How could he ever compete now? Even if he passed his test with the highest grade, that still would be meaningless compared to having an apprenticeship with the most powerful pony in existence. What’s an A+ on knowing where to dig dirt when you can just start every sentence with: “Yesterday, princess Celestia and I did this and that.” When uncles, aunts and family friends would come and visit, they’d be all over Twilight, impressed and eager to know what she and her mentor had been up to. Maybe a sympathetic relative would carry the burden of turning to him every now and then and begrudgingly ask: “Oh, and uh, what about you... Sunstone was it?”