Twilight looked down at the blank piece of parchment in front of her. Tearing herself away for a moment she looked out the window at the dipping sun, smiling at it. The symbol of her old teacher and sovereign. Now she was the sovereign and most of the responsibility of the world fell upon her. Shaking her head she looked back down at the blank parchment in front of her, wondering how to start another letter to her old teacher. After a few more moments of hesitation, she pressed the tip of the quill against the cream-colored paper and started to write.
Hello Princess Celestia,
I'm sorry I haven't written for a long time, it's just that I've been very busy. We're getting ready for a visit from Prince Rutherford and his delegation. Thankfully Pinkie Pie is able to spare the time to come up for a visit and look after him. He quite likes Pinkie Pie. Though I'm sure that you remember that from the first time they sent a delegation and we almost had a war with the yaks.
I have to ask a small question, one that I know I "learned" back years ago but it's a lot easier to tell Rainbow Dash that she'll see Tank again soon than to deal with it myself. I am rather lonely not seeing my friends more consistently than I was so very used to. But you dealt with this for a thousand some years, so I was wondering if you had some suggestions for how to deal with it.
I've taken to keeping pictures of my friends around my private quarters. I toyed with the idea of putting them up around but too much of that would likely get commented on by the court. I did commission a new painting of all of us for the throne room but I didn't feel like I could get away with much more than that. It's by far the easiest with Rarity and Rainbow Dash, they're up here quite often. Pinkie Pie a bit too. But Fluttershy and Applejack rarely have the time to spare to come up here.
I've been thinking of arranging someday that we all get together once a year, rain or shine, no matter what. The logistics would be a bit demanding on them though. I would go down to visit, but as you know, I can rarely leave Canterlot. I'll just have to try and see if I can somehow help them free up some time to come visit. I'd give so many bits to be back in the library having a sleepover again! Mentioning that actually perhaps getting Applejack some help on the farm will free her up for a visit. I'll need to be careful about how I phrase that though, heh. Applejack is a bit touchy about getting help at times.
Though it's not all bleak and sadness. I get to see Minuette and Moondancer a lot more. Especially Minuette, it's like that mare is obsessed with me or something! (Haha.) I do have to thank you for showing me that you don't need to be distant with subordinates. When I followed you around at first I was always surprised by how informal you were with the royal guards and such. But now I'm very glad that you taught met hat lesson. Even though Minuette's my Grandmaster she is probably my dearest friend in Canterlot. Minus when one of the other elements is visiting.
Well, I suppose that any more would really just be me writing to write, to avoid ending this letter. I probably already did that a little, padded it a little more than needed. And I just realized that's exactly what I'm doing right now, so I'm going to stop writing right now.
Your faithful (past) student,
Twilight Sparkle
Twilight paused a moment before shaking her head to herself and rolling the letter up, tieing it with a ribbon and sealing it with her official royal seal. She grinned as she toyed with the stamp, something that Rarity had gotten her. Rarity insisted that "it's not official without a seal, darling." Twilight chuckled to herself as she levitated the letter after her, pushing the door open. Grinning as she caught Minuette halfway through one of her beloved donuts.
"Hey princess!" Minuette shoved the rest of the donut into her mouth, unconcerned for how proper etiquette said she should act.
Twilight smiled at her old, and new friend. "Is that the proper way to address a princess?"
Minuette shrugged as she swallowed her mouthful of donut. "When my mouth is full of donut? Absolutely!"
Twilight shook her head, rolling her eyes good-naturedly. "Some Grandmaster you are. Hearing the traditionalists talk you're going to be the death of the knighthood."
Minuette grinned and shrugged. "It'd serve those old fuddy-duddies right. Now, where are we going?"
Twilight giggled. When Minuette got bored she assigned herself to close princess protection duty. Which really just meant hang out with Twilight and crack jokes. But today Twilight had another assignment for her. Floating the letter to Minuette she smiled, a little forced. "Minuette, can you see this letter to Princess Celestia gets sent out?"
Minuette grinned a little wider, nodding as she brought the letter over to her in her magic. "Oh, of course, princess. I'll see that it gets to her."
Twilight rolled her eyes again. "Really Minuette, you don't need to pander to me. Though I do hope that she knows I'm still writing her. Even in the next world."
Minuette lowered her head slightly, a bit more serious than her usual carefree self. "I'm sure she does, Princess."
Twilight nodded and started to turn, before turning back. "What do you do with them anyway, Minuette? You're not keeping them are you?"
Minuette smiled, shaking her head. "No princess, I send them off!" Twilight narrowed her eyes and Minuette expanded. "Like Spike used to."
Twilight smiled, nodding and straightening up. "Oh! You burn them! Good idea, very poetic." She inclined her head slightly. "Thank you, Minuette."
As Twilight turned she saw Minuette bow slightly in response. "It is my pleasure to serve the princess." What Twilight didn't see, since Minuette waited for her to specifically be out of the area, was Minuette's horn flare with a bright glow. The scroll giving a small pop as it blinked out of existence.
Sitting in her sickbed Celestia took a long drink of water. She was old, and without the sustaining power of the throne of Equestria, she had aged like all other ponies aged. She had another month or so to go. But she was certainly on her last leg of her journey through this life, and soon to set off on the next. Her philosophical musings were interrupted by a small pop, and a scroll that fell right onto her covers. Celestia smiled widely as she lifted it with her magic. Princess Celestia didn't normally approve of time magic. She was willing to make an exception in this case though.