Twilight's Pupil

Twilight's Pupil Chapter 2

by Crystal Secret

Princess Celestia and Princess Twilight Sparkle sat side by side on the balcony of the Royal Chambers, staring ominously into the distance. It was almost sunrise and it was also one of the biggest days in Twilight's life. It had been almost a week since the incident at the hospital wing where she had met Starlight Shimmer and had seen the filly's potential. Twilight shuffled around in her spot, she wasn't quite sure whether or not she was ready for the challenges of having her own pupil.

Celestia could sense her student's discomfort. She wrapped her left wing around the alicorn's shoulders, trying to make her feel more relaxed. The alicorn eased but in the back of her mind, Celestia knew that something wasn't quite right.

"What troubles you my most faithful student?" asked Princess Celestia breaking the silence.

After a few moments, Twilight humbly replied.

"Well, you see Celestia." she began. "Im not exactly sure if Im ready to have my own pupil." said Twilight simply.

"You know, after I had banished Luna into the moon, I wasn't entirely sure if I could take responsibility for not only night and day but for all of Equestria as well. Now, my sister is free and once again the ruler of the night. However, as the older sister it will always be my job to maintain the overall balance of Equestria and preserve the natural order of things. So even I wasn't sure of my abilities and I was an alicorn from birth. So you see my most faithful student, it's okay to be nervous but always have faith and you will prevail." the princess concluded.

Celestia's words were full of wisdom and after her speech Twilight found herself relaxing as they enjoyed the sunrise together. The sun took up most of the sky and as it rose it's radiant light beamed down upon the glorious landscape of Equestria, highlighting every inch of mountain, hill and plain they lied before them like an unrolled map.

"Now my most faithful student, do you think you're ready?" asked Celestia.

"Yes Celestia. I am. I know that it's not going to be easy, but I am willing to give it my best shot like I have done so for every other test you've given me." said Twilight her words full of confidence.

"Twilight." said Princess Celestia in a voice of much sadness and concern. "This is not a test. This is the next stage of your life of which you cannot pass nor fail. There is no right or wrong. How you choose to teach and raise this filly is completely up to you. I am not going to mark you on what you've done at the end. But I will be there every step of the way. Now, are you ready to go and choose your pupil?" asked Princess Celestia.

"Yes Princess I am." replied Twilight but she suddenly burst into tears.

"Twilight what's the matter?" asked Princess Celestia embracing her student in a hug.

"It's just that I don't want to stop being your student. No matter happens I want to be your most faithful student for as long as I live." replied Twilight who began to sob.

"Twilight, would you look at me for a moment?" asked Princess Celestia.

Twilight stopped crying and looked at the princess. Her eyes were red, her cheeks were covered in tears but she had the most eager smile. A smile that Princess Celestia was going to miss. A smile that reminded her of all the wonderful things that they had done together over the years.

"Twilight Sparkle, you will always be my most faithful student. Nothing can change that. It is a title that you have earned and nothing that you do will ever disown you of that title. Now, are you ready my most faithful student?" asked the princess in conclusion.

"Yes, I am and I`ll be sure to make you proud." said Twilight wiping the stray tears from her cheeks.

The princesses returned to the Royal Chamber to get Twilight ready for what would be a very important day. There was just one small problem.

Was Starlight Shimmer ready to the pupil of a princess?

As Princess Celestia, Princess Twilight Sparkle and Princess Luna entered the Grand Hall which was set up specifically for the both ceremonial and physical part of the event, trumpets sounded and everypony in the room bowed. To her surprise, Twilight's friends from Ponyville the very ponies of whom she had shared some of the most incredible experiences with were all standing on one side of the hall.

Most of Canterlot had come to see her choose her pupil and were standing on either side of the room. Even her beloved parents were in the audience. The princesses took their place on their thrones and yet another round of trumpet was sounded as the hall's doors opened and thirty or so fillies and colts walked through. They formed a single line before the princesses as they took a bow.

Twilight quickly scanned through the line and spotted Starlight Shimmer among them. She was relieved to find that Princess Celestia had been very diligent in selecting the fillies and colts. Of course, only one filly or colt would become her pupil but that was another matter entirely.

After a few moments Twilight stood before the fillies a smile lit up her face. She turned to look at her fellow princesses who only nodded in encouragement, ushering her to begin her opening speech.

"Fillies and colts. I, Princess Twilight Sparkle am here today to select my personal protege. A pony of whom I will not only teach but raise. If you have been selected by Princess Celestia and will each have a chance to prove to me your magical abilities. From this I will choose one of you to be my pupil. Good luck everypony!" concluded Twilight taking a seat on her throne.

Before long, fillies and colts were coming up and presenting their powerful magical abilities and Twilight watched them carefully, watching their movements and making sure that whoever she chose would be not only the most powerful but also had the most spirit. But she was waiting for one pony in particular and she wasn't sure if the incident at the hospital had just been a random burst of magical essence or if the filly actually had potential.

Finally, at the very end Starlight Shimmer got up. Her eyes wide with confusion. Her body was shaking out of nerves and the little filly looked lost. Did she know what she was up there for? Should she tell her? Suddenly the filly looks Twilight straight in the eye and for a split second the filly's eyes have a sudden spark in them and its almost as though there is another filly standing on the platform.

Starlight Shimmer closed her eyes as her horn started glowing with a fuchsia pink aura and suddenly, a sparks started flying out of her horn but before anypony could react the filly was gone. Gasps were soon followed by murmurs from the audience.

"A teleportation spell? But how?" Twilight whispered to herself in confusion. "Everypony please remain calm! Im sure that shell return in just a moment." called out Twilight trying to calm the audience.

Within a few moments Starlight Shimmer returned in the same state as she had left. Just as she had predicted, the filly had potential. What amazed Twilight was the fact that the filly could pull off a teleportation spell which she couldn't learn till she was a mare but this filly had done in it and with such diligence. It was by far the most incredible thing she had ever seen.

The filly left the stage but soon returned with the entire group of fillies and colts. They all lined up along the platform. It was decision time and Twilight was now reassured of her choice.

"I Princess Twilight Sparkle will now choose my pupil. This pony will be my personal protege and I will take full responsibility for them. I, Princess Twilight Sparkle have chosen....Starlight Shimmer to be my personal protege."

The audience clapped and cheered as Starlight made her way up to the princess.

"Starlight Shimmer. How would you like to be my personal protégé and live here at the castle?" asked Twilight in the most gentle voice she could manage.

"I would be honored." replied Starlight.

"I, Princess Twilight Sparkle hereby decree that Starlight Shimmer is now and forever more my personal protégé." stated Twilight to the audience.

The audience applauded as Starlight took to Twilight's side smiling eagerly at the princess. Soon afterwards, the audience departed and so did the princesses along with Starlight Shimmer. There was a lot for the Starlight to learn but the first thing that needed to be done was to write to the filly's parents.

As Starlight Shimmer sat in the hot, soapy bathtub, Twilight gently rubbed the filly head rubbing in the shampoo. Since the filly was covered in dirt, scratches and deep scars, Twilight decided to give her a bath while telling her about the life she would have here in Canterlot. Afterwards she would use some natural yet powerful healing spells that Zecora had taught her to heal the filly's wounds.

"Now, the first order of business is to write a letter home to your parents telling them that you're now my personal protégé and how you will be maintaining a residence here at the castle." said Twilight as she rubbed the filly's skull.

"But I don't have any parents." said Starlight simply.

"What do you mean you don't have any parents?"

"I`m an orphan. I've been an orphan for as long as I can remember. My sister left me as soon as I was old enough to fend for myself. I had to steal food in order to survive because I didn't have any money and I was homeless."

"Oh. Im sorry to hear that. Well, at least youll have a home and plenty of food. Trust me, from now on you`ll be living the high life. You can't get much better than this. It is a castle after all."

"Thanks princess. At least your kind to me."

"Please. Call me Twilight. There really is no need to be formal now that you're my student. However, in public it might be best that you at least called me princess. Otherwise ponies might get angry."

"I understand Twilight. I guess ponies would get pretty mad if I didn't use your proper title in public but what about around the castle?"

"Around the castle is okay. I was just getting to that. Life in the castle is pretty cushy but there is a couple of things I should probably tell you about. First of all, the royal guards that are all over the castle are there to protect you. You have absolutely no reason to be afraid of them. For the first couple of weeks Ill be escorting you around the castle and Ill also inform the Royal Guard that you are my personal protégé and that you have permission to go anywhere. Secondly, I would like for you to stay within the castle walls. Especially at night. Even though Canterlot is full of guards the streets is no place for a little filly like you. Especially now that you're my student. Lastly, although you`ll be dining with the princesses, whenever you enter the dining hall for a meal you must first bow. You will call them by their titles and show them respect. Any questions?"

"Why must I stay within the castle walls? I've been living on the streets of Canterlot night and day for a long time so why should I stay inside the castle?"

"To keep you safe. Now that you're all clean it's time to dry off."

Twilight levitated a towel from the rack and rubbed it around and along the filly's body. Quickly drying it's coat and mane. She hanged the towel up before escorting the filly out of the bathroom and down the hall.

"Twilight. What will you be teaching me?"

"Let's see, Magic, Astronomy, Equestrian History. All kinds of things. We shall begin in the morning. It's time for you to go to bed."

She escorted the filly to an empty bedroom chamber. It had a big four poster bed, lavish curtains that draped against the window and a chandelier that hung in the center of the room.

"I get to sleep here?" asked Starlight.

"Yes. I did say that you would be living in the castle now didn't I? Come on, let me tuck you into bed."

Starlight got snug under the covers of the four poster bed. Twilight levitated the blankets up to Starlight's chin.

"But Twilight, I`m not tired yet."

"Hmm...how about I tell you a story?"

"I would like that very much."

"Alright, how about I give you your first lesson in Equestria History?"

Twilight pulled up a chair and began to tell the tale of how Princess Luna was banished to the moon.

And that is how, Starlight Shimmer became Princesses Twilight Sparkle's protégé. However, they were both completely unaware of the difficulties and challenges lying ahead but most of all, of the evil that lurked the streets of Canterlot at night. The evil that was about to become a threat to the safety of not only one little filly, but all of Equestria.

This is the beginning of Starlight Shimmer's tale..