...That's option 1.

Here's all the other options Twilight could see her friends more often than just once a month:

Ask Princess Luna to teach her dream walking so she can hang out with her friends in a shared dream . She does have that ability canonically.

so she can hang out with her friends in a . She have that ability canonically. If the Storm King had a two-way video communication spell , then so can you

, then so can you For that matter, ask Sunset and Sci-Twi to figure out how to make smart phones work in Equestria . Not mass produce them , mind you. Just have Sci-Twi mod maybe a half dozen phones and hoof them out to her friends to make regular video calls after your workday is done. Not the same as meeting in person, but better than nothing. "They need cell-towers to function? Hmm. I wonder if I could build one or two of those, just between Ponville and Canterlot..."

If Twilight is able teleport straight from Canterlot to Ponyville and back, she could frequently invite her friends over for sleepovers at Canterlot Castle , then teleport them back to Ponyville in the morning . (And, again, combine that with dream sharing to get the most of it.)

, then . (And, again, combine that with dream sharing to get the most of it.) If you can build a permanent two-way gateway between two universes (Equestria Girls), then building one between Ponyville and Canterlot Castle should be trivial. Especially with Starswirl's help, who built that first mirror. Once the distance is moot, Twilight's friends could visit her , even on days when she can't leave. Even if it's just for a quick chat, or to deliver snacks and a hug.

[NEW] And I'm sure, if Rarity needs to travel the world on her "fashion adventures" to open new boutiques, Fluttershy could convince her hubby Discord to just not mess with her and just make a simple two-way portal . Not to mention, Fluttershy could just pick the rest of her friends up in her worldwide "Discord-taxi service" to go see Twilight. (He can't say no to Flutters. )

And I'm sure, if needs to on her "fashion adventures" to open new boutiques, to just not mess with her and . Not to mention, Fluttershy could just pick the rest of her friends up in her to go see Twilight. (He can't say no to Flutters. ) Their regular moonly meeting is still, when they all meet up, for the whole day, no interruptions, no exceptions. It's just that there's no reason some of them, if not all at once, couldn't irregularly drop by and hang out a little, even if it's not the whole day, even if it's just for Twi's daily lunch break.

.

Speaking of establishing a two-way fast-travel-system between Ponyville and Canterlot, who's to say such a promising technology couldn't improve the lives of others?

Imagine Luster Dawn unexpectedly running into Twilight during her 30 minute lunch break at Sugar Cube Corner, being confused about what she'd doing there today - it's not "that time of the month", after all[1]:

"Sometimes, friendships take a lot of work. But it's worth every second, every bit, every drop of sweat, just to spend a little more time with your friends." "Wait..." Luster blinked. "Is that why you created the international gateway system?" Her jaw fell slack. "The system that allows instant travel between seven different nations, right there in Canterlot? That sparked the greatest cross-country migration of creatures in history?" "Well, it wasn't international, originally. Just between Ponyville and Canterlot Castle."

...And the end result of such a migration was exactly the future we saw. So it's possible to bend it into being canon-compatible.

Twilight just didn't come up with the two-way travel system until a few months after the flashback scene.

[1] And Come to think of it, Twilight didn't upfront tell Luster about the friendship counsel from the start; instead, she told a story - she was trying to create a teachable moment.

Getting into the exact specifics of their more frequent, but shorter meetings, dream sharing and video calls would have gotten in the way of that. ...Not that Luster Dawn even knew how Equestria's government worked until the Friendship Counsel showed up in pony.

Seriously. The assertion the episode made that Twilight only sees her friends, like, once a month, is utterly cruel and completely, horrifyingly heart-crushing and completely destroys the "happy ending" it's trying to portray.

Not only that, but it's illogical.

"Friendship takes work." And Twilight would do anything, just to spend more time with her friends.

If that means working double-time on some months, just so she can get more time off later, then so be it.

To assert that she never used any of the available options listed above - it's utterly absurd at best, or otherwise implies something far worse: Twilight has so little time for herself she basically never gets to see her friends.

Even our old slice of life stories for Celestia and Luna gave them more time than that.

Heck, even Twilight only having time to spend her 30 minute lunch break at Sugar Cube Corner, or two of her friends dropping by for even just 10 minutes every day or so would be better than what the show portrayed.

Honestly, Twilight, the literal Princess of Friendship, being torn way from her friends, the blatant assertion she's only allowed to see them once a month (or maybe just a little more), and, oh, that the show drove the point home with a pile-driver that with Twilight taking the throne, their adventures are over and out, not just in the show, but in fanon Equestria, just completely sours everything for me.

Everything.

I constantly get reminded of it even by stories or fan comics that aren't directly post-season 9 related.

It just hurts too much.

Not because the show ended.

But because of how they ended it.

I'm writing a story right now trying to fix the "Twilight can only see her friends once a month"-bit.

Because that is seriously, seriously messed up and just downright wrong and completely ruins pony ( !) for me, I just can't get past that they'd do something like that.

YES. I do mean it. It ruins pony for me! 😖

Coming along well so far, but could use some editors / brainstorming people to help me fill in some missing paragraphs.

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