Thirty Minute Pony Stories

Twilight’s face burst into a wide smile as she looked up at the tower of white and gold, hopping up and down in excitement.

“This is where I’m gonna be living?”

Princess Celestia smiled and nodded. “All the students at my school live in this dormitory. I’m sure you’ll make many friends here.”

Her parents looked at one another skeptically as Twilight practically danced at the door waiting to be let in. Celestia opened the door and let them all in, and Twilight’s eyes couldn’t stay pointed in one direction as she looked all around the grand hall.

Celestia lead them further towards the stairs up to the living halls. “You’ll be staying on the sixth floor, Twilight. There’s a dining hall and a library on the first-“

“We have our own library!?” Twilight asked.

Her parents sighed and Celestia chuckled. “Yes, Twilight. And I’ll be happy to show it to you myself later today.”

Twilight’s smile wouldn’t fade as she walked up the stairs, looking up at Celestia in awe. Celestia couldn’t help smiling back. It was always a delight to see a young pony so excited about learning. She didn’t often see ponies more excited by the library than by the dining hall.

“It’s okay for her to keep Spike here, Princess?” Twilight’s mother asked.

Celestia smiled back at her and nodded. “Of course. Arrangements have been made for his care. I’ve instructed our chefs in his dietary needs, and I will be personally checking in on him from time to time.”

“I can take care of Spike!” Twilight said, lifting her nose. “Besides, he can eat anything!”

“Just because he can eat anything doesn’t mean he should,” her mother replied.

Celestia chuckled. “When we get to your room, Twilight, I think you’ll find a book about what dragons eat waiting on your bed.”

Twilight’s eyes lit up and she looked back up at Celestia again. “You got me a book? Thank you, thank you!”

“You’re too generous, Princess,” Twilight’s father said. “Certainly we can’t merit so many gifts and so much of your time.”

Celestia turned to him when they reached the sixth floor. “Your daughter is worth my time.”

Twilight blushed and her father nodded. “Thank you, Princess.”

They reached her door, and Celestia brought out a key to unlock it, gesturing for Twilight to go inside.

“Wow! Look how big it is!” Twilight leapt inside in excitement, and Celestia and her parents chuckled outside.

“We’re going to get the rest of your things from the carriage, and we’ll be back in a moment!” Her mother called out.

“Thank you for this, Princess,” Twilight’s mother said.

Celestia shook her head. “Think nothing of it.” She looked down at her and a different kind of smile crept onto her face. “It’s… it’s good to see you again, Star.”

Star’s smile stayed perfectly fixed on her face, and her voice remained perfectly flat in reply. “Likewise.”

She turned to face her husband. “Would you mind? I’ll be down in a moment.”

He hesitated, staring up at Celestia for a moment, but he nodded. “Of course.”

When he turned to leave, Star stepped a bit away from the door, and her eyes turned back up towards Celestia. “She’s the one you’ve been looking for, isn’t she?”

Celestia felt a tingle of fear all over her and she pulled back. “I don’t know what you-“

“Don’t,” Star said.

For more than one reason Celestia felt a lump in her throat and she shivered. Finally she sighed and hung her head, nodding. “I’m sorry. I never could lie to you.”

Star’s lips were held tight as she looked up at Celestia, silent.

“That’s not how I remember it,” she finally replied.

Celestia nodded. “Of course. I’m sorry.”

Star sighed and shook her head, turning to walk away. Celestia leaned forward out of an old instinct to follow her, to chase after her, but she pulled back. It wasn’t the time for that anymore, she told herself.

“I… I hope she does… solve your problem,” Star said, looking back. “I do. Just… don’t hurt her.”

“I promise,” Celestia said. “For you.”

Star glared at her and shook her head. “For her.”

“Of course,” Celestia replied. And Star left to join her husband.

Krizak Comments!

So much is made of the heartbreak that an immortal can suffer when their love passes away, but so little is said about a more natural sort of breakup. This sort of backstory between Celestia and Twilight’s mother casts everything into a very different sort of light; one wonders how Star felt as her daughter grew up seeing her former lover as another maternal figure. The cold manner with which Star treats Celestia is also intriguing; from their conversation, we know lying on Celestia’s part was a part of the problem, but one wonders how much further it went. Outside of the heartbreak, Twilight’s excitement about everything put a smile on my face.