A knock on my door is what keeps me from falling asleep. “What is it?” I asked, trying to be polite to the intruder of my slumber.
“Luna? May I come in?” My sister recognized that she was disrupting something, but there was no turning back. I opened the door for her using some simple magic, and she stepped forward, to my bedside. “Luna, it has been a few months since you have seen other ponies. Sleeping during the day, and staying awake all night. I think it’s time that you get out and join me in visiting the school this morning.”
My mind is still slightly groggy from the minute of sleep I received, but I’m still awake enough to make a decision. “Sure, let’s go to magic kindergarten and give them a history lesson to put them to sleep. Sounds great.” As I’m getting out of bed, a shiver goes throughout my body and I’m reminded of the cool winter morning.
“Actually, we aren’t going to magic kindergarten today. They are learning the ABC’s today and I don’t want to disrupt that. We are overseeing entrance exams for the School for Gifted Unicorns.”
We leave my room and head down to the kitchen for some much needed coffee. If Tia wants me awake for this, I need coffee. Levitating a peppermint latte, I follow my sister out into the garden, regretting getting out of my warm bed. Tia and I walk to the school a short distance away, and are welcomed by the fellow overseers. We take our places just as the first filly walks in. Her task is to grow a hedge out of a sample of a branch. Simple task, but I guess challenging for the young ones.
After a few more exams I run out of coffee and start to fall asleep. But oh no, Tia won’t have that. She tells me where I can go get more coffee, and sends me off. I start walking down the street and find a large crowd of ponies all chanting and cheering mixing into a jumbled mess of noise. I go and see what all of the fuss is about, and find two stallions in the middle. Both fuming with rage.
“PAY UP! YOU SPENT ALL NIGHT SITTING ON THAT STOOL DROWNING YOURSELF IN CIDER AND DON’T EVEN HAVE THE BITS TO PAY FOR IT ALL?!” The situation is obvious. Classic broke drunkard. I wonder what caused this stallion to drink all that cider. But before I have the chance to finish my thought, a raised hoof is brought down painfully fast upon the stallion’s face.
“Please, I’ll pay you back soon. I have a job at the rainbow factory and can pay you in full soon. Please, just don’t hurt me.” As this stallion pleaded, the other slowly lowered his hoof, but as the begging ended, the hoof picked up speed and came towards the pleading Pegasus’ face. I stepped in seconds before contact, speaking in the Royal Canterlot Voice. “HOW DARE YOU? HE SAID THAT HE WOULD PAY. WHY MUST HE BE PHYSICALLY INJURED WHEN HE IS OBVIOUSLY HURT EMOTIONALLY? WHEN HAS THE WORD OF A COLT BECOME LESS VALUABLE?” The bar tender shrunk away just what he had done, and in my presence. “You must let him go, as long as he pays what is due.” The terrified pony on the ground slowly got up, but immediately kneeled before me.
“Princess Luna, you have saved me much pain, and possibly my life. How can I ever repay you?” I think of something he could do, and come up with a bunch of things. But that would defeat the purpose of breaking up the fight. “Just pay back the bartender and everything will be even.” I am satisfied of my work and proceed to get my coffee.
Five minutes later, I’m walking back into the exam room with a steaming peppermint latte. I have missed quite a few exams, but I know that breaking up that scuffle was the right thing to do. Next to come in is a light blue filly with a dark blue mane and tail along with a light blue stripe through both mane and tail. She somehow perked me up, and I became interested.
Her exam begins, and she glides through part one, but takes a little more time in part two. She succeeds in the test, and I am left in a daze from the amount of talent she has. I would admit that her exam had been harder than those before her, but she took it head-on and came out on top.
We get through the next few remaining exams and I tell Tia that I’m going out and will meet her home soon. Leaving Tia, I go find the light blue filly. I find her in the main lobby, talking to her parents about how she did. I approach the three ponies with caution, for I haven’t figured out what to say yet. “Umm... Hello,” I try to start a conversation in a weak attempt. The filly’s parents freak out when they see who I am.
“Princess Luna! What an honor! What can we do for you?” A cream mare bows along with a dark blue stallion. Awkwardly, I tell them to rise and that I would like to talk over some important manner with all three of them. The filly looks nervous, and like she is about to burst into tears. The poor thing doesn't think she made it into the school.
“I would like to speak with all of you about the education of your daughter. She passed the exam with flying colors.” I hear a sigh of relief, and smile as I continue. “In fact, she did so well that I would like to offer her a higher education as my personal student.” All three ponies look dazed and shocked with their mouths wide open.
“Of course, yes!” The filly speaks up from beside her mother who is still in shock. I laugh as an excited filly jumps up and down in circles around all of us, her voice bringing her parents back from shock. “Are… Are you sure about this sweetie?” I know that this is all a dream come true for the filly, but even so, her mother is still trying to make sure it’s what she wants.
“Yes! I know that I want to be the best I can be and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity!”
“Well if it’s what you want, I am okay with her being your student, Princess.” The filly’s father nods behind his wife.
“Well if you don’t mind, I’d like to get to know her. But don’t worry, she’ll be able to visit when she isn't studying, so don’t you fret.” The filly and I walk towards the castle to tell Celestia, and I ask the first of many questions, “Dear, what is your name? I was not able to catch it during your exam.”
“My name is Starshine.”
Starshine and I continue talking, and I find out all about her. Her family is in the lower class of society, and was barely able to pay for her exam to enter the school. She is an only child and was lucky to be born as that her mother has a low chance of foaling. As she finished the story of her being able to get the exam for the school, we arrived at the castle.
“Tia! I’m home! And I have someone I want you to meet!” I call into the grand corridors that web off from the front entrance. No response tells me which way she is, so I motion for Starshine to follow me as we go look for the Sun Goddess. I look back and find my new student gazing at the walls and admiring their designs. I then remembered that this was the first time she had ever been close to the castle, so I slowed down and gave her a tour as we went to find my sister.
As her usual, I found her in her lounge, reading the latest of Twilight’s reports about friendship. “Sister, I have someone I would like you to meet.” I say, walking in the door. Following my invitation, Starshine walks in and my sister puts down her report.
“Tia, this is Starshine, she was one of the applicants for the school, and I saw great potential in her. I have already talked to her parents and she is now my student.” My sister was surprised that I had taken on a student, “Luna, I did not expect this. Anyhow, it is your decision who your next student shall be, and I could not be prouder. Welcome young Starshine. Has my sister given you a tour of the castle yet?” Starshine was in awe that Princess Celestia was talking to her, and she could not respond.
“Only on the way from the front doors to here,” I respond for my new student.
“Well, let us all take the tour together then. I need some exercise anyway. Shall we go?”
Celestia and I have shown Starshine most of the castle, and she has yet to say a word. I think it may be too overwhelming for all of this to happen in one day, especially for a young filly. “Let’s head back to my room, Starshine. It seems that all of this is a bit overwhelming for you.” “Oh not at all, let us finish the tour first! It’s just so amazing I don’t want to waste any moment talking.” The little filly looked down at her hooves after saying the first words she has spoken since we arrived at the castle. “I mean, if that’s okay with you princesses.” “Of course, let’s finish this, and then I’ll show you a surprise.” My student’s face lit up at the last bit of my statement. “A surprise? I love surprises!!” Starshine became a bouncing ball of light blue fur for a few moments, but then realized she was in our presence and soon became calm and quiet, following Celestia and I through the rest of the castle tour.
As the tour drew to a close, Tia went to her lounge to finish reading Twilight’s report while Starshine and I went towards the direction of my personal bedroom. In the corridor that leads to my room, we made a turn to a hallway that turned to spiral stairs going up a tower. As we reached the top, there was a door that I turned towards Starshine in front of. “Here is your surprise. Go ahead, open it.” I moved to let Starshine through, and she opened the door to find a two story room. On the first floor there was a bedroom, and bathroom on the right, and a dining room and kitchen on the left. Straight ahead was a large glass door leading to a balcony overlooking Canterlot. A few blue pillows were lying along the walls near the door, leaning against glass windows. A fireplace was placed on the right wall of the center room with double glass so it was available in the bedroom as well. On the left wall there was a set of stairs, leading to the second floor. Huge bookshelves were along either side of the single room with a large window and telescope occupying the third wall. I watched as Starshine explored the new living space, running to and fro, up and down, inside and outside. She explored everywhere with the biggest little smile which caused one of my own.
“Is all of this really for me Princess?” She asked after finally calming down. But her smile did not leave. “Yes this is for you, do you like it? It’s your new room close to mine where your studies will be held.” “Like it?! I love it!!”
I watch as the eager filly rushes up to the library, and pulls the first book off the shelf. She takes an immediate interest in the Astrology book at hand, and I can see her face lighting up. Feeling satisfied with my gift to her, I let myself out and begin the decent to my own bedroom.
A quick glance at my clock, and I realize it’s almost dinner time. Another clue would be the loud rumbling erupting from my stomach, telling me it hasn't been filled all day. All that it has consumed has been two peppermint lattes, but with all of the excitement I have forgotten to eat.
About a half hour later, I can smell the aroma of the wonderful dinner rising through the castle. Moments later a small knock is heard at my door. There is Starshine, standing with her head looking down at her hooves. “I... I’m sorry, I didn't mean to bother you, but I was just wondering what that smell was.” “Starshine, you must know that you are always welcome to ask anything or do anything as my student. So no more shy stuff, alright?” A small nod is visible, but only barely; she hasn't looked up from the ground yet. “Okay, let’s go down for dinner. By this smell, it should almost be done.” I wrap my wing around the shy filly, trying to comfort her, but I can see that she does not interact with many other ponies often, and getting to dine with princesses has made her extremely nervous. “Are you nervous or scared?” Another slight nod. “Why don’t you go get that book you started a little bit ago and you can read at the table. Would that help?” Her small light blue face lit up with an open smile and she looked up from the ground exposing a pair of golden eyes that I have not payed attention to before. “Do you really mean it Princess Luna? Can I read my book at the table?” I nod once and a flash of light blue disappeared up the tower.
A few minutes later she comes back down with the book held in her mouth. A smile is spread around and the small student’s confidence has dramatically increased with the addition of the bound parchment. We arrive at dinner to find Celestia already there, waiting for us. As we are served our meal, Starshine opens up the book and begins to read, eager to learn more. My sister notices this behavior, and says to me, “She is looking to be a great student already. I cannot wait to see how her mind expands into your guided studies.”
Author's Note
Hey guys! I wanted to start writing longer chapters, but I didn't give myself enough to write in this chapter. Let's see where Luna takes Starshine, maybe longer chapters?
~Twimusic
