Pieces of rock flew everywhere and the three of them had to dodge the hazardous things. It took them all by surprise that the rock had been destroyed. Twilight looked at Sunset with wide eyes and was at a loss for words. None of them had been expecting this result to take place. Sunset was going to simply lift the rock up and set it down.

Well.

That was a bust.

Literally.

Celestia was the first to speak.

"That magic was too powerful to lift the rock up. You need to learn to control the amount of energy you place in something."

Twilight bobbed her head up and down at this like a bobble head. Her eyes were wide. That rock she blew up was almost the size of a small boulder.

"Why don't we take a break?" Sunset suggested.

All of them were a bit to jumpy from that to continue. Twilight scrambled over to her papers and shoved them under a piece of rock that was everywhere. Celestia picked up the rocks and grabbed a blanket from a picnic basket Twilight had brought along with her books. They were going to have a picnic in the field. Sunset sat on the checkered blanket and took out a few napkins and bottled water. She handed some to the others.

They graciously took them and sat down with her. Taking sandwiches from the basket, they ate quietly. Twilight was glancing up at the clouds and day dreamed some.

I wonder how life would be after this whole thing subsides?

She imagined that the heavy atmosphere surrounding the whole thing would be lighter and happier. That the sun would shine brightly. A vivid sky of blue and white clouds as fluffy as cotton. Everyone would be rejoicing in glee that the whole ordeal was over. Sunset would be smiling; radiant and more beautiful than any other. The sad eyes and scared manner would be whisked away as a new day came. There would be no Sirens to worry about or messed up events taking place. Everything would be back to how it should be. This world without magic and creatures that should never have existed.

But then if it were to be the way it should be...then Sunset, Celestia, and she would not be here. The Dazzlings wouldn't have touched the soil of this world many moons ago. Her human friends would never have met her. And worst of all...

She wouldn't have met Sunset.

Without this world being corrupted by magic, she would never have come here and found the one she would love to spend the rest of her days with. Sunset would still be in the cellar area of the palace, just reading away at books she's read millions of times before, knowing there was a world out there to explore but not being able to.

Twilight would have continued on with her life, not knowing the mare existed...

Twilight just sighed and stared off into space. Life wouldn't be as enjoyable if she didn't meet Sunset. It also wouldn't be so complicated. There were pros and cons to everything.

Sunset finished her lunch and studied Twilight's far away look. It was very enchanting how beautiful she looked. She was the one for her alright. Sunset smiled as she watched her. Celestia watched the both of them and shook her head. This relationship would have to break soon unfortunately due to the jewel. She didn't want to break it now, but when it was obvious it wouldn't survive this ordeal she would.

"Um, let's get back to work you two," she said.

The two snapped out of their trances and nodded. The whole day was filled with helping Sunset control her power. The fiery girl blew up about two dozen rocks before she finally was able to lift up something without it immediately destroying. Twilight and Sunset laughed and had a great time doing strenuous work that would have made them tired. But seeing as they were together, it was pretty clear they gave each other the motivation to keep going.

Their former teacher watched and realized how much the two of them had grown since the first time she met them. Neither of them were the little girls with wild fascinations and curiosities anymore. The small frame and innocent little faces were gone and replaced by maturing features of young adulthood. No longer was the simple minded pleasures in small things like butterflies and flowers. Everything had changed and they were beyond that.

Yet, in Celestia's mind, they were the small fillies she taught years ago. One a princess, one a former student. As much as she hoped things wouldn't get hard for them, she made them hard herself, as ironic as irony can get. Twilight let a stem of magic travel from her hands and slither its way into a small pond of water near them. With her magic, she lifted the liquid into the air and amazed Sunset.

She shaped it into a bunny, a dragon, and into a pony. Twilight was explaining to her that with deep concentration, she can change things into what she willed them into. Sunset nodded and kept watching with wonder in her eyes.

"You try," Twilight said.

Sunset bit her lip and closed her eyes. Slowly, magic came flowing from inside her into her hands and she raised them toward the water. She attempted to lift the water up and hold it, but it splashed down and made them wet. Twilight laughed in surprise when the water sprayed them. She bent down and scooped up some water and splashed it at her.

Seeing this as a game, Sunset sprayed her companion with water and Twilight screamed. Just like that, work had turned into play. Now they were running around knee deep in water soaking each other and laughing and shrieking. They had turned into the small fillies Celestia knew to still be there and she smiled.

Days were simpler in the past of childhood.

No worries.

Just laughter and joy.

But in the end, children never are children for very long.