Good Intentions

1
We're so Proud of You, TwiLight SparkLe

They were gathered in the library. All of the six, plus Spike... and the two Princesses who had just entered. It was late.

Twilight worked hard for this. Months of research, months of work... nearly a year's investment and her hard work was finally paying off. She had a few empty cider glasses nearby, but still stood up and bowed when the Princesses approached her. They'd flown all the way once they'd gotten the letter... Twilight never dreamed that they'd come right down, but there they were before her.

Celestia smiled down at her tired student, knowing full well the meaning of what she had done, and what it meant to her to have done it. The Goddess had a rare gift for her student in her brown leather saddle bag, but first she would congratulate her, in front of everypony... over a job well done:

"I'm so proud of you, Twilight Sparkle," she said soothingly. "You've done something so many of my great Scholars and Scientists have only drempt of doing."

"I couldn't have done it without my friends," replied the Unicorn, with a hiccup. "Rarity's gems, Apple Jack's musing about not having enough apples for Pinky's pies... rainbow material donated from the Rainbow Factory, plus all their hard work. They were kind of my muse in all this."

Celestia smiled again along with Luna. Her lessons in humility had paid off. Luna spoke:

"Your journey has only just begun, young one! We hope that hunger in Ponyville and all of Equestria will someday be a thing of the past... perhaps in your lifetime."

"I hope that, too, Luna," said Twilight, as Celestia lifted a long, red crystal from her brown saddlebag with her magic.

"This is for security measure, Twilight," said Celestia, holding the gem high. "This rare gem is as much alive as you or I. Above the cloning machine, anything beneath it will be recorded forever and ever... if somepony enters the lab without your premission, we'll see who just by asking it. It remembers everything it sees, always."

Twilight plucked the gem from Celestia's aura and set it on the table, looking closely... she saw her face in its pale reflection.

"Sleep well tonight, Twilight Sparkle," said Celestia, as she turned towards the door with Luna. "I look forward to reading about how your machine is working in the coming weeks."

"I look forwards to trying it out!"

"Don't work too hard!" said Luna, as they spread their wings. "But work hard enough for results."

"We'll be sure to make sure she gets plenty of rest, Princess!" said Apple Jack, playfully poking Twilight with her hoof. "We'll make sure she gets out, too. Y'all know Twilight... she can get a might carried away with these here projects."

"Oh yeah!" Pinkie Pie churred in agreement. "Last time she got involved in a project, she must've stayed up a whole week! She looked like a spooky zombie when I visited..."

Twilight blushed, remembering that very project. This wasn't fertilizer, though... this was far more exciting.

The Princesses smiled again as they took off, leaving the tipsy ponies to their party in the library.

Twilight had planned a long, fun party... lots of activities with Pinkie at the helm. Everypony fell asleep at the table, and after Spike snuck his first glass of cider ever, he fell asleep too. Not one pony, or one baby dragon, was spared the hangover the following morning. Twilight didn't let it slow her down. She had things to do! This was the way Twilight Sparkle was, and why the Princesses were proud enough to visit her at a moment's notice.