“Dusk Glow! Wake up! Come on, get up!”
Early in the morning, Dusk Glow was jolted awake by frantic knocking on his door.
He quickly got up and stepped outside.
Twilight Sparkle’s mane was sticking up like a dandelion.
Three unfolded emergency documents floated above her glowing horn, while one of her hooves was tapping against the floor nearly five times a second.
“Spike! Where’s my copy of The Royal Etiquette Guide?”
“Ink! Ink… where did the ink go?!”
“And my three sections of research notes! Spike!”
“I’m coming, Twilight!”
Spike hurried past carrying a huge stack of documents.
The poor little dragon had not even seen the sun rise yet, and already he was being dragged into the chaos.
“What’s going on?”
Dusk Glow was completely confused.
Did Nightmare Moon attack already?
“Whap!”
A letter suddenly smacked him in the face.
Dusk Glow blinked, then used his magic to gently unfold it.
The golden parchment carried Princess Celestia’s elegant handwriting.
✦━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━✦
My dear Twilight Sparkle,
How have you been?
It has been some time since I last checked on Dusk Glow’s adjustment to Equestria.
If convenient, please bring him to the palace so that I may speak with him.
I would also like to take a little time to check on my clever student.
Let us meet at ten o’clock this morning.
Your devoted teacher,
Princess Celestia
✦━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━✦
Dusk Glow finished reading and remained silent for two seconds.
“…So this is just the princess checking in on us.”
“Impossible!”
Twilight immediately objected.
“Princess Celestia is always incredibly busy. Why would she suddenly want to check on me?”
“It must mean I’ve done something wrong recently.”
“This has to be an important test!”
She immediately began searching through the room again, muttering to herself.
“So your main concern is the ‘test’?” Dusk Glow asked helplessly.
“The letter says ten o’clock, and it’s only a little after six.”
I’ve only slept for four hours…
“No, no, no!”
Twilight completely ignored him.
“Time is extremely important. Every second counts!”
She continued frantically organizing her notes.
“The Complete Guide to Basic Magic, Major Historical Events of Equestria…”
“We need all of these.”
She used her magic to stuff books into her saddlebags.
Dusk Glow watched her frantic preparations and could not resist teasing her.
“You’re acting like you’re about to take the biggest exam in Equestrian history.”
Twilight did not even look up.
“It’s basically the same thing!”
“I need to be completely prepared!”
Just then, Spike accidentally bumped into a stack of books.
The entire pile came tumbling down.
“Spike!”
“Be careful!”
Twilight nearly jumped out of her coat.
After what felt like an eternity, they finally managed to gather everything.
Twilight looked at the clock.
Seven o’clock.
She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.
“All right.”
“If we leave now, I’ll still have enough time to review everything one more time.”
She grabbed Dusk Glow and hurried out the door.
The three of them rushed toward the palace.
Half an hour later, the palace’s waiting hall was almost completely empty.
Every few minutes, Twilight checked the clock.
Every time the minute hand moved, her nerves grew tighter.
She paced back and forth across the hall, the tapping of her hooves echoing through the empty room.
Dusk Glow sat quietly nearby.
Watching Twilight anxiously pace around was both amusing and strangely endearing.
Finally, the clock reached 9:50.
Princess Celestia entered the waiting hall with her usual graceful stride.
Twilight immediately tensed.
Her body trembled slightly as she quickly straightened her mane, trying to look calm and composed.
“Oh, goodness.”
Celestia smiled.
“You could have arrived a little later.”
“Or you could have asked one of the servants to wake me earlier. We might even have shared breakfast.”
Twilight froze.
Her ears turned red with embarrassment.
“I’m… I’m sorry, Princess.”
“I thought this evaluation was very important, so I wanted to arrive early and prepare.”
Her voice trembled slightly.
Celestia smiled warmly.
“Don’t be so nervous, dear.”
“I only wanted to have a little chat with you.”
She turned toward Dusk Glow.
“And how have you been adjusting, Dusk Glow?”
Dusk Glow politely bowed his head.
“Very well, Princess.”
“Thank you for asking.”
Celestia nodded.
Then she gracefully turned and gestured for Dusk Glow, Twilight, and Spike to follow her through the palace corridors.
Sunlight streamed through the stained glass windows, stretching their shadows across the floor.
Dusk Glow instinctively looked upward.
He had heard that every stained glass window in the palace depicted an important event in Equestrian history.
Then one particular window caught his attention.
A pink alicorn stood in profile beneath the morning sunlight, surrounded by a soft pink glow.
The magic from her horn formed a rainbow of colorful light that curved into the shape of a heart.
So Equestria has another princess?
Dusk Glow stared at the window, completely fascinated.
Princess Celestia seemed to notice his interest and stopped walking.
“This window depicts the story of Princess Cadance.”
“She is a symbol of kindness and love.”
“Long ago, one part of Equestria suffered through a crisis of love. Ponies became cold and selfish.”
“Princess Cadance used her magic and the power of love to awaken the warmth within their hearts once again.”
“Love… can be magic too?”
Dusk Glow found the idea difficult to imagine.
Celestia smiled and nodded.
“Of course.”
“Love is one of the most powerful forms of magic.”
“Princess Cadance’s love can become a source of strength and help resolve even terrible conflicts.”
“She’s also the best foalsitter in all of Equestria!”
Twilight suddenly spoke up with great enthusiasm.
“She looked after me when I was little!”
“She’s beautiful, kind, and incredibly caring!”
“She’s the best foalsitter in the entire world!”
“Wait…”
Dusk Glow stared at Twilight.
“(☉_☉)!”
“Did you just say a princess used to babysit you?”
Spike shrugged.
“Yep. I’ve heard Twilight. tell that story plenty of times.”
Celestia laughed softly.
“All right, everypony.”
“You’ll meet Cadance yourselves sooner or later.”
The group continued down the corridor.
The morning sunlight covered the royal gardens in warm golden light.
Celestia led the two ponies and one dragon leisurely through the rose gardens.
Dusk Glow’s mane gently moved with the morning breeze as he looked around curiously.
“Does this place look familiar?”
Celestia glanced at him.
“I think this is where I first landed.”
Dusk Glow looked across the garden.
This had been the first place he had ever seen after arriving in Canterlot.
In a way, it was the beginning of everything.
They soon reached a white gazebo.
A tea table had already been prepared.
Several cups of steaming flower tea sat on the table, along with a small plate of Spike’s favorite gems.
“Thank you for coming,” Celestia said with a gentle smile as she looked at Dusk Glow, Twilight, and Spike.
There was a faint, almost unreadable meaning behind her eyes.
“Today seems like a lovely day for a conversation, doesn’t it?”
Twilight nodded enthusiastically.
Her quill and notebook were already floating beside her, ready to record every piece of wisdom Princess Celestia might share.
Spike, meanwhile, was staring at the gem biscuits.
He was trying very hard not to look too eager.
Dusk Glow watched the two of them and could not help laughing.
“Twilight, you’re already in full ‘academic research mode.'”
“You look like you’re about to write a paper called The Effects of Royal Garden Tea Parties on Magical Studies.”
Twilight’s quill stopped in midair.
She awkwardly scratched the back of her head.
“Hey!”
“I just think every conversation with Princess Celestia could contain some important insight!”
Spike munched on a gem biscuit.
“Oh, please, Twilight.”
“Once, Princess Celestia said, ‘What a lovely day,’ and you wrote three whole pages of notes about it.”
He moved his claws like he was flipping through a book.
“A Study on the Relationship Between Weather Magic and Emotional Fluctuations.”
Celestia suddenly gave a graceful little cough.
A tiny golden glow flashed across the tip of her horn.
The teapot suddenly floated into the air.
As it poured tea into Twilight’s cup, the spout “accidentally” splashed some onto her notebook.
“Ah!”
“My notes!”
Twilight hurriedly used her magic to save the notebook.
Then she stopped.
The tea stain had formed the shape of a smiling face.
Celestia smiled.
“Perhaps even the teacups wanted to join our conversation.”
“Haha!”
The entire table burst into laughter.
The tea party immediately became much more relaxed.
Celestia watched the cheerful scene with warmth in her eyes.
She was happy to see Dusk Glow beside Twilight.
He seemed to bring out a side of Twilight that was less nervous and withdrawn.
Celestia calmly took another sip of tea before looking toward Dusk Glow.
“Come to think of it, Twilight has been serving as your magical mentor.”
“How has she been doing?”
Dusk Glow paused.
The spoon in his cup slowly turned as he considered his answer.
“Well…”
“Wait!”
Twilight immediately sat upright.
Her quill shot into the air.
“I think this question should be answered with a standardized evaluation form!”
Her horn was already beginning to glow as she prepared to pull an entire stack of documents from her saddlebag.
Spike quickly placed a claw over her hoof.
“Relax, Twilight!”
“This isn’t a final exam!”
Dusk Glow looked at Twilight with a sincere smile.
“Seriously, Twilight.”
“Sometimes you’re like a walking magical encyclopedia.”
“But without you, I’d probably still be turning quills into cacti whenever I tried to use magic.”
Twilight’s ears instantly perked up.
A faint blush spread across her cheeks.
“Um…”
“Well…”
“Your progress is really the result of your own hard work.”
“I only…”
Her voice gradually became quieter.
One hoof unconsciously traced a little circle on the ground.
Celestia narrowed her eyes slightly as she watched her student becoming increasingly shy.
Oh, my.
“Admit it, Professor.”
Dusk Glow’s voice carried a gentle teasing warmth.
“You’re actually a fantastic teacher.”
“Although sometimes you do enter what I like to call ‘logic evaporation mode’ during lessons.”
Twilight’s entire face turned as red as a ripe apple.
Celestia elegantly covered her mouth with a wing, laughing softly.
“What a heartwarming sight.”
Her eyes shone with affection.
“Twilight, accepting praise is part of growing as well.”
Twilight’s ears twitched.
She tried desperately to keep her voice calm.
“I… I’m only doing what I’m supposed to do.”
Her voice became softer and softer.
Dusk Glow was still looking at her with a warm smile.
Her cheeks heated up again.
“Anyway…”
Dusk Glow stretched.
“I wish you’d take me out more often.”
“We’ve spent the last few days studying books and testing my three transformations.”
In other words, Dusk Glow was getting a little bored.
Celestia smiled.
“So you want something a little more exciting?”
“Mostly.”
Dusk Glow scratched the back of his head.
“I know studying is important.”
“But we can’t spend all our time buried in books.”
Celestia’s ears perked up.
A thoughtful light appeared in her eyes.
“In that case…”
She suddenly produced an envelope with her magic.
“Princess Cadance has been looking into the concerns of ordinary ponies recently. She’s been going out into the city to gather information.”
“However…”
Celestia’s expression became slightly more serious.
“It seems she has run into a little trouble.”
“Why would Princess Cadance have trouble?”
Spike looked confused.
“She’s a princess.”
“Princess Celestia, are you asking us to solve this problem?”
Twilight’s ears immediately perked up.
She had not seen Cadance in quite some time.
Getting the chance to meet her again would be wonderful.
I wonder if she still remembers our secret greeting.
“More precisely, not ‘you.'”
Celestia took a small sip of tea.
“I’m asking Dusk Glow.”
“I want him to handle this task on his own.”
“What?!”
Twilight suddenly stood up.
She stared at Princess Celestia in shock.
Dusk Glow also froze.
Me?
“Wait…”
Twilight looked disappointed.
“Princess, do you think I’m not capable of handling this?”
“Not at all, Twilight.”
Celestia gently spread one wing around her.
“You’re more reliable than almost anypony I know.”
“It’s simply that this task does not require so many ponies.”
“Besides, you and Cadance have known each other for a long time.”
“I want to give Dusk Glow an opportunity to stand on his own.”
Celestia smiled.
“And there is something else.”
“I was hoping to give you something to study during this visit.”
“Would you really give up the opportunity to receive some personal guidance from me?”
Twilight’s ears shot straight upward.
Her violet eyes became enormous.
“Personal… guidance?”
Twilight suddenly found herself torn.
Dusk Glow’s mission was important.
But this would also give her the chance to see Cadance again.
And she could not help worrying about Dusk Glow going off on his own.
Just as Twilight was struggling to decide, Dusk Glow stood up.
He placed a hoof against his chest.
“Leave it to me.”
“But…”
Twilight still looked worried.
“Don’t worry, Professor.”
Dusk Glow transformed into his pegasus form.
He gave Twilight a gentle pat on the back with one wing.
“If there’s anything you want to tell Cadance, I can pass it along.”
Twilight took a deep breath.
Her expression gradually softened.
“All right…”
“Just say hello for me.”
“Really?”
“That’s all?”
“Yes.”
“Just that.”
A faint blush appeared on Twilight’s face, accompanied by a small smile.
“Then it’s settled!”
Dusk Glow returned to his earth pony form and lightly tapped the picnic basket with one hoof.
“But…”
He gave Twilight a mischievous look.
“Before we leave, shouldn’t we at least enjoy Princess Celestia’s special tea party?”
Three hooves reached toward the teacups at the same time.
Laughter rang softly through the royal garden.
The teapot quietly shimmered with magical light.