Chapters It was a beautiful Saturday evening, when the full moon was in view and all the shining stars filled the night sky like a portrait of the night. At Pinkie Pie’s residence, just above Sugar Cube Corner, three figures were gathered: Maud Pie, Pinkie’s older sister, and her two best friends, Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle.
Around this hour, Rainbow Dash sat on the living room couch playing a video game she brought over from home and was really getting into it. Pinkie Pie and her sister Maud were gathered in the kitchen preparing the meals. By preparing the meals, it was Pinkie Pie sitting in the corner reading the cookbook while Maud did all the cooking, following the recipe. As for Twilight Sparkle, she was working hard to finish her Calculus assignment from school.
Of course, Twilight Sparkle found it rather hard to concentrate with all the shouting she could hear coming from the living room right across from the guest area.
“Oh yeah, gotcha good buddy!” Rainbow Dash shouted. “How do like that? Wait… WHAT?! Why, you little cheater?! I oughtta…”
Twilight Sparkle sighed, shaking her head as she adjusted her glasses. When it comes to Rainbow Dash, she gets heavily invested in any game she plays whether it’s for the Canterlot High sports teams or in this case a video game. Twilight can still remember how she nearly ‘Rage Quit’ competing with Sunset Shimmer and Fluttershy during one of those multi-player tournament games… Which surprisingly Fluttershy won. Twilight, nor any of the other girls, had a clue what Rainbow Dash was playing but they hoped she wouldn’t get carried away.
“Maaaud!” Pinkie groaned, looking from the cookbook. “When’s the food gonna be ready? We got hungry tummies to feed!”
If there was one thing to note about Pinkie Pie, she was never the patient type… Especially when she’s hungry.
“Almost finished,” Maud replied, in her usual monotone voice.
Suffice to say, Maud never once lifted her head. She too was heavily invested, in this case on her culinary creation which Pinkie insisted was the most delicious treat she ever made. While not much was known about Maud, apart from her odd fascination with rocks, surprisingly cooking was one of her favorite hobbies. Pinkie Pie would’ve prepared the dish herself, but she insisted that Maud have a go in the kitchen. Maud didn’t seem to mind cooking for the girls, then again, it’s difficult to tell since hardly anyone but Pinkie understands her.
“BOOM!”
A shout stirred the girls from focus, turning in unison toward the living room entrance.
“Don’t bring that mess in my house! You… Just… Lost! WHOO!”
The two Pie sisters and Twilight Sparkle got a good chuckle out hearing Rainbow Dash congratulating herself.
“Hey Twi, c’mere!” Rainbow Dash called off. “You got see the most awesometacular score I just made! Beat my own record!”
“Just a minute, Rainbow Dash!” Twilight called out, face-deep in her work. “I’m almost done.”
All at once, Twilight Sparkle’s face lit up as if she just had an epiphany. She quickly scribbles down the final part of the equation, completing the answer to the final question. When that was complete, Twilight Sparkle carefully stores all her papers into her binder and slides it in her bag, along with her number 2 pencil. She only just got her stuff together when Pinkie Pie made the announcement.
“Lunch is ready girls! Come and get it!!!”
It wasn’t long before all the girls gathered together for lunch, Rainbow Dash strolling in last as cool as ever. Of course, rather than eating in the more spacious, if not charming, customer dining area of Sugar Cube Corner, instead they ate in the private dining room just behind the kitchen. Suffice to say, it was rather plain, small, and somewhat cramped but they managed.
Now if anyone thought Pinkie Pie had a major appetite, Rainbow Dash’s was twice that big as if she burned a severe amount of calories in one single day. So big an appetite Rainbow Dash ate every portion of the three sandwiches Maud served: From the lettuce, the tomatoes, the cheese, the mayonnaise, and not leaving a scrap of meat left on the plate. Watching her eat, apart from the occasional blink, Maud didn’t express very much as she watched Pinkie’s friend eat.
Overall, everyone’s sandwiches were beautifully crafted, particularly one sandwich containing salmon, thin slices of beef, and a slice of ham (Which Rainbow Dash devoured). For the rest, every topping was perfectly centered, even the sesame seeds were symmetrically dusted. No wonder the cooking took a while, almost made them feel bad for Maud. All that time and effort to craft such beautiful sandwiches and they were being reduced to crumbs.
Rainbow Dash happily scarfed down her lunch in a matter of seconds, twenty to be precise. Not like Pinkie had the table manners of an upper crust, she ate her meal so messily it was shameless. As Twilight Sparkle looked around, she watched Maud Pie take the cookbook, return it to the shelf, and sat quietly on an empty chair. As odd as Maud can be, Twilight Sparkle was always curious as to what she was thinking. Maud didn’t even seem to notice Twilight watching nor did she seem to care.
While this was going on, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie kept eating their sandwiches. Twilight almost imagined that even if all the food were gone, Rainbow could eat the whole table with her appetite. But then Twilight realized, she was so busy watching everyone eat that when she looked at her plate, she hadn’t taken a single bite at all. Still, she was amazed by the plating especially the masterpiece positioned upon it.
“Wow, this looks incredible,” Twilight thought.
“Hey Twilight!” Pinkie called. “Twilight!”
It was as if Twilight was instantly drawn back into reality, Pinkie’s voice stirring her out of her thoughts.
“Huh? Oh sorry, Pinkie,” Twilight answered, shaking herself. “What did you say?”
“I was asking about those papers were you were working on. What were you doing?”
It was during this moment Twilight had been looking around, not realizing how much time had actually passed. Twilight barely finished her first sandwich, having only taken two bites prior. Rainbow Dash was already done with her own pile, while Maud sat quietly, leisurely chewing on her second sandwich. As for Pinkie… Well, Twilight had lost count.
“It’s Calculus II,” Twilight replied, sounding humble. “Nothing too big.”
“Two calcu – calculuses… Too much math to me,” Rainbow Dash shrugged. “How many even are there?”
“Well, actually there are different stages of calculus,” Twilight explained. “Back in Crystal Prep Academy, there are eight levels. But you only need to take the first two just for a math major.”
Rainbow Dash was so surprised at the mount of levels, she choked on her food and spat it out on her plate.
“Eight?! Now what kind of egghead would take EIGHT YEARS of calculus?”
Twilight Sparkle turned toward Rainbow Dash, tugging her glasses down with her eyebrows raised. It didn’t take long for Rainbow Dash to put two-and-two together, chuckling nervously.
“Oh, well… I mean nothing wrong with that. It’s all cool. Maybe if it were like a video game, I’d bet those levels faster than rhino eating cucumbers.”
“Rhinos don’t eat cucumbers,” Maud replied.
“Oh, come on! Just let me have this one!” Rainbow complained.
“Well, this class I’m working on is second level,” Twilight replied. “I completed Calculus I a long time ago.”
“And how did you find the time?”
“Well… I took AP Calculus during freshman year, least when I was still at Crystal Prep at the time. Course, the difference between AP Calculus and a regular class is that the former allows students college credits if they pass. Regular high school classes don’t do that.”
To say that all the girls were dumbfounded was an understatement. But Twilight realized it was that rare moment in her life she told anyone about her scholastic life, especially in Crystal Prep.
“So… Crystal Prep,” Pinkie Pie asked. “What was that like?”
But instead of answering Pinkie directly, Twilight instantly grabbed her sandwich and wolfed down the biggest bite she could. Not so much to avoid the question, truth be told she was very hungry. Still, Pinkie seemed to take the hint and dropped the question. Twilight knew she needed to change the subject, least as soon as her mouth was clear.
“Hey Maud, how did you learn to make food so well?”
Deep down, Twilight Sparkle already knew the answer. The entire Pie family are trained chefs, even for just sandwiches. Maud just stared at Twilight, as if she knew her strategy. If there’s one thing about Maud: She cares for people, especially her sister, but she doesn’t like being used like a pawn. Maud just shook her head, her eyes closed, while quietly chewing on her sandwich. Maud was too clever even for Twilight’s own good, that was a mistake. Pinkie and Rainbow, meanwhile, stared at Maud expecting her to say something… But there was only silence.
As they turn to each other, not understanding what’s going on, they turn toward Twilight and suspected she looked perturbed. There she was quietly chewing her sandwich, staring down at her plate, and they almost saw a blush on her cheeks. Twilight, on the other hand, was hoping no one would quiz her further regarding her education. But eventually, Rainbow Dash realized enough was enough.
“Twilight, is something wrong?”
Twilight Sparkle swallowed whatever was in her mouth, sighing exasperatedly. Rainbow Dash must’ve realized what Twilight was hinting at and suffice to say she looked offended. Her eyebrows angled, a frown forming upon her face, and she was not happy.
“Look, I don’t expect you to tell us about it you don’t. We get it if this is too uncomfortable to talk about. But sooner or later, we’re going to find out about it anyway. You know?”
“It’s fine, Rainbow Dash,” Twilight grumbled, sighing. “Okay, okay… I’ll tell you guys. But… Can we at least talk in the den though?”
Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie nodded, while Maud merely blinked her eyes. After finishing the last few bites of her meal, Twilight lead the girls into the living room. Once inside, Twilight sat on a stool just in front of the couch, waiting for her friends to get situated. Pinkie Pie sat down in the middle, while Rainbow Dash and Maud took each side.
All was silent as the three girls waited for Twilight to speak, never-mind the fact that she seemed nervous. Twilight sat with her eyes toward the floor, her hands in her skirt pockets, her legs crossed, and her mind filled with anxiety. She can feel their eyes staring at her, as if they could pierce deep into her well-being. Twilight took a deep breath, pulling her head up, knowing there was only one best place to start…
The very beginning…
The sky began to dim, if the low levels of light pouring through the window didn’t give it away. It was around this hour that Twilight Sparkle decided to share her story toward her three friends, one of them being the sister of one of two of her best friends. Or to put it simply: Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and her older sister, Maud. The girls seemed rather intrigued with whatever story their best friend had to share with them.
“Do you remember when we first met?” Twilight asked. “And I told you how I skipped a few classes?
“Yeah?” Rainbow Dash responded, cluelessly. “I know you started hanging with us a month ago. What about that?”
“Well… It’s true I was able to keep a few classes. But it didn’t happen all at once. Actually, it all started back in Kindergarten when I was very young…”
<>
She remembered the old schoolhouse like it was yesterday, her kindergarten year. It was recess period, all the kids were out by the playground running around, laughing, and swinging together. It was just great to be out of the classroom. All… But ‘one’ little girl, with her ponytail, her glasses, and dressed more like she came from private school and not a public class. This was Twilight Sparkle, when she was very young, finding a spot, sitting under a tree providing shade from the sun and reading her book without a care in the world, all by herself.
“Most kids would play tic-tac-toe or tag, and I would find myself sitting alone with my studies. I can’t tell you why, I just joy opening a book and tuning out to all the noise in a place where I can be at peace. I loved reading, so much I’ve read just about every book in the library. I’ve read more than enough books to understand what every plot stood for, every character’s motivation, every prop, location, everything… Books were my escape from life.”
Of course, little Twilight Sparkle’s own personal time did not go unnoticed. Overlooking her from the classroom window, one of the teachers had been watching Twilight Sparkle reading in her own quiet corner under that tree. The teacher just nods her head, while she strokes her chin in thought.
“It did not take long for my teacher to find out. Suffice to say she was impressed.”
Sometime later, Twilight Sparkle found herself escorted to another room by her parents. She was invited to meet with some of the school’s faculty. She nervously walked toward an empty table, taking a seat as her parents looked on. Twilight is then handed a stack of papers from one of the teachers, the little girl looks up to the teacher, who gives a slight nod. With a deep breath, Twilight proceeds to get to work. Days turns to weeks as every stack was completed.
“My parents took me to a testing center to determine how advanced my skills were. I swear I must’ve taken hundreds of tests over a few weeks. When it was all done, the testing facility told my parents their little girl was ‘gifted’. That I had the intellect of a middle schooler and I should advance onto 7th grade.”
<>
While telling the story, Twilight Sparkle paused for a moment to acknowledge her friends. To say Rainbow Dash was confused was an understatement, she literally did not seem to understand. Suffice to say, everyone’s face looked perturbed.
“You see girls, the school system works like this,” Twilight explains. “There are twelve grades, though if you add Kindergarten there’s technically thirteen. Basically, what happened was I basically skipped all of Elementary School after only four months of Kindergarten.”
Everyone seemed rather surprised, silently applauding Twilight Sparkle with a motion of their eyeballs. As Twilight Sparkle continued, though, her voice started to sound more upset, if not broken or stuttering.
<>
The car had pulled up to the front of the middle school, along with every car in front and behind them. Young Twilight Sparkle stepped out from the back passenger seat onto the grounds of the school. She turned back toward her parents, who waved inaudibly with a reassuring gaze. As her parents worked their way out of the driveway, Twilight Sparkle stood there looking at her new school. All the students walking toward class and how she felt small compared to the building, all the while she was that little girl with her backpack and lunchbox she had since kindergarten.
“It was August, a month after I turned seven. There I was about to enter seventh grade… But I k-kind of didn’t want to…”
<>
“Why did you?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Yeah, if you didn’t feel it was right to go through with it, why go into the seventh grade at all?
“Hmm… Because I always felt that’s what my parents wanted,” Twilight sighed. “The moment they realized how intelligent I was, they were so proud it seemed they wanted me to go through with it. I remember them being so happy, all for me. If I said no back then, they’d be disappointed for the rest of my life.”
Twilight frowned a bit; a cough escapes her lips. There was something else that bothered her, even Pinkie Pie could tell. Seeing as how they would not be content unless she told the whole story, she had to continue.
“It wasn’t long after arriving, I kind of… Well, I was mocked.”
That one moment, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were stunned hearing that. While Maud… All she did was just stare, with that blank expression. Pinkie Pie, on the other hand, she was so stunned she let her sandwich fall from her grip and onto the floor.
“They did?” Pinkie asked, concerned. “But why? And how?”
From the look on Twilight’s face, that very question seemed painful to ask. Whether it was the way her eyebrows dropped or the eyes facing another direction, it bothered her. It took a deep breath and a silent prayer to find her courage… To go back…
<>
Lunch period was the worst time when Twilight Sparkle felt the eyes watching her, whispers passed into each other’s ears. The worst part was that they didn’t have to tell her directly. They would just eye her as she sat at a table all by her lonesome and they would be talking to each other, snickering knowing that it was all about her. Lunch period was an uncomfortable time for Twilight Sparkle, feeling alone amongst people… And the things they say.
“At first, they were just talking. The other kids would poke fun of my age, how I dressed, anything they could pass along. I tried to just let it roll over me; sticks and stones, my father would say… But that wasn’t enough.”
At one point, Twilight Sparkle decided to step away and go outside to eat. But when she opened the door…
SPLASH!
She felt a cold rush of liquid splash all over her, and then she heard the clatter of a bucket… And that’s when they started laughing. Twilight gasped, shaking off the liquid off her hair, cold milk from a bucket purposely set to make a mess. She turned to a particular group of girls, the popular girls, who did not hide their malicious intent. It was all a joke to make a fool out of the new girl and it worked.
“It wasn’t enough they dumped milk over my head at lunch, not even that was satisfying. For days, they’d knock books and papers from my hands as I’d walked down the hall. And ever since that day, everyone would call me a baby… And I hadn’t heard the end of it till Middle School was over.”
<>
The Pies and Rainbow Dash, mostly Rainbow Dash, were appalled.
“Why those rotten jerks!” Rainbow snapped, outraged. “I oughtta hunt them down and make them apologize!”
Twilight Sparkle nervously laughed, but she believed Rainbow Dash… Especially because she was serious.
“I appreciate your good intentions, Rainbow,” Twilight said. “But it wouldn’t be worth it. Besides, it was a long time ago and I hardly remember anyone from seventh grade.”
“They were really hard on you, were they?” Pinkie asked.
“They wanted to break her,” Maud said, bluntly.
Twilight looked away, closing her eyes as if she were unable to look at them.
“Yes… You’re half right,” Twilight quietly whispered. “Middle school wasn’t worst; it was when high school came along. When I first went to… ‘Crystal Prep’.”
Everyone squirmed in their seats, pained of the mental image of Twilight’s torture. They knew that Crystal Prep was a very competitive school and not everyone there were nice, but they rarely heard about it from Twilight’s eyes. As for Twilight, her head hung low, as if she looked like a pulsating sphere of sadness ready to burst. She didn’t feel ready to go on even after already saying so much…
And then, Twilight Sparkle felt a strange sensation, two hands wrapped around her. But when she looked up, it wasn’t Pinkie Pie as she expected… Nor was it Rainbow Dash. Instead, to Twilight’s surprise, it was Maud Pie. She had approached Twilight Sparkle, when she felt at her lowest point, and with no words and no reason at all, she just hugged her. It was a rare time when Maud shared a sentimental moment with a person that wasn’t her sister.
“Just say what you must,” Maud said, simply.
It felt nice being held in Maud’s embrace, Twilight could feel her spirit brighten. As she rested her head upon her gray sweater, Twilight hugged Maud back happy away from the wretched memories. Rainbow and Pinkie watched in awe, standing there as if a spell caused time to halt. Eventually Twilight raised her head and forced a small, dim smile, at the very least grateful for Maud’s gesture. Twilight watched as Maud stepped away to rejoin her sister and Rainbow at the couch, as they all sat patiently waiting for Twilight to continue.
For a moment, Twilight Sparkle just stood there, wondering what just happened. Looking at Maud’s stoic face, she couldn’t tell if she held some soft spot for her or if she just felt guilty. Whatever the case may be, it was able to help her continue where she left off. But unfortunately, Twilight knew what she had to say next was not any happier.
“Anyways,” Twilight said, recalling where she left off. “So… I was only in middle school for two years…”
<>
Twilight Sparkle was sitting in the principal’s office one day, her two parents were sitting beside her. The irony of the situation was that she wasn’t called in for any trouble she caused. The principal was simply having a word with her parents, showing them the results of the exams that Twilight had just taken. Based on the body movement and facial expressions, the principal was impressed, and the parents were in awe, occasionally turning to an uncertain Twilight Sparkle.
“Over those years, I aced so many tests and quizzes, that one day the Principal calls my parents into the office just to tell them that the school recommends I try some high school level practice exams. Specifically, those exams were to get me to the most prestigious school in Canterlot: Crystal Prep. I was reluctant, but I knew the abuse from my classmates would never stop unless I agreed. So, I decided to take the exams, hoping this school would be different.”
Twilight recalled sitting in a classroom all by herself, just so she’d be able to concentrate on the Crystal Prep exam. She went straight to work, mostly out of instinct because she knew the material by heart. She spent so much time reviewing the material the exam has covered, she practically had the answers memorized.
“Not surprisingly, I had the highest score that exceeds Canterlot High’s standards. They said middle school was too basic, that I should go off to high school. But rather than Canterlot, they purposely wanted me to go to Crystal Prep, where the best of the best thrive. At first, I was excited to be accepted into high school at such a young age. It didn’t matter where I’d go because I knew I had a future waiting for me.”
“And yet, at the same time, I was sad too. I spent so many years surrounded by tests and studies, I had little time to make friends growing up. I had been alone all my life. But they told me, the kids that go to Crystal Prep, they are mature and open-minded, so I—I—”
<>
Twilight Sparkle froze, clamping her eyes shut, fighting tears threatening to come out. That was always the most painful part of the story, Twilight knew what would happen. She imagined all the looks everyone gave her, but no one spoke. Whether they were afraid anything they’d say would make her sad or perhaps they were just confused, Twilight felt the whole world collapse around her. The pressure increased every second, as tears trickled down her eyes.
No matter how hard Twilight tried to fight her sadness, no matter how tight she shut her eyes, the sadness won’t go away. It was a struggle for Twilight Sparkle to finish her story, she practically choked over her final words.
“I was… Gullible enough… To believe them… I was wrong.”
Twilight Sparkle wiped the tears from her eyes, trying to prove she’s a strong woman. But Twilight just couldn’t stop crying… It was inevitable, she was broken.
“Twilight, you don’t have to tell us if it hurts so much,” Rainbow Dash assured. “We feel horrible making you feel this way. You don’t have to finish the story, no biggie.”
“Yeah, we like you when you’re happy,” Pinkie quickly interjected. “Not… This.”
Pinkie always knew when someone needed cheering up, while Twilight Sparkle felt like garbage. So many emotions rushed through her head, she wasn’t sure how she was supposed to feel. Pain? Sorry? Anger? Regardless, her outburst flooded the room and she felt worse. Not just because the way she was feeling, but she could feel everyone feeling just as sad as her… If not worse.
Maud silently stood, walking toward the kitchen while Twilight took a moment to cry. After a minute or two, she returned with a soothing cup of tea, for Twilight’s nerves. She walked past the couch, placing the drink upon her hand. Without checking to observe it, Twilight took a sip and brushed her hair back. But even as the soothing warm chamomile trickled down her throat, the tears didn’t stop.
“Thank you…” Twilight replied, quietly.
Twilight took another sip, as Maud returns to her seat allowing her all the space she needs. The others sat dumbfounded, uncertain whether or not to speak.
“I don’t know what to do here,” Pinkie whispered to Rainbow Dash. “I don’t want to just sit here, watching my friend with a frowny pouty face. She shouldn’t feel she should continue, but we can’t just tell her to stop.”
“I feel lost too,” Rainbow Dash whispered back. “I have no idea what to do in this situation.”
Suffice to say, the two were awful when it comes to whispering. Twilight Sparkle could practically hear every word from their ‘hushed’ conversation. It wasn’t hard for her to hear them, but at least they cared. They were good girls, what more could Twilight ever ask for.
“The tea will calm her nerves,” Maud said.
“Girls… It’s okay, really,” Twilight assured, choking her words. “It’s just… Nobody ever asked me about my… Childhood before. I never had a reason to talk about it, so I just… I tried not to think about it… That way it doesn’t bother me as much.”
“What about your parents?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Did they ever know how you felt about going to Crystal Prep? Did they even care?”
“No, th—” Twilight choked her words. “I know they love me, but… I was scared if I stopped excelling at any time. But before I tell you ‘that’ story… C-Can I finish with high school?”
Everyone felt a tad uncomfortable, fearing it would leave Twilight devastated. But not to hurt her feelings anymore and considering how far along she’s come; it would be wiser to let her finish. After all, saying ‘no’ at this point would make her feel unappreciative.
“Umm… S-Sure,” Pinkie spoke, uncertainly. “If it helps.”
Twilight actually forced a smile across her tear-stained face, all while sipping the tea Maud made. The drink did more than enough to help her, as she felt calmer and relaxed. A sigh escapes her lips as she goes back in time to her youth.
<>
Dinner time, after school. The part of the day where Twilight would be with her parents and sometimes her older brother, a Crystal Prep alumnus, whenever he’d come to visit. But for this occasion, they decided to go out to eat at one of the best restaurants in town, though Twilight didn’t remember the name. They were all discussing Twilight’s possible enrollment to Crystal Prep which her brother, Shining Armor by name, attended. They were very ecstatic for Twilight, who suffice to say didn’t share the same sentiment.
“I told my parents of my accomplishments and all the big places I was going to. Between myself, the news, the food, and my family, they were very happy for me, they laughed together, praised me. They often told me ‘You’re a great kid, we always knew you’re destined for greatness’. I don’t hate my parents, quite the opposite. It’s just hard to have an emotional connection when all they talk about is having a genius for a daughter.”
<>
The scene eventually switched to the front of Crystal Prep, where Twilight Sparkle stood in a déjà vu moment. This was supposed to be the most prestigious high school in the entire county, reserved only for the most promising students. And sure enough, Twilight Sparkle was one of them.
“I ended up accepting the offer and began my freshman year at Crystal Prep when I was nine.”
<>
After telling that part, Twilight slightly smiled, as if she had just moved on from her breakdown a while ago.
“Granted, I was in Crystal Prep longer than any other school,” Twilight continued. “But mostly because I took the more advanced classes earlier on. At a total of six classes per year, and high school lasting four, how many is that?”
“Uh… 22?” Rainbow Dash answered first.
“Is it 26?”
Twilight chuckled, shaking her head. As bad these guesses were, she needed a laugh.
“24,” Maud said, simply.
“Correct,” Twilight nodded. “Granted, I could have just taken the basic classes, but I worried they wouldn’t amount to whatever bar I set myself for my parents. The truth is: I only took the advanced classes assuming my parents figured I ‘should’. They always believed in me, they did say I did not ‘have’ to if I didn’t desire it, but I thought those were just their way of saying, ‘We want you to’.”
In that instance, Twilight Sparkle noticed Rainbow Dash’s body language communicate ‘sympathy’ and the former immediately felt guilty. The moment Rainbow caught Twilight looking at her, she turned away as if to drown herself in whatever shame she had. But Twilight noticed her looking out the window, noticing the sun going down. Night was coming fast, almost too soon.
“Wow, have I been talking that long?” Twilight replied. “I feel bad for taking up your entire afternoon.”
“Oh no, no, no!” Pinkie objected, waving her hands. “Please continue.
“Well, okay… Just stop me if it gets annoying, okay?”
Twilight Sparkle paused a moment, taking a deep breath, before proceeding.
“What my middle school counselors told me was a gargantuan lie,” Twilight spoke. “Whatever maturity they claimed Crystal Prep had in their students, they weren’t present. Turned out, the things they do to me was far worse, verbally and physically.”
<>
Twilight Sparkle walks down the halls of the pristine private school that is Crystal Prep, passing by all the students. She could blend in with these kids, all dressed in the school’s uniform as part of a strict dress code they followed. But she never truly fit in: She would hear what they say about her on the way to class or sometimes they’d just ignore her completely. Twilight felt alone in a world she was brought up to fit in.
“The torment began the first week I was there,” Twilight started, teary and upset. “I-I was bullied daily, whether for my size or my age. They’d take my s-suplies from me most days of the week and the girls would mock me all the time. This one student, Sugarcoat, sometimes I feel she really hates me. Everyday, they’d steal my notes and toss them to each other like a game of ‘Monkey in the Middle’. As if that wasn’t enough, they throw it in the garbage can and leaving me to dig them out for myself.”
<>
“That’s terrible!” Rainbow Dash replied.
“And it only gets worse…” Twilight said, sniffling.
<>
Twilight found herself climbing out of the giant dumpster digging for her notebook and all her important notes. By the time she emerged, she heard chuckling from the sides noticing that her actions had granted her an audience in the worst way. All the other students, especially the girls, were all laughing at her some mouthing ‘Garbage Girl’. Twilight just sighed, as a tear slowly slipped down her eye.
“None of those students ever wanted to be my friends. They’d say I wasn’t ‘cool’ to be around them, that I should ‘go back to playing with dollies’ or ‘have tea with my imaginary friends’. Well, at least my imaginary friends are more civil than those jerks. Everyday, I try to shrug it off, hiding all the pain inside. But it got so bad, one time I actually got into a fight with that kid.”
<>
“No way, Sci-Twi!” Pinkie gasped, in disbelief. “I can’t see you actually hurting anyone.”
Twilight practically shivered as she turned to her friend. The words she said were painful and it’s true Twilight would never hurt ‘anyone’. But what they didn’t know… It did happen.
“It wasn’t an intentional ‘fight’, but yes someone did get hurt…”
<>
Sophomore year, Twilight was just going down the halls minding her own business. When there was this girl who ran right into Twilight and apparently, Twilight had spilt the girl’s coffee from her hand and onto her uniform. The look on that girl’s face said it all: She was furious.
“I was a sophomore when it happened. I was just turning a corner walking to my fourth class when this one girl, Lollipop, one of the meanest girls in school, dashed from the other side and crashed into me. She had coffee in her hand and, apparently, my collision with her dumped the hot beverage onto her skin and uniform. I followed her toward the water fountain, intending to apologize, but she was boiling in anger.”
Lollipop, knowing the stain would not come off no matter how hard she scrubbed her dress with the water, confronted Twilight Sparkle. She began yelling at her, viciously pushing a finger to her chest. Twilight tried so hard to apologize, but it was all fruitless. She loomed over the frightened Twilight Sparkle, raising her fist slowly.
“She started complaining about how I ruined her uniform, never mind the fact her reckless dashing caused the accident. I tried to reason with her, but she wouldn’t reason. She just walked toward me slowly, her looming over me by a foot and a half while I was only four feet and seven inches. And then… She sucked punched me in the face!”
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The memory ends as Twilight Sparkle clutched the side of her right cheek, as if she could still feel where that fist made contact. It was only later she realized Twilight had been shouting, with Pinkie reaching towards Maud for a pillow to lean against. When she couldn’t reach it, Maud, not breaking her stare towards Twilight, handed the pillow to Pinkie, who clutched the pillow tightly against her chest. And Rainbow Dash, in that rare instance seemingly out of character, she was speechless.
“I ended up with a black eye because of her,” Twilight spoke. “But I told the nurse I tripped and slammed my face onto the flagpole. I don’t know if she actually believed it, but I don’t recall her ever questioning it. Not one student or teach called my bluff, not even the kids who witnessed it. I suppose I chose not to say anything fearing Lollipop would try to hurt me again or her friends would do it. As if I wasn’t already hated enough.”
“What about your parents and your brother?” Rainbow Dash asked. “What did they say?”
“I never told my parents, not even my brother,” Twilight sighed, shamefully. “I only gave Shining the same lame story. I just didn’t want them to be so disappointed in me, that they’d drag me out of that school for that.”
The others were confused as to how their one friend could say such talk. But as Twilight continued to speak, her voice only got sadder with each passing second.
“I was in that school for three years, though I could’ve graduated much sooner. I completed all the basic classes, more than enough AP substitutes for a diploma. But I stayed longer because I wanted the time to do the college level classes, knowing I’d attend college no matter how long I was at that school. On one hand, I’d be saving money and-and… By the time I was ready, I’d go to college as an adult.”
“Wait… Is that the reason you didn’t go off to college proper?” Rainbow Dash spoke up. “I’m sorry, but I feel like there’s more to it than that.
Twilight Sparkle looked toward the trio, sighing.
“No, you’re right… That wasn’t exactly the ‘only’ reason. I believe I decided to stay in Crystal Prep longer and not rushing to college because… For the first time: I felt that it wasn’t best for me.”
Nighttime fell upon the city, the only light remaining came from the lampposts lighting the sidewalks and all the buildings surrounding a lonely figure making her way home. Twilight Sparkle moseyed down the dimly lit street, no fear of anything the night could offer. After twenty minutes of walking, Twilight Sparkle eventually reached her house, where all the lights were on.
Twilight Sparkle took a deep breath, mustering her bravado, and knocked on the door. She heard her father scream a response, though what he said he couldn’t make it out. But she did hear her mother respond at a similar volume, before opening the door after a few seconds. He tone returns to her usual melodious self when she her daughter standing by the doorway.
“Oh, hello Twilight,” She said softly. “Did you have a fun outing with your friends?”
“Oh, you know,” Twilight responds, shyly. “It was, um… Very fun. Heh-heh.”
“Is something wrong, Twily dear?”
“Actually… There’s something I need to talk to you and Dad about and it can’t wait. It’s very important.
Her mother clearly did not know what to make of the situation, but she nodded at least to show she was listening.
“… Oh, okay. Do come in, it’s getting cold out.”
Her mother waved her hand out, as Twilight Sparkle walked through the door. She went into the kitchen, where her dad sat at the counter, angrily mumbling over a pile of bills he had to pay. She took a seat among one of the chairs at the dining room table, waiting for her father to calm down. But he didn’t stop, even after she took a seat. After a few minutes of awkward silence, her mother tapped him along the shoulder.
“Dear, your daughter is here,” Her mother spoke. “She wishes to speak to us.”
Only then did Twilight’s father calm himself. He sets the papers aside on the table, offering the best smile he could muster. But it was clear Twilight could see the restless bags under his eyes.
“Oh, hello sweety,” Her spoke, with a strained voice. “How’s my little daughter doing? Finished all your homework?”
“Yeah, dad,” Twilight replied. “Got all my homework done while I was with my friends at Sugar Cube Corner.”
For a moment, Twilight turned away from her father, nervously twiddling her fingers. Her father eyed her, not as angry when she arrived, but more concerned… If not confused.
“Twily, what’s wrong? Are you feeling alright?”
Twilight rubbed the back of her neck, as she spoke.
“I’m fine, dad. It’s just… Hmm… There’s something I need to tell you both.”
“Oh? What is it, dear?” Her mother asked, joining the table.
Had Pinkie Pie and/or Rainbow Dash sat with them, Twilight Sparkle would be more comfortable. For several minutes she remained silent, trying to predict how her parents would respond to her revelation. She took a deep breath, preparing herself for the worst.
“I’ve been talking to the girls, at Sugar Cube Corner,” Twilight began. “And I realized something very important.”
“Twilight,” Her father interrupts. “Whatever you wish to say, we are here for you. We just want to make sure you are healthy and happy.”
It was obvious her father was trying so hard to put on a happy face, so hard. Twilight paid very close attention to his words and they sounded genuine. Perhaps everything her friends said initially was true.
“Mom… Dad… I, er… I don’t want to attend college just yet.”
Twilight Sparkle waited for a response, but neither of her parents said a word. They just looked at her, barely making an emotion, as if they were waiting for more. Twilight wasn’t going to have this conversation end this quickly, she knew she had more to say and they would not be satisfied till they hear every word.
“The truth is: I want to stay at Canterlot High, with my friends. All my life, I’ve always felt alone and now I finally have friends who understand me. I’ve spent my life growing up so fast, for once I just really want to enjoy being a teenager.”
Twilight desperately tried to sound joyous and appealing, but clearly she was struggling. Eventually, her parents’ eyes lit shock and yet they were still speechless. Her mother raised her hand over mouth to shield a gasp, while her father stared in silence. Twilight didn’t know what else to say, having already spoken her mind. Now she stood there, awkwardly grinding her teeth fearfully as if the wait for a response was the most agonizing torture she could ever experience.
“Twilight, I… I-I don’t understand,” Her mother spoke, lowering her hand. “Why don’t you want to go to college?”
“You’re not doing something behind our backs, are you?” Her father immediately asked, suspiciously.
If Twilight wasn’t terrified before she spoke, she was certainly frightened now. It wasn’t that her father seemed angry towards her, it’s just there was this tone of his that made her nervous. She closes her eyes, wanting to turn away from her parents right there, but she couldn’t back down. Her parents deserved to hear the truth, even if it hurt them more than it hurt her.
“Dad,” Twilight spoke. “I’ve told my friends about my younger days at school and all those advanced tests. I’ve told them how proud you’ve always been for my intelligence and that I appreciate it, I truly do.”
Twilight paused for a moment, to catch her breath.
“The thing is: I never wanted to advance straight to middle or high school. I always felt like an alien, so alone even around other people. I never had friends, and whenever they noticed me, it was only to bully me. There were so many times I wanted to drop off, to run away from it all, and never look back. But I stuck with it in the end because… Because I thought you had such high expectations in me. I did it because… Because I thought that was the only way you’d be happy for me.”
By that point, Twilight Sparkle started tearing up and couldn’t stop herself from crying. Her parents turned to each other, surprised by her words. Her father’s expression softened, seeing the pain and agony on his daughter’s face as if noticing her struggles for the very first time.
“Twilight…” Her father spoke, gently. “Y-You really thought we ‘wanted’ this?”
Twilight closed her eyes, unable to bear the sight of any disappointment painted along their faces. Not her mom’s and especially not her father’s. It would be too much for her.
“I was afraid to tell you ‘no’ without thinking how upset you’d be,” Twilight answered, tearing up. “For sixteen years of my life, I just wanted you to be happy… I’d give anything to make you proud of me, always. I couldn’t stand myself, if you two… If I d-disappointed you… All your hopes, all your dreams—”
Twilight laid her face upon her lap, wanting so bad to shield her eyes from the world. For the first time in sixteen years, her parents saw her cry openly, their own daughter broken beyond belief. A mask she built to suppress her sadness for so long, now it was shattered with no means of repair.
Twilight could pick up footsteps approaching her, then she felt a gentle hand upon her left shoulder. Slowly, she opens one eye and sees her mother, sniffing with a look of regret in her eyes. Twilight hated seeing such mournful eyes, as if she were the one who made the biggest mistake of her entire life.
“Twilight, we could never be disappointed in you,” Twilight’s mother whispered. “You’re not just our daughter, you’re our entire world. You mean more than anything your father and I could ever wish for. True, we’ve always been so proud of how brilliant you are, we barely knew where you get it from. But still… We never realized you were ‘feeling’ this way.”
Her mother squeezed her daughter warmly, as her father rose to join the embrace with his family.
“Twilight, if you never wanted this, all you ever had to do is tell us,” Her father spoke, sincerely. “Your mother and I are always proud of you, but we would never put you through this if we knew what you went through. We love you sweetheart, as the sun rises from the darkest valley and back, we’ll always love you… No matter what.”
Twilight just eyed her father, practically bawling while feeling a great weight lift itself off her shoulders.
“It doesn’t matter what you are,” Her father continued. “Whether you’re smart or not, a college professor or kindergarten student, a teacher or maid, or even a farmhand or a queen. Whatever you decide to do, you have our support no matter what. All that matters is what makes you happy and if it’s too soon for college, we will accept any decision you make.”
As he spoke, her father cleansed the tears from his daughter’s face. He brushed the hair over her eyes back, hugging her again to calm her down. Twilight rose her face to look him in the eyes.
“So… You wouldn’t be mad… If I just… Decided to stay in high school, with my friends?”
Her parents turned toward one another, confirming each other’s expressions. They grinned; their beady eyes locked in contact. Then, they turned back towards Twilight Sparkle, as her father placed an index finger under her chin so they could look at each other in the eyes despite all the tears getting in her way.
“Twilight Sparkle, whatever you want, your mother and I are more than okay with that.”
“We are so sorry for ever putting so much pressure on you,” Her mother apologized. “We only want what’s best for you and we regret making you feel you couldn’t talk to us.”
Twilight Sparkle couldn’t help but smile, even with her eyes filled with tears. All the same, she felt lighter than air, the big anchor she had carried now lifted off her chest. She stood there, bringing her arms around both her parents.
“Thank you, mom and dad,” Twilight cried. “It means so much to hear you say that.”
They pulled themselves from under their arms, grabbing hold of their precious treasure, hugging their daughter back.
“We love you, Twily,” Her father said. “We hope you can forgive us for making you feel this way.”
“We know we can’t bring back those years you missed,” Her mother added. “But whatever you choose from this point on, you have our support.”
Twilight’s head rested between her parents’ shoulders. The last of her tears fell entirely from her eyes, as she smiled warmly. She truly felt the genuine love from her parents, and deep down she was thanking her friends for giving her the courage to express the truth. The joy she felt was overwhelming.
“So, Buttercup, do you think you can finish the rest of your classes this year?” Her father asked. “That way, you’ll have all the credits you’ll ever need, if and when you decide to attend college?”
For a moment, Twilight almost frowned toward her father. But quickly, she understood the logic to his questions. She smiled, closing her eyes as her cheeks lit up.
“Of course, Dad! I promise.”
“There’s out happy little girl!” Her father cried out, tightening the hug. “Let’s finish this conversation tomorrow, right after we head do to the university and tell them the news. But right now, it’s bedtime and we can’t have our little angel sleep-deprived and cranky, now can we?”
“Daad!” Twilight squealed, embarrassed yet happy.
“Your father is right, dear,” Her mother agreed. “It’s time someone get a well deserve rest. If you’re still feeling down, just come talk to us if anything comes up. Okay?”
“I’ll be okay, mom,” Twilight assured. “Thanks for hearing me out. Goodnight mom, goodnight dad.
“Goodnight, Twilight,” They cried out.
After walking out of the kitchen, with her parents looking on, Twilight Sparkle made her way upstairs. After brushing her teeth and flossing her gums, she made her way straight to her room, grabbing her evening wear for bed. Before she turned in, she quickly pulled out her cellphone and proceeded to dial for Rainbow Dash.
One ring… Two rings… Three rings…
“Hey, I was wondering when you’d call,” Rainbow answered. “Wassup?”
“Well… I told my parents the news,” Twilight explained. “You girls were right: They totally understood. I never should’ve doubted you for a moment.”
“Hey, that’s what friends are for right? Pinkie Pie did tell me to ask you though: Does this mean we won’t see you for a while?”
At first, Twilight wasn’t sure how to answer the response. She did assume she would be gone for at least a few months, at best. She was still unsure of where her future was going, but barely had a moment of silence for a few seconds.
“Yo, Twi? Are you still there?”
“Yes… I’m still here. And ‘yes’, we will be seeing each other. I’ll still be in town, just as I know you girls aren’t going anywhere soon. Don’t you worry, it’s going to be fine… I promised.
“Well, that’s a relief. We’d be devastated if that were the case. Anyways, think I’m going to crash for the night. I’m glad everything worked out.”
“Thanks again for being there for me, Rainbow Dash. You and everybody. Good night!”
“Later, Sci-Twi!”
The other end clicked off and the cellphone conversation ended there. Content, Twilight Sparkle plugged the phone into her charger before adjusting herself for bed. But even as she laid there under the sheets, she couldn’t help but wonder.
“Will I ever see them again? ” Twilight asked, to herself “What if things don’t play out? ”
Twilight Sparkle had no idea what the future could hold, only that by morning the answers would come when her parents say so. Slowly, Twilight closed her eyes, unsure of what to expect for tomorrow. Only time would tell, but… Twilight Sparkle still hoped for the best.
“Whatever happens, everything’s going to be just fine…”
“So… I understand you decided to transfer to our school because Crystal Prep is awful, I get that,” Rainbow Dash spoke. “But still, when you’ve finally had enough of high school, what will you do after graduation?”
Twilight Sparkle didn’t quite answer right away, she just brushed a finger in circles through the empty teacup. But still, she knew that question would come up eventually.
“Well, I know I’ll still be much younger than the other students at college,” Twilight explained. “Which makes it worse because college students are older; I’d still stick out like a sore thumb. I imagine all the discrimination against me can only get worse from there… I don’t know. I always believed students in college are more mature, but then I felt the same about Crystal Prep… And we all know how that turned out.”
“As far as what I would do after graduation? I guess what I really want is to get out of the system, after being abused for so long. But what scares me most is the idea of staying in college for six years or more, graduating at fifteen, and with all the child labor laws, I doubt I’d ever get a job anywhere.”
Suddenly, it was then Twilight’s eyes opened widely. As if she had an epiphany, a sudden realization of great truth sparking her mind.
“You know what I just realized: I’ve spent my entire childhood trying to make everyone happy. My parents, my brother, my teachers… But what about me? I never gave myself permission to be just a kid; I never even bothered to make any true friends! I’ve just been so busy trying to impress my superiors, I never realized until now – I wasn’t caring for myself!”
That moment of truth made the poor girl bury her face in her arms, bawling her eyes out unable to contain her sadness. Rainbow Dash just looked at her friend with both concern and confusion.
“I… I don’t understand,” Rainbow spoke. “I’ve always assumed you enjoyed being in school, even though I could never understand why.”
It took a moment for Twilight Sparkle to properly respond, trying to choke her own tears. There was no mistake: Twilight Sparkle was a total mess… More like an awkward loser with no friends. For years, that’s how Twilight always looked at herself, but no one ever called on her to speak about it. She didn’t want this night to end with a pity party, not in front of among the few friends she ever made.
“D-D-Don’t get me wrong…” Twilight answered, stuttering. “I… I love learning. I love my books, I love the math, English, everything. It just would’ve been nice to just be a kid, to have friends… Like you girls did. Kids should be able to have fun, not stressed over being an adult. Kids are meant to be kids… The last thing they should worry about is college…”
All at once, before Twilight could continue, Pinkie jumped onto her, hugging her tightly.
“Aw, Twily… I’m sorry you had such a rotten childhood…”
And as Pinkie raised Twilight’s head, she could see her friend was pouring tears. Still, Pinkie Pie pressed on.
“But look at you now: You aren’t alone anymore! You have friends now! You have Maud, you have Dashi, but most of all… You have me! There’s Fluttershy, Applejack, Sunset, and that’s just off the top of my head!”
The last thing Twilight Sparkle wanted was to throw a private pity party, but then she saw Rainbow Dash and Maud Pie join in the embrace. It was difficult for her to feel awful, when these girls were giving her all the comfort, of which she hadn’t felt from anyone her age, apart from her brother. But if there’s one other thing she didn’t want: She didn’t want to feel so terrible, that these wonderful girls would suddenly have a different opinion on her.
“Thank you so much, Pinkie…” Twilight smiled, wiping her eyes. “And Maud… Rainbow Dash… You guys are the most amazing friends I could ever ask for! So much more than I…”
There was no mistake: Twilight Sparkle was absolutely beaming. Emotions are funny; one moment she was bawling her eyes out and next thing she’s smiling bigger than she’s ever had before. The girls spent the next few minutes in the most soothing hug they ever had. Eventually, they split off and returned to their seats, sitting quietly for a while.
“So… If you were such a miserable child,” Rainbow spoke, breaking the silence. “Why did you stay anyway? Why not tell your parents you’d rather not be there? Why torture yourself?”
“You mean… Should I have dropped out?” Twilight responded.
“No, I’m just referring to those earlier years you mentioned. You didn’t have to take those college classes if you didn’t want to. You always had a choice.”
“That’s just it. For the longest time, I wanted to say no… But my parents wouldn’t have liked that.”
“How would you know?” Pinkie asked. “Did you even… Talk to them about it?”
There was a long silence in the room, so quiet that the wind outside could be heard brushing against the house. It took a while for Twilight to determine an answer.
“Going to college always seemed to be the plan for me,” Twilight explained. “My parents were always proud of my excellence; they’d praise me on a daily basis. To even tell them I don’t want any of that would only hurt them. I could never do that to them.”
Twilight’s smile was gone by this point. She didn’t want to look in a mirror to see how she looks. But she imagined her emotions were running at light speed by this point. So, without question, any emotion on her face was readable.
“Hey Twilight,” Pinkie spoke up. “It’s okay, really it is.”
Leave it to Pinkie Pie making the effort to turn that frown upside down. But Pinkie Pie was determined to get through to Twilight at all costs.
“Your parents would never be disappointed in you; they love you very much. They were happy for you because they were proud of you, not because they wanted you to do anything. Your parents never wanted what was best for them, they only wanted what was best for ‘you’. If you don’t want to be in college, not right now, I’m sure they’ll understand.”
Twilight Sparkle wiped the tears from her face, shrinking her frown slightly.
“You… Y-You really… Think so?”
“Pinkie’s not wrong when it comes to family,” Maud replied.
“Every parent wants what’s best for their kids,” Rainbow added. “I’m not one to talk, but I do ‘feel’ that’s what they would do. Family’s about supporting each other and I’m pretty sure that’s what your parents were doing. Supporting you, not encouraging you.”
“Dashie’s right,” Pinkie came in. “If you’d rather be a normal child, not some prodigy, go ahead. You don’t have to be anything that makes you uncomfortable, no matter what others think. The only real opinion that matters is yours.”
Pinkie hopped off the catch, walking towards Twilight Sparkle with Maud following close behind.
“We are proud of you, no matter what,” Maud says, then added. “Is what your parents would say.”
Rainbow Dash turned toward one of the windows, noticing there wasn’t much daylight left. For a moment, she seemed concerned over whether it would be safe for anyone to walk home at this hour. And yet, Rainbow Dash actually chuckled at the thought.
“What’s so funny?” Twilight asked, almost snappy.
“Ah, nothing,” Rainbow replied, with a smile. “It’ll be dark soon. Probably should head home.”
Twilight nodded, feeling she may have overstayed her welcome. What was meant to be a casual gathering among friends Twilight felt she made it depressing with her stories. Still, they encouraged her to share those stories and speak her mind over how she felt. And now… Somehow, it was as if Twilight felt a weight slide off her shoulder and it’s in place… She felt confidence. It was in that moment Twilight Sparkle knew what she was going to do:
“I have to talk to my parents… Tonight, ” Twilight declared, to herself.
She had just grabbed her homework and made for the door when, all of a sudden, she stopped.
“Oh, wait! I forgot to clean and return my silverware.”
Twilight just took a step toward the kitchen when Rainbow grabbed her shoulder.
“I’ll take care of it,” Rainbow Dash volunteered. “Just promise me you’ll talk to your parents about this deal. Trust me, if they are anything like my parents, they’ll understand… If you just talk to them.”
Twilight Sparkle smiled, nervously at best, but she wanted to show Rainbow that she was right. That everything was going to be okay.
“I promise, Rainbow,” Twilight whispered, turning to the rest. “I’ll talk to my parents tonight.”
“Great!” Pinkie shouted, waving. “See ya later!”
“Bye, Twi!” Rainbow yelled.
Maud said nothing, only nodded with a tiny smile. But if she did have something to say, chances are it be the same thing. Soon enough, Twilight left Sugar Cube Corner behind and made her way for home. Her mind raced as if it ran a thousand kilometers a minute, not certain how she was going to approach her parents over this matter. But she knew this much: Her heart had never felt more confident until tonight.
