Dear Princess Celestia

It's been a week since we all got back to our lives and started putting the events that happened at Sugarcube Corner behind us. As requested I'm checking in with a report. Applejack and Rarity both are making regular trips to Trottingham on your advice to see Docter Marey Ainsworth, the head psychologist of the Trottingham Institute for Mental Health. I haven't had many chances to talk to them, Fluttershy has come around once or twice though, and she's quieter than ever. During the time we were imprisoned by the apparitions I couldn't see Fluttershy very well, I know Nightmare Moon did terrible things to her though, I still have nightmares about her screams some nights. Rarity hasn't spent much time around us, I saw her go into Sugarcube Corner one evening when nopony was around though, she had a bouquet of pink roses in her mouth; she came out about ten minutes later without them. Applejack has been more and more withdrawn, I'm really worried about her still, she's told me she wasn't going to do anything foolish, she just needed time, and I know Big Macintosh is keeping an eye on her, so the best I can do is trust her. Macintosh knows everything as far as I can tell, I've spoken to him a few times when I come by to visit, he's not the most talkative workhorse but it's a comfortable sort of silence, I can see why being around him would help Applejack, calmness and Big Macintosh seem to go hoof-in-hoof. He says he's going to make sure she doesn't do anything foolish, and I believe him. Fluttershy is the one I've seen the most I suppose; she's been going out more lately, I have a feeling it's because she's not as comfortable being alone out on the towns' fringe as much as she used to be. When she does talk it's always simple things, we've had tea in the afternoon almost every day since we got back; it's become something of a daily ritual for us.

I'm doing alright I suppose, I still have night terrors and there are nights I don't sleep at all. Spike has been helping me keep up with my work, I don't know what I'd do without him. He's there when I wake up screaming in the night, and sometimes in the day too when I doze off. I don't like sleeping. Spike made an appointment for me to see a counselor at the Ponyville Clinic named Juniper Sweets, I've only met her once or twice but she's a very nice pony, maybe it will help. My magic isn't quite what it used to be but I think it's my own fault; ever since I found out it was my own power that caused the curse I've been wary about using my magic, I know it's foalish but every time I cast a spell I know I'm unconsciously listening for… for Her voice… Fluttershy wondered if I was getting a cold because each time I levitated my glass I sniffed. I didn't even realize I was doing it until she pointed it out, it seems silly but ever since the curse I've not quite been right around freshly baked goods.

I suppose I should get to the real reason for the letter, what I learned. I suppose in a way I learned a lot about the nature of friendship from this event. I learned that sometimes, even if a pony seems ok, she's not, we hide things from ourselves and our friends because we're afraid. Sometimes it's because we're afraid of what other ponies will think of us, sometimes it's because we're afraid of admitting something to ourselves. No matter how I look at it though, ignoring it only causes problems. In friendship we have trust, if we can't admit something about ourselves to our friends without them leaving us, even if it's something awful, then they weren't truly our friends. Real friends will look past all the flaws, big and small, all the perfects, great and tiny, and see us for who were really are. Each of us was almost consumed with our own self-blame, me for not being able to stop Pinkie, Applejack for telling Pinkie where Rainbow was, Fluttershy for narrowly, if unwittingly, dodging the knife meant for her only to have it strike Dash. Rarity hasn't gotten over the things she did down in that dungeon, especially the things she was made to do to me, and she hasn't been able to look me in the eye no matter how many times I told her I've forgiven her.

How is Luna coping? I know that she did something terrible but I also know that she must have seen what was happening down there as it was occurring… I can't say I wouldn't have done something I would've regretted either. Give your sister my best and tell her she's in my wishes.

Your Faithful Student,
Twilight Sparkle