Dear Twilight Sparkle,
I found your drawing. The one you put in Princess Celestia’s office. Did you really think that I wouldn’t even notice what she was up to? I know everything that goes on in this castle. Princess Celestia can’t keep a secret from me for very long. Do you know what that is? It’s because I’m her Faithful Student and you aren’t. You never will be. I won’t ever let her replace me, though I know she’s trying. You’re just some puny seven-year-old idiot. I heard you look like a grape and that you still had all your baby fat too.
The point is, I found your drawing and I think it needs as much work as the rest of your magic probably does. C’mon, you seriously can’t believe my eyes are that big, can you? I can’t believe that by scribbling ‘give to the pretty unicorn’ on the drawing and leaving it with her, you’d think she would do what you want. The princess doesn’t do anything except what she thinks is best, and she’ll always tell you it is for your own good or somepony else’s. She was never going to give this to me, because then she knows that I would have found out about you.
I can’t believe she thought that you were something that could be hidden from me. I don’t know if she has ever had the waiting lists with her other Faithful Students, but there is so much doubt in my mind. I’m too angry, I’m too defiant, and blah blah blah. I’m a million little complaints that I have never found a trace of her having with any other unicorns who studied under her. It’s only ever me, and if you disappoint her, it will be only ever you that she seeks to burn too.
As soon as I saw you in the hallway, I knew something was wrong. Princess Celestia never gives castle tours personally. Not unless it’s one of Blueblood’s friends or the rugrats of her gentry pals. On the other hoof, I don’t get to have any friends at all because I don’t ever get the time to make any. The princess is too busy demanding that I stay in my room and think about my latest alleged mistake, or that I do the same homework assignment six times. By the looks of it, you’re probably too shy and she’ll tear you apart if you don’t do everything exactly the way she wants.
She always starts off treating us like we’re special. Why do you think she gave you that tour? Why do you think that she didn’t introduce us, and you only know me as some stupid ‘pretty pony’ who you saw once when I was on my way to borrow a book? It’s because she is gilding the lie for you! She did with me too! Just think, if your dumb pea-brain can, about what would have happened if she introduced you to me?
What could she have said? Telling you that I am Sunset Shimmer would not have been enough. Even some dumb kid like you can realize that a big, smart teenager like me is too young to work here. I don’t even have a uniform. Plus, I don’t have those magic uniforms that they give the guards. You know, the ones that hide coat colors, cutie marks, and all that? She’s a grown-up, and they aren’t friends with ponies my age. The princess can be really bad at lying on the spot. She’s amazing at anything that needs to be rehearsed. When you saw me in the hallway, do you realize how little time she would have had to say anything?
I am in her life every single day. You’re nothing. I am harder to lie about; she just thinks that I am easy to lie to. Princess Celestia would have had to tell you that I was her current Faithful Student! Just imagine how much that would, ‘cause I bet she never, ever told you that she already had me. She doesn’t need you, not like she should want need me. One Faithful Student at a time is all she has ever had, and I don’t see why she would try and change that.
(Oh, and by the way, if that mare with you was your mother, she looks crazy-old. Like the oldest gray mare ever. Are you sure she wasn’t your grandmother?)
Listen, kid, if Princess Celestia told you that, do you realize what would have happened? The glass would have shattered. You wouldn’t have been special any longer. I saw the way you looked at her. It’s in all the old photos, and portraits before that. When she poses with her previous Faithful Students from forever ago, that is how they look at her. They look at her as if the sun were the center of the world.
I used to look at her like that too.
No amount of drawings that you try and send me will ever make things better. The princess is going to get tired of you, if she ever gets to have you. But you know what? She won’t. I will complete my studies, because that is what is written in her dreadful contract. Have you ever looked at that contract? Did your ugly grandmare tell you about it? I’m sure you can’t read, but if you could, you would wet the bed at how bad it is. Everything in it is worse than all the old stories about Nightmare Moon. Once your grandmother signs that contract, it means she will be giving you away. Do you really want that? For your family to give you away to a mare who will try you on like jewelry and pawn you off as soon as your trend is up?
Because that is exactly what Princess Celestia will try and do to you. Do you wanna know how I know that? Well, because I am older and smarter than you will ever be, of course.
But I also know ‘cause it is what she is trying to do to me.
You just can’t see it yet.
Loathe You,
Sunset Shimmer
P.S. I found out your name because I finally found the newspaper about your test. I can’t believe the princess thought I wouldn’t go to a freaking public library to find the things she hides from me. You really took that test when you were six? I’m surprised they didn’t fail you for making the dragon look so ugly!
P.P.S. There is no way you can’t say she is not trying to replace me. Not when she has to hide that she’s even in contact with your family from me. Even though Princess Celestia has a bazillion royal duties, the fact that she gets Raven to write memos to me about her not being in her office is suspicious as Tartarus. Y’know why? Because Raven and Princess Celestia always tell me where she has to be and why it’s so important that I don’t bother her.
P.P.P.S. Your bangs are ugly. I bet you have braces too, you nerd!
[This letter was cut open neatly with a gilded letter opener. From there, its contents were clearly read once, possibly even out loud to the author it was confiscated from. Then, it was discarded into the wastepaper basket in Princess Celestia’s office, where it lies with one torn, and discarded doodle of a certain Sunset Shimmer.]
[On Celestia’s desk, one fresh stationery is pulled out. The floral print clashes heavily with the first few words of the reprimand in progress that is being written.]