You Raise Me Up

“..and that’s how we managed to avoid war with the Yaks.”

Sunset and Twilight were sitting in Sugarcube Corner, half empty cups of coffee and almost-eaten confectionery strewn across the small table between them. It had been a few months since Christmas, and in that time the two friends had met up several times to talk. Twilight usually couldn’t stay more than a couple of hours, both due to her own duties back in Equestria, and the risk of some random human accidentally straying into the portal while it was open. It wasn’t much, but Sunset wouldn’t trade these meetings for the world.

“Wow, that sounds intense. I had no idea Pinkie could be so good at resolving conflicts like that.” She commented. The human equivalent of said mare was currently working her part time job behind the counter at the little cafe, taking peoples orders with unrestrained enthusiasm. Seeing Sunset looking at her, she smiled and waved.

“I think she’s a couple of years younger than my Pinkie, but if they are anything alike, she’s a lot more mature than she lets on.” Twilight replied as she waved back to their brightly coloured friend, before turning back to Sunset.

“Yeah…I still haven’t gotten used to being a teenager again, to be quite honest. I still don’t get why the mirror alters our age as well as our bodies.”

“Me either.” Twilight looked downcast. “I was going to study the portal to try and answer that question and several others, but…” She trailed off, her face unsure.

Sunset raised an eyebrow. "But what?"

Twilight took a breath, and continued. “Well, I’ve just been so busy with everything that’s being happening lately, I haven’t had time to just…sit down and do some research, like I used to, and it’s kind of getting me down- Don’t get me wrong!” She added hastily. “I much, much prefer being with my friends and helping them than locked up inside with a bunch of old books and science-y stuff. But…” Twilight bit her lower lip in frustration, not sure how to put what she had to say.

“…there’s always going to be a part of you that wants to do that sort of thing?” Sunset finished for her. "I don't see the issue with that. Everyone has their hobbies."

Twilight nodded guiltily. “I know, and I love it, but…” She sighed. “Recently, I met someone I was acquaintances with while I was Celestia’s student- before moving to Ponyville, becoming a Princess, before Nightmare Moon. And my actions and attitude towards her back then, though I didn’t realise it at the time, caused her to shut herself away from the world, scorning friendship, focusing only on her studies, with no purpose in her life behind that.”

She took a breath, and continued. “And the scariest part was, not only was it my fault her life was ruined, but…that could have easily been me. Before discovering the Elements, I really didn’t care about friendship. My life has changed for the better in almost every aspect since doing so, and…” She played with a lock of her own hair distractedly. “I know it’s silly, but I’m afraid that if I take time to indulge myself in my hobbies too much, my friendships will suffer…just like they did before.”

Sunset was stunned. She had always sort of assumed that Twilight was the go-to person for advice on friendship- she was the Princess of it, after all- but now she was coming to Sunset for advice? And the idea of Twilight at one point scorning friendship just didn’t sound like her at all. It was kind of jarring to see someone she looked up to lay bare their own insecurities.

People can change a lot in a short amount of time. You and her are more alike than you think, a little voice whispered in her mind.

The bitter, reclusive student of Celestia. Friendship was an annoyance; it got in the way of her studies, her ambitions. Two paths lay before her- let that ambition and greed grow until it was a wildfire, out of control and untamable, with no concern for who it burned- or to let the ambition go. Let friendship into her heart, discover the values that truly matter, and become the Princess she was always meant to be.

Gazing at her friend across the table, Sunset couldn't help but see a version of herself from a very, very different path.

“You know, Twilight.” She began softly, causing her glum companion to look up from where she had been staring at her coffee. “There isn’t anything wrong with hobbies, or ambition, or even obsession, if you ask me.” She met Twilight’s confused gaze. “…so long as you have someone to share it with- someone to ground you, and to share that passion with.” She blushed and slapped her palm to her forehead. “Urgh, that sounds weird. What I’m trying to say is, if you want to take time to study and research but don’t want to leave your friendships behind…why not just do that research with a friend?”

Twilight’s eyes lit up. “Of course! Why didn’t I think of that! Although…I’ll need to work out who exactly would be up for that…none of my Ponyville friends are really the scientist type…Moondancer I’m sure would be interested, but she lives in Canterlot and seems pretty busy-”

“Twilight,” Sunset cut her friend off with a grin. “I used to be Celestia’s student too, remember? I may play up the ‘bad girl’ persona,” She gestured to her leather jacket hanging on the back of her chair. “But I’m just as much as a nerd as you are.”

“Oh! Yes, of course! Oh, this is going to be so great!” Twilight looked abashed at forgetting that detail. but didn’t let it restrain her enthusiasm. She then narrowed her eyes playfully. “And I’ll take that ‘nerd’ comment as a compliment, hmm?”

Sunset chuckled. “Sure thing, dork.” She grabbed her purse and started counting out change. “We can work out how this is gonna work later- for now, how about these two nerds get some of those Sundae Specials?”

Twilight blushed at being called a ‘dork’, but didn’t complain. “I’d like that, Sunset.”