to try a new style?" She hopped down to her hooves and trotted towards Moon. "Mmm, yes, you could use a little touching up. You're not letting your inner beauty shine, dear. I know exactly who could help."
"You do?" She raised one of her shaggy brows high. "I assume you groom yourself?"
"What a curious way of phrasing that, but most days, yes." Rarity nodded with confidence.
"I would like to learn that." She pointed at Rarity's mane, then back at the white unicorn's tail. "Would you show me how to style my hair in a pleasing fashion?"
"How adorable!" Rarity suddenly grabbed Moon, one hoof to either cheek and squeezing. "Twilight's little bookish friend wants to copy me? How can I say no to that? Now, I should warn, it takes constant effort to be this fabulous." She tossed her mane and fluttered her lashes.
Moon took a step away, freeing herself from the grip, as well-meaning as it was. "I am ready to begin. Let us start with the necessary ingredients."
"Ingredients? Oh! Yes, of course." She floated over a book and began to take quick notes. "You did ask about that conditioner, but shampoo is also vitally important." She ripped free the page and offered it towards Moon. "Here you are. Get this together and I'll show you how to treat your mane and tail as they should be." She suddenly lashed out a hoof, knocking the hairband that held up Moon's mane away quite suddenly. "And lose that."
Moon's mane fell down in a sheet, becoming quite Twilight-like in appearance. "I see..."
"Oh dear, you really do take after her..." She tapped her chin softly. "I'll bear that in mind for the lessons. Go, prepare, and we shall begin!"
Moon was already reading over the list of ingredients needed to make the shampoo and conditioner. "I'll be back," she promised, distracted as she wandered from the store, already planning on where to get what she needed.
"Lunar convergence," breathed out Sunburst, rubbing behind his head. "To think... We used to have the answer, but we abandoned it."
"It's fascinating," agreed Twilight with a bobbing of her head. "When Luna took over the role of raising the moon, the rituals involved with moving it fell to the wayside. If not for the Canterlot Archives, it could very well have been entirely forgotten." She pointed up at the city far above. "But I know there are copies there."
"Yes, but... I would never have guessed this." He tapped at the heavy book. "Apparently this used to be a less frequent disease, not because of a lower occurrence rate, but because ponies with it were often assigned to moon raising duties, which would cure them of the malady, or kill them."
Twilight huffed softly. "Not a solution we can suggest as a global cure, but it is one we can mediate far more easily than what we were trying with you and Starlight. There is a snag, however."
"Hm?"
"Both the sun raising and moon raising rituals must be performed with multiple unicorns working in concert." She tapped her forehooves. "And it's very draining. Doing it over and over again is how unicorns would lose their magic, forever. Thankfully, we should only need to do it once or twice, but we would need other ponies willing to take this effort on with you."
"How many to do the moon?" He knew it took a full circle to get the sun to move. "I mean, we have you, right?"
"Wrong." She shook her head. "If I was involved, I would overwhelm your effort, do most of the work, and you wouldn't be cured."
"Which rules out Starlight too, I imagine?"
"Precisely."
Sunburst stroked his beard, considering the matter quietly. "Why not... others who have the same condition? They would likely have about the same level of raw power, limited by the condition itself. They'd be personally invested in doing it right, so they aren't likely to balk." He adjusted his glasses. "But do we have a list of such ponies, considering we've only just started diagnosing it?"
"Sounds like a project!" Twilight hopped up from sitting to standing. "Now that we know what to look for, we can put out a call to unicorns that feel their magic is impeded to have a quick check." She nodded with building confidence. "We'll isolate the ones that have this condition, and have the ponies we need to give this a real try."
Sun leaned over and suddenly kissed Twilight on the cheek. "You are breathtaking when you're excited, but let's not forget to warn them of the risks and challenges. I don't want any pony going into this blind."
"Yes, of course." She was blushing softly from the kiss, the two not used to each other's affections enough to avoid it. "I'll get to work on a flyer and we'll see who we get."
Together, they trotted off to get started. "By the way." Sun glanced over. "We should, you know, get permission from Luna to take over moon moving duties for a day or two."
"I'm sure she'd appreciate the break." Twilight shrugged softly. "She deserves one anyway."
A long line of unicorns jutted out of the castle. Just about any unicorn that felt they were not powerful 'enough' had responded.
"Trixie?" Twilight raised a brow at the showmare being among the number. "You've mastered at least a few advanced spells, or so Starlight informed me. Why would you think you may have a horn malfunction?"
Trixie brushed a hoof against her front softly. "Because Trixie is meant to be Great and Powerful, and she is sure she could be more of both of those. If there's even a small chance of that, she owes it to her fans to explore that opportunity. Now, are you going to help me or not?"
Twilight rolled her eyes. "This is to cure a very specific condition. For sake of argument, and harmony, we'll go ahead and do an imaging. Please stay still." Her magic wrapped around Trixie as a sketch began to form, showing the interior of Trixie's horn. "We're looking for spurs, horny bumps on the inside of the horn that impede magic."
Trixie stuck out her tongue with a distasteful noise. "I would hope Trixie has none of those."
"I doubt you do," agreed Twilight before slapping up the drawing. "Perfectly healthy." It wasn't as precise as her own, but it was free of obvious deformations. "You have a future of unimpeded magic use ahead of you. Enjoy that blessing."
"She shall!" She stepped down from her chair and started for the door. "Good luck with... whatever this is."
The next pony wandered in. "Mister Cake, welcome." The day promised to be full of surprises. "Sit right here and we'll have a peek. This procedure will only work for a specific medical malady." It only occurred to her as her horn lit up that there was no horn hiding under his hat. He was an earth pony.
"Hello... Twilight." He glanced back. "I actually wanted you to make sure Pumpkin Cake was alright." He casually drew his daughter free from a saddlebag where she squealed with joy.
Twilight blinked owlishly. "Oh, certainly. You could have brought her to the hospital for a checkup, they know what to look for now, and can offer treatment if need be." She raised a hoof to gently pet Pumpkin's cheek. "Hello there. Now stay still for me."
She soon had a map of the little filly's horn, but she was also healthy. "So far so good, but the disease most often becomes noticeable when she becomes a yearling, thereabouts. Regular checkups at the hospital will detect and correct the issue."
"Thank you." He drew his daughter back, kissed her beside her horn, then tucked her right back in the bag she had come from. "You're doing good work."
Twilight waved as he departed, the next pony coming in. "This is going to take a while..."
Moon Dancer ran a brush held in her magic through her tail, curled and treated to look quite similar to Rarity's. She looked in the mirror, her lashes long and brows worked down to fine lines instead of the bushy messes she usually sported. Her mane was styled much like the tail, completing the look. All she was missing were the colors, and she opted to leave that be.
"My colors won't change... if he can't admire me with my normal colors... maybe it wasn't meant to be." She drew a figurative line in the sand that she would not back past. With a slow breath, she stood up and put her tools away. "I'm as ready as I will ever be."
She trot out of her room, the one she was borrowing from Twilight, and began dragon hunting. A brave and storied career, she'd read in books. Ponies that thought they could survive such battles, throwing themselves at huge dragons.
Her dragon would be much smaller, and less likely to burn her to a crisp, or bite her leg off. But he could bite her heart in half. Was that better? It was arguably worse, she decided. She had her own dragon to slay, but if it worked, the dragon would enjoy being defeated.
She spied her target, working on lunch in the kitchen. It appeared to be more than one pony's serving size. He was working to provide for all the ponies that lived in the castle. She smiled softly, considering it. He was a nice person, working to keep everyone happy and healthy. He deserved a little affection in return, and not just from Twilight, who was family.
Moon Dancer slipped in and approached Spike at a slow pace, unable to force herself to go any faster. "Did someone ask you to make lunch?"
"Huh? Nah." He hadn't turned around, so he had no idea she was done up. "If I don't remember, they might forget, and we don't want a bunch of super hungry ponies." He grabbed the serving platter and turned then. With a surprised yelp, he dropped it, but the platter did not reach the ground, held in Moon's magic. "Moon Dancer?" His cheeks had turned a cheery pink instantly.
She gently set the tray back on the counter. "That can wait a moment. Spike, I wish to speak with you. Is that alright?"
"Uh, yeah, sure." He worried his fingers together, looking her over, eyes darting from her mane to her tail and back again. "Did you... do something with your mane? Looking good."
Moon smiled at that. It was rare she was complimented on her appearance. "Thank you. I... did this, for you."
"For me?!" He hopped back, bumping into the counter he had just been working at.
Moon gently plucked him up and set him down in the open as she circled so she wasn't trapping him against the counter. "Spike, I have considered the pros and cons and I would like to date you. Are you open to attempting this relationship?"
Spike blinked slowly, like a deer caught in the headlights. Never had someone just... asked that so bluntly. Was that even allowed? Should he have tried that himself?
"It's alright if you are not," Moon addended. "I understand that you are still learning yourself, but if you allow me, I would be delighted to learn with you. I will attempt to support you as well as you have supported Twilight and the girls."
Spike slowly raised a finger. "Hold on a moment... Wait, let me get this right... You--" He waved at her wildly. "Want to date me?" He waved the same hand over himself.
"Is that so wrong?" Moon Dancer sat on her haunches and began to tap her hooves together. "You're brave. You're kind. You're smart. You're empathetic. You're great in the kitchen and you show sincere care about those around you."
Spike grabbed his tail and began to wring it nervously. "I... Uh... we're being totally honest right now, right?"
"Please." She nodded softly, her magic adjusting her glasses.
"I... used to have the biggest crush on you."
Moon's cheeks warmed. "You did?!"
"Uh... yeah..." He squeezed his tail for support. "You were kind of just like Twilight, but not, you know, Twilight, so... Oh sheesh I must sound stupid."
"No, there is a certain amount of logic to that." She raised a hoof to her chin. "It is not uncommon to be attracted to certain characteristics of role models of the preferred sex." Spike blinked owlishly at her. "It's normal," she repeated with a little smile. "Are you... not crushed anymore?"
"I... thought I was, you know, past it. I mean, we moved here." He waved grandly over Ponyville though it wasn't visible from inside the castle. "And then, you know, Rarity, and..." His eyes darted to her swaying Rarity tail. "Who... you've met?"
"She gave me some grooming tips." Moon reached a hoof forward. "Would you like to try dating? I promise to accept you as an equal as we both learn from the experience."
Spike's blush grew suddenly worse. "Um. I'd better get these out." He released his tail and moved to grab the platter. "Let me think about it!"
Moon did not stop him from fleeing, as much as some of her wanted to do just that. She was the larger pony, she reminded herself, the older pony. She had to respect his autonomy. If they started their relationship with her giving the orders, it would never work out in any healthy way.
Besides, he got enough of that with Twilight. She let out a small breath. That could have gone much worse than it had, she consoled herself silently. "Now is not the time to give up..."
Sunburst inclined an ear towards the hoity toity pony before him. "Nice to see you, Fancy Pants."
"Good to be seen, old chap." He smiled gently. "It's been some time since last you were in Canterlot. Good of you to be involved in such noble endeavors."
"Thank you, Sir. Let's take a peek." With a glowing horn, he got to sketching out the interior of his horn. Like Twilight, he was getting faster with practice, but he wasn't as fast as she was. Still, the two of them working was faster than her alone. "Have you had magical issues before?"
"That's hard to ascertain, I'm afraid. I never learned much in the way of magic, nor had need to." He kept himself still for the analyzing magic to work. "I'd rather know, and since you've kindly offered that opportunity, how could I refuse?"
"Excellently put." Sunburst pointed to the sketch of Fancy Pants' horn. There they were, spurs. "I wasn't... expecting that, but--"
"--Oh dear." He put a hoof to his mouth, peering at the sketch. "I trust from your reaction that this isn't what it should look like."
Sunburst pulled out a few other sketches of healthy ponies and set them up to compare. "The interior structures can take on quite a few different shapes, and that's normal, but the protrusions are what we aim to handle. They impede the flow of magic, and you have them. Would you be willing to work with us? It should cure you of it at the same time."
"Well, it's what I came here to do. What are the risks, if there are any?" He stroked at his chin with a hoof, studying the different drawings.
"It will require effort, and we will do our best to minimize any risks, but we can't assure safety, only maximize it. We, you, me, and any other ponies that are found, will have to raise the moon a few times under careful observation."
His monocle fell free from his face as he startled back. "Raise the moon?! My word... I know they used to do such things, but I never thought... Can we do that?" He pointed at his own sketch. "With this, in particular?"
Sunburst rubbed behind his head. "We'll give it our best shot. I'll be there, with you. Twilight and Starlight will be observing and ready to alleviate any complications."
"Good mare, Princess Twilight. Alright, if she's behind this, I feel confident enough. I'll arrange for local housing while you finish your examinations." He rose to his hooves. "Thank you, once more, for doing this. Very good." He dipped his head towards Sunburst and moved to trot from the room and summon the next in line.
Sunburst shook his head slowly. "Disease knows not social standing, I suppose..." He would have never guessed Fancy Pants of all ponies. The only stranger would have been one of the alicorn princesses, but they all worked their magic without issue.
"Oh, hello there little colt."
Snips smiled up at Sunburst looking quite nervous. "Look, um... my friend is really good at magic, but I can't hardly get nothing done... Am I broken?"
"You are not broken," quickly retorted Sunburst with a flare of emotions. "Whatever we find, you are not broken... You may have an issue, and we'll fix it, but you, as a pony, are fine."
Snips seemed a little more relaxed, and the examination could begin.
She folded her wings as she landed. "Princess Luna?" It wasn't normal for her to be bid to land on somepony's balcony like that, but that is what Luna had asked for. "Are you there?" She dared not press past the fabric that seperated the balcony from the interior.
Luna stepped from behind the cloth, her own wings unfurled, height at its maximum. "What a curious missive I received."
"Oh?" Twilight tilted her head a little, oblivious to the power pose being given to her. "What was it about?"
"It would appear somepony thinks they can do my job for me, as if I were incapable." Her fore-right hoof pawed at the ground with clear agitation.
Twilight's eyes went wide. "Oh, no! I didn't mean that!"
"Then what did'st though mean? We thought better of you!" The scowl on her face made Twilight wither back against the rail of the balcony.
"It's for medical purposes, to help ponies!" she squeaked, pointing a hoof out between the railings down towards Ponyville. "It will only be a few nights, I assure."
"What manner of 'medical purpose' requires the assumption of mine duties?" Luna set a metal-clad hoof against her chest, eyes boring holes into Twilight with her intense gaze.
"Since you asked." She forced herself upright and cleared her throat as a sheet of paper unfurled in her magic. "Bone spurs, an excess collection of calcium in undesirable placements causes aetheric interference in affected unicorns." She pointed a hoof up at two glowing pictures of a healthy and diseased horn side by side. "We have collected six ponies with the condition."
Luna's anger tripped over itself, not expecting a demonstration. "I... see? What does this unfortunate condition have to do with my moon?!"
"It has been noted that going through the motions of lifting the moon has restorative properties on those affected by this disease." Twilight pointed at the sick horn, then over at the healthy. "I would help these ponies. This was not meant as a challenge on your authority, I assure."
"Then you have made a critical error." She reached out and casually booped Twilight on her snoot. "You would allow inexperienced foals to handle the moon without my presence to assure it goes well? How foalish. Not a pony other than myself has attempted this feat in countless moons, leaving mine sister aside." She suddenly paused, brow raising. "You did not invite her to this, did you?"
"No! No, of course not." Twilight waved her forehooves wildly in denial, imagining how well it'd go if she had asked Celestia for help with moving the moon. "I would be honored to have your assistance, if you're offering it? I thought a little vacation may be... welcomed?"
"Of all ponies, you should know better than most how unnerving it is to set one's duties aside." She strode out past Twilight, looking down towards Ponyville. "I would meet these would-be moon wakers. We have much to do to ensure this proceeds properly."
"I... of course, yes. Of course." She rubbed at her chin with a hoof lightly. "When would you want to visit?"
"Your missive made it clear you intended to take this responsibility for several days. You will have to put me up for the duration." She spread her wings. "I will fetch the chariot and meet you there." She strode firmly from the balcony without a moment's hesitation, leaving Twilight behind.
"That... could have been worse." Twilight just had to deal with hosting Luna and whatever guards she brought. No problem... right?
Spike worried his fingers together as he fidgeted in place. "So, um... you see?"
"I do not," admitted Rarity with a gentle smile. "What has you in knots, Spike? You look quite beside yourself, dear."
Spike lifted his shoulders as he took a slow breath. "Right..." He would do it like Moondancer did... That could resolve everything. "I... considered the... professionals and cons and, um.... I would like... to date you."
Rarity blinked softly in surprise. Never had she expected Spike to actually just out and say it. "Professionals?"
It was Spike's turn to blink owlishly. "Pros! Pros and cons! Would you like to date?"
Rarity smiled gently, fighting the titter that wanted to rise. "Dearest Spike, dear dear Spike..." She reached for him, brushing one of her cheeks with her hoof. "I think the world of you."
"Is... that a yes?" he asked hopefully, even as it felt like the pit of spikes was being opened beneath him, his heart pounding in his chest.
"Spike... I will always love you... but not... not that way." She leaned in and smooched his iron-stiff forehead. "One day you will find a better mare than me, one with room for you in her heart."
He was falling. Everything was spinning. "But..." Tears stung at his eyes. "I..."
"You were a perfect gentlepony," she assured gently. "It's not you, Spike. You are a dear and darling dragon who deserves all the love in the world."
"So why not you!" he blurted, face suddenly red, but not entirely in embarrassment. A new rage was suddenly lit that confused even him. "Why not me!? I... I've been trying to woo you, for years!"
"And we will remain the best of friends, I do hope, but it... will not be that way, dearest Spike. I know you're hurting right now... but I hope you forgive me, eventually."
"Why didn't you say anything?!" Spike took a step back, almost stumbling over his own stiff limbs. "You knew. You knew the whole time, didn't you? You knew and..."
"And I still love you... I never wanted to face this very moment, of hurting your precious heart. You deserve so much better."
Spike suddenly twirled away from her, his arms crossed. "Fine! Just... fine! So you don't care if I see somepony else, right?"
Rarity tilted her head, blinking lightly. "Whyever would I? I would only celebrate your happiness, dear. Please bring them by so I can see you two together."
"Fine!" It was becoming his favorite word. He stormed from the boutique, tears leaving a trail behind him. His romance was officially ended.
Rarity let out the breath she had been holding. "Oh dear..."
Moon Dancer was seated beside Sunburst, both working on the particulars of the ritual. "We'll want them seated like this." She gestured to a diagram.
"With the strongest starting here and working clockwise," agreed Sunburst, making a slow circular motion with a hoof. "We'll need to measure everyone's strength to get the placement right."
The door suddenly slammed open behind them, making both jump in shock. There was Spike running across the small room, his eyes red and puffy. "I made up my mind!" he blurted, his voice uneven and shaking. "I would be... honored... to date you."
Sunburst glanced towards Moon, who Spike was looking at. "Uh..."
Moon, on the other hoof, had her eyes meeting Spike's gaze. She could see herself being echoed back at her. Was that how hurt she had appeared? Was that what it was like? She reached out a hoof and set it on Spike's shoulder. "You made your move."
"And she said no," he confessed, trembling. "She said never..."
"Then I cannot say yes." Moon shook her head firmly. "You do not need a girlfriend, not right now. You need a friend."
"How about two?"meekly ventured Sunburst, smiling awkwardly.
"Two is good." Moon smiled gently. "Spike, may I be your friend?"
"You're... turning me down too?"
"No! No... I'm not denying you. I'm just not accepting it, yet..." Her horn glowed, a book emerging from her pocket. "Rebounds have a statistically low chance of success, and you are rebounding... I suppose I was rebounding too... Spike, can we heal, together, and then, only then... try dating?" She reached a hoof forward. "I think you're worth waiting for."
Spike's eyes darted between the offered hoof and the glass-framed face of the pony offering it. "I... um... I mean..." He blinked, new tears forced free. "You're not saying no? Promise you're not saying no."
"I am not saying no," she restated with a slow nod. "I'm just saving yes for when we're a little less... of a mess."
"Can I have a hug?" he asked with a tiny voice.
Moon made a come-hither motion silently at Sunburst and reached with the other hoof. Soon all three of them were in a hug. There were injuries to recover from.
The ponies were gathered. Arranged in a circle, the ponies hoping to have their horns cleared sat patiently.
"Are we starting soon?" asked Snips, glancing around nervously. Mostly patiently.
Luna pointed at him directly. "The time will not be right for another five minutes. Still thyself, for this is a rare honor being given to you."
Fancy Pants nodded properly. "Too right. I never imagined I'd be raising the moon. This is a deep honor and one I thank you for, Luna. We'll do our best to get it right."
"I will be here in case that fails, have no fear." She smiled with confidence, hoof on her chest. "Do your best and follow the directions given." She reached out with a wing, gently nudging Sunburst in position a little inch. "Mmm, yes. I think you are all prepared."
Twilight clopped her forehooves together. "Excellent. Starlight and I are here to see after your well-being, just as Luna will keep her attention on the moon's progress. Together, we should be able to reasonably assure that all will go well, or not at all."
Sassy Saddles, one of those chosen, was looking a little more nervous. "This won't get in the way of my duties, I hope? I'd hate to put a pin in my work just because of some silly desire to do magic better." She looked up at her own long horn. "I always had 'enough', I suppose..."
Sunburst looked across towards her. "You've adapted to work with what you had, because you had no choice. You could have had so much more."
"Yes..." She didn't look completely convinced, nervousness rising visibly.
Snips reached over, standing next to her. "Hey, it's not so, you know, bad. Just think of all the cool things we'll be able to do once we're done."
Sassy smiled at the little colt. "You are young enough yet to still be stitching your dress, so to speak."
"I never wore no dress." Snips tilted his head with obvious confusion.
Twilight coughed into a hoof softly. "She means you're still learning how you do things. I will gladly assist any successfully treated ponies to remedial magic training once we've completed this treatment path. It would be cruel to clear up the problem and leave you with a horn you don't know how to use."
"Been there," sighed out Sunburst, looking up at his horn that had looked like Twilight's for a while. "No fun. I'll be working on it too, with you all. Let's improve ourselves."
"Hear hear," agreed Fancy Pants, puffing out his chest and sitting up straight. "I'm ready to begin."
Luna brought down a hoof with a ring of metal on stone. "It is time. Raise your horns as one and focus on where the moon resides, just below the horizon." She lifted her other hoof to point into the sunset. "Reach with your magic, not to the moon itself, but the ideal of the moon. Harmonize with its concept and feel your magic attach as you focus on that point."
They had already been told all that, but having Luna speaking the instructions as it was needed seemed to be calming and helping. They closed their eyes, heads turned towards where the moon would soon be. Their horns began to glow, one after the other, forming a circle of glimmering light that spread out, slowly overtaking their entire formation.
"Everything's looking right," muttered Twilight, watching it intensely, her own magic carefully feeling around, looking for imperfections that could cause calamity. "You're doing great, everypony."
With glowing forms and slightly brighter horns, the group was attached to the idea of the moon. "Do not raise it, instead bid it to rise," counseled Luna. "Awaken it to the need to move."
Starlight's sharp eyes swept over the group, nudging in minute ways to keep things on the right track. Just as the moon began to peek over the horizon, Fancy wavered. Starlight was on it in an instant, helping draw away the spurs that had shaken loose in him. "Don't give up," she encouraged with a smile. "You're doing it."
"I'm doing it!" replied Snips as if he had been the one being spoken to, but with their eyes closed, it was perhaps forgivable as mistakes went. The moon came higher and higher, inch by inch. It wasn't as fast, or as smooth, as when Luna performed the magic, but it was coming, rising higher and higher, the ground almost left behind.
The precious moment of separation seemed to be the hardest, making the moon pull free of the ground, or trying. Breathing became harder around the circle and the silvery light that encompassed them grew brighter as the pivotal moment approached.
Twilight shifted her focus from one pony to the next, monitoring their horns, clearing what was there to be cleared, and never staying for long. When she passed by Sunburst, she saw his expression was almost peaceful in its determination. She smiled gently, taking note of the effort he was putting out. "You're doing it," she whispered on her way.
The glow faded suddenly, the group collapsed almost as one, toppling to the ground as if their legs had simply lost all ability to perform the one task they had. With soft groans and heavy breathing, they lay there, recovering.
Luna clopped her forehooves. "It is done. You should be proud of yourselves." She pointed to the moon, separated from the ground by several inches. "It will move on its own now, your task is complete." She turned to Twilight. "Are we complete?"
"An excellent question. Starlight, I'll start on this side, you go the other way. Let's get updated peeks." Starlight saluted and began drafting the interiors of horns as Twilight worked along the other side of the circle. "How is everypony feeling? You look exhausted."
"That's a fair summary," got out Sunburst, panting for breath. "I can... see how this could drain a pony if they did it enough times."
"I did it!" eagerly, if tiredly, called Snips, one hoof raised a precious inch before it fell to the crystal floor. "Am I cured?"
Starlight was gathering sheet after sheet, taking maps without looking at the results. "That's what I'm finding out. Anypony feeling bad, besides tired?"
Sassy squeezed her eyes shut. "The world is spinning... Please tell me that will stop soon."
Fancy shook his head, eyes closed though with less force. "I'm fine, if lethargic. I feel I will sleep quite well tonight."
Twilight met Starlight, gathering up the other sheets and with a wave of a hoof, she set them up against the railing, the before and after shots lining up with one another. "And here we are. Let's see how we did." She trotted over towards it. "Snips, you've... improved. At a rough estimate, I'd say you have a 40% reduction in spurs, quite noticeable."
"Woo!" he weakly called, a big smile on his chubby face. "How do I get the, uh, other 70%?"
That was not proper math, but Twilight didn't correct him. "By doing this again. Sassy..." She leaned in, studying the sheets. "60% reduction, no wonder you feel dizzy. Please inform us if that does not abate."
"I will, I assure." She raised a hoof to her head and missed at first, even her sense of self thrown off. She found her forehead after a few more tries, rubbing at herself gently. "I can't say I enjoy this..."
"Fancy..." Twilight tilted her head left and right. "Hmm..."
"Something wrong?" Fancy slowly sat up, cracking open an eye along the way.
"There's clearly a difference, but we need more. I'll put this at 20%"
"Blast... Why are the results so variable?" He raised a hoof to his horn. "I suppose that explains why I'm the first to stir."
Sunburst rolled over onto his back. "How'd I do?" he asked, facing Twilight upside down, though his eyes remained closed.
"I was getting to you." Twilight smiled a little even as she approached his charts. "Mmm. I want to say a little under 50%. You must feel terrible."
"Not as bad as you might think." He rubbed at his horn. "I have felt what it's like to have a working horn before. It's... still off putting. You have my sympathy, Sassy. Just one or two more times should clear us up."
"We have to do it again?" she called out, a tear escaping her dizzy eyes. "Is it too late to put a pin in this?"
Fancy set a hoof on her shoulder. "I regret needing to ask this, but, please. I showed the least improvement and need the rest of you to proceed. I will make it up to you in whatever fashion we can find after this is done."
Sassy tried to sit up and slid right back to the ground with a grunt. Glowing magic wrapped around her as Fancy helped her back up. "Thank you, but no... right now I need a bed, softer the better. When I feel less terrible, ask then. Until then..."
"I understand. Miss Sparkle, where should I take her?"
"Now you know a taste of what I do every day." Luna looked perhaps a little too prideful at how hard it had been for ponies who were not her. "I do hope you all recover with a night's rest. My duties are just beginning. Twilight, I have dreams to patrol. I trust you do not further require my presence for this evening?"
"No, no. Thank you." She dipped her head towards Luna before approaching Snips, offering a hoof as the colt stood up, shaking but standing. "How are you feeling?"
"Dizzy but alright." He shook his head, which was the wrong thing to do. He collapsed into Twilight's magic, his vision swimming wildly. "Woah... don't do that..."
Starlight pointed to the stairs. "Sassy Saddles is on the tenth floor, just two doors down from you, Fancy. Her picture is hanging on the door, shouldn't be hard to find. Are you alright taking her there?"
"I had the least improvement, and it shows in how dizzy I am not. Still, improvement is improvement. Come, fair lady. Let's get you somewhere warm and soft."
"Warm and soft," dreamily agreed Sassy, a little smile on her face with the eagerness to have both of those things.
Starlight's magic wrapped around Sunburst, hefting him up as she casually pushed his hooves into place and set him down carefully. "There you are." She glanced at Fancy and Sassy leaving. "You need any help?"
Snips was the one that answered, "yes, please." His eyes were tightly closed against the dizziness.
"I have you," assured Twilight, moving off with the colt.
Starlight softly patted Sunburst on the back. "That leaves you with me."
"I can think of worse fates," he laughed out, leaning against her. "Thanks. That was harder than I would have predicted, but it's working!"
"You sound excited."
"Wouldn't you be?" He stood up properly and slowly started for the stairs. "I suppose you wouldn't really know. Your magic always worked properly."
"Hey!" She circled him abruptly, moving in front of him. "Don't you start telling me 'I don't get it'. I have been nothing but supportive and I'm still here."
"And I appreciate that, I do... but that doesn't mean you 'get' it. Only the other ponies in that circle 'get' it, because they've felt it. It's not... an insult, just the way it is."
She snorted loudly, nostrils flaring. "Just you wait until this is over. I'm going to drill you so hard on magic. You've seen Twilight and I duel, and I expect you'll be participating before the week's up."
Sunburst paled at the thought. "Before a week?! Your enthusiasm is... a bit much, Starlight." He adjusted the collar of his cloak. "For now, I need to rest."
"Rest now, you'll be joining us in the joys of advanced magic not long after that." She suddenly plucked him right off the ground, walking off with him floating just in front of her. "Stupid stallion, I hope you'll appreciate the time the ponies around you put into worrying about you."
He suddenly crashed into her, nudging himself with his magic so his forehead bumped into hers. "I really do," he whispered softly, smiling at her with closed eyes. "Thank you."
Starlight's cheeks warmed as she hastened her steps. "I swear..."
The recovering ponies did not get to enjoy the moon they had risen. Slumber called them far too swiftly, some before they even reached their beds.
The next morning had many of them around the breakfast table. Sassy was not present, but the others were. Snips was entirely recovered, bouncing a little without leaving his chair. "Oh boy oh boy oh boy! If I do that again I'll be cured right?"
Twilight nodded to the colt. "One or two more times should be sufficient to clear you." She looked to Fancy. "It is my hope that your progress actually accelerates as others slow down. I imagine with less spurs to clear, they will see far less extreme of a difference on the next attempt."
Sunburst speared a waffle with a fork and brought it to his snout to take a big bite. "I can already feel the difference, and it's great. I'm ready to finish this."
"As am I." Fancy nodded softly. "But Sassy is still feeling out of sorts, and I fear we will have an issue if she decides to back out. This condition is so rare, finding another afflicted pony to take her place may prove... difficult at best."
Starlight rolled a hoof. "It's still her call, right? We can't force her... right?" She raised a brow as if she were ready to do just that. It wasn't as if mental magic were beyond her.
"Right," sternly agreed Twilight, rolling her eyes. "She decides she wants to proceed, we convince her to, or we accept it and we look for alternative answers. At no point will anyone force her to proceed. That would be unethical at the very least, and just mean besides that."
Sunburst cut off a bit of his waffle and brought it floating over on a fork towards Twilight. "Eat." When she opened her mouth to complain, he popped the treat inside.
She snapped her lips shut, but began chewing softly. "Rude..." She still chewed and swallowed. "I can feed myself."
"Please do that," he bid with a smile. "Until then, it is my job to make sure it happens."
She stuck out her tongue at him, going for a new slice. "Spike, great job on the waffles today. Light, fluffy, and perfect."
"Thanks! So, Snips, Fancy, both feeling alright?"
Snips pumped a hoof. "I feel better than alright! I hope we can keep going tonight."
Fancy nodded softly. "It is as if a fog I never knew had just parted, just a little. I have seen a hint of light I would never have imagined was there, and I wish to see more of it. It excites and terrifies in equal measure, but I will not back away from it."
Sunburst raised a hoof towards his fellow magic impaireds. "Let's be patient. If we have to wait while she gets better, that's alright. It's not as if we haven't already waited this long. We'll get through this, together."
"Together." Fancy extended a hoof over the table.
"Together!" Snips reached out, tapping his hoof against Fancy's.
Sunburst was the last to join the gesture of solidarity, the three certain in their convictions.
Spike looked up from his comic as someone knocked on his door. "Yeah?" Twilight was studying with Moon and Sun, making any of the three unlikely to be the one at his door. "Who is it?" Maybe Luna? The other ill ponies?
"Just a silly mare," called a familiar voice. "May I come in, dear?"
Spike tensed, looking around wildly. His room was, well, its usual self, which was alright, but not up to par for...
The tension faded, replaced with a frown. It wasn't as if Rarity had any interest. "What am I worrying about?" He climbed to his feet and flew at the door. "What is it?"
The handle of the door glowed with her magic as she opened it gently. "I just wanted to speak to you. We left off on... uncomfortable tones."
Spike crossed his arms, landing not far in front of the door as it opened. "Yeah, admitting you've been being a jerk tends to do that."
"Oh, Spike, I deserve that perhaps." She stepped forward with a little smile. "You are a dear friend, and one I would like to not lose for my foolishness. I should have been clear and forthright from the start, even if it hurt, it would have been a lesser pain than what I created."
Spike snorted, a bit of flame escaping with his emotional state. "Did Twilight send you?"
"What? No, dear, no... I came on my own prompting." She raised a hoof to her chest. "I've been thinking about that awful moment, replaying it over and over, wondering what I could have done better... But the answer always comes back the same."
"Yeah?" He hiked a brow. "What answer is that?"
She rolled a hoof. "What answers can there be? You know as well as I do... Either I agreed and lived a lie, or I hurt you because I already lied the sweet lies, unspoken though they were."
"You were a jerk," he stated bluntly, glaring at her.
"I do not argue this."
"Then why are you here?"
Rarity smiled gently. "Because this jerk still wishes to be your friend. Dear, I've done wrong, but would not wish for this to be the end of our fabulous friendship."
"Short a pin cushion?" he asked with acid tones. "Or maybe you're looking for a replacement ponyquinn?"
"Spike, stop that, kindly." She reached for him. Despite his anger he didn't stop her from gently cupping a cheek. "I would be satisfied with my friend back, who owes me no labor he does not wish to do. I am dreadfully sorry for what I've done, but I cannot take it back. How can I make it up to you?"
"Make it up?" He turned away from her. "How do you... make that up? I mean..." He had meant to be angry and fumey, in proper dragon fashion, but tears began to sting in his eyes. "It's not fair..."
An arm reached around him, hoof pressing to his chest as she drew him backwards, suddenly in her embrace. "I am so very sorry..."
There would be no easy answers, but at least Rarity had thrown a rope over the divide, that a bridge might one day be re-built there.
"Mmm?"
The door swung open, revealing a cautiously smiling Sunburst. "I'm here to check on you. How are you feeling?" A tray floated beside him, held in his magic. "I also come bearing gifts."
The lump on the bed that was Sassy stirred a little. A part of it raised just to fall, just to raise again. It was an impotent display, but she eventually dug her way out from beneath the blanket that covered her, revealing her face. "Is that you, Sunburst?"
"Yup." He trotted over and set the tray on the small table beside the bed. "I brought something tasty for you."
She cracked open one eye with a faint smile. "You're all being so nice. I'm dreadfully sorry for holding things up." She sat up slowly. "I do feel better, a little... But... I can't do this. I mean, if we're being precise, I won't do this. That was awful and I have no desire to continue."
"We were looking into that." His magic plucked up the cover of the tray, revealing a bowl of soup, wafting gently with appealing scents of the vegetable broth. "After you've eaten, we'd like to help, if you'll let us. We have an idea what went wrong, and maybe we can fix it?"
She shook her head very slowly, as if her head could fall free if she did it too quickly. "I just want to get better and go home, dear... I'm sorry, I really am, but this dress will not be altered any further." She leaned over with the same slow lethargy, suddenly falling, her face plunging towards the hot soup.
Sunburst caught her just in time, the very tip of her nose brushing the fluid, glowing his his magic. She was still a moment, recovering from the surprise of her fall. "I really am a mess..." She flicked out her tongue. "Mmm, quite nice at least." She began drinking, held there in Sun's magic.
He guided her back to bed when she was done drinking. "I would like to, at least, do a reading and make sure you're alright."
"That's alright." She yawned as she curled there in her covering of blanket, eyes on him tiredly. "Do I have to do anything?"
"Just relax," he assured, starting to perform an updated sketch of the inside of her horn. By the time he was done, she was quite asleep, soft breathing filling the room. He slipped away as quietly as he could, leaving the remainder of the soup behind in case she wanted it.
"How is she?" Moon adjusted her glasses. "Any improvement?"
Twilight nodded in agreement. "Did you get a new sketch?"
"Right here." He set the newest beside the others that belonged to Sassy. "It's just as Moon feared."
Moon clucked her tongue, frowning at the pictures. "Her horn's gone unstable. She lost so much of the spurs at once because it basically all came loose in there." She tapped at her chin softly. "We need to act, now, or she could be worse than when we began."
Twilight pointed at Sunburst. "You had an almost equal amount of clearage. Are you suffering any side effects?"
"I feel fine, and we've checked." He pointed to the line of sketches that showed his own progress. "I suppose I'm an ideal case, and she's the worst case scenario, with Snips and Fancy fitting in the middle."
Twilight nodded lightly. "Snips showing more progress, and Fancy experiencing basically no vertigo. All three of you recovered overnight." She drew a breath in a soft hiss. "I can see why they didn't rely on this method of clearing the problem, when they could even detect the problem to begin with. Still, let's focus."
"Indeed." Moon nodded firmly as she pointed to Sassy's last sketch. "That cannot be left as it is. We need to get her to a surgeon. We wanted to avoid open horn procedures, but we're past the point of considering alternatives."
All three of them flinched in sympathy. The idea of having one's horn cut open for any reason was a powerfully repugnant one for any unicorn. Sunburst raised a hoof. "I'll stay with her... This was for me, to start. I won't feel right if I don't give her my all."
Moon set a hoof on his shoulders. "I imagine if you tell the others, they'll be right beside you. You're all in this together."
Twilight took Sassy's latest sketch that displayed the advanced and advancing collapse. "I have no objection to that, but she has to go, now. I will get her to the hospital while you tell the others. I doubt they'll start before you get there. In either event, I should imagine this removes her from this exercise. They'll do their best to help her, and if they're already in there... they can finish what we clumsily began."
Sun sighed deeply, already moving for the door. "I'll tell the others. Meet you there."
Moon looked to Twilight once he was gone. "They're going to be sad."
"They're already sad... We all had a good idea where this was headed." She reached up behind her head. "We'll have to figure out a way to proceed with 3 ponies, or an entirely different strategy."
Moon raised a hoof. "What if... Hmm... I'll consider a few alternatives. You take care of Sassy."
"On it." She vanished from sight.
Moon turned back for the table where the massive tome they were studying rested. "If this was easy, you would have solved this moons ago," she sighed at it, though its author was not polite enough to reply. "Still, we're closer... What if...?"
Twilight, Sunburst and Fancy Pants all sat in a row in the waiting room of the hospital. Twilight had her arms crossed, leaning on her hind legs in a squat. "As if we weren't experts in this emerging field..."
Fancy adjusted his monocle with a little smile. "I'm afraid even royal privileges do not get one past this point while a pony is being operated on. How did she... take the news?"
Twilight sagged at that, falling to proper haunch-sitting position. "She was terrified, and who can blame her? I informed her, and the doctors, that we would be here. We may not be able to be in the same room as they work, but we're not leaving her."
Sunburst frowned at the idea. "They'd have to drag me away in chains." He brought his forehooves together with a loud clop. "I'm mostly glad this... won't be as needed of a thing, in the future."
"Hm?" Fancy inclined an ear towards Sunburst. "You've found an easier cure?"
Twilight quickly bobbed her head "We have. But it's only safe on young foals, around a year old and working from there."
"After that, things begin to harden," added Sunburst. "And you get into... what Sassy is experiencing right now. You'd have to break into the horn to begin work, and you'd be left with an injury that... Well... I'm not jealous of Sassy right now."
"I should say not." He brushed his hoof along his other foreleg. "I just feel terrible, considering I had urged her to continue that very night, not knowing how terribly injured she had become. I was a complete cad, and I need to make it up to her."
He reached behind his head. "Speaking of that, where is Snips?"
Twilight pointed off. "He's at school. Besides, there wouldn't be much for him to do here. He's still willing to proceed, how are you two feeling? I'll understand if you want to stop."
Sunburst put a hoof to his chest. "I'm almost fixed, and my horn doesn't look like it's ready to collapse if we keep going."
Fancy pointed up at his horn. "You've been taking measurements by the day. How do I look?"
Twilight's careful expression brightened to a little smile. "Perfectly healthy, I'm pleased to report. Your structure is lacking in sharp angles and delicate structures, implying you'll not be a master sorcerer even without the spurs, but it's also rugged and solid. I don't foresee issues."
"I never dreamt of being a 'master sorcerer'. I'll leave that to Star Swirl. Simply knowing I am performing at my best would be more than sufficient." He nodded softly as he glanced towards Sunburst. "Unlike you, young stallion. You have the marks of somepony who could become quite the spellcrafter. Are you looking forward to being able to pursue that properly?"
Sunburst sat up as he was addressed, looking around the waiting room at the other ponies waiting patiently to be seen or to be reunited with others who were being treated. "Hm? Yes! Of course... I'm not giving up, and... yes. I want to be Twilight's peer, not just an assi--"
Twilight bonked him on the head suddenly with a rapidly extended wing. "You already are a peer, Sunburst."
She opened her eyes slowly, the light feeling too harsh. "Mmm?"
"She's awake," came a male voice.
"How do you feel?" asked a female.
"Let's allow her a moment to stir," came a different male.
Sassy blinked softly, banishing some of the fuzz from her eyes and trying to look around, but her head was held in place. "What...?" Her focus was returning at least, allowing her to see Sunburst and Fancy Pants looking at her with concern. Twilight was also there, coming closer. "Why? Oh..." The memory came back. "Am... I alright?" She looked up towards her long horn, but it was covered in bandages, a cast perhaps? She couldn't see it directly.
Twilight set a hoof softly on her shoulder. "They did it. You'll be spur free, and operative."
"You don't sound nearly happy enough to match the words you're saying." Sassy licked over her dry lips. "What's the bad news?"
"You'll be fine, magically... but there will be a mark." She moved that hoof to point up at Sassy's horn. "The interior of the horn is... difficult to access. They did the best they could to be precise and non-invasive, but..."
Sassy felt her lips peeling back, envisioning all sorts of ghastly marks and wounds on her precious horn. "How bad is it?"
Sunburst stood up. "It's not that big!" he blurted loudly and awkwardly.
Fancy shook his head slowly. "I am sorry. I feel certain you will find ways to minimize its appearance, or even use it to enhance your already lovely features. The doctor did tell us to mind water. Don't allow it to get--"
Sassy's eyes went wide. "I'm not waterproof anymore! I... didn't even know that... was... possible. Tell me, dears, is there a reason I'm held in place like a dress ready to sew?"
Sunburst nodded at that, answering in far less frantic tones, "They just want to make sure everything has a chance to heal as much as it can without being jostled."
"Sensible," she breathed out, eyes going upwards to her injured horn. "Still... At least it's over. I'll... go home when they allow me to. Thank you... For being here, but I'll be... fine. Let's put a pin in this."
Fancy inclined his head faintly, reaching up to adjust his monocle. "We are glad to be here. It's the least we can do."
"And I appreciate that, but right now, I simply wish to be alone. I have... a lot to think about, and a life to return to." Her eyes moved to each pony in the room. "Thank you. Go, you have your own things to do."
They had been dismissed. Slowly, they withdrew from the room, giving her what she asked for. When the door closed, they could hear her soft sobs emerging, held back just long enough for them to leave.
Twilight cringed at the sound as the stallions looked away, but none of them pressed to go back into the room.
"I have good news," chimed Moondancer as they entered the tower. Ignorant of their sullen expressions, she was weaving around them with a smile on her face. "I know how to proceed."
Twilight put out a hoof, catching Moondancer when the mare tried to walk past. "Moon, we're a little--"
"--stressed out because you weren't sure what to do with only three ponies," finished Moondancer, nodding quickly before her magic reset her glasses. "But I have it worked out. All we have to--"
"--She isn't going to stop," cut in Sun with a smirk on his face. "It's alright."
"Please, go on." Fancy sat down gently. "This news may help bolster our spirits."
Moon looked between the ponies, just noticing their saddened expressions. "Did something not go well with Sassy?"
"She's fine," assured Twilight with an awkward smile. "Please, continue."
Moon pressed up her glasses, hoof on the thick tape. "With a bit of impedance, we can have another pony sit in that has a normally functioning horn. We'd want an average pony, not an already talented spellcaster."
Sun blinked at that. "But who would volunteer for that, with the risks involved?"
"I would."
Eyes and heads turned to see Stellar Flare standing in the doorway, the sun spilling in over her form in a dramatic lighting as she stood tall and proud. "As if I would shy away from the chance to help my son be all the pony he can be."
"Mom... This could... have lasting effects. Are you... fully aware?"
Stellar waved dismissively. "I am aware of what happened to poor Sassy Saddles, and I feel for her, but that will not stop me from helping my son! And I get to help two other ponies while I'm there with no additional effort. That's cost effective."
She stepped forward with a confident smile. "Besides, I have an advantage."
Fancy inclined an ear towards the strong-willed mare. "What advantage would that be?"
She gestured back at the door. "Come in, Dear."
In strode a crown-wearing mare with a haughty look to her face. "How delightfully dramatic," almost purred Princess Platinum. "Of course I'll help my dear friend."
Stellar put an arm around Platinum, drawing the mare closer. "We've already discussed this. With her on my head, she can basically ensure everything goes as it should."
Moon bobbed her head. "Precisely so. Platinum can restrict the flow of magic to the ideal level while keeping complete control over her horn to allow us to proceed with confidence in her safety. The two of them working in tandem will provide us the fourth we need and allow us to finish this process." She gestured to each of them as she spoke about them. "I have reviewed the figures, we are ready to proceed."
Twilight was looking at Platinum, rubbing her chin softly. "Wait, with... you're going to be a crown?"
Platinum glanced upwards towards the crown on her head. "I should imagine I technically already am a crown. I'll rest on her head and keep her safe. It's the least I can do for how much she's helped me, and as a friend."
Sunburst stroked over his beard, looking thoughtful. "This could... work. She has a considerable amount of control over the horn of the pony wearing her."
"I couldn't simply wish your spurs away, darling, but I can keep her horn nice and safe." Platinum bumped gently against Stellar. "We can't have your spellcasting being damaged at this point. We have so many spells to go over."
"Of course, dear. When do we begin?"
Fancy rubbed behind his head. "Well, that is good news. I'm not afraid to admit that it has brightened my outlook on the day. There's little we can do for Miss Saddles at this time, perhaps we should return our attention to the project at hoof. Princess? How soon can we begin?"
Twilight pointed upwards. "I'll have to confer with Luna, and she's currently asleep. Perhaps tomorrow night? I don't want to set a firm date until after I've spoken with her. In the meantime, you should tell Snips the good news. I'm sure he'll be very excited."
"Too right." Fancy turned for the door. "As soon as school's let out."
Excited chatter bubbled in the group, discussing how things would go. Perhaps a happy ending could be reached for those yet remaining.
"Thank you." Sun adjusted his glasses nervously. "This is a lot to ask of a pony, even, um, a mom. You don't have to do this."
"And yet I will." She reached out, booping her son on the snoot. "Because I love you, and I trust her." She inclined her head towards Platinum.
Platinum raised a hoof to her chest. "I'm glad you do, dear. I did not survive for countless moons to let you down now, I assure." She buffed her hoof against her own soft fur. "I've performed the moon ritual once before, back before I was a crown. I know how it works."
"That's fantastic news," gushed Twilight, turning away. "I'll see if Luna happens to be awake." She vanished with a pop.
"What's going on down-- Oh." Starlight jumped down the last few steps. "You're all looking... productive." Her eyes drifted from pony to pony.
Stellar smiled at Starlight. "Starlight, dear, good to see you."
"Likewise," assured Starlight in less-than-total sincerity, approaching with her eyes darting across the assemblage. "Did you figure something out?"
"Yes!" Moon gestured to Stellar. "Stellar Flare will be our fourth, with Princess Platinum ensuring all goes according to plan and without additional complications."
"Great! I'll be ready to help, just say when." Starlight kept right on going, moving past the knot of ponies towards the kitchen. "Good luck."
Fancy raised a cloth in his magic, wiping clean his monocle. "It would seem most parties involved are quite ready to see this completed. I can scarcely contain myself." Though he sounded fairly composed compared to others. "Let's give this a good showing."
"Oh boy oh boy oh boy!" Snips was bouncing in place. "Finally!"
"You should relax," came the slow advice of his equally slow friend. Snails was present, sitting there and watching with a soft smile. "Kinda cool though. Heya Luna." He raised a hoof to wave relaxedly.
Luna nodded softly at Snails. She had never been called to his dreams, the colt free of disturbing thoughts as far as she could tell. "Your friend is in good hooves," she assured. "Is everypony in position?"
Twilight nodded. Starlight nodded. Moon did not nod, weaving through the assembled ponies and doublechecking things. "Everything appears to be... in order."
Stellar giggled softly, looking up at the crown on her head. "I never imagined I would have a chance to raise the moon. And you do this every day, Princess? I feel I will have a deeper appreciation for your efforts."
Luna started at that, blinking softly. "You will know it is not impossible to do."
"I will, but I will also know just how difficult it is, and that you do it every night without complaint? Equestria owes you quite a thanks. Ready, Platinum?" An ear cocked, a response heard, but only by her. "She's ready."
"If everypony is ready..." Luna took a soft breath, looking them over, but they were all in the correct position. "You've done this before, and Stellar is being guided by Platinum, so I will keep my guidance to a minimum. Do as you did on that first night. You performed adequately, and I am here, if my magic proves needed. Relax, and begin."
Their eyes closed and the silvery glow of lunar magic began to spread across them, their horns shining brightly as they reached out, connecting with the platonic ideal of the moon, bidding it to rise. Platinum quietly adjusted the flow of Stellar's magic as requested, keeping it perfectly in line with the average of the three diseased ponies they were assisting. She worked the required magic using Stellar's horn, guiding it where it needed to be.
The brightness grew and grew, like a small rising sun there at the top of the tower. The moon became visible, rising slowly but surely, reaching towards that most difficult part, where the bottom of it would raise above the horizon and begin its flight.
"Easy. Remain calm, press gently. This moment is no different than any other," assured Luna. "You are doing quite well. Let it happen..."
As one, they stirred the moon, bidding it to awaken. A soft pulse of silvery energy washed away from them as the glow faded from them. The moon broke that last line. It would move on its own for the remainder of the night, rising slowly but surely into the sky.
They all let out a breath of relief. Fancy Pants wiped his brow with a forelock. "That felt just a little easier. I blame it on familiarity."
"I'm still in one piece," assured Sunburst.
"All good here!" chimed Snips.
Platinum was suddenly standing beside Stellar. "As if I'd allow harm to befall her." She reached and took her own crown off her friend's head, placing it on her own.
"The first step is... not thinking about it so much," counseled Snails with a soft bobbing of his head. "You know you can do it now, so just, you know... do it."
"Just do it..." Snips reached out a hoof towards a little rubber ball, willing it to rise. His horn glowed more brightly than it used to, not sputtering and dying as it used to do. "Just... do... it..."
"Stop trying so hard," his friend gently suggested. "It'll come, just let it." He reached up and bonked himself on the head. "Stop thinking about it."
"You don't think about much," noted Snips with a smirk.
"Yeah, and look at me."
Snails went still a moment, considering how skilled Snails was with his magic. "Huh... point... Alright, stop thinking about it."
He tried to not stress, to just... pick it up as if his horn's magic were as simple as the end of his hoof. He was just plucking it up, no big deal, no... big...
The ball suddenly lifted into the air and he burst into excited giggles, though that caused it to drop. "I did it!"
"You did it," placidly agreed Snails with a smile. "Do it again."
They would practice the day away, but Snips would learn what had been denied him. He was a functional unicorn.
Life did not dramatically change for Fancy Pants. He returned to his social circles and didn't do much different than he had before, save to visit a new friend that also lived in Canterlot. He knocked gently on a door.
"Who is it?" came a female voice before the door opened, no glow on the handle. "Oh, Fancy. A pleasure to see you," assured Saddle with an uneasy smile.
"A good day indeed, and one I hope to make better." He nodded firmly, looking over her, noting how she angled her head to keep her horn from view as best she could. "This is no way to leave things."
"I'm doing the best I can," she sighed out, blushing in her cheeks.
"Then allow me to do the best I can. You haven't tapped your resources, and there's a special pony with me that came running when they heard."
"Darling!" suddenly burst Rarity, stepping into view. "Why didn't you tell me?! This simply will not do! I'm coming in." She pressed right in, nudging Sassy back without room for denials. "How bad can this... oh." She could see Sassy's injury far more clearly. "Ghastly, but I know just the pony that can fix this, even if she's technically not a pony. Still, I feel confident, and even if she can't, there are better ways ahead than hiding in here."
"But I'm hideous," lamented Sassy, shrinking away from Rarity. "And my magic scarcely works. I'm useless and ugly at once..."
Fancy gestured towards Rarity. "If she feels she has the answer, I'm inclined to believe her. She is your friend, and employer. Do you not have faith in her?"
"Of course I do..." Sassy looked to Rarity's concerned face a moment before letting out a sigh. "This can't get much worse than it is... I surrender."
"Very good, onwards, to the train!" She suddenly pulled out a hat and popped it on Sassy's head, covering her horn completely. "We have beauty to save!"
Fancy would visit her more often in the future, but for that day, he returned to his own duties, not weaving more powerful magic; simply happier with himself for being able to clearly do what he wished and knowing he was operating at his best.
Rarity and Sassy took one train ride to Ponyville. From there, they hiked into the forest, much to Sassy's confusion. "Whatever are we to find hidden in the brambles?"
"Only the most wonderful herbalist I've ever had the pleasure of dealing with." Rarity nodded softly as she walked. "When doctors fail, her Zebrican cures can really save the day. It's her own brand of magic, just as sure as any unicorn's."
"More sure than mine, I would hope," she sighed, but she followed along through the Everfree.
Thankfully, the Tree of Harmony was still there, chasing away the foulness of the forest, and they arrived with little issue at Zecora's curious house. The zebra herself was out in front, stirring a large pot slowly. She noticed their approach and looked up. "Rarity, 'tis always a treat. Who have you brung for me to meet?"
"Zecora, this is Sassy Saddles, a dear friend and employee who has met an unfortunate circumstance." With a glowing horn, she popped the concealing hat away.
Zecora winced, the gaping hole visible for her to see. "How terrible that does appear. Is that what you wish for me to clear? Sit right there and be at ease, My treatment will not be a tease." She hurried off into her hut and came back with several herbs in her mouth that she casually threw into the pot she already had going. "Rarity, if you do not mind, a few herbs I would like you to find."
She placed a book with some pictures of various herbs and maps on where to find them where Rarity could see.
"I'm on the case!" Rarity floated the book up and trotted away in hot pursuit of the in-demand plants.
As soon as Rarity was out of sight, Zecora pointed to the ground quietly. Sassy glanced at where Rarity once was before she slowly sank as directed. "Can you really do something?"
Zecora reached up a hoof, gently feeling around the affected area. "A unicorn's horn is a thing most dear. To see it damaged their ultimate fear. Magic makes the way perilous. Thank you for trusting me as your therapist." She turned back to her pot and resumed stirring, working on her cure.
With the help of her friends, new and old, a strange creme would chase away the hole. Her horn was restored, little better then when she began, but the unsightly blemish was banished. In the end, she was satisfied with little promises that she would not endanger herself so easily in the future.
"Hey." Spike waved softly from the doorway. "The latest edition of Storm Mare released today. Wanna go with me to pick it up?"
Moondancer perked an ear. "Is that the one about the weather controlling unicorn that has an imprecise control of her abilities?"
"That's the one!" Spike clapped his hands together. "It's a real page turner."
"I agree." She stood up. "I would be delighted to accompany you."
They went off together, not as special someponies, but as friends, and both were pleased with the arrangement.
Rarity, having helped Sassy get back on her hooves, was back at her own shop in Ponyville, working with a ponyquinn. She had a dress wrapped around it and was carefully fussing over it with soft noises, musing on how it appeared and how it could appear.
She raised a hoof with a pin cushion attached at the wrist. "Maybe bring this up..." She poked a pin to hold the cloth in place to see how it would appear. "No no..."
"Hey."
She jumped in surprise, turning to see Spike. "Spike! I wasn't expecting you, Dear."
"I can go..."
"No! I mean, you don't have to." She gestured at her work. "Just a little something for the coming fall season. Perhaps you could help."
"I'm not wearing it," he ruled out flatly.
"It's for a mare, not a dragon." She tapped her chin. "Do you think a dragon could be talked into enjoying a dress?"
"None that I know of." He smirked a little, looking over the dress with his untrained eyes. "Looks nice enough though. I can feel that 'autumn' vibe going on there."
"Precisely what I was going for." She willed a pin off her cushion and tried another alteration theory, muttering a moment. "I'm just not... happy with this last little bit..."
"I didn't mean to get in the--"
She suddenly grabbed him in her magic and slid him over to her side. "You are not bothering me. Spike, dear, thank you for coming. I thought... perhaps you'd never do so again. We may not be... ever that, but the loss of you as a friend has been nothing but crushing."
Spike smiled awkwardly. "I mean... I... thought about it, and... well, you and Twilight are friends, and you're friends with everypony else I hang out with on the regular besides Moondancer, so, eh, I can be a big dragon about this." He stepped back and waved at the dress. "Have you tried hiking it up around the rump?"
"How indecent..." Despite her words she tried he look, sticking in a fresh pin. "Mmm... You may be onto something. Leave the legs open, offer it as a running of the leaves-ready garment... Yes... Spike, dear, you are truly the best."
"I do what I can." He flashed a thumbs up. "Just don't expect me to fill in for ponyquinns anymore."
"Yes yes." She gestured at the inert pony that was serving the purpose. "As you can see, I'm working with a real one."
"Good. This dragon has his own dates." He patted himself on the chest as he turned. "But we can, you know, be friends."
"With pleasure."
It would take more time for all the rough edges to be smoothed between them, but a fresh rope had been tossed back over the divide. The bridge building began in earnest between them.
"That was amazing." Stellar put her hooves to her cheeks. "We've cleared up my son's little problem, and I got to lift the moon! How many unicorns can say that in this day and age?"
Platinum considered a moment before raising a hoof. "Five, I believe. Six if you count me, seven if we fold Luna into the mix. That's still a delightfully small number to belong to."
"And I owe it to you." She threw an arm over Platinum. "You've been nothing but a dear friend since we met. You're such an interesting case to me at times. You're something so very new, and yet so very old. Starlight's father would love to meet you, and I imagine he will, when I drag you back to my town."
Platinum lifted an ear at that. "Your town? I'm going there?"
"Whyever would you not?" asked Stellar, looking baffled. "I'm going to treat you like the princess that.you.are." She emphasized each sentence with a poke of Platinum's chest. "And in the center of my influence, I can assure that you are handled just the way you deserve."
"That sounds... delightful, on consideration." She stroked her chin. "Will you help me start my business? I wish to become productive."
"Of course!" Stellar threw a hoof wide. "We'll get you a storefront and some signs. I know some amazing graphics designers to get you some logos that really pop. Let's get started."
Sunburst and Twilight were proud parents. Their child; a greater understanding of a rare but terrible disease. It could be managed in foalhood, and, with enough effort, in adulthood. Knowledge of how to diagnose and treat the condition was being spread across the country, so that fewer ponies would ever have to deal with their horns betraying them.
Sunburst waved a hoof over the castle entire. "We'll never be done reading, we just finished one book, and we both have so many more to put our eyes on."
"That is... true." Twilight tapped at her chin softly. "You aren't leaving then?"
Sun hiked a brow. "Why would I do that? I thought we were--"
She planted a kiss on his talking lips, silencing him. "I was joking."
She did not expect him to return the kiss instead of blushing and looking awkward. He was pressing against her, his scent filling her nose in its curious stallion-like way.
Twilight pressed back, and soon thoughts of books seemed distant for a time. It was boyfriend/girlfriend time. Books could follow after that, she swiftly determined. They trotted off towards a more appropriate room rather than continuing their smooches in the library.
