//------------------------------// // Twilight Sparkle // Story: Letters to Celestia // by Flutterbye4ever //------------------------------// Hi, Princess Celestia. It's me, Twilight. It feels odd and yet comforting to write those familiar words, now that so much has changed. I have become equal in power, if not in wisdom, to you and Princess Luna. I have taken on many government responsibilities that I didn't even know existed, and I have come to new realizations about myself. Many ponies, once they gain power, forget their roots, either deliberately or unintentionally. I'm writing this all down in a letter to you, though, so that I never will. My name is Twilight Starshine Sparkle, and my parents are Velvet Sparkle and Nightlight, two wonderful, loving unicorn ponies. My brother is named Shining Armor, ad he is married to Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. My earliest memory is sitting in a swing in a warm, sunny garden, being pushed back and forth as joyful laughs fill the air. When I was young, I often had the magical 'surges' which are common in young unicorns. Mine, however, were very intense-on one occasion, I inadvertently turned Shining into a cat! Because of the power of these surges, my parents tried to set me up with magic tutors. I rebelled, however. I didn't want to be a magician, I wanted to be an astronomer! After a while, my parents gave in, and stopped taking me to lessons. That was when Cadence came along. She was the best foal-sitter ever! She had no qualms about getting down on the floor to play 'horsey' or other silly games. She and I would spend hours building book forts and throwing pillows at each other! Shining joined in a lot, too. He had never really liked me before. He was jealous of his baby sister, who was lavished with so much love and attention. Cadence, however, convinced him to give me a chance. As he played with Cadence and I, he started bonding with me, and in no time, he was my B.B.B.F.F.! Cadence was the one who convinced my parents to let me attend the Solstice Celebration, too. Am I ever glad she did! I remember it so vividly! Standing by the richly decorated platform, my far lifted up in awe at the majestic white pony standing on it! And how your voice flowed when you spoke, with such majesty ad authority! When I got home, I raced to my bookshelf, furiously hoofing through it until I found an old book on magic. My parents stared in surprise as I sat down and my horn lit up. After that, I spent nearly every hour studying. I was euphoric when I finally got the invitation to your School for Gifted Unicorns, and even more so when I became your personal protege! The days after that were spent in studying and honing my abilities. It seemed like I learned a new spell every day in my time there! I met a lot of other unicorns, too, but I never paid much attention to them. After all, I thought, why do I need friends when I have books to read and magic to learn? Then came that fateful day when I moved to Ponyville, and you know the rest. In my time in Ponyville, I've learned that appearances and first impressions shouldn't taint your ideas of what a pony is truly like. I've learned that true friends are there when you need them most. I've learned that in order to make a friend, you have to be a friend. I've learned that responsibilities, no matter how tough, are important. I've learned that every pony has good inside them, no matter how deep you may have to dig to find that good. I've learned that with kindness instead of anger, you can accomplish anything. I've learned to be strong in the face of danger. Most of all, though, I've learned that Friendship really is Magic. This will probably be my last letter to you, seeing as how I can now just talk to you instead. It feels like I'm wrapping up a precious chapter in the grand book of my life, and turning the page on a bright, new chapter-one which can be about anything I choose. At the end of this chapter in my life, I suppose I just want to say thanks for all those lessons. Without your guidance, I wouldn't be half the pony I am today. You didn't have to take time from your duties to tutor and guide a silly, shy little unicorn filly, but you did. You taught me magic, but you also taught me much more than that. You taught me about duties, and responsibilities. You taught me about friendship and joy. Most of all, though, you taught me the golden rule- Treat others ponies like you would have them treat yourself. As I start this new chapter, I hope to make that my motto. I know that I can never be as able or kind a ruler as you are, but I shall try my best. Thanks for teaching me that Friendship is Magic. ~Your faithful student, Princess Twilight Sparkle