The start of the holiday break season was never an easy one at the School of Friendship.
From the paperwork of having so many students from not only all over Equestria - but all over the world coming to the school meant there was a lot of preparation. For as many students that had chosen to stay in the dorms over the holidays now that it was an optional choice each year, to the students who chose to return home to their families over the winter solstice's break, that alone was one headache to mention.
Not to mention the counseling sessions for students picking out what classes they wanted to attend afterward, and helping students who didn't get the grades they wanted to - not even to mention the plans for winter graduation. Thankfully, everything had all been wrapped up yesterday.
The only thing left to do for the foundational trio that made the School of Friendship what it was was to see the rest of the students going home off.
Currently, Starlight was beaming, checking each student off. "Check and... check!" A sigh of relief escaped her, as she put away her clipboard and list away into her saddlebags.
Usually, she'd have Sunburst do this sort of work. But he was doing an even more important job while Starlight and Trixie made sure that everything wrapped up nicely for the start of the break.
"Twilight really rubbed off on you in the worst ways." Starlight felt her ears twitch, as she turned to Trixie. Though the words were flat, the smile on Trixie's face let Starlgiht know she was joking. Even if it years later the two mares still weren't even close to the bestest of friends...
Well, Starlight could appreciate how both of them tried for her sake.
"So everything's wrapped up then? We're good to get started going home?"
"Well, as soon as everyone goes home. And Sunburst is supposed to be coming over with-"
"Mommy! Mum!" Both of the mares's ears pricked upward at the oh-so familiar voice, with Starlight letting out a small laugh.
"Well, you can figure it out."
Starlight turned around to see the other love of her life - as well as the light of all three of their worlds bounding towards them, quickly latching onto one of Trixie's legs in greeting.
"Sorry that we're a bit late," Sunburst said, giving a quick nuzzle to Starlight as he approached her first, letting Trixie finish her hug in with Luster.
"You're not late!" She scoffed. "Just on time, really. How's my big girl doing?" Starlight quickly leaned down, holding out a hoof. "Was your last day of care good?" Quickly, Luster moved from Trixie to Starlight.
"It was good! We went over the story of Hearth's Warming Eve again!" Luster chirped happily, quickly hugging her other mom - and only then did she seem to notice the crowd of ponies at the train station.
Almost immediately, Luster let go, backing up a few steps nervously. "Oh..." She said, her voice dropping from the happy cheer it had been to a near whisper.
"Luster..." A sigh escaped Starlight. This wasn't anything particularly new. It was usual for their daughter, but a frustrating usual all the same. Starlight was sure that none of them had ever been this shy when they were foals. Even Sunburst, the introvert that he was, wasn't like that.
Her tail swished closer to her side, trying to appear as small as she could behind Sunburst's legs - one of her favorite places to hide in times like this.
"Come on sweetie," Starlight gently cooed, reaching a hoof out toward Luster. "Every creature here is nice. Just give it a chance, and I'm sure you'll make some new friends!"
At that, Luster Dawn pressed even closer to Sunburst, giving a fierce shake of her head.
A sigh escaped Starlight as she slowly lowered her hoof, frowning.
"Come on. You know it's not going to happen when she's already this worked up," Trixie said, rolling her eyes as she came to Sunburst's side, holding an extra candy cane aloft in her magic before lowering it to Luster's level. "Here you go, Dawn."
Almost immediately, the filly's eyes widened up, her own horn lighting up and quickly taking the offered cane, coaxing a smile out of her. She quickly gave it a lick, before blinking as she was surrounded by a similarly colored aether to her own, gently being lifted up and placed onto Sunburst's back.
As Luster shifted, getting herself more comfortable while still licking her candy cane, Sunburst gave a tired smile to Starlight. "She'll come out of her shell eventually. Right now with all our students around probably isn't the best time."
"It's the perfect time," Starlight muttered, looking at the gathered students milling about. Most were excitedly chattering away to each other, waiting for the last of the trains to come in. This was the precise time to be showing their daughter different cultures and the different types of friends she could make.
"Do you wanna go home and play Dragon Pit?" Sunburst asked, shifting his weight to carry her still.
"Yes please!" Luster seemed to nearly glow at the proposition, even as Starlight felt herself deflate slightly.
"Sounds like a plan to me," Trixie said with a teasing grin on her face as she came up next to Sunburst properly.. "Even if we all know who's going to win.~" One hoof was used to ruffle the back of Luster's mane - with the only the protest of a little pink tongue being stuck out of the filly's mouth at her in response, before Luster went back to licking.
"But... the students! There's still students who haven't gone home yet," Starlight protested, a hoof gesturing to the closest one and nearly whacking them in the side.
"Starlight, I can think Smolder and Ocellus can handle that form here," Trixie said pointedly looking at the older dragon and changeling who were currently chatting with each other. "Plus, I think I can use some hot chocolate at this time."
"Trixie's right," Sunburst said, giving a smile to Starlight before she could make room for more protest. "Come on, let's get home."
"I..." Starlight opened her mouth to say something else before snapping it shut. It wasn't worth it.
Not really, if both Trixie and Sunburst were in agreement.
"Fine," she mumbled, casting one last look back at the station, before starting to follow the trotting pair back home.
Once the trio and their filly got home, Sunburst had quickly offered to help set up the game with Luster, while Trixie and Starlight were left to get hot chocolate and a tray of cookies for the occasion.
Easy enough - but there was something pricking in the back of her mind. It hadn't let go since the train station, and even as the two worked as quickly as they could to get a fresh batch of cookies ready, it was hanging over her like a dark cloud.
"Spill it."
Starlight felt her gaze snap to Trixie, where the other unicorn was staring at her unimpressed, tray of cookies in her aether. "What?"
Trixie set the tray down on the kitchen counter before continuing. "I said, spill it. You've had something on your mind since the train station. So what's up?"
"I'm just... worried," Starlight admitted with a sigh, rubbing one hoof into her other leg to try and calm the flare of anxiety, while trying to otherwise distract herself with getting four mugs of hot chocolate ready in front of her.
"Why? Luster is doing fantastic." Trixie said, raising a brow. "She got your magic, she got Sunburst's smarts - and when she's got all the imagination that I use for my shows. Sure, she needs some confidence in some areas but overall she's fine." Carefully, she snapped the cookie in half with her magic before quickly snacking on the closest half.
"But she doesn't have any friends."
It took a few moments for Trixie to chew and swallow before replying. "Yeah she does. She knows plenty of other kids."
"But she's not really friends with any of them. She doesn't have any best friend to rely on - not like how me and Sunburst did when we were foals."
Trixie rolled her eyes, a dismissive snort escaping her. "Not everyone has a best friend like you did as a foal, Starlight. I know I didn't..." An irritable swish of her tail made it clear just how unhappy she was, making Starlight wilt slightly.
"Trix..." She hadn't meant to bring up their shared childhood again but... she knew it was one of those sore points for Trixie, to know that two out of their three had grown up so close, and Trixie simply... hadn't had that.
"It's fine," Trixie said shortly - purples eyes narrowing. "It's not about me, Starlight. It's about Dawn. She's not me. She's not Sunburst. And she's also not you. Plenty of foals take some time getting use dto making friends. Why are you so hung up about this?"
"Because..." Starlight took a deep breath. "Because I'm scared."
"... Scared?" Trixie's gaze softened slightly. "What of?"
"That she'll be alone, or friendless, or turn out..."
"Starlight..." Trixie sighed, cookies forgotten for the moment as she moved towards Starlight - giving the other mare a nuzzle. "It's like I said. She's not you either. She's going to have a great life. And maybe it'll take more time than it does for other ponies to make friends that wil last forever. But you turned out okay, didn't you? Heck, even the Princess turned out okay, as neurotic as she is!" There was a pause, as Trixie pulled back. "... I turned out okay, didn't I?"
"You did!" There's a fierceness to Starlight's voice as she spoke, quickly pulling Trixie into a hug. "Of course you did... you're right." She let out a sigh. "I'm being silly. You're right on all accounts."
"Of course I am," Trixie said with a small huff, moving away. There's a smirk on her face - but the shine in her eyes is unmistakable. "And you're not being silly. You're being a mom. You're still figuring this all out, like all of us are. Now come on. Let's go bring these cookies!" With that, the tray was picked up in her pink magic, as she began to lead the way to their 'living room'.
"You're right," Starlight said with a small chuckle, quickly lighting her horn and picking up the steaming mugs of chocolatey goodness.
Soon enough, the pair had made their way to the main area - and lo and behold, Dragon pit was set up! But instead of sitting down and ready to play, Luster Dawn was looking nervous, tail slowly flicking back and forth behind her in a nervous manner.
"Is something up?" Trixie said with a raised brow, setting down the tray of cookies on the crystal table.
"Just a little thing," Sunburst gave a smile at Trixie - before looking at Luster Dawn expectedly. For a moment, the filly looked at Starlight - opening her mouth to say something, before quickly snapping it shut and averting her gaze.
"You've got something to say to mommy, right?" Sunburst said, adjusting his glasses slightly with an encouraging grin.
For a moment, Luster simply pawed at the ground with a hoof, golden gaze avoiding Starlight's.
"It's okay honey. You can say whatever you want," Starlight said softly, as she lowered herself to the ground a bit, trying to get on better eye level with her daughter, depositing the mugs upon the table to give sole focus to her daughter.
For a moment, it looked like Luster wouldn't say something else - before the filly took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, mommy. I just... I know you wanted me to make friends but.." Oh stars, were those tears? "I'm really having trouble... I just... I just like being on my own and..."
"Luster, come here honey." There was no more invitation needed, as her daughter's face completely crumpled as she quickly jumped into the out-stretched leg of Starlight's, burrowing her face in her mom's chest.
Was this how she had made her daughter feel? For a moment, Starlight was ready to beat herself up again but- that wouldn't help anything.
"I'm sorry mommy.."
No. She had to make sure her daughter was okay first.
"Luster, you have nothing to be sorry for. Take deep breaths, baby girl." Starlight could feel her daughter's breath hitch slightly, trying to regulate her breathing before being able to speak again.
"Are you sure?" Luster said softly, finally looking up at Starlight again from where she had burrowed her face into her mom's chest.
"I'm sure," Starlight said softly, using one hoof to rub her daughter's back. "I shouldn't have made you feel that way. You're okay to take your time with these things. All the time you need, really."
"... Promise?"
"I promise."
"... Okay." The smile that appeared on her daughter's face was all the reminder that this was the right thing to do. It was shaky still, but at least it was there.
Maybe Luster would struggle a bit. Maybe she wouldn't. But Starlight knew that she, Trixie, and Sunburst would all be there for their daughter no matter what to help out.
"Now... do you want to play Dragon Pit still? Or we could do something else?" Whatever Luster needed in that moment.
For a minute, Luster sat back - eyeing the tray of cookies, the mugs, and the game.
"... I want to play," she decided, her smile a bit more sure.
And with that, Starlight gave a firm nod. "Then let's play!"
Whatever challenges they had, their family would take them on forever. But first? It was just time to enjoy the holidays together.
