Again, wild cheers slowed her progress. Princess Celestia smiled as her students crowded the path ahead of her. The nine hundredth and ninety-ninth Summer Sun Celebration was a smashing success, as usual. Every pony congratulated her on her performance, as usual. There was one member of the group, a colt this time, who asked to help her with the sun one morning, as usual.
But this coming year would be anything but usual...
“My little ponies, thank you for your kind words. And thank you for all your hard work preparing for the festival. You made Canterlot shine as brilliantly as the sun!” They all beamed at her praise. “Now I’m sure I don’t need to remind you that your studies resume tomorrow, so enjoy your freedom while you can.” How many times had she given that little speech today? The students laughed and split up in groups with their friends.
Celestia watched them leave with a feeling of melancholy. She was proud of her school, and all it and its students had accomplished through the years. She had seen students become teachers, teachers become friends, and friends become legends for the next generation of students. Whether they knew it or not, several ponies in the last group that mobbed her were direct descendents of her first class. There was greatness inside every unicorn here.
And none of that meant a thing.
Nightmare Moon would return in one year. All the centuries, all the memories, every test that was taken, every spell that was cast, it all led to Twilight Sparkle. She, and no pony else, was destined to wield the Elements of Harmony. Celestia knew it the moment Twilight passed her entrance exam. There, on this unassuming little filly’s flank, was the symbol that adorned the Tree of Harmony.
Her new student surpassed her wildest expectations. Twilight’s ability to understand and command her gift of magic was extraordinary. But magic alone wouldn’t be enough. Celestia had one more year to teach her prized pupil the true value and magic of friendship. Only with all six Elements could Twilight truly defeat Nightmare Moon. If she failed, Equestria would be shrouded in eternal night and her sister would be lost forever. No pressure, she thought as she began to ascend the long flight of stairs to the school’s library.
Twilight was overjoyed when Celestia told her her studies would begin again one day sooner. Little Spike was away in Trottingham on royal business, so teacher and pupil would have privacy for the day. If only the pupil knew how difficult this lesson would be for the teacher! Twilight was a quiet, reserved pony more at home alone with a stack of books that with a crowd of others. How do you teach a student to change the very core of their being?
Her first lesson, Celestia thought with a smile, will be how NOT to be a recluse. The fewer times she had to make this climb the better. Maybe she should start with Twilight’s cutie mark? She often wondered what her apprentice thought of the five smaller stars around her main symbol. Should she tell Twilight that she needed five other ponies in order to be whole? Celestia laughed at how awkward that sounded. What a thing to drop out of the blue.
There really was no easy answer to her question. She would simply have to be patient and trust her student. There was still time. Celestia had to remind herself that a year was very different to Twilight than it was to her.
She finally reached the door to the library. Celestia took a breath to collect herself and opened it. “Twilight Sparkle? Are you ready to begin?” There was a gasp from above. A pink-striped tail disappeared over the rail of the second floor landing.
Odd. Celestia made her way inside and began climbing up yet more stairs. “I missed you at the banquet this morning. Did you make it to the Celebration?”
“Um, yes. I just...came back here. I had a lot of books to finish.”
Celestia laughed softly. “You should really start reading them one at a time, my dear.” She reached the top and looked for Twilight. “Why don’t you...Twilight, what are you doing?”
Her student was seated in front of a mirror. Twilight gave a meep of surprise and slammed down a small container on her desk. “Just-just putting on some make-up.”
“Make-up?”
“It’s just a little foundation, really.”
Celestia threw back her memory to find any instance of the words “make-up” or “foundation” used in this context in any conversation she had with Twilight Sparkle. She failed. “Why are you putting on make-up? I didn’t even know you owned any.”
“I...just wanted to look ready for my lesson. It was a long night, you know. Oh!” Twilight dashed past Celestia to a pile of books in the corner. She lifted one with her horn and presented it to her teacher. “I finished this fantastic reference guide to the comets. Did you know that astronomers think Mare Bop has its current trajectory because Star Swirl the Bearded tried to drag it down to earth?”
Princess Celestia looked past the book and studied Twilight closely. Not only was her behavior...off, but there was something different about her face. What was it?
Twilight fidgeted under her scrutiny. “Did...did you know that already? I mean, this was the first time I’ve heard about it, and I’ve read all I could find about Star Swirl.”
Ah, there it was! “Forgive me, Twilight. I just noticed that you missed a spot with your make-up.”
Panic ran across her student’s face. “Where?!”
”Everywhere.” Celestia raised a hoof. Twilight flinched, but didn’t look away. Celestia’s hoof rubbed under her right eye and revealed a deep bruise underneath. She shook her head at the sight. An injury such as a black eye was not uncommon in a magic school, but her student’s evasiveness suggested there was more to the story. “Who was it?”
“No pony. It...it was a mistake. It won’t happen again. I don’t-“
“Twilight Sparkle.” Celestia kept her voice soft. She didn’t want to begin the lecture until she had all the facts. “Who was it?”
Twilight made several more brief attempts to dodge the question before slumping in defeat. “It was Sunspot.”
“Sunspot?” She knew the stallion. He was a year older than Twilight, and his studies were almost finished. She never realized the two of them even met. “Why on earth were you fighting with Sunspot?”
Her student shrank and lowered her eyes to the floor. “We-we weren’t fighting. It was a mistake. I promise, it won’t happen agai-“
“Twilight, the two of you are too far advanced in your magic for me to believe an errant spell did this. Tell me what happened.”
Celestia held back a gasp as Twilight looked up at her again. Her eyes were red and full of shame. “Moondancer... Moondancer knew I was here alone last night. She invited me to her Celebration Eve party. Sunspot was there. He was...handsome. Smart. I brought him back here. Alone. He...we...I tried...” Her student fell down and buried her face. Celestia was stunned. This didn’t sound like Twilight. “An hour! We tried for over an hour! I just...couldn’t do it. I wasn’t ready.”
Her voice was cracking. Celestia walked forward and knelt at her side, wrapping a protective wing around her student. She knew where the black eye came from now. Twilight’s body leaned against her own as she choked out the ending to her story. “He shouted. He hit me. He called me a waste of time.”
Celestia listened to the pitiful sobs coming from Twilight Sparkle. Nightmare Moon was gone from her mind. So were the Elements of Harmony. This girl crying under her wing might be the future champion of Equestria, but right now she was a vulnerable young mare who had been hurt in her most intimate moment. She didn’t need a lecture. She needed a friend.
“Twilight,” she began gently, “a true stallion never strikes a mare. All Sunspot did was prove to you that he isn’t worth your time.” The shaking against her body stopped. Like her teacher, Twilight was always quick to control her emotions. Celestia knew from experience that didn’t mean the pain was gone. She reached over and pulled Twilight’s hooves away from her face. “Was this the first time you tried being with a stallion?”
She nodded. “I’m...I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?” Celestia successfully fought to hold back a laugh as she sat up. Twilight followed suit. “You’re sorry for being a young pony? You’re sorry for being attracted to a handsome stallion?” She produced a hoof cloth for her student and summoned over the container from the desk. Twilight dried her eyes and smiled as Celestia reapplied the make-up.
“Twilight Sparkle, do you really think I don’t understand how you felt last night? I have ruled this land alone for a thousand years. Did you think that was possible without receiving a single suitor?”
“N-No, but...really? I’ve never heard anything about suitors before.”
“I didn’t exactly want them remembered. It felt like there was only one real gentlecolt for every thousand who just felt a princess needed a prince. Every season would bring more, year after year, decade after decade. They always had the same lines. ‘How lovely you are,’ they would say. ‘Oh, you control the moon as well? Incredible!’ Flattery wears thin when it’s all you hear.”
Twilight giggled. They had never shared a conversation like this before. “You sound exasperated. Was it that bad?”
“Oh, they only gave up a century or so ago. By the heavens, do you know what it’s like to be courted by the same family generation after generation? I kept telling them, ‘I could have been your grandmother! Your great-grandmother!’ And their sons kept coming!”
Twilight laughed harder. Celestia smiled, shook her head, and got back on track. “It is natural for ponies to seek company with each other. It is a feeling and an experience we all share. But this feeling must be tempered with something else. There is a certain kind of magic that can only be born between ponies through trust and respect. Without that...spark between them, any relationship simply won’t last. Do you understand?”
“What magic is that, Princess?”
“Friendship, my dear student.” Celestia smiled as she finished and looked down at the make-up again. “Honestly though, where did you get this?”
Twilight blushed and looked away again. “I lifted it out of Stardust’s saddlebags. Her coat is similar to mine, and I know she always has some on her.”
Celestia failed to hold back her laughter this time. Mysteriously vanishing objects were even more common that injured students. “Well, I expect Stardust to find this in her saddlebags again sooner or later. Think about what I've said. We can continue our conversation when you join me for dinner in the cafeteria.”
As she expected, Twilight protested. “Princess, I was hiding when I saw Stardust. I can’t show my face out there! Every pony-“
“May or may not know what happened last night. I doubt Sunspot will brag about it. Regardless, there will always be consequences from the choices we make. We must all take responsibility for our actions. I won’t make you face this alone, but you can’t hide from it either.” Twilight lowered her head and nodded. “I’ll meet you at the stairs this evening."
She turned and started making her way down to the first floor. Twilight chased after her. "Wait! What about our lesson?"
Celestia gave her a sly smile. "I've already given you two. Don't tell me you've forgotten?" Twilight smiled back. Celestia made her exit, and let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding when the door closed. That conversation was...unexpected to say the least.
Did she do the right thing? Should she have listened more and talked less? Was that the right time to bring up the magic of friendship? Twilight was brilliant, but she was still young. Would those words be what she remembered about this day one year from now?
You should listen to your own advice. Celestia laughed as she remembered the words, spoken in nearly a dozen voices. Every apprentice she had found an opportunity to throw her own words back at her at least once. She was waiting for the day Twilight would as well. What was it she said? "We must all take responsibility for our actions?" Yes, she could do that.
She loved her student as a daughter, and Twilight was smiling when she left. They found a way to work through her tears and bring her back to herself. Celestia would have a chance later tonight to check on her again. Whatever consequences Twilight faced from last night, Celestia would see her through them. That was all that truly mattered right now.
Now to find Sunspot...