“…And that’s how Aunt Twily and Starswirl the Bearded saved the world and defeated the Pony of Shadows!”
 
”Whoa…” Shining Star was in awe as Flurry Heart put down the history textbook. “Did you really get to meet Starswirl the Bearded? What was he like?”
 
”It was a really long time ago,” Flurry pondered. “I wasn’t much older than you when he died. He was really smart and good at magic, a lot like you! Though, he seemed to think friendship was pretty silly. Luckily Aunt Twily helped him discover its magic, right?”
 
“Again with the friendship lecturing,” Star rolled his eyes. “I already have you, and Mom and Dad. I don’t need anypony else!”
 
“Not even that Cream Jade filly?” Flurry quipped.
 
”No. Adults like you are far superior, and books. How else would I become a great wizard?”
 
”Oh Star, you’ll change your mind,” Flurry laughed. “You really should give friendship a chance. I won’t always be around, you know. We may not get to spend as much time together once the babies are born.”
 
”Wait, what?” Star froze in his tracks. “What babies?”
 
”Shoot, I haven’t told you yet…” Flurry muttered under her breath. “Well, remember Nightmare Night when I threw up after eating candy?”
 
”Uh, yes?” Star was confused. “That happens to everypony when they eat too much candy. It’s not healthy.”
 
”That’s true,” Flurry nodded. “But I’ve been feeling sick for awhile, and not just from eating candy. Pound and I…have always wanted children. As I’ve told you, we’ve been trying for awhile now…”
 
”Yes. And?” Star didn’t have a good feeling about this…
 
”We succeeded, Star. I’m pregnant.” Flurry lovingly rubbed her swollen belly, which Star had failed to notice until now. “With not just one baby, but three!”
 
”Three babies? That means triplets…but how?” Star grabbed a nearby anatomy book and started frantically flipping through it. “How is that possible?”
 
“I know, I know, we didn’t expect it ourselves. We still don’t know how it happened, honestly.”
 
”But babies are a lot of work, right? This means-“
 
”Yes, Star.” Flurry placed a hoof on her student’s shoulder. “I’ll be very busy once they’re born. I won’t be able to come around as much with three babies to take care of. You’ll have to do a little more independent studying for awhile, okay?”
 
”Fine…” Star picked up a book, pretending to read so he could avoid looking at Flurry.
 
”Star, are you okay? You know I’ll still make time for yo-“
 
”No, it’s fine!” Star interrupted, slamming the book shut. “I understand, you have a life. Your family is more important than some random colt.”
 
”Star…”
 
“Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to study!” Star trotted off to his room, refusing to look back. Flurry had betrayed him! She was the only friend he had, and she was abandoning him for a bunch of foals who weren’t even born yet. Clearly, he was not a priority in her life.
 
Slamming the door, Star buried himself in his secret book fort, trying to push Flurry and her dumb family out of his mind. “I don’t need her. I have my books. I have my studies. I can be a great wizard without her!” He told himself.
 
”…But why does she have to leave me?”