CHAPTER 1: PROLOGUE - THE START OF A NEW ERA
It was a beautiful day in Equestria. It was the day at the future after the royal sisters, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna crowned Twilight Sparkle as the royal princess, causing her friends and every pony to tear up with happiness, and even her friends: Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy, including her dragon friend Spike.
Spike ran to Princess Twilight and says,
"I got here as soon as I could, but friendship ambassador is a full time job these days. Making peace between Abyssinians and the Diamond Dogs has not been easy."
Twilight replies,
"That's why I picked you for the job. But I'm glad you could come."
Spike shrugged and asked,
"So what's the emergency?"
"Ever since I took over Celestia's School, my focus has been on teaching magic. But now it seems my top student has missed the most important lesson of all," said Twilight.
"What do you mean?" Spike asked with curiosity.
"Let's just say it'll be good to have my royal advisor and friendship ambassador by my side," Twilight chuckled.
In the middle of the hallway of Canterlot, Gallus, who has been grown for the future, walks in and says to Twilight,
"Your Majesty, she's here."
"Send her in, Gallus," Twilight replies.
Then, the door opened by Gallus, and there stood a pink unicorn named Luster Dawn.
"Your Majesty," she said.
The princess looked at Luster kindly, as if she remembered her as a student, since Luster's parents Sunburst and Starlight Glimmer, who were Twilight's friends from the present, told her so before the future.
*~(Flashback)~*
Twilight was teaching how to make friends when Luster was little. Luster was too curious, but Twilight says,
"Don't worry, Luster. Friendship takes more time."
Luster shyly looked at Twilight, and to her parents, who reassured her with support. Luster nodded, and made an attempt to make friends with her classmate. Once it worked like a charm, Twilight says,
"Great work, Luster!"
"That's my baby girl!" Starlight cheered.
Sunburst chuckled as he nudged his mate.
Luster giggled and cheered, as if she passed the friendship test.
*~(End of Flashback)~*
"Luster, I may be ruler of Equestria, but I'm still just your teacher," responded Twilight.
LAnd you've been wonderful. I've enjoyed every moment at the School of Magic. But I'm just not sure it's the right place for me," says Luster.
"I see," the princess said.
"And it's not the work. I could spend weeks in the library doing research. It's just that there's a lot of focus on making friends," she says.
"If that's your problem, you've come to the right place," Spike said.
Luster protested suddenly,
"But that's just it. I don't want to make friends."
"What?!" Spike asked in shock before clearing his throat.
"So you'd rather leave the School of Magic than make friends?" Twilight asked in confusion.
"I was hoping to set up an independent course of study. I want to accomplish as much as you have someday," said Luster.
Spike insists,
"It'll be hard to do that without friends."
"I'm not so sure. Friendship looks like more of a distraction than anything else and ultimately a waste of time," said Luster.
Spike asked in shock again,
"What?!"
"I know you and your friends accomplished a lot together, but that was so long ago, and as far as I can see, you rule by yourself now," explained Luster.
Spike insists once again after hearing Luster's words,
"Uh, hello? Royal advisor right here."
Luster continues with positivity,
"And I don't think there's anything wrong with that. In fact, I think it's better. Plus, if friendships ultimately fade, why even make them in the first place?"
"You know what, Luster Dawn? You're right," said Twilight.
"WHAT?! Friendship is more trouble than it's worth?!" Spike asked, and turned to Twilight,
"This is your top student?"
"Friendships take work, and there's no guarantee they'll last. They can be complicated. They can be messy. And they never go the way you plan. Friendship is a hard thing to navigate. I remember the first time I realized it might not last forever," Twilight says.
Time passed until the sunset, which is actually when the mane 6, who were already grown in the future, had assisted Twilight and Spike on telling Luster how the magic of friendship grows. In agreement, Luster agrees, and waved goodbye to Twilight, Spike, and their friends as she walked with her new friends named Sundance, Ambrosia, Lil' Cheese, Baron, and Hazel Garden.
SPOILER ALERT! Featuring a scene of the ending of the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic franchise, during the events of its final episode The Last Problem.
