A Glimmer of Hope

Starlight, still having a little bit of sleep in her eyes, walked down one of the castle hallways that led to the kitchen. She was thinking of getting some haycakes for breakfast. Or maybe some berries that she plucked with Trixie just days ago.

Her ears perked up when she heard noises from one of the libraries. She peeked behind the door and saw Twilight sorting her books from one of her many bookshelves. Starlight started walking up towards her in curiosity, not wanting to speak to her yet.

Then she spotted Twilight taking out a dusty old book from the back of the bookshelf. For some reason, she looked happy once her eyes were set on the old book.

Assuming she heard her footsteps, Twilight started to speak. "Aha! Here it is." Twilight said as she showed the book to Starlight.

Starlight leaned her face a little to get closer to the book. She had never seen it before, and come to think of it, it looked as if no one had seen it for months. It was dusty, the cover and pages were starting to get torn, and not to mention it smelled kinda horrible.

It now made Starlight even more curious. What was so special about this dusty old thing? Was it because it had Twilight's cutie mark on the cover, front and center?

"What is that?" Starlight asked her, a little disgusted by the book's appearance.

"Oh come on, Starlight. Don't judge a book by its cover." Twilight told her with a smile. "This is the friendship journal my friends and I used to keep. It's filled with all the things we've learned. Like..." she stopped when she flipped through the pages. "'Friendship isn't always easy, but there's no doubt, it's worth fighting for.'"

After she said that, the same page that had the quote turned into dust, and a page from the book had fallen to the ground.

"I'll judge a book by it's cover just this once." Starlight told her, slightly amused.

Twilight grumbled and looked down at the mess in disappointment.

Starlight's smile faded. "I guess that book meant a lot to you, huh?"

Twilight drooped her ears. "Of course. We have had so many lessons written in this book. Yet after Tirek, and after I got this castle, we discarded it as if it was a piece of junk."

"Well, at least you found it now." Starlight told her, trying to lift up her spirits.

But that did nothing. "Yeah, I've found it broken, torn, and on the brink of turning into nothing but dust." Twilight said dejectedly.

"Mind if I see the book?" Starlight asked her.

"Sure." Twilight then levitated the book to Twilight.

Starlight opened the book and placed it onto the table. She tried her best to ignore the smell, despite it being strong. Starlight had read through the lessons that Twilight and her friends had learned. She even found lessons that even she didn't even learn yet. No wonder this book was special.

Yet... it had been forgotten for who knows how long. Now it's in this poor, pathetic, rotting state...

"No wonder this book is so precious. It's like a little lesson journal." Starlight told Twilight after spending a few minutes reading what was left of the pages.

Twilight sighed. "I guess so. But still. It's now ruined thanks to my negligence."

Starlight put her hoof onto her chin. Her eyes brightened as she thought of something. "Perhaps I can help."

Twilight started to brighten up as well. "Really? How?"

Starlight shrugged. "I can turn old books back into its original healthy state." she told her. "It's a little trick I've learned throughout the years."

"Would you do that for me?" Twilight now started to smile again. "It would greatly help."

"Of course, Twilight." Starlight nodded. She was more than happy to help her former teacher in any way she could.

Starlight turned to the book. She closed her eyes as she started activating her horn. I hope I still remember this. Starlight prayed silently in her mind. Who knows how long it's been since I've done this spell. Plus, she would never forgive herself if her spell backfired and it destroyed the book that Twilight and her friends had loved so much.

No, I can do this. Starlight told herself determinedly. Making herself guilty would just make things worse.

Determined to not let Twilight down, and still hoping that it worked, Starlight casted the spell onto the book. The book lifted off the table. Then two bright orbs came out of the book; then the orbs were replaced by the new book covers. Starlight didn't even dare to lose her concentration when she heard the sound of pages coming out of the book.

After the pages stopped making noises, she heard three books close.

Starlight peeked open her eyes. She sighed in relief that the spell had worked. What was even better was that she made Twilight happy. She was prancing around excitedly, as if she were a foal.

"Starlight! You did it!" Twilight squealed. "This looks exactly like how it looked, with the cover being slightly different, but amazing job! I knew I good count on you!"

Starlight's heart was filled with pride.

"But, might I ask, why did you make two? I only needed one." Twilight asked, pointing at the second copy of the new book.

"Oh, that was for myself." Starlight explained. "After all, I do want to read the rest of the pages. Ones that are not broken."

"At least you're interested in the book. Usually me and the rest of us were the only ones who would read it." Twilight chuckled.

"Of course. These lessons may be of use in my life one day." Starlight told her warmly. "After all, your lessons had helped me be free from the pony I used to be."

"Glad to be a big help." Twilight blushed in embarrassment.

Then, after a moment of silence, Twilight suddenly jumped after she read some pages of the restored pages.

"I got idea!" she beamed.

"Really?" Starlight tipped her head at the side.

"Like you said, these lessons had helped you improve in life." Twilight started explaining. "Well, what if there are ponies just like you that had trouble with friendship?"

"I doubt anyone would run any more cults in Equestria." Starlight told her, half amused, half annoyed.

"No, I mean, what if the both of us made these copies for all of Equestria to see?" Twilight suggested. "It would be like having me around as a little mini-guide!"

"It could work." Starlight told her before hesitating. "But there is a chance that the ponies wouldn't care for these lessons."

"Oh come on, who wouldn't want to hear any lessons from the Princess of Friendship herself?" Twilight boasted a little.

Starlight just shrugged. "We'll have to see what the girls think. But, I believe in you Twilight." she said while smiling.

"I knew I could count on you." Twilight smiled back. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I will have to tell the girls to come here."

"Great." Starlight said as she started walking besides Twilight. "Should I get Spike?"

Twilight shook her head. "I escorted him to the Dragon Lands, hoping to discuss some friendship things with Princess Ember."

Starlight stopped in her tracks. "Princess... Ember?" Starlight asked, confused. The name did not ring any bells. But then she noticed that Twilight was still walking without her.

"Hey, wait up!" Starlight called out before running to her again.