Chapter 1: Realizations of The Dreaming Mind
We should not moor a ship with one anchor, or our life with one hope.
~ Epictetus ~
When Twilight Sparkle was first offered the position of head researcher at the San Palomino Marina, she wasted no time in turning it down. The very idea seemed all too absurd. The unicorn had already lined herself up with a esteemed seat at one of the most prestigious colleges of magic, her application having been practically gobbled up by the school. She had excelled in all areas during her studies, her multiple degrees highlighting the potential success she would surely receive in her lifetime.
Only a fool would let such a thing as a broken horn keep them from hiring such a promising investment.
But there Twilight was, sitting in front of the dean with her rejected application staring back at her. She had tried finding the words to explain herself, to convince the mare behind the desk that her lack of magical ability would not hinder her teachings, but all the wind had been sucked out of the purple pony's dry throat.
The dean gave a deep sigh to break the silence. "Miss. Sparkle, please do try to understand were we are coming from. You're a promising candidate, but it would be unethical to our student body for you to take up teaching here."
"Unethical?" Twilight finally spoke in a raspy tone, lifting her head in confusion. "What's so unethical about wanting to share my knowledge?"
"Well, your disability would make it difficult -"
"No. No it wound't!" And why would it, Twilight honestly thought. Yes, it was true she could not perform the spells in a visual manner, but blackboards and textbooks could easily fill in the pictures. She'd even given thought to having an assistant help her on occasion; on her own dime no less. Twilight knew she could do the job, was confident in her abilities, so why would anypony else think otherwise.
Taken aback by the sudden outburst from the normally reserved unicorn, the dean huffed in agitation. She pushed the rejected application farther across her desk till it was almost falling off the other side. "Miss.Sparkle, it is my duty to provide the best education I can to the students under my care. You, unfortunately, do no meet the criteria we are looking for. You are intelligent, but intelligence alone will not provide you with employment at this institute."
"But I can do this!" Catching the paper just before it fell, Twilight held it up and pointed. "How can you not see this?"
By now the dean was growing tired of this. Could this broken horn not take a hint? She had already put it as bluntly as she could. "I can see very well, thank you. But that does not change my decision on the matter. Students, those student parents, pay good money in return for the best and most capable teachers provided. This college did not earn it's reputation on hiring those who lack - " The dean coughed, turning her gaze away "- the proper equipment. If you yourself love knowledge the way you say you do, then you know better then to let your own unrealistic ambition get in the way of a child's education. That is, unless my impression of you has been wrong this whole time?"
Twilight was once again caught at the crossroads of breathing in and out as a lump of sour breath settled behind her tongue. This was unbelievable. Anger that had been contained only by the sheer wall of disbelief started to boil under her skin. She had had to deal with a lot of horse manure in her life, but this was a new level altogether. The constant teasing and bulling had been one thing. The pitying looks another. But this horrid indecency, after years of hard work and long studies to make up for that one shortcoming, would finally break the camels back.
It also found Twilight Sparkle being roughly escorted from college premises by two frightfully large security guards. "AND DON'T YOU THINK FOR ONE SECOND I WON'T BE SUING! YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM MY ATTORNEY YOU LITTLE BIT-!" But Twilight didn't quite catch the last part of the dean's yelling as she was tossed out the gate.
"Really? A paper weight?" Sunset Shimmer raised an eyebrow as she tried to hold in her giggle. Her hooves however did a poor job at muffling the sound. "Considering it was you, I of thought a book. Like an encyclopedia or a thesaurus." All hints at hiding the growing smile were abandoned as the fiery haired mare snorted loudly.
Twilight just sank even deeper into her salad, wishing she could drown under a sea of croutons and strawberry vinaigrette. It had been an atrocious response to the situation, she had to admit. Plus, it didn't exactly do anything to change the dean's mind. Apparently giving a pony a black eye was a poor persuasion tactic.
"Oh, hey now." Sunset said, placing a hoof on her friend's shoulder from across the small cafe table. "They were a bunch of bigots anyway. Totally not worth working for. So why worry?"
Twilight tossed her hooves into the air. "Because! It's The Canterlot University of Magical Arts! More then haft of Equestria's best known magical scholars graduated from or taught in those halls! Do you know what it would mean for me to be among them!" Just as she had gotten worked up, Twilight slumped against the table. She made little circles with a hoof. "And now it's all gone for me."
Sunset sat quietly as she watched the bewildered pony. There wasn't much she could say to bring up her spirits. From the time they had first met in magic kindergarten, Sunset Shimmer had been very aware of Twilight's love of all things spell based. Growing up, when most foals would be out in the world playing with others or finding themselves apart of wild shenanigans, Twilight was neck deep in a pile of books. Even though she had self taught herself on all sorts of subjects from the advance techniques of rock farming to the quantum mechanics of chaos, the filly had always been partial to anything pertaining to magic.
Even when adults had tried to steer her away from her passions, Twilight didn't let this quash her curiosity for the world of mana. Just because she couldn't levitate a tea cup or open a door from across a room wound not stop the growing unicorn from doing what she loved.
Yet the day had finally come where even pure love could not overcome such a gigantic hurdle.
If only there was someplace else that was willing to accept Twilight for who she was. Sunset Shimmer almost spat out her water as her memory piqued. "What about the marina?!"
"The marina?" It was Twilight's turn to raise an eyebrow. "In Palomino?"
"Yeah, sure. Why not?"
There was a whole ton of 'why nots'. A multiple story, four bedroom, three baths with a pool list of 'why nots'. Firstly, it wasn't the most prestigious academy in Equestria. Right off the bat, that was a huge difference. Then there was the very importer factoid of it being over 200 hoof-clicks out from Canterlot! 201.78 to be exact. It'd be an impossible commute if she wanted to stick close to home like planned. It was an absolute horrid idea; no arguments needed.
Sunset already had a good guess at the excuses her BFF would conjure up. Her face growing serious, she knew her next words would be harsh, but they had to be said. "Twilight?"
"Hmm?" The purple unicorn had made it pretty far down the mental 'why not' list by now. "Did I daze off again? Sorry."
"Yes, but that's not what I wanted to say. Twilight, you should go to the Marina." The word go was pronounced firmly with emphasis. "It's the only place you can go."
It felt like an anvil had been dropped into the pit of Twilight's stomach. She knitted her eyebrows. "What are you saying, Shimmer?"
"You know what I'm saying." With a quiet sip of her drink, Sunset continued solemnly. "Your whole life has been spent with a singular goal in mind. But you have never - no that's not right - you have refused to see that maybe this goal isn't the one you are meant to aim for. I always wanted to work in the palace, get into politics, have a chance to talk one on one with the princess. But look where we are. Am I strolling in the royal gardens? Rubbing elbows with the elite? No, I'm just some little pony librarian."
"And a great one, Shimmer!"
Shimmer shook her head with a slight smile. "Yeah yeah. But that's not the point. I wanted with all my heart to be up there, standing besides the sun. To be some pony important. But I forgot I didn't have the wings to carry me that high. I'd let my ambitions consume me; turn me into a monster who was willing to shove pass those trying to help in my quest to reach the stars. When I finally fell, I fell hard."
The mare took another water pause. The sharp sting of those day still hurt; the wounds not let fully healed. "For a long time I was angry. Angry at the world, angry at my life, and most of all, angry with myself."
Twilight ears had slowly started to pin back the more she heard. When Sunset Shimmer had moved away for school, she knew the mare had found trouble in her studies. But this? All of this was unknown to the purple unicorn. "H-how come you never told me this before?"
"Shame, mostly. I had humiliated myself. When I came back home I wanted to leave that all behind, start anew. You were that first step."
"Me?" With a blush, it was Twilight's turn to sip from a cup of lukewarm tea.
"I've known you forever, but I never became your friend. Group play dates, project partners, a passing wave in the halls, but that was the extant of it. Yet when I returned, you were the first pony who came over to welcome me home. With a stupid grin from ear to ear, you presented me with a welcome back abacus on my doorstep like it was the best thing this side of the moon. You were so happy for me, even if I didn't have a fancy diploma to show off."
The blush on Twilight Sparkles nose grew cherry red. It had been a really nice abacus.
"What I'm trying to say here Twilight, is that the last thing I want to see is you repeating my mistakes. If I had known my limits before hoof, had reined in that poisoning ambition, taken the helped offered, you and me would not be sitting outside on a beautiful afternoon shooting the breeze. There are days I still long for that old pipe dream, but they soon pass and are replaced with better days spent with my best friend. If I got a second chance to go back and fix my mistakes at the cost of never getting that warm welcome, I don't think I would do it. Do you understand?"
In a sense Twilight did. Sunset feared for her happiness. She was afraid of seeing her go down an ugly road lead on misguided dreams. Not when something better could be waiting. With a hoof to the jagged edge of her horn, the unicorn felt her face grow damp. In one fell swoop everything had changed. "Thank you, Shimmer. I-I needed that."
Sunset puffed out a long held breath while passing over a napkin. As Twilight dabbed at her face, trying not to make a scene in public, Sunset felt a great wash of relief in knowing her reality check had succeeded where others had failed. "Will you at least consider the Marina?"
It might have still seemed somewhat absurd, but Twilight was willing to give it a chance. She would take the time to talk to her parents before writing a reply. This time she would make sure they understood what they were getting, broken horn and all.
Finishing there lunch, Sunset was startled when she realized how late it had grown. She still had to alphabetize a new shipment of books and re-spell the protection hexes on the older tomes. The two mares gave a long, comforting hug, before parting ways.
When Twilight got home that night, she read over that position offer at least a dozen times.
Author's Note
Hey Readers!
Hopefully that wasn't a mess to read. So anyway, welcome to Pearl Essence. For those unknowing, this is a Rar/Twi ship fic. If that's not your thing, then turn away before it's too late.
The funny thing is that I don't even ship this pair that hard. Or any of main six really. I just find it all rather cute and fun to explore. Now that doesn't mean I won't put my heart into portraying the ship the best way I can, but expect to see more story then hardcore romance. And naughty scenes are off bounds, so no worries there.
Oh, and thanks for the life advice Sunset Shimmer! It was tons of fun to write.
Chapter 2: Delays Due To Anxieties
The late arrival of the train did not help ease Twilight's worrying mind. Up until now she had managed to keep her growing doubts in check, shoving every negative thought under a thick mental rug. However, when the loud speakers had announced the delay due to storm debris on the tracks, the unicorn had felt a sudden need to flee. Flee she had, but into the bathroom with her head down the toilet.
When she had finished purging breakfast, Twilight Sparkle dragged her weary body back to the platform. Silently she made apologies to her absent mother, guilty for having wasted the older mare's efforts. All morning she had slaved in the kitchen, shooing away those who did not belong in her space. The end result had been an overzealous menagerie of her daughters favorites dishes. The table setting was more akin to a ballroom banquet then a simple goodwill sendoff.
Twilight had almost voiced how overboard her mother had gone, when she spotted tears in the corners of the graying unicorns eyes. Throughout the last few weeks of packing, Twilight Velvet had happily encouraged and helped her daughter in all the preparations for the tedious move. Not a day had gone by since Twilight had discussed the idea that see hadn't been there for support. A mother's duty was to her children, and Velvet would sooner crawl under the house then slack off.
So respectfully, the younger pony had kept her mouth firmly shut. When she had taken the first bite, Twilight beamed in delight in spite of the burnt bitterness overtaking her taste buds. She would miss her mother's unique cooking despite the years of war she had waged against it. When they had finished, Velvet's tears had not been vanquished but were joined by a beaming smile.
With that loving smile in mind, Twilight hugged the little bit of luggage she had chosen to bring along for the ride. The rest of her belongings had been sent ahead. With a swift survey of the area, Twilight opened one of the bags' flaps. Sticking out of the top was the raggedy yarn mane of her oldest friend. With a gentle touch, she patted the top of the dolls head.
"Smarty Pants?"
Lifting the doll so it's face was visible, Twilight made it do a little nod of false recognition. "Am I doing the right thing?"
Smarty Pants sat stoic, surely calculating the pros and cons of what was happening. She was a clever doll. It said so in the name. And thus it would be unfair of her not to give sufficient thought to Twilight's worried pondering. Even when no pony else had the answers, Smarty Pants always knew just what to do. She was almost, if not more clever then Twilight herself. But right now she was taking her sweet time at answering.
"It's too late to turn back now. Right?"
Nothing. The fabricated mini mare continued her ongoing silence.
"Maybe Mom still needs my help. Isn't it selfish that I'm leaving her all alone like this?"
A gust of bitter wind was the only reply as it raced across the platform. With a shiver, Twilight pulled Smarty Pants closer to her chest. "I'm sure Shimmer would understand."
"Understand What?"
With a whinnying shriek the startled mare did an impressive impersonation of a pegasus during takeoff, her jump having gained impressive height. The harsh crash landing on the other hoof could be considered rude stereotyping. Wide eyed, Twilight laid sprawled on the bench. Had Smarty Pants - the doll - an inanimate object - just talk.
"Twily!" Or maybe not. Poking his head over the back of the bench, Shining Armor wasn't sure what to make of his little sister. "By the goddesses Twily! Are you okay? You look like you just saw the moon first hoof."
With a breath, Twilight blew her bangs from her face in an exasperated sigh. Of course it was Shining Armor. Only a complete imbecile would actually believe it was the doll.
"Twily?"
Taking the outstretched hoof of her brother, Twilight righted herself. She was about to open her mouth and attempt to explain her embarrassment away when the much smaller mare was dwarfed by the crushing hug of the ivory coated stallion. When he finally released her her words were already long lost. "Shining! What are you -" No, it made sense he would come to see her off. That was like him. He'd be a poor big brother best friend forever if he hadn't at least tried. What didn't make sense was how he was able to be here at all. "Why aren't you in the Everfree!?"
"And miss the chance to see my baby sister start a new chapter in her life." With a broad smile, Shining took a seat next to Twilight. "Plus, I was do for a leave anyway."
Twilight narrowed her eyes, the suspicion lost on her brother. He was a Equestrian soldier. As one, he was sworn to his duty and right now that duty was to patrol the edges of the Everfree forest. Yet here he was instead with a dopey grin from ear to ear and seemingly without a care in the world. No way had his superior officers allowed him to trot away from his service without penance. Shining Armor would never abandon his regimen. And though Twilight wished she could believe he was here for her only, that alone would not have persuaded his captain. Plus, Shining had already taken his leave for the year so he could attend that dumb concert; the Rainbooms or whatever they were called.
"Does Mom know your home?" First step in any interrogation; start small.
Shining scratched the back of his head. "Heh, not yet. How mad do you think she'll be?"
"Oh, you know."
"That bad, huh?" The siblings shared a good laugh, both knowing quite well that right after Shining Armor got his tongue lashing from their mother, she would turn right around and lavish him with food and the latest gossip. Not to say that Twilight Velvet could not be downright scary when provoked. Neither of them would forget that fire in her eyes when dealing with any who dare bully, or condone the bulling of, her children.
Twilight could still hear the venom in her mother's voice when a particularly arrogant mare refused to admit that her son had done anything wrong. When Velvet had finished her little parent to parent talk, it was firmly established that the little brat would never spit in any pony's lunches again.
"My little sis...scientist of the sea."
"Marine Biologist" Twilight corrected, her bag clutched against her chest once more. "Though I hardly know why." For it was more then a little strange; ridiculous even, that she would be contacted for a position she had no experience in. If she wasn't the tiniest bit desperate and following a friends advice, she may have had room for more suspicion.
"C'mon Twily! I bet your gonna be the best Marlene Barologist Equestria has ever seen! You'll be so famous, I'll have to be reassigned as your personal bodyguard just to keep the colts at bay!"
Twilight rolled her eyes; first at the intentional butchering of her new job title and secondly at that horrible pun. "And you know this how?"
"Because your Twilight Sparkle."
And the look in her brother's eyes; of pride, admiration, trust and brotherly love was all the proof needed to show that Shining Armor believed in her. Wholeheartedly, he knew that if any pony was capable at overcoming any hurdles in her path, it was his little sister best friend forever.
He had seen her come so far already.
Shining wrapped an arm around the smaller unicorn, pulling her into a hug with a warm chuckle.
"What?" Twilight asked as she leaned into the embrace.
"You look like Mom when you cry." Was his answer.
They'd shared another bout of laughter as Twilight wiped the tears off her cheeks.
Their sibling merriment was cut short though as a whistle sounded in the distance. The loudspeakers of the station came to life as they announced the soon to be arrival of the steam locomotive.
Shining Armor tightened his hug. "I guess that's your train."
"I guess it is." Twilight locked her hooves around her brother.
Said brother ruffled the frazzled mane of his frightened sister. He knew her well enough that is she didn't let go soon he'd end up dragging her to the San Palomino Marina himself. Reluctantly, he started to loosen his embrace. He wasn't sure the next time they would see one another. And do to his postings as a soldiers, mail could take weeks to arrive despite the shaky claims of reliability the Equestria Mail Service advertised.
Twilight knew all this as well. She was heading to a new place with a new job without friends nor family for support. She was alone.
The train rolled in with a clattering of noise. Barely any pony departed from the train, and looking around Twilight realized she was the only one about to board. Collecting her bag, she walked with Shining Armor to the side of the imposing iron horse.
Again they shared yet another hug. It would be their last for a long time and neither wanted to see it end. Yet all things were bound to.
"Take care of yourself Twily." Shining Armor called out as Twilight ascended the steps. "Don't make me have to come out there!"
She didn't want to cry again. She feared if she did she'd take this last chance to jump from the train. Holding back the floodgates, Twilight Sparkle yelled back. "Speak for yourself!"
"All Aboard!" Announced the suddenly appearing conductor as he ushered in his sole passenger. "Please find your seat miss."
With a nod, Twilight did as she was told and entered the car. She found her seat by the window quickly and didn't hesitate a moment before opening up a window. With a loud bellow of the whistle the train lurched forward with a hissing squeal of steam. Waving theirs hooves as the train began to leave the station both siblings called out in unison over the roar of the grinding wheels.
"I love you!"
Putting both of her hooves to her mouth, Twilight had one more thing to add before she was out of earshot. "And good luck with mom!"
In the growing distance she could see Shining slap his face.
With a deep sigh, the purple unicorn did her best to calm her nerves as she settled into the seat. Knowing she had ten hours of sitting ahead, Twilight reached into her bag and plucked out a large stack of books that seemed impossible for the small pack to hold. Before opening the cover of "Courting Behaviors of the Common Clown Fish" authored by Shelly Shoes, she made sure that her traveling companion was just as comfortable.
With Smarty Hooves cuddled between her lap and the tome, the landscape of Equestria raced by outside their window.
Author's Note
Well, this chapter took forever. For that, I apologize. But look! Twilight is on her way finally! Only took over two freaking years !
From this point forward I feel like I can update this regularly so fingers crossed. I have a whole alternate universe to explore and share and I hope some of you will come along for the ride.
Plus romance! Don't forget the romance!
(As always I welcome and accept critique that can help me grow as a writer. I know my portrayals of some characters are a bit "wonky" at times and my grammar and spelling can be downright atrocious. So please help me improve your reading experience by helping me improve my writing. Thank you.)
