"Goodbye, everypony!"
Starlight waved her hoof as she watched the locomotive depart the station, her eyes glanced at the steam that came from the train's smokestack. Suddenly, squeals pierced the air, and Starlight winced as she shielded her ears. The noise dissipated after a few seconds, and everything became eerily quiet.
That silence lasted for less than a second as nearby ponies resumed their chatter. Starlight turned away from the train station and hopped back onto the flat grassland, then took a deep breath. Her mind repeated Princess Twilight's request, which she received not long after Twilight and the princess's close friends departed for their newest friendship assignment. As for Twilight's words, those may as well have invited trouble:
Organize the castle's library, clean the kitchen, and handle any requests that come your way. You're basically taking over my duties while I'm working with everypony else on the friendship problem. I've provided a checklist for everything that's required, which can be found in the throne room. Everything else should be self-explanatory.
"Shouldn't be too hard, right?" Starlight whispered under her breath. She raised her head and looked at the castle, and its crystalline structure was impossible to miss among the thatched-roofed cottages. Starlight's chest tightened with each step. "Who am I kidding? Twilight's given me another important, difficult responsibility. It's not like I've mastered resolving friendship problems or organizing bookshelves to an extreme degree. Those take months, if not years to fully understand."
"How does Princess Twilight do all this without going crazy?" Starlight tilted her head, then stopped in place as she rubbed her temple. She took a deep breath. "Don't panic. She's answered that question at least twice before. It's something to do with the magic of friendship, right?" She straightened her posture and resumed her walk as she brought her gaze back to the castle. "Just got to think about what Twilight would do whenever something feels tough, and everything should be just fine."
"Could Sunburst help out?" Starlight shook her head. Her close friend surely would've made an excellent partner when it came to filling in for Twilight's role. However, he was far enough away from Ponyville to where he would've probably arrived not long before Twilight and company returned from their mission. "Maybe Maud wouldn't—wait, she's working on a project in Canterlot. Some emerald-like gemstone was found underneath the city, right?"
A sight left Starlight's lips. "Maybe I'll be okay without a helping hoof." She'd tried an array of projects by herself, but despite a few successes here and there, the most complex ones always required a helping hoof at the end. Starlight shook her head and muttered, "Actually, that probably wouldn't be a good idea."
"You're not gonna leave your best friend behind, right?" a familiar voice called out. Sure enough, a blue-coated unicorn wearing a purple, star-adorned hat and cape approached Starlight. Her strides were long, and she wore a smug grin that only Trixie could've pulled off.
"Could've sworn I saw you while going for my walk, and as usual, Trixie was right," Trixie continued. She quickly lurched closer to Starlight. Their shoulders almost bumped each other, and both ponies wore slight smiles. "Home alone while Twilight and the others do their thing, huh?"
Starlight nodded. "Right on the money," she said. "I'd love to chat for a little longer, but Twilight asked me to handle some business and chores. It'll probably take up most of the day." She looked back at Trixie with half-lidded eyes, cracked a slight smirk, and then giggled. "Nopony ever said you couldn't join me. It's the Castle of Friendship, and you ought to bring a friend with you, right?"
"Better yet, a best friend!" Trixie stood as tall as she could, then raised her head. "The Great and Powerful Trixie is even greater and more powerful when you're here, and we could have so much fun by—" Trixie cut herself off. She waved her hoof, then leaned closer to Starlight and widened her eyes. "Wait a second, are you asking me to do your chores? Trixie's wonderful at doing them, but—" she smirked "—why not practice magic with me?"
"Oh, I wish that was an option." Starlight turned around, then approached Trixie until they were a few steps apart. "Doing magic with you is one of the best parts of the week. It's amazing how much we've learned from each other, and your illusions have improved tenfold since we first met." As she saw Trixie's lips curl into a brighter grin, Starlight felt a peculiar warmth bundling in her chest. Small moments like that made dealing with Trixie's occasional shenanigans worth the trouble. "But you know what Twilight's like when she gives assignments."
Trixie rolled her eyes, then nodded in agreement. "Ugh, Trixie's known about that for ages. Besides, Twilight always acts crazy about those things." She tugged at her cape. "Of course, the first two times I met her were a magic show gone wrong and an evil, soul-sucking amulet forcing me into doing terrible things. It's safe to say we haven't had the smoothest moments together."
"I wouldn't worry too much, Trix. She's forgiven you, and the friendship problem when we first met was months ago. Besides, she's going someplace far away, so don't worry about her snooping on us." Starlight tapped Trixie's shoulder. As she looked back at the castle, Starlight then resumed trotting toward her destination. As expected, she noticed that Trixie followed close behind. "You know, maybe we can improvise and turn something boring into our usual magic practice."
Trixie galloped ahead of Starlight, then skidded across the dirt as she turned to face her friend. She hopped in place like a spring. "That sounds amazing!" she exclaimed. "You've gotta know a few spells that'll make organizing some books a piece of cake! Maybe we can use them for practicing illusions!"
"Nothing too complex." Starlight touched her lips and chuckled. "Besides, these are still Twilight's books, and she'll definitely notice if something's not right. That pony's got something like a sixth sense when it comes to book organization." She rolled her eyes. "Besides, quite a few carts rolled into the library earlier today, but don't think that'll excuse misplacing a few of them."
Trixie sighed. She nodded in agreement and narrowed her eyes. "Of course she'd notice. The Princess of Bookworms might be a better title for her than Princess of Friendship. She makes more than a few mistakes when it comes to friendship, after all."
"Nopony's perfect."
"Maybe." Trixie lowered her head. She slouched her shoulders, and a second sigh left her mouth. "Only need to look at ourselves in the mirror to know that's true. Just hope that none of them cause any problems when we're organizing stuff."
Starlight looked at Trixie and raised an eyebrow. "What makes you say that?"
"There's magic, something that requires a lot of responsibility, and then there's our usual shenanigans. Add how excited I become whenever a spell works, and you know that one of those books is getting fried or turned into some book-poodle hybrid." Trixie leaned her head back a little, then stifled a giggle. "Remember when you taught me that teacup spell?"
A few chuckles passed through Starlight's lips. "How could I forget?" The two ponies were just a few steps away from the castle's entrance, but before Starlight unlocked the door, she turned to face Trixie and smirked. "Never thought I'd hear something about responsibility coming from you, Trix."
"There's a first time for everything." Trixie blushed. She crossed her forelegs, looked away from Starlight, and gave a nervous laugh. "Now that you mention it, maybe parts of you and Sunburst rubbed off, but the Mature and Responsible Trixie doesn't have the same ring to it."
Starlight stroked her chin. "I bet you could make it work."
"Right, Trixie can make any title work." Nodding, Trixie touched the door's gold-covered surface, then shuddered and clenched her teeth. She quickly withdrew her hoof and touched her chest. "Before we start, please consider lighting the fireplace. I think you know why."
"At least the library's got one. Just don't complain too much at first, okay?"
"Of course, Starlight!" Trixie nodded, grinning as she leaned away from the door. "Trixie promises to keep the complaining to a minimum."
Starlight opened the front door with her magic and stepped inside. The castle's hallway shone like a star and was fitting for a royal, yet oddly empty at the same time. Regalia, statuettes, and similar luxuries were nowhere to be found. However, the floor was spotless, not a speck of dust made itself known, and every tile was fitted to a meticulous degree. Blue walls, which were accompanied by the occasional tree-shaped etching above some stylish doors, gave the place a somewhat cold feeling.
Starlight's clacking hoofsteps echoed throughout the castle. There was something ironic about someplace called the Castle of Friendship feeling rather empty and lonely whenever ponies weren't traversing the place. Maybe that was how castles were arranged. Definitely something to consider when she was arranging the bookshelves.
"The least she could've done was light a fireplace before leaving," Trixie muttered under her breath, shuddering as she caught up to Starlight. She touched her friend's shoulder, and the latter shivered in response. Trixie continued, "You could always gallop to the castle's library. No need to take it slow, right?"
Starlight glanced back at Trixie. "I'd probably slip and fall," she said as she winked at her friend. Starlight's grin widened, and she laughed a second time. "Maybe there's a reason you're so good at tripping over air and sliding across the ground."
Trixie blushed, then crossed her forelegs. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You know exactly what that means." Starlight touched her own lips and chuckled. "Anyway, let's not waste too much time." She turned to face the third door to her right, then opened it with her magic as she looked back at Trixie. "You want some warmth, right?"
Trixie darted past Starlight, but tripped the moment she stepped into the library. Her body slid across the floor like a curling stone. She chuckled and pushed herself upright, cheeks flushed. "Okay, I'll heed your warning."
Starlight made her way into the library and closed the door. "Wouldn't be the first time you proved me right," she teased. "Anyway, lighting the fireplace."
A fireplace sat at the back of the room, but while it was a welcome addition, everything that surrounded it dwarfed the shallow recess. Crystalline bookshelves wrapped around the massive room and stretched from the floor to the ceiling. Books that greatly varied in size were arranged by subject and then title. Small labels stuck out from a few shelves, identifying which genre the books had in common. However, a few wooden bookshelves dotted the room's center, and most of its shelves were occupied except for a few spaces. Four carts, all of which carried stacks of books, were nearby these bookshelves. Completing the picture were red, cushioned chairs and a circular table.
Starlight brought her attention back to the fireplace and began to conjure a spell. Warmth spread throughout her body as she fired a stream of magic at the firewood. In a second, gentle flames covered the firewood, and the library felt less akin to an igloo.
Trixie took a deep breath. "Thank goodness." The magician sighed, then touched her chest. "I thought we'd freeze to death. Who needs refrigerators when you've got this place?"
"Not Twilight, that's for sure." Starlight shrugged, then blushed. "Maybe she doesn't like everything getting too warm, but it'd explain why Spike was so adamant on using the fireplace every couple of hours. Should mention that when she returns."
Trixie exhaled and allowed herself to relax. "Better not forget."
Starlight nodded as she approached the carts and their stacks of books, then lifted the first title among the group. Printed on the book's leather cover was Seapony Etiquette: Volume Two. The cover was dotted with drawings of seaponies, jellyfish, coral-like architecture, and whatever else might've been related to their underwater kingdoms.
"Who'd visit such a place?" Starlight muttered. A chill coursed through her spine. "They certainly don't hold back on the dark myths and legends, and it's not like any of us can breathe underwater. Is Twilight practicing a spell for that one day, or does she collect books for the fun of it?"
Starlight placed the book to her side and looked at the next title, imaginatively named Somnambula's Prophecies. "Wonder how she'd react to the book. She'd admire the dedication, but maybe she'd call them out on a few inaccurate statements. Something to think about for later."
"Are you going to help organize the books or not?" Trixie asked as she turned to face her friend. She rested her hoof on a stack of books, lips pursed. "Trixie doesn't mind doing something different, but unless you'd like an earful from Twilight, we'll need to act fast."
"Sorry, I couldn't help myself." Starlight crossed her forelegs. She then watched as Trixie lifted one of the books and moved it to the topmost shelf. She shuddered. "Trixie, you don't know if that's the right place! Shouldn't we check all the books first?"
Trixie stroked her chin, lips pursed. "You make an excellent point," she confessed. "Trixie thought of that, but when one of the books is Aardvarks and the Undiscovered West: A History, chances are that it'll be at the very top. They're in alphabetical order with the first couple of letters on top, right?"
"Yeah, all of the bookshelves are like that."
"Exactly!" Trixie stood tall and wore a smug grin. "Unless you've got another book that goes before it, that should go first."
Starlight rubbed the back of her head. "You win this one, but don't make assumptions for the next couple of books, okay?"
"You know me better than that." Trixie giggled, touching her lips as she brought another book toward her with magic. "Trixie always took things at a faster pace, but since you're so concerned about a few bookshelves, I suppose slowing down is possible."
"But not too slow." Starlight withdrew her third book. "We don't know if there's more—"
Thunk! Thunk!
"Already?" Starlight shook her head, then shuddered as she turned to face the door and exited the library. "It couldn't be a friendship problem. The map would've prioritized that one over whatever Twilight and her friends are doing in Craggy Coast. That's how it usually works, right?"
Reaching the end of the hallway, Starlight pushed the front door, then stepped back as she stared at two visitors. The first was a purple-coated mare with an amber mane and spread wings. The next pony's coat was also a shade of purple, though it was lighter than her acquaintance's, and she sported a dark blue mane. They were Cloud Kicker and Sea Swirl, respectively, and had nothing in common except for the fierce scowls on their faces and some light bruises on their forelegs. Not a good start from the look of things.
"Can I help you?" Starlight asked as she inched closer to the mares. She raised her hoof, then donned a sheepish smile as her cheeks flushed. She already knew where things were going, and it was enough to tighten her chest.
"You're not Princess Twilight," Sea Swirl chastised. She furrowed her brow, nudging Cloud Kicker as she stuck her tongue out. "Where's the princess? We've got a problem, and we want her help."
Starlight tilted her head and stroked her chin. "Well, Princess Twilight put me in charge of things while she's solving a friendship problem with her best friends. I don't know how long she'll take, but we can always arrange an appointment if that's okay."
"Or we could try tackling your little quarrel!" Trixie exclaimed, the magician's voice echoed throughout the hallway as she pranced toward Starlight and the visitors. "The Great and Powerful Trixie is two-for-two when it comes to helping ponies." She stopping on a dime, then pointed at Starlight and grinned. "My best friend, Starlight Glimmer, is even better!"
Starlight blushed and tried her hardest to keep a straight face. "We do try our best, and it's not like we're unfamiliar with these issues. Anyway, if you'd be so kind to tell us why you're upset at each other, maybe we can work something out. I'm sure there's something that'll help resolve your differences."
"Don't think so!" Cloud Kicker retorted. She shook her head and scowled. "Sea Swirl's got a completely different idea for a garden that'll be plopped in the middle of town, and I'm saying that she's lost the plot! What she wants totally won't happen!"
"I'm optimistic, but not stupid," Sea Swirl replied as she slapped Cloud Kicker's back. The latter quickly turned to face Sea Swirl, who merely wore a sheepish smile while the pegasus's scowl intensified. "There's nothing stopping us from installing a blue fence and some watery designs! Heck, dumping a bunch of sand to make it look like a beach is the easy part! The ponies are gonna love it, but we just gotta improvise—" she arched an eyebrow "—that's the word, right?"
Starlight nodded. "Yes, that's the word, but your friend has a point. There's no alternate universe where the entire town's just a couple of steps away from a beach, and using magic to make a beach would require tons of daily maintenance. Otherwise, we'd already have hapless romantics converging into town!"
"Second one's already happening," Trixie corrected. She gave Starlight a playful nudge, then giggled and widened her smile. "Anyway, we could install some fake palm trees and small patches of sand, courtesy of yours truly!" She puffed her chest out. "What's Equestria without some fantasizing?"
"Oh, right." Starlight chuckled and rubbed the back of her neck. "Can't forget Princess Celestia's words of wisdom."
"Can we get on with it?" Cloud Kicker interrupted. She stamped her hoof onto the ground, jaw clenched. "As I was saying, it sounds totally ridiculous, and it'd clash with everything that surrounds Ponyville! I'm thinking of some gazebos styled like Cloudsdale's, and maybe some purple fences as a finishing touch!"
"I told you that I'm just adding some cool touches!" Sea Swirl growled. Turning to face Cloud Kicker, she butted heads against her adversary, and the purple-coated mare responded in kind. They grunted for a moment and gritted their teeth, yet neither of them budged an inch during their shoving match. "It's aesthetics! They're so much better than your ego-trip!"
"Pot-meet-kettle, Sea Swirl!" Cloud Kicker swiveled her head to face Starlight and Trixie, then straightened her posture as the two unicorns inched away from the brief kerfuffle. Eventually, they stopped the quarrel, and she cleared her throat and continued, "Anyway, fix our problem and tell us I'm right."
"Better yet, say I'm right!" Sea Swirl added.
Starlight stepped outside and scowled as she pushed the two ponies apart. "Will you two keep quiet for just a second?" she shouted. A sharp ache made itself known on her forehead, the stinging sensation not unlike the time she'd literally tried bottling up her anger. She looked up, noticed zero red clouds swirling above, and felt her muscles loosen. "We'll figure something out that'll make you both satisfied. It won't be your preferred choice, but that's compromise."
"Show us what you've got so far," Trixie added. She adjusted her hat for a moment and smirked. "Maybe a little poking around the garden will help. It helps a lot whenever Trixie is scouting for the next amazing show, and surely you've got a few things that'll help us come to a decision."
Sea Swirl sighed. "That's the problem," she muttered. Her shoulders sagged, and she donned a faint frown. "All we've got is a sketch of what the garden might look like. That's why we wanted to discuss things in the castle, because there's no garden to inspect."
Starlight's cheeks tightened. "That's a problem."
"You think?"
Cloud Kicker ruffled her feathers as she stepped inside the castle. She flicked her tail and purposely left as little room as possible for Sea Swirl, though it wasn't long before both ponies entered the castle and stood as far away from each other as possible. Neither of them bothered staring at each other. It was strange how something as simple as a planned garden caused this much tension, but stranger conflicts had gripped some townsfolk.
Starlight took a deep breath and stood tall. "Alright, it looks like you're not in the mood to compromise," she muttered. "That's okay, because we'll figure out something that will settle your differences. Can't have everything you want, after all."
"Captain Obvious has the right idea," Trixie added. She approached Starlight with a grin and leaned closer to her friend. "Besides, Starlight and I know better than almost anypony that not everything turns out perfectly. The Great and Powerful Trixie must have limits, even if they're few and far between."
Starlight narrowed her eyes and gave Trixie a confused stare, which earned her a faint chuckle from the latter. She then looked back at Cloud Kicker and Sea Swirl. "Anyway, let's see what you have planned. Surely you've come up with something that's workable."
"Naturally!" Sea Swirl exclaimed before she summoned a sheet of paper with her magic. She tossed it toward Starlight, then hopped closer to the mare. "I've come up with something amazing over the past couple of days, and it's gotta be my finest—"
"I found the perfect place, remember?" Cloud Kicker retorted. She stretched her wings and pouted. "Don't go stealing my credit, Sea Salt! Weren't you the pony who gushed about moving everything there and downsizing? You know, the kind of stuff that'd make it work?"
Sea Swirl shook her head. "Last I checked, you were the one surprised by my amazing idea!"
Trixie sighed and inched toward Starlight, then whispered into her ear, "You think these idiots will ever get anywhere?"
"I have my doubts," Starlight muttered. She lowered her head, shoulders sagged, and sighed. "They seem determined to avoid reaching an agreement. Not good for getting the library organized in time, and the last thing we need is something else getting in the way. Maybe we could combine their ideas and give them a little of what they want."
"Or we could do something entirely different." Trixie's lips curled into a brighter smile. "The Great and Powerful Trixie could always use a garden that accentuates my magical acumen and graceful form." Her cheeks became a hot pink. "Whatever you think is best."
"I'll keep your idea in mind, Trix." Starlight winked at her friend. She brought her focus back to the visitors, both of whom inched away from each other like their adversary had cooties, and she then stepped forward and chuckled dryly. "Alright, let's see what you've got."
Starlight began studying the crude sketch that Sea Swirl provided. It was surprisingly in depth for a proposed garden, everything under consideration labeled and measured to the nearest inch. There were patches dedicated to specific flowers, a large patch of sand with a volleyball court in the center, shacks reminiscent of those found on beaches, decorations carefully plotted throughout, and a fence that shared the same colors as Sea Swirl's coat and mane.
However, as Starlight squinted at the sketch and studied the garden's approximate location, something felt a little off. It became more obvious the longer she looked at the drawing, and after a few seconds, she gave the paper back to Sea Swirl and furrowed her brow.
"You're expecting to fit a garden that massive in the middle of town?" Starlight asked in a monotone voice. She blinked, then sighed and touched her forehead. "You do realize Ponyville Town Hall would get in the way, and most ponies aren't going to like that."
"That's why you build a path through the garden!" Cloud Kicker shouted. She crossed her forelegs and grinned. "Of course, Sea Salt hadn't thought of that until I brought it up. We probably should've added that detail into the sketch, but at least you're not the first to notice."
"Actually, the pathway was my idea," Sea Swirl replied. She scrunched her nose and marched toward Cloud Kicker, then stopped once they were a few steps apart. "You never considered it because it'd ruin your vision or something. Not up to snuff with that terrible idea of yours." Sea Swirl rolled her eyes and groaned. "How about you stop lying and confess your idea's terrible!"
Cloud Kicker shook her head. "You should be doing that, not me!"
"We're going to be here forever if you keep this up!" Trixie shouted as she stomped the floor. The magician glared at the two visitors and slouched. She allowed herself to relax as silence lingered throughout the hallway for a few seconds. "Can you keep quiet for a few minutes?"
"Trixie's right," Starlight said. She opened the door to the library with her magic. "Anyway, we'll need to come up with something a little more realistic. Follow us into the library, and we can discuss ways to make a garden that's possible and agreeable."
Sea Swirl stifled a giggle. "Good luck with that," she muttered. "Face it, getting us to agree on anything is impossible."
For once, Sea Swirl was right. Starlight's ears twitched as she trotted back into the library. As she motioned toward the other ponies, a creeping sense of doubt gripped her chest. She scuttled closer to Trixie and whispered, "What's the point of them showing up if they're going to keep arguing like this?"
Trixie shook her head. "Your guess is as good as mine," she muttered, then narrowed her eyes. "You could always brainwash them with that fancy spell of yours if nothing works. Could anypony really blame you if those brats are that annoying?"
Starlight shuddered. "I told you about the first attempt, and I'm not going down that road a second time. I'm pretty sure you noticed the water spewing out the castle on that day, and besides, Twilight would figure out what happened in an instant. Best to play it safe."
"And risk hearing the same stuff for the next hour or two?" Trixie rubbed her chin and hummed. She brightened her smile, then looked at Starlight and continued, "Trixie knows there's a solution out there if they bothered showing up in the first place, but—" she gnashed her teeth "—they're really testing Trixie's patience."
"Then let's hope you're right."
Sea Swirl thrust her hoof against the plush chair. "I'm telling you, a garden with some sand, tiny lakes, and a bunch of walkways like those nearby beaches would greatly improve the garden!" she exclaimed. "I don't want to hear anything about logistics if we've got magic on our side!"
Starlight and Trixie rolled their eyes and groaned in unison. Neither of them mustered a smile as they stared at Sea Swirl and Cloud Kicker with blank expressions. They occasionally glanced at a nearby clock, but quickly found themselves looking back at the visitors.
"Getting real close to chucking them out a window," Starlight grumbled under her breath. She felt like her blood was boiling, and she noticed a faint glow around her horn. The bluish light vanished seconds later as Starlight took a deep breath and tried to relax. "At least the worst part's—"
"You're not joking?" Cloud Kicker shouted, eyes widened. She lurched closer to Sea Swirl, and the latter responded in kind until their noses almost touched. "Did you bump your head on the way to the castle or something? You know what you're asking for is impossible!"
"Says the pony who wants literal clouds on the garden," Sea Swirl retorted as she scrunched her nose. "They'd disappear five minutes after putting them just above the garden, and you of all ponies should know better! No wonder you've never been promoted in the Weather Team!"
Starlight slouched in her chair as Cloud Kicker and Sea Swirl kept bickering. The two ponies leaned toward each other, their brows furrowed as they continued trading blows about the fence's color, personal tastes, and whether guests would've appreciated their garden's quirks.
"I finally understand why Princess Celestia usually has Twilight clean up messes," Starlight muttered under her breath. "Even somepony as patient as her would've given up on these two long ago." She looked at Trixie, and the latter pouted and crossed her hind legs. Starlight took little solace in knowing that she wasn't alone. "How long have they been arguing?"
Trixie shrugged. "An hour?"
"We got somewhere for the first fifteen minutes, Trix." Starlight adjusted her posture, then lurched closer to Trixie and sighed. "The new location and some statues are the best we got, and the rest just gets them arguing about the most pointless stuff imaginable."
"First, that means they've been arguing for about forty-five minutes." Trixie reclined against the seat's backrest. She turned her head a little to the left, eyes focused on Starlight. "As for their argument, Trixie will have to agree with you. We could probably get the bookshelves organized, and they'd still argue and be none the wiser."
Starlight arched an eyebrow. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" She glanced at Sea Swirl and Cloud Kicker, both of whom were still bickering about the garden, and then looked back at Trixie. "They're too busy with their argument, but what's stopping them from asking us a question? They'll be angry if we're off doing our own thing without them."
"Isn't that what they're doing right now?" Trixie crossed her forelegs and tilted her head, ears perked. "Either we arrange the bookshelves while they're busy, or Twilight shows up and chews us both out for not completing your assignment. Trixie doesn't mind the second, but you do." Trixie smiled, then stretched her foreleg and gently poked Starlight's chest. "I do care about you, after all."
Starlight blushed. "Thanks, Trix." As she stood upright, Starlight noticed that the two ponies kept at their argument, unaware of everything around them. She nodded, then looked back at Trixie and said, "Alright, we'll organize the bookshelves. Once we're part of the way done, then we'll yell at them. Sound good?"
Trixie nodded in an instant. "That's what Trixie wanted to hear." The magician stood up and stretched her muscles. "We can probably get most of it completed in about thirty minutes, maybe less if we're quick. Organizing by title shouldn't be too—"
Starlight covered Trixie's mouth, then narrowed her eyes. "You do realize Twilight organizes by section and then title, right?"
"Oh, right. Twilight's one of those ponies."
"Organize by title, and then we can worry about sections. That's when we'll put them in the bookshelves." Starlight turned away from the visitors, then focused on the stacks of books. She narrowed her eyes. "If they need us, we'll try working through their noise. I doubt they'll mind too much."
Each stack had a title adorned on its spine. While a few of them were already organized alphabetically, some of them broke that trend and were between two books with similar titles. In some extreme cases, the books completely ignored order as some jumped from A to Z and then back to H, among other things.
Trixie withdrew a set of books from a nearby stack. With her magic, she rearranged them to where the topmost books were the first in alphabetical order. She grabbed a few more books from that stack and danced around the floor as she continued organizing. Despite the glitter and glow, the bickering that had echoed throughout the room kept going, which lessened the tension in the air.
Starlight took a deep breath and began work on arranging some of the titles. The first couple of books she withdrew had been placed in the correct order. A few of the titles she found were misplaced, but for the most part, she'd gotten one of the easier stacks.
"You made this seem much harder," Trixie muttered. She juggled two of the books in the air with her magic, then flung them into their rightful places. She stood tall and grinned. "It's easy enough to where the Great and Powerful Trixie could use this for her next amazing act."
Starlight's cheeks flushed, and she donned a smile. "Appreciate the fancy stunts, but don't get too complacent."
Luckily, book organization continued unabated for the next couple of minutes, and the only things that broke Starlight's momentum were some of Cloud Kicker and Sea Swirl's more colorful comments, which were definitely something she would've never repeated in public. However, she and Trixie made the most out of their situation, though the constant barrage of insults hurled between Cloud Kicker and Sea Swirl were enough to have raised Starlight's blood pressure. Good for not getting noticed, but awful when peace and quiet were desired.
Approximately a dozen stacks became two smaller ones, and the once empty bookshelves had been filled with a variety of books new and old. However, as Starlight began arranging the last couple of titles, her ears twitched as she then noticed something unusual—missing perhaps.
The background noise that was Cloud Kicker and Sea Swirl's argument had come to an end. Starlight glanced at the two ponies, and both of them stared at her with perplexed visages and tilted heads. She blushed, then waved at the pair with a fake smile.
"You missed all the important bits, huh?" Sea Swirl said as she touched her cheek. She sighed, then narrowed her eyes and frowned. "You don't have to say anything. That smile of yours tells me everything I need to know." She slouched in her seat. "Basically, Cloud Kicker is an idiot, and I have new and improved ideas for the garden."
"We caught the part about you wanting to feed Cloud Kicker to some dragons," Trixie replied. She ceased fiddling with the books and quickly placed them into their proper locales as she approached Sea Swirl. "Maybe some other parts, but Trixie would rather forget about those."
"But you know that I've got the better idea!" Cloud Kicker exclaimed. She sprung up and flicked her tail, then stomped toward the library's exit. "If you don't think my idea's better, how about you come with me to where the garden's gonna be? I can prove everything!"
Trixie tilted her head. "You do know the garden won't be in the middle of town anymore, right?"
"Relax, I've got this!" Cloud Kicker nonchalantly waved her hoof, then shook her wings. "I know how to read a map, and besides, the new place is gonna be so much better for my idea. I've got more than enough proof, and that's not counting how much easier it's gonna be to get permission."
"Is this actual evidence, or something you made up on the spot?" Starlight asked. She furrowed her brow and rolled her eyes. Part of her wished she could've slapped Cloud Kicker and Sea Swirl across the face. However, since Twilight would've likely discouraged that, she merely groaned and watched as Sea Swirl caught up with her adversary.
"It's probably not the first one," Trixie muttered. She stood beside Starlight and gazed at the two visitors. Smirking, she suppressed a giggle. "You think we should follow them? Trixie doesn't think we'll have much luck solving their problem, but I can't just look away."
Starlight glanced at her friend and nudged her shoulder. "I'm not giving up on them, and maybe seeing the plot of land will give us a new perspective. Remember what happened when we almost gave up on getting Pharynx to accept the new Changeling Hive?"
Trixie nodded. "How could I forget?"
"That's why we can't give up on them right now." Starlight swished her tail, then bit her lip for a moment. "Besides, you know all that'll happen if we expect failure is those same arguments to erupt. They're not going to wrestle in the mud or create a garden only Discord could love."
"You've got a point." Trixie sighed and leaned her head away from Starlight.
"Well, let's hope there's something that'll calm them down." Starlight swallowed a lump. Chills coursed through her spine. "Of course, when you're dealing with the most annoying ponies we've ever met, it'd take a miracle for them to cooperate. Do you have any ideas?"
"What do you think?"
The hairs on Starlight's coat stood up. "Oh, this cannot end well."
The lack of any cacophonies couldn't have been more apparent as everypony trekked to the garden's new location. Sunlight touched the dew-covered blades of grass, which caused them to sparkle like stars. Even smaller details, which included Lyra and Bon-Bon having lunch together, Pinkie Pie carrying supplies into Sugarcube Corner, and more breathed life into the small but ecstatic community.
However, the architecture lacked any variety outside of boxy, thatched-roofed cottages, but there was the occasional mansion or decorated house. Ponyville was never a community that prided itself on architectural variety, but there was a reason for that.
"You do realize we've been walking in circles for the past fifteen minutes," Trixie deadpanned. She lowered her head and rolled her eyes. "The Great and Powerful Trixie knows more about directions than you lot, but even an idiot could tell you have no idea where we're going."
Starlight arched an eyebrow. Her hooves had ached a little after walking for what felt like a mile or two. "Okay, maybe that explains a lot of things," she said, nose scrunched. She rolled her eyes and groaned. "Can't say I'm surprised, but maybe we should've done more planning. What a drag." She froze in place, whereas Cloud Kicker and Sea Swirl followed suit a few seconds later.
Starlight glanced at a nearby cottage decorated with images and paraphernalia related to beaches, harbors, and anything else that evoked the ocean. The image of two dolphins twirling in a circle echoed Sea Swirl's cutie mark as well. Next to the cottage was one that retained the familiar box-shaped design, though a cloud-shaped emblem on a mailbox suggested the home's owner was also familiar.
The two ponies couldn't have ignored each other. That option was definitely out of the question.
"Alright, let's just assume we'll build the garden here," Starlight continued. She swiveled her head back and forth, then glanced back to the cottages. "There's enough space, and I doubt we'll run into any problems if we don't overindulge on the crazier parts."
Sea Swirl looked back at Starlight. "Pardon me, but why are we choosing this place again?" she asked. The mare rubbed her temple before she frowned slightly, ears perked as she glanced around in confusion. "It wouldn't get ponies to attend parties or festivals, because who'd willingly go to the outskirts of town except for visiting a pal? This place is quiet for a reason—" Sea Swirl stroked her chin, then glared at Cloud Kicker. "It's quiet when somepony isn't causing a ruckus!"
"Me?" Cloud Kicker exclaimed. She stepped back, mouth slightly agape and wings spread out. "Excuse me, but you're totally the one who's causing trouble, Sea Salt! Last I checked, you were the one who spilled all that water onto everypony during a luncheon, and you distracted everypony during the Grand Galloping Gala that one time!" Cloud Kicker began hovering an inch above the ground. She crossed her forelegs and grinned widely. "I'm the responsible one. Just ask the Wonderbolts if you don't believe me. They saw my amazing, awesome personality at the academy."
Sea Swirl raised an eyebrow. "And did you—"
"Didn't make the cut!" Cloud Kicker interrupted, head raised. "That's beside the point!"
Starlight rolled her eyes. "Here we go again," she muttered. With her magic, she dragged Cloud Kicker and Sea Swirl toward her, then forcibly turned them around to where they were facing her. She furrowed her brow. "You two keep contradicting each other so much, it's impossible to know who's telling the truth. Both of you are like broken records!"
Trixie nodded in agreement as she approached the two ponies. "You're both annoying, which means you're right about the other pony," she said. "Neither of you seem self-aware. Even somepony like the Great and Powerful Trixie has to be a little self-aware." She blushed, then adjusted her hat and stifled a giggle.
"Funny coming from you, Trix," Starlight teased. She nudged her friend's shoulder. "Don't think I need to remind you of some previous missteps. I'm not even gonna pretend that I wasn't at fault for some of them as well." She rubbed the back of her neck and smiled sheepishly. "Need I remind you of the whipped cream incident?"
Trixie shook her head, then shuddered. "Not at all!"
Starlight looked back at Cloud Kicker and Sea Swirl. She furrowed her brow, then crept toward them until they were inches apart. "As for you lot, I think getting stories from other ponies will only take us so far. How about we cut to the chase and find out what you're really like. No pointing hooves at the other pony. It's just about yourselves." Starlight caught her breath. "No mentioning the other pony. Sound fair?"
Sea Swirl and Cloud Kicker kept quiet.
"Glad we're on the same page."
Sea Swirl and Cloud Kicker blinked and scrunched their noses, then stroked their chins as they began mumbling to themselves. However, despite having kept quiet for the next minute or two as they searched into their souls, nothing that evoked guilt or humility came from their mouths. They were pretty much inaudible, the most Starlight or Trixie could've heard being a few murmurs that sounded like gibberish.
Starlight rolled her eyes. "This is hopeless," she muttered under her breath. Her chest tightened, lips curled into a frown. "Maybe I'm not the best pony for the job, but if this doesn't work, maybe nopony could help solve their problem." She cleared her throat, inched toward Sea Swirl and Cloud Kicker, and then asked, "Alright, do you two have anything in common? One of you loves stuff related to clouds, and the other is infatuated by harbors and beaches. Ruling those out, you must have more interests."
Cloud Kicker tilted her head. "Never really crossed my mind," she admitted before she chortled. "My entire life practically revolves around clouds and the weather. There's a reason why I love working with the Ponyville Weather Team, and it's not just because of bragging rights."
"Figures," Sea Swirl muttered. She crossed her forelegs and pouted. "Guess that's why you're name is Cloud Kicker instead of Noisy Nuisance." She suppressed a giggle, which earned glares from Starlight and Trixie, and then continued, "Anyway, my life mostly concerns the ocean or lakes, but if you'd rather, I can go for a more traditional garden with trees, flowers, and gazebos. The anchors and seaweed can wait."
"Simple garden?" Cloud Kicker arched an eyebrow and leaned toward her adversary. "Nothing about what you'd call a normal garden is simple. You're still pushing this idea of a garden looking like one of your ugly harbors." Cloud Kicker stood tall, donned a smug grin, and ruffled her feathers. "Guess that narrows down who's the problematic pony!"
"Me?" Sea Swirl inched away from Cloud Kicker, mouth agape. Her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. "Problematic? Get real! You're the one who's refusing to compromise! I suggested a few flowers and a simple gazebo, and you weren't having any of it!"
"That's because the gazebo looked like it came from the dumps!"
As the two ponies began pushing and shoving each other, Starlight merely turned away from the action and sighed. She made eye contact with Trixie, then whispered, "Maybe I could use a spell and—"
Don't abuse your magic for friendship problems.
Starlight glanced back at Sea Swirl and Cloud Kicker, then scowled at the two. "I'll let you two figure things out," she said as she took short, heavy steps. Her mouth felt dry, and she shuddered for a brief moment. "Sorry, but maybe you should wait for Twilight."
As Starlight and Trixie trotted away from the two ponies, they stared at the ground for a moment and sighed together, brows furrowed. The former raised her head and stared at Trixie, whereas the latter followed suit a second later. Both of them donned the faintest of smirks.
"Can't say I'm too surprised," Starlight muttered. Both she and Trixie walked away from the two bickering ponies, and their ears cried out in joy as everything became quieter after each step. "Maybe I'm not ready for having so much responsibility. Learning that actions have consequences, redeeming myself, and saving Equestria two or three times doesn't mean everything's gonna work out."
"Life in a nutshell, Starlight," Trixie replied. "Not the first time we've hit a roadblock, and it certainly won't be the last. You've told me about the mistakes you've made, and Trixie has done the same." She paused for a moment, then caught her breath. "Anyway, we just have to remember what makes us great and powerful, right?"
Starlight's lips curled into a bright smile. "You've been listening to Twilight's lectures, huh?" she teased. Starlight nudged her friend's shoulder and then brought her attention back to the crystalline castle. "I bet you're learning more about friendship than you ever thought."
Trixie blushed and grinned before she fiddled with her hat. "Trixie is a quick learner."
"We'll need that for what's next." Starlight leaned closer to Trixie, and their shoulders almost touched. A confident smile ran across her face. "After we organize the books, we'll need to check up on anything else that might need attention, not counting potential friendship—"
However, once Starlight and Trixie were a few steps from the castle, a pony adorned in a blue and yellow uniform appeared from seemingly nowhere. A boom that nearly burst Starlight's eardrums followed less than a second later, and the mare soon landed on all fours as she struck a graceful pose.
The pegasus shook her wings as she panted, tongue stuck out. Her white mane, bluish coat, and violet eyes were instantly recognizable, but the overfilled saddlebags she carried sent a chill through Starlight's spine. A book peeked over the top of one saddlebag, but the other completely hid its contents.
"Fleetfoot?" Starlight blurted out. As the pony in question turned around to face Starlight, she approached the mare until they were a few steps apart. "What the heck are you doing here? I thought you would've known about their latest adventure. Are you just slipping some letters under the door?"
"Sometimes, we've gotta deliver things to important ponies," Fleetfoot explained as she caught her breath. After a moment, she raised her head and flicked her tail. "Being a Wonderbolt is a lot more than just flying around and looking stylish. Besides, it's an excuse for exercises, and some things are too valuable for your usual delivery service. We've all done it a few times."
"Hold on!" Trixie added. The magician grabbed Starlight's shoulders, then turned her friend around until they faced each other. "I thought the Wonderbolts were just stunt flyers who sometimes fought off creatures, not delivery ponies. Is there something I'm missing?"
"What do you think?" Fleetfoot replied. She wiped the sweat off her forehead. "Long story short, Princess Twilight wanted to borrow a few things from Captain Spitfire last night. One of 'em was an original copy of Mage Meadowbrook's Incantations, which is supposed to be really valuable. Like, I didn't know it was that expensive!" Fleetfoot chuckled and rubbed the back of her head. "Figured somepony would be there if the princess was gone, and it looks like I'm right."
"More books?" Starlight exclaimed. She stretched her foreleg out, then squinted at Fleetfoot and cocked her head. "What doesn't she have at this point? I mean, Trixie and I spent the past hour organizing some, and we just left two idiots behind after they refused to stop arguing!"
Fleetfoot stifled a giggle. "One of 'em was Cloud Kicker, right?"
"How did—"
"You could hear Cloud Kicker's whining for miles." Fleetfoot's ears sagged, and she winced for a second. "If you think us Wonderbolts are braggarts or too cocky, you're in for a shock once you've spent a few days with Cloud Kicker. Why else do you think Spitfire has to yell at newbies?"
"They're not all books, right?" Trixie asked as she raised her hoof. A nervous smile ran across her face. "The Great and Powerful Trixie would rather have something that's possible, after all. We couldn't survive another hour or two organizing the library!"
Fleetfoot's ruffled her wings. "How should I break the bad news?"
"You've gotta be kidding," Trixie groaned as she slapped her own forehead.
"What a funny joke, right?" A smug smirk ran across Fleetfoot's face. "You think I'd carry nothing but books to the castle for no reason?"
Starlight rubbed the back of her neck. "Good point," she said. "Well, I guess we'd better get these books to their rightful places. Twilight probably has a special section for borrowed books." She glanced at Trixie and waved a hoof. "Come on, Trix. This shouldn't take too long."
"Famous last words, Starlight," Trixie replied.
Starlight wished she was surprised about such a turn of events, even if Cloud Kicker and Sea Swirl's was no longer her concern. Nevertheless, there was one more thing that needed her attention, and the books in Fleetfoot's saddlebag further complicated that assignment.
"Thank goodness I probably won't have to do this again," Starlight whispered.
