//------------------------------//
//  A Letter from the Princess 
// Story: Journey of the Spark 
// by LordMalevar063 
//------------------------------//

The sun shined brightly down upon the small town of Ponyville. Life was normal here in the small town.  Ponies were out and about, saying “Hi” and “Good morning.”  As for the purple unicorn Twilight Sparkle with her dragon assistant Spike at her home in the library, sitting on the balcony of her home, engrossed in a thick, hardbound novel.  She was living in this library treehouse since she moved with Spike, who was her personal assistant when Twilight was just a filly.  

Twilight was a pony that focused on studying and reading books instead of making friends with other ponies.  But when she moved to Ponyville, she was quickly befriended by the humble country pony Applejack, the daredevil yet dedicated pony Rainbow Dash, the hyperactive and laughable pony Pinkie Pie, the charming, beautiful, and generous pony Rarity, and the timid, gentle, caring pony Fluttershy.

These fives ponies quickly befriended Twilight when they met Nightmare Moon, and they quickly learn that the only way to defeat her was the Elements of Harmony, which were believed to be stored in ruined fortress that lied somewhere in the Evergreen Forest.  Along the way, they endure tests of their honesty, kindness, laughter, generosity, and loyalty.  When they passed each test, they found themselves at the ruined fortress where the Elements of Harmony were believed to be held.  

As they progressed, they came across stones that were believed to be the Elements and also came Nightmare Moon herself.  Twilight herself found out that the stones weren’t the Elements of Harmony; the ponies were Elements of Harmony.  

After finding that out, the Elements of Harmony were unleashed from within the ponies.  Together, they unleashed a rainbow fury that defeated Nightmare Moon and redeemed her, bringing her back as the normal pony she originally was: Princess Luna, the Princess of the Night.  Soon thereafter, they used the same rainbow power on Discord, a deformed Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony that broke from his statue prison and let lose against the six ponies and nearly all of Equestria.

Discord was placed back into his stony prison and the six ponies were celebrated as heroes.  Not long after that, Twilight’s brother, Shining Armor, and her foulsiter, Princess Cadence were to wed, but only to find out that Cadence was a fake and the real Cadence was being imprisoned in a crystal cave.  They both got out of there and the fake Cadence was a Changeling queen and her army of Changelings invaded Canterlot.  And just when hope seemed lost, at the last moment, Princess Cadence and Shining Armor unleashed the love they had for each other and blasted the Changelings towards the horizon.  

Now life was as it was all day every day.

“Twilight! Twilight!” Spike called out.

“Yes, Spike?” replied Twilight, who was still reading her book. 

“We just got a letter from Princess Celestia! You’d better get down here quick!”

“Be right there!” Twilight replied back, putting the book down to turn and go downstairs. “What’s the letter say?”

Spike held a scroll in his claws, cleared his throat and read: “To my most faithful student, I am writing this letter to inform you that this year marks the return of the Royal Arckmage Coronation!”

“The Archmage Coronation!” gasped Twilight.

“Right!” Spike continued: “‘We are hosting a celebration in honor of this legendary event and it would be my pleasure for you and your friends to join us in Canterlot to discuss preparations. I await your response. Sincerely, Princess Celestia.’ Do you hear that, Twilight!?”

“It’s pronounced Archmage,” Twilight corrected.

“That’s what I said!  The Royal Archmage.”  Spike paused.  “What’s an archmage?”

“The Royal Archmage is the highest honor that any gifted and well-versed unicorn can receive!” Twilight answered, excitedly. “Quick, let’s send a response!”

Spike gets out a piece of paper and a quill and awaits Twilight’s instructions on what to write down.

Twilight spoke loud and clear: “‘Dear Princess Celestia, I would be more than happy to join you for the event. I will gather up my friends immediately and we will be on our way. Your Faithful Student, Twilight Sparkle.’”

Spike finishes writing on the scroll, rolls it up, and sends it off with his dragon breath. A green cloud of smoke makes its way out of Twilight’s library.

“I’ve been reading up on the ceremony. Supposedly it only happens every hundred years. It’s one of Canterlot’s most prestigious events!”

“Wow, that is so cool! Do you think the Princess might give you the title, Twilight?”

“I think that might be a bit of a stretch, Spike. The Archmage position is rarely given to ordinary unicorns. It’s a position reserved for members of the Royal Family. But there has been an exception every now and then!”

“Ahh, well who needs a fancy title; you’re still the best magician ever. No doubt!”

“To be fair Spike, I think you’re the best assistant ever.” 

They both chuckled and walk out of the door. 

{The song, On Our Way, is to be played here.}