Sunset's Student

Chapters

The First Session
Snacks, Sweets, and Surprises
Unexpected Encounters
Scars of the Past
Healing Process
Lectures and Lessons
The Reunion
The Apology
Magical Research
Passing the Torch
Discovering the Magic Book

The First Session

For the first time, Sweetie Belle knew exactly how much time she'd spent sleeping. One hour out of the eight she reclined on her bed was spent snoozing and snoring; the other seven were spent gawking at the ceiling or peeking at the night sky behind the window. The stars all twinkled like fireflies. She wondered if Princess Luna was guarding her at times, though since falling asleep was out of the question, Luna was likely busy helping other ponies. Besides, she'd already learned something twice from the princess.

Most of all, Sweetie yearned to leap off of her bed. Yet at the same time, she'd rather sleep a few minutes longer. Springs squeaked as she shivered under the polka dot sheets, eyes widened and somewhat bloodshot. Getting sleep wasn't a part of her plan, however. Sweetie refused to shut her eyes as the night seemingly refused to end. Each minute took an hour; each hour took an eternity.

Sunset would arrive at her front door soon enough, most likely with a ragged book in her hooves. Questions about how she could walk across clouds, create captivating tunes with a myriad of spells, or even grow some glowing butterfly wings crossed Sweetie's mind, though picking what to ask first only kept her awake.

All she concluded was that getting those wings was bound to result in a disaster. Whatever craziness occurred in the last Best Young Fliers Competition was proof if the stories were true. Her sister, Rarity, switched the conversation without fail whenever it was brought up. The awkwardness filling the air when she and Captain Spitfire met up recently only drove the point home.

Staying meters off the ground for only a few seconds turned her coat pale, however. She'd always become somewhat nauseous when Scootaloo tried to perform stunts whenever she and Apple Bloom were along for the ride.

Spells relating to something harmless like music or levitation must've been the best option. Sweetie slowly nodded; those were what she'd ask about.

Some sunlight peeked through the window and the purple curtains in front of it, trickling down onto Sweetie's face. The light purple walls and some of the chairs and furniture pushed off to the side became known. Unlike her close friends, her room was rather tidy and devoid of any specks of dust. Her sister poking her shoulder and hissing tended to produce such results.

She only hoped Sunset wasn't like that when it came to learning magic.

Rolling to her right, Sweetie peered at the clock atop the nearby desk. The time was six o'clock on the dot. A yawn then left Sweetie's mouth and she stretched her forelegs, joints creaking into place.

"Maybe another hour or two," Sweetie murmured to herself. Closing her eyes, she instinctively pulled the blanket closer to her, clenching onto the fabric. "It's not like anypony's gonna wake me up this early, right?"

A flicking sound reached her ears. Her eyes shot open; Sweetie noticed her room bathing in light, all of the details from the large, oak drawer and the chest where toys rested brightened up. Even the smaller objects surrounding the clock were fully visible, once dimly lit silhouettes of mirrors and tissue boxes. As she rubbed her eyes, Sweetie tossed the blanket away and glanced over to the doorway.

Awaiting her was none other than Rarity. A lantern with a part of the sun held prisoner was in her hoof, illuminating the somewhat mild grin she wore. Why anypony would be ecstatic about waking up this early was beyond Sweetie; Apple Bloom and Scootaloo typically stayed in bed until ten.

"Good morning, dear," Rarity said. "Did you sleep well?"

She opened up the lantern's glass hatch. A light blue aura enveloped her horn and the lantern's light vanished in the blink of an eye. Sweetie scowled at the sight of those magic-powered lanterns. They always indicated she was being dragged out of bed if she refused to budge an inch; memories of whining about not being able to sleep flooded back. And when the room dimmed once more, a stinging sensation coursed through her eyes.

Something about this morning tickled the back of her mind as well. Maybe she forgot something from yesterday.

"I was sleeping okay until everything went bright," Sweetie deadpanned. Groaning, she hopped off her bed, her hooves pressing on the soft, cushion-like carpet. "Got a few hours of sleep."

Rarity made eye contact with Sweetie. A second later, she arched an eyebrow. "I don't see somepony who slept for a long time. I know those squeaking sounds last night weren't because of some ghastly ghost. They even came from your bedroom."

Sweetie blushed and pursed her lips. Come to think of it, she tossed and turned throughout most of the night. "Sorry about that."

"No need to apologize, dear. I see somepony who's excited to be learning about magic." Rarity chuckled, smirking. "I remember when I practiced the spells related to being a seamstress." A sigh left her lips. "Those were the days. My favorite memories had to be the time I partnered up with Cheerilee for a project."

"You worked with my teacher when you were fillies?" Donning a bemused visage, Sweetie cocked her head.

Rarity nodded. "Anyway, when we had to make a poster showing our presentation, I naturally tried adding some flair and decor to the poster. Some glitter here and there and some stylized writing did the trick. However, there was just one problem."

"What?"

"I hadn't gotten the hang of my magic quite yet." Another chortle had left Rarity; she rubbed the back of her neck. "It was rather embarrassing. And remember, this was before I even received my cutie mark. As I was saying, I ended up flinging the glitter around until Cheerilee and I were covered in the thing. I tried salvaging the situation with some cleaning up, only that—" Rarity shrugged "—that ended with us getting drenched in water. It was a catastrophe and the opposite of marvelous."

Sweetie shivered. "D-did you at least do well on the project?"

"Of course we did! It was marvelous! A feast for the eyes!" Rarity's smile brightened. "Our friendship strengthened when all was said and done; it continues to this day!"

"That's so cool!" If silliness and errors forged the friendship between her sister and her teacher long ago, perhaps the inevitably awkward process of learning spells would connect her with Sunset and Twilight. It was as possible as anything at this point. "Glad to know it all went well."

Skipping past Rarity and out the doorway, Sweetie whistled a tune she once heard a while ago. It reminded her of smiling for some reason, a glowing grin forced across her visage. Smiles went for miles in her eyes. If she kept up such smiles, perhaps the first lessons would be smooth sailing.

Yet something also prodded her coat.

Sweetie gazed down the stairs and then back to Rarity. "Um, why are you waking me up at six in the morning?" she asked. Sweetie shrugged, brow raised.

"You're practicing spells with Sunset Shimmer," Rarity said as a matter of fact.

"And?"

"And—you're going to meet up in front of Carousel Boutique at seven, remember?"

"Seven o'clock?" Sweetie tilted her head. "I don't remember the visit being that early."

"You forgot the letter Sunset sent us yesterday?" Rarity sighed, rolling her eyes. "Classic Sweetie Belle."

"What?" Sweetie replied in a defensive tone.

"It's nothing, dear." With a faint smile, Rarity gazed into Sweetie's eyes. The latter pouted. "Maybe you were just so excited that you forgot the time, but no worries. You should still be ready in an hour, dear."

Sweetie paused and assumed a blank expression. In a flash, she shuddered and sprung up as if the floor was a trampoline. "An hour!"

"Are you okay?"

Sweetie landed on her hooves and then quickly nodded. "Yes! I'm fine!"

This was a lie. Her heart was racing, beats filling her ears. The muscles in her legs constricted until her limbs were concrete. The mere act of lifting a foreleg was like trying to pull three carts filled to the brim with Rarity's luggage. But despite wiggling with every short step she took, Sweetie inched forward.

Time was of the essence.

If clearing something as effortless as stairs was proving problematic, Sweetie knew magic would be almost impossible. She gulped.

Sweetie blinked. Why she was fretting over something so simple prodded her mind. A yawn escaped her throat. She then furrowed her brow and focused on the world in front of her.

Holding her breath, Sweetie then barreled down the staircase, finding herself at the lower floor in a matter of seconds. A thud filled the air the moment her hooves crashed against the floor. No time was spent glancing at the empty kitchen, the living room, or where business was usually handled in Carousel Boutique. All Sweetie stared at was the front door.

Her stomach purred for a moment. Breakfast would have to wait.

Then again, magical knowledge would easily suffice.

Out of nowhere, a trio of knocks polluted the air. Sweetie jumped up in the air once more, prancing to the front door behind her and pressing her shoulder against the rough texture. Another set of knocks followed, Sweetie pushing on the wooden frame. A glowing smile was painted across her face once more, though her heartbeats picked up to where she couldn't remain still.

"Who is it?" Sweetie asked. She placed her ear next to the door.

"Hey, Sweetie Belle," Sunset's voice said on the other side. "I've brought some nifty supplies and set up some activities we can do. Are you ready to practice some magic?"

Without hesitating, Sweetie bobbed her head. "You bet!"

"Sounds great! Come outside once you're all set!"

In a flash, Sweetie pushed the door open. A slight breeze blew into her face. Standing before her was Sunset, her eyes glowing and lips curled into a bright smile. A leather saddlebag adorned her, stuffed to the brim with what had to be all sorts of supplies. Sweetie slid toward Sunset and tried peeking at the bag's contents, though the lid closing it shielded the items from her.

"Are you excited?" Sunset asked. Her brief chuckle told Sweetie she already knew the answer.

Sweetie bobbed her head. "Of course I am!" she replied while hopping in place.

From within Carousel Boutique, Rarity descended the staircase and trotted toward Sunset. The two unicorns made eye contact; Rarity waved while Sunset responded in kind. "You must be Sunset Shimmer," Rarity said as a matter of fact. She extended a foreleg out upon reaching her. "It's delightful to meet you."

"Same here, Rarity," Sunset said. The pair shook hooves; they then brought them back to their chests. "So, how are your dresses coming along?"

"They're marvelous, dear." Rarity clasped her hooves together. "I've made a lot of progress on this dress I've been making for Princess Cadance. She's going to adore my exquisite crystal dress when it's ready!"

"Sounds like you've got your hooves full."

Rarity snickered. "I do, but I love the craft." Her beaming expression vanished in an instant, almost as if it was a mirage. In its place was a puzzled look, her lips puckered a bit. "But you're visiting from another dimension—at least that's what Twilight told me, right?"

"I am." Sunset nodded.

"I'm impressed you've learned so much about today's Equestria."

Sunset rubbed the back of her neck, cheeks flushed. "Well, the other dimension has a lot of similarities to this one. Plus, Twilight is helping me out as a living encyclopedia."

"What do you mean about the first bit?" Sweetie asked with an arched eyebrow.

"It's—it's a long story." Sunset paused for a moment. "Trust me."

While Sweetie wished she knew what waited behind the magical mirror, aside from the dimension revolving around school of all things, pressing Sunset on such matters would probably take hours from the sounds of things. Those hours would be better spent on practicing magic. With this in mind, Sweetie merely nodded with a slight smile.

"Do you want to join us, Rarity?" Sunset continued. "You're more than welcome to keep us company."

"I'd love to, but I'm sadly busy at the moment," Rarity said. "Thank you for the offer. I'll make sure to join you when my schedule clears up." She stepped back, placing a hoof on the door. "Anyway, I hope your lessons are delightful, Sweetie Belle!"

"They will be!" Sweetie chimed. Trotting away from Carousel Boutique with Sunset, Sweetie waved her hoof across as Rarity followed in kind. "See ya, Rarity!"

"Goodbye, dear!"

The moment a thunderous clack polluted the air, Carousel Boutique's front door now closed, Sweetie raised her head and made eye contact with Sunset. Her legs couldn't help but wobble as she trotted alongside her; Sweetie was certain she'd learn how to fly just on the power of anticipation, if such a thing was even possible. A world of excitement was awaiting, after all.

Something still felt off, however.

"Were Sunset and Rarity friends at one point?" Sweetie murmured to herself.

If they met, surely her sister would've informed her about Sunset at some point. After all, her sister almost always explained whatever was going on, complicated projects or world-changing phenomena being the sole exceptions for obvious reasons. It was common knowledge that one shouldn't interrupt Rarity, though Sweetie tended to ignore this rule at times.

"Sunset?" Sweetie blurted out.

"What's wrong?" Sunset replied, head tilted. "Is there anything you're unsure about?"

"How—did you know so much about Rarity?" Sweetie rubbed the top of her head. The strands of her mane tickled her hoof. "I mean, it's one thing to know she makes dresses, but you acted like you've met her before." She shrugged. "Have you?"

"You know about that long story?"

Sweetie nodded, lips pursed.

"See, I don't know if Twilight explained this to you, but in the alternate dimension, there are near-exact counterparts to the ponies in Equestria."

"There are?" Sweetie's pupils shrunk and her jaw dropped a little. "I-I guess that would explain Celestia being a principal or something like that, but everypony has a second them? Do I have a second me? What would even happen if I met my other self? Would we all go crazy and magic go weird? Maybe—"

"Whoa, calm down there." Sunset gently poked Sweetie's shoulder. "I've got the answers you need to each of those questions."

Aches covered Sweetie's forehead, almost as if an ice pick was wedged in there. Unsurprising, given how each question which popped in her brain was followed with another question, only for the process to repeat itself.

With eyes widened to the size of dinner plates, Sweetie exhaled. "What are the answers, Sunset Shimmer?"

"From the top, everypony does have a counterpart in the other dimension, and that does include you."

Sweetie slowly bobbed her head, feigning understanding. Just getting the details down would've required as much effort as pushing a boulder up an infinitely tall hill.

"And as for what would happen if the two of you met each other—" Sunset shrugged "—literally nothing but some initial confusion would happen. Don't worry, Sweetie Belle." Playfully rubbing her head, a giggle escaped Sunset's mouth. "Nothing bad will come out of the other dimension. Trust me, I've witnessed all sorts of stuff there. Twilight can vouch for me."

With another deep breath, Sweetie wiped her brow, smiling. "That's a relief."

"Yeah, it sure is."

"But how do you plan on getting back to your world?"

Sunset donned a faint smirk. "You have a habit for asking a lot of good questions, huh?"

Sweetie raised an eyebrow, a bemused look painted on her. A second passed; Sunset snickered once more.

"Anyway, that's part of the reason why I've come back to Equestria. Well, one of the many reasons. See, the portal normally opens after a long period of time. While the time seems to vary based on the few written accounts on it, the average and most common time it takes to open without interference is about thirty moons."

"Thirty?" Sweetie nudged closer to Sunset. "That's a long time."

"It is. And remember how you wrote in that journal yesterday?"

"I do." The sight of Twilight's scowling visage was one which wasn't going away soon; it was the same story for witnessing Sunset exit the mirror and the dazzling display that joined it. "Does the journal have something to do with the mirror?"

"Normally, it doesn't. Princess Celestia gave me the journal as a gift while I was still one of her students." Sunset's shoulders sagged. "I never got the chance to properly thank her for that gift." In a flash, Sunset straightened her posture again, the cheerful demeanor on her face returning as if it never went away. Sweetie briefly assumed a bemused visage at the sight. "But let's not dwell on the details. Anyway, Twilight was able to use the journal's magical properties to manually open up the portal. Technically, she could cross dimensions at any time."

Sweetie gasped. "That's so cool!"

"However, there's a problem with relying on the journals for crossing the mirror. What if we're in the same dimension, but we're too far away to contact each other? We could cast a magic spell, but the time it normally takes to travel from one place to the next sometimes takes too long, especially if you don't have a dragon's breath to help you out."

"I see how that would be a problem." Sweetie rubbed the top of her head and scrunched her muzzle. "Maybe there's some kind of spell that's similar to using the journal, but allows you to use the journals for crossing the mirror. Maybe it wouldn't be as fast as the journal, but it'd be a start."

"That's kind of what we're starting with, though even doing that's easier said than done. It has been in the planning stages for some time. Twilight and I have written to each other about this for the past few weeks concerning this question." Pausing for a moment, Sunset then halted her progress. "Remember when I whispered to Twilight yesterday?"

"I do." Sweetie stopped in her tracks as well. "Was part of your conversation about that?"

Sunset bobbed her head. "Bingo. I'm living at Twilight's during this process, and in between our study sessions, we're going to be experimenting with long distance communication spells and devices, using the journal as a sort of benchmark. We've planned a few ideas already, though we need to do some more research before testing them."

"I get it!" Sweetie paused. "But what about getting back home when you want?"

"A magical surge into the mirror will do the trick. It only goes one way, after all."

Nodding, Sweetie then glanced around the environment. A sprawling grassland with some distant cottages and nearby trees surrounded her. There were also some objects ranging from a tiny cushion to boulders twice her size. All were spread out in a row and arranged by size and possibly weight. A few other items such as fruits and bread rested within a woven basket. Most of them were covered by a red and white picnic blanket, however. What any of these had in common with each other, let alone learning about magic, was a mystery to Sweetie.

"Um, Sunset?" Sweetie murmured as she turned toward Sunset. "What's this?"

"It's the site of our first exercise," Sunset answered.

"Exercise?"

"It's simple." Sunset trotted over to the series of inanimate objects. "We're going to be lifting these objects, moving them to a specific spot, and going from there until they prove too heavy."

Jumping up in the air, Sweetie's eyes widened. "What?" She already knew how to pick up and levitate objects. A while ago, she managed to pilfer the keys which freed Trouble Shoes back in Appleoosa without too much trouble, and it wasn't as though this was something awe-inspiring. In fact, it was duller than dirt in her eyes.

It was literally dirt in some ways.

"Sweetie, you do want to learn magic, right?"

"Of course I do!" Sweetie squeaked. Pouting, her eyes shimmered as she waddled up to Sunset's chest. "I wanna do cool spells like you just mentioned! Walking on clouds, making plants grow, and creating unique music are what I wanna do!"

"We'll get there, but we need to start with the basics."

"But what about—"

"Sorry, but you're not ready to help out with our research just yet." A sigh left Sunset. "We've mentioned this before."

"I know, but—"

"Do you want magic lessons or not?"

Taking a few hoofsteps back, Sweetie assumed a downcast visage. She gently kicked the air before standing completely still for the first time in hours. As much as it hurt, Sweetie knew Sunset was right. She wished she could argue against Sunset's words and go straight to learning the spells which piqued her curiosity, but starting small made sense. Almost all unicorns used their magic for such purposes, after all.

"Okay, I'll start small," Sweetie muttered. She straightened her posture and focused on the cushion. "Should I start with the cushion?"

"You've got the right idea," Sunset said. "You'll be making a lot of progress in no time!"

Sweetie squinted at the small cushion as she trotted toward it. Lifting something as small and light as a cushion shouldn't be difficult, Sweetie recalling her previous endeavors in using magic. With a deep breath, she shut out the rest of the world, solely focusing on the fluffed cushion. An electric-like surge coursed through her horn and a light green aura enveloped it. The same aura soon surrounded the cushion, the pillow hovering in the air as though it was sentient.

A beaming grin adorned Sweetie's face. "Too easy," she said with confidence.

"Can you toss the pillow over here, please?" Sunset asked.

With a gentle flick, the pillow glided across the air, the green glow surrounding it vanishing as it traveled toward Sunset. Replacing the green light was a golden glow, Sunset's horn giving off the latter color as she stood without budging an inch.

"So I guess I should try the next one," Sweetie said. "Same thing as before?"

Sunset nodded. "That's correct. I'm ready when you are."

Sweetie turned toward the next object in line, a sack of flour. The brown, ragged bag was about as large as she was, looking like a less comfortable version of the cushion she'd lifted without trouble. And since Sweetie sometimes helped Rarity in the kitchen, usually after failed attempts to get out of helping, repeating the process should be a cinch.

As before, her horn became lit with a green light; the aura enveloped the sack a second later. With a deep breath, Sweetie willed the flour to ascend a few inches upward. She closed her eyes and lifted her head, imagining the flour following her instructions. It'd definitely take to the skies soon enough.

Sweetie opened her eyes.

However, the flour failed to budge an inch.

"Huh?" Sweetie blurted out. She clenched her teeth; twinges coursed through her body as her horn emitted a brighter light. A bit more magic was bound to help out.

The flour was as lazy as ever, refusing to even lift an inch off the ground.

Sweetie blushed. Why she was having trouble lifting some flour was illogical. She'd lifted items as heavy as or heavier than filled sacks, but something about this poked the back of her mind. There had to be a missing ingredient. But Sweetie knew she was on the right track. At the same time, such thoughts still existed.

A cold sweat poured down Sweetie's brow. Sharp aches covered her muscles, almost as though a serpent coiled around her legs.

She sensed her grip on the sack loosening. The world became a hazy blur.

Blinking, Sweetie ceased casting the spell on the flour. Clarity returned to her in a flash. Her lungs burned like a furnace as she huffed and puffed. With a downcast expression, Sweetie sighed and sulked. Perhaps mastering magic in a reasonable time was nothing more than just a dream. Since Twilight and other ponies such as that Starlight Glimmer she'd hear about had cutie marks relating to magic, Sweetie wondered if that was the key.

Sweetie winced. She couldn't be bound by her cutie mark. And despite getting her mark after countless trials, even she had a few questions about it aside from how it related to helping others find their special talents and singing. Anything easily understood was welcome in her eyes, even if it came with additional questions that prodded her.

Gently kicking the air, Sweetie trudged back to where Sunset stood.

"Don't worry," Sunset muttered. She rubbed the top of Sweetie's head and then wrapped her in a hug. "You'll get the hang of it soon enough."

"But I wanna get it now," Sweetie said.

"I didn't master magic right away. It was the same story for Twilight, too. We both needed to practice and study in order to learn even the basics of magic." Releasing Sweetie from her warm embrace, Sunset then cracked a faint smile. The sight of it warmed Sweetie's chest a little, though she still wore a glum expression. "When I was your age, even though I'd studied magic for over two years, I still realized I had much to learn. Some spells took me what felt like ages." Shuddering for a moment, Sunset rubbed the back of her neck. "Trying to learn how to manipulate water was an experience I won't forget."

Another sigh escaped Sweetie's lips. "But I can't even lift a stupid sack." Sitting down, she crossed her forelegs and pouted. "You could do some spells when you were my age, but I can't do almost anything."

"Sweetie Belle." Sunset placed a hoof to her chest; she pursed her lips. "How long have you practiced magic?"

"A few minutes."

Nodding, Sunset approached Sweetie and sat down next to her. Warmth and a softness covered Sweetie's shoulders, the filly soon noticing Sunset wrapping a foreleg around her like a blanket. She couldn't help herself from donning the slightest of smirks. There was something about small gestures which touched her heart. Maybe she learned it from Rarity; both of them bonding at the Sisterhooves Social a while ago acted as a possible impetus for such feelings.

"Do you know how much I could do when I started out?" Sunset asked in a calm tone.

Sweetie shook her head.

"Almost nothing."

"Huh?" With an arched eyebrow, Sweetie tilted her head. Her jaw drooped a tad.

"I could lift small, light objects like you could back then. Other than that, nothing. I felt down about it as well, but I never gave up. I kept on trying to do the best I could, even if I felt as though I had reached my limit. I continued working my way up as I practiced more, eventually becoming skilled at magic. I wouldn't be surprised if Twilight's experiences were similar. Everypony I knew started out the same way."

"Okay. But—will I be able to do cool spells soon? You know, like the ones Twilight or Star Swirl can do?"

Sunset gently patted Sweetie's back. She then pushed herself upright, swishing her tail for a moment. "We'll get to those soon enough. Maybe it'll take time to do them all and maybe you'll have trouble casting them at first, but we'll get there sooner than later." She nodded. "I promise."

"Really?" Springing into the air and landing on all fours, Sweetie nudged closer to Sunset.

"I'm not going back on a promise like that." Sunset smirked.

"That's good." Sweetie paused for a moment and crossed her forelegs. "Still, I don't know if I'll even come close to learning those kinds of spells."

"I think you'll get there one day." Sunset playfully nudged Sweetie. "Don't give up so easily, okay? Can you promise me that you'll keep trying?"

Sweetie rubbed her muzzle. While learning advanced spells seemed further away than ever before, there was still a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe there were some tougher spells she'd find as simple as lifting a cushion. And if Sunset's glowing eyes were anything to go by, Sweetie knew she couldn't give up right away.

She didn't give up on finding a cutie mark, after all.

"Okay, I'll keep trying," Sweetie said, nodding. "I promise to do my best."

"That's the spirit!" Sunset cheered. Brightly grinning, she rubbed Sweetie's mane for a second. "Even if you're still unsure, you've got to keep on going. That's one of the most important steps in learning magic."

"Well, if friendship is the greatest magic, I—" Sweetie straightened her posture "—I can see that. Thanks, Sunset. I appreciate it."

"You're welcome!" A purring sound reached Sweetie's ears. For reasons unbeknownst to her, Sunset's cheeks flushed a little. "Say, do you want to have a picnic?"

"I'd love to!" Anypony who knew Sweetie could say with certainty that she'd almost never turn down a fun meal. "Wanna hang out with Rarity at Sugarcube Corner?"

"We shall." Sunset motioned a hoof at Sweetie, the latter trotting forward. "Let's clean up first and then we'll get going." She scanned the environment before turning back to Sweetie. "I'll let you lead the way."

Even if the expression on her face was bright and full of bliss once more, messing up on the sack of flour still stung like a hornet. But despite the extra baggage weighing her down a tad, Sweetie kept her chin up. Just because today was a bit rough in terms of mastering spells didn't count out the next day being even better.

Maybe lifting that pesky flour was in her future.

And questions relating to magic still lingered. If Sunset knew so much about the mirror, there was no doubt she'd have other nuggets of knowledge to share. Sweetie just hoped they didn't send chills down her spine akin to when Sunset told her about the mirror and the mirror world.

First, she'd have to address her growling, tingling stomach.

Snacks, Sweets, and Surprises

Sweetie's stomach growled just by gawking at Sugarcube Corner. The structure looking like a scaled up gingerbread house didn't help matters, nor did the crisp aromas bellowing out of the chimney and into Sweetie's nostrils. Yet she'd never whine or mope about such scrumptious smells. Just visiting the shop and digging into any of their treats was a wish come true in her eyes.

Even with the allure of a sundae or a bowl of candy, the dumb sack of flour refusing to budge during her earlier lesson stung a little. It'd take more than sweets to completely heal such a wound.

At least Sunset, Rarity, and even Twilight were by her side. The princess chatting with Rarity when she and Sunset swung by to ask if they wanted to come along seemed almost too coincidental. And it wasn't as though they'd planned on staying long; Twilight and Rarity were out the door in the blink of an eye and Sugarcube Corner itself was only a few hoofsteps away. Coincidences never poked Sweetie's coat too much; Equestria was full of oddities, certain aspects of magic being one of them.

Coincidences only made her more curious about the world around her. Twilight and Rarity conversing about magic piqued her interest, the complex words escaping Twilight's lips something she knew she'd understand one day. At least Rarity's constant nodding and questions seemed to suggest she knew some of it as well.

Maybe magic was something all ponies grew to understand more; some just sought to learn more.

A purr broke Sweetie's train of thought.

"Oh, sorry," Twilight said with flushed cheeks. She giggled and ruffled her wings. "I haven't eaten since six in the morning. Maybe organizing the library and doing research makes you hungry." Smirking, Twilight raised her right hoof. "Ah. I'll be sure to research the connection between hunger, energy, and research!" Twilight clapped her hooves together; her grin widened to the size of a yardstick. "It'll be amazing!"

"Then Sugarcube Corner is just the place!" Sweetie licked her lips as she gazed at the establishment's glass door. A hazy reflection of herself made eye contact with her, Sugarcube Corner's interior somewhat visible. She'd gobble up at least one of the entire menu if she could. "It has everything! What's everypony gonna order?"

"Twilight and I will have what we usually get, dear," Rarity answered.

Sunset rubbed the back of her neck, sheepishly smirking. "Well, it'd help to have a menu," she said. "Do they have tea?"

Turning to face Sunset, Sweetie then nodded. "Of course they have tea! Why wouldn't they?"

"Beats me." Sunset shrugged. "Not every restaurant or cafe I've been to sells tea. Some of the places in the other world have some sparse choices. Not much variety, really." She trotted up to Sweetie. "Still, I think there's a place much like this on the other side of the mirror. And if I recall correctly, they had a nice selection of treats."

"Nice?" Sweetie cocked her head. "Nice? Sugarcube Corner is more than nice! Try amazing! Fantastic! Scrumptious!"

Twilight snickered again. "Looks like somepony is excited," she said as a matter of fact.

Bobbing her head, Sweetie immediately rushed over to the front door. She then pressed her hooves on the cold, smooth glass and pushed it open. A warm aroma greeted Sweetie and tickled her nostrils; the type of scent always seemed to change depending on the day and time. Sugarcube Corner's interior hadn't changed a bit since the first time she went, however. Tables were spread across a checkerboard floor and a display counter showed samples of delightful treats. Sweetie knew they were display models as opposed to the real deal, but part of her yearned to whisk one away and have a little taste test—if the Cakes were okay with it.

And as usual, dozens of other ponies already filled most of the tables, all of them with smiles affixed to their visages. Diamond Tiara and Pipsqueak, the former slowly fitting into her refreshed take on everypony, also conversed over a meal. The pair mentioned things regarding the school's state and how they could help further improve the playground; most of the jargon was a foreign language to Sweetie, so perhaps it'd be best to leave them to their own devices for now.

Besides, her stomach beckoned to be fed.

"Let's eat!" Sweetie cheered. She hopped over to an empty table and motioned toward the other three.

The trio all caught up and sat down on the curved chairs. Sweetie followed suit, leaping onto the smooth metal and shivering the moment her backside glanced the chair's surface. It was almost like reclining on a block of ice, the hairs on Sweetie's coat standing up. At least the chair's curvature soothed her back.

"Are you sure you need sweets?" Twilight teased. She waved a hoof in the air nonchalantly. "If you have any more sugar, I think you'd become more energetic than Pinkie Pie." The three older mares chuckled together, Sweetie joining in a second later. Once the giggles subsided, Twilight cleared her throat. "Anyway, how are your lessons?"

"Harder than I expected," Sweetie muttered. Her shoulders sagged a little.

Sunset brought her attention to Twilight. "She had some trouble lifting a heavier object," she said. "I told her it'll be just fine."

"Exactly." Twilight nodded. "I didn't master every spell known to Equestria overnight. Back when I was a filly, I struggled with some basic spells, but with some practice and determination, you'll get the hang of it." She donned a slight smirk. "In fact, I'm still learning about magic each day."

Shrugging, Sweetie placed her hooves on the table and arched an eyebrow. "You didn't?" she asked. "I mean, I believe you since Sunset said the same thing and all, but since you're—like—" Sweetie bit her tongue. For some reason, forcing out the words was quite the challenge. "You know, that Element of Magic thing ponies sometimes say, but don't since—you know?"

"I know—Element of Magic is what some ponies called me in the past." Twilight rolled her shoulders. "If they were trying to be extra formal, that is. However, it took me a lot of practice just to flip a page with just my magic. You're doing fine so far." She cracked a bright smile; Sweetie returned a slightly fainter one in return. "Just keep on trying the best you can and don't give up."

"I hope it works out." Sweetie paused for a moment. She fiddled with one of the small menus off to the side, only the size of an envelope. An emblem decorated with a cupcake-shaped symbol adorned the menu. The top of Sweetie's head then itched for some reason. Yet it wasn't the usual kind of itch. "By the way, I have a question."

"What's on your mind?" Sunset asked in a soft tone.

Peeking at her flank, her long-awaited cutie mark still emblazoned on it, she then turned back to the three. Maybe asking about something recent and unusual would be a decent place to start. Better that than asking why flour was heavy once again or if she could grow plants in a cinch for the next lesson. Twilight already grew tired of the former question during their journey to Sugarcube Corner. A seventh time wouldn't help matters.

"When I got my cutie mark with the other crusaders, we hovered in the air for a bit and there was this big flash of light." Sweetie rubbed the top of her head, the image returning to her. The electricity coursing through her veins and the audible gasps reaching her ears were the unforgettable parts, however. "For a second, I thought we were all becoming princesses."

"Well, you'd need an obscure and incomplete saying by Star Swirl to do that." Twilight snickered. She then rubbed the back of her neck. "Yeah, even I'm a bit stumped as to how that happened, but—" Twilight unfurled her wings "—but having these wings and the title has opened up new possibilities. Sure, it's not easy being a princess, but it can be fun and challenging at the same time."

"I bet."

Twilight froze in place for a moment. Folding her wings, she blushed. "Oh, I'm getting off-topic again. Sorry."

"It's okay, dear," Rarity said. She patted Twilight's back, everypony at the table cracking a smirk. "I've lost count of how many times I've fawned over fashion and beauty in the middle of something else." She blushed; her eyes darted around for a moment. "Rainbow Dash knows how much I've done that." A giggle left her mouth.

"Tell me about it," Sweetie deadpanned under her breath.

"As I was saying, cutie mark magic is one of the more mysterious parts of Equestrian life," Twilight continued.

"I remember when I got my cutie mark," Sunset added. "I thought a spell went haywire when I got mine. I might've dashed into a shrub while panicking." A sheepish smile ran across her face; faint chuckles left her lips. "But when I realized what happened, I was overjoyed."

"Did it involve hovering and flashing lights?" Sweetie asked.

Sunset nodded, lips pursed.

"I knew it!" She leaned over to the trio, then slumped back into her seat. "But—why? Is it because getting a cutie mark causes a surge of magic?"

"It doesn't make much sense to pretty much everypony," Twilight said. "However, what you mentioned is one explanation I've heard, so you might be on the right track. I know Starlight Glimmer has quite a bit of knowledge when it comes to the magic of cutie marks, but—" Twilight shuddered "—but she's not somepony who's easy to talk to, and that's putting it lightly. I'd recommend avoiding her just to be on the safe side. And keep in mind that I'm saying this."

Sweetie bobbed her head, aware that Twilight had a point. If she was encouraging her to avoid Starlight, doing so had to be for the best. It wasn't as though her parents or Rarity were ordering her to avoid something or somepony, though those often ended with Sweetie getting a scolding and the same lessons on behaving.

"Starlight Glimmer?" Sunset blurted out, her forelegs twitching. "Who's she?"

"It's a long story," Twilight and Rarity muttered in unison.

Sweetie sighed. She placed a hoof on her cheek. "Well, she must be a real piece of work." A pause lingered in the air. Sweetie made eye contact with Sunset, the former raising her head. "Not to be impatient or anything, but what are we gonna do for our next lesson?"

"I have a few fun activities in mind," Sunset answered. A bright grin adorned her visage, hooves clasped. "I'd rather not spoil the surprise, but I think you'll like it."

With widened eyes, Sweetie leaned closer to Sunset. "Are we gonna do a cool spell?"

"As I said, we'll find out when the time is right." Sunset winked, lips curling into a slight smile.

Sweetie shivered with anticipation. Such a simple gesture told so much and so little at the same time. Sunset must've had something spectacular in mind, but almost everything she thought of was a possibility. There was no doubt in Sweetie's mind as she quivered; a beaming grin adorned her face. For once, actually doing a lesson sooner rather than later was preferable. Not even the most interesting of Miss Cheerilee's lectures provoked such a response, Sweetie often at the edge of her seat when she listened to some of them.

"By the way, Twilight," Rarity said. She paused for a moment. "I heard you and Sunset are working on some studies together."

"That's correct," Twilight said, nodding. "Are you curious about those?"

"I am quite interested in what fascinating discoveries you'll make. I'll admit, I don't know much about how magic works, but there's always something marvelous about making an exciting discovery." Rarity chuckled for a second. "It's a lot like starting the latest fashion trend. You're sailing through uncharted territory." Rarity picked up the menu with said magic, the card hovering before her and surrounded in a blue aura. "Besides, ever since that ghastly Tirek made a mess of everything, I think we've all been at least a little curious about magic."

"I know, right?" Sweetie blurted out as she almost fell off the chair. "Why wouldn't somepony be interested in magic?"

"I bet there's somepony out there who isn't curious about it," Sunset said as a matter of fact. She twiddled her mane. "There are many different kinds of ponies throughout Equestria, after all. Either way, the research we'll perform should help answer some questions many of us have."

"Good point." Sweetie rubbed the back of her neck, a sheepish smile across her face. "Silly me." Chuckling for a second, she then adjusted her seating posture. "And can I help, please?"

Sunset made eye contact with Sweetie; her hooves froze in place. "Well, it's advanced algorithms and theorems we'll be discussing. Those aren't exactly what one would call exciting. We're mainly focusing on the portal, using magic for communication, and how magic plays a role in all kinds of ponies. And besides, I—"

"I'd still love to learn about that kind of magic!" Sweetie hopped off of the chair and pressed her hooves on the table. In some ways, the table somehow sent colder chills through her veins than the chair ever did. Unusual, given how at least half of Sugarcube Corner's treats and the aromas themselves had a cozy warmth to them. "And listening to you talk might help answer some of my questions! So can I please join?"

"Well, helping is out of the question. Sorry, but you're not ready for spell creation yet."

Sweetie's shoulders drooped; she sighed, her reflection visible within the table's surface. "Yeah, I guess you're right." For some reason, the idea of creating spells seemed much more complex than just learning about how magic functioned. She rubbed the top of her head for a second. While helping and listening to Sunset and Twilight's discussion sounded fascinating, the process of creating spells was one even she knew was beyond her skills. "Maybe I can help out once I've improved enough."

"Of course. Maybe you'll be making your own spells one day." Sunset cracked a smile. "But you can still keep us company if you want."

Shuddering, Sweetie's heart skipped a beat. "Really?" Her pupils shrunk to the size of pinpricks. "Can I really watch you two?"

"Sure," Twilight said. "And if you get bored, you can always spend time with Spike. He'd be more than welcome to talk with you."

A gasp escaped Sweetie's throat, almost as if the air fled her lungs. "Awesome!"

"But I do have one request to make."

In a flash, Sweetie hopped up and landed back on the chair. "What is it?"

Twilight clasped her hooves together for a moment, lips pursed. "Please don't mess with anything you happen to find." Twilight sighed, though her warm smile still decorated her visage. "Or ask Sunset and I if you're curious about something. I'd rather not risk something horrible happening." Her cheeks turned pale for a moment. "Celestia knows I've had a few too many close calls lately."

Sweetie bobbed her head. "Got it! Anything else?"

"I think we're good to go."

Sunset lifted a hoof up. "But first, I think there's a lesson in store for you," she said. "Want to do it when we're all done having our meal?"

"Sure thing!" Sweetie nodded again. "Let's do it as soon as possible, too!"

"Sounds good to me."

The four brought menus toward them. Sweetie scanned the listings and the prices adjacent to their names. She'd drool a tad if doing so was considered appropriate, but avoiding making a mess in front of Rarity was a must. The fainting couch appeared from nowhere and slid behind Rarity too often whenever the messes were apocalyptic in scale by her standards.

Though Sweetie wished she could procure a fainting couch of her own upon spotting one particular item. It was something which caused fierce growls and roars to bellow from her stomach.

The Chocolate Special Sundae. It was the perfect treat; if magic was involved in its creation, Sweetie wouldn't have been shocked.

Noticing Sunset, Rarity, and Twilight had placed their menus down, Sweetie then followed suit. She lifted her head up high. If the rest of the day kept brightening up, she'd be able to perform Sunset's next lesson like a pro. Maybe what awaited Sweetie was one of her initial suggestions.

That had to be it.

After one day of preliminary lessons, she felt ready for anything. Nothing could bring her down now.

Devouring an entire Chocolate Special Sundae may have been a mistake as far as Sweetie was concerned. It was a miscalculation all foals made at least once, and Sweetie was no exception. Diamond Tiara's instance of this accident was something affixed to the memories of everypony who saw her that day, Sweetie wishing she'd pushed those images away.

Rarity and Twilight had business to attend to, so it was just her and Sunset trotting by her side. As promised, a special lesson awaited Sweetie, her mind buzzing as she tried hypothesizing her next task. She wondered if it was one of the suggestions she told Sunset before, though it could've been anything as far as she knew.

It'd at least take her thoughts off from the twangs in her stomach.

Every step she took was heavier than the last, her legs aching more the further she trotted. Her cheeks were colored a pale green and puffed. Sulking, she wished Sunset's special lesson was only a step or two away instead of the thousands of steps it took for her to arrive where she was. At least Ponyville was bright and filled to the brim with beauty. Even the cottages and gaudy gardens had a little chic to them. She once took the singing birds, sunshine, and swaying plants for granted. Equestria surviving crises that made her blood freeze just thinking about them must've been why she saw nature in a new light.

"Can I ask you a question, please?" Sweetie muttered.

"Ask away," Sunset said with a smile. "I'm always willing to answer questions."

"Is there a connection between magic and how strong you are?"

Arching an eyebrow, Sunset donned a bemused visage. "Can you explain a little bit more?"

"Well, when I had trouble lifting the flour, it wasn't because I didn't do the spell correctly, right?"

"You seemed to be doing everything right. It'll be a piece of cake once you've practiced some more. That kind of spell is more of a benchmark if anything. It lets me know what kind of spells I should introduce you to as we move forward with our lessons, since introducing you to the toughest of spells that require tons of magic would be too much. But despite this, you'll still learn some cool spells at times."

"I see what you mean." Growls erupted from Sweetie's stomach. Her cheeks puffed up for a moment, though the aches subsided after a few seconds. "Well, do I have to pick up a sack of flour with my forelegs before I can lift it with magic? Can I even lift the biggest of objects with just magic, or is it just to make holding lots of things a little easier?"

"Don't worry about the flour right now." Sunset pursed her lips for a second. Placing a hoof to her chest, she cracked the slightest of smiles and nodded, Sweetie responding in kind. "There's going to be a next time for that. I promise."

"Okay."

"And as for your question, no. Magical abilities don't connect to whether you're physically strong. After all, Twilight and I aren't just muscle. You know what I mean, right?"

Sweetie couldn't help but imagining both Sunset and Twilight as having bulging forelegs harder than boulders, certainly a contrast to the soft and smooth bodies that defined them. Just thinking about such an oddity and the deeper voices which would've left their mouths brightened her face. If that was the case, then Bulk Biceps would've been an alicorn instead of a pegasus.

At least weightlifting was no longer a concern. Picking up even the lightest of dumbbells proved tiresome, Sweetie huffing and puffing whenever she went long distances with a filled saddlebag in tow. At least such tasks grew easier over time, though marginally so. Her cheeks still turned pale whenever Rarity asked her to help with luggage.

"Yep!" Sweetie nodded. "So it's practice that helps the most, right?"

"What else could it be? If you practice enough, maybe you'll be able to lift an Ursa Major."

"I—" Sweetie rubbed the back of her neck "—I doubt that. Anyway, thanks for clearing that up."

"No problem." Without warning, Sunset extended a foreleg before Sweetie, the latter bumping into it before scuttling an inch away. "By the way, we're here."

Sweetie raised her head and straightened her posture. Before her was a small pond, likely three meters in diameter. A series of lily pads floated atop the water, its crystal clear surface like something from a dream. Flower petals danced around the pads while fish swam and leaped into the air; Sweetie flinched at each of the splashes as flying droplets collided with her legs. It tickled in a way, though a slight coolness coursed through her body.

No supplies or anything that indicated a lesson about to begin made itself known.

Sweetie arched an eyebrow and then turned toward Sunset. "Um, what's this about?" she asked.

"You're familiar with teleportation, right?"

Shrugging, Sweetie then slowly bobbed her head. "Sort of. I know Twilight can do it, but can anypony else?"

"Yep. In fact, teleportation has a variety of uses."

"How so?" Sweetie nudged closer to Sunset. "Is it easier than trotting?"

Playfully tapping Sweetie's shoulder, Sunset trotted up to the pond and then poked the water with her hoof. "Not exactly. Teleportation can be quite exhausting if you use it too much, hence why most ponies just stick to trotting. And some spells can have a variety of certain effects if cast in a certain way. Teleportation is one of those spells, and it can be used to create all sorts of dazzling displays. It's not easy doing the more advanced stuff, however."

"What—" Sweetie cocked her head "—goes into teleporting?"

"Some imagination and picturing the environment around you." Sunset lit her horn in a yellow aura. Disappearing in the blink of an eye, she then reappeared in a golden flash before Sweetie. The filly jumped and shivered the moment Sunset reappeared, her heart rate spiking for a brief moment. "It's surprisingly simple, yet complex at the same time. However, it'll feel like second nature once you get a feel for it."

"How is imagining going from one place to another complex?"

"You have to think about how you'll do it and plan accordingly. If you just do it blindly, you'll fall flat on your face or upside down. It also makes teleportation different from most spells. You don't need strong magic to teleport once or twice. It depends on your thoughts." Sunset then sheepishly smiled. "I once had teleported a bit above the ground. It was embarrassing to see everypony watch me plant my face in the dirt, but I got it after a second try."

"Ah. Still, it doesn't sound too tough."

"Ignoring or removing distractions is important." Sunset took a deep breath. "First, I'll do a demonstration. Do you want flashy or something simple to start off? It's your choice."

Sweetie's eyes widened. At last, seeing the coolest of spells was within her grasp, her face glowing like a star. "Flashy, please."

"You got it!"

Sunset turned to face the pond. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. Not a peep echoed in the air nor the rustling of dirt or leaves reached Sweetie's ears. Seconds later, a faint breeze swirled around the pair, but no sound polluted the air. Sweetie could've sworn she heard her own heartbeats.

As before, Sunset vanished in a flash, only this time she reappeared atop one of the lily pads, standing on her hind legs and striking a graceful pose. Her horn glowed yellow less than a second later, vanishing and reappearing on a new lily pad. This time, her pose was different, a pirouette-like stance. The third flash of light occurred, Sunset returning to the first lily pad and supporting herself with just one foreleg.

And with one final flash of light, Sunset returned to the soil, standing on all fours as usual.

Sweetie's jaw dropped; her pupils shrunk. Never had she seen anypony perform such a feat. Even the best of the best she'd seen hadn't done something so marvelous. There was a story about Twilight performing the same feat, but hearing was a far cry from actually witnessing it. If teleportation could produce such results, Sweetie wondered what other kinds of spells could be so malleable. Most of all, however, she struggled to regain her composure, legs locked into place.

"Yeah, it took a lot of practice," Sunset said. She wiped the sweat from her brow and then exhaled. "You have to run all sorts of calculations in your head and ignore everything around you. Somehow, a few ponies can teleport without a second thought, though even I struggle with that at times. Honestly, I'm still surprised I can do such feats." She chuckled; Sunset rubbed her hoof across the ground. "So, if you want to do something like that, we'll have to start with the basics."

Normally, Sweetie would've rolled her eyes at the mere mention of sticking to the basics. Yet witnessing what Sunset displayed drove the message into her brain. Such a stunt wouldn't be possible without hours—days of practice. Scootaloo spent tons of time perfecting her scooter skills, after all. Perhaps magic like Sunset's performance was no different.

Maintaining a straight face, Sweetie merely nodded.

"Excellent." Sunset clasped her hooves together. "Let's start with teleporting from one place to another. To make it easier, let's not worry about striking a pose."

"Okay!" Sweetie cracked a grin. She licked her lips for a second. "So the trick is to focus on where I should go, right?"

Sunset nodded. "Exactly." She paused for a moment. "Are you ready?"

"You bet! And one more thing."

"What is it?"

"Since rapid teleportation is extremely difficult, I'd recommend you focus on taking things slow and steady."

"Gotcha." Sweetie took a deep breath and loosened her muscles. There was a small and wilting flower by its lonesome just in front of her; it was as perfect as any place to target. "Just don't get distracted," Sweetie reminded herself as she closed her eyes. Not a sound reached her ears. It was as though she was asleep, yet still conscious at the same time.

A bird's chirping polluted the air.

With her muscles tightened, an electrifying sensation then coursed throughout Sweetie's horn.

Sweetie opened her eyes in a heartbeat. It somehow worked, but something wasn't right. For some reason, Sunset was smaller than she recalled her as, not to mention she didn't remember seeing her from above and growing by the second. It was as though she'd temporarily became taller instead, shrinking as each second passed by.

However, the wind brushing against her mane was akin to her brief, sap-covered attempts at zip-lining.

A moment later, a harsh and sickening thud echoed into her ears. A sharp twang stabbed Sweetie's hooves; her legs twanged a little as she landed on all fours. Raising her head, Sweetie only mustered arching an eyebrow and donning a perplexed visage. How she got as high as she did made little sense, unless the teleportation spell caused her to descend from the skies.

Sweetie's throat tightened for a moment. A teleportation mishap must've been it.

She lifted a foreleg up. Sweetie did the same for the other. Realizing that no bones were broken, she exhaled and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"Are you okay, Sweetie Belle?" Sunset asked. She rushed over to Sweetie and extended a foreleg toward her. "You're not hurt, are you?"

"I-I'm fine," Sweetie replied. A chuckle escaped her lips. "I may have made a mistake."

"The bird distracted you, didn't it?"

Nodding, Sweetie's cheeks flushed. "Yeah, I imagined where it might've been before teleporting. I think that's what happened."

Sunset lifted a hoof up. "Remember what I said about shutting out distractions?"

"I do."

Stepping back, Sunset then studied the environment; her eyes twirled about as they scanned each and every leaf and critter that might grasp somepony's attention. After a minute of silence, she rubbed her muzzle with one hoof and tapped the ground with another, humming a short tune.

"Sunset Shimmer?"

"I got it." Sunset cracked a slight smile.

"Got what?"

"Take a look around."

Sweetie arched an eyebrow. "How come?"

"It'll be helpful for teleportation." Sunset's horn lit up once more, vanishing in a bright light and reappearing closer to Sweetie a fraction of a second later. "Once you know the world around you and any possible distractions, teleportation will come easier. You're getting close since you successfully moved, but you just need that extra bit added to make sure you end up where you want."

Sweetie's eyes widened. "Ah. I get it now."

Stepping away from the flower, head held high, Sweetie observed her surroundings. Nothing outside of the pond and trees which covered most of the area stood out. A few birds were perched atop some of the trees' branches, all eyeing her like eager spectators. However, on most moments, there was nothing visible or audible to pull her away from focusing on the task at hoof.

"Here we go."

Sweetie closed her eyes once more and exhaled. As before, her muscles loosened, the image of appearing before the wilting flower engraved in her mind. A splashing sound reached her ears, though she didn't budge an inch. All she thought of was herself, the flower, and a black void which hid the rest of the world.

A tingling sensation covered Sweetie's chest. Opening her eyes, a bright green flash enveloped her.

And not even a second later, she was standing before the wilting flower, just as she planned.

Her heart was racing.

"Did—did I—"

Sunset nodded. "You did," she said. A smile wider than a yardstick decorated her visage as she made her way toward Sweetie. "Well done."

A gasp escaped Sweetie's throat. "I did?" Her eyes grew to the size of dinner plates; Sweetie galloped over to Sunset, wrapping her forelegs around the mare and stuffing her face into Sunset's warm chest. It was almost like hugging a pillow, though it couldn't hold a candle to achieving a spell. "I did it!"

"You sure did. Excellent work, Sweetie Belle." Sunset rubbed Sweetie's head; the two stepped away from each other as Sweetie released Sunset from her hug. "I knew you could do it."

Sweetie hopped up and down like a spring with a beaming grin. "This is so awesome!"

"It sure is." Sunset paused for a moment. "Let's do it around ten more times."

In a flash, Sweetie donned a bemused expression. Her body became static. "What?"

"You want to learn about magic, right?"

"I do." Sweetie nodded. "But once I can do a spell, I don't need to learn it again, right?"

Sunset shook her head. "Not quite."

"But why?" Sweetie's shoulders drooped, lips curled into a slight frown. There was no reason why she couldn't do it without trouble again. After all, she figured learning a spell just once was enough to ingrain it in somepony's brain forever. It was the only explanation for ponies like Twilight, Sunset, or Trixie being able to cast an array of spells with just a thought. "I can do it, so I don't need to do the lesson again."

"I'm afraid it doesn't work that way." Sunset took a quick breath and stretched her forelegs. "See, just because you have the capability to perform a spell doesn't mean you've mastered it right away. It's a sign that you're on the right track and improving bit by bit, but unless you dedicate a few hours to practicing the spell, you'll still be a little clumsy casting it."

"But what about you or Twilight?" Sweetie spread her forelegs out. "Don't you have a ton of spells you can cast right now?"

"We got there by practicing a lot." Sunset furrowed her brow. And with her muzzle scrunched like an accordion, she edged closer to Sweetie. "Now, do you want to learn magic or not?"

"I want to learn magic."

"Then you'll have to repeat past lessons at times, got it?"

Sweetie slowly nodded, sulking. "Okay."

In the blink of an eye, Sunset's scowl vanished; replacing it was a soft smile and a relaxed posture. "Good. Let's try the same thing again from the top."

Sweetie trudged over to where she was before her teleportation. Turning to face the flower, she closed her eyes and repeated the same procedure. Perhaps Sunset had a point when it came to practice as much as Sweetie loathed admitting. Surely the best at casting spells got to where they were after years of practice and studying. From what she knew about Twilight, the princess spent hours per day studying magic and honing her skills.

Maybe Sweetie was thinking about this the wrong way. The hypothesis that there was more than looking cool when doing magic crossed her mind. Yet that might suck the fun out of practicing with Sunset. It'd still be interesting, though the lessons would all lack the special ingredients that piqued her interest, made her heart race, and painted smiles on her face.

Sunset still clearly had Sweetie's best interests at heart; future lessons should've been more enjoyable. Magic was just much more complicated and difficult than she was expecting. The same story rang true for about half of her failed cutie mark attempts before she got hers. It was nothing new as far as she was concerned. Life marched on as usual.

However, she also figured that visiting Trixie and asking about the flashiest spells wouldn't hurt. Most ponies knew about her dazzling displays; Sweetie recalled being mesmerized by one of Trixie's illusions at a show she watched while vacationing in Canterlot a month ago. And if the rumors were true, she always donned a grin brighter than the sun whenever ponies asked her how she performed such feats. Her knowledge might be a welcome addendum to Sunset's lessons.

There was just one problem with her suggestion, however. Sweetie had no clue regarding Trixie's whereabouts.

Unexpected Encounters

Never had Sweetie predicted she'd practice—let alone achieve—basic teleportation with Sunset so successfully. While the news of repetition prodded her coat at first, just getting into the art of repeating a spell revealed just how important practice was. She wasn't a professional at magic quite yet, as was to be expected, but each time she vanished and reappeared somewhere else saw her balance and coordination improving a little. She'd crack a smile and wave at Sunset with each attempt, Sunset responding in kind.

Sweat poured down her forehead like a rainstorm. Her horn ached a tad and her lungs burned like an overheating furnace. Panting, she glanced over to Sunset, who nodded and trotted up to where Sweetie slumped.

"I think that's good enough for today," Sunset said. "I don't want to tire you out too much. Anyway, excellent work out there." A chipper grin adorned her face as she patted Sweetie's shoulder. "At this rate, you'll be better at teleportation than I am by the end of the week. Your progress is stunning!"

Sweetie blushed, forelegs crossed. "Well, I'm trying my best," she said. Giggles escaped her lips. "It's weird. If I can't lift a sack of flour with my magic, how was I able to get the hang of teleporting so quickly? I know you said that some spells come by easier for some ponies than others, especially if their cutie mark is related to the spell, but it still strikes me as weird."

"Magic is an odd subject. I'll give you that." Sunset sat down on the grass and made eye contact with Sweetie. Silence lingered in the air for a few seconds. "I think part of why you're making a lot of progress so quickly is because you're so enthusiastic about the subject. Twilight and I were kind of like you when we were starting out." She gazed back at the pond before her; water shimmered under the sun's rays. "When you're young, the whole world seems rather mysterious. There's so much out there you're yearning to learn and when magic plays a part in that, all sorts of questions are bound to come up. This desire to learn will be fundamental in improving your magic skills."

"Yeah, I do ask a lot of questions."

Sweetie rubbed the back of her neck and donned a sheepish smirk. Asking questions about all sorts of things was one way she figured she'd learn about magic, after all. And if Miss Cheerilee's words about the importance of speaking up when things required clarification or just didn't make sense were anything to go by, it was that questions and answers guided her when it came to studying magic. Sweetie learned more about the art and science behind it the past few days than all of the time before Sunset returned to Equestria.

The myriad of questions brewing in her mind also urged her to check out a book or two from Twilight's library—with permission, of course. To think she'd have groaned and rolled her eyes at the prospect a week ago, but there she was, slowly metamorphosing into an egghead as Scootaloo often called bookworms.

However, while the value of Sunset's lesson plans were becoming almost as clear as crystal, there was still the question of finding Trixie's whereabouts. Asking Sunset for clues was likely to end up with nothing but a shrug or a raised eyebrow, but there was the slimmest of chances they had made acquaintances already. Trixie was learning the magic of friendship much like how she was learning magic in general, so the possibility was there.

Sweetie cleared her throat. "Sunset, have you met Trixie yet?" she asked.

"Trixie?" Sunset blurted out. Swiveling her head to the right, her eyes gazed into Sweetie's. "Sorry, but I haven't met her Equestrian counterpart yet. Are you friends with her?"

"Sort of." Sweetie shrugged. "I was kind of curious if she knew some dazzling spells we could all practice together. Well, I'm up for it if it's okay with you, that is."

"I'm not surprised she's a talented wizard in this world, but I never knew you were on good terms with her."

With an arched eyebrow, Sweetie cocked her head. "How come? I mean, I know Trixie isn't exactly the easiest pony to get along with." Trixie's habit of speaking in the third pony and the degree to how much she boasted about her accomplishments struck the nerves of some ponies at times. Understandable, but she somehow became more reserved ever since the chaotic mess with the Alicorn Amulet, much to the delight of everypony. "At the same time, she's becoming nicer the more she learns about friendship. At least that's what Twilight told me once."

"So she's a nicer pony in this world." Sunset rubbed her muzzle. "Interesting. I wasn't expecting that."

"Nicer?" In a flash, Sweetie's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. "That's it!"

"What's it?"

"One of the big differences between the worlds must be how events change our counterparts for better or worse! While we may have similar personalities, our counterpart in the mirror world may be nicer or meaner depending on what they went through." Sweetie caught her breath; her lips curled into a radiant smile. "So while Trixie has matured in Equestria, she may still be super-boastful and rude in the mirror world because she hadn't learned about friendship yet."

Sunset's eyes glowed as she cracked a grin. "You're right, Sweetie." She then wrapped Sweetie in a hug, the latter giving one in return. After a few seconds, the pair released each other from their warm embrace and straightened their posture. "I don't know why I never thought of that sooner." A giggle left her mouth. "Maybe it was just because Equestria and the mirror world have been practically similar in everything else I've noticed."

"I can understand. Heck, I've had Applejack, Rarity, or Twilight clarify all sorts of things I thought I knew. They've gone through the same thing, too."

"I guess it happens to even the wisest ponies out there."

Sweetie nodded. "Maybe so."

"Anyway, it sounds like Twilight knows Trixie somewhat well in this world." She trotted past Sweetie, pausing a moment later. "Say, how about we give her a little visit tomorrow if we can. We'll work together and do some fun stuff and spells. Sound good to you?"

"Sounds amazing!" Sweetie sprung up into the air. Upon touching the blades of grass, she galloped up to where Sunset waited. "I'm all for it!" The pair then trotted away from the pond in unison. "What spells do you have planned? Are we going to do some cool stuff? Maybe we could do that spell Rarity uses to find gems!"

"Those are all possible suggestions. However, I don't know quite yet, but with the progress you've been making, I think—" Sunset decorated her face with a smirk and winked at Sweetie "—I think we can push you up a level and tackle some of the more advanced spells. Nothing too advanced yet, but a little tougher than before. We'll revisit some of our past lessons, of course, but I think you might be ready for the next step."

Sweetie gasped, electricity coursing through her veins. Her heart skipped a beat. "Really?"

Sunset merely bobbed her head.

"Yes!" Sweetie hopped forward like a bunny. "I can't wait for tomorrow!"

"Same here, Sweetie Belle. We're all proud of you." Sunset pursed her lips for a second. "Let's head back to Carousel Boutique and call it a day. We'll meet up at nine in the morning this time around. I'll check with Twilight on Trixie's possible whereabouts, though if she's busy, we'll just continue our lessons as usual. Just—make sure you're awake and all ready to go by then, okay?"

"Okay!"

Sweetie skipped ahead while Sunset followed close behind. The possibility of receiving lessons from Sunset and Trixie tickled her coat as electricity coursed through her veins. It was the best of both worlds as far as she was concerned, a combination of Sunset's sophistication and Trixie's flashiness.

However, there was the problem of Trixie's nomadic tendencies, her being a traveling mage and all. If she was all the way in Manehattan or Trottingham, then meeting her tomorrow would remain a dream. She had appeared in Ponyville more often in recent memory, usually to meet up with some friends of hers, though Sweetie couldn't count on her being in the town at a specific time. Omnipotence was one skill even she had to admit was something impossible to learn.

A campaign or promotion for her to visit the town had a chance of luring Trixie over to Ponyville; some of her classmates were professionals when it came to spreading news or gossip, Featherweight always striking a nerve with her fellow classmates whenever it came to passing stories along. And she never needed a map for finding Featherweight's home. He was the best bet if Trixie had to be tempted over.

Yet the odds of something going wrong were too high. Twilight's warning from earlier in the day rang in her head like a broken record. While it only pertained to her books and trinkets within the castle, not making a mess of things outside of the gaudy palace was also preferred. Sunset would surely object, maybe even fire off a fierce scowl and cut off magic lessons.

Sweetie shivered at the thought. Another accident was the last thing she needed.

"Are you okay, Sweetie?" Sunset asked, her calm tone suggesting she already knew the answer.

Sweetie glanced back at Sunset, then donned a slight smile. "Yeah, I'll be fine," she said. "I was just thinking about what to do if Trixie was too far away. I thought about making a campaign to bring her over, but—" Sweetie's throat tightened "—but I think it'd probably end poorly for me and Trixie."

"Yeah, a campaign might be more trouble than it's worth. There's also the possibility that it may not even work." Sunset swished her tail around and sped up; she then trotted alongside Sweetie. "When I was in the mirror world, I sometimes had to promote activities or events for my friends. We used pamphlets, gossip, and even concerts in order to spread the word." She froze for a moment, eyes catching Sweetie's cutie mark for a second. "On a somewhat related note, your cutie mark suggests a talent in music. I'm guessing you're a talented singer or musician, right?"

Sweetie peeked at the cutie mark adorning her flank, noticing the pink musical note that composed part of the design. "Yep, I'm a good singer when I put my heart into it." She brought her attention back to Sunset and then arched an eyebrow. "But what about it? Are music and magic related in any way?"

"Bingo." Sunset nodded. "Music can sometimes be used as a form of magic. From my research, I noticed how channeling our inner spirit, what makes us who we are, can sometimes result in magic being emitted when playing instruments or singing. It's a strange phenomenon and one I'm always eager to learn more about."

"That's cool!" Sweetie's eyes glimmered. She nudged closer to Sunset. "I know Countess Coloratura can somehow express magic through her music, so maybe it's the same with me."

"Maybe so." Sunset paused for a second. "Say, maybe you could share one of your songs when you have the time. I'd love listening to one of them."

"Maybe another time. I'm still trying to get used to singing." Sweetie's cheeks flushed.

"Sounds good. Let me know when you're comfortable."

Bobbing her head, Sweetie looked ahead and noticed Carousel Boutique before her. It glistened under the sunlight with Rarity standing outside and rubbing her muzzle, scrutinizing some colorful frocks. Her hooves ached as she crept closer to her extravagant abode fitting for a princess.

However, as Sweetie made her way toward the boutique, her chest tightened at the sight of a pink unicorn nonchalantly trotting past Carousel Boutique. Both the mysterious mare and Rarity wore smiles across their faces, but something about the former seemed familiar. The distinct manestyle and its purple color and light blue highlights caught Sweetie's attention, though Rarity never noticed the mare's presence.

"Is that her?" Sweetie muttered under her own breath. She blinked, a perplexed visage adorning her. "If so, why is she hanging out with Rarity?"

"Who's that?" Sunset asked. Her cheeks tautened as she arched an eyebrow. "She looks oddly familiar."

"Beats me," Sweetie replied, shrugging. "She moved in a few days ago, though she's been mostly to herself as far as I can tell. She's only spent time with maybe three or four ponies, Twilight keeping an eye on her most of all as far as I can tell. Maybe she's new to how things work here, but something does feel—familiar about her. I know we had a small welcoming party not too long ago. Was it for her?"

"Knowing how Pinkie Pie does things, that makes a lot of sense." Sunset cocked her head. "And how is she familiar to you? I can't help but shake the feeling that I used to spend time with her long ago." She adopted a bemused expression, watching the mare as she trotted away with a tote bag in hoof. Sunset then twiddled her mane and pursed her lips. "But I'd know her name if I spent time with her. Even the ponies I distanced myself from the first time I entered the mirror are names and faces I clearly recall, but she's different."

"Different?"

"It's hard to explain." Sunset rubbed her muzzle. "Did I purposefully forget her? It's—so weird."

"Maybe it's her mane. I do like it." Sweetie shrugged. "Maybe we can talk with her when she's not busy."

"Well, I guess everypony in town will get to know her better, myself included. She seems nice enough, if a little awkward at times." The mare's whistling as she gawked at the town's sights and landmarks did earn a raised eyebrow from Sweetie. Sunset then trotted up toward Carousel Boutique as Sweetie stayed close. "Let's just focus on the more essential things first."

"Sounds like a plan." Sweetie bobbed her head. "Let's meet up with Rarity! I can't wait to tell her everything I've learned today!"

"Same here. I know she'll be so proud of you."

To say Rarity was proud regarding Sweetie's progress was an understatement. Even after Sunset waved goodbye to the pair and trotted back to Twilight's home, the hugs and cuddles and praise Sweetie received from her sister would've been enough to satisfy a family of changelings for years. Sweetie adored the appreciation, but it grew rather excessive at the same time. It was typical Rarity when it came to gushing about such things, her vocabulary consisting of words like 'marvelous' and 'exquisite' also a distinct component of it all.

And after dinner came and gone, Sweetie's taste buds enjoying a fresh salad easy on the stomach, her mind shifted straight to the questions she'd ask Sunset and Trixie tomorrow. Sweetie paced about the living room while Rarity focused on the newspaper. The fluffy, lavender carpet soothed her once sore hooves.

"Maybe I should ask about that fireworks spell," Sweetie murmured to herself, still trotting in circles. "Getting or building actual fireworks often takes too much time, and I'd rather avoid what happened at that festival in Ponyville a while ago." She pursed her lips and blushed. "At least Fleetfoot's on good terms with me now. I wonder how she's doing."

Sweetie glanced over to where Rarity sat. The newspaper's top story mentioned something about Twilight traveling in a time loop or something to that nature, the culprit that caused such a scare being carefully watched by the princess. She'd heard that the skilled unicorn who'd nearly caused a catastrophe wasn't too heavily punished, though said unicorn's activities were severely limited from what the newspaper suggested.

The unicorn's name was somehow a mystery to her. But it didn't matter; there were more important things at hoof than some random curiosity. Sweetie was joining up with Sunset and Trixie tomorrow if everything panned out, after all.

"Is everything alright, dear?" Rarity asked. "You've been trotting around like that for the past five minutes."

"Just thinking about what to ask Sunset Shimmer and Trixie tomorrow," Sweetie said. Freezing in place, she then made eye contact with Rarity. "I'm wondering what kinds of spells we could all practice together."

"Curious as always." Chuckling, Rarity gently touched her lips with the tip of her hoof. "But there's no need to stress out about it too much, dear." Sweetie arched an eyebrow at this statement, given who had said it. "Patience is a virtue, and maybe you'll have more fun if you're surprised."

"Makes sense." Sweetie nodded. Jumping up into the air, Sweetie landed on one of the chairs adjacent to Rarity's, her body sinking into the soft cushions. She donned a bright grin. There was something cloud-like about the furniture Rarity bought, Sweetie sometimes finding them more comfortable than any of the beds she came across at Quills and Sofas. "But it'd be nice to know."

"I know how you feel. Knowing ahead of time can make you feel fabulous, though surprises can be spectacular as well."

Sweetie bobbed her head again. "Yeah, surprises can be nice. The day I got my cutie mark had to be the biggest surprise of all."

"And remember how ecstatic you were when you got it?"

"Yep!"

"Then maybe the activities you'll do with Sunset and Trixie will be more fun when you're not expecting them."

A trio of knocks polluted the air. Sweetie quivered for a moment, shifting her attention to the front door. Upon glancing out the window, she noticed two silhouettes about her size, one of them adorned with a large bow atop her head. They were Apple Bloom and Scootaloo without a doubt. And if the second series of rapid knocks were anything to go by, they had an adventure in mind.

Either that or something they were eager to share with her. Both options were more than welcome in her eyes.

Sweetie dashed toward the door.

"Careful, darling!" Rarity ordered.

"I know," Sweetie said as she slowed down.

Reaching the front door, Sweetie pushed it open. In the blink of an eye, her two friends trotted toward her until they were inches apart, grins brighter than the sun across their faces. Usually, something spectacular followed minutes later, regardless of whether they ended up succeeding in their goals or not. And since most of these activities were them trying to get their cutie marks in the days before getting them, they often ended up as embarrassing or being covered in tree sap.

Sweetie didn't regret those days, however. They were filled with smiles and laughter regardless.

"Are ya ready, Sweetie Belle?" Apple Bloom asked.

Sweetie arched an eyebrow. "Ready for what?"

"We're gonna do some cool games outside by the fountain!" Scootaloo blurted out with eyes the size of saucers. "You wanna come join us?"

"Of course I would!" Sweetie answered in a chipper tone.

"Awesome!" Scootaloo stepped back and motioned toward Sweetie; a confident grin decorated her visage. "We've got the perfect game of hide-and-seek in the making. We've got—I think—half the class or so joining us!" Sweetie made a beeline toward where Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were. The temptation of having tons of fun with her classmates spoke to her heart; she'd never pass down such an opportunity. "Let's get going!"

"See ya, sis!" Sweetie shouted, waving back at Rarity.

Rarity responded in kind. "Be safe, darling! I hope you have fun! But try returning home before the sun sets, okay?"

"I promise!"

Sweetie slammed the door shut, a thunderous thud splitting her ears. As Apple Bloom and Scootaloo trotted on ahead, Sweetie couldn't help but notice the sun slowly setting as it lit the sky a brilliant orange. Her eyes sparkled as she surveyed the sights around her, the trees swaying in the breeze, the dew-covered grass sparkling like diamonds, and everypony who was out and about gossiping about all sorts of things. All of their voices were muddled among the sea of chatter.

Figuring out what left their mouths wasn't important to her in the grand scheme of things, however. Most were blathering on about that time travel story, though the details Sweetie picked up on were scarce at best. However, there were some games to play first.

"This is gonna be so much fun!" Apple Bloom cheered, bouncing around with a radiant grin. "I think this is gonna be the first time we're playin' with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon!"

Sweetie caught up to the duo. "They are?"

"Yep," Scootaloo said. "And I can't believe I thought I'd say this, but hanging out with them might actually be cool for once."

Nodding in agreement, Sweetie then brought her attention to the world in front of her. As expected, those joining in on the fun already waited next to the fountain, the roaring water spewing from it drowning out much of the chatter leaving everypony's mouths. All of them were either skipping about or grinning; Sweetie adopting a similar expression.

And approaching them first was none other than Diamond Tiara. Even after she became a sweeter filly, she still wore that smug grin that always prodded Sweetie's nerves at the sight. Not even what Sweetie and her friends considered a genuine redemption erased all of Diamond's bite and sharp tongue.

"Like, it's not surprising you're all late," Diamond teased. She pursed her lips for a moment and then smirked. "But it's nice to see you all here."

"Same here," Apple Bloom said. She trudged over to Diamond, their muzzles almost bumping into each other. "Just try to cut down on the sass this time, okay?"

A giggle left Diamond's mouth. "No promises."

Sweetie and her closest friends rolled their eyes in unison. Some things weren't prone to changing, after all.

Silver Spoon then shot a glance at the Cutie Mark Crusaders as she stuffed a book into her saddlebag. "So what are the rules this time around?" she asked. "I know how hide-and-seek works, but are there any restrictions to where we can go and how long we can hide before we all come out?" She caught her breath. "You're the one organizing this game, Scootaloo, remember?"

Scootaloo bobbed her head and flashed a confident smirk. "I know what I'm doing," she said, striding toward the other foals. "Basic rules are in effect. Nopony is allowed to hide inside somepony's house or anywhere dangerous." She shivered as though the temperature plummeted in an instant. "Dinky, that means you."

"Yeah," a thin pegasus colt added. "Dinky needs to watch where she's going."

Dinky, a light purple filly, shot a glare at the colt. "I know, Featherweight!" she retorted. "Gosh, just because I accidentally got stuck in a huge jar last time doesn't mean I'll do it again. I was just thinking of the last place somepony would hide, that's all." Dinky was always clever, however, though Sweetie sometimes wondered if she somehow made being too clever a thing.

"Well, you almost succeeded, genius," Diamond said. She sighed and straightened out her posture.

"Let's just put it behind us for now," Silver Spoon said, raising a hoof. She rolled her shoulders nonchalantly. "It's best we learn from our mistakes and try to move forward."

"Fair enough. Just wanted to make my point clear."

"And mine!" Featherweight shouted with a gleeful grin.

"Yeah, and Featherweight's."

"Look, can we just get on with the game?" Scootaloo asked, rolling her eyes. A sight left her mouth. "The more time we spend bickering, the less time we have for hide-and-seek."

"You're right." Nodding, Diamond trotted up to Scootaloo and then rolled her shoulders. "But who'll be the ones hiding?"

"I've already got an idea." As she stepped away from Diamond, her gaze still peering into the filly's eyes, Scootaloo took a deep breath. "Everypony, pick a number between one and a hundred."

Diamond raised an eyebrow and cocked her head. "Seriously?"

"Yep." Scootaloo nodded. "Pick a number. The one who's the closest to guessing right or is correct will be the one seeking us."

"Forty-seven."

Scootaloo brought her attention over to Silver Spoon with the former waving a hoof. "What about you, Silver Spoon?"

Rubbing her muzzle and glancing down at the soil below, Silver Spoon hummed for a moment. "Twelve," she eventually muttered.

"Thirteen!" Apple Bloom cheered.

Sweetie giggled, the tip of her hoof gently poking her lips. "Fourteen!" she squeaked.

"Fifteen!" Dinky shouted at the top of her lungs.

Rumble raised his hoof up, taking a loud and deep breath. "Six—"

"You can stop now," Scootaloo interrupted. "It was fifteen, which means Dinky is gonna be the one looking for us." She trotted aimlessly for a moment and scanned the environment, glancing at Sweetie and the other foals with them for at least a second at a time. All anypony heard was the slight breeze and the rustling of leaves. Everypony's eyes simultaneously swiveled to focus on Dinky; the small filly shrugged and blushed. "You know the rules, right?"

Dinky nodded, cheeks tautened. "Yep!" she said, though Sweetie's ears twitched as Dinky's tone reached them.

"Time to repeat them! As I said, we—"

Sweetie knew the rules already. Listening to them for a fiftieth time, while helpful to some, was something she had no regrets ignoring in favor of other thoughts. Magic lessons, tomorrow's in particular, dominated much of her mind. While she hadn't devised any questions yet, even if Rarity informed her she didn't have to think of any, something about going in blind sent chills down her spine. It was like not studying for an exam, the greatest of horrors.

"Don't get lost!" Scootaloo roared and her brow furrowed. "You know where we can and can't go! And don't even think about cheating, okay?"

For a game of hide-and-seek, Scootaloo was treating it as though the game determined everypony's future, at least Sweetie interpreted it that way. Such an observation was almost guaranteed to be false, but such an attitude regarding games was something that defined Scootaloo; Sweetie wondered if she got it from spending hours at a time with Rainbow Dash.

As for Dinky, she had a habit of bumping into things or taking a wrong turn. Klutz was a nickname Dinky came up with herself, though Sweetie tended to avoid mean nicknames like broccoli, even if they originated from the pony being adorned that identity. It just left a bitter taste in her mouth.

"Do you understand?" Scootaloo shrieked.

"Yes, ma'am!" Dinky replied, nodding.

"Does everypony else understand the rules?"

Sweetie and the others all nodded in unison with bright smiles across their faces.

"Good!"

Apple Bloom then trotted up to Scootaloo with a raised foreleg. "I have a question," she murmured. "How do ya know when we're allowed to start hidin'?"

"At the count of three." Before Apple Bloom could speak, Scootaloo then cracked a slight grin. "And you've got sixty seconds until the pony seeking us is allowed to open their eyes and begin searching for us, okay?"

"Okay." Apple Bloom nodded.

"Any other questions?"

Everypony's lips were zipped shut.

"Good." As the rest of the foals stepped back, some of them stretching their legs and licking their lips as they locked onto different areas, Dinky closed her eyes and pressed her face against the fountain, forelegs wrapped around her head. Scootaloo then cleared her throat. "Three! Two! One! And go!"

In a heartbeat, Sweetie made a beeline toward one of the nearby shrubs, diving into it. The bright green leaves prodded and tickled her coat, though it wasn't itchy to the point where it was worse than an unwashed sweater. For reasons unknown to her, there was just enough room for her to squirm about should she ever need to stretch a bit. Sweetie's muscles loosened a little.

Perhaps illusion spells would be her proposed question to Sunset and Trixie tomorrow. Her eyes brightened just at the thought. And even if they weren't as flashy or advanced as what both of them could do, the opportunity was too appetizing to pass up. Her thoughts then moved to a second question. If she was going to meet up with two gifted unicorns, she needed to make the most of it.

"Good hiding place, Sweetie Belle," a voice teased.

Sweetie shivered and jumped up an inch. Turning toward the voice's source, she noticed Silver Spoon right beside her, a bright smile across her face. The filly chuckled, then patted Sweetie's shoulder.

"It's okay," Silver Spoon continued. "Great minds think alike, I guess."

"Yeah, I thought I'd have my own space, too."

"So what have you been up to?" Silver Spoon nudged closer to Sweetie.

"Learning about magic and casting spells." Sweetie pressed her hooves together, teeth clenched for a moment. "Not much."

"Spells?" Silver Spoon's expression became more radiant, though not to where discovering them turned effortless. "What have you been practicing? Any spells that you've been surprised about, or is it just getting your hooves on the ground when it comes to this?"

"I've been able to teleport." Sweetie shrugged. "That's pretty much it aside from lifting tiny stuff."

"That's a great start! I'll admit, I don't know much about magic—" Silver Spoon peeked up for a second "—for obvious reasons, but it sure sounds like you're learning a lot." She caught her breath for a second. "And let me know if you discover anything exciting."

Nodding, Sweetie cracked a slight grin. "Sure! I'd love to share what I've learned with somepony!" She paused for a moment, rubbing her muzzle. "Say, how are you and Diamond Tiara getting along ever since that incident over the class election?"

"We've made amends. It's kinda weird being much nicer now, but—but it feels great. I never would've thought we'd become closer friends after all we've done to you." She paused, head hung low and sighing. "Sorry about that. If I had known beforehoof how demeaning and awful our behavior was, I'd have stopped. Di would have backed off a bit if she knew, too. She might be brash at times, but she can also be caring." Silver Spoon cracked a slight smile. "It warms my heart."

"It's okay, and I'm glad you and Diamond Tiara made up. Also, what matters most is that you're making an effort to become a better pony." Sweetie rubbed her hoof across the grass and twigs beneath her. "And yeah, it's unexpected that we're beginning friendship with you and Diamond Tiara." Sweetie giggled. "I almost clench my teeth when I see you two out of habit sometimes. No offense."

"No worries. And thanks for forgiving me." Silver Spoon twiddled her braid for a moment and chuckled in return. "Also, the world can seem so static at times, you know? But some ponies, whether it's through the course of several years or in one single moment, can change and grow into something new. Maybe you'll come out of your lessons with a new look on life. One can learn a lot from studying something, even things they never expected to discover. When I discovered my love for reading, for example, I kind of became a different pony."

Sweetie cocked her head. "I don't see there being a dramatic change outside of casting a wider variety of spells. I've been just learning magic, really."

"You'd be surprised." Silver Spoon rubbed Sweetie's back. "Did you expect me or Diamond Tiara to become better ponies over the course of a day or two? Did you think you'd no longer see us as just brats one day?"

With pursed lips, Sweetie shook her head.

"I didn't think that would happen, either." An awkward pause lingered in the air. Silver Spoon shuddered as though a ghost flew past. "Wait, shouldn't Dinky have found most of us by now? Normally, you can hear everypony who has been found mingling while they wait for the time to run out, but—but I hear nothing." She exhaled. "Dinky is also intelligent. She'd have found at least one pony by now, right?" Silver Spoon's cheeks turned pale. "And I know Dinky and directions don't mix, but you don't think she has—"

"Scootaloo warned her a billion times." Sweetie extended a foreleg and gently poked Silver Spoon's lips. "She'll be fine."

"I haven't even heard Di grumbling about being found. She usually has the worst hiding places out of anypony."

Sweetie's eyes widened, pupuls shrunk. "She hasn't? How?"

"Sounds like it." Silver Spoon crawled to the left, peeking out of the shrub. "Odd, I don't hear or see Dinky, either. Nopony is even by the fountain."

"Oh, no."

Sweetie flailed about before rolling out of the shrub. Upon being out in the open once more, she dusted herself off and trotted around the area, not a sign of life outside of the plants making themselves known. Her throat tightened, heartbeats echoing into her ears. Ponyville's other roads were the main avenues Dinky could've meandered off to, and somepony surely would've noticed a filly by her lonesome and get her back on track.

Unless—

Sweetie shifted her attention to the right. Within trotting distance was a cluster of tall, dark trees with a ragged pathway leading into the forest. Light was allergic to everything inside of the forest for all she knew, a well-known characteristic of the Everfree Forest. Some animals shuffled through the leaves, though the bunnies and other creatures at the forest's fringe were docile. Everything else inside was the stuff of nightmares, Sweetie's meeting with a cockatrice long ago being one memorable example that refused to leave her memories.

"Please don't be in the Everfree Forest," Sweetie whispered to herself. She gulped, throat tightened.

The other foals crawled out of their hiding places, all wearing tautened or pale expressions. The bright colors dimmed for a moment as if by magic, the breeze from before screeching to a halt.

Knowing her luck, however, chances were that the Everfree Forest was where Dinky unknowingly wandered off to.

"Where is she?" Scootaloo asked. She rubbed the top of her head. "She'd better not have run off to somewhere dangerous."

Sweetie twisted her head to face Scootaloo. "I-I think that's where she went," she stuttered. Her teeth chattered; the temperature felt as though it dropped to record lows. "The Everfree Forest, maybe?"

"Dinky might have a poor sense of direction, but she's not stupid," Diamond added. "I'm guessing she just got lost in town and she'll be returning with somepony soon."

"Are ya sure?" Apple Bloom retorted. With a scrunched muzzle, she made eye contact with Diamond. "She could've gone anywhere for all we know!"

"Then we form a search party!" Scootaloo announced as she placed a hoof to her chest. "Let's group up into—"

Sweetie stretched her hoof out to the group. "Wait! Shouldn't we tell an adult or somepony older than us to help out?"

"Are you crazy?" Diamond questioned. She gritted her teeth, scowling. "We'd be grounded for weeks if they found out we lost Dinky!"

"But how are we going to find her on our own? It's way too dangerous if we have to go outside of Ponyville, especially if it's into the Everfree Forest." Sweetie caught her breath. "If we're going to find Dinky, we need everypony's help. Rarity, Sunset Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, and many others will help us if we let them know what's going on."

Rumble raised his hoof. "I'll let Thunderlane know what's going on. And what about Spoiled—"

"Let's leave her out of this," Diamond scoffed. She squirmed for a few seconds; her cheeks puffed out to where she looked close to throwing up at the thought. "And are you sure they'll not punish us or tell Spoiled Rich about what happened? What if they gossip about it and she overhears what happened?" She quickly inhaled and exhaled. "What if Dinky's in danger?"

"They'll be nice about it." Sweetie trudged over to Diamond. It warmed her heart a little taking charge of the situation, though the context tightened her chest into a knot as well. Such sensations juxtaposed each other, but with anxiety staring her down and a possible solution by her side, she'd be foolish not pleading for help. "I promise."

Rolling her eyes, Diamond sighed. "Okay, fine! But it better work!"

Sweetie slowly nodded. Sunset Shimmer and Twilight Sparkle were talented magic users, so finding Dinky shouldn't prove too troublesome. It was whatever followed and where she ended up that cast a storm cloud over everypony. Trixie might end up helping as well if she showed up, and it was a similar story if Applejack and Rarity participated.

The odds were in their favor.

However, luck wouldn't help out if they had no time left.

Scars of the Past

Of all the catastrophes that befell Sweetie, this ranked among the worst.

Any hopes of her special lessons being conducted tomorrow were dashed. Sunset postponing or canceling her next session was now possible, and finding Trixie became more of a dream if anything. Dinky could've been anywhere, and even though she had no direct role in what happened, her heart nevertheless sank into the abyss.

No matter how she approached the problem, Sweetie figured it'd end up with her to blame. Her magic lessons would've definitely come to a screeching halt.

However, making sure Dinky was unharmed outweighed everything else.

If Sweetie knew some kind of tracking spell to find Dinky and bring her home safely, things probably would've ended without conflict. But she was still an amateur, just learning the ropes of magic, and whether such a spell even existed crossed her mind.

Her hooves ached as she galloped across the roads, weaving around any obstacles in her way. Some passersby glanced at her for a moment, shrugging and returning to whatever it was they were doing beforehoof. A few familiar faces waved at her as she pranced past them. Some of them, Bon Bon and Fleur de Lis in particular, all wore bright faces as though they yearned to share some stories. Sweetie only had the time for a quick apology as she barreled past, all amounting to one or two words, but their nods loosened her chest.

Twilight's castle was closer to where Sweetie was than Carousel Boutique. Glancing up at the castle, Sweetie couldn't help herself from scrutinizing the gleaming details and how the surface seemingly glowed in the sunset. It took her breath away.

However, gawking at marvelous lights was something that could wait.

"I just gotta tell Twilight what happened," Sweetie muttered under her breath. Her lungs burned like overheating furnaces. "Sunset should know, too. And maybe I'll—"

Without warning, Sweetie crashed into something in front of her, a loud grunt reaching her ears. She slid across the dirt as clouds of light brown smoke rose into the air. Upon coming to rest, Sweetie clenched her teeth and slowly propped herself up, the entire right side of her body covered in twangs.

"What happened?" Sweetie whispered to herself, rubbing her right shoulder. "There wasn't anything there last I checked."

As the dust cleared, however, Sweetie gasped upon realizing a figure before her got the worst of it.

Before her was a seemingly motionless mare, her silver mane flapping with the wind. It was the same story for her stylized hat and cape. Sweetie swallowed a lump, cheeks pale. She hoped the mare wasn't unconscious. And at the same time, the mare was eerily familiar as well. Sweetie's blood froze as she pieced the puzzle together.

By some sheer coincidence, she had knocked over Trixie, groans leaving the wizard's mouth. At this rate, Sweetie figured she'd end up accidentally summoning Queen Chrysalis over to Ponyville due to a botched spell or be forced to listen to Miss Harshwhinny lecture about professionalism for three hours straight.

Trixie opened her eyes, then blinked. She pushed herself upright and adjusted her hat. Sweetie cringed at the dirt covering her, but much to her relief, no bruises or wounds covered the mare.

"I-I'm so sorry!" Sweetie blurted out. She caught her breath. "I was running because a friend of mine got lost, but I wasn't looking where I was going, and then I—"

Trixie placed the tip of her hoof on her lips and then shushed Sweetie. "It's fine," she said. "I'm a little sore, but Trixie will recover soon enough. Just watch where you're going next time." She paused for a moment, making eye contact with Sweetie before cracking a slight smile. "Say, aren't you Rarity's sister? Sweetie Belle, right?"

Sweetie nodded. "Yep!" A moment later, she arched an eyebrow. "But how do you know my name? We've barely even met, let alone interacted with each other outside of me watching one of your shows."

"Princess Twilight told me about you once. We caught up after I made sure some of my friends staying in Ponyville were okay after the whole Tirek incident. Luckily, they were unharmed, though I'd rather forget that day ever happened." Rubbing the back of her neck, Trixie gently motioned to Sweetie. "When Trixie mingled with Twilight, she told me about how she and her friends were doing."

"Yeah, we've gotten ourselves into all sorts of crazy things." Sweetie faintly chuckled, then trotted over to where Trixie was. "Ever since Twilight's new castle came up, we've all been involved in some strange and exciting stories. I got my cutie mark, Rarity helped solve a mystery, and so much more!"

"Trixie has dabbled in mysteries before." Taking a deep breath, Trixie sped up and made a beeline to where Twilight's castle was. "And you don't have to worry about your accident. I forgive you, but our little discussion can wait." She took a quick breath, picking up the pace while Sweetie galloped right beside her. "Your friend is in danger, yes?"

Sweetie quickly nodded.

"Then there's no time to waste. As brilliant as Trixie is, we'll need all the help we can get."

Both Sweetie and Trixie arrived at the front door to Twilight's castle, the gold plates shining as brightly as ever. Sweetie leaped at the door like a frog and pounded away at it. Loud clacks rang into her ears, Sweetie wincing a little. And after several knocks on the door, it finally crept open. A sigh left Sweetie's lips, hooves aching.

Standing before her were Twilight and Sunset, both of them with concerned expressions across their faces.

Twilight's eyes swiveled around as she scanned the world before her. A few seconds later, she then cocked her head. "Sweetie Belle, Trixie, what are you doing here?" she asked. "I know Sweetie and Sunset were going to ask you, Trixie, about teaching certain spells, but is there something I can help you with?"

"Yes!" Sweetie shouted at the top of her lungs. "Dinky has gone missing!"

Twilight gasped and stepped back, wings unfurled. "What? We need to find her!"

Sunset made her way up to Sweetie and pursed her lips. "What exactly happened? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Glancing over to where Trixie stood, Sweetie blushed. Her cheeks tautened. "Though I kinda crashed into Trixie on the way over here." She feigned a smile and nervously giggled. "She's okay, too." Sweetie brought her attention back to Sunset. The lack of emotion adorning Sunset's visage sent chills down her spine. "Anyway, my friends and I were playing hide-and-seek, and we all did everything we could to ensure it went by safely."

"And Dinky somehow got lost?"

"Yep."

"Do we have any clues to where she may have gone?" Sunset rubbed her muzzle. "We can't all just search around blindly. Otherwise, we'll never find her quickly."

"No clues." Sulking, Sweetie donned a sagging frown. "All we know is that she's gone off somewhere."

"In that case, we'll need to form multiple search parties. Pegasi can patrol the skies and get a good view of where she may have gone, while everypony else can cover the ground and any dense forests or residential areas. If we spread the word during our search, we can get more ponies to join in and it might be easier and faster. We'll cover more ground that way as well."

Sweetie raised her head and made eye contact with Sunset. She then nodded. "Okay, that sounds like a good idea. Since we don't have any clues, it's our best bet."

"I'd like to help, too," Trixie added, crossing her forelegs. "I never got a chance to repay everypony for saving me from the Alicorn Amulet a while ago, so while it can't make up for any of the bad things I've done, I'd be honored to assist you in finding Dinky. I could light the way in darker places."

"You're more than welcome to join us," Twilight said. "We'll need all the help we can get."

"Thank you." Trixie bowed to Twilight, maintaining eye contact. "Trixie—I will do my best."

"There's no need to bow. And you're welcome." Twilight took a deep breath and placed a hoof on her chest. Upon exhaling, she extended her foreleg out and closed her eyes for a moment. "Come on, everypony. Let's go find Dinky."

Sunset and Twilight trotted out of the castle, the latter swiftly closing the door and checking thrice to make sure it was locked. Once everything was in place, she nodded and galloped away from the crystal structure, only looking back once to finally ensure nothing was opened. Sweetie, Sunset, and Trixie all followed close behind.

Normally, the mere fact that she was working together with three of the most talented unicorns in Equestria would've plastered a beaming grin on Sweetie's face.

The context was anything but normal.

It didn't take too long for Sweetie's hooves to ache a tad. Then again, dashing across the dirt roads and not even pausing for a second to catch her breath worked out the muscles in her body. As before, she and the others all passed by residents of Ponyville; most of them were watching the group's journey.

"Does anypony know where Dinky is?" Twilight bellowed. "We need to find her as soon as possible! Any information on her whereabouts is appreciated!"

And as Sweetie sped past the residents, most of them shook their heads and formed their own search parties. Bon Bon was where she last stood the last time Sweetie spotted her, the mare waving her forelegs, gathering some of her friends, and then instructing them on where to search. Even the normally frightened Roseluck donned a serious expression, brow sagging, and set up plans on where to search. Three Wonderbolts visiting the town on behalf of Cloudsdale also sprang into action and joined the search.

Soon enough, most of the town was a part of the investigation. Sweetie's party had already reached Carousel Boutique; not a scrap of evidence was discovered, though with everypony's help, they'd likely find something soon enough.

Making a beeline toward the front door, Sweetie pounded on the wooden frame.

"Rarity!" Sweetie called out at the top of her lungs. "Rarity! We need your help!"

The door opened in a flash. Before Sweetie was none other than her sister, cheeks pale and pupils shrunk. "What's wrong, dear?" she asked.

"Dinky's missing!"

"What?" Rarity gasped, legs wiggling as she almost toppled over. "What are we waiting for? We need to hurry!" Biting her lip, she hurriedly tapped the ground. "But where shall we go? We don't have any leads, right? We'd probably end up tiring ourselves out before we find a scrap of evidence."

"The Everfree Forest?" Sweetie meekly suggested. Her shoulders sagged.

Rarity shuddered for a moment. She glanced back at Carousel Boutique and then back to Sweetie. "Okay, but we'll need to be careful. The Everfree Forest is a ghastly place. And I guess—" she cleared her throat "—I guess I can wash up when we get back. Dinky needs us, dear."

"Alright, let's head on over to the Everfree Forest," Twilight said. She ruffled her wings. "Stick close and don't stray too far, okay?"

Everypony else nodded.

Sweetie pursed her lips for a moment. The Everfree Forest was infamous for the perils and mysteries residing in it, though if Dinky was ever going to be found, courage had to ride alongside her for now. Besides, with all of the calamities Equestria had survived, a dark forest was nothing. As everypony trotted toward the cluster of trees, Sweetie kept her head up high.

Maybe the search wouldn't take too long after all.

Sweetie gulped as the group arrived at the forest's entrance. Incurring Rarity's wrath whenever Sweetie accidentally messed up one of her dresses was the only thing comparable to the nightmarish world that was the Everfree Forest. And with much of it already shrouded in shadows, maybe the search would take more time than she'd thought.

An uneven path went into one of the few open areas of the forest. Owls hooted and fluttered about, even though the sun had yet to fall below the horizon. Heartbeats filled Sweetie's ears as her throat tightened. Ever since her previous escapades into the Everfree Forest, Sweetie wished she'd never have to set hoof in such a place ever again. The putrid stenches which came from some of the region's flowers returned to her, Sweetie's nose scrunching up in an instant.

If Dinky was stuck in there, however, Sweetie knew she'd storm in without a second thought.

However, the uncertainty of her location was just enough for apprehension to kick in. But at least she had Sunset, Twilight, and Trixie with her.

"Okay, we'll stay on the path at first," Twilight said. She glanced over to the other ponies, all of them nodding in unison. "If we don't find anything, we'll diverge onto the unpaved areas, but we'll have to stick close to each other no matter what. Splitting up is dangerous, and even if it may cover more ground, the risks just aren't worth it."

"And exactly how far does the path go?" Sunset asked.

Trixie raised her hoof. "A couple of miles," she said. "The path is mostly straight and there are few forks in the road, so getting lost is unlikely as long as we don't get distracted. Should the path split into two directions, we'll need to agree on a direction. Even if Trixie is certain—" Trixie paused. She blushed. "I mean, we'll scan the area and decide what to do from there."

"Sounds like a plan," Sweetie said. She slowly trotted forward, everypony else in the group lumped together. "Let's do this."

Twilight, Sunset, Rarity, and Trixie all lit their horns, illuminating the pathway. The forest itself wasn't too troublesome at first. The sky was still visible, if mostly covered by the treetops, and the whistling birds coupled with the soothing song of a nearby river added some aural beauty to it all. The dark green leaves and shrubs also had their own sense of awe, though sweat dripped down Sweetie's forehead nonetheless. If the stern visages everypony else wore were anything to go by, it was that she couldn't let her guard down.

And despite spending at least fifteen minutes or so swiveling their heads around and studying every square inch of the forest, nothing indicating Dinky's presence was found. No hoofprints, no strands of her coat or mane, and not even whimpers revealed themselves. It was just some plants.

"Have you found anything yet?" a voice hollered.

For some reason, the voice came from above. Sweetie raised her head and noticed the three Wonderbolts from before flying above the group. Misty Fly, Blaze, and Soarin were the ones present; Sweetie easily recognized their distinct manes, Rainbow Dash describing them to her and the other Cutie Mark Crusaders in great detail after returning from Canterlot one day.

"Nothing yet!" Twilight orated. "Just a bunch of trees!"

"We've only covered about a third of the forest, but we've found nothing," Misty continued. She paused and focused on Rarity. "Hey, Rarity."

"Good evening, Misty Fly," Rarity said. "And good evening to your friends as well, but there's no time to gossip."

"Obviously. And if you're here as well, but nothing has been found, then—" Misty paused for a second "—then maybe Dinky ran off somewhere else. We've tried seeing if any light purple or blond strands have fallen anywhere in Ponyville, but nothing came up. And somepony told us she ran off toward the Everfree Forest, only to realize later that was where she went."

"Who told you, dear?"

"Minuette," Soarin answered. "She and her friends made their own group and headed off into the forest as well. Dinky could be anywhere now, though she's likely still somewhere in the forest."

"At least we're in the right place," Sweetie muttered to herself. She glanced down at the ground, sulking. Checking on Dinky's health was most important, but something prodding her urged Sweetie to slap some common sense into Dinky's brain. Sure, she was the epitome of a brilliant mind with the occasionally awful decisions and sense of direction, but she got into trouble a little too often. "Please be okay."

"We'll keep on searching!" Blaze announced. She glanced to the left, then to the right. "If you need us, just fire off a signal of some sort. It shouldn't take us too long to catch up."

"Sounds good!" Twilight hollered back. She then cocked her head. "Good luck!"

"I wish the same for you!" Misty responded.

And just like that, the three Wonderbolts turned left and resumed their search. Sweetie couldn't help but crack the faintest of smiles, her heart ticklish and warm. Something about the whole town helping out, even visiting ponies who were stuck doing some sort of assignment, comforted her like a fluffy blanket. While not all ponies lent a helping hoof or were even nice, reflecting on this community effort loosened her muscles.

Such reasons were why Ponyville was a wonderful town, even with the occasional disaster or awkwardness.

Tension still constricted her chest, but at least a glimmer of hope was along for the ride.

Dinky was okay; that was almost certainly the case in Sweetie's eyes.

Sweetie took a deep breath.

"Everypony!" Trixie cried out. "Look what I've found!"

Upon escaping her trance, Sweetie glanced over to where Trixie was. Twilight, Rarity, and Sunset focused on their partner as well.

"What is it?" Twilight asked. "Did you find a clue?"

Trixie nodded and then trotted over to a seemingly ordinary shrub. "It might be hard to see, but if you look closely, I think I see a strand of Dinky's mane caught in this little shrub. There are some hoofprints, too!" She motioned toward Sweetie and company, cheeks stretched. "I think she crossed it and went straight ahead."

The rest of the group all made a beeline toward the shrub in question. Leaning closer toward the prickly leaves, Sweetie scrutinized the plant, noticing some of the aforementioned leaves and some nearby twigs bent or broken off. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, however, as no signs of Dinky or anypony else made themselves known. She rubbed her muzzle; perhaps she was going about this the wrong way.

The lack of brightness may have played a role.

"Sunset Shimmer, how do you cast a light spell?" Sweetie asked, turning her head toward Sunset. "I'm having a bit of trouble seeing it."

"Illumination spells are rather simple," Sunset said. "For starters, take a deep breath. Once you're feeling a little calmer, try imagining your horn is like a flashlight, a lighthouse, or anything similar. If done correctly, your horn will glow a bright aura, but it won't mess with anything surrounding you." Pausing for a second, Sunset then trotted closer to Sweetie. She knelt down and placed a hoof on Sweetie's shoulder. "And that's all there is to it."

"It's that simple?"

Sunset nodded. "Yep. And unlike the teleportation spell we practiced last time, this spell is one of the few that requires hardly any practice to master."

"Got it." Sweetie took a quick breath, imagining a beacon of light enveloping her horn. And in the blink of an eye, her horn radiated a green light. Sweetie donned a slight smirk. Something about picking up a spell and getting it right away, even if it was one of the simplest ones in the book, tickled her coat. "There we go!"

"You've got it! Now, let's see if we can spot what Trixie found."

Much of what Sweetie spotted before was the same, however. The same leaves, twigs, and patches of soil were in front of her.

However, a glowing speck appeared in the corner of Sweetie's eye. She shifted her attention to the part in question. A blond strand of what must've been Dinky's tail swung on one of the branches. Just below it was a small indentation in the soil; the circular divot had to have been Dinky's hoof. Yet there was another hoofprint beside it, only larger.

Sweetie gulped, throat tightened. Either one of the rescue parties had already made their way toward Dinky, or something ferocious was chasing her. Shivering, Sweetie pursed her lips. "Please be okay," she whispered under her breath. "I hope that other hoofprint is from a rescue party."

"Those hoofprints were what I first noticed," Trixie said. She patted herself on the back, adorning a glum expression in the blink of an eye. It was as though she could flip between overly boastful and serious in a flash. Sweetie couldn't help herself from arching an eyebrow at such whiplash. "So we can say for certain that Dinky was here at some point." Trixie tapped the soil and clenched her teeth. "But where?"

"Let's look at the facts," Rarity said. "We've had the Wonderbolts and Minuette confirm Dinky was somewhere within the forest during their search. Next, we have this shrub, the strand from her tail, and the hoofprints next to it." She leaned closer to the hoofprints, scrunching her muzzle and gently measuring them with her hoof. "These hoofprints have a similar depth, so it's fair to assume that these were planted minutes apart."

"So somepony must've witnessed her entering the forest," Sweetie added. "Either that or this pony was following her to begin with."

"Correct, dear. This mysterious pony must've followed Dinky, but was just far away enough to where this witness couldn't stop her from entering the forest. The next question then becomes whether this figure warned Dinky ahead of time or said nothing. Furthermore, is the figure friend or foe?"

Twilight shivered as if a blizzard swirled past. "Please be a friend."

"Hold on a second," Sunset muttered. Parting the shrub, she gazed at the hoofsteps printed into the soil. Sunset quickly glanced at her hooves. "I see it. Dinky must've trotted straight ahead. The figure followed her as well." She pursed her lips for a moment and took a deep breath. "If we hurry, we'll catch up to Dinky. We'll also possibly find out who followed her and why."

"What are we waiting for?" Trixie blurted out. She hopped over the shrub, the rest of the group either following suit or merely trotting around it. Sweetie merely elected to make her way around the plant; her small stature wasn't exactly the best for leaping to new heights. "Let's go!"

Meandering across the forest, especially with no road to guide her and give her somewhere to catch her breath, had to have been one of Sweetie's greatest challenges. Sweat cascaded down her forehead like a rainstorm only a few minutes into the adventure. Her hooves ached as though she'd stepped over a field of sewing needles. The cracking of fallen twigs and the rustling of leaves prodded her ears, Sweetie yearning for the cacophonous tune to end soon. And while no wild animals and feral beasts leaped out of the shadows, the hooting of owls and the distant howls froze her blood.

At least she knew Dinky was somewhere up ahead.

"I know where I am!" a familiar voice cried out from afar. "Stop saying I'm lost already!"

Sweetie's ears twitched. Ceasing her trotting, she swiveled her head toward the voice's source and licked her lips. "Did anypony hear that?" she asked.

"I did," Sunset replied, nodding. "Was that Dinky?"

"That's definitely her." Sweetie trudged forward and rolled her eyes. "And it's typical of her to argue she's not lost."

A sigh left Sweetie's lips. Dinky getting lost wasn't anything new, though this was the first time where search parties got involved regarding her whereabouts. It made little sense that her mother was Derpy Hooves, the esteemed mailmare theorized as having a compass planted in her head. She was a little clumsy at times and made mistakes, but if mail needed to be sent, she was the one to ask. The last time Dinky took a few wrong turns, Derpy had to pull her in the right direction. But even with her among the search parties, Sweetie counted herself lucky in being close to finding Dinky.

After all, even the most astute of explorers had trouble scanning the Everfree Forest.

No shouting matches followed, the forest quiet enough to where Sweetie heard her own breathing. With burning lungs, she noticed a pair of colorful dots up ahead. One was a light purple, the same color as Dinky's coat; the other was a bright pink, but the purple and aquamarine colors atop it ruled out Pinkie Pie as being the one who followed Dinky.

Instead, it was that strange mare from before.

"Who's that?" Sweetie asked.

Twilight squinted at the pair. Her cheeks tautened as she glanced over to Sweetie. "It's Starlight Glimmer."

"What?" Sweetie's heart skipped a beat. "You mean the one I was supposed to avoid?"

"So that mare's name was Starlight Glimmer?" Sunset asked. She bit her lip.

"Yes to both. Starlight's nicer now, but she's supposed to avoid getting too involved with the town until I know she's changed for the better, hence why I cautioned everypony who asked about her. We agreed to this, but it's a long story." Twilight turned toward Sunset, then raised an eyebrow. "Also, I thought you didn't know who Starlight Glimmer was?"

Sunset's shoulders sagged. "Sort of. The truth is that the name was faintly familiar. I just forgot it was that pony's name." Adopting a downcast expression, Sunset released a soft sigh. "We went to Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns together. Starlight was always an overachiever and not one for talking. Whenever somepony tried talking to her, she'd mention something about this Sunburst character and shut us off. And as for me, I—" Sunset swallowed a lump "—I'd rather not talk about it."

"Maybe you can both become friends," Sweetie suggested.

"I doubt that. Starlight might be the kind of mare who holds a grudge."

"But you couldn't have done something bad to her, right?"

Sunset pursed her lips. Not a word left her mouth.

"Oh."

Arching an eyebrow, Sweetie brought her attention back to Dinky and Starlight, their conversation becoming clearer the closer she got. Sunset seemed nice enough as far as Sweetie knew, and Twilight wasn't one to spend time with anypony cruel. Perhaps Sunset merely made a mistake that poked Starlight's nerves back then. And if it was long ago, chances were that Starlight had forgotten about what occurred. But Sunset's behavior only further twisted Sweetie's mind into a corkscrew.

She needed to figure out what happened. Once again, curiosity was nagging her to find out the truth.

Sweetie just wished the truth wasn't harsh.

"Dinky!" Sweetie called out, waving a hoof across. "We're here!"

As the five ponies approached the scene, Dinky raised her head and stared at them, a slight smile across her face. Starlight followed suit a second later, quickly donning a slight frown instead.

Sweetie's cheeks tautened. As she glanced over to where Sunset was, she noticed her face also turning pale at the mere sight of Starlight's expression. Tension crushed Sweetie's bones; her breathing quickened as she slowly approached the pair. If Starlight was as dangerous as Twilight alluded to, the thought of getting a spell to the face churned Sweetie's stomach. After all, Equestria still had trouble getting Discord to behave at times, the most recent Grand Galloping Gala one example.

"You seriously had to bring her along?" Starlight asked. She ruffled her brow and approached the group. "Honestly, Sunset Shimmer was the last pony I wanted to see again." Sighing, Starlight then shifted her focus to Twilight. "I know you're the Princess of Friendship, but is this all some sort of plot so that I have to make amends with that snake?"

Sweetie shuddered. "Snake? What are you talking about? Sunset is one of the nicest ponies I've ever met. What could she have done to you that would make you feel this way?" A quick breath left her lips. "And secondly, we've been searching for Dinky, not some grand scheme to force you into making friends with everypony who wronged you."

"I'm sorry." Starlight placed a hoof to her chest, then gazed at Dinky for a moment. The filly wore a perplexed expression, brow raised and mouth slightly open. "First, you're probably wondering why I'm here. I saw Dinky trotting into this forest. I tried shouting, but Dinky was too far away to hear me." She paused for a moment. "At that point, I had no choice but to follow her into the forest, and that's how we ended up here."

"Yeah, that's pretty much what happened," Dinky added, shrugging.

"I believe you, Starlight," Twilight said as she approached the mare. "You were trying to do the right thing, and for that, I'm proud of you." She sighed, ruffling her wings. "But whatever happened between you and Sunset shouldn't make you this angry now. You never told me about your past with her. All I knew was where your plans originated—after Sunburst abandoned you."

"You honestly think that my whole story was just that one event?" Starlight rolled her shoulders. "And besides, you never asked. Sunburst ditching me only planted the seeds of my—" Starlight gulped "—foolish ideas."

"And what does Sunset have to do with all of this?" Sweetie asked. "There's no way she could've been so mean to you, right?"

"I don't know what happened to you, Sunset." Starlight shot a glare at Sunset, the latter recoiling a bit. "You were the brattiest pony I ever dealt with." Sticking her tongue out, Starlight pretended to hack something up. "You always bragged about how much better you were than everypony else and that you were destined to become the next Princess of Equestria."

"Trixie is boastful as well," Trixie confessed. With a faint chuckle leaving her lips, she blushed. "However, I became a kinder and more generous mare during my troubled experiences. I'm making an honest effort. From what it sounds like, you also had a troubled past and made mistakes, but shouldn't that mean you should give ponies another chance?"

Starlight crossed her forelegs, pouting. "You wish it was that simple. My relationship with her isn't exactly simple." Pausing for a moment, she took a deep breath and placed a hoof on her chest. "See, Sunset also bullied me back then. While she was far from the only one to tease me, her words had to have been the worst." Starlight cringed. "It was one of the worst parts about growing up."

"What?" Sweetie shrieked. Swiveling her head to face Sunset, Sweetie's mouth hung agape. Her heart sank as Sunset's head hung low, a frown across her face. "You couldn't have been so mean to others, right?"

A deep sigh left Sunset's mouth. She wiped her eyes and sniffled. "Sweetie, it's true. I understand why you'd be upset, but Twilight can back me up a bit." She took another deep breath. "I once thought I was Celestia's gift to the world. My ego also carried a bullying streak. The moment I got my cutie mark, I thought I was destined for greatness. It—may have hurt Starlight much more than I thought back then." She sighed, gently kicking the air. "Also, remember when I asked who Starlight Glimmer was back at Sugarcube Corner?"

Sweetie nodded, as did Twilight and Rarity.

"I recognized something about it, but I tried to hide it." She sighed. "I was embarrassed."

"But why did you hide it?" Sweetie asked. "You honestly looked like you didn't know, too."

"I kinda shouted it, remember?" Sunset wiggled her forelegs, the sounds of her breaths reaching Sweetie's ears. "Anyway, what happened back then was that Starlight was among what most deemed as one of the stranger foals. She always said that cutie marks were bad and that we were doing things the wrong way. With how I saw my cutie mark and my attitude back then, the results were messy."

Starlight bobbed her head. "And the results were messy," she said. Starlight trudged up to Sunset with a glum expression. "The mean nicknames and how you and a few others sometimes threw gum at me or stuffed me into lockers were among the worst of it." With a quick breath, Starlight pursed her lips. "You can all call me crazy, but that's part of how it all went down."

"If I had bumped into you again, I'd have apologized for everything I did." Sunset's eyes twinkled. "I should never have bullied you like that. You may have been lonely back then, and with your friend moving away, you must've looked for anything to place the blame on. I understand where you're coming from, but let's just put aside our past for once and move on, okay?"

Starlight shook her head. "You'll have to prove that you're a better pony first."

"But she is a better pony," Twilight said, raising her hoof. "And just like you and Trixie, Sunset has changed and matured for the better. She's no longer the bully from the past. She's a much better pony now. Can you please let this grudge go?"

Starlight brought her gaze to Twilight, then shrugged. "Maybe." Trotting past the four and not looking back, Starlight's horn shone a light blue aura, illuminating the path before her. "Anyway, Dinky's unharmed. She just took a wrong turn." Freezing in place, she then tapped the ground. "And Sunset Shimmer, just leave me alone for a little while." She then resumed trudging forward and taking short steps. "That's all I ask. And sorry for stepping outside a little too much, Twilight." Starlight glanced back at the princess. "I just didn't want anypony to get hurt."

"You did the right thing. However, please consider what I said about forgiving Sunset Shimmer, okay?"

Starlight turned away and said nothing. As the ponies all watched her trotting into the shadows, not a peep left their mouths. Sweetie, however, spent most of her time gazing into Sunset's eyes. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she wiped her eyes, struggling to avoid shedding any more of them. The picture before Sweetie was simple to decipher. Sunset feared she'd be ordered to abandon teaching Sweetie; their first lessons were filled with laughter, cheers, and smiles for a reason. And while Sunset's actions were terrible, Sweetie couldn't help but think of Trixie and Diamond Tiara.

Both of them were rotten in the past. Yet they all grew into better ponies in the end.

Chances were that it was the same for Sunset, at least according to Sweetie.

And before she even had a chance to speak up, a group of six ponies emerged from the cluster of trees. It was the Wonderbolts with Minuette's group along for the ride, Twinkleshine and Lemon Hearts making up the latter party. The trio of unicorns were all panting as beads of sweat dripped from their manes, dirt clinging onto their coats. Lemon's cheeks puffed out as though she was sick while Twinkleshine was inches away from toppling over. As for Misty, Soarin, and Blaze, the three of them all donned bright smiles upon spotting Dinky.

Such expressions vanished in an instant when they noticed the others' glum expressions.

"Is everypony okay?" Twinkleshine asked. "We heard some noises and got here as soon as we could."

"I'm fine," Dinky whined, pouting. "How many times am I gonna have to answer that question?"

Misty trotted over to where Sunset stood, lips curled into a slight frown. "What happened to your friend? Is she okay?"

"She'll be okay," Twilight answered. "But I think she just needs some rest and time to herself."

Blaze nodded. "Sounds fair to me," she muttered. "We should be able to get back in about half an hour if no obstacles show up."

"We might even get back earlier," Rarity said, trotting ahead. "But let's stick together for safety on the return trip home, but we shouldn't waste too much time. This place is atrocious when night arrives." Taking a quick breath, she then patted Sunset's shoulder. "We'll get some hot chocolate prepared for everypony when we get back. You're welcome to join in as well, darling."

Sunset slowly nodded, but no words left her mouth.

"Okay, let's head on home," Twilight said.

Everypony huddled up together and trotted toward where Ponyville was, Twilight leading the way as the groups all mingled with each other. However, Sweetie and Sunset kept to themselves. Sweetie wished that she could've helped out Sunset right there and cheered her up, even if it only amounted to a faint smile or a few chuckles. However, all she drew were blanks. If Rarity was inviting everypony for some hot chocolate, perhaps that was when she could lift Sunset's spirits. Twangs covered Sweetie's chest seeing Sunset like this.

She knew it wouldn't be straightforward. Life was never a clear path, after all.

But this time around, the student had to help out the teacher.

Healing Process

For the first time, a somewhat macabre atmosphere lingered during one of Carousel Boutique's social gatherings.

And even if the Wonderbolts and Minuette's group had joined Sweetie and her friends instead of returning Dinky back to her home, the dimly lit atmosphere of the entire boutique wouldn't have become brighter. They'd have performed the same glances over to Sunset and the brief conversations in a desperate attempt to liven up the mood.

Difficulties and frightening spectacles had occurred at or near Sweetie's home from time to time, but those always centered around a conflict with her sister, dresses not working out, or a monster wreaking havoc outside on rare occasions. As far as any outsider would've noticed, everything was quaint within the boutique as ponies all mingled with each other and sipped cups of hot chocolate. The tables and chairs sprawled throughout the room were all neatly organized. Mannequins and the dresses Rarity had toiled over until she sweated up a storm were all stowed in the closet and peeking at the ponies. Baked goods perched atop the plates and emitting a crisp scent that tickled Sweetie's nostrils.

Almost everypony present was feigning smiles. Sunset simply sat in the corner and gazed at an opened book. Her shoulders sagged, a soft sigh leaving her lips as she sipped from her cup of hot chocolate. Rarity and Trixie approached her and asked if there was anything they could've done to help her feel just a smidgen better. Everything from words of support to practical jokes had been muttered. But from what Sweetie noticed, Sunset merely shook her head and gently waved them away, politely requesting she have time to herself.

Without fail, those who approached her agreed to respect her privacy. Those shooed away regrouped with each other, glancing at Sunset from time to time.

As for Twilight, her focus was locked onto Sweetie. The latter only arched an eyebrow at Twilight, though the princess cracked the softest of smiles in return. Perhaps Twilight had an idea of sorts stewing in her head, but since reading minds was something far beyond what Sweetie was capable of yet, hypothesizing was all she could've done.

Sweetie juggled all sorts of phrases that might have helped her even a little, but with every possible question or request that flashed before her, they all faded away and were discarded in an instant.

Lame, rude, corny, and a myriad of other negative words replaced her ideas.

Sweetie pursed her lips and exhaled. Reaching over to the small cup next to her, she drank a bit of her hot chocolate, the warm and sweet flavors tickling her taste buds. It'd paint a bright smile across her face on most days.

Today wasn't like most days.

"There has to be a way to reach out to Sunset," Sweetie murmured to herself. Carrying the cup with her magic, she paced back and forth, head hung low. "But if she wants to be left alone, shouldn't I respect her decision?"

From what Sweetie recalled, Rarity always stressed the importance of respecting another pony's privacy depending on the context. Sweetie glanced over to where her sister was, the latter discussing something with Trixie. From what Sweetie heard, Trixie had attempted some jokes and puns to lighten the mood, a few of them earning a few chuckles. At least it prevented the room from being nothing but melancholy.

"If Rarity trotted away to respect Sunset's privacy, maybe I should do the same." Sweetie sighed, then sat down on the floor and took another sip of her drink. Its soothing warmth loosened her muscles ever so slightly. But it wasn't enough; the tension in the air still constricted Sweetie like an anaconda.

"You should do what's right," Trixie murmured. "Trust me, Trixie knows what she's talking about."

Sweetie glanced over to her right, Trixie trotting up to her and sitting beside her. "What do you mean?" she asked.

Gently rubbing Sweetie's shoulder, Trixie then chuckled for a split second. "Trixie—I learned that doing the right thing is one of the most important aspects of anypony's life. Being the Great and Powerful Trixie is one thing, but I haven't truly earned such a title if I can't spread smiles and laughs with other ponies. Doing what's right and moral can make the world a better place. Princess Twilight told me this once, and now I'm passing it on to you." She paused for a moment and pursed her lips. Sighing, she then made eye contact with Sweetie. "I've never told you about life after the incident with the Alicorn Amulet, have I?"

Sweetie shook her head. "You haven't. Is there something about it you want to share with me?"

"A little bit, but it's important." Trixie took a deep breath, momentarily closing her eyes. "After that incident, I had some trouble getting back on my hooves. There were some places where I could resume life and my shows as if nothing bad had happened, but even then, my past still lingered above me. It—it was like being a ghost at times."

Sweetie arched an eyebrow. "A ghost?"

"Well, news of what happened spread throughout Equestria. While some ponies felt bad for me, others pushed me away. They were afraid of me, and it was only after showing extreme bouts of generosity and kindness that they gave me another chance." Adjusting her hat, Trixie then bit her lip. "I know it's odd telling you this now, but it does apply to what your friend must be going through. Even if I'm among the greatest in casting magic, I still have much to learn." She paused for a moment, then shuddered as her eyes widened. "You're studying magic, right?"

"Yep." Sweetie arched an eyebrow. "Why do you ask?"

"I only learned this recently, but if you're looking to become the best you can at something, you must realize that there's always something new to learn." Trixie rubbed her hooves together. "And while I may still be somewhat boastful, not without reason, I've improved because I now know that knowing everything is practically impossible. There's always something new to discover."

"I see where you're coming from. Thank you for the advice."

"Not a problem. Trixie is glad to help out if you have any questions." She rubbed the back of her neck, sheepishly smiling. "I'll admit that I can't promise I'll know how to help out, but I can promise that I'll do my best. And there are few ponies who can match or exceed my best, you know."

"I guess so." Sweetie bobbed her head. "As we were saying, because Sunset had a rough past and some ponies haven't forgotten about it, showing she's become a better mare won't be easy in all cases. Your experience and Sunset's have some similarities as a result. But I have to ask, when did you realize kindness and generosity were the keys?"

"That's a good question." Trixie glanced at the ornate roof above her. Rubbing her muzzle, she hummed for a moment. "During my travels, I ended up helping out others or doing some heroic deeds. I figured it was the right thing to do, though I eventually came to realize it after repeated instances." She flashed a bright smile for the briefest of moments. "It made me happy knowing that I improved the day of somepony else. I was happy for them, more specifically."

Sweetie nodded again. "And that's how you cemented your—" she rubbed her muzzle "—redemption is the word, right?"

"I guess that word could work." A soft chuckle left Trixie's lips. "That being said, I think you should talk with Sunset. Princess Twilight agrees with me."

"How so?"

"I talked with her about how things were going ever since the aforementioned incident with the Alicorn Amulet. Princess Twilight would've talked to you herself, but given how I've lived through the same experience as Sunset, we agreed that I'd be the best pony to share this kernel of wisdom with you. In a way, we kind of combined our own ideas into one." Trixie briefly glanced to Twilight and then back to Sweetie. "There's something to be said about teamwork."

Standing upright, Sweetie donned a faint smirk. "Thank you, Trixie. And say thanks to Twilight for me, too."

"You're welcome." Trixie playfully rubbed the top of Sweetie's mane. The back and forth motion was rather ticklish. "I see some of myself in Sunset. While it may take some time for her to climb out of this, I know that if you're by her side, things will turn out well. She cares for you, Sweetie Belle. She cares for Rarity, Misty Fly, Princess Twilight, and me as well. But if anypony is going to cheer her up, it's you." Pausing, Trixie then gently poked Sweetie's back, the latter budging an inch forward. "Good luck. We're all here if you need help."

"Sounds good."

Noticing Trixie trotting back to where the others were, Sweetie took a quick breath and swiveled her head to where Sunset resided. As before, Sunset kept focusing on the book before her and occasionally sipping her cup of hot chocolate. Other than the few instances of her licking her lips or flipping the book's page, her expression and body were as static as a statue. Sweetie crept forward. Not a sound reached her ears whenever she took a step.

Chances were that Sunset still desired some time to herself. Sweetie's throat tightened. If there was something she deeply loathed, it was wasting time. Interrupting somepony was a smidgen worse, especially if that somepony happened to be Rarity. But this was a little different than the usual cases.

That dark frown drew Sweetie closer toward Sunset. Her heart twisted itself into a knot; hugging was perhaps the best option as far as Sweetie knew, but words needed to be spoken. Why the light within Sunset depended on a small filly only prodded Sweetie's mind, but if Twilight had faith in her to heal Sunset's wounds, it was good enough for her.

After all, nopony turned down friendship advice from the Princess of Friendship. Doing so would've been insane.

Gulping, Sweetie then cleared her throat. "Excuse me."

Sunset glanced up, making eye contact with Sweetie. "Do you need something, Sweetie Belle?" she questioned.

"Sunset Shimmer, can I talk with you for a bit?" Sweetie approached Sunset with short, light steps. Given how leaping to the main area of concern didn't work out thrice, perhaps starting small and slowly allowing Sunset to become more comfortable was the best option. She'd seen other ponies try this before, albeit with mixed results. "It's nothing major or anything. I just feel like chatting with you."

As if by magic, the faintest of smiles ran across Sunset's visage. A soft sigh left her lips. "Okay. If you insist."

Making her way toward Sunset, Sweetie sat next to her and peeked at the book. A myriad of words decorated the page; they all surrounded a complicated diagram composed of numbers and symbols. While the sentences themselves were readable, something about magical properties and mathematical theorems, Sweetie could've sworn the diagram was written in a foreign language. And even if the book was too complex for somepony her age, she couldn't help herself from gawking at it.

"Interested in the book?" Sunset asked. "It's something I found in one of Rarity's bookshelves. She told me it was originally from the old Golden Oaks Library and that she needed to borrow it for a dress' design—for some reason." She shrugged, Sweetie giggling in response. "But when Golden Oaks was destroyed, Twilight let Rarity keep the book for a little longer. She said it was because ponies had trouble getting used to a normal lifestyle after everything that happened that day."

Sweetie bobbed her head. "Yeah, I remember Miss Cheerilee looking so pale for the next few days. It wasn't until things calmed down to where she was her usual self again." Rubbing her muzzle, Sweetie glanced over to Sunset and flipped the page once the latter nodded. While it wasn't anything special, flipping a page with her magic counted as some practice in her view. "Anyway, it was the same story for a lot of ponies during those reconstruction days. You wouldn't believe how fast Ponyville can be rebuilt."

"I've got an idea." Sunset faintly snickered. A second later, she wrapped a foreleg around Sweetie and brought the filly closer to her chest. In response, Sweetie merely nudged toward Sunset. "When the mirror world's Twilight caused a bit of a mess, things were repaired in only around two days. It was a similar story for whenever something was damaged during my time in Equestria. With Equestria, I know the answer comes down to specialized magic that helps with gathering supplies and rebuilding what was damaged or destroyed. However, the mirror world—" Sunset shrugged "—the mirror world is kinda weird. I haven't figured out how it only takes a little longer to rebuild things."

Sweetie cocked her head. "Could it also be magic?"

"Not necessarily." Shaking her head, Sunset then glanced over to Sweetie and flipped the book's page. "There's little to no magic in the mirror world—at least until Twilight and I got involved. Other than that, magic is almost nonexistent, which is rather strange given the similarities between it and Equestria."

"Maybe magic functions differently there."

"That's a possibility I've done research in before. Unfortunately, I've noticed nothing resembling magic outside of the counterparts of Twilight's friends and myself. Magical occurrences sprout in the mirror world from time to time, though even applying methods designed to read magic have produced nothing outside of the previously mentioned instances." Sunset hummed for a moment. "I might try fiddling with the formula when I visit that place again."

Sweetie nodded. "That sounds complex, but I hope it goes well."

"Thanks." Sunset cracked a smirk, eyes brightening. "It's not as high of a priority as what I'm currently doing with Twilight, but it's still something I've been curious about." She paused for a moment and exhaled, staring at the book and then back to Sweetie. "Have you ever thought about researching something in the future?"

Sweetie shook her head. "Not really. I've been so focused on getting my cutie mark for a while. And after I got it, I've been leaning toward practicing music." She paused. A moment later, her cheeks flushed and a soft giggle left her lips. "Oh, and there's obviously learning about magic." Lighting her horn, Sweetie turned the book's page again. "Maybe research might be something that will interest me."

"Sweetie Belle, being a researcher involves all sorts of experiments in things that may seem unimportant at first." Sunset scanned the perimeter of the room, focusing on one of the empty chairs in the corner. "Remember when we tried moving objects to start out?"

Nodding, Sweetie's mouth remained shut. While she had already made tremendous progress, the struggles of lifting the sack of flour still poked her nerves. Yet with her being able to teleport a bit and cast light in dark places, recalling that day stung a bit less.

"Research is kind of like that. You often start small, working with what is already known in order to get the hang of the process and how ponies ended up making the discoveries they did. Some are simple in hindsight while others are complicated to this day." She caught her breath. "And everything, no matter how small, has a part. The reason is that these discoveries and previous research may pave the way to new and exciting leaps in a field."

"As they say, every bit counts."

"Precisely. You're already learning so much."

"Yep." Sweetie smirked. Whenever she heard such words from Sunset, a ticklish sensation covered her coat until she cracked a grin. It wasn't the most fascinating of reactions, but it was among her favorite nonetheless. "Thanks for helping me with that, too."

"My pleasure."

Sunset donned a radiant grin. Just glancing at happiness returning to her tutor warmed Sweetie's heart. Perhaps constantly prodding Sunset's nerves regarding her past wasn't necessary. Just a little conversation was all she needed, and as Sweetie kept gazing into Sunset's eyes, she couldn't help herself from looping it back to Starlight, Trixie, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, and so on.

Sweetie then glanced at Twilight for a moment. The princess merely smiled and waved, her expression tickling Sweetie's coat at the sight.

She then brought her attention back to Sunset. Neither of them spoke a word.

Sunset then sighed and straightened her posture. "You're probably concerned about me. I know I just turned everypony else away while I moped by myself. I—I think being approached again might've urged me to speak up." Sunset stood up without warning. Her eyes scanned the room as she stretched her forelegs. "I saw your conversation with Trixie."

"You did?" Sweetie sprung upright. "Was that part of why you decided to talk with me?"

"Yep. Also, there's something unique about you." Sunset placed a hoof to her chest. "I can't exactly explain it, but you know just how to approach ponies and strike up a conversation, even if it's just small talk." Sunset glanced back to Sweetie. The smirk decorating her visage was back and brighter than before. "Maybe it's a part of your special talent."

Sweetie arched an eyebrow. "Well, my special talents are supposedly singing, helping ponies find their special talents, and helping ponies discover the meaning behind their cutie mark, so—" she gently nodded, smiling "—so maybe it is a part of my special talent. Honestly, cutie marks take so many meanings it's hard to keep track of them."

"Just ask Twilight about it." A chuckle left Sunset's lips. "She's still learning new things about her cutie mark. It's also kind of funny you bring that up as well. While we were researching magic together last night, she told me that the meanings behind her cutie mark could fill up a book with hundreds and hundreds of pages."

"That's a lot." With shrunken pupils, Sweetie gasped. "How could anypony have a cutie mark that complicated?"

"Maybe it was hyperbole."

Sweetie blinked. "Oh. That makes more sense."

"I should tell the others what's going on between Starlight and me as well. But—" Touching her chest, Sunset took a deep breath and extended her foreleg out "—but it might be tricky. There's a bit more to it than what was said back at the Everfree Forest, and since I'm standing again, perhaps now is when I should spill the beans. It'd just bottle up if I didn't speak up."

"I'm always here for you, Sunset." Sweetie trotted up to where Sunset stood. She never took her gaze off of her. "Just let it all out and don't worry about what everypony else thinks. I promise things will go well."

"Are you sure?" Sunset bit her lip. Sweat dripped down her forehead for a moment. "It gets ugly at points."

"I promise things will go well. We promise to not judge and I know everything will go smoothly."

Approaching the other ponies, Sunset's cheeks tautened and turned pale. "I'll share, but I hope you're right."

If Sunset was as pleasant as she'd been since they met, her past couldn't have been much worse than what Starlight described. Twilight's behavior around her, their shared smiles and laughs and prolonged conversations, suggested a close friendship. At most, Sunset probably just teased or belittled those below her. Tears must've been shed and regret seeped into Sunset in the future. Diamond Tiara was proof regarding how bullies turning nice worked.

Sweetie was certain that was the case.

Never had Sweetie been so wrong about something before.

"What?" everypony but Sunset and Twilight shouted.

Silence swirled within Carousel Boutique with all eyes glued to Sunset. Few of the ponies present even blinked, some had their mouths agape. Sinking into the couch's plush cushions, Sunset covered her face and blushed. Twilight rubbed Sunset's shoulder; she wore a glum frown and whispered into her friend's ear. Sweetie didn't pick up the exact words. After all, snooping on somepony's conversation constituted as rude.

Rudeness typically ended up with a fierce scolding that blurred her vision.

It wouldn't have mattered. Sweetie's cheeks tickled just watching Sunset shielding herself from everypony.

"A demon?" Rarity blurted out, eyes widened. "That can't be true! You're a marvelous angel, Sunset." She caught her breath. "Even if you were once nasty like you said, becoming a demon is just something I couldn't envision. A ghastly monster doesn't suit somepony like you." Her ears twitched. "How did that even happen?"

"And why did you want the Element of Magic so much?" Sweetie asked. Cocking her head, she raised an eyebrow. There was something about Sunset's story that just didn't add up, the missing details prodding her nerves. "So you were bitter since your falling out with Princess Celestia." She paused and collected her thoughts. "Okay, I have that much down. However, why did your plan for getting what was supposedly yours involve stealing that crown?" She rubbed her muzzle. Sharp twinges formed on her forehead. "I'm lost."

Twilight nodded. A glum expression adorned her visage as her shoulder sagged, sighing. "I was directly involved in that day, but even I'm a bit confused."

"How so?" Sunset questioned.

"Well, it's only because of how much you already knew about the Element of Magic." Twilight blushed; she bit her lip trying to hold back a giggle. With a deep breath, she straightened her seating posture and ruffled her wings. "But I think I've got most of it down. Aside from the weirdness that was when we first met, your story starts out just like how Starlight described you."

"That's correct." Sunset rubbed her eyes. "Back then, I always saw myself as the best and deserving of appreciation. I even—" Sunset then interrupted herself. Squirming a tad, she glanced over to where Sweetie sat. The filly merely nodded and feigned a smile, her heart twanging as she gazed into Sunset's sparkling eyes. Yet after a few seconds of silence, Sunset cracked a smile and shuffled closer to Twilight. "I even thought I was deserving of becoming a princess. It was awkward."

"A lot of ponies have felt they should become princesses," Trixie said. A faint giggle left her mouth. "Trixie admits feeling the same at one point. Like you, it's something I've also been kind of embarrassed about, though Trixie still sees herself as the Great and Powerful Trixie." Trixie winked at the other ponies. "I can't discard all of my confidence, you know."

"I know." Sunset feigned a nervous chuckle. "I still have some of my old self in my heart."

"How so?" Sweetie asked.

"It's hard to explain. There's just a small part of me that's still the brash, spoiled mare I grew up as. Of course, I've been anything but with you and everypony else ever since Twilight helped me learn about friendship, but it's been so hard to let go of my past. I've tried bettering myself and despite being successful in some areas, I haven't made amends with those I've wronged in Equestria." Pursing her lips, Sunset pressed her hooves together. She wiggled her tail. "It's a part of the reason why I decided to return."

"That's quite brave of you," Twilight said as a matter of fact. Stretching her foreleg out, she rubbed the back of Sunset's neck. "Were you planning to apologize to Starlight at some point?"

Sunset bobbed her head.

"Are there any other ponies you're looking to meet up with?"

As before, Sunset nodded. "Yeah, Starlight wasn't the first or the last pony I wronged during my life in Equestria. Meeting them all would take too much time, and I'd hate not having enough time researching magic with you or tutoring Sweetie Belle." A smirk ran across her face; she hiccuped. "I think it's no secret that spending time with both of you is something I cherish. While I can't do it all the time, it'd just—" Sunset touched her chest, wincing a tad "—it'd just hurt knowing that I was doing something futile when I could've been helping you."

"But Sunset, rebuilding bridges and possibly making new friends isn't something futile." Twilight propped herself upright. She kept her vision fixed on Sunset. "Starlight Glimmer and Trixie both started out as—unpleasant." In a flash, she glanced over to where Trixie sat. "No offense."

"None taken," Trixie replied. "I can't hide from the past forever."

"Anyway, both of them made huge steps when it came to learning about the magic of friendship. In terms of Starlight, she even made the first steps toward making amends with those she hurt before. And she wasn't the only pony to do this. Trixie had done the same thing before. One of Rainbow Dash's friends from Griffonstone did the same thing."

"Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon did it, too," Sweetie added.

"And I did it as well."

Sunset arched an eyebrow. "You have?"

"A little over a year ago, I accidentally broke a friendship with somepony I cared for because I was so focused on my studies. It was the day I first arrived in Ponyville, too, and ended up staying there all the way up to the present." A sigh left Twilight's mouth. Her head hung low, wings folded against her sides. "I never realized how much my actions hurt Moondancer until I ended up meeting her again." Her head rose again and faced Sunset. "But I never gave up in trying to make amends for my past misdeeds."

Sunset leaned closer to Twilight. "Did it work?"

"It did. Moondancer and I are closer than ever."

Blinking, Sunset then scurried over to where Twilight stood until they were inches apart. "Then that means there's still hope?"

"There's always hope."

"Yeah, I never gave up in searching for my cutie mark," Sweetie chirped. She made her way toward Sunset, warmth bundled throughout her body. "Everything will work out. I promise things will be okay, Sunset Shimmer. And even if they don't, we've still got each other. As long as we continue working together, nothing will bring us down!"

Not a peep left Sunset.

However, she smiled, occasionally wiping her eyes and sniffling.

Among the most wonderful sights Sweetie gawked at, most of the examples that came up typically involved stunning creations of nature or a dazzling display of lights or magic. The end of a camping trip she took with her friends definitely ranked among the most vivid and memorable, Sweetie certain she could've marked exactly where she dined on ice cream with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. Yet all of those paled in comparison to the radiant expression Sunset wore. It was as though the light was reignited within her soul.

It was further proof in Sweetie's eyes that she could learn advanced spells.

And even if the conversation's conclusion was a little corny, she couldn't have cared less.

There was light at the end of the tunnel.

"Mind if we chat with each other like this again in the future?" Sunset asked. She snickered, the first genuine one in what must've been ages in Sweetie's view. "I mean, supporting each other and checking up on how things are doing." Sighing, she rubbed her eyes again. "I'm still not fully better, but I actually feel like I can stand up again. So would being open with our feelings be okay?"

"Sunset, we're your friends," Twilight said. Without warning, she wrapped the mare in a tight hug. "We'd be honored to help out."

"And will Princess Celestia help out as well?" Sunset stepped back, cheeks pale. "I've—wanted to apologize to her as well. I think you know why."

"I haven't told Princess Celestia about your return yet." Twilight shrugged. "Honestly, it never even crossed my mind that you'd wish to meet with her again." She giggled for a moment. "Maybe I got too caught up in our research. Anyway, Spike and I can easily craft a letter for the princess informing her on what's going on and if she knows of any way to help out, whether big or small."

Trixie gently raised her hoof. "Maybe you should write some of the letter in addition to Twilight," she said. "That way, not only will Princess Celestia know it's coming from you based on your writing, but you'll also be able to express more clearly what you want to say in your apology." She shrugged, brow raised. "Just a thought."

"You could also leave a photograph of some sort, darling," Rarity added. "As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, so it might be wise to send one alongside your letter. And I'm certain the princess will be so proud of how much you've learned since you last saw each other."

"I think Princess Celestia will trust Twilight's word," Sunset replied. "However, I may write a little bit of my own words into the letter just to reconnect with her." Slowly nodding, she then swished her tail a little. "And I could ask somepony to help with photographs, though I think Celestia remembers what I look like." A slight chuckle left Sunset's lips. "Thanks for the suggestions, everypony. And thank you for the support as well." She placed a hoof to her chest, sniffling. "It means so much to me."

"You're welcome, dear. We're all glad to lend a helping hoof to our friend."

Twilight stood upright and trotted toward Sunset. "I'm so glad to see you're feeling a bit better," she said. "We'll get this all solved at some point in the near future." She gently rubbed Sunset's shoulder. "As your friend, I promise you that things will work out. There's nothing we can't do when we work together."

Nodding, Sunset smirked a bit. "I hope things work out as well."

"Anyway, do you have anything specific in mind?"

"I'll keep tutoring Sweetie as usual, though in addition to the letter we'll write together, I'd like to head on over to Canterlot and speak with Princess Celestia. There's just—" Sunset swallowed a lump, cheeks tautening "—there's just something about seeing her again and speaking with her that a letter can't accomplish." She paused. "Furthermore, maybe we should experiment with some of the methods for sending letters as well."

"We could possibly accomplish two things in one task!" Twilight donned a beaming expression; she hopped over toward Sunset and wrapped her forelegs around her. "Sunset, you're a genius! And maybe we could incorporate some of Sweetie's lessons as well! Maybe we won't do the complicated stuff to start out, but it'll be almost perfect! Why didn't I think of that earlier?"

Sunset returned the hug. "I hope it's perfect as well." Releasing Twilight from her warm embrace, she shifted her focus to Sweetie. "How does that sound to you, Sweetie Belle?"

Sweetie nodded. "I like it!"

Saying she liked the idea may have been the understatement of the year, at least from what Sweetie knew when it came to understatements. The truth was that electricity coursed through her veins as her eyes sparkled like stars. If she somehow managed to assist Twilight and Sunset in the experiment, it'd be a dream come true. She danced around just thinking of the possibilities. And while her mind drew blanks as to how the experiment would go, she couldn't have cared less.

She was working with Princess Twilight Sparkle and Sunset Shimmer.

That was a reward by itself.

"And one more thing," Sunset said.

Freezing in place as though time halted, Sweetie then raised her head and swiveled it to face Sunset. "What is it?"

"When we're done with that lesson, we'll do the spells with Trixie as we promised."

"Trixie hopes you're prepared for dazzling displays," Trixie added. "Are you up for it?"

"Of course!" Sweetie chirped. She hopped around, never standing in place or catching her breath. "I'm totally up for it!"

Tomorrow was already shaping up as one of the best days ever. And as Sweetie thought about the events that had transpired earlier, today wasn't as awful and gut-wrenching as she'd believed. While Sunset's dilemma had twisted her heart into a corkscrew and the escapades that resulted in such revelations turning her coat pale just recalling it, everything worked out okay in the end. The net gain was always something Sweetie found as important. Rarity and Miss Cheerilee have taught her such valuable lessons, after all.

Life taught her the same lessons as well.

And with some of the light flickering in Sunset's eyes once more, perhaps things were slowly returning to normal.

Lectures and Lessons

Given the roller coaster that was yesterday, Sweetie expected today was guaranteed to turn out exponentially better.

There were no alternatives in her mind.

After all, Sweetie was scheduled to observe Twilight and Sunset's magical research and then receiving a lesson from both Sunset and Trixie afterwards, both events on their own enough to get her heart racing. And with last night ending on a high note, she expected nothing but smiles and laughs to dominate the day.

It'd only be a few minutes until what she hypothesized as an exciting, stimulating series of experiences.

Each minute, however, went at the same pace as an hour.

Sweetie skipped across the road, whistling a tune whilst approaching Twilight's castle. Passersby sometimes waved at her, Sweetie responding in kind. The bright smiles and other foals dashing across the grassland something Sweetie couldn't help herself from smiling at. She always adored it whenever the town adopted an upbeat attitude, wishing such days were more common.

"Just a few more steps," Sweetie murmured. She cracked a slight smirk, envisioning the miasma that must've been the focus of Twilight's research. Her nostrils itched as she imagined concoctions much like the potions Zecora mixed reaching them. "I hope it's cool." She blinked. "Wait, it'll definitely be cool!" Her lips curled into a smile.

All she hoped for were no additional distractions.

"Hold on!" Diamond Tiara's voice called out. "Like, can I talk to you for a bit?"

However, politeness was always more important than excitement. If she merely shrugged those words off and marched to Twilight's castle, Sweetie knew a scolding from Rarity would've been in her future. Her sister always stressed the importance of politeness, especially since her incident in the Best Young Fliers Competition a while back, something she never heard much about.

Most notably, Rarity had a sixth sense of finding out if Sweetie had misbehaved.

Sweetie froze in place. In a flash, she turned to face the pink filly, the two of them making eye contact. Silver Spoon stood next to Diamond as usual, a slight smirk across her face as she adjusted her glasses. And while Sweetie shivered a tad at first, she smiled and waved at the pair before trotting up to them.

"What's on your mind?" Sweetie asked. She arched an eyebrow. "Dinky is safe and back home if you're wondering. Also, I don't recall seeing your mother among those searching for her, so you don't have to worry about that."

"I know that," Diamond replied. Playfully waving a hoof, she nudged closer to Sweetie. "Like, I'm always on top of what's hip and happening in Ponyville. There's a reason why I ran the Foal Free Press—" she paused for a moment, blushing "—before I was kicked off."

"Even I had to admit you crossed a few lines, Di," Silver Spoon teased. Twiddling her braid, she then trotted up to Sweetie until they were inches apart. "Anyway, Di and I agreed to this whenever we saw you again. We both wanted to give our thanks for helping find Dinky. I was concerned for both of you, especially after hearing you'd gone into the Everfree Forest." She wiped her forehead and exhaled. "We're relieved that both of you aren't hurt."

Sweetie nodded. "You're welcome. Helping out was the right thing to do." Rubbing her neck, she donned a sheepish smirk and blushed. "But I'll admit that trotting into the Everfree Forest was scary. It wasn't as bad with my friends and other ponies with me, so I'm glad I wasn't alone in the search. I truly couldn't have done it without them."

"Well, Princess Celestia says that friendship is one of the strongest sources of magic." Silver Spoon gently poked Sweetie's chest, the sensations somewhat ticklish. "That heart of gold will help you along the way. And I know that it's going to sound weird coming from somepony like me, but remember that your friends will always be there for you, even if they're far away or close by."

"Yeah, that does sound like something Princess Celestia would say." Sweetie snickered.

Silver Spoon responded with chuckles of her own, cheeks flushed. "Well, I did learn it from one of Princess Celestia's more famous sayings. I just tweaked it a bit to fit you, especially since you're studying magic and all."

"Like, if you're gonna become amazing at magic, I think you'll have to keep that in mind," Diamond added. "Princess Celestia knows what she's talking about." She paused for a second. "Anyway, think about your fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders and how much they mean to you. Think about Silvy and me if you want to as well. I mean, we're friends and all, right?"

Nodding, Sweetie painted a bright smile across her face. "Yep! Both of you have really changed since Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and I all got our cutie marks." She froze in place for a moment. "It's cool thinking about how much one day affected all of us so much."

As she thought about that day, Sweetie couldn't help herself from wondering whether it truly was the result of one day or a natural progression, one that was invisible to the naked eye until it all unraveled. It was similar to one of the most common lessons she had heard when it came to learning magic; the process took time.

Of course, such an event was still far off in the distance. How long it'd be was something Sweetie yearned to know, but if Sunset, Rarity, and Twilight had all taught her something, it was that patience was a virtue.

"Was what happened because of one day?" Sweetie asked. "Just curious."

"Well, it wasn't exactly just because of one day," Silver Spoon said. "It's about a number of small parts making up something much larger. I wouldn't be surprised if learning magic followed the same logic." She approached Sweetie and placed a hoof on her shoulder. "And with all of this in mind, we also want to wish you the best of luck on your studies. Di and I have to get going now, but it was great catching up with you." Winking, Silver Spoon then stepped back and waved alongside Diamond. "We're rooting for you, Sweetie Belle! Go and make Sunset Shimmer proud!"

"Yeah, show the world how magical you are!" Diamond cheered.

Sweetie bobbed her head. "Gotcha!"

Waving back at Diamond and Silver Spoon, Sweetie then turned around and dashed across the dirt road once more, her eyes glued to the crystalline castle. There was something special about the friendship she forged with her former nemeses; the ponies who once only teased her now actively rooting for her. It prodded her nerves the more she thought about it. And somehow, she knew such support was genuine.

Almost anything was possible in Equestria. Sweetie couldn't help but find such a claim truer than ever.

Maybe she'd help Twilight and Sunset one day, though Sweetie admitted that figuring out more complex teleportation and lifting heavier objects was essential before such an occurrence. Yet the idea was ingrained in her mind nonetheless. Her lips curled into a soft smile and her eyes widened.

The crystalline castle seemingly blotted out the sky, Sweetie wondering if she shrank upon approaching it.

She trotted closer to Twilight's castle. Sweetie pressed her hoof on the front door in a heartbeat, exhaling as she lifted it away from the smooth surface. Chills coursed through her forelegs and down her spine. Frantically knocking against the door like on the day she first met Sunset was something to avoid, especially with research going on. Another deep breath left Sweetie's lips.

Before Sweetie even touched the front door, creaks split the air as the ground shook beneath her for a moment. She closed her eyes, knocking on what she assumed was the golden plate. But there was something different about its surface. It was a rougher, warmer texture that tickled her hooves as opposed to how the door typically froze her veins.

Sweetie opened her eyes.

Upon noticing she tapped Spike's forehead, she shuffled back and donned a sheepish smirk. Her cheeks flushed.

"It's fine," Spike said. "I've gone through much worse." He chuckled, claws behind his back and a slight smile across his face. "Anyway, I was expecting you to arrive sooner than later, so I thought it'd speed things up if I already opened the door for ya." He stepped back, then cracked his knuckles. "And don't worry about getting lost. I can give tours with my eyes closed."

"I don't think you know the castle that well," Sweetie teased. "Heck, I bet Princess Twilight would struggle giving tours with a blindfold, too."

"Maybe so." Spike shuffled out of the way and bowed, arms stretching to his left. "Anyway, you're more than welcome to enter since we're friends. Just don't touch anything without asking what it is first, okay?"

Sweetie rolled her eyes. A groan left her mouth. "Yeah, I've heard that plenty of times already."

"I'm just looking out for you." Spike snickered. "I've gotten in trouble for that as well, so I can relate, but that's a story for another day."

She hopped into the castle's hallway. Without warning, harsh screeches pierced her eardrums, Sweetie clenching her teeth. Seconds later, the cacophony concluded with a harsh thud as the door closed. Less light bounced around the room, the hallways as dim as they always were. Sweetie shivered as a cold breeze danced about the room.

"Spike, can I ask you a question?" Sweetie asked. She took a deep breath, chest loosened.

"Fire away," Spike replied.

"What's research like?"

Spike glanced back at Sweetie and raised an eyebrow. He cocked his head. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, do ponies actually do stuff or is it just talking?" Taking a sharp left, Spike hopped down the stairs before him with Sweetie following suit. "Anyway, some part of research is talking, I get that, but is it the boring kind of talking or are there moments where the chats are interesting?" After a few seconds, the pair arrived at the castle's basement, Sweetie's teeth chattering as she trudged across the icy floor. "And do they always relate to the experiments?"

"I wouldn't get too excited."

Sweetie's head hung low. She sighed. "Maybe."

"Don't take it like that. What I mean is that if it's the kind of research you'll love, it'll be more exciting if it exceeds your expectations. And if not, you won't feel so bummed out." Spike tapped Sweetie's shoulder. Cracking a smile, he then playfully nudged her and snickered. "Okay, so maybe I don't know what they're up to today, but if it's something you're being allowed to see, it must be cool."

"Okay, I guess that puts things into perspective." Sweetie raised her head, a larger door than the previous ones looming in front of her. Like most of the castle's doors, it was a glass-like frame with silhouettes visible behind it. Two of the silhouettes took the forms of ponies, both trotting around a complicated structure of sorts Sweetie was unfamiliar with. "So I'm guessing they're behind this door."

"Yep." Spike nodded, stepping back an inch. "I'll leave ya to it. I'll be in the throne room upstairs if ya need me. It's on the first floor and one of the few rooms that's impossible to miss. Twilight can help you if you're having trouble finding it."

Bobbing her head, Sweetie's eyes twinkled like stars. "Sounds great! Thanks for chatting with me, Spike!"

"Not a problem!" Turning around, he froze for a moment before donning a slight smirk. "See ya!"

Sweetie glanced back to Spike, waving momentarily, then back to the door. Her throat tightened as she swallowed a lump. Nothing horrifying was waiting behind those doors. Furthermore, she'd be greeted with smiles and waves as opposed to judgmental scowls, the latter always followed with the hairs of Sweetie's coat standing up.

With pale cheeks, Sweetie straightened her posture and puffed her chest out. Regardless of whether it was exhilarating or duller than watching paint dry, checking out what the two mares were up to was what the entire day crawled toward. If communication magic was the topic at hoof, Sweetie figured she had a shot at participating in the pursuit of knowledge. Such an idea wasn't a stretch in her mind.

The mere thought of helping out in a magical experiment tickled her chest.

With one more deep breath, Sweetie pushed the door open, a soft squeak reaching her ears.

Sweetie arched an eyebrow the moment she stepped through the doorway. The room was exactly as she imagined it, all of the furniture pushed off to the side and an array of contraptions, beakers, flasks and so on adorning the center. A warm scent tickled Sweetie's nostrils. Surrounding some of the beakers were none other than Twilight and Sunset, the latter clenching to her magic journal. On the other hoof, Twilight squinted at one of the beakers, muttering numbers which Sunset copied down in response. Further back was a chalkboard, both mares jotting down equations that twisted Sweetie's mind at the sight.

However, an electrifying sensation coursed through her veins. She assumed a bright smile, skipping across the cold floor. Clacks echoed within the room.

Sunset turned toward Sweetie and waved. "Glad you could join us," she said. A grin decorated her visage. "Have a seat and we'll both get you all caught up."

"Thanks, Sunset," Sweetie replied. She nodded, following Sunset's directions and sitting near her and Twilight. Becoming as static as a statue for a moment, Sweetie then glanced at the contraption holding flasks and wrapped with beams and wires, then back to Sunset. "By the way, what is this thing?" She cocked her head. "Are you trying to make one of Zecora's potions?"

"Not exactly," Twilight said, shaking her head. "The idea here is that the flask on the left is filled with water while the right has nothing inside of it, a third flask down below acting as a backup." She caught her breath and focused on Sweetie. "Anyway, since the communication spell involves sending something like a letter from one place to another almost as fast as a dragon's breath, we need to start with the basics."

"What are the basics?"

"We're trying to move the water from one flask to another," Sunset answered. "The third is in case one or both of them break during the experiment. Anyway, a dragon's breath can send letters from here to Canterlot in a few seconds, only the journal itself rivaling such speed. Spike was kind enough to help gather some of the data." Blushing, Sunset then rubbed the back of her neck. "You should've seen the look on his face when he helped out. I've never seen dragons with such cute, wide smiles."

Sweetie snickered. "Yeah, that's Spike for you."

"Twilight and I have tried a number of control experiments kind of like the teleportation spells that you did, though there are plenty of differences. Since matching the dragon's breath or the journal seems to be out of the question, our goal is to use a spell to send letters from one place to another in an efficient amount of time." Sunset pursed her lips. "It hasn't been going well."

Sweetie swiveled her head toward the contraption, squinting at the myriad of parts. "Well, I think it looks fine." Arching an eyebrow, Sweetie then nudged closer to the experiment. While she had no clue as to how it'd all come together, moving the water from one spot to another seemed simple enough. "Hold on a second."

Stepping back, Sweetie then took a quick breath, imagining the water move from one spot to the next.

A tingling sensation coursed throughout her body as electricity crackled around her horn. Perhaps it was as simple as moving one part to another; Twilight and Sunset could've been making something out to be much larger than it was. If it was anything like teleportation, envisioning the water in a different flask must've been part of the solution.

Sweetie took a deep breath and then opened her eyes.

The contraption had disappeared.

All that was in front of her was a sparkling floor and the door she entered from.

Twangs covered her hooves for a moment.

Sweetie's heart skipped a beat. "Wait, where is—"

"You just teleported in front of it," Sunset said. "Even though there are a few similarities to basic teleportation in theory, there's much more to it than just that. Those differences often account for a large part of casting spells, even if they're relatively minor as a whole." Rolling her shoulders, she assumed a warm smile. "That's something to keep in mind when studying magic."

Sweetie made eye contact with Sunset. With flushed cheeks, she bobbed her head and hurried back to where the other two ponies sat. At least her ears hadn't detected shattering glass or fierce scowls attached to Sunset and Twilight, her chest loosening at the realization. And best of all, she wouldn't have received one of Rarity's lectures; Sweetie could've recited the one associated with cooking breakfast properly word for word.

"Remember, not all spells will come easy to you, even if you find some of the more difficult spells simple," Sunset continued. "This is especially true when devising new spells. You can be the greatest magician in all of Equestria, but you're not going to get the first attempt at a new spell just right almost all of the time. And while Twilight and I have both created new spells and successfully cast them the first time around, those moments are extremely rare."

"Gotcha," Sweetie muttered, nodding as she sat back down. "I'm guessing this is one of those trickier spells."

"That's right," Twilight said. "We've occasionally replicated the control test by manually, slowly moving the water, but most attempts have ended up with nothing." She glanced back at the chalkboard and crossed her forelegs. "All of the calculations are correct as well, so maybe there are a few missing ingredients."

"So all of this math stuff is important?"

Twilight nodded. "Yeah, though once you're older, it won't seem as intimidating and confusing as it does now. That's why it's usually best to just start out by learning the non-mathematical spells and simpler tasks. Some complex spells don't require the mathematical knowledge needed to cast them proficiently, but others require such knowledge."

"Would striking a pose after teleporting be one of those spells?"

"To an extent," Sunset answered. She twiddled her mane for a moment. "When I showed you a flashy demonstration that one time, there were some calculations I did in my head. Some require a lot of calculations, but what I did was one of the simpler ones."

"Seriously?" If Sunset's performance was deemed as one of the easier ones, Sweetie dreaded what the more complicated tricks must've been like. A wall the height of a hydra covered from head to hoof in equations popped in her mind, Sweetie cringing at the thought. "How do you do a bunch of math so quickly?" She shrugged, a bemused expression across her face. "It doesn't make sense."

"Practice." Sunset pushed herself up and stretched her forelegs. Her eyes were glued to Sweetie. "You won't be good at such spells starting off. Messing up will be one of those inevitable things. But if you don't give up and keep on practicing the art, you'll eventually get used to it. Such spells will become second nature once you get used to quick calculations."

"But how many times did you mess up?"

"I messed up a lot when I started casting those spells," Twilight said. She ruffled her wings and donned a sheepish smirk. "Such mistakes often involve your horn shooting out harmless sparks and some colorful language if you're agitated, but don't let it get to you." Twilight placed a hoof to her chest. "I think I tried over a hundred times before I got used to it, and even then I still needed to practice before I perfected such a skill."

Sweetie nodded. "I see where you're coming from."

"Anyway, I think we should take a break for the time being," Sunset said. She trotted up to where Sweetie was. "The math is correct and I just know we're on the right track, but there are probably a few steps here or there missing. Once we figure out the missing steps, we might be able to create the spell."

"Wait a second." With a puzzled expression, Sweetie raised her head and gazed into Sunset's eyes. "I haven't been here for that long. And besides, if you're close, how come you're taking a break?" Pausing, she then swished her tail about. "Why not just continue and solve it right here?" She glanced at the chalkboard. Even more equations and scribbles somehow adorned it than compared to when she arrived, Sweetie's eyes widened. "Oh."

"Yeah, it's a lot of work." Sunset giggled. "I think we've changed the equation at least a dozen times before agreeing to go with what's currently on the chalkboard." She turned to the board, then back to Sweetie. "Anyway, practicing some spells with Trixie should be a lot more fun, so do you want to head on over to where she is now?"

Sweetie bobbed her head, grinning. "Sounds like a plan!"

"I'll still be in the castle if either of you need me," Twilight added. Standing upright, she dusted herself off and trotted toward the door, holding it open for Sweetie and Sunset. "Trixie should be near the town hall and finishing up some errands. It's the second largest building in Ponyville—" she paused for a second "—the first being this castle, of course. Anyway, she'll still be wearing her trademark hat and cape, so she should be easy to spot."

"I'm guessing Trixie told you where she'd be, right?"

Sunset nodded, smiling. "She told both of us earlier today, actually." Rubbing her muzzle, Sunset then closed her eyes and swished her tail about. She pursed her lips. "On second thought, do you know where the town hall is, Sweetie? I'm not as familiar with Ponyville as you or Twilight."

"I know exactly where town hall is." Sweetie bobbed her head, skipping ahead of Sunset while the latter trotted beside her. "Just follow me! We'll be there in no time at all!"

"I hope you both enjoy the lessons," Twilight said. She then waved at both Sweetie and Sunset, a warm smile across her face. "Good luck!"

"Thank you!"

As Sweetie trotted through the doorway alongside Sunset, her heart raced and electricity coursed through her veins. While Sweetie recalled her proposal of meeting up with Trixie only being a little over a day old, she couldn't help but think that her suggestion was ancient in the grand scheme of things.

And such plans were finally coming to fruition.

Fate must've cackled and cheered whenever somepony's plans hadn't materialized.

Much to Sweetie's dismay, she wondered if it was her turn once again to have the cards not fall in place.

Ponyville's town square was as quaint as it always was, the few exceptions being when more dangerous monsters caused ruckuses or if another strange occurrence just happened to blossom there, but such possibilities fizzled out as Sweetie noticed most of the other ponies trotting with smiles and filling the air with gossip.

That explained part of the problem.

Among those meandering or sitting at the town square, Trixie was the only one sitting by her lonesome and wearing a blank expression. The sight poked Sweetie's heart. Trixie's back was against the town hall that towered over Sweetie and Sunset, casting a shadow on both of them. Perhaps she was merely bored of waiting, Sweetie hoping that was the case.

The idea Trixie was upset about something leeched onto Sweetie's brain nonetheless.

Other buildings surrounded the town hall much like a wheel or a clock, though it exuded a much more palpable aura. Only the nearby Sugarcube Corner captured her attention as efficiently, its bright colors making it stick out like a sore hoof. And as usual, the town hall was as clean as ever, though it was often surrounded by construction workers.

Such occurrences were just another one of Ponyville's quirks.

Sweetie arched an eyebrow as she focused on Trixie, whereas Sunset pursed her lips. If something had fallen apart for Trixie, an itch along Sweetie's chest nagged her to find out what happened. But as she approached Trixie and noticed her glum expression and the sighs escaping her lips, perhaps egging her on about it would've done more harm than good.

"What should we do?" Sweetie asked. She glanced over to Sunset and shrugged. "I mean, something bad must've happened to Trixie, right? She was so full of energy whenever I talked to her last night. Do you think she may have had an encounter with somepony she hurt?" A soft sigh left Sweetie's lips. "Or maybe she's just lonely."

"There's only one way to find out," Sunset said. "You helped me get back on my hooves yesterday, and I think we might have to do the same for Trixie, but something doesn't seem right." Nudging closer to where Trixie sat, Sunset twirled her mane for a moment. "If you look at her mouth, she seems to have a more blank expression. I think she's less upset and more—hoping for something."

Sweetie did as instructed. As Sunset claimed, nothing too melancholic decorated Trixie's visage. Her lips hadn't curled into a smile or a frown; the mare closed her eyes and stretched her forelegs. Tilting her head, Sweetie then raised an eyebrow and made her way toward Trixie.

"Can you hear me, Trixie?" Sweetie asked, hoof raised a bit.

Trixie opened her eyes and turned toward Sweetie. A soft smile adorned her face as she gently waved at her and Sunset. "Trixie is delighted you could make it," she said. "Come closer so that I can give you some of the plans for today. I'd rather not shout across the field too much, especially with other ponies being busy and all."

Nodding, Sweetie and Sunset followed Trixie's instructions. Upon reaching the town hall, they sat right beside Trixie and made eye contact with her. Already, Trixie's expression had brightened upon being surrounded by her two new friends. Sweetie's chest loosened, her lips curling into a slight smirk of her own.

"Sorry if I seemed a little odd," Trixie continued. She feigned a chuckle, blushing. "It's just that my history with Ponyville hasn't been—" she shrugged "—the most pleasant for everypony. That's putting it lightly." With tautened cheeks, Trixie pressed her hooves together. "But let's not dwell on it too much. Friend—I mean, awkward incidents aren't always the most exciting topics." With a quick breath, Trixie stood upright and adjusted her hat. She wiped her forehead. "Anyway, you were curious about the flashier spells that Trixie performs, correct?"

Sweetie locked eyes with Trixie, bobbing her head a second later. And while leaving behind the past was for the best, the hypothesis that Trixie truly was lonely clung to her like a parasite. That mention of friendship wasn't an accident or even a coincidence, and given the amount of traveling Trixie must've done, she probably never opened up to friendship too much aside from maybe one or two cases.

If Trixie was scouting for friendship, the lessons awaiting Sweetie may have been one possible solution in the latter's eyes.

"I'm glad to see you're still interested," Trixie continued. Her smile widened as she puffed her chest out. "If we're going to practice such dazzling spells and incredible feats, doing so away from the town square is preferred. As much as Trixie would love showing off to an awestruck audience, we must be mindful of our surroundings."

"Naturally," Sweetie said. She then shivered. "I'd rather not punch a big hole through the town hall by accident." Rubbing the back of her neck, she giggled. "That thing gets repaired so often. Besides, the construction ponies could use a little break from fixing it. I bet they always groan and roll their eyes whenever the town hall is a mess."

"That's how all of the students in the mirror world behave whenever the school needs rebuilding," Sunset added. "We'd be cheering and celebrating that evil had been stopped one minute, only we'd then see the craters and mangled gym equipment, realizing what tomorrow would bring. Such things only happened three times, but it got old fast."

"It's a similar story whenever something scary happens here." Sweetie shivered as though a snowstorm swirled past her. "I'd rather not go into too much detail."

"Trixie can relate to both of your stories," Trixie muttered. She crossed her forelegs and ruffled her brow. "Trust me, cleaning up whatever mess Discord or Chrysalis caused during their spout of chaos is the exact opposite of great." She rubbed her forelegs, teeth clenched. "It's annoying."

"Yeah, it's pretty lame." Sweetie chuckled for a moment.

"Anyway, we should find somewhere quiet to practice spells." Trixie glanced over to Sweetie, the pair making eye contact. "You'll be casting some spells which may take some time, but we'll start with the easier spells first." She then trotted ahead. Both Sweetie and Sunset followed close behind. "And don't worry, these first spells will also be a spectacle. We'll work our way up as much as we can, though Trixie would be more than willing to show you these spells in practice, too."

"That sounds awesome!" Sweetie hopped about for a second, Sunset cracking the slightest of smirks as she watched the filly. "Maybe both of you could combine your spells into something truly amazing!" She squealed with delight; her widened eyes twinkled like stars. "I can't wait to see what you both have in store!"

"Same here," Sunset said. She playfully rubbed Sweetie's head. "But as Trixie said, let's be careful starting out."

Bobbing her head, Sweetie then ceased hopping and casually trotted instead. "Gotcha. Let's get started as soon as we can."

Trixie nodded in return and trotted forward, Sweetie and Sunset tagging along. With each step Sweetie took, the world around her became a little brighter and livelier, the wide grins adorning both Trixie and Sunset warming her chest. There was no reason for standing still as far as she was concerned; Sweetie dancing in place even when her friends stopped for a moment. Sweetie occasionally whistled as they meandered across town, Trixie bobbing her head to the melodic tune.

Sweetie's next lesson was already slowly shaping up to be the most exhilarating yet.

While the spells Sweetie was expecting to practice were dazzling and flashy, as Trixie's spells often were if her shows indicated anything, the environment where she and her tutors ceased trotting was anything but awe-inspiring. The grasslands, occasional trees, and the sun hanging overhead exuded beauty, but in Sweetie's eyes, it was paltry compared to the majestic and colorful garden she imagined. No roses or lilies even sprouted from the earth.

The chirping birds all fluttering away soothed her ears, but Sweetie yearned for a different kind of music.

She wished for the melody of magic.

Trixie wiped the sweat off of her forehead and exhaled. Turning around, she adjusted her hat and locked eyes with Sweetie, a radiant grin adorning her visage. "We're here," she said. "Trixie knows it's not much, but when it comes to mastering spells and dazzling feats, one must have plenty of room to work with."

"Makes sense to me," Sweetie replied. Approaching Trixie, she then glanced at the environment once more before making eye contact again. "But what kinds of spells are we going to practice here? There's not much in the way of things we can play around with, so will we be practicing spells like teleportation?"

Trixie playfully waved a hoof. "Sweetie Belle, when it comes to thinking about magic, imagination is your primary tool. Of course, since you're a student while Sunset and I are your teachers, that question isn't something you should worry about just yet." She pursed her lips momentarily. "Anyway, since doing the spells I'm most known for require years of practice, we'll start from the beginning. I'm certain you're aware of Trixie's fabulous fireworks display, right?"

Sweetie bobbed her head, smiling.

"I have a quick question of my own," Sunset said. "When it comes to your fireworks spell, are you sure that doing it in an open grassland is a good idea?" Pausing for a moment, Sunset blushed and rubbed the back of her neck. "It's not criticism or anything, but I just wanted to make sure we're doing this safely."

"I'm glad you asked," Trixie replied. She exhaled. "The fireworks spell that we're starting off with is one of the safer spell, contrary to its name." Stepping back, Trixie glanced at Sunset, then to Sweetie, and finally back to where Sunset stood. "Anyway, this particular spell is often learned by starting out with a small, magical pop. What comes out of the spell isn't flammable, but it is bright and dazzling. It only got its name because of what it looked like."

"I see where you're coming from. Because the spell is harmless in nature, it gives you more room to experiment with it in your shows and use it in new, exciting ways." Sunset smirked. "I'll admit, I kind of feel like I'm learning more about magic listening to your lesson as well. It's quite fascinating. You might want to consider being a scholar of magic, too."

"It is incredibly fascinating, but—" Trixie donned a sheepish smile "—but it's partly due to my special talent and what I've studied. For example, name me an advanced spell you can perform flawlessly."

"I can cast a spell that temporarily freezes the target's limbs." Sunset shrugged. "It seems simple from the outside, but it's actually one of the most difficult spells anypony can master." She turned to Sweetie and winked. "You'll learn it when you're ready." Pausing for a second, she brought her attention back to Trixie. "You can do those spells, right?"

With flushed cheeks, Trixie shook her head. "I actually can't. I might've been able to cast it with the Alicorn Amulet, but—" she gulped "—that doesn't necessarily count, does it? I also can't do gravity spells or fire the same kind of blasts Princess Twilight can. Trixie could reach such a level with enough time and patience, but I don't have enough of those." Crossing her forelegs, a sigh then left Trixie's lips. "I do wish I had the chance."

"I think I can relate," Sweetie said. "There are tons of spells I wish I could do." She approached Trixie and flashed the slightest of grins. "Anyway, shall we get started?"

Trixie nodded. "We shall." She quickly turned around and faced the open plains extending to the horizon. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "When starting out, you'll need to concentrate, but after enough practice, you can do it with ease."

"The same goes for most spells," Sunset added. "The teleportation spell we practiced before is a good example."

"Yes, and for beginners, we want to concentrate our magic." Trixie took a deep breath, Sweetie following suit. "This spell also requires envisioning it, though unlike teleportation or other spells, it's one of the easier ones. Since you'd probably like something flashy, let's try a series of pops as opposed to just one. That will ramp up the difficulty a bit."

"I'm totally fine with that," Sweetie replied. "The more challenges, the better."

"Trixie is impressed with your confidence." She exhaled once again, chest puffed out. "Now, I'll do a quick demonstration to help prepare you. Are you ready?"

Sweetie quickly nodded.

"Watch in awe, Sweetie Belle!" Trixie adjusted her hat and raised her head. "The Great and Powerful Trixie shall introduce the first lesson!"

A bright, pink aura enveloped Trixie's horn, sparks crackling out of it and touching the earth. Sweetie's heart raced at the sight, ears twitching. She noticed none of the sparks lighting the grass aflame as Trixie had promised; they merely fizzled into nothingness. And as the display continued, Sweetie couldn't help herself from gawking at the sight, her jaw opened.

In a flash, a small beam fired from Trixie's horn, a trio of popping sounds filling the air. And once the noise had subsided, small and colorful sparks descended from the sky and slowly approached the ground. Red, blue, yellow, pink, and green specks danced around each other in a circular fashion; the sparks disappeared upon poking the grass as if they never existed.

Sweetie gasped in response. While it didn't hold a candle to Sunset's teleportation stunt, it tickled her coat nonetheless.

"That was amazing!" Sweetie cheered, her voice cracking. "The colors were all so beautiful!"

"Well, it is one of the introductory spells, but since you wanted dazzling, I made sure to pick one that caught your attention." Trixie glanced over to Sunset and arched an eyebrow. "By the way, Sunset Shimmer, did I do a decent job at explaining things?" She hurriedly pressed her hooves together. "I just want to make sure I'm on the right track."

Sunset nodded. "You're doing a fine job, Trixie. I understood the explanation and how it played into the demonstration." A smile decorated her face. "Just be careful when introducing more difficult spells."

"How come?"

"We all start somewhere, right?"

Sweetie bobbed her head. "Yeah, I learned that the hard way." She snickered, cheeks flushed. "But I've made a lot of progress since my lessons started, right? I should be able to do this spell without too much trouble, but maybe I should start with a few colors instead of a bunch."

"You're doing wonderfully." Sunset gently rubbed the top of Sweetie's head. "And you have a good idea about learning the spell. Just take these lessons one step at a time." Becoming static for a few seconds, she then assumed eye contact with Trixie. "And you're also doing well, Trixie. All I wanted to say is that it's best to start from the beginning so that the progress can be more linear. You can demonstrate more advanced applications to encourage further research, however. It'll all help with confidence, too. That's how I learned magic starting out."

Trixie nodded with tautened cheeks. "I get it now." She cleared her throat, then brought her focus to Sweetie. "Anyway, do you remember what Trixie said about the spell?"

"Yep," Sweetie replied. "I'm ready."

Closing her eyes, Sweetie took a deep breath.

She clenched her teeth, itches slowly forming on her horn as she focused.

Familiar crackling sounds reached her ears.

Sweetie then fired the spell in a heartbeat, her eyes opening in an instant. She waited with bated breath as the magic crawled slower than a snail. Yet a few seconds later, a harsh popping noise pierced Sweetie's eardrums; she cringed in response, the world becoming silent for a few seconds.

Other than the popping sound, nothing followed.

Sweetie closed her eyes again and repeated the process, the same sounds and sensations returning to her before she cast the spell.

She opened her eyes a second after casting, biting her lip.

The harsh cacophony polluted the air once more, only for another just like it following a second later.

Small, green flakes descended from the sky, fluttering onto the grass and vanishing upon touching the earth. Part of Sweetie wanted to release a sigh and ask what went wrong, given that Trixie asked for three pops instead of two and an array of colors. But while she hadn't copied the spell, her heart warmed nonetheless. Not many ponies had such an act under their list of accomplishments, Sweetie's visage brightening at the thought.

Maybe nothing went wrong. After all, Sunset noted how it all depended on practice.

"Excellent work," Sunset said as if on cue. "You'll get the hang of it eventually."

"Thanks," Sweetie muttered. "I do wish I could've matched Trixie's spell, but at least something came out of it." Pressing her hooves together and biting her lip, Sweetie then turned toward Trixie. "You said it was easy, but it took me a while to even get close. Getting close is okay with you, right?"

Trixie nodded. "It's fine with me. What one pony says is an easy spell may be difficult for others." She cracked a smile. "And it took Trixie a few tries to get the hang of it. You're definitely on the right track." Pausing, she took a quick breath. "Let's try again after a short break. Does that sound reasonable?"

"Sounds good." Sweetie licked her lips. Her stomach purred. "I could go for some food right about now." A chuckle left her mouth. "Shall we get something delicious to eat?"

"We shall."

Sunset, Sweetie, and Trixie trotted alongside each other. There was something to be said about learning from not only Sunset, but Trixie and Twilight as well. The thought prodded Sweetie's nerves. Perhaps she'd be as talented as them upon becoming older. Just imagining herself being seen as equal compared to her tutors one day erased anything that weighed her down. Perhaps she'd float away whilst singing a tune if she imagined such a scenario long enough.

However, if Sweetie took one thing from all of this, it was that practice made perfect.

The Reunion

The path before Sweetie was no longer rugged; a smooth journey was seemingly ahead of her.

However, she knew that a few calm days hadn't granted her the excuse to slack off. Studying and learning a variety of magic spells only became more complex and fascinating as she progressed. While some spells weren't working right away, the one dealing with limited flight being especially painful for her with the slight aches that still poked her back, others were dealt with in a matter of minutes as though she had already practiced them.

Before Sweetie realized it, a week had gone by since her lesson with both Sunset and Trixie. Of course, practicing the spells she had familiarized herself with was a common feature of each new day. Yet despite the repetition some lessons carried, she was content with revisiting past spells, especially if they happened to connect to new ones.

Everything around her had strangely calmed down as well. If Ponyville was anything to go by, calm days or weeks were hard to come by.

Some of the lessons over the past seven days even included Trixie; the magician often wore beaming grins brighter than the sun whenever she got involved with lessons. And while such behavior was understandable in Sweetie's eyes, the ways she'd always ask Sunset if she explained something right prodded her coat.

Sweetie arched an eyebrow.

The sun had only just rose above the horizon. Sweetie couldn't help herself from thinking about how much she had learned or even mastered in such a short amount of time, though said mastered spells were more often than not simpler ones. The trickier spells that puzzled her brain were among those she still struggled with.

At least she had fun through it all, a slight smile across her face as she recalled such memories.

Another hour or two of reclining on her bed wouldn't hurt. But if fate or Rarity beckoned her to arise from her slumber, doing so wouldn't have been too much of a hassle.

And right on cue, a series of soft knocks reached Sweetie's ears. She glanced at the clock beside her, the time just a few minutes after seven. Propping herself upright, Sweetie released a loud yawn, her mouth agape. As she stretched her forelegs, Sweetie blinked. Her bedroom was composed of watercolors for a few seconds; the world then cleared up.

"Is that you, Rarity?" Sweetie asked in a groggy tone. Crawling away from her bed, she made her way toward the front door and gently pushed it open. "Do you need help with—"

However, standing before her wasn't Rarity, but Sunset, her lips curled into the slightest of smiles. Sweetie cocked her head at the sight; Sunset hadn't ever requested her presence this early, even during lessons which occurred during the morning hours. With an arched eyebrow, Sweetie swished her tail.

"I know it's odd that I'm the one waking you up," Sunset said. She blushed, a sheepish smirk across her face. "Anyway, there is something I want to show you that's important." Sunset took a deep breath and placed a hoof to her chest. "I'll tell you right here if that's okay."

Sweetie bobbed her head. "What's up?"

"Princess Celestia is visiting Ponyville."

"She is?" A gasp left Sweetie's mouth. Stepping back, her eyes widened, legs trembling as electricity coursed through them. While learning from Celestia herself was a stretch, just having a chance at mingling with the Princess of the Sun was impossible to pass up. In a flash, Sweetie scurried over to Sunset and raised her head, the former's eyes gazing into Sunset's. "What are we waiting for? Do you know where she is?"

Sunset nodded. "Yeah, Twilight told me that she'd be visiting today and that I'm welcome to talk with her. It'll probably be quite emotional when I come up—you probably know why." She quivered a little, yet kept smiling. "But since I thought you'd be curious in chatting with her, I figured I'd drop by and ask if you're interested. After all, it's rare that anypony has the chance to meet Princess Celestia, let alone talk with her." Sunset stepped back and shimmied away from the door. "If you're interested, we'll get going right away."

Sweetie hopped through the doorway, a radiant grin adorning her visage. "I'm totally ready! Let's visit Princess Celestia!"

Soft giggles left Sunset's mouth. "I thought you'd say that." Playfully waving her hoof, she trotted down the staircase while Sweetie followed close behind. "Rarity is coming along, too. Don't worry, she also wants some time to talk with the princess as well." She paused for a second. "But you'll be allowed to chat with her first. Rarity promised when we discussed it."

"Sounds great!" Sweetie quickly raised her hoof a bit upon reaching the first floor. "But why does Rarity need to talk with Princess Celestia? Does it have something to do with that Canterlot Boutique she was chatting about not long ago? Is she going to help work on it for one of her friends?"

"Sort of." Sunset shrugged. "It has something to do with that boutique, but from what I gathered, it's more about creating the dresses that will be sold as opposed to managing the business. One of the dresses is supposed to be for Princess Celestia. I think Rarity is helping one of her fashion friends—somepony named Coco Pommel." Shrugging, she then rubbed the back of her neck. "I don't know Coco, but Rarity stresses that she's a kind pony."

"Yeah, Coco is extremely friendly. I've only met her once, but it was a lot of fun talking with her. She mentioned getting the Midsummer Theater Revival back on its hooves with Rarity and Applejack's help." Sweetie approached the front door and poked the smooth frame. "I wish I could've seen that play, but I guess there's always next time."

"It must be quite the show." Sunset opened the front door, Sweetie trotting through and stepping onto the grass. The dew covering it tickled her hooves; it was much like stepping over rainwater as far as she was concerned. "Anyway, Rarity should be waiting for us outside. She wanted to get a few things first."

Nodding, Sweetie then turned straight ahead and spotted Rarity nearby. The latter was carrying a saddlebag filled to the brim with cloth, materials, and other supplies related to the art of dressmaking. A red, stylish hat adorned her, the pink bow decorating the hat commanding Sweetie's attention. She swore it was the hat Rarity mentioned wearing during an investigation. Maybe wearing it helped her with certain problems. Knowing Rarity and how she treated fashion, Sweetie wouldn't have put it past her.

"Sweetie!" Rarity chimed, waving at her and Sunset. "Sunset! It's wonderful to see both of you so energetic today!"

"Same here," Sweetie replied. She and Sunset both trotted toward Rarity, the three standing next to each other seconds later. "I guess you've got a few things to share with Princess Celestia, too."

Rarity bobbed her head. "That's right, dear. I'm guessing Sunset told you about what my plans are for today."

"Yep!"

"Princess Celestia does have a lot on her plate today, but it's nice knowing that she'll have plenty of time to chat with you about whatever strikes your fancy." Rarity cracked a bright grin, then trotted forward alongside Sweetie and Sunset. "Aside from us and Twilight, she's meeting with Fluttershy, Spitfire, Octavia, and many other notable ponies throughout Equestria."

"Sounds like a lot of work." Sweetie feigned a chuckle. "How in the world do princesses have time to do other things? I mean, I've seen all four of them having fun and doing other things, so it feels kinda weird that they can meet with a bunch of ponies one day and have a nice, relaxing evening to themselves the next."

"Think of it like a weekend, I guess," Sunset answered. "I'd imagine Twilight knows a thing or two about how life as a princess works."

"Good point." Sweetie raised her head and made eye contact with Sunset. "By the way, I know you've had a shaky past and all, but do you ever think that you'll become a princess one day? I mean, Twilight proved that ascension is possible, and you've been so kind and wise that it makes me wonder if that's your destiny."

Sunset pursed her lips. Shrugging, she then shook her head. "Probably not. Being a princess doesn't exactly appeal to me anymore. Maybe it's probably because of my past, not to mention that I'll probably spend most of my time hopping back and forth through the mirror later on."

"So you'll use the mirror to visit your friends in the other world?"

"That's right. And furthermore, I'd feel like—" a sight left her lips "—like I hadn't truly earned the title of princess if I got it. For some reason, it just wouldn't feel right. I'd much prefer carving my own path while learning about the world and making new friends. It's just calmer that way." She paused. "You know what I mean, right?"

"I totally understand." Sweetie nodded and fiddled with her mane, lips pursed briefly. "Besides, I bet that being a princess would be a lot of weight on your shoulders."

Sunset snickered for a second. "Yeah, I think that would be the understatement of the century. But in a way, it makes me appreciate Celestia's accomplishments even more. The same goes for Twilight, Luna, and Cadance. I bet they've had to learn a lot more upon earning the title."

"Maybe that's one question I could ask Celestia." Sweetie glanced up. She noticed Twilight's castle blocking out much of the sky as usual; she and her friends trotted up to the front door, Rarity leading the way. "Twilight might know a thing or two about it as well. It sounds like one of those things that's fascinating to learn about."

"It sure does." Sunset playfully tapped Sweetie's shoulder. "It's part of the reason why so many ponies have dreamed of becoming princesses. Despite the work involved, there's just something alluring about the title and the new abilities that come with it. I probably couldn't explain it well—" Sunset glanced at her sides, blushing "—for obvious reasons."

"It's okay. I guess I can talk about it with any of the princesses if it ever crosses my mind."

Nodding, Sunset then made her way up to where Rarity stood, Sweetie following suit. "That sounds fair to me. Anyway, let's meet up with Princess Celestia and Twilight. I bet they're eager to meet us again." Wiggling her forelegs, Sunset's cheeks tautened and she pursed her lips. "But I hope Celestia isn't the kind of pony to hold grudges. How I behaved back then was far from appropriate."

"You'll be fine, darling," Rarity said. "Just be as kind as you've been during your visit and everything should be okay."

"I know." Sunset exhaled, her limbs quivering. "It's just that—I don't know if things will turn out okay." Feigning a chuckle, Sunset tilted her head and pursed her lips. She then twiddled her mane for a moment. "It's one thing chatting with Twilight or somepony else I'm close to, but this is Princess Celestia we're talking about. What if she shuns me?"

"That doesn't sound like the Princess Celestia I know." Rarity rubbed Sunset's back. "But we'll provide support if you need it, dear."

"Exactly!" Sweetie chimed. She skipped toward the front door, placing her hooves on the gold frame once again. In a flash, she then knocked on the door, loud clacks echoing into her ears. If there was one noise Sweetie had grown accustomed to since meeting Sunset, it was the melody of hoof against metal. "Is anypony home?"

The door opened in the blink of an eye, Twilight standing on the other side. Upon making eye contact with Sweetie, her lips curled into a radiant grin. "I'm so delighted you could make it!" Twilight cheered. She stepped back and glanced above Sweetie, waving to Rarity and Sunset.

"Nice to see you, Twilight," Sunset said as she approached Twilight. Stopping just before the doorway, she gazed into Twilight's eyes and blushed. "I'm guessing things have been going well between you and the princess, right?"

Twilight nodded. "Precisely. Princess Celestia complimented my recent accomplishments as the Princess of Friendship. I informed her about both my experiences with an old friend of mine and with—" Twilight swallowed a lump, cheeks flushed "—you know." Folding her wings, Twilight took a deep breath and shuffled an inch to the left. She stretched her forelegs toward the castle's interior. "Princess Celestia just finished up a meeting with Captain Spitfire."

"Was she asking about new recruits?" Sweetie asked. She tilted her head.

"Well, Spitfire asked the princess about Rainbow Dash's recent achievements." Twilight cracked a wide, radiant smile. "She's quite enthusiastic about my friend, and if her comments and praise were anything to go by, the captain wants her to take the final exams that will earn Rainbow Dash a spot on the main squad."

Sweetie's jaw dropped. "That's amazing! Scootaloo will be so excited when she hears the news!"

"Yeah, she has come a long way." Twilight rubbed her muzzle. "It actually reminds me of how much you've grown and learned. And just like when you're learning magic, I have a hunch that Rainbow Dash will be learning a lot about flying over the next few months." Paused, she ruffled her wings. "Come to think of it, the formations the Wonderbolts practice have similarities to magic. Some are simple, but others are complex and require repetition. You know what I mean, right?"

Sweetie assumed a bright grin and nodded.

"It's a good lesson to keep in mind. No matter what career life steers you toward, practice and learning are essential to mastering the craft. And even when you master it, there's always something new to learn. Magic isn't the only thing that requires practice, after all. And there's also one more thing I should mention."

"What's that?"

Twilight swished her tail about. "It's about how small events eventually grow into something much larger, whether it's just one single event or many in Rainbow Dash's case. When I had my conflict with Starlight Glimmer, I learned a lot about how one tiny event can heavily impact the future, so it's only fair that I share that with you." Twilight shuddered. Her eyes then locked onto Sunset. "Sorry if I opened old wounds."

Sunset nodded. "It's okay. I can't hide from my past forever." A soft sigh left her lips. With her head raised, she marched into the castle, Sweetie and Rarity following close behind. "Anyway, we should meet up with Princess Celestia soon. Better to get this over with than to just let it bloat into something awful."

"Naturally."

Twilight trotted ahead and led the way. The crystalline hallways hadn't changed in terms of physical appearance, but Sweetie couldn't help herself from wondering if it was brighter than usual. Light had a habit of bouncing against the castle's walls, sometimes creating a dazzling display of rainbows, though even those were usually somewhat dim with the lack of nearby windows.

This was different.

It may as well have been art as far as she was concerned.

Sweetie's pupils shrunk as she gawked at the scene.

Seconds later, Twilight poked one of the green doors to her left. She froze in place momentarily and then brought her attention to Sweetie, Sunset, and Rarity. "Princess Celestia should be behind this door." She took a quick breath. "I know our conversations will be separate, but I think doing this together will lessen the tension."

"Yeah, you've got a point," Sunset said. She rolled her shoulders. "Something about speaking with all of you around makes it a little less—intimidating."

"I understand." Twilight patted Sunset's shoulder. The pair made eye contact. "It's perfectly understandable to feel nervous about meeting the princess. Heck, before Princess Luna's return, I was always fretting over what Princess Celestia could've called me over for. And even after I had accomplished so much, I still felt the hairs on my coat standing up." Snickering, she donned a sheepish smirk and ruffled her wings. "Anyway, when Sweetie Belle goes in first, feel free to take a breather and meditate."

Sunset nodded. "That works for me." She shook her legs for a moment, her tail swishing about. "I kind of need some time to think about this. I know you've recently informed Celestia not only about what happened between us again, but also how much I've learned since then and my road to a better life."

"If Princess Celestia's past behavior is anything to go by, she'll be more than pleased with how much you've learned. You know how much she loves it when one of her former students learns so much." Playfully nudging Sunset, Twilight then placed a hoof on the door. "Anyway, take a breather if you need to. Sweetie and I will go in first." She glanced over to Sweetie. "Are you ready?"

Sweetie quickly bobbed her head. "You bet!"

Gently pushing the door open, a soft creaking sound pierced Sweetie's eardrums. Both she and Twilight trotted through the doorway with long steps. Before them was a large, circular table surrounded by crystalline walls. A few cups were scattered about the table's gleaming surface, two of them looking like they had been recently used. The warm, tingly aroma of tea tickled Sweetie's nostrils. Donning a slight smirk, Sweetie couldn't help but adore the possibility of having tea with Princess Celestia. It was something few ponies ever had the chance to experience.

And sitting at the far end of the table was Celestia herself, her flowing mane like an aurora and a smile as bright as the sun decorating her visage. Even the jewelry and regalia she wore exuded a palpable aura, Sweetie's chest tingling at the sight. They probably would've served as makeshift mirrors if polished thoroughly.

"Please make yourself comfortable," Celestia said. Her wings stretched out for a moment before she folded them again. "I'm eager to hear about how much you've grown."

Sweetie nodded, trotting up toward the empty chair with Twilight alongside her. With a quick glance behind her shoulder, she noticed Rarity and Sunset still in the other room. She arched an eyebrow; maybe Sunset was getting prepared for her fateful meeting. It wasn't as though Sweetie could've blamed her, however. She'd have constantly shivered if she was in Sunset's horseshoes.

"Your name must be Sweetie Belle, correct?" Celestia asked, her regal tone carrying a hint of confidence.

Sweetie brought her attention back to Celestia and nodded. "Yep! It's an honor to meet you, your highness."

Celestia chuckled. "I do appreciate your manners, but there's no need to be formal right now." A yellowish glow enveloped Celestia's horn. She poured herself a cup of tea, then slowly brought the teakettle over to Sweetie. "Would you like a cup of tea? I've always been a firm believer of tea soothing the soul."

"Yes, please." Sweetie nodded. A second later, Celestia poured the tea into a cup, pushing the latter toward Sweetie. Electricity coursed through the filly's veins. She'd have been bouncing around if it wasn't for the fact that Celestia was sitting across from her. Even if she claimed formality wasn't necessary, politeness was a must. "Anyway, how's Princess Luna?"

"My dear sister has been doing wonderfully." Celestia took a quick sip of her drink. "Ever since the incident with the Tantabus was resolved, she's really made strides in how much she's opening up to others and keeping her head held up high. I've been supporting her the whole way, but she's also made plenty of progress on her own." She placed a hoof to her chest. "I've always loved my sister, and I'm so proud of her."

A smile adorned Sweetie's face. "I'm glad to hear she's okay."

"Twilight told me that you've been studying magic."

"Yep!"

"I still remember when I first studied magic with Luna." Chuckling, Celestia's cheeks flushed for a split second. "Those were among my favorite memories back when I was a filly long ago. Those days helped me mature into the princess I eventually became. Luna highly enjoyed them as well." She paused for a moment. "Anyway, how have your lessons been going so far?"

"They've been amazing! I've learned so much from Twilight and Sunset! They're the best teachers anypony could ask for!"

Celestia placed her cup on the table, eyes widened. "Excuse me, but do you mean Sunset Shimmer?"

Chills coursed down Sweetie's spine. Biting her lip, she quickly glanced behind her shoulder where Sunset and Rarity must've been, then back to Celestia. "Well, yes." Deep breaths escaped her lips. "Sunset returned from the mirror world after a ton of experiences, and she's been teaching me about magic and life with Twilight while they're doing some research on spells."

Sweetie's throat tightened.

She yearned that Celestia wasn't too offended by Sunset's return.

Sweetie blinked, shivering briefly.

Yet Celestia merely replied with a smirk, her eyes twinkling like stars.

"Is Sunset with you at the moment?" Celestia asked. She leaned closer to Sweetie and kept her soft expression. "If she isn't that's perfectly okay."

Sweetie nodded. "Yeah, she's here, though she's nervous about seeing you again. Sunset is waiting in the other room while we're having our talk."

Sighing, Celestia placed the back of her head on the headrest. "I can't blame her for being afraid. It's not like having a troubled history with a friend." She rolled her shoulders. "Sunset was always a peculiar student of mine. Her attitude, as I'm guessing she told you, wasn't the most pleasant during her years as a filly. Yet she was always gifted with magic. There was also something about her that told me there was something underneath that cold exterior of hers." Pausing, Celestia rubbed her muzzle. "She was quite stubborn back then. Twilight told me about how she stopped Sunset, and perhaps that experience stuck to her mind. It took something frightening to steer her in the right path, and I wasn't prepared to scare her myself."

"How come?" Sweetie cocked her head. "Just curious."

"She was only a filly, and when it comes to Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, I promised myself to not frighten the students and faculty too much. If they were crossing the line, they'd get a stern talking to, but things such as expulsion were usually handled by the school's faculty instead of me."

"I see."

"As for Sunset's desire for power, it must've occurred not long after she graduated. There wasn't much I could've done in regards to steering her away from such a path. Even as the Princess of the Sun, there is only so much that I can do." She took a quick breath. "This is important to remember, Sweetie Belle. No matter how influential, powerful, or wise you are, there will be things that are out of your control. Additionally, there will also be ponies who are better than you at certain things."

Sweetie nodded in agreement, mouth closed.

"And there will also be moments where you need help. By accepting your shortcomings whilst reflecting and cherishing what makes you special, you can better yourself for a brighter future, even if some days are darker than others. And some shortcomings can obviously be conquered with a plentiful amount of practice and determination."

Sweetie made eye contact with Celestia. Freezing in place, she then nodded seconds later. "You make a good point. I guess that's why learning from ponies like Sunset, Twilight, Trixie, Rarity, and many others will be important. All of this will also help with making friends, which is always cool."

"That's correct." Celestia bobbed her head. "Sometimes, our friends and memories can help us find the missing variable. Even the smallest of problems may seem like mountains at times, but with friendship and knowledge on your side, they can be cleared."

"Gotcha. Thanks for the words of wisdom."

Chuckles escaped Celestia's lips. "Not a problem. It's my pleasure helping ponies." She exhaled. "Now, shall we bring Sunset Shimmer inside? If she needs more time, that's okay, but I'd like to meet with her today if that's okay."

"I guess we can go check on her."

Twilight nodded. "I'll go ask Sunset if she's ready. If she is, we'll bring her inside and keep her company. She wanted her friends with her during this tense time, so I guess we should go easy on her. Does that sound reasonable to you?"

"It does, and it's something I appreciate."

"Alright, I'll talk with her now." Twilight trotted toward the green door, her gaze locked onto Celestia's. "I'll be back in a minute."

As Twilight opened the door and mingled with Sunset, Sweetie merely glanced at the scene behind her for a second before bringing her attention back to Celestia. She cracked a soft smile; something about learning from the Princess of the Sun was special. Of course, learning from Sunset, Twilight, and Trixie were amazing as well. But there was no denying that over a thousand years of wisdom and experience couldn't be beaten.

Sweetie pursed her lips and then exhaled. "What do you like to do during breaks?" she asked.

Celestia's smile widened. Her cheeks flushed as giggles left her mouth. "That's not a question I get that often," she replied as a matter of fact. "But if there's one thing I enjoy most of all, it's spending time with my dear sister. And when Luna is busy with delegates or is guarding dreams, I sometimes like to pull up a chair by the fireplace and read a book." Celestia ruffled her wings. "There's something to be said about combining learning with comfort."

"I see where you're coming from." The muscles throughout Sweetie's body loosened. She then bobbed her head for a second. "I like having a nice glass of milk and a cookie." Sweetie chuckled and rubbed the back of her neck. "Maybe it's not as elegant as a cozy fireplace, but it's what I love."

"Well, we do have our own preferences. And I do adore warm cookies." She briefly paused. "Does somepony bake cookies for you, or do you make them yourself?"

"Rarity usually is the one to make them. I'd probably just burn them in the oven." Another giggle left Sweetie's lips, cheeks flushed. "While hers are amazing, nothing can beat the ones mom makes. They call her Cookie Crumbles for a reason; she makes the best cookies in all of Equestria."

"I'll definitely have to try them one day. Luna would love having some as well."

Before Sweetie had a chance to respond, Twilight passed through the doorway once more, Rarity and Sunset following close behind. Sweetie turned to face the trio as clacks echoed into her ears. Sunset's cheeks were pale and tautened, though something about the light in her eyes tickled Sweetie's coat. They weren't tears; Sweetie had seen plenty of cases to where she'd recognize them on the spot. Instead, they suggested something warmer.

Perhaps the Princess of Friendship proved why she had earned such a title once again.

"It has been so long, Sunset Shimmer," Celestia muttered. Her eyes were glued to Sunset, the latter maintaining eye contact and never blinking. "Make yourself comfortable. There's much to discuss."

Sunset followed Celestia's request, taking one of the empty seats next to Sweetie. Rarity and Twilight occupied two of the other chairs.

"Before we begin, would you like some tea?" Celestia asked.

Sunset shook her head. "No thanks."

Nodding, Celestia refilled her cup as well as Sweetie's and then placed the teakettle back on the table. With a quick sip, she then assumed a blank visage. Sunset squirmed in her chair, though she placed a hoof to her chest and exhaled a second later. Silence lingered throughout the room for a few seconds. Rarity hadn't even budged an inch since sitting down.

"As I was saying, I've often wondered how you were doing since we last saw each other," Celestia continued. "When you stole the Element of Magic and rushed into the mirror, I wasn't expecting all of the events that had transpired in the mirror world. I certainly wasn't predicting the mirror world to have all of us, but as a different species and culture." Celestia froze for a brief moment. "However, to hear about your trials and the friends you've made along the way has touched my heart."

Sunset blinked and leaned closer to Celestia. "Wait, do you really mean that?" she asked, rubbing her eyes. "I know you've always stressed the importance of friendship, but with how much of a bad impact I left on my fellow students at the school, I thought you'd be furious at me for returning."

"I could never hate you." Celestia shook her head. "There have been times where I've been disappointed in your behavior and wishing you could improve as a pony, maybe expand your circle of friends and learn that becoming the best isn't all that matters. However, from Twilight's anecdotes and your kindness now, I can tell that you've learned so much." Her lips curled into a radiant grin. "I'm so proud of you. And please tell me, what has been the most important thing to you ever since the incident with the Element of Magic? It can be a physical object, an emotion, anything you can think of."

Clearing her throat, Sunset surveyed the room. She paused for a second upon making eye contact with Sweetie, Rarity, and Twilight. As she brought her focus back to Celestia, Sweetie couldn't help herself from staring blankly at Sunset, noting the juxtaposition of her smile and the tears cascading down her cheeks like a waterfall.

Sweetie could've only hypothesized what Twilight told Sunset, but she figured it must've left an impact.

Rubbing her eyes, Sunset sniffled. "I'm sorry," she muttered. "It's just—this is something I thought I'd never get the chance of experiencing."

"It's okay," Celestia responded. She sniffled, eyes shimmering for a second. "There's no shame in crying."

"Well, they're more—" Sunset blushed and chuckled "—they're more tears of joy if anything." Rubbing her eyes one last time, she took a deep breath and then twiddled her mane. "Anyway, what I've come to value most of all are my friends. They steered me back on track, helped me whenever things got rough, believed in me, and created so many wonderful memories. Without them, I'd still be obsessed with becoming a princess without realizing what makes a princess." Sunset then turned toward Sweetie, her smile widening. "And I've come to love passing my knowledge along to others."

"That's the kind of answer I hoped for; it's an answer straight from the heart." Pursing her lips, Celestia then rubbed her muzzle for a second. "Speaking of friendship, I'd like to talk to you about Starlight Glimmer. I've been told you two have a history with each other. Starlight's recent past has been troublesome, though since Twilight gave her a second chance by offering compassion and friendship, I'd imagine the same would work for you."

Sunset arched an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" She cocked her head and donned a bemused expression. "Starlight was adamant in not forgiving me. I can't blame her for feeling that way, too. It was partly my fault why she made some of the wrong decisions in the future, and I'm—" she gulped "—I'm afraid she'll never forgive me."

"But she will forgive you." Celestia stood upright, leaning an inch closer to Sunset. "There's something I'd like to ask of you. If you refuse, that's perfectly understandable, but do keep it in mind for the future." She exhaled, wings stretched out momentarily. "I'd like for you to head on over to Starlight's home and just talk with her. You can bring a friend or two if you wish, but they shouldn't try to sway Starlight's opinion too much. Your friends can help provide support and comfort for you if needed, however."

"And what if she refuses?"

"Then that's her decision. Friendship doesn't always come easy. While Twilight was able to bring Starlight back on the right path with a speech that touched her heart, it may take a little more to prove how much you've changed for the better." Celestia paused. She glanced over to Sweetie. "I might have an idea."

Arching an eyebrow, Sunset froze in place. "What is it?"

"Bring only Sweetie Belle with you." Celestia nodded at Sweetie, the latter responding in kind. "Your lessons with her may be the key to showing how much you've improved. Maybe Starlight can teach Sweetie Belle some new, fun spells for her to practice. With this in mind, it might help Starlight see the truth."

Glancing over to Sweetie, Sunset then shrugged. "Is that okay with you?"

Sweetie nodded. "Yep! I'm all for making things happier!"

"Then it's settled." Celestia trotted away from her chair and folded her wings. "It was an honor meeting you again, Sunset Shimmer. And please do stop by if you ever get the chance. Luna would be delighted to meet you and mingle about all sorts of topics. And be sure to spread the friendship around, too."

"Sounds good to me," Sunset said, bobbing her head. "Is there anything else you'd like to ask?"

"There is much to discuss." Celestia made a beeline toward Sunset and stopped inches away from her. "Before Twilight became the Princess of Friendship, she learned about that same subject and much more, often writing to me whenever she had something to share. I know it may seem a bit sudden, but would you like to write letters to me about your experience?"

"But what would they be about? Do they have to be daily?"

"Not at all." Celestia glanced over to Twilight and winked; Twilight blushed in return. "And they can be about anything that relates to the magic of friendship or an important lesson in general. It's not only a good way of keeping in touch with each other, it can help with learning such subjects as well. And while you've already made impeccable progress on your own, something I always adore, there's nothing wrong in sharing your experiences with others." A warm smile adorned Celestia's visage. "Does that sound good to you?"

"It sounds fantastic!"

"I'm glad to hear that." Celestia nudged an inch away from Sunset. "For starters, how about you and Sweetie meet up with Starlight Glimmer. Even if things don't go according to plan, I promise that you'll grow from such an experience." With her foreleg stretched out, Celestia then gently patted Sunset's shoulder. "And it's okay to be nervous. What matters most is that you try."

A sigh left Sunset's mouth, her eyes locked onto Celestia's. "As I said, I don't know if Starlight would be willing to even come close to me again, let alone give me even a chance at apologizing for what I've done." She rubbed her muzzle and her cheeks tautened. "But since I'll have a friend with me, I guess I could give it a try, but what next if she doesn't want to talk?"

"Sometimes, ponies may be hesitant to talk, even if ages have passed since the incidents which caused such a relationship." Celestia caught her breath. She placed a hoof to her chest. "Just be nice and courteous around her. Never try to force your way into a discussion, especially if Starlight doesn't want to talk. If visiting her doesn't work, a little kindness can go a long way."

"Precisely," Twilight added, nodding. "Sunset, if your lessons to Sweetie Belle are anything to go by, you've truly proven how kind and generous you are. Starlight might not believe you at first, but she'll admit it eventually. It was a similar story when I showed her the path to friendship." Cracking a soft smile, she then turned toward Sweetie. "You wouldn't mind helping Sunset if she needs it, right?"

Sweetie quickly bobbed her head. "I'd love to help out!" Blushing, she snickered for a few seconds. "Sunset has helped me with magic so much that it's only fair I return the favor." She stood upright and swished her tail about. "And making a new friend is always great. Maybe it's what Starlight needs to make that much needed step."

"Agreed. This should be Starlight's most important test if everything goes well." Twilight pushed herself upright. Ruffling her wings, she trotted toward Sweetie and maintained eye contact. "Sweetie, for this instance, you'll be the teacher instead of the student in some ways. Starlight has shown the first steps toward growing as a pony, but I think her accepting Sunset's apology will help her immensely. Your role is to provide support if needed." She paused. "Sound good to you?"

"Sounds great!" Springing into the air, she swiftly glanced over to Sunset and skipped toward the door. "Shall we head on over to Starlight's place?"

"Don't you want to know where it is?"

Sweetie froze in place. Her cheeks flushed. "Yeah, that's a good idea."

"She lives about three blocks from Sugarcube Corner. There's an elaborate garden in front of her home, which has a pink roof." Twilight tapped the floor, clacks echoing throughout the room. "If you keep your eyes open, you should be able to find it easily. And should you get lost, head on back to the castle."

"Thank you, Twilight," Sunset said. "Thank you, Princess Celestia. And thank you, Rarity."

"No problem." Twilight rubbed the back of her neck. "And I wish I could come along, but I have to help with some of Princess Celestia's other meetings. But please let me know how it all went. If I think I could help out, I'll be more than willing to do so if you give me permission, Sunset."

"I'd also love to help out, dear," Rarity added. "However, I just think I'd get in the way if I joined you, so I'll spend some time with both Princess Celestia and Twilight. And like Twilight, please let me know if you ever need any help. I'd be willing to do almost anything to brighten your mood, darling."

"Sounds good to me." Sunset swiveled her head toward Celestia. "And I'll write the letter as soon as I can."

"Take as long as you need," Celestia replied. "There's no need to hurry."

Nodding, Sunset trotted up to the door and gently pushed it open. "Goodbye! We'll be back as soon as we're done!"

"See ya!" Sweetie chimed.

As the two ponies waved at their friends, the other three all responding in kind, Sunset and Sweetie then passed through the doorway with their heads raised. While Sweetie recognized Sunset's pale cheeks, her smile nevertheless kept its radiance, the sight warming her heart. The fact she was meeting with Starlight prodded her nerves, especially given her enigmatic character, but she figured it'd be okay if Twilight was fine with letting her meet the new pony in town.

The pair exited the castle, sunlight brightening the town and its scenery. Birds were already chirping their cadence while a cool breeze swirled past and tickled Sweetie's coat. Maybe the meeting with Starlight was destined to end with smiles and hugs as opposed to a few bitter, harsh words. Anything was possible in Equestria, after all.

Sweetie took a deep breath, her chest puffed out a tad.

Electricity coursed through her veins.

Already, the ultimate test for her and Sunset was just a few hoofsteps away.

The Apology

Sweetie wished that such an important assignment could've waited a few weeks.

It wasn't that she couldn't have helped Sunset and Starlight when it came to patching things up, but the pressure crushing her bones that was the problem. Screwing things up would've devastated both Sunset and Starlight; mistakes might've pushed them further away. How anypony could've survived under such conditions puzzled her.

Whenever Sweetie first heard about Rarity's exploits with her friends, often involving something dangerous to where her blood froze, she always asked how her sister handled it so smoothly. And whenever such a question left her lips, she recalled Rarity spouting the same answer:

"When everypony is counting on you to do your part, you show how marvelous you are."

There were always some variations to her wording, but the meaning was always the same. And while Sweetie assumed meeting up with a pony as enigmatic as Starlight would've been seen as nothing major to some, it was the exact opposite for her.

Sweetie swallowed a lump. She quickly gazed at the cottages sprawled across the grassland and then turned toward Sunset, the latter occasionally twirling her mane around her hoof.

"I do hope Starlight isn't too mad at us," Sweetie said. The gray clouds above her cast a shadow over the town, likely preparing a rainstorm just in case meeting Starlight went poorly. Rain was one of the last things she needed, but destiny always liked it when the weather matched the mood. "When we met her in the Everfree Forest, she was pretty upset. But do you think she'll want to talk now?"

"I wish I knew," Sunset said, assuming a downcast expression. "I know Twilight and Princess Celestia have confidence in us, but even then, I don't know if it'll be enough to get us on the same page." A sigh left her lips. "Honestly, if she forgave me and left it at that, I'd count that as one of the biggest victories of my life. Friendship feels out of the question."

"But nopony would've predicted Starlight and Twilight becoming friends, right?"

Sunset nodded. "I guess, but that doesn't imply a trend or anything."

"Maybe there isn't a trend." Cracking a soft smile, Sweetie playfully nudged Sunset's shoulder. "But because we can't be certain, it's worth trying to open up with Starlight." She skipped forward, her eyes glued to a cottage isolated from the other houses. The garden that adorned the front of said cottage carried a peculiar aroma; Sweetie knew they came from flowers, but the scents were new to her. "Anyway, I think this is Starlight's house. I remember trotting past it one day."

"Are you sure?" Sunset caught up to Sweetie. "I'd rather not trot into the wrong house."

Sweetie shuffled toward the mailbox in front of the cottage, its metallic frame gleaming under the sun. It was bright enough to where she noticed her reflection. Emblazoned on the mailbox's surface was Starlight's full name. Chuckling, Sweetie couldn't help herself from wondering what reactions she'd have received for asking about a pony few in town knew of.

Humorously awkward stories weren't what Sweetie was searching for; Sunset needed her help. Any strangeness spelt doom for them.

Sweetie took a deep breath. She stretched her forelegs and glanced back at Sunset. "Ready?" she asked.

"Ready," Sunset replied, nodding. "Let's hope for the best."

Sweetie trotted up to the front door and knocked on the purple frame. Yet despite standing as static as a statue for what must've been a minute, no response came. She cocked her head and raised an eyebrow. "Huh? Is she not home or something?" Sweetie rolled her shoulders and knocked again, but nothing followed. "Starlight Glimmer, are you home?"

In a flash, the familiar sound of hoofsteps echoed into Sweetie's ears. She bit her lip, hoping Starlight was wearing even the faintest of smiles upon opening the door. A little pep in her might've made the solution easier to reach; happiness was always appreciated in Sweetie's opinion.

Sweetie forced a bright grin across her visage.

The door nudged open, slight creaks piercing the air.

Starlight was on the other side, peeking out of the doorway and making eye contact with Sweetie. However, not even the slightest hint of emotion decorated her face.

"Um—hello, Starlight," Sweetie muttered, crossing her forelegs. She blushed and smiled sheepishly. "Do you mind if we talk?" With a tightened throat, Sweetie glanced behind her shoulder and stared at the nearby Sunset, then back to Starlight. She cleared her throat. "I know you've had some—difficulties, but I think talking it over might be good."

Starlight raised her head, brow ruffled a tad. "I'm not surprised to see you again." She momentarily paused. "If you're truly determined to apologize for your bullying, Sunset, I guess I may as well let you both in." With sagging shoulders, she sighed. "Princess Twilight and Princess Celestia sent you here, right?"

Sweetie bobbed her head.

"Figures." Weakly pushing the door open, Starlight then stepped back as both Sweetie and Sunset trotted inside, the former closing the wooden frame with her magic. "It's not much, but feel free to make yourselves comfortable. I can get some hot chocolate or cookies if any of you are peckish."

"We're good," Sunset said. "But thank you for the kind offer."

Sweetie followed the pair down the short hallway. The walls were littered with grainy photographs, most of them depicting Starlight or a group of ponies she vaguely recognized at best. Of the group photos present, Sweetie thought she noticed Sunset in the back row of one of them, her smug grin standing out. It was like looking at a changeling disguised as Sunset, but Sweetie knew of its authenticity.

The day where Sunset revealed her past rang in Sweetie's head.

Sweetie turned away from the photograph. While it was intriguing to see a glimpse of Sunset and Starlight's past, especially given how much both of them have changed since then, Sweetie had more important business to attend to.

Starlight's cottage had a warm, cozy atmosphere perfect for relaxation. There was a lit fireplace acting as the room's centerpiece, warmth tickling her coat. A myriad of bookshelves decorated the back walls, though they were frankly modest compared to Twilight's. A few chairs with puffed cushions were scattered about the room's center, a table atop a carpet before them. It was like a slice of Canterlot's luxury.

Taking a deep breath, the tension gripping Sweetie's legs loosened. There was still some tightness in her chest, but she'd have taken any comfort.

"Anyway, take a seat and we'll get started," Starlight said. She casually trotted up to one of the five chairs and sat down. Sunset and Sweetie followed suit, the latter jumping onto the red cushions and sinking into them a little. It was as if she sat atop a cloud. "And I apologize if the furniture isn't to your liking. It was what came with the house when I got it."

"Sorry?" Sweetie blurted out. Her eyes widened, leaning closer to Starlight. "Is that a joke? These chairs are amazing!"

"Yeah, they're much better than most of the chairs I've sat on," Sunset added. She turned toward Starlight and smirked. "You don't have to be humble about it. There's nothing wrong with a little boasting."

"I guess so," Starlight said. She rubbed her muzzle, tapping the chair's left arm with her other hoof. "Anyway, I know you're here to try apologizing again." Her head slowly twisted toward Sunset. "The answer is still no, but I'm curious as to why you ended up bringing somepony with you."

"Sweetie wanted to provide support and add a few things of her own if they came up," Sunset said, briefly squirming in her chair. "And as you said, I'm here to apologize for my past actions. There were no excuses for what I did to you. What matters most is that you're comfortable and happy."

"I can tell you're sorry." Starlight twiddled her mane for a second. "If you weren't, you wouldn't have tried visiting me. But despite this, I'm not sure if you'll truly make a conscious effort to avoid bullying me." Her muzzle scrunched up. "Unless there's no denying it, I'm stuck feeling hesitant."

"If you can tell Sunset is sorry, then how come you can't accept her apology?" Sweetie asked. She arched an eyebrow. "If you know she's sorry, what's stopping you? I know Sunset said she was bratty before Twilight got her on the right path, but what she did to you couldn't have been that bad." Chills coursed through Sweetie's spine without warning. "Um, no offense."

"None taken." A sigh escaped Starlight's mouth. "I know what happened to me might seem like no big deal compared to what I did to Twilight, but being as forgiving and kind as her isn't easy for some ponies." She feigned a chuckle. "Anyway, since you're here, I wanted to share a little bit about myself. Don't worry, it's just about my past."

"Go right ahead." Sweetie leaned closer to Starlight, eyes widened. Her ears twitched. "Take as long as you need."

Rolling her shoulders, Starlight then cleared her throat. "Well, if you insist. Anyway, a lot of my life involved me butting heads with the concept of cutie marks. Whether it was losing my best friend when he got his to wondering what mine was about for years, cutie marks just never made sense to me. While how I felt about cutie marks wasn't bad, the way I went about it was—" her cheeks tautened "—unpleasant."

"I can kinda relate." Sweetie's cheeks flushed. "I used to do all sorts of silly things with my friends whenever we searched for our cutie marks." She snickered, blushing. "I still can't believe that I thought getting a cutie mark in taming tigers was a good idea, but at least I never ended up actually doing anything too stupid." Shifting her eyes about, Sweetie's blushing brightened. "Well, most of the time. And somehow, the answer was right in front of us the entire time."

"And what is your cutie mark?"

"It's in the shape of a shield, which is the same style of cutie mark my best friends got." Sweetie raised her brow and rubbed her muzzle. Looking back on the day that she received her cutie mark, the idea that her friends got ones so similar to hers poked Sweetie's nerves. Sweetie wished she learned more about why that happened. "And I think it's setting us up for something big. Even though mine has a musical note in it, there has to be a reason why they're so similar, right?"

Starlight nodded. "I'd assume as much. What does it represent?"

"My friends and I got cutie marks about showing what other ponies' cutie marks mean. That kinda explains why I still call myself a Cutie Mark Crusader." Sweetie nudged closer to the edge of her seat. Talking with Starlight fascinated her in a sense; the smile adorning Sunset suggested that she felt similarly. "Anyway, what's yours about?"

"I've asked myself that plenty of times." Starlight arched an eyebrow and donned a bemused expression. "I remember getting my cutie mark after casting a bunch of spells in a row for an assignment one day, but they weren't flashy or anything special. It just kinda happened." Starlight glanced over to Sunset, the latter's lips pursed. "You had a flashy moment to coincide with your cutie mark acquisition, didn't you?"

"I did," Sunset said, sighing. "And I teased you about that, which was something I shouldn't have done." She tugged her mane. "But I'm curious, how come the moment you got your cutie mark wasn't so dazzling? Every other pony I've known had some sort of huge event coincide with their cutie mark, whether it was their doing or just the magic involved."

"I guess that's a part of what made me different." Starlight shrugged. "Again, I know you're sorry, but I'm just not feeling it yet." Stretching her forelegs out, Starlight then shimmied in her chair once more. "But as I was saying, all I knew was that I had some sort of talent in magic, but the specifics were lost on me. I performed a variety of spells well, but despite that, none of them were at a level equal to or beyond what those specializing in that talent were capable of."

"Maybe your special talent is that you can do all sorts of spells." Sweetie tilted her head. "Just a thought."

"That's a possibility, but how would I know if that's the case?"

Sunset raised her hoof. "I think I have an idea," she said. "I've been teaching Sweetie about a variety of spells recently, and some of those lessons were with another pony eager to teach."

"Your point?"

"My point is that if you could demonstrate or teach some of the spells you're talented at to Sweetie and I, maybe that can prove your cutie mark represents your breadth of magical knowledge." Sunset donned a radiant, genuine smile. The mere sight warmed Sweetie's heart, the filly wondering if things were going to turn out just fine.

"Sounds like a great plan!" Sweetie chimed.

"We can all find somewhere quiet together and learn about the spells you've mastered or are talented at." Sunset paused, her eyes sparkling. "Does that sound fair?"

Starlight bobbed her head, though she pursed her lips. "If that will help me better understand who I am, then I'm for it. Just try to not do anything sneaky or cruel around me, okay?"

"Promise." Sunset nodded in return. "If I somehow make a mistake, please let me know and I'll apologize right away."

"Then it's settled." Starlight stood upright, her tail swishing about as she trotted back toward the doorway. "Finding a quiet area shouldn't be too difficult, especially with the cloudy weather. And if it rains, I guess we can hold off on doing anything too long or complicated for the time being."

"That sounds wonderful!" Sweetie shouted at the top of her lungs. She bounced around like a rubber ball. "Maybe I'll learn about all those stunning spells you're rumored to know about! And maybe we'll all become friends in the end!" She rubbed her hooves. "This is gonna be one of the coolest lessons ever!"

With her head held high, Sweetie followed both Starlight and Sunset out of the cottage. The clouds had somehow dispersed already, rays of sunlight touching the ground once again and illuminating the dew-covered grass. The town even had a brighter tone to it, more ponies than before trotting outside and mingling with each other. And as Sweetie glanced toward Starlight, the latter forcing a faint smile across her face, Sweetie assumed everything was destined to fall in place.

Maybe it wasn't going to be as straightforward as she expected; Sweetie kept such a thought tucked in her mind.

Something about Twilight's new friend was oddly familiar.

It wasn't that Starlight was somepony Sweetie met in the distant past or even related to somepony else, but her demeanor and attempts at staying optimistic tickled her heart. Starlight had a habit of correcting herself whenever she was being too humble, usually spurred on whenever Sweetie or Sunset complimented her efforts at becoming a better pony or her magical knowledge.

Sweetie saw a mixture of Twilight, Sunset, and Trixie in Starlight. If Sweetie heard correctly, Starlight's arcane abilities were exceptional for somepony her age, and while she may have lacked the precision of some of the most talented magicians, only somepony ignorant would've assumed that Starlight wasn't some sort of magical prodigy. Rewriting Star Swirl's spells, mastering flying magic, and a few other accomplishments earned gaping mouths or widened eyes from both Sweetie and Sunset when Starlight first mentioned them. And they were somehow explained with a soft tone and visage.

There was no denying that Starlight was a peculiar pony.

Without warning, Starlight stopped trotting forward, Sweetie shuddering in response after almost bumping into her.

"This should do," Starlight said. She trotted a few steps forward and gently swished her tail about. "It's quiet, out in the open, and not too far from Ponyville."

Sweetie nodded, then scanned the environment surrounding her. The stones and trees that adorned the grassland were all in familiar spots. Rustling leaves reached Sweetie's ears, a warm breeze flowing past her. She cracked a soft smile seconds later. "This is where Trixie took us," she said as a matter of fact. "I never guessed that this was a popular place to practice magic."

"Well, it does have everything you'd need for practice," Sunset added. Taking a deep breath, she swiveled her head toward Starlight. "Anyway, because I don't know what spells you've mastered so far, I'll let you take it from here." Sunset pursed her lips. "However, I'd recommend starting off with something not too difficult."

A blue aura wrapped around Starlight's body. In the blink of an eye, she was an inch above the ground, gently gliding around Sunset and Sweetie. While she was far from agile, Sweetie's pupils couldn't help themselves from shrinking in response. Saying it was one thing, but actually seeing it was something else.

"That's one of the hardest spells known in Equestria," Starlight said. She touched the earth once more and exhaled. The aura surrounding her body vanished in an instant. "I know Sunset said not to start off with something too difficult, but I feel that demonstrating one of the most difficult spells ever recorded will help explain what I'm about to tell you next." Starlight glanced behind her shoulder, making eye contact with Sweetie. "Tell me, how does one learn spells?"

Sweetie arched an eyebrow. "Learn spells? Why do you ask?"

"I'll explain after you've answered the question."

Rubbing her muzzle, Sweetie then closed her eyes and hummed briefly. The tune quite melodic and soothed her muscles.

At first, she'd have assumed one's talent in magic required a certain kind of cutie mark, and she already knew this was the wrong answer given her lessons and the fact that she was dealing with Starlight. However, there was one commonality among the lessons Sweetie had learned that hinted at the answer.

It all seemed clearer than crystal.

"Practice is how you learn spells," Sweetie answered. She nodded confidently. "Sunset, Trixie, and Twilight all taught me that and have proven why practice is important. I don't know what your story was like, but I'd imagine that practice helped you with learning magic, right?"

Starlight slowly bobbed her head. "I do like that answer," she replied. "However, there's a little more to magic than just practice. You first must know what kinds of spells you're interested in. Learning magic from lessons is how you get started, so keep doing that, but there will come a point where you'll need to learn a spell on your own for whatever reason." A sigh left her lips. Starlight assumed a downcast expression as she sat down. "I researched the flying spell during my plans for revenge. It was a terrible reason, but what's done is done."

"Yeah, that wasn't a good idea." Sweetie made her way toward Starlight. Smiling, she gently tapped her shoulder. "But you're making an effort to become a better pony. I respect that. Heck, I even made friends with former enemies of mine. We all make mistakes and do things we regret."

"That's mature of you to say." Starlight snickered, her lips curled into a soft smile. "Still, what I did was terrible, so it feels tough being able to forgive myself. I can take a little solace in knowing that I'm not the only one with such a dilemma, but will that help me overcome my past? How can I get on the right track?"

"I've gone through it, too," Sunset added. "I know our past is—" she bit her lip "—complicated, but I'm here to help out if you need somepony. And when it comes to getting on the right track, just stick close to your friends and do what's right. It may take some time to see the results, but it can be done."

Starlight nodded and rubbed her eyes. "Thank you. Anyway, that demonstration was more than just an introduction about how important doing additional research in the future, but also how far it can take you." She stretched her hoof out, Sweetie reluctantly grabbing onto it. "This will be important to remember. Even if your cutie mark suggests otherwise, you can cast all kinds of spells as long as you dedicate yourself to the craft and never give up."

"So even though—" Sweetie glanced at the symbol emblazoned on her flank, its colors as bright as ever "—even though my cutie mark means one thing, I can still learn and maybe even master spells that have nothing to do with it? I mean, it'll take a long time and all, but it can be done?"

"Precisely." Standing up, Starlight dusted herself off and stretched her muscles. "I think we should practice one of my favorite spells." She paused, cheeks pale. "And no, it has nothing to do with cutie marks. I'm referring to something actually beautiful." Starlight glanced to her left; Sweetie and Sunset followed suit. "Do you see that flower off in the distance?"

Sweetie squinted at the plant. Its bright yellow petals and small, arm-like leaves grabbed her attention most of all, but how it swayed like a dancer whenever a breeze went past also stood out. How such a flower ended up all alone was beyond her, but Cheerilee probably would've told her something about the seasons. A second later, she nodded at Starlight and smiled.

"We're going to speed up the growth of some of the seeds surrounding it," Starlight continued. "It's safe as long as you do it in moderation. And the flowers won't grow too much if you happen to get it wrong, so take a deep breath. I know it might be hard to believe me, but nothing will go wrong."

Sweetie exhaled, her muscles loosening. "What's the next step?" she asked.

"The first step is having something like this vast grassland before you." Starlight shuffled an inch closer to Sweetie. Glancing at her for a second, she then brought her attention back to the landscape before them. "As most spells involve this when first learning them, you'll want to close your eyes and take a deep breath."

Doing as instructed, Sweetie sensed the remaining tension throughout her body dissipating. If the myriad of spells she had learned under Sunset and Trixie were anything to go by, Sweetie assumed casting it would've taken little effort. But even she knew that concentration was necessary. Confidence wasn't a ticket to skipping steps.

"What you'll want to do is imagine the environment before you," Starlight continued. "Think of the hundreds of seeds that are buried in the soil waiting to germinate and become bright flowers." She exhaled. "Don't worry about imagining the whole field covered in flowers to start off, but let's imagine a nice cluster of them in the center. They'll all have nice, yellow petals and tall stems like the one off in the distance."

Sweetie nodded. Her lips curled into a smile as she imagined the field covered from head to hoof with flowers, bunnies skipping across them and the sunshine illuminating the land. Even the aroma they would've had tickled her nostrils at the thought. The fields just outside of Ponyville were destined for beauty if the results were anything like her imagination.

"Do you have the image memorized?"

In a heartbeat, Sweetie bobbed her head again. She pursed her lips. "I sure do! There's grass and a small flower off in the distance!"

"Excellent! We'll now get to the fun part." Something gently poked Sweetie's shoulder. "Sorry about that, just bring your focus back to the environment and what it'll look like. When you're ready, send some magic to your horn while still imagining that field of flowers."

"This sounds a lot like—"

"Yes, it follows the same principle as teleportation, though there are some differences."

"Gotcha."

Sweetie clenched her teeth as a crackling sound echoed in the air. Her horn itched somewhat. The hairs of her coat stood up as she focused the spell on the fields before her, still imagining that field of flowers. It was all too straightforward in Sweetie's mind. Impressing both Starlight and Sunset would've warmed her heart.

Sweetie's legs quivered.

Now wasn't the time for distractions.

A deep breath left Sweetie's mouth, chest loosening.

She fired the spell; the sensations coursing throughout her horn disappeared in an instant.

With a radiant grin painted across her face, Sweetie opened her eyes.

A lush, green field rested before her. A warm breeze occasionally went past. Dew clung onto the blades of grass just like before, all of them sparkling like stars in the night sky.

It was beautiful, but the wrong kind of beautiful.

Sweetie's throat tightened.

A single flower with pink petals stood before her. It barely even peeked above the blades of grass, the leaves it sported much stubbier and darker than most flowers Sweetie noticed before. However, the flower's petals were as bright and lively as the one behind it. The pink flower swayed a bit whenever the wind rushed past, though its dances were underwhelming.

Her shoulders sagged.

Everything was done properly.

Sweetie arched an eyebrow, head tilted. There was no reason why the field wasn't littered with flowers. Tapping a hoof against the ground, Sweetie pondered whether there was more to the spell than she thought. It wouldn't have been the first time she encountered that problem, though it always poked her nerves. Sweetie turned toward Starlight, making eye contact with the mare.

"What happened?" Sweetie asked. She donned a bemused expression. "I did everything right, but only one flower came up." Sighing, Sweetie planted a hoof to her forehead and gnashed her teeth. "It's even the wrong color, too. There has to be some reason about why I messed up, right?"

"Maybe you didn't exert enough magic," Starlight muttered, shrugging. "This particular spell depends on that much more than others." She squinted at the pink flower, tapping her hoof as she hummed briefly. "The flower looks healthy, but not as much as the other one. At the same time, I bet it'll be just fine if given water and sunlight, so perhaps it's as simple as that."

"So I sort of pulled off the spell, right?"

Starlight nodded. "It's not a cluster of flowers like the one from afar, but I'd say you're getting there."

"But how do I exert magic properly? It sounds as though there's some way to control it, so I'm guessing I'd have to focus more magic into the spell before casting it." Sweetie pursed her lips. Something wasn't adding up. The process of casting the spell stunned her despite Starlight suggesting it wasn't enough. "But what does that feel like?"

"Well, if the hairs of your coat stand up, you're on the right track." Starlight took a deep breath and stretched her forelegs. "Honestly, getting used to how much magic is exerted into a spell comes with age and experience. You almost had some of it, so maybe you underestimated how tough casting the spell would be. Just don't be afraid to exceed what you think your limits are, though do be careful."

"Maybe I should try the spell again, yet I gave it my all last time." Sitting down, Sweetie sighed and crossed her forelegs. While it hadn't stung as much as when she failed lifting the flower, twangs still covered her chest. Sweetie blankly gazed at the pink petals, wishing that they at least looked like what she envisioned. The flower's irregular posture was salt on the wound. "I thought I had it."

"I think you did a fine job," Sunset said. She trotted toward Sweetie and sat next to her. With a soft smile, Sunset then raised a hoof up and patted Sweetie's shoulder. Those sharp twinges poking Sweetie's nerves faded away. "Getting just one flower shows how much you've progressed, even if it wasn't what you planned at first. It's a tough spell, but you were close to getting it right."

Sweetie twisted her head toward Sunset. The pair made eye contact. "How tough is it?"

"It took me a few tries to get a few flowers to sprout." Sunset's smile widened. "In fact, I messed up on my first attempt. While I eventually got the hang of it, it taught me something important about magic and how it relates to casting spells." She caught her breath and placed a hoof to her chest. "Anyway, it shows that controlling how much magic you exert is essential for some spells. And if you exert too much magic, you'll tire yourself out."

"And how much magic does a pony have?" Sweetie adopted a bemused expression. "Does it depend on size?"

"Nopony truly knows for sure." Sunset paused for a moment and rubbed her muzzle. "While I'd love to find out how magic exertion works, it'd probably take years to find out. In fact, even researchers have had difficulties determining how that works. I think it's one of those things we take for granted."

Nodding, Sweetie's eyes widened. She leaned closer to Sunset. "Do you think somepony will discover how it works?"

Sunset quickly bobbed her head in return. "I'm positive. In fact, I believe that—" she playfully poked Sweetie's chest, the latter chuckling "—somepony like you will be the one to crack the code. You've got the curiosity to where I wouldn't be surprised that if such a discovery was under your name in the future."

Sweetie's expression brightened. While she heard about how wonderful she'd be in the future plenty of times, there was something about Sunset's words and the confidence she exuded that warmed her heart. It was the best praise anypony learning about magic could've gotten; becoming Celestia's personal student was perhaps the only thing that ranked above it.

Maybe only one flower sprouting was for the best.

Some failures may have been better than successes; it was something Sweetie couldn't quite comprehend, but it made sense the more she thought about it. Ponies often learned more from failures, even if they were painful. And Sweetie's thoughts pushed her attention back to Starlight, a mare trying to overcome her mistakes.

Starlight's lips curled into a smile as she placed a hoof to her chest. Her shimmering eyes somehow touched Sweetie's heart, the sensation comforting like a blanket.

"Thank you," Starlight said. She wiped her eyes, sniffling. Her cheeks flushed as giggles escaped her mouth. "Maybe this isn't the most typical reaction, but I finally understand where you're coming from." Without warning, she hopped over to where Sunset was and gently wrapped her forelegs around her, Sunset responding in kind. "I'm so sorry that I didn't believe you at first, but seeing how gentle you are with Sweetie Belle, I now know that you've truly changed for the better."

"Apology accepted," Sunset muttered, grinning. "And I'm sorry for how rude I once was."

Starlight released Sunset from her warm embrace. She stepped back, taking a deep breath as her legs wobbled a tad. "I forgive you. And looking back at what we said after meeting again, I can see why Twilight offered forgiveness. There's something charming about it." Pausing for a brief moment, Starlight swiveled her head toward Sweetie. "And Sweetie Belle, I have something else to tell you, but it doesn't involve magic."

Sweetie stared into Starlight's eyes. She trudged closer to her. "What's your next lesson?"

"Never be afraid to admit that you've made a mistake or did something wrong." Starlight took a few steps forward, her gaze glued to Sweetie. The latter couldn't help herself from noticing that the environment was brighter than ever. It was as though the clouds vanished for this one occasion. "Focus on doing the right thing and helping others instead of harboring revenge. The first of those creates happiness for everypony, while the second only produces anguish." She sighed, head hung low. "Take it from somepony who knows how desires for revenge can poison the mind."

Nodding, Sweetie maintained an unblinking visage.

"Anyway, I'm glad both of you spent time with me. I'll be sure to tell Twilight about what I've learned today, and while my journey is far from over, I think I'm on the right track."

"You're doing wonderfully," Sunset said. "As somepony who went through similar struggles, I can say with certainty that things will turn out well. Keep up the good work, and I just know that Twilight will be thrilled when she hears the news." Giggling, she placed the tip of her hoof on her lips. "She wrote me the most charming letter when I mentioned one of the things I had learned."

"I guess we can both tell Twilight." Starlight gently motioned a hoof at Sweetie and Sunset. "Let's head back to her castle. Maybe we can get some snacks if she has any." A rumbling sound echoed in the air, Starlight's pupils shrinking in response. Shuddering, she blushed and snickered. "Magic sometimes makes me hungry."

Another rumbling noise polluted the air; Sweetie's belly felt ticklish without warning. "I guess I could use some food, too!" Sweetie chimed. Springing up into the air, she skipped forward upon landing on all fours. "Come on, everypony! Let's get some snacks!"

Sweetie kept her head held up high as she pranced back to Ponyville, Starlight and Sunset following close behind as they chatted with each other. Hearing the pair having such a casual, calm conversation was like music to Sweetie's ears. Maybe creating a song based on forgiveness was in her future, the idea prodding her mind. And with Trixie, Diamond Tiara, Starlight Glimmer, and others just like them, there was something about Equestria that defined it with joy and compassion.

Sweetie adored such emotions. The song was also something worth considering.

For now, getting Twilight caught up with what happened was much more essential.

Sweetie could've sworn that only a few minutes had gone by since she helped Sunset and Starlight. But not only was sun setting below the horizon as the trio trekked back to Twilight's castle, Sweetie noticed a silhouette in the shape of Princess Celestia flying toward Canterlot. Chances were that the princess was planning on getting some much needed rest, Sweetie wondering what kinds of activities Luna was preparing for.

As for Twilight, her assignments were only just beginning. Her frantic movements upon opening the front door suggested as much.

However, such questions weren't important to Sweetie.

Sweetie peeked her head into the castle's library, Starlight and Sunset behind her. Inside, Twilight was already occupied with organizing a bookshelf alongside Spike. It was as though Twilight had never even left the room. Two dozen or so texts ranging in size from a few thin sheets to being thicker than a brick littered the floor, all of them hoisted up one at a time. Somehow, Twilight wore a smile through it all as she scanned the books' spines and slid them into specific slots.

Arching an eyebrow, Sweetie couldn't comprehend how something that rivaled watching paint dry was considered fun.

Maybe finding enjoyment in such unusual chores was one of Twilight's quirks. Sweetie snickered at the thought.

"We're back!" Sweetie chimed. She gently waved her hoof. "Hi!"

In the blink of an eye, Spike sprung up in the air whilst donning a bright smile. "Hey, Sweetie Belle," he said, dashing toward her with a skip in his step. "How did it go?"

Starlight poked her head through the doorway. Breathing a sigh of relief, she cracked a faint smirk. "It went wonderfully," she replied. "Looking back at it, I'm beginning to realize why Twilight saw so much potential in me. There's still a long way to go, but—" Starlight chuckled, cheeks flushed "—but I feel more confident."

"That's the spirit!" Sunset cheered. "Even if the road is rough, I just know you'll come out as a stronger, wiser pony in the end." She tapped Starlight's shoulder, the latter glancing back at Sunset. "Remember, life is a journey. Things that don't go according to plan can become positive experiences, too. I know I can relate to that."

Starlight chuckled again. "No kidding."

Without warning, Twilight dove toward where Starlight was. Upon arriving, she wrapped her forelegs around the mare and wore the widest, brightest grin Sweetie had witnessed in ages. Sweetie also noticed that a few books hadn't been sorted yet; at least ten of them were still littered across the floor.

"It's wonderful to hear that you've made amends," Twilight said. Her wings stretched out and fluttered to her heartbeats. As she stepped back, Sweetie and company all made their way into the library, warmth circulating throughout the room. "I'm so proud of everypony." She then glanced over to Starlight, the two making eye contact. "See, I told you that you'd get the hang of friendship."

Starlight nodded and rubbed the back of her neck. "Yeah, though these are only my first steps."

"That goes without saying." Twilight tapped Starlight's shoulder. "Anyway, since we're all here again, there is something I'd like to mention." She cleared her throat and folded her wings. "Sunset, in regards to the experiment we've been working on, I think I have an idea of how to approach the equation."

Sunset's eyes widened, her ears twitching a bit as she leaned closer to Twilight. "What do you have in mind?" she asked. "Have you figured out what was missing in our previous attempt?"

"I talked to Princess Celestia about it while you were busy, and despite not receiving any concrete answers, she mentioned something about looking at ourselves and reflecting on how we got there." She tapped her hoof, donning a bemused expression. "The princess has the answer, but she's trying to make it so that I figure out the missing ingredient."

"At least it's a start," Sweetie said. "Maybe it's worth thinking about tonight."

Raising her hoof, Starlight trotted closer to the group, brow raised. "Excuse me, but what is this about?" she asked. "I'm guessing it has to do with magical research. I mean, while it took me a while to figure out how to modify some spells, maybe I could help out." Starlight crossed her forelegs, a sheepish smile across her face. "I doubt I'll be able to contribute much."

"It's fine," Twilight replied. "And since you asked politely, we'd appreciate having you with us. When it comes to research, having one more pony with you is always helpful." Pausing momentarily, she then took a quick breath. "Anyway, we're working on a spell that sends messages from one place to another. While nothing can get even close to a dragon's breath or a magical journal, we're hoping to have something out there in case neither of those are available."

Starlight nodded. "Makes sense to me." She glanced over to where Sweetie stood, smiling. "Do you want to join us, too?"

"Of course!" Sweetie sprung up, eyes sparkling. Anypony aside from a select few would've had the same answer. "I'd love to help out!" As she stood upright once more, a sudden thought glued itself to her brain, prodding her nerves. Many eyes were better than just one or two pairs; Sweetie figured as much with her grander lessons. She gasped. "I know! We should also ask Trixie if she's willing to help!"

"Trixie is definitely talented when it comes to magic," Twilight said as a matter of fact. With stretched cheeks, she then shrugged. "That being said, she isn't exactly the best when it comes to research from what I know of her. She has improved immensely ever since she tried becoming a better pony, though patience isn't exactly her strongest trait. I'll still check up on her and ask if she's willing to help." She giggled, the tip of her hoof touching her lips. "Knowing her, she'd probably jump at the opportunity."

Sweetie chuckled in return. "You've got a point, but she might be helpful. And maybe we could ask another pony, too."

"I know somepony who'd probably want to help," Twilight said. "Her name is Moondancer, and while she's over in Canterlot, she's an even bigger bookworm than I am." Chuckling, Twilight's wings shook briefly. "I'll write her a letter when I can, and once we've agreed on a time, we'll meet up over where the experiment is taking place and get to work. Sound fair?"

Everypony nodded in unison.

"That's excellent." Twilight trotted toward the door. "We should relax for the rest of the day. If we're going to be doing research soon, it'll be essential to rest up and get our minds ready." Her wings twitched momentarily. "I'll have the meeting arranged tomorrow afternoon, so keep your eyes open for any news."

Electrifying sensations coursed through Sweetie's veins. The once distance dream of working with the brightest minds was mere inches away from Sweetie. She almost could've tasted it if she wanted to. And while Sweetie knew that she'd only offer tiny bits of advice at most, just standing with the group and having a voice among their chatter was something worth dancing about.

Sweetie pranced over to the doorway, her friends all following close behind.

Everything she envisioned back when she began her journey was finally just around the corner.

Magical Research

Sometimes, Sweetie wondered if days repeated themselves.

It wasn't that long ago when Sweetie meandered back and forth in front of Twilight's castle, blissfully unaware of the journey that awaited her. It may as well have been yesterday as far as Sweetie was concerned. Yet with the promises of witnessing a magic experiment in her future, she couldn't help herself from waiting outside the front door once again, watching the sun slowly rising as the minutes passed by. At least Rarity allowed her to wait outside this time around; she hadn't launched into a lecture about being careful and not knocking over things.

Not doing anything stupid was all Sweetie had to do; it seemed simple enough.

However, anything involving spells was never simple.

Sweetie felt as though an hour had passed by, but she noticed the sun not budging an inch. The clock tower off in the distance suggested only ten minutes had passed. She gnashed her teeth, muzzle scrunched. It was as though Sweetie's own sense of time was tricking her.

"Gosh, why can't time move faster?" Sweetie whispered under her own breath. "They should've been here by now."

With the other Cutie Mark Crusaders all busy with their own activities, it wasn't as though she'd be able to meet up with them to pass the time. Even if they were all available for games that made Sweetie grin and giggle, doing so would've ran the risk of missing the beginnings of Twilight's experiment. And if luck had any say in the matter, it was that everypony would arrive upon Sweetie leaving.

Either way, missing such a spectacle wasn't allowed.

As Sweetie sat against the castle's crystalline walls, she noticed a silhouette approaching. The figure's purple and light blue mane was instantly recognizable. Sweetie cracked a soft smile upon recognizing Starlight's visage. The latter's more enigmatic side captured Sweetie's interest, though any of the ponies participating in the experiment were bound to have intriguing stories like Twilight and Sunset.

Sweetie frantically waved her hoof. "Starlight Glimmer!" she chimed, bouncing around like a spring. "Over here!"

As instructed, Starlight made a beeline over to where Sweetie was. With pursed lips, she merely nodded and sat next to Sweetie, stretching her forelegs. The two turned toward each other and made eye contact, neither of them uttering a peep for a few seconds. And without warning, the pair snickered and wore bright smiles.

"Good morning, Sweetie Belle," Starlight said, her tone peppier than usual. "I wasn't expecting to see you here this early."

Another series of chuckles escaped Sweetie's lips. It may as well have been a repetition of the day she first met Sunset. But avoiding touching anything that stood out was clear this time around. "I've been getting that a lot lately," she replied, blushing. "Besides, I've been dreaming of this day for a while now."

"How long?" Starlight nudged an inch closer to Sweetie.

"A few weeks before Sunset started teaching me." Sweetie rubbed her muzzle for a moment, nodding afterwards. "I think it was when I did a report about Star Swirl. When I looked him up, I became really curious about magic. With that and all the crazy magic stuff going on with Twilight and the castle, I definitely wanted to learn it right away."

Bobbing her head, Starlight donned a faint smirk. "Yeah, magic is something special. It took my years of practice to even become competent at it, and when I wanted to know something right away, I think I only slept for an hour at a time while studying it." A sigh left Starlight's lips. "That being said, try not avoiding sleep. You'll regret it later if you do."

"Of course, though Rarity wouldn't ever allow me to stay up late."

"Well, you don't want to be drowsy all day." Starlight glanced back at the cottages off in the distance, a group of silhouettes approaching them. One was adorned with a tall hat and a flowing, majestic cape while the other had distinct glasses and a ragged sweater. "Looks like our partners have arrived."

The silhouettes soon revealed their details and colors as they approached Sweetie. Trixie's smile was almost as radiant as the sun while the mare next to her simply wore a soft grin. Sweetie hadn't met the other mare, though from recalling what Twilight told her the day before, it was most likely Moondancer.

"Hello," Moondancer said, adjusting her glasses. She approached Sweetie and extended her hoof toward the filly. "You must be Sweetie Belle. Twilight told me a lot about you when we wrote to each other last time. She said you've learned quite a lot ever since you began studying magic. I'm glad to hear that the subject fascinates you." Moondancer caught her breath. "If you're ever eager to discuss it with somepony, I'd be more than willing to join in."

Bouncing and landing on all fours, Sweetie nodded. "Awesome!" she squeaked. "Anyway, you must be Moondancer. Twilight told me all about you yesterday and how smart you are." Sweetie rapidly shook Moondancer's hoof, the former's foreleg aching a little. "Nice to meet you!"

"Nice to meet you, too." Moondancer took a step back. Her smile widened. "I haven't worked on a project with Twilight since way back when we attended Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns as fillies. It'll be kind of like reliving the past in the way, only this time we'll be working with uncharted territory." She pressed her hooves together, eyes shining like stars.

Sweetie bobbed her head. "I bet you're excited."

"Excited is an understatement." Moondancer rubbed the back of her neck, smiling sheepishly. "I'm rearing to get working with Twilight on something again." She turned toward Starlight, then to Trixie, and finally back to Sweetie. "And it looks like we're with some brilliant minds as well."

"Trixie does have a great and powerful mind," she said as a matter of fact. Blushing, she crossed her forelegs. "Now, I may admittedly not be an expert when it comes to research, but I imagine there will be plenty of opportunities to contribute." Her eyes stared into Sweetie Belle's, both of them blinking together. "And Trixie has been thinking, how about we both ask questions whenever something comes up? We're both new at this, so doing that might help a bit."

"Sounds fair to me," Sweetie said. "I was gonna ask questions either way, but there's nothing wrong with any of us asking some questions."

"I think we'll all be learning something new," Starlight added. She stood up and dusted herself off. "Still, given that this is an important experiment, we'll have to be careful when moving forward. After all, going too fast might cause problems down the road."

Everypony nodded in unison.

Harsh squeals pierced the air without warning, Sweetie cringing in response. As she glanced behind her shoulder, she noticed the front door had opened, both Twilight and Sunset standing inside the castle with smirks of their own and straightened postures. Everypony outside waved at the two upon making eye contact.

"Nice to see that everypony made it," Sunset said. She stepped aside, as did Twilight. "We're just about to get started."

Sweetie and company entered the crystalline castle. And like Sweetie's previous visits, everypony made their way across the same route she had traversed across each time, their hoofsteps echoing throughout the corridors as usual. Part of Sweetie wondered if she'd have memorized most of the castle's layout by the time Twilight and Sunset's experiments concluded.

However, noticing both Trixie and Moondancer gawking at the bright walls painted a smile on Sweetie's visage. Even with its familiarity, there was something captivating about the sunlight creating intricate patterns on the walls. A few of them even split apart into the colors of the rainbow, Sweetie's eyes sparkling at the sight.

"This is your home?" Moondancer blurted out. Her mouth was agape, pupils shrunk. "I know that you're the Princess of Friendship, but I never could've imagined that you'd be living in a place like this. The exterior pictures I saw in the newspaper pale in comparison." She nudged toward one of the inner walls and gazed into her own reflection. "How long did it take to build this castle?"

Twilight pursed her lips and her wings twitched a bit. "Well, it's less to do with construction and more to do with a magic box." She feigned a giggle. "Long story short, it was directly involved with one of the most frightening moments of my life coupled with one of my most triumphant. I'm just relieved that things returned to normal from there."

"Trixie always assumed that princesses didn't get frightened," Trixie said. Arching an eyebrow, she tilted her head. "Then again, I've only ever understood what princesses are like based on what Princesses Celestia and Luna do. Trixie has never met Cadance and you became a princess not that long ago." Trixie assumed a sheepish smirk. "I guess all of us have some things in common."

"That's definitely something to keep in mind." Twilight glanced behind her shoulder and made eye contact with Trixie. "Whether you're a princess, a Wonderbolt, or a singing sensation, the truth is that we're all similar in at least a few aspects. Even with our coveted titles, we still experience happiness, sadness, pride, jealousy, bravery, fear, and so much more."

Nodding, Trixie caught up to Twilight. "I guess you make a good point. Maybe Trixie could use that fact as something to further better myself. And even though I'm the Great and Powerful Trixie, maybe it's okay that I'm not perfect." Blushing, Trixie snickered again. "Trixie could become even greater than ever by striving to improve, right?"

"That's a brilliant way of looking at it. You've sure come a long way since the incident with the Alicorn Amulet."

"Maybe I have." Trixie glanced over to where Sweetie was, then to Sunset, and finally back to Twilight. "And with all of the lessons I've learned about life, I can't help but feel as though I'm better than ever at magic. Maybe I learned some new tricks alongside Sweetie when practicing with her and Sunset."

"It's a similar story for me," Sunset said. "It's funny how such moments can make a huge impact."

Sweetie bobbed her head in response. While friendship and kindness always pushed her toward a brighter path, something about hearing how much it helped Sunset, Trixie, and Starlight from earlier suggested just how important it truly was. Maybe they wouldn't solve all of Sweetie's problems, but it'd help with staying positive.

After making their way through the castle's hallways, the group all arrived at the door leading to where the experiments were taking place. And as Twilight opened the door, the layout was nearly identical from the last time Sweetie saw it. The chalkboard still displayed an array of messages, sheets of paper littered the floor, the flasks and contraptions only had slight modifications, and most of the books resided within the towering bookshelf.

Starlight made a beeline toward the contraption, gazing at it. "What's this?" she asked. "I'm sorry if I'm looking at this the wrong way, but I don't see how this would help with communication magic." She squinted at one of the empty flasks, her lips moving whilst uttering an inaudible phrase. "I'm guessing this just has to do with water, right?"

"Sort of," Twilight said. She approached Starlight and gently patted her shoulder. "And no need to apologize. I'd definitely understand why you'd be confused at first." Rubbing the back of her neck, Twilight chuckled briefly. "Anyway, we were using this as a control test. Because sending a letter via magic won't ever be as fast as a magical journal or a dragon's breath, we've been trying to find a spell that does the task when neither are available."

Starlight briefly rubbed her muzzle and smirked. "Now I see where you're going with this."

"Anyway, Sunset and I have made a considerable amount of progress earlier. We've been able to get the water from one flask to the other without pouring it, which means that transporting a small item short distances is possible." She glanced over to where everypony else was and then back to Starlight. "Unfortunately, it's much harder when the distance is farther. We've been trying to send a simple letter to Celestia, though nothing has worked yet."

"Out of curiosity, does Princess Celestia know we're doing this?" Moondancer asked.

Twilight bobbed her head. "She does, and using her proven method of sending letters via a fireplace, Princess Celestia will reply to our letter if she receives it. And based on if or when she does reply, we'll know if the spell was a success or it needs some modification." Twilight caught her breath. "Does that all make sense?"

Everypony nodded, Sweetie included.

"Excellent! Let's get started right away."

Seconds later, everypony huddled around the contraption and sat down, all eyes glued to Twilight. And as for Sweetie, she merely watched and listened to the conversation at hoof, mentally making notes of how Twilight and others conducted research. Twilight, Sunset, and Moondancer mingled the most about magical theories and equations from what she noticed, Starlight sometimes chiming in and pursing her lips while Trixie focused on the process alongside Sweetie.

Much to Sweetie's relief, some of the equations seemed rather straightforward, though some of the symbols and letters were more like a foreign language as opposed to mathematics; at least mentions of coordinates and weight made sense to her. And it seemed as though Trixie was quickly picking up on the process, nodding and even muttering a few suggestions at some point.

Perhaps it'd be understandable in the end; that was what Sweetie hoped for most of all.

An hour passed by in a flash.

Sweetie was still mesmerized by just how many questions were thrown around like a ball. Everything from how much magic was exerted to whether a change in coordinates was required had been mentioned at one point or another; Sweetie merely bobbed her head whilst trying to keep up with it all.

"Thank goodness not all magic requires math," Sweetie murmured to herself.

She blinked, focusing on the ever-changing chalkboard again.

How any of this was possible was almost as confusing as the experiment's equations.

Twilight took a deep breath. "Well, it looks like we have an equation that might work," she said as a matter of fact. "With the amount of force necessary to move the object combined with the precise coordinates of Celestia's study room, not to mention the reworking of the teleportation spell needed to move the letter with magic, we're ready for the first couple of tests." She caught her breath, smiling. The group all nodded together, though Sweetie merely assumed a blank visage, trying to unpack all of what Twilight said. "Anyway, let's take a short break for now. We'll reconvene once we've all rested for a bit."

"Sounds like a plan to me," Sunset said.

As everypony stood up again and stretched their limbs, Sweetie remained completely static. Her mind was twisted into a corkscrew for the past hour, slowly unraveling just what happened before her. Yet she noticed a ticklish sensation coursing through her veins. She couldn't wait to learn more about how it'd all end, but her chest twanged a little.

A sigh left Sweetie's lips.

Perhaps she was too young to understand almost everything about magic. Sweetie found it interesting, though she wished she could've known enough to where she'd be valuable. Any contribution, even if it was something as minor as changing a number or modifying a small part of how the spell was used, would've warmed her heart.

However, Sweetie's only option was to keep watching. Being a spectator was better than being left in the dark. But Sweetie also figured that perhaps Sunset or somepony else might've known how to break it down for her. Whether her questions were reasonable or answerable was a completely different problem.

Taking a deep breath, Sweetie nudged closer toward Sunset. The latter glanced behind her shoulder and cracked a smile upon spotting Sweetie, Sunset gently waving her hoof. Sweetie responded in kind.

"Hey, Sweetie," Sunset said. She rolled her shoulders and then sat down. "Anything you want to talk about?"

Nodding, Sweetie shuffled closer to Sunset and sat next to her. "Well, I don't get all the math stuff," she confessed. "I mean, some of it is simple enough, but all of the equations you and everypony else are proposing seem kinda overwhelming." Sweetie shrugged, focusing her attention on the chalkboard for a moment. She rubbed her head whilst gazing at the more unusual equations, some of the symbols new to her. "I get that not all magic requires math, but how am I gonna improve if none of this makes sense?"

Sunset gently rubbed Sweetie's back. "I wouldn't worry about understanding it right away." She paused for a moment. "You're still quite young, so it's only understandable that not all of this will make sense. Heck, some of the best magicians in the world don't use math that often. And when those magicians do use math, it's equations that aren't too complex."

Nodding, Sweetie's eyes widened. "I kinda see where you're coming from. Trixie didn't get the math right away, even if she contributed a little."

"Well, Trixie is smarter than she appears." Sunset feigned a chuckle. "I honestly think that she'd be a wise scholar if she put in the effort. Her more—boastful attitude and how much she values success might be hurting her as well as helping her. Should Trixie come to realize that failing isn't bad and to be a little more humble, she would be happier as a result. And once she values hard work more, maybe she'll grow to love researching all kinds of new magic."

"So what you're saying is that confidence is good, but too much of it can have a few consequences, right?"

Sunset nodded. "That's pretty much the gist of it." Twirling her mane with her hoof, Sunset then peered into Sweetie's eyes, a blank expression adorning the latter. "It does lead me to the next thing I should mention." A sigh left Sunset's lips. "I'm probably going to have to return to the mirror world soon."

Arching an eyebrow, Sweetie cocked her head. While she knew that Sunset was returning to the mirror world not long after meeting her, Sweetie couldn't think of how she'd further her studies without Sunset as a tutor.

Twilight might've been a candidate, but Sweetie recalled how busy the princess often was.

Sweetie glanced over to where Moondancer and Starlight were. Both seemed like viable teachers, but Sweetie didn't know what Moondancer's schedule was like and Starlight was still growing accustomed to her more positive lifestyle.

As for Trixie, her travels and demeanor suggested that she wasn't the best fit for tutoring, even if her lessons were extravagant.

Sweetie's throat tightened. Not a word left her pursed lips.

"Don't worry, Sweetie," Sunset continued. She patted Sweetie's back once again. "I'll still come by to visit and teach you new magic lessons. It's just that the things I have to do in the mirror world mean that I can't stay in Equestria all the time, though I'd love to stay here for longer than I planned." A soft smile ran across Sunset's visage. "I definitely enjoyed spending time here much more than I thought I would."

Sweetie nodded. "Same here. Learning from you and everypony else was so awesome." Pausing, she then pushed herself upright and swished her tail about. "But what am I gonna do when you're gone? Who'd be willing to tutor me in the meantime? It's not like I can just go out there blindly, right?"

"Twilight and I have been talking about it ever since our studies began. It's something we all knew was bound to occur at some point." Sunset glanced around the room for a moment. "However, I'll be sure to visit often and your tutor while I'm gone will find the experience just as valuable as you do."

"Gotcha."

"Anything else you want to ask?"

Sweetie shook her head. "I'm fine." She cracked a smile. "But thanks for answering my questions."

"No problem." Sunset stood up and stretched her forelegs. "I'm here to help."

Breathing a sigh of relief, Sweetie glanced over to where Moondancer was, the latter pacing back and forth. Incoherent phrases left Moondancer's mouth as she occasionally glanced at the chalkboard, squinting at it for a few seconds at a time before resuming her trotting. The ritual repeated itself like a broken record.

As much as Sweetie would've rather allowed Moondancer to continue thinking about the experiment in peace, curiosity kept poking her. With a deep breath, Sweetie raised her hoof and kept her eyes glued to Moondancer. The latter froze in place and approached Sweetie with a soft smirk.

"Hello," Moondancer muttered. "It's complicated, isn't it? Even when you've dedicated your life to this and know almost everything there is to know, it's still a complicated process. There are so many variables that go into these experiments and spells to where you have to take each step slowly."

"No kidding," Sweetie replied. She blushed. "I'm struggling with trying to even understand it."

"There's nothing wrong with that. With enough studying and practice, you'll get used to it eventually."

Sweetie nodded. "Yeah, Sunset told me the same thing. But I wanted to ask what kinds of spells you practiced as a filly. I know how much research and reading mean to you, so I was curious about how you got your start." Taking a deep breath, Sweetie straightened her posture. "How did you deal with the math stuff?"

"Well, just focus on the math you're already aware of." Moondancer rubbed her muzzle for a moment. "For me, it was addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. You'll undoubtedly learn more complex equations and theorems during your time in school. From there, apply that knowledge to your magic lessons. It's not the fastest method, but it's the most efficient."

"That makes sense. My teacher has been showing us new kinds of math problems every other week."

Moondancer nodded, smiling. "That's how you're going to learn more about how math and magic connect. And feel free to ask questions you may have. Ponies like myself or Twilight can help connect your math lessons to magic if the thought ever crosses your mind."

"Sounds great to me!" Sweetie and Moondancer shook hooves, their smiles brightening. "Thanks for helping me out."

"You're welcome." Moondancer released her grip on Sweetie's hoof. "Anyway, I'm guessing that we're going to be getting back to work soon, so feel free to relax if you want." A second later, Moondancer glanced over to the contraption. "Let's hope we're able to figure out the solution soon."

Sweetie bobbed her head again. "Naturally!"

As Moondancer suggested, Sweetie merely trotted about and surveyed the library while everypony else mingled about the experiment. The journal she used to contact Sunset was over to the right, its form just as she remembered it. A quill was clamped by the book with an ink bottle to its left. Sweetie wondered if her message to Sunset was still inside.

Sweetie blinked; her eyes widened.

Even if Sunset was over in the mirror world, Sweetie figured that writing her a message might've helped if she had specific questions. It was worth an attempt in the near future and food for thought. However, seeing how Sunset and the others handled the experiment was more imperative.

Sweetie skipped over to where the group was without a second thought, hoping that it'd all go according to plan. Yet if there was anything Sweetie took away from her interactions with Sunset and her previous lessons, it was that the experiment would've turned out longer than she expected.

If Sweetie had learned anything over the three additional hours she spent with the group, it was that there was plenty of trial and error involved. Most of the spells attempted fell far short of sending the message to Princess Celestia, some harmless sparks shooting out of their horns at the bare minimum and—at least according to the responses—around thirty minutes of waiting for Celestia to receive a message.

However, Sweetie wasn't concerned with these struggles. Getting at least one message over to Celestia, even if it was about as sluggish as a snail, counted for something. And just as Sunset would've taught her in the past, everypony took the repeated failures as just part of the process, revising the equation and trying again once they had a better idea.

A sigh left Sweetie's lips; she would've preferred completing the task right away than risk missing it performed correctly.

The strained expressions or bloodshot eyes Sweetie's friends wore told a similar story; patience was fading away.

An envelope appeared from thin air in the blink of an eye and plopped onto the floor. Twilight approached the envelope and lifted it up. As she hurriedly opened it, she glanced at the letter's contents and merely released a sigh, her shoulders sagging. Sweetie and company adopted downcast expressions of their own.

"Looks like this one was even slower than before," Twilight murmured, tossing the letter aside. "It took thirty-three minutes as opposed to twenty-seven to get the letter from here over to Canterlot." She sat down again and crossed her forelegs. "At least that's what Celestia's suggesting according to when she got the letter. As such, we'll have to revert to the equation before this, though I'm guessing that it'll take more than a few quick revisions."

Sweetie glanced over to Twilight and peered into her eyes. "We could try starting from the beginning," she suggested. The group all recoiled in unison, Sweetie's cheeks turning paler. "Yeah, maybe doing that would waste more time. This is the closest you've even come to sending that letter quickly."

"Sweetie Belle, can I ask you something?" Moondancer muttered. "It's somewhat related to the experiment at hoof and something that Sunset and Twilight told me about in their invitation, though I think it'll help us with moving forward."

Sweetie quickly turned toward Moondancer. "What do you mean?"

Moondancer nodded. "I understand that math isn't your special talent, but when you were successful at teleporting for the first time, what did you feel?" She leaned closer toward Sweetie, smiling. "I know it's an odd question, especially since this spell will be significantly different from what Sunset told me about your lessons, but I'd rather not create a mess since we're modifying how much magic is being exerted."

"Well, my body was a bit tingly." Sweetie rubbed her muzzle; visions of the day she learned teleportation returned to her. "And I remember my heart beating really fast, but other than those two things, I didn't feel too different." Gazing into Moondancer's eyes, Sweetie then arched a brow. "Does that help?"

"It does." Moondancer glanced toward the chalkboard, the latter's green visage now covered from head to hoof with white scribbles. "Since we're using an equation partly inspired by the teleportation spell, as that allowed us to send that one letter over, we'll be able to figure out around how much magic we'll need to exert when casting the spell."

"But we can't simply use too much magic when casting the spell, right?" Starlight asked, raising her hoof. "As an example, if I used a considerable amount of magic just casting the spell to where I tire myself out, it'd defeat the purpose of using it in dire moments." A sigh left her lips. "Something else has to be changed."

"The problem is that there aren't many variables left to play around with," Sunset said as a matter of fact. Picking up a piece of chalk with her magic, she underlined the numbers that composed the equation, leaving only three of them alone. "We've modified these variables before, but to no avail. And since this equation is proven to work—slowly—throwing it all out and starting from scratch might cause more problems."

"Well, we could always reconvene at a later date and start with something new," Twilight said. She ruffled her wings. "But I can't help but feel as though we're close to figuring this out." Nudging closer to the chalkboard, Twilight squinted at the equation. And a second later, Twilight cracked the faintest of smiles. "I think I see where this is going."

"How so?" Sweetie also approached the chalkboard, though nothing came to her upon gazing blankly at the equation. It was perfect enough as far as she knew, but with the myriad of symbols that composed it, Sweetie wasn't sure if there were even minor mathematical mistakes. She turned toward Twilight and cocked her head. "Is there something missing?"

Twilight nodded. "Exactly. Looking at the equation, I think that we can speed things up with an extra variable. This catalyst might be able to cut the time needed to send a letter in half, maybe even more if we're lucky." She paused for a second. "However, the difficult part is figuring out what's missing."

Sweetie bobbed her head in agreement. Closing her eyes, an array of possible suggestions swirled in her mind, almost all of them seemingly useless or just repeating what was already on the chalkboard. Exerting more magic, envisioning the room the object would be sent to, and more bounced around in her head. However, as Sweetie dug through each possible suggestion, one common thread was making itself known.

All of Sweetie's ideas were related to Sunset's lessons.

Opening her eyes, Sweetie glanced over to where Sunset was, the latter focused on the chalkboard. Trixie, Starlight, and Moondancer also studied the equation. Sweetie imagined them formulating more reasonable suggestions, wishing she could've cast a spell that granted her access into their thoughts, if just for a second.

However, the memories of Sweetie's past lessons still clung to her.

Sweetie brought her thoughts over to her experiences with both Princess Celestia and Twilight.

Maybe the bond between the two ponies involved was the missing ingredient.

A gasp left Sweetie's mouth.

"I got it!" Sweetie blurted out. Blushing, she immediately covered her lips and shimmied back. She cleared her throat. "I think the pony getting the message is also involved. Maybe thinking about Princess Celestia and how much she means to you might be what's needed. Since friendship is magic, maybe that will help with the spell." Sweetie shrugged and donned a sheepish smile. "It's not math, but it's worth a shot."

"In a way, it does sound like using the magic of friendship to improve the spell's effectiveness," Sunset said. She stepped back, her lips curling into a soft smile. "It's worth a shot." Sunset swiveled her head over to Twilight, the pair making eye contact. "Twilight, I think you're the best pony for the job. Does that sound fair?"

Twilight quickly bobbed her head. "I'm more than ready to give it a try." Stretching her wings and sticking her tongue out, Twilight took a deep breath. Her legs wiggled about for a moment. "Give me a minute to focus on casting the spell, but I think we're getting somewhere."

"Are you sure this will work?" Starlight asked, head cocked to the left. "I'd rather avoid any messes."

"There's only one way of finding out whether it's applicable." Twilight glared at the letter before her, biting her lip. She glanced at the small pile of ashes off to the side, then back to the letter. "However, I understand why you might be hesitant to go along with it. For all we know, adding this element might make the spell useless." She exhaled once more and pursed her lips. "Alright, let's do this."

Without thinking, Sweetie raised her hoof, cheeks tautened.

"Is there something bothering you?" Twilight asked. With a soft smile, she nudged closer to Sweetie.

"How does casting spells with math work?" Sweetie responded. She rubbed the top of her head and assumed a perplexed visage. "I mean, with most of the magic I've done, it's all about focusing, but how am I supposed to focus when I've got some weird math problem to think about?"

"When it comes to casting such spells, it's not the entire equation that counts, but what the answer is." Twilight glanced behind her shoulder, staring at the chalkboard. "Why we're doing the math, however, is because spells like this require an understanding of things such as physics, safety precautions, and coordinates. You keep the answers to those equations in mind when casting the spell, not the entire equation itself. And some spells used to require math, but ended up no longer needing it after further development."

Sweetie slowly nodded. "So I might be able to do this spell without math one day?"

"Maybe." Shrugging, Twilight donned a sheepish grin. "It all depends on whether the spell can be changed to where it no longer needs mathematical equations. But with all new spells, even the wisest of ponies have to start somewhere." Her wings twitched; Twilight turned back to the envelope and squinted at it. "I hope that helps."

"It kinda does." Chuckles left Sweetie's lips. She then sighed, though Sweetie maintained a faint smile across her face. "But with all the math problems I'll be doing in school, I think I'll get it once I'm older. Worrying about something that crazy now would just cause more problems." Sweetie turned toward Sunset, the pair making eye contact. "At least that's how I see it."

"That's correct," Sunset said as a matter of fact. "As I've learned throughout much of my life, wisdom comes with age." Her grin widened. "And with how much you've been learning and growing, I'm confident that you'll be a wise pony in the near future. In fact, I believe you'll be a gifted unicorn before you know it."

Sweetie blushed. "Um, thanks."

"You're welcome."

Nodding quickly, Sweetie brought her attention back to Twilight, the other ponies present following suit.

"Alright, let's do this," Twilight said. She exhaled, inching toward the envelope. "I hope this works."

Twilight closed her eyes and took another deep breath. Her lips moved, yet nothing audible echoed within the room.

Silence lingered for a few seconds, nopony budging an inch, though sweat dripped down Sweetie's mane. Her heartbeats picked up. A minute passed by, no magic spells or any noticeable movement capturing Sweetie's attention. Why Twilight required such concentration was beyond Sweetie, but the latter couldn't help herself from imagining just how spectacular and flashy the spell might've turned out.

Another deep breath left Twilight's mouth. A purple aura wrapped around her horn as crackling sounds polluted the air. Sweetie averted her gaze from the brightening light, a palpable force pressing against her. And while the spell lacked the array of colors that Trixie's spells had or the finesse of Sunset's teleportation tricks, Sweetie's jaw dropped as she watched it nonetheless.

A popping sound echoed in the room.

The bright spectacle faded away in an instant, Twilight rubbing her eyes.

Sweetie held her breath for a moment, both Moondancer and Starlight biting their lips as they awaited Princess Celestia's response, whenever that was supposed to occur. Sunset, Trixie, and Twilight merely assumed static visages as they stared at where the letter once was.

A minute passed by.

Nothing happened.

Another minute flew past, but no response came.

"Do you think Princess Celestia got the letter?" Sweetie asked. She tilted her head. "If she did, she'd have replied by now, right?"

"That's the idea," Starlight said. She crossed her forelegs. "But even if she got it right away, there's no telling whether her response will be long or if she's busy." She twirled her hoof around her mane. "Unless the response is taking ages, there's no way of telling how the spell went."

"We'll just have to be patient," Sunset added. Swishing her tail about, she then stretched her forelegs for a moment. "Anyway, since we might be waiting a while again, how about we share some stories with each other to pass the time? I know we've done things like that before, but a healthy laugh is always good when you're waiting."

"Well, I could talk about the time Princess Luna visited my dreams," Sweetie said. "Then again, the stuff that happened was rather weird, but it was totally cool and creepy at the same time." She cracked a smile, her chest warming as she recalled the lessons Luna provided her. Sweetie's relationship with Rarity strengthened ever since those surreal dreams. "Anyway, what happened was—"

A yellowish flash erupted before the group without warning, Sweetie wincing as she averted her gaze. Upon glancing back at where the light was, Sweetie noticed an envelope gently gliding toward the floor, coming to a rest right in front of Twilight's hooves. Everypony else shimmied closer to the princess, their eyes widened and unblinking.

Sweetie would've questioned whether this was a dream if she got it right; there was no way somepony as young and inexperienced as her could've stumbled on the solution.

As Twilight lifted the envelope with her magic, she quickly opened it up and procured its contents, a letter now hovering before her.

"Is it from Princess Celestia?" Sweetie asked.

Twilight nodded, her mouth curling into the brightest smile she wore all day.

"What does it say?"

Twilight cleared her throat and scanned the letter, her eyes shifting from left to right. She then lowered the letter, glanced around the room, and stretched her wings out. "We managed to send it in just under a minute. The spell was a rousing success!" With her legs constantly moving, Twilight's eyes shone. Sweetie and company replied with beaming visages of their own. "And best of all, Princess Celestia said that this is a huge breakthrough in the study of magic! It might even make exploring uncharted territory easier than ever now!"

That's awesome!" Sweetie chimed, hopping up and down like a bunny.

"And it was all thanks to you," Sunset said, trotting up to Sweetie. "Your quick thinking managed to find the missing piece before any of us had a chance to speak up." She playfully tapped Sweetie's shoulder. "If anypony here deserves the most credit, it's you. Thank you for your help."

Sweetie blinked, pupils shrunk. Even if she wanted to, so much excitement coursed through her veins to where Sweetie could've only assumed an awestruck expression. It was everything she dreamed about and more; this time, those dreams were reality, and the day she earned her cutie mark was the only thing that compared.

"Say, how about we go celebrate?" Trixie suggested. "Trixie thinks that Sweetie deserves a scrumptious treat!"

Sweetie bobbed her head in an instant.

"Sounds like an excellent plan to me," Twilight said. She glanced over to the chalkboard. Using her magic, she then brought a nearby book and a quill toward her, carefully jotting down the spell's equation and any details outside of the mathematical side of the solution. After a minute of writing, Twilight closed the book with a satisfying thump and skipped toward the door. "Let's head on over to Sugarcube Corner, everypony."

Sweetie nodded again, prancing forward with her head held high. While there was still much to learn about magic and the world around her, any doubts she once had regarding her abilities vanished in an instant. Even if the road ahead was rough and full of twists and turns, Sweetie knew traversing it would've been feasible.

After all, if her past experiences helped with creating a spell, almost anything seemed possible.

Passing the Torch

Somehow, everything Sweetie could've hoped for went according to plan. From understanding more about magic to actually helping experts, it was as if Sweetie stood taller than ever. The beating of her heart echoed in her ears. It wasn't as though she was frightened of anything surrounding her or what transpired, but her mind was fixed on what fate might've had in store for her.

The future was blurrier than ever. Nevertheless, Sweetie's lips curled into a slight grin.

Just like when she obtained her cutie mark alongside Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, Sweetie couldn't help herself from wondering if her pivotal role in Twilight's experiment was all a dream. Yet the blades of grass touching her hooves and the icy, sweet taste of ice cream in her mouth persisted. Both sensations were ones that even the most realistic dreams couldn't have replicated.

Sweetie tapped her forehead and blinked.

Nothing surreal jumped at her or sent chills down her spine; the lack of warped scenery or Princess Luna revealing herself also suggested that Sweetie wasn't dreaming. In fact, everything was as normal as it could've been, right down to ponies performing their typical routines and rituals for the evening.

In a flash, Sweetie turned toward where Carousel Boutique was, the lavish structure as bright as a star.

"I gotta tell Rarity," Sweetie muttered. Rubbing her mane, she shimmied closer to the structure. "She'd definitely appreciate it."

Sweetie skipped toward the boutique as she repeated her mission like a broken record. She wondered what kind of reaction Rarity would've given her upon hearing of the discovery. The thought warmed her heart, though the allure of additional rewards such as the sweets from Sugarcube Corner also tickled her stomach.

Placing her hoof on the front door, Sweetie gently pushed it open, soft creaks reaching her ears.

An array of threads and sketches were neatly pushed off to the side of Carousel Boutique. Mannequins, dresses, and sparkling jewels also made themselves known, the other rooms seemingly untouched since she left for Twilight's castle. Their colorful forms shone and commanded attention as if they hoped to be used for future dresses. And yet the hairs of Sweetie's coat stood up as she trotted across the floor and surveyed the room, her steps shorter as she approached the staircase.

"I'm home!" Sweetie shouted at the top of her lungs, her voice echoing throughout the room. "Is anypony here?"

Rarity dashed down the staircase and leaped toward Sweetie, the latter firmly pressing her hooves into the boutique's carpet. Sweetie closed her eyes and clenched her teeth. And upon landing before her, Rarity wrapped her forelegs around Sweetie as though they were a scarf.

"Uh, I haven't said what happened yet," Sweetie murmured. She raised her head and blushed. While Rarity had been enthusiastic before, Sweetie would've believed anypony if they said her sister had chugged gallons of coffee earlier in the day, though the answer was already evident. "Does this mean that you've found out how the experiment went?"

Blushing, Rarity released Sweetie from her warm embrace and shimmied back. "Indeed," she said. "I heard the wonderful news from Princess Celestia." Chuckles left her lips. Pushing herself upright, Rarity then twiddled her mane. "Helping the wisest ponies in all of Equestria is no small feat, dear. It's only natural that the news would reach me quickly."

Sweetie nodded. "Yeah, it's really cool." With a quick breath, she then dusted herself off. "By the way, did Princess Celestia mention anything in her letter?"

"According to what Princess Celestia, she theorizes that it's the result of how much you've learned since starting your lessons with Sunset." Rarity's smile widened. She placed a hoof to her chest. "Whether it's that or just how wise my dear sister is, I'm so proud of how far you've come."

Sweetie bobbed her head. "Yep! Then again, I couldn't have done it without help." She paused momentarily and shivered. "I mean, I kinda figured that was part of how I found the answer. I was thinking about the recent past and how influential you, Twilight, Sunset, and others have been in my life. I then did the same for Twilight and Princess Celestia's relationship." Giggling, Sweetie placed the tip of her hoof on her lips. "Between this and helping Sunset and Starlight patch things up, I don't know where I'll go next."

"The world is full of surprises, dear." Rarity tilted her head and cracked a smirk. Her eyes glowed like stars. "Don't fret about the future so much, especially when the world feels absolutely marvelous. Just focus on being yourself and continuing what you've been doing. I know for a fact that you'll quickly discover something inspiring."

"And where do I start?" Sweetie cocked her head, assuming a bemused expression. "I mean, you must have somewhere to start when making a new dress, right?"

"That's right. Inspiration can take many forms, dear." Rarity pursed her lips. She glanced over to the nearby table, grasping the nearest spool of thread and lifting it up. "This simple spool of thread can create all sorts of things. Don't be afraid to let your creativity fly, dear. Almost all designers find happiness in creativity."

Sweetie bobbed her head. "Gotcha!"

"And speaking of your experiment, I can't help but wonder how Starlight is doing. She's changed so much already, especially when you and Sunset helped her, so maybe she'll be comfortable spending more time with us." She tapped the floor and swished her tail. "We were planning on spending time in the Crystal Empire in about a month."

"I think Starlight is ready." Hanging out with Starlight over in the Crystal Empire poked Sweetie's nerves at the thought, the bustling city not exactly the best place for introducing friendship as far as she knew. Sweetie distinctly recalled feeling as though she was microscopic during her first visit. Whitetail Woods or Hollow Shades were quieter and more accommodating for ponies learning about friendship. The stunning scenery there only made them more appealing. "But why the Crystal Empire? It's pretty, but won't she be scared with so many ponies around?"

"Twilight assures us that things will turn out marvelously." Rarity feigned a chuckle. "She hasn't talked about why we're going to the Crystal Empire again, though she has been bouncing around at the thought, almost as if something exquisite is waiting for her." She briefly tugged her mane. "Either way, I guess it's one of those challenges about escaping your comfort zone that ponies like Starlight and Trixie will learn."

"Yeah, Trixie knows a lot about taking risks and trying to make up for past mistakes. Part of why I'm here now is because I took risks and learned from what I did wrong." Glancing behind her shoulder, Sweetie exhaled and turned back toward Rarity. "It can be kinda scary, but also fun. Two months ago, I would've screamed at the thought of studying magic. And now that I'm doing it, I can't help but feel that—" Sweetie's cheeks flushed "—that learning is actually kinda cool."

"And now that you've helped with an important discovery, will you be continuing your lessons, dear?"

"Of course!" Sweetie bobbed her head once again. "Just because I did something amazing doesn't mean I can stop now! It's only the beginning of something much bigger!" Bouncing closer to Rarity, Sweetie raised her head and swished her tail. "And I just know I'm gonna be even better after months and years of practice!"

"That's the spirit!" Rarity gently patted the top of Sweetie's head. "You're free to stay up and relax for the rest of the night, though I want you in bed before ten o'clock." As Rarity took a quick breath, Sweetie's jaw dropped. "After all, even the best scholars and wizards need some sleep. Does that seem reasonable to you?"

"Yep!" Sweetie's legs shook, electricity coursing through her veins. "Thank you so much!"

"You're welcome, dear."

Sweetie made a beeline toward the couch, jumping onto it and sinking into the plush cushions. Any remaining tension within her muscles disappeared in a flash. Blinking, Sweetie nudged closer to the armrest and gently placed her head atop it, grasping a book to her right. With another deep breath, she opened the book and surveyed the first page.

"The Magic of Friendship," Sweetie whispered to herself. "I guess I could read this for now."

Even if the process of learning new magic took time, she figured she'd become as talented as Twilight or Sunset one day.

Despite the words of praise from Rarity and others, life quickly returned to a leisurely pace. A few days had flown past before Sweetie even had the time to appreciate them. The lessons with Sunset continued as usual, some of them with just the two together and a few alongside Trixie or Starlight, though all of them contributed to Sweetie's magical knowledge.

From manipulating clouds to generating music and all sorts of other spells and tricks, Sweetie wondered if there was even a ceiling to magic. On a few rare instances, Starlight and Trixie wore gaping mouths whenever Sunset demonstrated something truly spectacular. Sweetie would've believed anypony if she heard that there were no limits. And while the life lessons may have halted in place for the time being, Sweetie kept her head held high.

One of the more mysterious lessons was staring her down as she pressed her weight against Carousel Boutique's outer wall. Sunset had promised to meet with her in the morning for what was called an important lesson, though any attempts Sweetie made to prune more information out of Sunset earned a blank stare or attempts at shifting the topic. And repeating the same question would've gotten Sweetie nowhere; that much was undeniable to her for once.

"To think I would've nagged her about it until the big day," Sweetie whispered. She snickered, cheeks flushed. "Gosh, I can't even remember the last time I was whining about something, let alone believe that I once thought it was a good idea." A slight grin decorated her visage. "But seriously, Sunset should be here any minute now."

A slight breeze went past Sweetie, tickling her cheeks. Even as two minutes of birds chirping and some distant chatter reached her ears, she kept her posture straightened and took in the wondrous sights around her. The tension within Sweetie's chest loosened as she gawked at the scenery.

Sweetie's ears twitched as she heard something rustling nearby. "Is somepony there?" she asked, swiveling her head back and forth. One of the bushes to her right was shimmying in place as if it was sentient. Sweetie scuttled an inch away, then pouted. While her heart was beating faster, something about the shrub seemed harmless. Yet Sweetie couldn't decipher why this was the case.

Soft giggles left the shrub, Sweetie arching an eyebrow in response.

There was one way of solving this.

Sweetie's horn was wrapped with a greenish aura, the shrub parting in an instant and revealing Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. Both of them wore gaping mouths and shrunken pupils. And as Sweetie ceased casting the spell, she crossed her forelegs and grinned. Nervous chuckles escaped the two fillies' mouths.

"Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, you can come out now," Sweetie deadpanned.

Both of them crawled out of the shrub with leaves sticking out of their manes. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo dusted themselves off, the latter grumbling something incoherent whereas the former adjusted her bow. And as they gazed at Sweetie, the latter skipped toward them and gently waved at the pair.

"We were so close to surprisin' ya," Apple Bloom said as a matter of fact. Crossing her forelegs, she feigned a chuckle. "Anyway, how's the magic stuff? We haven't talked much about it since ya made that discovery."

"Yeah, how are the eggheads?" Scootaloo asked. Her wings flapped until they were a blur, though her hooves were still grounded. With a ruffled brow, Scootaloo's muzzle scrunched up. "And I'm gonna get flying sooner or later." Folding her wings again, she trotted up to Sweetie and playfully tapped her shoulder. "Maybe I could do what you did and ask somepony for help."

"Yeah, there's nothing like learning from the best," Sweetie replied.

"I know, right?" Scootaloo's eyes twinkled like stars. "I'm totally gonna get Rainbow Dash to help me more with flying! And if she's busy, I'm gonna try seeing if I can get one of the Wonderbolts to help me out! Rumor has it that Spitfire is an amazing teacher, especially when she's not having to yell at ponies!"

Sweetie snickered. "Good luck getting her to teach you." She playfully waved her hoof. "With a job like hers, I bet Spitfire wouldn't have the time to help teach ponies how to fly. Maybe you could ask some of Rainbow Dash's coworkers at the Ponyville Weather Factory if she's busy. I bet they'd love to help out."

Scootaloo nodded. "Works for me." Her wings twitched and a confident smirk adorned her visage. "I'm ready for anything!"

"Anyway, since you asked, things have been going smoothly." Sweetie took a deep breath and rolled her shoulders. "Moondancer is busy in Canterlot again, though Twilight told me that she's asked how I've been doing whenever she writes letters." She clasped her hooves together. "It's really sweet! And Starlight's also gonna have her biggest test soon."

"A friendship test?" Apple Bloom asked, raising her hoof.

"Knowing Twilight, I wouldn't put it past her." Sweetie rubbed the top of her head. While she wasn't exactly knowledgeable about how friendship lessons worked, she assumed it'd involve Twilight introducing Starlight to a new face. Whether the pony in question was one of Twilight's other friends or a complete stranger captured Sweetie's curiosity, though there were more pressing matters at the moment. "Also, I've been meeting up with Trixie more frequently, though she's still a bit awkward at times."

"How so?"

Sweetie's cheeks flushed. "Well, she still refers to herself by name at times. And then there's the fact that she keeps looking to Sunset for teaching advice, but I guess she's also learning something. And speaking of Sunset, our lessons are still going strong. I've been introduced to so many new spells!"

"That's awesome!" Scootaloo blurted out. She nudged closer to Sweetie. "You'll be one of the best at magic in no time!"

"I wouldn't go that far, but I'll definitely get there one day!"

With a skip in her step, Apple Bloom approached Sweetie and Scootaloo, the three huddling around in a small circle. "Anyway, since things all seem to be goin' well, how 'bout we do something special to pass the time." Apple Bloom turned toward Sweetie. "I'm guessin' you're still waiting for Sunset to show up, right?"

"Yep!"

"Any idea when she'll arrive?"

Shrugging, Sweetie tapped her hoof against the ground, lips pursed momentarily. "I'd guess about five or ten minutes."

"Perfect!" Scootaloo shouted, raising a hoof into the air. A grin adorned her visage. "We can do something cool for a little bit, then maybe tag along when Sunset arrives!" In a flash, Scootaloo stomped the ground, tilting her head a second later. "Um, what's Sunset gonna do with ya?"

Sweetie swished her tail. "I wish I knew."

"Well, it's probably nothin' where ya have to stay still," Apple Bloom said. "Let's race around Carousel Boutique while we wait." Glancing to her left, then to her right, Apple Bloom bobbed her head. "Anyway, three laps around the boutique and the winner gets to decide what we'll do later today. Sound fair to y'all?"

Both Sweetie and Scootaloo nodded in unison.

"Okay, we'll start at the count of three." Raising her hoof, Apple Bloom took a quick breath, chest puffed out. "One—"

"Wait just a moment!" a familiar voice cried out. Sweetie blinked, raising her head and spotting both Sunset and Trixie trotting alongside each other with smiles brighter than the sun. "Surely you'd love to have Trixie join in on the festivities, though that depends if you can outrun me."

"Hi, Trixie!" Sweetie chirped, frantically waving her hoof. "Hi, Sunset!"

"Hello, Sweetie," Sunset said. She glanced over to Apple Bloom and then to Scootaloo. "And hello to your friends. I hope today has been fun for all of you so far." A sigh left Sunset's lips, Sweetie sensing chills coursing through her spine. "Anyway, today's lesson is probably going to be our biggest yet, though with some of the letters I've been receiving, it might be hectic."

"Hectic?" Sweetie asked, tilting her head. "Does that mean you're needed in the mirror world?"

Sunset nodded. "Looks like it." She trotted up to Sweetie and knelt down. "But there's no need to worry. Even though I'll be away in the mirror world for a little while, I'll definitely write to you and visit as soon as possible. And as much as I'd love to stay around, there are problems in the mirror world that I can't simply ignore."

"What kind of problems?"

"Something about surges of magic this time around and some strange faces." Sunset stood up and stepped back. "It's probably going to be rather dangerous, so even though I'd enjoy your company, I ask that you stay in Equestria for the time being." She placed a hoof to her chest, lips puckered. "My apologies."

"It's okay." Sweetie released a soft sigh. If Equestria's more infamous incidents taught her anything, shuffling away from such problems was often the wisest choice. "I understand, especially since your friends are probably worried about you, though I'd love to hear about your experiences when you get the chance." Forcing a slight smile, Sweetie's eyes widened as she nudged closer to Sunset. "Could you do that for me, please?"

Sunset nodded without hesitating. "Of course I'd love to write back to you." Wiping her eyes, Sunset exhaled once more. "Anyway, we should get started on our lesson."

"Yep!" Sweetie shimmied closer to Sunset, gazing into the latter's twinkling eyes. She noticed her own reflection in them for a brief moment, Sweetie raising an eyebrow in response. And in a flash, her smile vanished like a mirage. "By the way, is everything okay?" She placed a hoof to her chest. "Anything I can do to help?"

"I'll be fine. It's just that—" Sunset took a deep breath "—that since this will be our last lesson together for a while, I'm wishing that I could have more days practicing new spells with you." Sniffling, Sunset cracked the slightest of smiles. "But we'll be practicing spells with each other again soon enough."

Something tickled Sweetie's cheeks, her vision blurring up a tad. She blinked; clarity returned once more, yet tears still clung to her cheeks. "But what about future lessons?" With a quick breath, Sweetie glanced over to Trixie. "Wait, does that mean I'll be continuing lessons with Trixie?" Sweetie sniffled, smiling. "I'd definitely be for that!"

"Hold on a second," Trixie said, raising her hoof. "I might be the Great and Powerful Trixie, but am I ready to teach somepony on my own?" Stepping back, Trixie's cheeks tautened, pupils shrunk. She turned toward Sunset. "I can't let Sweetie down. You've seen how Trixie has always asked if something was taught correctly."

"I understand, but I think teaching Sweetie might be what you're looking for," Sunset said. Making her way over to Trixie, Sunset gently tapped the mare's back. "I know you've sometimes doubted yourself when it comes to setting a good example. Don't worry, even the most confident ponies can doubt themselves at times. What matters is that you try your best."

"But I have to teach Sweetie something, right?" Trixie gazed at Sweetie, the latter forcing a faint smirk across her visage. "What's the point of having lessons if nopony learns anything from them?"

Sunset bobbed her head. "When it comes to magic, you can craft a memorable learning experience out of all sorts of things. Whether it's a complex spell or something as simple as understanding the world around us, there are plenty of ways of learning. And remember how you picked up on researching magic?"

"Trixie remembers."

"And remember when you taught me about those magical fireworks?" Sweetie asked. "Trust me, you're gonna be an amazing teacher! Just believe in Sunset and me; things will turn out wonderfully!"

Trixie adjusted her hat. "Well, Trixie could—" she exhaled "—I could just listen and—"

"The next lesson is your choice, Trixie," Sunset said, her hoof stretched out. "Flashy or simple, any spell you think might make for a good learning experience will work." With short steps, Sunset trotted forward, her gaze glued to Trixie. "Taking the first step might seem tough, especially if you've made some mistakes before."

"Well, Trixie and mistakes sometimes go together." Trixie rubbed the back of her neck and blushed. A sheepish grin adorned her face. "The mess with the Alicorn Amulet a while ago proves as much, but even though I've become a better pony since then, I'm still—" Trixie exhaled "—I'm still unsure if I can lead the way yet."

"I've struggled with taking charge before, but there's nothing to be afraid of when it comes to leading. Reflect on who you are—more specifically—reflect on the Great and Powerful Trixie." Pausing, Sunset then gently rubbed Trixie's shoulders. "Unshackle that boastful, confident personality. Pretend that you're on a stage and performing for an adoring crowd. Either way, what matters is that you tried doing something for the greater good. And remember, even if it doesn't go according to plan, we're still your friends."

"Besides, I'll love pretty much anything you teach me!" Sweetie chirped. "Sunset even made boring spells awesome, and I know you can do the same, so just pick one and let's get to work! Even if it's lifting a sack of flour or practicing an old spell for the millionth time, I'm up for anything that interests you!"

"And anything you do is gonna be worth watchin'," Apple Bloom added. "I dunno what kinds of magic you, Sunset, and Sweetie do, but I bet y'all can make something cool. Also, don't worry if ya think it's weird."

"Exactly!" Scootaloo cheered. "And what might seem silly to one pony may be awesome for another!"

Trixie's smile widened. Tugging her cape, she nudged closer to Sweetie and took a deep breath. "Trixie has decided," she said. "It may not be what interests you most of all, but from what I know of you, I think it'll be something you'll appreciate. And it's something I hope we can both grow from."

"What are we gonna do?" Sweetie asked. Her eyes glowed like stars; she donned a radiant grin. "I'm ready for almost anything!"

Clearing her throat, Trixie stepped back and straightened her posture. "We're going to do something beautiful that expresses how amazing we are. How about we practice decoration spells? Trixie is almost certain that somepony as bright and creative as yourself will be able to make all sorts of beautiful designs!"

Sweetie hopped in place like a bunny. "That sounds amazing! I'm ready when everypony else is!"

Both Trixie and Sunset lead the way while the Cutie Mark Crusaders followed close behind. Sweetie noticed Apple Bloom and Scootaloo quivering as they trotted forward, their smiles even brighter than hers. It brought back memories of when the trio all received the same cutie mark together, something that defined their unbreakable friendship. And even with how much Sweetie had matured since then, there was no denying that her friendship with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo would last.

Perhaps her cutie mark was more than something magical or a symbol of her destiny.

That emblem on her flank represented everything about what defined Sweetie Belle, both the wonderful memories and the grueling challenges. It tickled her chest at the thought. And with Sunset's magic lessons fresh in her mind, what was once shrouded in a thick fog became clearer than crystal.

Sweetie and her cutie mark were one and the same.

Even with the changes that Sweetie endured since she began practicing magic with Sunset, the lonesome spot just outside of Ponyville was still the opportune place for studying magic. As before, nopony else aside from Sweetie and company was within trotting distance. And just like her first visit there, the calm weather soothed her soul and tickled her chest.

Trixie caught her breath and adjusted her hat. With a faint smile, she peeked behind her shoulder and gazed at Sweetie. "Shall we begin the lesson?" she asked. Trixie turned toward Sunset, the latter merely cracking a smirk. "Well, let's not waste time. Trixie has something wondrous in store for you."

"You said we were gonna decorate some things, right?" Sweetie asked.

Nodding, Trixie rolled her shoulders briefly.

"So it's kinda like the spell where I tried decorating the field with flowers." Sweetie paused for a moment. While Trixie wasn't present for that lesson, the brightness in her eyes suggested she knew the spell Sweetie referred to. Shaking her forelegs, Sweetie then raised one of her hooves up. "And I have a question."

"Ask away."

"I remember when Rarity got into a lot of trouble when she paved the entire town with gold roads." A chuckle left Sweetie's lips. Helping Rarity with the cleanup efforts was a memory she'd rather forget, though at least the town lent a helping hoof. "So if I were to mess up the spell, would everything be transformed into something fancy?"

"Trixie knows of the incident you're referring to." Approaching Sweetie, Trixie knelt down and gazed directly into the filly's eyes. "Your sister was being influenced by a magical artifact back then similar to the Alicorn Amulet I once wore." Sighing, Trixie feigned a faint smile. "As such, given that you don't have the magical power of a princess, you'll be fine. The worst that could happen is that the spell produces hideous decorations." Snickering, Trixie's cheeks flushed. Sweetie responded in kind. "Just focus on trying your best."

"Thanks, Trixie."

Trixie's smile widened. She glanced over to Sunset, though as before, the latter merely nodded with sealed lips.

"I'm guessing you're supposed to start with imagining the decorations, right?"

"That's right." Trixie bobbed her head. "It's another one of those spells, though like all new spells, it's easier said than done." Stepping back, Trixie gazed at Sunset once again before turning toward a tree off in the distance. "Anyway, like with other spells, you'll want to avoid any distractions when starting out. But there are a few things you must consider when casting the spell."

"What would those be?" Sweetie cocked her head, brow raised. "It's just imagining the decoration, figuring out where it goes, and casting it, right?"

"Not quite." Trixie placed a hoof to her chest. "Trixie has practiced this spell for years, and if there's one thing about it that stands out, it's that only certain decorations will work with the spell." She paused briefly and tugged her cape. "The spell can create gemstones similar to their natural counterparts, not to mention some elaborate and colorful trinkets. However, objects typically associated with ones you'd buy at a store aren't compatible with the spell."

"How come?"

"I've asked that myself, and it seems to be one of the spell's limits from what I recall." Trixie donned a sheepish smile and rubbed the back of her neck. "While Trixie doesn't research magic often, some occurrences are strange enough to where I must have the answer." She giggled, cheeks flushed. "You can relate, right?"

Sweetie nodded in an instant. And as she noticed Apple Bloom and Scootaloo attentively watching her like hawks, the pair then bobbed their heads in unison. For everypony's sake, Sweetie hoped the lesson went smoothly, her chest tightening a tad. Disappointment or drama was the last thing anypony needed.

"Anyway, Trixie suggests imagining a simple pattern for starting out."

Trixie closed her eyes and a pinkish aura enveloped her horn. In a flash, the tree before the group was decorated with a few rubies and sapphires dangling from the branches. While Sweetie noticed that the gemstones lacked the bright sheen of their natural counterparts, their simple forms and the light shining off of them captivated her nonetheless.

Blinking, Sweetie's mouth was agape as she gawked at the sight. "That's amazing!" she squeaked. "How am I gonna get close to that?"

With a smirk, Trixie playfully tapped Sweetie's shoulder. "Focus on adding some decorations of your choosing, though keep it simple. Besides, even the tiniest of details can add beauty to something. If it works for Trixie's magnificent displays and tricks, it should work for you."

"Gotcha." Sweetie took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "So just imagine what can be added to the tree, right?"

"You've got it."

Silence lingered around Sweetie; she exhaled once more and envisioned a rainbow-colored strand circling the tree. And with the tree's form and the decorations already dangling off of it imprinted in Sweetie's mind, a ticklish sensation coursed through her horn. Sweetie bit her lip, the image still affixed to her.

A second later, the sensations stopped.

Sweetie opened her eyes; her heart skipped a beat.

Just as she imagined, a rainbow-colored thread wrapped around the tree and shone underneath the sunlight. Her legs wobbled as she gasped at the sight, nudging closer with shrunken pupils. Trixie, Sunset, and her fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders all trotted toward the tree with sparkling eyes of their own.

It all went according to plan.

"I did it!" Sweetie blurted out. She hopped about for a moment, her smile brighter than the sun. "That tree looks just like how I imagined it!"

"Excellent work," Sunset said. As Sweetie froze in place, Sunset approached the former and gently tapped her head. "Keep practicing the spell from there, and soon enough, you'll be able to create all sorts of wonderful displays." Nodding, Sunset then glanced up to Trixie, the pair making eye contact. "You know what the next step is, right?"

Trixie rubbed her muzzle. She bobbed her head, grinning. "Practicing the spell to ensure mastery, right?"

"That's correct." Sunset trotted closer to Trixie. "See, you'll get used to tutoring Sweetie while I'm away in no time." With a quick breath, Sunset turned back to Sweetie and knelt down. "Well, I guess we can continue our lessons for the day before I have to return to the mirror world." She nudged closer to Sweetie. "I'm going to miss you, Sweetie Belle."

Sweetie approached Sunset, wrapping her in a tight hug. "I'm also gonna miss you," she said. "Thank you so much for tutoring me."

"And thank you for creating memories that we'll never forget." Sunset rubbed her eyes and sniffled. "I'll definitely write letters to you while I'm away, though if all goes according to plan, I should be back after a few months." Her smile grew, eyes shimmering. "I can't wait to see how much you'll have grown when I come back to visit."

"Same here." Sweetie raised her head and gazed into Trixie's eyes. "And Trixie, thanks for agreeing to tutor me while Sunset is gone. I know we'll make a great team."

Trixie quickly nodded. "Trixie knows we will," she said. "And Sunset, please write to Trixie while you're gone, too."

"I promise," Sunset said. "And feel free to ask me any questions if they come up. I'll be glad to answer them."

Being Sunset's student over the past couple of weeks crafted some of the greatest moments of Sweetie's life. And while the inevitability of Sunset having to attend business in the mirror world poked her nerves, Sweetie knew that they'd be seeing each other again. Having ponies like Trixie by her side also helped relieve some of the heartache; instead of moping around over factors beyond her control, Sweetie couldn't help herself from bouncing around at the thought of her next lessons.

It was what Sunset would've asked for.

Sweetie knew the future would be brighter than ever.

The End

Discovering the Magic Book

What can ponies do with magic? Is magic limited to what a pony's cutie mark represents?

Those were the questions poking Sweetie Belle's mind throughout the day. Perhaps it was a consequence of reading about Star Swirl the Bearded for a class project. Being unable to spend a second without wondering about Star Swirl and the excellent score she received for the project said it all. Regardless of how her curiosity germinated, Sweetie knew the pony to ask about all things magic. Her name was Twilight Sparkle.

Sweetie already stood before Twilight's castle, her legs quivering to where she was unable to remain still.

There was just one problem.

Sweetie needed to wait for Apple Bloom and Scootaloo; the Cutie Mark Crusaders all agreed to meet up with Twilight a week or so ago. They all grinned at the prospect of performing amazing science experiments and playing different kinds of games just like in the days Golden Oaks Library still stood. Those piqued her interest and brought smiles to her visage, but Sweetie couldn't wait for the moment she'd be able to ask about magic.

However, waiting was all she could do.

Twenty minutes had already flown past her. Another twenty minutes and she'd have to camp outside with a tent and a bonfire.

Sweetie glanced up at Twilight's castle, the crystal structure blotting out much of the sky behind it. It stuck out compared to the rest of Ponyville. Even the glitziest of cottages were humble in comparison. Sweetie could see her own reflection in the castle's walls, her heart racing as she studied the rest of its gleaming surface.

It was like staring into her mother's eyes if she wore a deep frown.

"They should be here soon, right?" Sweetie blurted out. "And Twilight's gonna help me learn magic, right?"

The magic behind the castle's growth was also something Sweetie couldn't take her mind off at times. A whole building ascending from the bowels of the earth due to a mysterious box wasn't the kind of explanation Sweetie expected. She knew that was the truth as well, given how the tale came from her sister and it was just too outlandish for even her to make up. And everypony considered Sweetie as the master of strange ideas, tiger taming cutie marks during her search for one just a single example out of hundreds.

As she paced back and forth, the grass' dew tickling her hooves, Sweetie's heart raced. She'd interacted with Twilight plenty of times in the past, whether before or after her becoming a princess. All of those meetings had Twilight assuming a calm tone of voice and giving her visitors some freedom, treating Sweetie and her friends with respect. It was as though Twilight never saw herself as a princess and just as any ordinary mare. Sweetie thought part of being a princess consisted of speaking fancy, making ponies bow before her, and trotting about with her head always held high.

Yet, Twilight never had any of those quirky or intimidating qualities. She was as open and casual as she always was when it came to speaking with her.

Why was the idea of Twilight living in a colossal castle turning her pale?

Why everypony was taking so long was Sweetie's next question. She tapped a hoof on the ground, lips puckered. Ten seconds passed by, Sweetie counting each one. A groan then escaped her mouth.

"Where is everypony?" she muttered. Gently kicking the air, Sweetie brought her focus to the castle's tall, golden door. "They should be here any—"

"Sweetie Belle!" a pair of voices called out.

Sweetie's brow shot up; a beaming grin adorned her face. Turning around, she spotted Apple Bloom and Scootaloo skipping across the grassland with smiles of their own.

"Apple Bloom! Scootaloo!" Sweetie shouted back. She waved at them, the two fillies joining up with her seconds later and wrapping each other in a tight hug. The embrace warmed Sweetie's body and loosened her muscles. "What took you so long?"

All three of them then released each other from their grip. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo assumed perplexed visages, heads tilted.

"Uh, we weren't late at all," Apple Bloom said. "We were gonna hang out with Twilight at two in the afternoon. Ya know, just as we planned."

"And what time is it?" Sweetie asked.

"Two," Scootaloo answered, shrugging. "Did ya get here early?"

Sweetie slowly nodded. "I got here twenty minutes ago."

"Twenty minutes?" With her mouth agape, Scootaloo twitched as though an angry hornet buzzed around her. "You're never that early!"

"What are you talking about?"

"What we mean is that you're always arrivin' to class a minute or two late," Apple Bloom said. "Not only that, but ya make it to meeting places at the last second almost all the time." Apple Bloom trotted up to Sweetie. She crossed her forelegs. "It's not like ya to be this early. We're only surprised."

Sweetie knew she couldn't deny those claims. The times she'd arrive to school just as the bell chimed were too numerous to count; she panted with twinging muscles in every instance. It wasn't as though she wanted to show up late. Being occupied with something like homework or sleeping was often to blame when it came to Sweetie.

Blushing, a giggle then escaped Sweetie's lips. "Oh. Sorry about that."

"It's cool," Scootaloo replied. "No need to apologize. Besides, we've got other things to do." Ruffling her wings, Scootaloo then pumped her hoof in the air, bellowing, "Are ya ready to meet up with Twilight?"

"Of course I am!"

Sweetie jumped up like a spring and a gasp escaped her throat. Upon touching the earth with her hooves once more, she scurried over to the front door and frantically knocked on the smooth, golden plates. Clacks polluted the air. A chill coursed through Sweetie's veins whenever she tapped the gaudy door.

"Uh, everything okay, Sweetie Belle?" Apple Bloom nervously asked. "I think Twilight heard ya."

Sweetie swiveled her head back to the duo; she quickly nodded.

"O-okay." Apple Bloom rolled her shoulders.

Around a second later, the door opened up. Harsh creaks split Sweetie's ears. She shielded her ears from the cacophony; the ground shook as she tried to stay upright. To make matters worse, the door opened at a snail's pace, Sweetie feeling herself becoming older as she observed the golden plates budging.

Soon enough, the door was opened enough to where somepony could trot through without becoming wedged in. Straightening herself out, Sweetie noticed a silhouette on the other end, her opened wings and tall horn instantly recognizable. It was Princess Twilight; her wings were folded and a bright smile decorated her face. Behind her was a seemingly endless hallway, green doors and crystalline walls composing much of it. Sweetie raised an eyebrow at the sight. Secrets and spectacles must've rested behind those doors. Maybe they were about magic, though they could've housed paperwork written in legal jargon.

"Sorry about the door," Twilight said, her expression changing to a sheepish grin. She snickered. "I've been trying to get it fixed for some time now, but everypony is telling me to keep it as is." She sighed and then brought her attention to the Cutie Mark Crusaders. "Anyway, how is everypony?"

"We're great!" Apple Bloom cheered. "Sweetie Belle couldn't wait to meet up with ya."

Twilight smirked. "Is that so?"

Nodding, Sweetie's cheeks became warmer. "Yeah."

"That's excellent!" Giggles left Twilight's mouth. "I'm glad to hear you're all so excited!" Clapping her hooves together, she then stepped back and donned a shining smile. "Okay, we'll get to chemistry experiments as soon as we can." Twilight then turned around and motioned toward Sweetie and her friends. "Follow me, please."

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo trotted ahead, Sweetie Belle bringing up the rear. Her legs wiggled with each step she took. The moment her hooves clacked onto the glass-like floor, a cold breeze causing the hairs of her coat to stand up, the door slammed shut in a flash. Sweetie's heart skipped a beat. And all she spotted were her own hooves for the first few seconds. Twilight and the others vanished into the darkness as far as she knew.

Once her questions about magic were done with, recommending some home improvement for Twilight was the next item on her agenda.

At least some sources of light from behind the green, glass doors illuminated the rest of the room. The dazzling display captivated Sweetie, spending some time to stand in place and gawk at the moving patterns it made. Some took the forms of butterflies fluttering about while others were merely in the shape of raindrops; Sweetie gawked at the light-based artwork, unable to avert her gaze from the spectacle.

It was like magic.

"Are ya comin' along or not?" Apple Bloom hollered, voice echoing in the room.

"Coming!" Sweetie hollered back.

Catching up to her friends was simple enough, but Sweetie knew switching the conversation to magic and what it meant would be a much tougher hurdle to clear. It wasn't as though Apple Bloom and Scootaloo would shrug off any attempts at switching the conversation to magic, but finding time in Twilight's schedule would require lots of planning and nagging—mostly nagging. A title like Princess of Friendship didn't fall out of the sky, after all. Sweetie cringed as she thought of the paperwork associated with being a princess. Homework for Cheerilee's class already bashed her brain into submission enough.

"Our destination is behind this door," Twilight said. Touching the bluish door, she turned to face the Cutie Mark Crusaders. "Now, I've already set up a few things for us to do, but if you have any suggestions, I'll see if we can fit those in."

The three nodded in unison.

"Anyway, welcome to my new library," Twilight continued, forelegs spread out. "What do you think?"

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo blinked together, mouths agape.

Sweetie caught up with everypony. The moment she entered the room, a loud gasp escaped her mouth. "It's beautiful!"

Spectacular didn't even do the library justice. Bookshelves lined every inch of the walls and were filled to the brim with works of all shapes and sizes. Some of the books Sweetie spotted were as thin as sheets of paper while others could've been used for makeshift homes or weapons. Before her were the contraptions they experimented with in the past; the difference was that they sparkled like stars and lacked the thin layer of dust they wore in the past. The tables and chairs, Sweetie presuming they were usually the room's centerpiece, were pushed off to the side. Plush cushions were attached to each of them; they were comfortable at the mere sight of them.

What captured her attention most of all was the strange machine sitting in the back of the room. It was a large and stylized mirror like the ones Rarity owned, but something about it felt different. Any fashionista could've made great use out of it, though the mirror had a secret to tell from the looks of things. As Sweetie gazed into the mirror's glass, she felt as though her soul left her body and crashed into a parallel universe. The mechanical systems gripping onto the mirror and holding it in place seemed to suggest something magical was going on. As she approached the mirror, Sweetie's heartbeat quickened.

"What's that?" Sweetie asked, slowly approaching the mirror. "I mean, I know it's a mirror, but why does looking at it make me feel funny?"

"That's a magical mirror," Twilight said, pointing a hoof at the contraption. "It's just a regular old mirror right now, but when I set the command to activate it, trotting into the mirror will send you into a different universe. There's also a method of activating it while in the other universe if needed. Also, the different universe is quite different from the world we live in."

"That sounds amazin'," Apple Bloom said. "What's the other side like?"

"For starters, you're no longer a pony when you cross dimensions. The world this goes to transforms you into a biped."

Arching an eyebrow, Apple Bloom shrugged. "A what now?"

"I think she means something that walks on two legs," Sweetie said. "You know, like a minotaur."

"That's right," Twilight added. She paused for a moment. "Also, there's something about that universe where so many activities revolve around schools. For example, the Princess Celestia in that dimension isn't a princess, but a principal. It's like the whole dimension is based off of school!"

Sweetie shuddered, as did Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. She'd prefer spending a vacation in Tartarus than going to a dimension where it was impossible to escape the trials of schoolwork.

"Can you promise us that we'll never go to that dimension?" Scootaloo blurted out. She bit her lip.

"I'd rather not have anypony mess with it, so you're fine," Twilight answered.

Scootaloo breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness."

"Anyway, shall we get started on our activities?"

The three fillies bobbed their heads once more. Bright smiles adorned the trio's visages; tingling sensations coursed through Sweetie's chest as she stood before Twilight, her tail swishing about like a propeller.

"Excellent!" With a radiant grin, Twilight clasped her hooves together. "Let's start with something simple and fun!"

Before Sweetie realized it, an hour had already flown past. Activities ranging from assembling a simple contraption to basic chemistry experiments and everything in between characterized that hour. All of them prodded her mind, each one progressively more complex than the one before it. Sweetie would occasionally glance at the books occupying the bookshelf, though she spent most of the time cooperating with everypony on the matters at hoof.

Everything she observed required a repeated explanation or two from Twilight, but Sweetie and her friends got the hang of the experiments soon enough. It was a messy process, the activities and tasks often requiring three or four more attempts, but it only warmed her heart and earned boisterous cheers whenever something was a rousing success.

As Twilight set up a new experiment, this one involving apples as per Apple Bloom's request, Sweetie scanned the bookshelf once more. None of the titles on their spines shone in comparison to the others; all of them were of subjects she'd probably yawn at after reading them for a minute or two.

Flora of Equestria, Flying Aces, Greatest Accomplishments of Smart Cookie, and the list went on and on. Some piqued her curiosity, though others would've made for a potent sleeping medicine; none of them were related to her questions on magic. Sweetie stretched her forelegs and yawned.

Studying the bookshelf once more, Sweetie discovered one with no title on the spine, the leather-bound book commanding attention. Sweetie couldn't figure out why, but something about that thick book was off. Her stomach twinged at the sight. It was as though it seeped an aura which made her heart race. Glancing to her friends, the two watching Twilight building the experiment, Sweetie crept up toward the book.

She held her breath.

It must've held the answers to her questions. Sweetie figured Twilight wouldn't mind her peeking at the book for a little bit, just so long as she shoved it back into the bookshelf when she was done.

A green aura enveloped Sweetie's horn; the large book shimmied out of the bookshelf, slight rubbing sounds reaching her ears. Then, the book slowly descended toward Sweetie and hovered an inch above the ground, plopping onto the floor. There was a quill sticking out and a sun-shaped symbol emblazoned on the cover, Sweetie arching an eyebrow at the sight. Of all the ponies to write in books, Twilight was the last pony she'd imagine doing so. Maybe it was a studying thing.

Opening the book to where it was bookmarked, Sweetie examined the pages.

Nothing. Not even a dot was printed on the paper.

She flipped to the next page.

Still nothing.

With tautened cheeks, Sweetie swiped her hoof across the page.

Nothing after nothing appeared on the pages.

Glancing back at where the quill was, Sweetie's eyes then widened.

"It's not a book," she whispered under her breath. "It must be a diary." Sweetie planted a hoof to her face, eyes rolling. "What was I thinking?"

Sweetie then shrugged. And if the clock hanging on the back wall told her anything, it was that she'd be unlikely to practice spells or learn about magic with Twilight today. After all, due to how complicated the art and history of magic was, she'd need to extend her visit from the scheduled ninety minutes by doubling the time.

Maybe even that wasn't enough.

The idea of writing in the journal crossed her mind. Twilight was bound to use it at some point; as long as Sweetie avoided the previous pages, she'd be safe. And while trotting up to Twilight and uttering her request was the more sensible action, something about having it written down sounded more effective in Sweetie's mind.

It was worth a shot.

Flipping to the bookmarked page, Sweetie lifted the quill and began writing.

Twilight Sparkle,

Can you please let me know when a good time for teaching me magic is? I'd really like to learn more about it, and I don't think we'll have enough time today. Rarity wants me home to help her with cleaning up Carousel Boutique, so I can't stay forever. Anyway, write back to me in a letter if you can ASAP. Sorry for using your diary, but don't worry, I didn't look at anything and I needed something good to write on.

Your friend,

Sweetie Belle

"Perfect," Sweetie murmured.

Without a second thought, she quickly brought the diary back to where it was in the bookshelf and turned to face Twilight and her friends.

"What's up?" Apple Bloom asked, locking eyes with Sweetie. "Ya look like ya have something to say."

Sweetie shook her head. "Nope," she replied as she approached her friends. "I'm good."

"Anything on your mind that I can help with?" Twilight asked.

Blushing, Sweetie pursed her lips for a moment. "Nope! I'm perfectly fine!"

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Okay then." She assumed a blank visage and ruffled her wings. "But please let me know if you ever need some help, okay?"

"Got it!"

"Anyway, as I was saying, our next experiment will deal with making fresh apple juice." Twilight glanced down at the experiment, a series of metallic objects and springs with a nozzle protruding out of its wooden case. Sweetie's eyes widened, she'd never seen something so complex before, let alone anything like that. Next to the machine was a basket of apples and four small glasses. "This might seem familiar to you, Apple Bloom."

"It does," Apple Bloom confirmed. "Applejack used something like this to make some apple juice. We also used a bigger machine kinda like it when we made those jugs of apple cider."

"That's correct." A smile formed across Twilight's face. "There's a lot more that goes into making apple cider, hence why this is much smaller than the machines used to make that."

Apple Bloom nodded. "I see what ya mean."

"How big are those cider thingies, anyway?" Scootaloo asked.

Apple Bloom made eye contact with Scootaloo and spread her forelegs. "Three times taller than Big Mac."

"It's that big?" Twitching her ears, Scootaloo then raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"

"Yep."

"I thought it didn't take much to make cider!" Scootaloo stepped back, jaw dropped.

"Yeah, it ain't easy makin' cider."

"Now then, is everypony ready?" Twilight asked, her hoof just above the contraption.

"I'm ready!" Sweetie answered while bobbing her head. "Let's make some—"

Without warning, a blinding light shone through the mirror. Everypony averted their gaze from the sight, Sweetie teetering a little as if a storm had barged in the room. She clenched her teeth, eyes closed.

"What's going on?" Twilight asked, brow ruffled.

"Don't ask us!" Apple Bloom shrieked Her pupils were smaller than pinpricks. "You're the one who knows 'bout that mirror!"

The shining light dimmed at last; Sweetie opened her eyes and blinked. Straightening her posture, she gazed at the mirror.

Somepony was standing in front of it. She was a unicorn with a golden-yellow coat, a red and yellow mane, and bright green eyes. The leather saddlebag she wore had a luxurious guise to it; Sweetie wondered how soft it must've been and if anything peculiar rested inside.

What drew Sweetie's attention most of all, however, was the cutie mark adorning her flank. It was in the shape of a sun, the symbol in the precise style and colors of the sun printed on that diary's cover.

Sweetie turned pale. If she inadvertently unleashed some ancient evil, Twilight would never let her hear the end of it. She'd probably have to kiss any hopes of learning magic from her or anypony goodbye.

Twilight locked eyes with the unicorn. Despite the warm smile decorating the princess' face, she arched an eyebrow.

"Sunset Shimmer, what are you doing here?" Twilight asked as she tilted her head. "I thought you were planning to stay in the other world for a while longer."

"I was, but then I got a message from my book," Sunset answered. "It was then when I decided to make the trip back to Equestria."

Reaching into her saddlebag, she procured a book and gently placed it on the floor. The brown cover and its massive dimensions were identical to the one Sweetie jotted her reminder in. Sweetie gulped upon making the connection and her blood froze. After all, interrupting a pony she'd never met before was bound to end poorly. Rarity's whining and nagging about interrupting her was enough proof.

Twilight pursed her lips for a second. "Were your friends okay with that?"

Sunset nodded and a chuckle left her lips. "Of course they were. You should've seen Pinkie Pie before I left, though. I've never seen her so hyper." Sunset procured a plastic bag, the slice of cake inside it visible. "She even sent me this so that I wouldn't get starving. Not to mention that my bag would've burst if I took everything she wanted me to bring along."

"I'm glad they understand." Twilight trotted up to Sunset. "Anyway, what did the book say? I don't think I've sent a message since a week ago."

Sunset flipped the book open; she quickly turned to the page in question. "It wasn't by you, but by somepony else."

"Somepony else?" Twilight shuddered. "Who wrote it?"

"Sweetie Belle." Sunset paused for a second. "More specifically, this world's Sweetie Belle."

In the blink of an eye, Twilight twisted her head to where Sweetie stood and donned a sickening scowl. The latter's heart sank into the abyss. Magic lessons from Twilight may as well remain a dream at this point, though ending this nightmare was more important right now.

Unlike most nightmares, Sweetie knew this one was real.

"Sweetie Belle," Twilight murmured. Her words were like needles piercing Sweetie's chest. "What did you do?"

"Um, nothing." Sweetie shrugged and crossed her forelegs. A tautened expression decorated her.

Twilight's lips stayed sealed; arching an eyebrow was all she did.

Sweetie pressed her hooves together and bit her lip. "I—I wrote in your diary."

"And what did you write?"

"I wrote down a request for you to teach me magic one day." Sweat dripped down Sweetie's brow. "That's it."

Twilight nodded; the ugly scowl she wore vanished like a mirage. "That's all?"

"Yep. Truly."

"You know you could've asked me, right? Even if we couldn't join up today, there would probably be a time to meet up once every two weeks if all went well." She exhaled. "Think before you act, okay? Some of this has the potential to be dangerous."

"I-I guess so." Sweetie sighed, shoulders drooping. "Sorry, Twilight."

"Apology accepted." Approaching Sweetie, Twilight assumed the faintest of smiles. "Just be careful for next time, okay?"

"Okay."

Without warning, Sunset gently tapped Twilight's shoulder; the pair then made eye contact. Indistinct whispers left their mouths, Sweetie nudging closer to the pair in the hopes of hearing what they muttered. No matter how close she trotted up to the pair, nothing resembling a clear word left their mouths. She then glanced back at Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, both of them shrugging in unison.

Twilight and Sunset nodded together and turned to face Sweetie.

"Sunset has an idea I think you may like," Twilight said, the slight smile across her face a breath of fresh air. "Are you interested?"

Sweetie nodded. "I am."

"I know that what you did was kinda irresponsible," Sunset said. "However, part of the reason I returned to Equestria was that your message caught my attention. I was once one of Princess Celestia's prized students."

"You were a gifted student as well?" Sweetie asked. With dilated eyes, she shuffled her hooves closer to Sunset.

"That's right. However, Twilight helped me get back on the right track after I kinda messed up." Sunset shivered with pale cheeks. "It's a long story." She then straightened herself out, taking a quick breath. "Anyway, while I may no longer be Celestia's student, I'm still learning at my own pace and know plenty about magic. Twilight taught me a lot, and I thought it'd be nice to pass along some of our knowledge to you."

A gasp escaped Sweetie's mouth; her face was beaming. "Really?"

"Really." Sunset bobbed her head. "Sweetie, how would you like to be my student? We'll get started tomorrow afternoon if that's okay with you."

"I'd love it!"

"I'm sure ya would," Scootaloo added. "You've been a magic-fanatic the past few days, right?"

Blushing, Sweetie giggled and rubbed the back of her neck. "Yeah."

"So, is there anything you'd like to try first?" Sunset asked. She made her way toward Sweetie, her smile brighter than before.

"I wanna know about all the cool stuff!" Sweetie hopped around like a rabbit. Her tail excitedly swished back and forth. "Maybe we'll be able to move clouds, cast cloud-walking spells, and much more!"

"Whoa!" Sunset chuckled. She took a step back and extended her forelegs out. "Slow down there. We'll get to those eventually, but don't you think we should start with the basics?"

"The basics?"

"You can't be gifted at magic from the start," Twilight said. "Even I had to start with the easiest spells before I could move on to the harder ones."

"But—" Sweetie let out a sigh "—I wanna do the awesome spells."

"We'll get there soon enough," Sunset replied. "Patience is gonna be important here. I was impatient once and it didn't go so well for me."

"Heck, any of the crazy stuff y'all are gonna do will be cool to us," Apple Bloom added. "Think of it that way."

Glancing to where Apple Bloom and Scootaloo stood, Sweetie smirked slightly. "I guess so."

"Then it's decided," Sunset said, clasping her hooves together. "Get plenty of rest tonight, Sweetie Belle. Tomorrow, we're going to cast some spells and learn about magic."

"Sounds good."

Sweetie recognized this was an understatement. Awesome would've been an understatement in her eyes as well, the radiant grin she wore refusing to leave. While there was still some disappointment that she couldn't march straight into the more complicated or niche spells first, at least there was the thought she'd attempt those at some point. And perhaps knowledge about the more confusing aspects of magic, such as how magic functions in the first place, would be brought up.

At least she dodged a magic missile today. Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough for Sweetie.