"Well, anyway, this is how you generate magic—the basic way: space out your mind and focus only on your horn..." Grass tried, and about a minute later, green energy shot out of his little horn, and he fell to the ground, panting. Snow Shine worriedly went over. Can magic kill a unicorn? he thought. "I'm okay," his student rasped, "I guess I need practice!" The two unicorns laughed as they went back to camp.

     "Unicorns of Sunbeam Island, gather for a meeting!"

     Snow Shine felt like he was being torn into two. It was finally the time when Grass would be given to Shiny Moss to be trained instead of him. He enjoyed his company, even if he was a bit of a thorn in his hoof! Queen Penny continued, "I've chosen a well-experienced, loyal, and kind unicorn to mentor Grass." The queen looked at Snow Shine in the crowd. "Snow Shine, I thank you for imparting him until a new tutor could be chosen. Shiny Moss, please come forward."

     The emerald-green mare shyly climbed the cleft of rock where Queen Penny stood. "I trust you'll teach Grass all you know," Queen Penny said. "I'll try my best..." Shiny Moss whispered.

     After the meeting was called off, Rose bounded over to Grass. "So sorry about your mentor!" she cried, "But I hope you like Shiny Moss, she's awesome." Grass nodded, and his friend drew closer to him, putting her tail on his back comfortingly. But the green student pulled away awkwardly, leaving Rose blushing in embarrassment.

     "Foal love, isn't it?" Snow Shine heard a sweet voice ask in his ear. He turned to see his mate Orange Blossom. Her peachy mane and orange pelt looked especially beautiful in the sunlight. "W-well..." Snow Shine began, "It's not anything!! They're too young anyway!" "So as you say," Orange Blossom retorted, "Snow Shine, it's obvious!" There was a moment of silence. Snow Shine moved closer to Orange Blossom, and their pelts brushed. "I'm not in the mood to argue with you," he murmured. "Me neither," she admitted.

＊

     Snow Shine had just gone hunting, and had caught a plump fish. But before he could even go inside camp, Shiny Moss galloped up to him. "Snow Shine, I really need your help! Can you give me some lessons on...mentorship?" The silver fish fell from his mouth as he opened it to speak. "Mentorship?" he echoed in befuddlement, "What do you mean by that?!" She explained how she had never had a student before and was worried she wouldn't do very well from lack of experience.

     "Shiny Moss, of course you'll do great! Even you have more experience than me, and you know it," Snow Shine encouraged, and she nodded. "Yeah, I guess... but what if Grass doesn't listen to what I tell him to do? Then what should I do?" The white guardian snorted, a questioning look in his blue eyes. "Don't be ridiculous. Grass can cause a little trouble once in a while, but I don't think he'll go that far. After all, all foals are trained to respect their elders."

     "You're right, Snow Shine," Shiny Moss realized. "Say, how did a youngster like you become so wise all of a sudden?" Snow Shine looked down at his hoofs, embarrassed by her praise. "Well, you better be off," he replied, "or Grass will throw a tantrum!" Shiny Moss snorted in amusement, flicking her tail with both thanks and farewell.

     Snow Shine picked up the fish he had dropped over the course of the conversation, but suddenly heard hoofsteps. He turned to see Minty Swirl and Violet Leaf coming out of the bushes, seemingly from a patrol. "No bears this time," Minty Swirl murmured, confirming his assumption. "Good thing," her mate added, "I wouldn't want to lose you to one." Trailing behind, he spotted Tulip Blossom with something pinkish-purple in his mouth.

     What's he up to? thought Snow Shine. He went to greet the golden guardian, only to be given the cold shoulder. And why is Tulip Blossom so grumpy, too? Changing his path, Snow Shine walked just behind him as the group went back to camp.

     When they reached camp, Snow Shine went to his adopted mother Rainbow Shine. His mind was troubled, and he decided she would help. "Mother?" he called, and he found her in a small group chatting with some other mares. "Wait a moment," he heard her murmur to her friends. "Yes, Snow Shine? How's my little guardian doing?" Rainbow Shine answered, nuzzling Snow Shine. "Fine," her son replied, "but I'm concerned about something. My friend Tulip Blossom is suddenly ignoring me."

     Rainbow Shine gazed thoughtfully through the bushes around their home. "Well, maybe you did something that hurt his feelings." "But I don't know what I did! He just gave me the cold shoulder today," Snow Shine explained. "If I were you, honey, I'd still go up to him and apologize. My own mother once told me 'better safe than sorry'. " His mother looked over to where Tulip Blossom was tucking into some berries. Snow Shine sighed, "Okay. I'll try to talk to him later."

     As he got up, he watched as Tulip Blossom nodded to Lemon Leaf, and they both moved to a more secluded spot. Talking to Tulip Blossom would be harder than Snow Shine thought. He seemed to be trying to avoid him every time. Snow Shine nearly jumped out of his pelt when he heard Orange Blossom ask, "Worried about something?" It was almost as if she'd read his mind. Maybe we really were meant for each other, he thought gratefully.

     Orange's pale green eyes were clouded with worry for him. "You know you can tell me—I can keep a secret." Snow Shine turned to her, and he felt like he would melt under her tender gaze. "It's Tulip Blossom. He won't talk to me, and even gave me the cold shoulder!" he admitted. His mate gasped. "Did you do anything mean to him?" "Not that I know of," came the reply.

     "Tried to apologize?" 

     "Sure did." 

     "Leaf scraps!!" Orange Blossom snapped suddenly in frustration, "What's his problem? Might as well go and give him a piece of my mind—" "NO! Please don't. I believe talking to him peacefully is the only way to solve the problem," Snow Shine begged. Orange Blossom's mane and tail went flat again, and she replied, "If you insist, Snow." He knew she only stopped her plan for his sake.

     That night, Snow Shine had trouble falling asleep...and Minty Swirl had told him twice to go to sleep already. Just sleep already! he told himself. You'll barely be able to talk to Tulip Blossom if you don't get some rest. He finally settled and fell into a deep, deep sleep.

＊

     The next morning, Snow Shine caught up to Tulip Blossom before he could make a getaway. "What is it?" the golden guardian grumped uncharacteristically. Snow Shine took a deep breath before continuing, "I apologize for anything I have done wrong against you. You know we're friends—" "Then why is Orange Blossom your mate then, if you're so sorry?!" Tulip Blossom snapped.

     "Say what?"

     "Isn't Orange Blossom your mate by now? I've seen the way she chases after you!"

     "Yeah, but how does that have to do with anything?"

     A shadow cast over Tulip Blossom's eyes. "I loved her. I cared for her more than anything, until you came in!" Snow Shine's tail lashed angrily as he replied, "You had only been there for the latter days of my relationship with Orange Blossom! That's the whole reason why she didn't accept when you asked to be her mate." Tulip Blossom looked surprised. "Y-you saw?" Snow Shine gulped nervously. He shouldn't have said that.

     "Anyway, I'm going on patrol with Lemon Leaf. If all you want to do is quarrel, fine then!" Tulip Blossom turned away and galloped toward the yellow mare, who had flowers in her mane at the moment. Snow Shine felt like a drooping flower in the autumn wind. His once best friend was now his enemy. But, he had better things to do than mope about his loss.

     Snow Shine had been given a break by Queen Penny because of his hard work, so he decided to check on Grass. He'd give anything to continue training him. As soon as the little student saw him, he began bouncing on his toes, yowling, "Snow Shine's here!!" Shiny Moss grinned, nodding. Then, he broke the news about Tulip Blossom to Orange Blossom, who was also taking a break that day.

     "Are you kidding me?! That stallion's saltier than the Horse River!" she grumped when she heard, "I made a good choice when I abandoned his request to be my mate. Oh, Snow, if only you'd let me get at him!!" Snow Shine pressed against her in an attempt to calm her down. "I'll let you tell him that you don't like him in the first place," he murmured, "but that's it." The scowl on Orange's face faded as she stood up. "Wish me luck!" she called to Snow Shine while she gaited away.

     As Snow Shine watched her leave, he only hoped that he hadn't made the wrong move.