//------------------------------// // 25 / Final : "Dear Princess Celestia..." // Story: Fighters Don't Have Friends // by BackroundVoice //------------------------------// "Name?" the guard in front of the royal library requested of me. He was posted with another, shorter pegasus guard with a pink mane. Scootaloo. She was watching me closely. I occasionally glanced at her in between talking with the other guard. He didn't know about my last visit to Canterlot. Which was helpful. The only thing against me was my bandaged hooves and head. Scootaloo must've thought I got into another brawl with twenty more ponies, judging by the look on her face. She wouldn't be far off, but she was still wrong about whatever she thought happened. "Twilight Phoenix Sparkle," I said. "Oh, well, go on in Twilight!" the guard gestured me on in. I smirked at Scootaloo as I passed. My name still held power in this stupid city. I wonder why? After getting past the guards to the royal library, I made quick work of trotting ahead to the lounge farther inside. Before coming to Ponyville, I would've most likely gotten lost in the new books that had been shelved in here since I last came here. I was always in here. So I only read two new books a month. Almost an entire year had gone by since then, and there were almost a hundred new prints of magic philosophy and stories. I hardly read as books now compared to how many I did back then. Memories of passing out in here glued to a book or three, staying up countless nights to get a certain spell down. I spent my whole life in here, and now it was all history to me. "You're rather ragged," said a beautiful voice. It was none other than Princess Celestia the Forth. Or, as I know her now, Princess Celestia the First. She hadn't even looked my way and she already knew it was me. Celestia was reading a small book, an old favorite of her's. A blue colored novel that I've never read. Reading glasses were hanging just off her nose as she sat, relaxed. Back hooves on a leg rest, clothed in her usual dress shirt and long blue skirt. I took a quick glance around the area. There wasn't anypony else in here but us. "I'll have you know that I haven't succeeded in finding a new pupil," Celestia continued. "So, if you are done spending some youth in Ponyville, I think it's about time that you-" her words failed her as she took a good long look at me. I was wearing my red cloak and hat to hide my blood stained hoodie underneath. Although, I'm sure she could see it anyway, along with the bandages and the missing horn. "What happened to you?" she asked, earnestly. Setting the book down and asking me to sit. I took the chair across from her. It felt nice to rest after the long train ride here. But I didn't come here to chat. This was actually a lot harder than I initially thought. To talk to my teacher again, and face what I now know to be the "good" half to the twin princesses of old. "Princess..." I started but trailed off. Coming to the conclusion that it'd be better if I just showed her what I've learned, and explain myself from there. I took my Alicorn blood findings out of my saddle bag and placed them in front of her. I told her about a tall unicorn calling herself Nightmare Moon in Ponyville. I also told her the story Fluttershy asked me to tell her. Adding in the parts of the summer sun tournament, and the true identity of Nightmare Moon, which wasn't much of a lie, but a cleverly played truth, as well of what I did to Nightmare. Explaining to her that I lost my horn's ability to use magic at first, only to lose it completely in the end. Head butting her sister until it finally broke. I also told her about my friends, and about all the hard trials I had to endure during my time in Ponyville. This overload of information ultimately left her shocked, and a little sad, as she kept looking to my missing horn. Shaking her head the more I told her. And out of all of it, she wasn't the least bit surprised that I knew who she really was, or of knowledge on the Alicorn blood. She listened to everything without a single interruption. Yet, she still couldn't hold back her tears during my story. "And..." I began to wrap up, "that's why I'm here today. To tell you about the Alicorn blood and I how I know to combat it with focus and social interaction." "Social interaction?" Celestia snorted. "You mean friendship, don't you?" "Well, forgive me for trying to be professional about this," I folded my hooves over my chest. I almost forgot about my still healing ribs. The meds Dr. Sombra gave me were working, but it nearly made me forget that they'd still get worse if I messed with them. I knew Celestia was teasing me, but I still felt a little bit peeved that she wasn't taking this seriously. "Forgive me, Twilight. It's just so good to see you," I relaxed after she said that. Feeling pretty good that I was missed. "And I know how much this means to you, but we can't risk ponies knowing too much about their true heritage." Meaning, that my research would never be known by the general public. "Why not?" I questioned. "Do you know how much panic it would cause if everypony knew that they are all inherently angry all the time? It would make everyone suspicious of one another, not to mention that there would be a lot of oppression surrounding those who don't have Alicorn blood. I had figured someone bright enough would come along and discover the truth for the world to know. But such a time is not now." Celestia explained to me. Reasonably enough that I felt good that I didn't go to the news ponies before discussing this with her. In the end, she made the better call. Celestia took my notes and set them in the fireplace near us. The only ones that knew about it now were me, my friends, and a hoof full of others around the world. Left to forever be a secret that would never come to light in my life time. "And as for my sister," Celestia interjected, "leave her be. She'll either find her path or she won't. It has been like this for thousands of years." "Good to know," I said. Like I would go looking for that nut-case ever. And I have to say, it was really awkward to say that I beat up her sister. Celestia actually laughed when I said that. She even told me about all the times she had a hoof fight with her sister Luna until Star Swirl the bearded straightened them out. This meeting got even sadder when Celestia confessed that she was hoping I'd return to being her faithful student. But now that my horn was gone, she couldn't reasonably take me back into the Acadamy without my horn. "Perhaps I could hire you on as my personal secretary?" Celestia proposed. "Nah, I like my life in Ponyville as it is. I'll get by," I told her. "Yes... Of course." Celestia obviously missed me. I missed her too. But I was a different pony now. I couldn't just go back. "Is there anything else you would like to ask me? Not as a princess of a nation, but as an all knowing Alicorn?" Celestia offered, maybe as one last favor as her final student. Anything, really? The list of unknowns was way too big for me to choose from. On one hoof, she had insight into the future that no pony would be able to guess in a million years. On the other, she could explain to me the true origin of the Alicorn blood and why only a few don't have it. But would I really want to know? "Of course, I realize it's a big question, so you may take your time in asking it. Come back and ask whatever it is your heart truly desires to know." Celestia offered me an out, instead of overthinking it. Which was probably for the best. "Sure," I took that offer, standing up slowly to leave. "Going already?" Celestia asked. "Yeah, I've got a job as a librarian in Ponyville. And I really shouldn't spend too long away from home." Celestia was pleased to hear that I now called Ponyville my home. Cause it was. I earned my place there after all. "Then before you go," Celestia stood from her chair and whipped her horn in the air. A golden light enveloped me, and the sharp pain in my chest stopped, and my hooves felt good as new. "If you ever need a good healing spell to fix you up, skip the hospital and come to me." Celestia wrapped her wing around me. A comforting feeling that I hadn't had in quite a long time. "And will you send me letters about you and your friends? I miss getting those weekly reports about what you've learned." "Of course, Princess." I hugged her and made my leave. saluting Scootaloo and the guard on my way out. I had a feeling I'd be coming back here again someday. But I hope that day won't come for a while. It was about noon day while I trotted back to the train station. I dropped off a postcard at the Armor's, making sure that they knew I was doing well. Not a single guard on duty that day looked me in the eye. Odd how every single one of them looked so familiar. There was no trouble in the streets and no religious groups to pester me. And I'd be lying if I didn't say I was beaming with joy when I got back to the train station, as all of my friends were waiting for me. Rainbow Hurricane Dash, Fiona Cinderella Fluttershy, Alexandra Rarity, Pinkamina Diana Pie, Sven Soarin, and Dr. Sombra Slovic. Ponies I never would've met if I stayed in my books and studied here in Canterlot. We boarded our train back to Ponyville. A place that had no shortage of strange characters and or flank-holes. It was actually more like a battleground than a small town. And it is there that we all have one thing in common. And I think I'll write about it. "Dear Princess Celestia, today I've learned that fighters don't have friends. We, instead, have those who are honest, those who are loyal, those who are generous, some who laugh, and one that is just too kind for her own good. There are also those who choose not to fight. And there are those who choose when to fight. I'm still learning how to become the fighter I'm meant to be. But there will never be a fighter or friend quite like my last teacher. Who taught me how to stand, and fight until I would decide to lose. And her name is... Vinyl Scratch. - Your Faithful student... Twilight Phoenix Sparkle.