Stardate: 2262.40, Starfleet Academy - Just after the test...

“I told you,” Rarity chided with vigor. Her mane was all mussled up and Twilight could only groan in response. “I told you we should’ve waited. We did horrible on the test! I can’t believe we lost the entire crew and our ship!”

“If you didn’t see it before, it was an impossible scenario. It was either leave the Kobayashi Maru to die or try and save it, in turn provoking a war with Centaurans and dying ourselves.”

“We still could’ve done something!” Rarity cried.

“It was a no-win scenario. Even if I had no knowledge of what was going to happen, I kne that much. You can’t stay in this place for long without at least knowing why it’s so damn hard,” Twilight countered. Rarity dragged her hooves down her face in response, runing her makeup.

“You’re unbelievable,” Rarity groaned, rolling over in her bed and staring at her make-up covered hoof.

“I do my best, Gems,” Twilight said, falling onto her own bed.

Twilight stared up at the ceiling, her brain working hard to process everything that had happened. During the test, after the test, before the test… it all became a blur. She was apparently the only first year to try for the test in ages, and many were looking to see what would happen.

And, like most other challengers, she failed. She failed to save the crew, and failed to save her own vessel. She failed in her attempt to make contact with the Centaurans and more or less started a war. Most important of all, she failed to win.

Twilight huffed as she went deeper and deeper into her thoughts. Maybe next time, she could do the complete opposite, and not save the crew at all… But what would the implications be? The crew she would be given might mutinize her, she would violate at least twelve Starfleet regulations, and she might be court-martialed in-game. Adding to that would be the consequences of abandoning the crippled crew on her own conscience if the scenario were to play out in real life.

Rarity brought Twilight out of her reverie. “At least that’s a year we’re done with. I can’t believe that I survived that. After today, I might need to get myself a small drink…”

Twilight laughed at Rarity’s remark. “You and me both, sister. After that school year, I could chug a whole barrel of cider.”

“That is a completely valid comment, but you would die before you even finished a quarter of the-” Rarity began to say.

“I know the risks of actually doing that, Rarity.”

“Well, I never truly know with you if you’re being sarcastic or being literal,” Rarity argued. “It’s seems to me that every other thing you say is the complete opposite of what you’re going to do.”

“Chaos is great,” Twilight smiled.

“For you, maybe,” Rarity muttered, “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to take a shower and fix my hair before you waste all the hot water. Celestia knows after having to fall like that, I need it.”

“You know you’re the one that uses all the hot water, right?”

“Oh, shut up.”

“Make me.”

Rarity glared at Twilight from across the room. “I’ll smack you with my hoof if I have to.”

Twilight grinned. “I’d like to see you try.”

Rarity and Twilight held a stare for another moment before they broke eye contact. Rarity walked into the washroom as she humphed. “I can’t believe you. Nearly a year, it’s been, and I still can’t do it.”

“I like to think it’s one of my more definable traits.”

“Sparks, I will come over there,” Rarity called from the washroom.

“Love you too, Gems.”

Stardate: 2262.97 - After the Summer Break

“How’s the first day of the second year been?” Rarity asked Twilight. She watched as her best friend slumped to the floor in a heap of purple fur. At the action, Rarity rolled her eyes and closed the door behind Twilight.

“I’ve already had three exams testing what I remembered from the previous year,” Twilight moaned, her voice muffled through the carpet she had so graciously fell into. “Even though I know I passed each with flying colours, doesn’t mean I hate it any less.”

Rarity nodded in agreement. “Though I may not be as dramatic as you are, I can agree that it is indeed brutal.”

“Ungghhhhhhhhhhhh!” Twilight groaned, beginning to crawl her way to her bed.

“Okay, Sparks,” Rarity nearly facehoofed, “It’s only been a day and you’re already dirtying the dormitory!”

“The carpet feels so good though…” Twilight whimpered, inching herself closer and closer to her bed.

“And I thought the three exams I had as well were pathetically hard to understand,” Rarity grumbled. She promptly picked Twilight up in her magic, craning her neck slightly at the effort, and deposited her on her mattress. All the while, Twilight kicked her legs in an attempt to break free.

“That’s no far, you used your magic!” Twilight cried from bed, sighing as she was soon consumed in it’s fluffiness.

“I was just worried you might merge with the floor,” Rarity snarked.

“You can’t separate us like that!” Twilight shouted dramatically before rolling off her bed and onto the floor, out of view.

Rarity closed her eyes, breathing in and out as she calmed herself down. Finally tidying her own things up, she went to sit on her own bedside. “Why am I still here?” she muttered under her breath, before groaning softly and plopping onto her back.

Stardate: 2262.134

“They still won’t let me take my exams in advance!” Twilight whimpered. “This goes against my rights!”

“Sparky, dear, you have no rights,” Rarity said, her voice tired and defeated. “Can you keep down the ruckus? I’m studying right now and I’d really appreciate if I got some peace and quiet. Celestia knows I need some of it right now…”

Rarity was responded with a soft floomp. Raising an eyebrow tiredly, she glanced to the side before peering over her shoulder. Lying on her bed face down was Twilight, who groaned silently.

“Twilight, would you be a dear and shut up?”

“Hnnnggh.”

“Thought so,” Rarity sighed, going back to her notes and books while having to listen to Twilight’s muffled rant. Being at the top of her class, Rarity wanted to maintain an image. Having to also study for Biology and the like really killed some brain cells, so it was no surprise to see her dead tired.

“You know what,” Rarity huffed, putting all her studies away and shutting off her desk light, “I’ve had enough of tonight. Let’s go have a small drink, shall we?”

Twilight stopped for a moment, before her head turned away from the sheets. Looking at Rarity with a smile, Twilight grinned. “Thought you would never ask, Rares.”

“Small, Twily, small.”

Twilight’s smile quickly fell into a glare. “Only my family gets to call me that.”

“But I pretty much am family, having to put up with you everyday,” Rarity snorted. She pushed off from the desk and began to trot to the door.

“Fair point,” Twilight conceded, shuffling herself off her bed. “Friends are family, am I right?”

“Whatever you say, Sparks,” Rarity agreed.

Stardate: 2262.138

Twilight entered her dorm room, only to find all the lights suspiciously turned off.

She carefully set her saddlebags down, adjusted her uniform, and stepped in. Something was wrong.

She could sense a presence in the room. Either someone was going to jump her, or she was about to die, and she wanted to be prepared. Squinting in the light, she charged her horn, and…

“Happy Birthday Twily!” Shining Armour shouted, and the light’s flickered on in a flash. Everypony else in the room shouted their own greetings, with streamers and confetti flowing everywhere. Unfortunately, Twilight was unprepared.

“Eep!” Twilight cried in alarm, and her spell misfired, landing somewhere. That somewhere being Rarity, who was blown backwards from the force of the spell.

“TWILIIIIIIII-” Rarity cried as she waved her hooves before she hit the wall next to Twilight’s bed and slumped down, unconscious.

All ponies present turned to Twilight and her brother, a little worried. Twilight could only stare on in surprise and embarrassment, while Shining Armour chuckled nervously. “Okaaaaay…” Shining Armour laughed, “Uhm, I think that’s game, everypony. You can all leave your presents… and take a slice of cake on the way out…”

They all murmured in agreement, greeting Twilight a happy birthday once more before they left, leaving only the two siblings and the unconscious Rarity in the dorm room. Everything was still there, the party decorations all hanging, bright and colourful. They all looked a little droopy now, as if the mood had soured.

Twilight and Shining Armour stood silent for a few moments, neither one meeting the other’s eyes. “I guess next time, we won’t throw a surprise party,” Shining Armour joked, and Twilight finally looked up.

“You know how much I hate parties on my birthday,” Twilight murmured. Pushing past her brother, Twilight walked over to Rarity, checking her over.

“Come on, sis,” Shining Armour pleaded, “We skipped your birthday last year. You can’t keep doing this to yourself…”

“I can’t?” Twilight asked, “I have to. Every time I think of my birthday, I can’t ignore the fact it’s the same day Dad died!”

“Dad died so you could live, Twilight. Doing this every year isn’t living.”

“Yeah, well, tell me something I don’t know,” Twilight seethed. “You think this is easy for me?”

“No, and it isn’t any easier for Mom or I, Twi,” Shining Armour said softly, “You’re not the only one suffering here.” With one last sigh, Shining Armour turned to leave the room. “Happy Birthday, Twilight.”

Twilight stayed silent, all the while listening as the door finally closed and Twilight wiped her eyes.

“Owww…” Rarity groaned, rubbing her head.

“Sorry about that, Gems,” Twilight grinned lightly, “You’re tough as diamonds. This is nothing.”

“You should listen to your brother, Twilight,” Rarity whispered after a while. “He’s right.”

Twilight’s expression soured and she turned away. “I know he is,” Twilight muttered, “I just… Starfleet reminds me everyday. Everywhere I look, it’s always there…”

“Then use it,” Rarity consoled, “Use his memory for good. Take it as your own, be the mare he knew you could be, live the life he never could.”

“That’s just it, Rarity. I’m afraid that I’ve already… I’ve already gone too far… I’m an idiot that will never be able to live up to my Daddy’s legacy.”

“You’re wrong and you know it,” Rarity chided.

“It doesn’t stop me from thinking it,” Twilight whispered, moving to her bed. She slipped off her uniform and chucked it to the side. “And sometimes, I tear myself apart from the inside.”

Plopping onto her bed, Twilight stared up at the ceiling, and both mares boiled in their thoughts. Rarity, still nursing her head, sat on the edge of her bed, frowning at Twilight.

“It’s your birthday, Twilight. You should at least have a slice of ever-fattening sugar. Rarity received no response from the pondering Twilight for a while.

“Pass me a piece,” Twilight finally said, and Rarity grinned.

“I thought you would never ask.” Rarity quickly cut a piece and put it on a paper plate, floating it over to Twilight’s bed stand.

“Thank you, Rarity,” Twilight murmured, taking the plate in her own magic and taking a bite.

“Anytime, Sparks.”

Stardate: 2263.10

“Twilight,” Rarity narrowed her eyes, nicknames forgotten, “I know that look.”

“Yes, you do,” Twilight smirked.

“Whaaaat are you doing this time,” Rarity sighed.

“I’m taking the test again,” Twilight remarked. Rarity laughed.

“A test? Ha! Please, Twilight, why would you take a test… again...” Realization quickly dawned on Rarity’s face while Twilight could only smile wider at the look.

“You’re not seriously going to take it again, are you?” Rarity asked incredulously. “Twilight, this is insanity!”

“No it’s not. I can be one of the first to take the Kobayashi Maru test a second time! It’ll be fine.”

“Don’t you remember what happened last time?” Rarity shook her head. “I can’t believe this.”

“Come on, Gemmy. I need you with me.”

“No, you really don’t.”

“You know what’ll happen if you don’t coooome!” Twilight sang.

Rarity could only sigh deeply, groaning like she’d never have before. “Yes, and I’m worried of what might happen if I don’t.”

“All the more reason,” Twilight said, leaving the door ajar as she left their dorm.

With one last like at her book, she cried out to Twilight. “Wait up, you dimwit! Somepony needs to watch after you!”

“Love you, Rares!”

“I hate you.”

“No you don’t.”

Author's Notes:

After two months! Woo!

Enjoy.