The next day was arduous for Twilight. She told herself it was a nightmare, nothing else. Just her mind playing tricks with herself, nothing was real. Twilight went through the daily routine, working Vanilla hard and shooting down her requests for a day off. What, did she think that she deserved it? She was her apprentice! Not her employee!

Twilight plopped her head onto the bed for a relaxing moment. She had locked the door behind her and felt secure in her tree house.  That was, of course, before a blinding light appeared in front of her bed for the 2nd time in 2 nights.

This time Twilight tried to convince herself to stay strong and look whatever it was right in the eye. What she saw from the light was her old friend Applejack.

“Well howdy AJ” Twilight said in a nervous voice “What do y’all need?”

“Hush up hon you know why I am here. Twilight what happened?”

This spirit was different then the pensive Rarity. Twilight saw the frown of disappointment on Applejack, the look of pure sadness coming from her eyes.

“I learned what was important in life Apple Eleanor Jack. Simple as that” Twilight said

“Shoot Twilight remember what friendship was? Living like this ain’t friendship, remember this Hearth Warming eve?”

At first Twilight didn’t understand the apparition. But in the blink of an eye Twilight remembered everything. The bedroom was transformed into an outside plaza. Twilight knew the sight like the back of her hoof; it was the entrance garden for the Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns Academy. Twilight lived here for several depressing years.

“Y’all remember anything hon?” Applejack said, but Twilight could tell AJ knew what was going on; Twilight’s disgruntled frown turned into a gleeful smile. “Applejack I remember this place! It was the Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns Academy; I lived here for several years.”

“4 years if I recollect” Applejack added

Walking inside Twilight could tell every filly by name. from Apple Cider to Zeal she named every filly and every teacher she came across.

:Y’all see that little filly over there? Does she look familiar to you?” Applejack said; Twilight looked in one of the rooms, she knew who it was immediately. It was herself, 68 years ago exactly. Twilight back then was just a small little lavender unicorn, constantly reading her books.

“I- I remember this” Twilight said

“Good; why were you alone?” Applejack questioned

“O I didn’t mean that, I mean I remember the story! O what a great story! A story of love and romance and… friendship” The last word hit Twilight like a rock

“You sure wanted to fit in didn’t you Twi?” Applejack added

“yes; but now I know I don’t need friends.”

“Really?” Applejack asked “Remember this night?” The moment was lost and Twilight instantly remembered the day again. It was the year and her 5 friends were chosen to play in the play about how Hearth Warming Day became.

“This is going to be great!” Rainbow Dash yelled; Rainbow Dash, what a character. Twilight listened in intently for some time before Applejack asked her “If friendship is so useless why did you enjoy it so much? It wasn’t like you got paid or learned anything from preforming such a useless drench. “

“How could you say something like that AJ? It was special, we were a team we did everything together, if it wasn’t for those 5 mares down there I don’t know how I would of turned out, probably like some old, sad, and lonely crone” Twilight covered her mouth; she realized how she had turned out, like an old, sad, lonely crone.

“What happened here then hon?” Applejack asked; the scene changed again and Twilight for the 3rd time recognized the scene. This felt like a death sentence to her.

“But Princess you don’t understand!” Twilight protested “I know what friendship is!”

“Do you Twilight Sparkle?” The princess asked; it was strange seeing herself and the princess actually talking. Twilight always felt like a subordinate to the princess, not an actual student.

“But what did I do wrong princess?” Twilight questioned

“You know what you did wrong Twilight. You had something magical, a friendship stronger than anything I had ever seen, and now it is broken. Why did you leave something so great to die Twilight? Why?” Twilight looked at her younger self, now tearing up at the princess’s words

“I’m sorry Twilight I guess I was wrong about you.” The princess said; leaving the room. Twilight felt everything hurt, seeing herself break down and cry in that tower that fateful night was more painful then the actual experience was.

“I think I’ve learned enough for now AJ” Twilight said

“Really hon? I actually have like what 10 more places to go but if y’all say so” Like that Twilight was back in her bedroom, and alone.

“What happened to me…?” Twilight said in despair “What happened to my friendship…”

Next Chapter: Stave 3 Estimated time remaining: 7 Minutes