Dear Princess Celestia,
It has been a long time since I have written a letter to you, and longer still since I have sent one. I have always found solace in writing to you during moments of confusion, desperation, or reflection; and though you shall never see it, I can feel your hoof on my shoulder as I write even now, watching over me with calm understanding and unfaltering trust.
This last month has been a whirlwind of emotion, nostalgia, and a brief return to the passion and instability of my youth. Perhaps all this reflection is why I am writing this letter now, and why my mind has begun to wander to the future as of late. I must admit that I did not comprehend the full scope of my duties, both as a princess and as an alicorn, until just recently, and the burdens that you and your sister must have bore in silence.
Just as you mentored me during my formative years, I, too, have discovered a bright young protégé on whom to impart my knowledge, hopes, and dreams of a better tomorrow. Luster Dawn is full of energy, wanderlust, and mistakes, just as you must have seen me so many years ago. Within her, and all the creatures of Equestria, I can see a future brighter than I ever thought possible as a filly. I cannot thank you enough for the opportunities and knowledge that you passed on to me, and I shall strive to be the same influence on my own student. Perhaps in a thousand moons or two, I shall be able to thank you face-to-face, and we shall share an understanding like never before.
I am about to embark on a journey of knowledge, with the goal of harnessing the unity that we have come to exemplify as a nation, so that it might be shared with everycreature across the globe. I hope for a future with no need for defenders of compassion and justice as we were, where every species can coexist in harmony, and it is toward that destination I begin today. Spreading harmony across Equestria was only the beginning, as I am sure you intended, and I shall utilise everything in my power to see a future of peace and friendship for all. These Unity Crystals I shall dedicate to your honour, so that others may experience their teachings as I experienced yours. With any luck, my student shall never have to face the hardships my friends and I did to get to this point.
Project Unity shall be a lasting opus unlike anything we have accomplished before, and it never would have been possible without the help of my six oldest friends, and the mentorship that guided us here. Wherever you are, Celestia and Luna, I hope that you can feel the warmth of my thoughts as I write this letter, as I believe it shall be my last. I think I finally understand everything you intended for me to learn, and it is time for me to truly take the reins on my own. I promise, I shall not let you down.
Here’s to a bright future for all.
Forever your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle