Twilight Sparkle bowed her head as Princess Celestia placed a medal around her neck.
"Twilight Sparkle, I dub you my Royal Court Wizard. Your unprecedented magical ability and your bravery make me proud to appoint you as my most trusted confidante in all matters magical."
"Thank you Princess, it is an honour!"
"The honour is all mine, Twilight Sparkle - uh, what is that knocking noise?"
Twilight Sparkle sat bolt upright in bed, rubbing her eyes. The knocking continued - it was the library door. Twilight looked out of the window and the sun was rising. It was a beautiful morning. She then looked at her clock. 7.15 AM.
"Who in Equestria would wake me up at this hour? Urgh! Okay, okay, I'm coming!"
Twilight galloped downstairs, her mane looking bedraggled from sleep and she opened the library door to be greeted by a fraught looking Rainbow Dash who had a towel around her waist.
"Twilight! You gotta help me! I'm dying!"
Her friend cocked her head. Rainbow Dash didn't look like she was dying.
"Rainbow Dash, what is the matter? Come inside!"
Rainbow Dash stepped in, panting and flopped onto the floor of the library dramatically.
"Help me, Twilight! Argh! I'm too young to die!"
Twilight looked cross. Was this one of Rainbow Dash's pranks? If so, it wasn't in very good taste...
"That's enough Rainbow Dash, calm down and tell me what is the matter!"
"Under the towel... please, help!"
Twilight walked up to Rainbow Dash who was lying on her side on the floor and used her magic to lift the towel slightly. Peering cautiously underneath, Twilight could see that under Dash's tail was a fair amount of blood.
"You are kidding me right, Rainbow? This is what you are panicking about?"
Rainbow Dash looked upset.
"What's wrong with me Twilight? Am I going to die?"
Twilight sighed and then smiled. She offered her hoof to Rainbow Dash, motioning for her to stand up.
"No, Rainbow. You aren't going to die... well, not today anyway. Haven't you umm.. well didn't you pay attention in biology classes in school?"
Dash stood and shivered.
"Buh...well... I think so? C'mon Twilight, what the hay is happening to me!"
Twilight hugged Rainbow Dash and ushered her to sit down on the couch. Twilight's horn glowed as she put the kettle on and made a cup of tea for her friend.
"Rainbow Dash, you are having a period... your period... your menstrual cycle."
"My what?"
"I'm surprised you haven't had one before... you have reached the age where you are able to breed, Rainbow Dash."
Twilight gave Rainbow Dash the cup of tea and magicked a book from the shelves. It was called 'Marehood: A guide for foals and parents'. Twilight flicked to a chapter and sat down with Rainbow to show her the book's contents.
"Look here Rainbow Dash. When we fillies get to certain age we start to be able to breed. See this diagram? We have an egg once a month inside us, and when it doesn't get used, it gets flushed out of our body with some blood. The blood is the lining inside us on which the egg 'waits' for something to happen."
"So, I'm not going to die? It's... perfectly normal?"
"Completely! You can take this book and it will explain everything. But Rainbow Dash, how come you came to me and not to the clinic?"
Rainbow Dash looked sheepish and sipped at her tea.
"Well... it's just... I really thought I was going to die... and if I'm going to die then I want to die with my friends..."
Twilight squeaked and hugged Rainbow Dash. It was the cutest thing she had ever heard her say - even though it was slightly morbid.
"Oh Rainbow Dash, you should never worry so much about something! But I am so glad you came to me."
The two ponies talked a while and Rainbow Dash relaxed as she began to understand. Twilight explained along with the book and its pictures how to deal with this messy biological visitor so that life didn't have to be put on hold a few days a month.
That evening, long after Rainbow Dash had gone home to have a bath and come to terms with her body's new behaviour, Twilight Sparkle wrote a letter to Princess Celestia.
"Dear Princess Celestia,
I've decided to start a pony support group where once a week in the library, ponies can come and learn, discuss and read about things that may worry them; friendship, relationships, the transition from being a foal to a young adult mare or stallion, health worries and other such issues which can be difficult to discuss.
I was surprised today that one of my friends was unaware of many of the strange things that happen when a filly becomes a mare. Not everypony is lucky enough to have had the education that I had - and this made me wonder how many other young fillies and mares have worries, problems and conundrums which they need help with.
I hope with this group, myself and others can stop anypony feeling alone and confused about their body, their feelings or just life in general! And maybe I will learn a few things about the magic of friendship too!
Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle"
"Dear Twilight Sparkle, my most faithful student.
What a wonderful idea! This type of service is most common in the larger cities, in fact I have performed the royal opening of a number of support centres in both Canterlot and Fillydelphia. I would love to attend the official opening, should you successfully implement this idea, and should you wish me to of course!
I think your commitment to helping other ponies shows just how much you have learned about the magic of friendship during your time at Ponyville!
It is important to remember that no matter how talented, or brave, or athletic a pony is, they will remembered more for the feats they performed which helped others, than the feats which helped themselves.
I am very proud of you and look forward to hearing how this idea progresses.
Your friend and mentor,
Princess Celestia"
Rarity and Twilight Sparkle always enjoyed their Tuesday morning breakfast at the Hay Barn Cafe. It was not very often they had a chance to hang out alone together, what with Twilight's studies and work at the library, along with Rarity's hectic schedule at the Carousel Boutique. Rarity always had the hottest gossip and it was one of Twilight Sparkle's guilty pleasure hearing all about the latest scandals.
"Oh Twilight, you simply will not believe what I saw yesterday!", a cheeky glint appearing in Rarity's eyes.
Twilight sipped her tea and nodded expectantly.
"Remember that silly doll you had a little problem with... the one you charmed so everypony wanted it?"
Twilight rolled her eyes.
"Urgh... don't remind me... that day really was one to forget."
"Well, Big Macintosh has it. I saw him playing with it, grooming it's mane and talking to it. What a poofter!"
Twilight Sparkle gasped.
"Rarity! That is a horrible thing to say! Big Mac is just... shy and a little sheltered, that is all. I did wonder where Smartypants went... I'm glad she has a new home."
Rarity smiled and nodded.
"I'm sorry. You are right darling, that was mean of me. But such a big, handsome stallion, playing with dolls. Whatever in Equestria happened real stallions?"
Twilight didn't really like talking about a good friend in this manner and Rarity could tell, moving on to another subject.
"Anyway darling, there is something maybe you can help me with... You know Vaccination Day is coming up, right?"
"Oh! Yes, it is about that time of the season. I remember lining up terrified in Canterlot as a filly, backside in the air and waiting for the needle..."
"As do I, Twilight! Simply horrible. But after all those weeks of worrying about it... it was just a little pin-prick in the bum!"
Twilight laughed. No pony likes vaccinations but all the worrying over a small injection was silly.
"We're a little old for Vaccination Day, Rarity. How can I help with it?"
"Oh Twilight, it's Sweetie Belle. She is simply terrified. She says she feels nauseous and dizzy just thinking about it. Not only is she worrying about the pain of the injection, she is petrified that she might faint and embarrass herself in front of all her school friends."
"Poor Sweetie Belle... you've told her it doesn't hurt that much right? Has she spoken to her little friends about it?"
Rarity sighed dramatically.
"Yes and yes. But nothing is comforting her... the poor darling."
Twilight pondered and rubbed her brow.
"It is a tricky one... but I think I know one way of dealing with irrational fears. It is called exposure therapy. You introduce the pony to the object they fear and by becoming familiar with it, they should become less fearful."
"Oh? That does sound interesting. But doesn't that mean we would have to prick her with a needle over and over?"
Twilight grinned at the thought of it. That certainly wouldn't help matters.
"Nope! She is fearful of the needle itself. We can just show her the needle, explain how it works and that should be enough to calm her fears."
"Twilight, you really are a font of knowledge! If you could arrange this, I will be eternally grateful. Let me pay for this breakfast."
The two ponies left the cafe and headed for work, full of tea and hay.
The next day, Rarity and Sweetie Belle arrived at the library. Rarity had explained to Sweetie Belle and despite her initial scepticism, had agreed that it was worth a try - after all Twilight Sparkle was the cleverest pony she knew.
"Oh good morning Rarity, Sweetie Belle. How are you girls today?"
Rarity and Sweetie Belle sat down on the comfy couch in the centre of the library.
"I'm nervous Twilight... but Rarity said I have to be a brave pony, right?"
She managed a smile for her big sister as Rarity patted her sibling's mane.
Twilight trotted downstairs carrying with her magic, a little black case.
"So, Rarity explained that we think just showing you the syringe or 'needle' might help you be less afraid."
Sweetie Belle nodded.
"Uh-huh..."
"Twilight darling, where did you get a syringe from so quickly?", asked Rarity.
"Pinkie Pie had one... in fact she had quite a few. I do worry about that pony sometimes..."
Sweetie Belle sat up and tried to steel herself. She eyed the black case as Twilight placed it on the table.
"So... it's in there, right?"
Twilight nodded and opened the case. Sweetie Belle closed her eyes... opened one... and then the other. Inside the case was a plastic syringe, the needle of which around half an inch long. Sweetie Belle laughed.
"So that's it? I thought it was going to be huge! Everypony in school said it was big and scary!"
Twilight and Rarity smiled to each other. Twi used her magic to take the syringe out and placed it on the table near Sweetie Belle.
"That's right Sweetie Belle. The vaccination only needs to go slightly under your skin so there is no need for a big needle. In fact, see how fine the needle is? You hardly feel it. And once it is done, you'll never have to have it done again and you'll never have to worry about catching Pony Pox!"
"Awww.. fiddlesticks. I feel really silly now."
Sweetie Belle smiled and hugged Twilight Sparkle.
"I'm really sorry I made such a fuss over such a tiny needle. I'm gonna be brave tomorrow and even if it hurts... pah! I won't cry. I'll be brave for you and my big sis."
Both Rarity and Sweetie Belle kissed Twilight on the cheek. Seeing them together, Twilight kind of wished she had a sister when she was growing up. Now she was older she had five friends who were as close to her as sisters and she didn't feel so lonely.
The next day, Twilight received a letter, hoof-written in crayon.
Dear Twilight Sparkle,
Thank you for helping me yesterday to face my fears. You are the smartest pony I know and so kind. I was the bravest in school! And it only hurt a little. And I didn't cry because I knew it was important to have and worth a little pain! Rarity is so proud of me and I couldn't have done it if you hadn't helped me.
You are the best pony!
Sweetie Belle xoxoxox
