Aurora had spent nearly the entire day at Zecora's cottage, and finally, because Aurora needed to return before it got dark, they ended the day's get-together with lingering reluctance.
After all, the Everfree Forest at dusk and night is the most dangerous and the most terrifying for ponies.
So as not to worry Zecora and her friends in Ponyville, Aurora had to head back early.
Before parting, Aurora left her address in Ponyville with Zecora, so that Zecora could come and find her anytime in the future.
However, I'm afraid Zecora won't be able to come for a while.
Because Aurora would be frequently running off to the Everfree Forest to find Zecora in the near future; besides the newly initiated Supernatural Magic project, there were the materials for that spellbook, Chaos Magic, the tree of harmony, the Princess sisters' Old Castle...
There was really so much to do, and Aurora felt that her days were busy and happy, though it would be even better if she didn't think of her Senior Sister during her late-night melancholy sessions.
However, Aurora did not neglect her social life with friends just because she was busy having fun studying magic; she would not make the same mistake a second time.
Besides, the process of interacting with The foals was very healing, and sometimes Aurora would even think about applying to be a teacher at the Ponyville school, which was full of adorable Foals.
However, after watching the teacher's actual class and the teaching progress from the outside for a while, she immediately dismissed that thought.
Although Aurora didn't have the kind of germaphobia where she "wanted to die upon seeing an idiot, a fool, or a moron," if she had to teach a simple question repeatedly without success, her mood probably wouldn't be very pleasant either.
Ponies are cute, but that cuteness cannot replace the patience required to teach without discrimination. So, for the harmony and peace of Ponyville, Aurora felt it was better to maintain a safe distance from these ponies, which would be good for everyone.
Aurora ultimately abandoned the idea of developing a side job for the time being and focused on being a good scientist.
About a week after the letter was sent to Cloudsdale, Aurora finally received a reply from Fleur Dis Lee. Aurora specifically waited until all four ponies were present before opening it.
"No!"
Just as Aurora was about to open the envelope, Rarity suddenly let out a shrill scream, startling Aurora so much that she almost tore the letter.
Everyone looked at Rarity, who had abruptly made a scene, with eyes full of dissatisfaction or surprise, and Rarity, being watched, blushed and cleared her throat twice, returning to her usual soft-spoken tone as she spoke.
"This is Fleur Dis Lee's handwritten reply; I just feel it's a bit of a pity to open it directly."
"But if we don't open it, we won't be able to see what's written on the letter!"
Applejack really couldn't stand this bit of affectation from Rarity and retorted directly.
"Rarity, it's just a letter, and a letter is meant to be read. Just like an apple, no matter how beautiful it is, it's meant to be eaten by a pony!"
"I know what you mean, Applejack. I was just... sighing a little, that's all."
Aurora watched the interaction between this bickering pair with interest for a while before starting to open the letter.
Unfolding the meticulously folded letter paper, a familiar scent of rose perfume rushed towards her.
"Oh! It smells so sweet!"
Pinkie Pie, whose appetite was stimulated by this fragrance, groped around in her mane for a while, found a piece of candy, and stuffed it into her mouth.
At this moment, Aurora inexplicably associated it with the image of being hugged by Fleur Dis Lee, and a wave of homesickness welled up in her heart.
Fleur Dis Lee's handwriting was graceful and elegant, starting with congratulations on Aurora's housewarming, as well as expressing her longing for Flying Light, and other such pleasantries.
How should she put it? It was just written with too much emotion and had too much of a romantic flair, especially since Aurora wasn't reading this letter alone, so there was an awkward feeling of a public execution.
But the simple and emotionally open ponies didn't think anything of it; they just felt that Fleur Dis Lee really cared about her friend Aurora.
Only then came the most important part.
The reason this letter took a week to reach Ponyville was that it was only sent out yesterday. Before that, Fleur Dis Lee had been doing everything she could to help them inquire about the news.
Unexpectedly, it was not any of the active members of the Wonderbolts who had performed the Sonic Rainboom, and none of the famous flyers in Cloudsdale were willing to admit that they had done it.
You have to know that the Sonic Rainboom is no joke; if one were to admit to it, enjoy the adoration of the crowd, and then fail to perform it a second time, they would be ridiculed by everyone.
Seeing this, Aurora suddenly remembered that after Rainbow Dash accidentally performed the Sonic Rainboom that day, she never succeeded again until the Best Young Flyers Competition, when she recreated the Sonic Rainboom to save Rarity.
Later, the ultimate move gradually became a basic attack...
If there was no evidence to prove that Rainbow Dash had performed the Sonic Rainboom, and she couldn't perform a second one, it wouldn't be easy to identify Rainbow Dash based on the Sonic Rainboom.
After all, at this time, Rainbow Dash had not yet become friends with these ponies, and the ponies might not unconditionally trust Rainbow Dash's words.
It is because they are friends that they would believe her even when she didn't have the ability to perform a second Sonic Rainboom. It is not because she performed the Sonic Rainboom that they are willing to become her friends.
"It seems that even Fleur Dis Lee couldn't find the pony who performed the Sonic Rainboom. I'm sorry, everyone, I have no way to help either."
Having realized this, Aurora suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, and then "regretfully" announced her inability to help to the other ponies.
"Maybe the Sonic Rainboom really was just an accident, both for you and for that Pegasus."
But she added another sentence while they were sinking into disappointment.
"But looking at the bright side, you have all seen the same rainbow with strangers before."
"The friend you are looking for is someone who has seen the same rainbow as you, not a hero who has helped you. Even if you really find this pony, what if she doesn't meet your 'expectations'?"
Aurora's words left them silent; they had indeed been fixated on the "hero who performed the Sonic Rainboom," neglecting the most essential thing instead. They had also never considered whether their "self-righteousness" would make this friend who had once helped them feel embarrassed.
Aurora herself understood this deeply.
"Expectations" are essentially a "cage of self-imagination." Whether it's the anticipation of a "hero" or the prejudgment of a "villain," both will make ponies unable to see the other's true self and unable to grasp true friendship.
A wave of bitterness welled up in Aurora's heart; she regretted that she had realized this truth too late, and at the same time, she was afraid that because of her intervention, these ponies had almost misjudged an important friend.
The "pony who could perform the Sonic Rainboom" that they had envisioned might be a hero who was "powerful, confident, and could recreate miracles at any time," but the real Rainbow Dash was just an ordinary pony who "would act tough, couldn't perform a second Sonic Rainboom, and was occasionally reckless."
If they were to meet Rainbow Dash with this mindset, Aurora dared not imagine what would unfold afterwards.
'Almost made a mistake again...'
Aurora thought with lingering fear.
"So, let's just let things take their course; after all, fate is a very magical thing, and it is best at bringing unexpected surprises to ponies."
------------------------
I've posted 70+ chapters in advance on Patreon.
Webnovel updates will still be daily, as usual.
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/SolyuraMT
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"