Twilight wasn't sure how long she stood there, deep in thought. There was too much to go over, and a lot of things for her to consider. She had a golden opportunity presented to her, and she was not about to mess it up by not thinking things through.

She had spotted a technical loophole in the rules she was now bound by. Serhoofna couldn't give alicornhood to her friends or family. But that never said anything about granting them immortality. But for one small thing.

As much as Twilight loved her friends, even she knew that granting them that wouldn't be fair. Applejack wouldn't want it, and the same could probably be said for some of the others as well. Some would take it, but it was still wrong to give it to some, and not to all.

There was also the galling thought of vindicating the brainless morons who had complained loud and hard to her after her ascension. Ponies, for some Celestia, dammed reason, couldn't seem to comprehend her ability to make new friends.

Of course, Twilight would mourn the girls and her family when they passed on, and a part of her would always more than likely miss them, but she would not fuse herself to living in the past. That would be an insult to their memory. It violated everything she stood for. Everything she represented.

So no. Twilight wouldn't give them that. As much as a part of her screamed too. But that still left her with what to do with her three wishes?

She had a small idea of what one could be. She had seen the golden bands around Serhoofna's hooves. Knew what they represented and what it meant for the Jinn. Twilight wouldn't wish that on anyone.

But not yet. She still had too many questions, and a part of her had to know more before she even made her first wish. Let alone her last one. Twilight would not take that risk. Not yet.

Smiling, Twilight turned around and returned to her room, picking up the lamp once more and rubbing it with a hoof. A part of her wondered if she would have to do that every time she wanted to speak with Serhoofna.

A moment later, the Jinn came pouring out of the spout, a smirk on her face. "Well. I hope you gave great thought to what your three wish-"

Twilight held up a hoof. "Two."

Serhoofna stopped, a perplexed look coming to her face. "Huh? I assure you, I can grant three-"

Twilight nodded, smiling. "Oh, I believe you. It's just that I have no intention of using my third wish."

The Jinn blinked. "O... kay? May I ask why?"

Twilight began to pace back and forth around her room. "Well, as I understand it, using up my third wish would once again imprison you for potentially millennia." She frowned at the thought. "And that is utterly against all of my principles. As such, if and when I do use my first two wishes, I will keep the third one withheld so you can remain free for as long as possible."

She paused, before smiling sheepishly. "Or at least as free as you are right now. I don't know the exact limits of your freedom and mobility at the moment. But I'm sure we can work something out."

Serhoofna tapped her chin. "But, if that's the case, couldn't you just use your third wish to free me and cut out the middle pony?"

Twilight nodded, having heard the underlying hope behind that question. "In theory, yes. But not until it can be ascertained with as much certainty as possible that you wouldn't be a threat if I did free you."

Her ears fell as Serhoofna seemed to deflate. "I... really am sorry about that. It's just... well, I have no way of knowing whether anything you've said or will say could be intended to manipulate me into unleashing a major threat on the world." she placed a hoof on Serhoofna's chest, a rather odd feeling to be sure. "It doesn't seem likely. But given the potential consequences, if that is the case, I can't take that chance."

Her smile softened as she looked up at the Jinn's face. "But still, I will do everything that I can to help you live a life outside of your prison in the meantime."

Serhoofna looked down at her, doing her best not to look weak. "I, uh... well, I guess that makes sense? Much as it pains me to say that."

Twilight's smile grew as she stepped back. "Great! Let's get started!"

Serhoofna rolled her eyes. "You know? I can't decide whether you're the best possible pony to have found me... or the most infuriating."

Twilight giggled. "Don't worry. I get that a lot."

Author's Note

Need to thank two people before I say anything else. First to The Iguana Man, whose comment gave birth to most of this chapter. And Spiritus Arcane, for the comment that inspired the beginning.

Now comes the fun part. I'm stuck on wish ideas. Twilight's third and final one is strongly hinted at here. But nothing is set in stone. That's what the first two wishes are for.

They will determine whether Twilight does the right thing for Serhoofna or not.

JFalk had a couple of ideas in an earlier comment. But I'm open to anything else anyone has. I've got nothing.