Chapter 4

I woke feeling warm and safe, and when I opened my eyes, Cross was next to me, snoring lightly with her hooves resting on my back. I smiled and sighed contently, then snuggled closer, closing my eyes again, but when I opened them, it wasn’t Cross.

Twilight was looking back at me, snoring like a horse, and her hooves felt cold and unwelcome.

I shot backwards and ended up falling on the floor. “Ow,” I said, rubbing my bottom. I looked up to find Twilight still sound asleep. I stared at her, a little astonished at how heavy a sleeper she was.

I slept in Twilight's bed! I thought, slowly moving away. The wood floor felt cold against my hooves. I looked around for anything to warm them up and spotted a pair of small slippers. They were bright pink, which clashed against my mane, but I liked functionality over fashion anyday. When I moved to put them on, I hesitated. These weren’t mine.  I noticed another, bigger blue pair of slippers next to Twilight’s bed, and decided. You asked her to let you do that. I knew, but I was under distress at the time, and any warm body would have done the trick, but Cross’s would have been perfect. I quickly put on the slippers and made my way downstairs.

I walked to the door, passing the pile of clothes I originally used as a bed. It housed something sleeping, and purple. I left, but stopped, and looked back. She had calmed me down and I slept great with her, I thought. “Alright, she deserves to know I’m safe.” I said, going to the kitchen table, where, thankfully, a set of pen and paper lay ready for me.

It was almost too convenient, but I let it pass and picked up the pen in my mouth.

Dear Twilight I wrote, my penmanship not the best, but still legible. Thank you for last night, it was very nice of you to let me sleep in your bed, but I need to leave. Celestia said she’d tell me the last thing I need to know before I can go home. I’m afraid we will never see each other again.

Crystal.

I forwent the your friend because she wasn’t my friend. I had no friends.

After setting the note in an obvious spot I left, taking the slippers with me. A gift to remember her by.

It was still early, and I found myself yawning, almost slipping down the stone stairs, thankfully, there was an hoofrail. I was more than tempted to sneak back into Twilight’s bed to sleep some more. At least it wouldn’t be this cold, but I ignored it.  I was a morning pony and would wake up eventually. Twilight’s slippers helped though.

I passed through the second door about five minutes later and walked down the same hallway Celestia lead me through last night. The sun was barely up and it was clear that it had rained overnight, mud puddles mixed with morning dew and a low fog had rolled in. No doubt in my mind it’d evaporate before ten, but for now it lingered.

I yawned again, almost at the other side of the bridge, and shook my head to help wake up. I saw a few maids in uniform not too far away.

“Are you lost?” A light yellow mare asked as the unlocked one of the many unoccupied rooms. She had an anxious look about her.

I nodded, “do you know where the princess is?”

“I saw her in the garden, but it’s six in the morning, you should go back to bed.” The maid pointed through the window where a bunch of statues and hedges lay.

“I’m fine,” I said, grumbling a little.

“Alright, just don’t hurt yourself,” the maid went back to her work, “if you do, there’s a nurse two hallways down.”

“Okay!” I shouted and ran off.

It took me twenty minutes to find my way to the garden, I could see it, tantalizingly close, but couldn’t find how to safely get there. When I did, I noticed Celestia’s body looming over a small hedge… in the grass. I’d ruin the slippers if I walked in it, but if I took them off my hooves would get wet and muddy!

I stood at the edge of the stone walkway, shuffling nervously. “I need to take a shower anyway,” I told myself, and took off the slippers, put them on my back, hoping they would fall off, and ran to Celestia.

The mud stuck to my fur, but felt kind of refreshing, like a mud bath in a spa. Those are really good for your skin. I headed towards the princess, going as fast as I could. I wanted this out of the way, get a shower and head home as fast as possible.

“CELESTIA!!!” I shouted, as I ran to her, interrupting her conversation with a gray stallion with a tuxedo. The two of them wore rain boots that went up to their knees, keeping the mud away while they got their business done. I skidded to a halt in front of the white alicorn, bypassing their precautions and getting mud on Celestia’s belly and side, as well as a speck of mud on the stallion’s tuxedo. “Celestia, can you tell me what you needed to? I want to go home.”

“Crystal!” Celestia said, wiping the stallion’s coat without a second thought. “Why are you up? It’s six in the morning.” I could barely hear the concern in her voice.

“That doesn’t matter, just say what you have to so I can go home.” I pressed my dewy and mud caked hooves against her pristine coat, getting a gasp from the stallion.

“How dare you stain the princess’s coat?” the stallion shouted, raising his hoof. “I’ll give you a wallop for that.” I didn’t even flinch as his hoof connected not with me, but with a yellow shield.

“There will be no wallops given,” Celestia said, “and Crystal, you will go back to bed this instant.”

“No!” I pressed my hooves deeper into her coat.

Celestia glared at me, “Crystal, I’m not asking you,” she put a hoof on my chest and pushed me to the ground, making me drop the slippers. “I am ordering you to go back to bed. I’ll tell you what I have to tell you when it’s right for me, now be patient.”

“No!” I shouted, struggling to pick up the slippers before any mud got on them. When they were safely on my back again I looked up, equally as angry. “And what if I don’t?”

“Then I’m sure Sir Gallant would be more than happy to give you a wallop.”

I looked at the stallion. The look in his eye meant death. Celestia wasn’t kidding, and I didn’t feel like being assaulted this morning. I looked back at Celestia, a devilish grin sticking out like a sore thumb. She was serious.

I backed away slowly, eyeing the yellow shield for any sign of disappearing. “Okay, I’ll leave, but promise me you’ll tell me what you have to today? I have to see my mom. “

“I will, now go, and tell Twilight to give you a bath.”

I nodded, but had no intention of going back to Twilight’s room. “Okay.” I tripped on the stones, tried to shake off as much of the mud  as possible, then headed in the direction of the bridge.

As I left there was a loud ‘smack’ coming from the direction of the garden, followed by Celestia yelling at the stallion. I smiled a little.

When I felt I was a safe enough distance away I took a left and headed to the front gate. I’d get out here... one way, I thought.

“Are you alright, Little Miss?” a brown earth pony maid said. “It’s awfully early for a filly like yourself to be up. Do you perchance need some guidance back to your room?”

I groaned, not even ten minutes passed since I left Celestia that another maid stopped me.

“I’m trying to go home, could you tell me where the front gate is?” I asked, noticing another maid, a green unicorn with a braided mane standing besides the first.

“Oh it’s north of… oof” The maid grunted when the other jabbed her in the side. “I mean, I don’t know where it is, but I would be more than happy to escort you back to your room. It’s much too early for a filly to be awake.”

She started moving towards me, hooves outstretched. I panicked a little and ran in the opposite direction.

“Good going, Nut Job, you scared her off!” I could hear tidbits of the maid’s conversation until it all faded into the background.

I spent the next thirty minutes aimlessly wandering around the castle. I asked three more sets of maids for directions, but all they gave me was “to the north” before the other jabbed them. It amused me how there was a slight ditz always coupled with a smarter mare. Maybe they did that for a reason?

Finally, after getting sick of looking at cobblestone and waltzing across elegant bridges, I saw the front gate. I wanted nothing more than to put the slippers back on, but I didn’t want to get them any muddier than absolutely necessary.

Staring over the railing, I saw the stairway that connected the main courtyard with the castle wall. A grand staircase that spanned at least twenty meters, and would make me look quite small. There were two guards win gold armor posted in front of the gate. The last thing between me and freedom.

I headed down the grand staircase, feeling as small as I looked. One point I turned around and looked at the castle itself, my jaw dropping in awe.

It was the first time I saw Canterlot castle like this and had to take a few steps back to get the grand scale of it. It was a modern marvel, standing a total of three hundred meters high with four towers at each corner. I took a moment to see the tallest tower, where no doubt, Twilight still slept, and looked over at the slippers. Sighing, I promised to take good care of them and if I ever saw Twilight again, give them back.

Be it by luck or stupid coincidence, I hadn’t met any of the guards on their patrols around the castle. The two guarding the gate were my first, and oh my did they look terrifying. Big burly pegasi clad in two inch thick gold armor, both holding a spear. I shook in my mud boots.

I must have looked like a mess to them, mud half way up my legs and two pairs of slippers on my back, also trounced by mud. My face and body had been splashed but otherwise was still white.

“Halt,” one guard said in a deep, intimidating voice. He lowered his spear so the point faced me.

I stared, a mixture of dumbfoundedness and utter terror coursed through my veins. I saw the tip of the spear, sharpened to the point that it could skewer me without a care of my vital organs or skeleton.

“Private!” the other guard shouted, smacking the spear pointer in the face, making me jump back in fright as the guard tumbled. “Fillies are not you enemy! If you ever do that again, you're fired," the still standing guard turned to me, "Sorry about that, are you alright.”

I looked left, then right, my limbs were still there, and I still breathed. “Yeah, I didn’t wet myself so I should live.” There was a chuckle before the guard stated in a much kinder tone.

“State your business please.”

I stood as proudly as my shaking body could, chest stuck out and head held high. “I wish to exit through this gate, sir.”

The guard eased, and smacked his companion in the head with the butt of his spear. “State your name.” his voice boomed, but he still sounded much kinder than the other guard had.

“Crystal Agate. My sister has…” I felt a tear sting the corner of my eye, but pulled it back, “passed and I wish to receive… a hug from my mother.”

The guard looked left and right, as if he saw something threatening, then looked back at me, and smiled, warmly. He leaned forward and gave me a quick hug. “I am greatly sorry Miss Crystal Agate, let me look through my list.” He opened a saddlebag that lay next to him and pulled out a white piece of parchment. After a few seconds of scanning the paper, his faced dropped slightly. “I’m sorry Miss Crystal, but I can not allow you to leave, Celestia herself says you are to stay a while longer. Why don’t you go get a maid to give you a bath and tuck you in, it’s still really early and fillies shouldn’t be up.”

“No!” I shouted, “No, No, No, NO!” I stomped my hoof, screaming, “I will not go back to the castle, Celestia doesn't know what’s best for me. I need my mommy!”

The guard flinched, but returned to his stoic position, putting away the parchment. “I’m greatly sorry Miss Crystal, but my hooves are tied. Your choices are simple, either get a bath from a maid and get some rest, or I’ll take you to the dungeon until Celestia’s ready for you.”

“T-The dungeon?” my voice cracked and I took a step back. “I-I’m not a bad pony… I don’t deserve the… dungeon.”

“No, you are not a bad pony, now run along and find a maid. You can hug your mommy when you are clean and well rested.”

“R-Right… clean and well rested." I turned and walked away, looking back at the guard as he helped his friend up before slamming him to the ground again, screaming so loud that I had to cover my ears.

That’s when I saw it.

A tree, two actually, planted symmetrically next to the gate, and one looked climbable. My resolve hardened again. I would have gone back to Twilight and followed through with Celestia’s and the guard’s orders, but not anymore.

Instead of taking the stairs, I turned left, walking alongside the castle wall. When I was confident that the guards weren’t looking at me anymore, I swerved onto the muddy courtyard. Dodging through cover, I slowly made my way to the tree, formulating a plan to climb it without the guards noticing.

Finally I reached the base and climbed up the first branch. The top of the wall was three more branches up, and I had started to feel really tired, probably after walking aimlessly around the castle for nearly an hour, but I locked onto my goal and climbed up to the second branch, flinching as it swayed.

“What was that?” one of the guards said.

“Just a squirrel, focus Private.”

Thank god, I thought, moving to the third branch. When I reached the fourth, I looked down at the city of Canterlot. It was barely awake, no lights, hardly any ponies wondering, but that was good.

I shimmied over to the edge and looked down, my heart freezing. It was at least ten meters down, easily high enough to crush my bones on impact… but I steeled myself. Mom had to know about Cross by now, and Mom was probably worried sick about me.

Factoring in the soft mud at the bottom  and how I’d tuck and roll to bleed away the energy I took a deep breath and jumped.

“CRYSTAL!”

The scream threw me off balance, and my relaxed position stiffened, dramatically increasing my chances of breaking a bone. Fear took over, making me stiffer than a board and I screamed as well.

Then I was floating above the courtyard in a purple glow. I turned around, feeling nothing but air, and saw a purple unicorn glaring hotly at me. When I was finally next to her, her expression softened and she wrapped her hooves around my muddy form.

“What were you thinking!” she shouted, “You could have killed yourself!”

“No I couldn’t have, the drop was only ten meters, and my mom needs to see me!” I could hear armor clanking up the steps, then blushed as the same guard waltzed up to Twilight.

“What happened, Miss Sparkle? We heard a scream and…” he stopped when Twilight smacked against his helmet.

“What happened was that you two imbeciles forgot one of the most important rules when dealing with a filly or colt.”

“Ma’am?” the guard shook, his head swaying back and forth and eyes rolling in their sockets.

“You are to escort a filly or colt… escort, not tell her to go find a maid…” Twilight glared at him and I could see her hoof shaking, begging to make contact with his exposed neck. “Do I need to bring up the Saddle Arabian filly that almost died because of you negligence?”

“Don’t ignore me!” I screamed, thrashing in Twilight’s magical grasp.

She turned to me, and I could see her harsh expression softening, then kissed my forehead. Aches I didn’t know I had bubbled up to the surface and my eyes grew heavy. My body went limp and I fell into a deep sleep.

When I woke I was back in Twilight’s bed, wrapped tightly in her embrace, which felt warmer this time. Her breath and heartbeat soothing me. I looked down to see all the mud cleaned off. She had given me a bath? Or was it a maid? I thought, knowing in my heart that it had been Twilight, she seemed so… worried about me. She actually cared about my well being, or is it just a facade to please her mentor…

My thoughts were interrupted by a raging need to pee. I jumped around in the bed, trying to hold it in.

“Crystal?” Twilight said, her eyes opening. I looked into them, and behind her glaze of sleep, a spark of… honest worry. My heart lurched and I almost lost control right in the bed.

“Bathroom!” I shouted, moving my hooves to my filly parts to help keep it in.

“Oh, right!” Twilight’s eyes shot open and she lept out of bed, carrying me in her magic, yet again, to the bathroom on the second floor… a second floor I didn’t know existed.

I barely made it, and Twilight watched me go. Yet, I wasn’t embarrassed, just relieved. When I finished, Twilight flushed the toilet and lead me back to the bed. I saw the pink slippers, clean as when I found them, and paused, blushing… tears threatening to spill.

“Come on, Crystal, hop up?” Twilight said, looking at me with those worried eyes.

“I-I’m sorry!” I shouted, before bursting into tears.

“Crystal!” Twilight shouted, magicking me to her lap where she pulled me into a hug. “What’s wrong? A-are you hurt? Is it your sister… It’s your sister, oh I’m so sorry!” she rocked me, apologizing again and again.

“No,” I said, tears choking my words, “it’s not my sister… I’m sorry about s-scaring you.” I buried my head into her chest, trying to stop crying, and I succeeded a little. “I could have killed myself jumping off that tree… you saved me, and now you’re hugging me, even though I’m not your problem.”

        “You’re no one’s problem, Crystal, I’m used to caring for children, well, a little used to it. Everytime a dignitary comes with a child, I’m the one that looks after it. Celestia can’t and there’s no daycare here at the castle for royalty.” She broke the hug and looked me in the eye, wiping a few tears away, giving me a warm feeling inside. She cares. “I’ve taken care of three fillies, one from Saddle Arabia, one from Neighpon, and now you, and don’t worry about your escape attempt, the guards are to blame for their lack of a brain.”

I giggled a little, “they were supposed to escort me… weren’t they.”

“Yep, so don’t worry about a thing.”

I looked at Twilight, her eyes so pure and kind, and her fur so soft and warm… she cares about me, truly cares. “H-How did you figure out I was gone?” I asked, a little nervously, “you didn’t wake up after I fell out of bed.”

“Celestia came in and told me.”

I should have figured it’d be her fault… but I can’t complain. I wasn’t in my right mind and should have been patient, Mom would understand.

“I guess you gave me a bath as well?”

“Yep, you were so cute too,” Twilight pulled me into a another hug, “you made the most adorable squeaks when I tickled your belly.”

“A-And the slippers,” I said, trying to hide my blush.

“Oh, a maid took care of those, they’re yours. A gift from me to you.”

“H-Huh?” I looked up, “why would you give me a gift? We just met? I thought I was stealing them.”

“Nope, they’re all yours, kind of my apology for last night.”

“Last night?” I wracked my brain. “Oh, you were an inconsiderate piece of shit.”

“Don’t use that kind of language missy, I let you off once because I was being inconsiderate and you were emotionally unstable.”

“Sorry,” I quickly chided, “and thank you.”

“Good, now lets get something to eat.”

I jumped when my stomach grumbled, then followed Twilight out of the room.

The sun was much higher in the sky this time, and just as I predicted, the fog was gone. Walking onto the bridge felt much warmer and the birds chirping sounded much better. I stopped in a pool of sunlight, enjoying its warmth on my fur. It wasn’t long until Twilight saw me.

        “Crystal, come over here,” she said, motioning me wither her hoof. I trotted over, sitting right in front of her like a filly in front of her teacher. “You’re lagging behind, stay close so you don’t get lost.” she had a goofy grin and I got worried for a second, but when she moved on, I followed.

        About two minutes later, two mares, one a blue unicorn wearing  a turtleneck and a green pegisi wearing a tuxedo. They stopped and stared at Twilight, then saw me… and bowed.

        “Twilight!” I said, “why are they bowing?” I crept closer to her, actually scared.

        “Little Miss,” one of the mares said, “we’d like to welcome you to Canterlot, and hope that your stay with Miss Twilight is a warm one.” The two stood and looked at me. “Where do you hail from?”

        I looked at Twilight, who looked back with a soothing smile. If she’s calm, then I should be,

I looked at Twilight, who looked back with a soothing smile. If she’s calm, then I should be,  I thought, then stood firm, head held high just like with the guard. “I come from Can…” I paused. If I say that I’m from Canterlot then the mares would run away, angry with me. If they’re angry, then Twilight might be angry. I didn’t want Twilight to be angry with me, so I had to lie.

“I… I mean, I hail from the… Crystal Empire.”

“And your name?” one said, smiling.

“I am Crystal Agate,” I looked to Twilight, who stifled a giggle and added, “heir to the throne. Call me… Princess Agate, if you may.”

“Of course, Princess Agate, my name is Winter Blossom,” the blue mare said, “and my counterpart is Summer Bloom. If you need anything during your stay let us know.”

“Thank you, Summer Bloom and Winter Blossom,” I said, bowing myself. “I will.”

I watched the two go, and the second they turned a corner, Twilight burst into a fit of giggles. “That was beautiful, Crystal,” she said, holding her gut. “Crystal Empire! That place doesn’t even exist!” She rolled on the floor, and her laughter soon spread to me.

Eventually we both rolled on the floor unable to control our laughter. I did good I thought. I made Twilight happy. Suddenly I stopped laughing and looked over at Twilight. Her laughter was warm, and she never insulted Winter and Summer’s intelligence. She was smart and kind, but why did I want to make her happy?

I stood there, confused. Twilight’s laughter ended and she looked at me. “Wanna ride on my back?” She said, giving me a smile.

“Yes!” I said before I even thought about the question. She pulled me up with her magic and I wrapped my hooves around her neck almost instinctively. “Hold on, I don’t want you falling off.”

“Okay, Big Sis.”

“Huh?”

I blinked… then blushed, “Twilight… Okay, Twilight.”

Twilight just shrugged before heading off. Where did that come from? I clutched her neck, trying to keep from choking her. I don’t know… my sister is gone, and Twilight’s just a caregiver. Someone obligated to care for me, nothing special… yet.I sighed, breathing in Twilight’s scent. Warm and welcoming, like my sister. Her mane tickled my nose.

        The breakfast hall was sparse at this time, but a few of the late rising nobles ate quietly by themselves.

        I looked around the room for any sign of Celestia, but she was no where to be seen, not on her throne behind a larger table in the back of the room, or at least that’s where I thought the princess would sit.

        “Do you want to sit at the big table or a small one?” Twilight said, noting the countless free circle tables open.

        “A… A small table,” I said, my voice a little shaky, “no point in ponies thinking we’re better than them.”

        Twilight smiled and rubbed my mane… it felt great. “Good girl, you’re so much better than any of the other fillies I’ve taken care of, so mature.” she cooed and I blushed. “You pick the table, and I’ll grab us some food, how about that?”

        I nodded and she set me down. “I’ll be right back, don’t go running off again.”

        “I-I won’t… and I’ll pick the best table ever.” Again, I stuck my chest out, proud.

        “I bet you will.”

        I picked the table farthest away from the food line, that was I could think about Twilight.

        How could I act like that in front of her? I mean. I’ll pick the best table ever? They’re all the same! Made from the same hickory wood, same dimensions, same number of chairs, same everything. Saying I’d pick the best table is the most childish thing I’ve ever done, yet, it’s not… but… I only acted childish around Cross… my big sis.

I sniffled, then put my head down to hide from the few prying eyes. To say that I missed my big sister would be understatement of the year. Twilight understood, yes, but there’s no way she could really know how much it hurt. That’s something you have to experience first hoof.

I silently cried into my hooves, glad I picked such an isolated table. Now no one would hear me cry.

The sound of two plates landing on the table made me jump, and I looked up to see Twilight looking at me, her eyes soft and inviting. She sat in the chair besides mine and pulled me into a hug. “You miss her, don’t you?” she said, her voice sweeter than sugar.

“I… I never got to… say goodbye,” I said between hiccups. I could feel her stroking my side, trying to comfort me, and nuzzled her, thankful.

“Well, I’ll bet that she’s crying too. She didn’t get to say goodbye to you either.”

“That’s not what I want to hear, Twilight!” I shouted, glaring up at her.

“Sorry, I’m not the best at comforting others.” She looked at me, rubbing the back of her neck and gave a nervous laugh. “Do you want me to feed you? That’s comforting.”

“No,” I snapped. I got up and stole one of the plates of eggs and pancakes. Before I ate though, I saw how sad Twilight got. She’s trying her best,I thought. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be, I’m supposed to be the adult here,” she took her own plate, then looked at it for a long time. “I just wish I could help more. I hate it when innocent fillies suffer!” she stabbed the fork into her three tender pancakes, breaking the plate in half. “It’s so cruel, Equestria is known for its peace, yet fillies like you have to deal with the loss of loved ones and I’m here at the castle with my brother all happy. It’s not fair.”

I stared at her. Her outburst caught the attention of three of the nobles and one waiter, who quickly waltz over. Just the way she said that made me smile.

“Miss Sparkle, are you going to pay for that plate?” The waiter said, sticking his nose in the air.

“She didn’t mean to!” I shouted. “She didn’t mean to break anything.”

“It’s alright, Crystal,” Twilight said, motioning for me to calm down. “I can fix it anyway.” Twilight’s horn lit and a purple aura surrounded the plate. There was an indescribable sound for a few seconds then Twilight lifted the plate high. “See, not a scratch.”

“Now go away!” I shouted. The waiter did so, but threw me an angered look before hoof. When he was safely back in the kitchen I looked at Twilight. “that was pretty cool.”

“Thanks, I can fix shattered pottery, had to once when I dropped the vase Celestia got from her mother over a thousand years ago.”

“She must have been pretty mad” I said, chuckling.

“You don’t want to know.”

I giggled, and we ate in peace. When we finished, we thanked the waiter for the meal and headed back to the library.

I sat on Twilight’s bed, as she made it. I expected her to just throw the covers on top of me and make me wiggle out, but she lit her horn and the blankets appeared under me, like I wasn’t even there. I had to stare for a few seconds before realizing it actually happened.

“How did you do that?” I asked.

“Magic!” Twilight sat next to me, resting her head on my back. The pressure it brought was very comforting, and I had to fight the urge to rub her star studded flank with my own head. “so what do you want to do while we wait for Celestia?”

I hesitated. I could feel a lump grow in my chest. Throughout the walk back I had this thought, no, this want, and needed to ask her. It was stupid, and she’d never agree to it, but I had to ask.

“You remember when you broke that plate? How you wanted to help me more?” I said, my breathing quickening.

“Yeah, do you have any ideas?”

“Well, kind of.” I didn’t rub it, but I rested my head on Twilight’s flank. When she didn’t tense up, I relaxed, sighing. “After I woke up the second time, I felt like you really cared for me. I could see it in your eyes, and that meant something.”

“Well, you’re the smartest filly I’ve had to take care of. The one from Neighpon wouldn’t shut up about his home town and refused to eat anything I gave him. The saddle Arabian filly tried to run away back to her home town and almost got herself killed!”

“I almost got myself killed, what makes me any different?”

“You’re different because if you succeeded in getting past the wall, all you’d be doing is going home to hug your mom, not cross thirty miles of desert alone. I respect that.”

“Thank you, Twilight.”

“So what’s your idea?”

I paused and briefly hid myself in her flank. I breathed, in and out, then looked up. “Ever since then I felt safe around you. You make me laugh, and I enjoy making you happy. So… I was wondering if… you could be my big sister?” I felt her tense up. “Just until I get home. I’m not asking you to replace Cross, no one can… I.... I… nevermind, I should have known you wouldn’t want to…”

“Hang on a second, Crystal,” Twilight sat up and looked me in the eyes. She had a soft smile and looked really happy. “I never said no, just was a little surprised.” she raised a hoof to her chin. “Now would being your big sister mean I need to change my last name? Because that’s something I can’t do.”

“Of course not!” I sputtered, heart fluttering. She’s taking me seriously!

“And I’d get all the rights a big sister gets?”

“Everything, you can push me around and hug me, you can do anything. I just need someone I can confide with.”

“And how would calling me big sister change the fact that you can already confide in me?”

“I-It just seems more… personal that way.”

 “Do I get to call you little sister?” I nodded. “Okay, if it’ll help, Little sister.” She smiled brightly before leaning in for a big hug. “I’ll be your big sister!”