Author's Note

It takes a lot to move beyond trauma and try to be better. If we live to face judgement, what will matter is the strength of our collective characters. I'm done letting my emotions control me.

Feathers to Flowers, Petals to Wings (Interlude 3)

The group began a steady regimen of training, focusing primarily on strength, purification, and levitation. The following weekend, Rainbow returned the book to Twilight. She invited the Pegasus in for tea.

"That whole thing was...Wow..."

"Hits home, doesn't it?"

"The level of emotional depth was something I never allowed myself to feel. Everyone thought I was a dumb jock who didn't know her ass from a hole in the ground. They never really knew me as an individual. Most of the blame for that lies on me."

"You can only be expected to tell people so much. Even if you'd said something, only a handful of people would've listened. We're still friends because we did listen, albeit on a regrettably superficial level."

"There were so many points I was pulled in every direction - sadness, anger, joy, arousal. It felt I was actually seeing myself from within. Nothing I've read in all my life ever pulled it off like that. That kind of story comes along once in a lifetime."

"Now you know what I meant by growth. You understand yourself better than you did before. It takes strong will and tremendous courage to admit your flaws, and even more still to become a better person because of them."

"I've reached my limit emotionally for the time being. I can't grow much beyond here. For now, I'll have to concentrate on the magic. Problem is, I have no reason to keep going. There's nothing driving me to improve."

"If you don't want to continue, I understand. Knowing they can do magic would be enough for most people."

"My gut tells me I should, though. This is the point where I have to think logically. The same way there's no reason in doing it, there's also no reason not to except Scootaloo."

"If you need to change your schedule around to fit in time with her, that's fine. I can tutor you one-on-one if it's more convenient."

"Really? That'd help a lot."

"Sure. I'm always free."

"Thanks. I owe you one."

"Any time."