A/N: This is a Twilight-is-an-alicorn-princess story. She's from outside of Equestria, and comes to Equestria to study magic under Celestia. So yea.
It's ALSO a SpikexTwi story, so don't like, don't read. It also includes; Shining ArmorxCadance, FluttershyxBig Mac, Blue BloodxRarity, Doc WhoovesxDerpy Hooves, and it's undecided for others. While there are definitely some girlxgirl pairings I support, I will avoid including them in this story.
Starts off outside of Equestria.
This is so far from canon that some people might rage, but let's be honest; a lot of us love stories like this. Mm-hmm.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own MLP:FiM.
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The young mare was walking down the hallway, her wings tucked securely to her sides. A purple glow surrounded her horn and the book in front of her, securing it in the air. She glanced towards one of the guards-a grey and black unicorn-as he approached. He fell into a bow and she did the same in the old-fashioned way mares and colts did.
"Princess Twilight Sparkle, your mother the Queen has requested your presence in her chambers."
"Thank you," Twilight Sparkle said. "I will go at once. Guard Shadow Steel, would you do me the favour of taking this book back to the library?"
"Yes, milady." Shadow Steel's magic-a light grey colour-surrounded the book and Twilight Sparkle's left it, and the two ponies went their separate ways.
The young princess really hated referring to the guard that way. In truth that guard had been her best friend growing up, but within the halls of the castle, as princess and guard, they could not speak as such. It was always "Princess Twilight Sparkle" and "Milady", and "Guard" and "Sir", and she hated it.
Walking towards her mother's chambers, she passed her brother, Prince Shining Armor, who was speaking to one of the guards. As prince he was recognized as the second-in-command of the royal guard, right above the general and below his father the king. As Twilight passed, Shining Armor bid the guard a good day and followed after her.
"Mother request you too?" Twilight asked quietly, and Shining Armor nodded.
"I think it's about the state of the kingdom," he responded, just as quiet. "There's been so much disharmony and crime lately. Mother and Father don't think our kingdom will make it through this century."
His sister closed her eyes and sighed quietly. "Oh I only wish there was some way to help it, but there are so many revolts. Mother and Father are doing the best they can, but the mines are empty. Without Earth Ponies in our kingdom, the ground won't produce food, so we have to continue relying on other kingdoms-and that takes money. And the royal family is the only family which has wings, but more and more of our cousins are being born like you-without wings. How can we continue controlling the weather correctly without pegasi and alicorns, Shining Armor?"
"I do not know, Twili," he answered, sighing. "Soon the kingdom will be jut unicorns... even the alicorns will soon be gone. But the three have always depended on one another."
"Do you think that our kingdom is coming to its end?" Her voice was sorrowful.
"No. I'm sure Mother and Father have come up with a solution. Now be silent about it, we're here."
The siblings knocked on the doors, and their mother's soft voice came through. "Enter." Shining Armor opened the door and entered, followed by his younger sister. "Hello, dears. Please, Twilight Sparkle, close the door." Twilight did as she was told. "Come, sit."
Again the two did as they were told, waiting for their mother to begin.
"Our kingdom is falling apart," she started, staring out a window that looked across the capital city. "There is no more money to offer the other kingdoms in return for food. Time is limited. No one is willing to help-except one kingdom." The queen, a tall pale blue and purple alicorn mare, turned to her children. "The kind princess Celestia from Equestria has been looking for a student-one gifted in all kinds of magic. She has said that she is willing to help our kingdom, no conditions, but I feel the need to repay her somehow for her kindness."
"Oh, are you sending one of the unicorns from the high classes to her?" Twilight asked, relieved to hear there was a kingdom leader willing to help them with no return.
"I was contemplating sending you, dear." Twilight stared in shock at her mother. "I know of no other young mare so advanced and proficient in magic than you, Twilight Sparkle. You're almost a full-grown mare, I believe it is time you experience types of magic that I cannot show you. Princess Celestia and her sister are the two best magic-users in pony history. You could learn a lot from her."
Twilight got over her surprise and smiled. "Well if that is so, Mother," she started, taking on the 'princess tone', "then I would be honoured to go to Equestria and learn from Princess Celestia."
~~Line Break~~
"Twili," Shining Armor began nervously. "I think you should hide your wings."
Twilight turned to her brother, surprise in her eyes. "Why?"
"Only Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and their niece Princess Cadance are alicorns there," he answered. "Equestria isn't like our Gymkhana(1). They don't have any other alicorns besides those three. No one would dare touch the princesses from Equestria, but you're not from Equestria; anyone might find you to be a threat, or a way to, I don't know... if anyone besides the princesses know you're an alicorn, they might try to fillynap you."
"Don't be silly, Shining Armor," Twilight laughed slightly. "I'm almost a fully-grown mare. No one will fillynap me."
"Twilight..." Hearing his worried tone, Twilight smiled kindly.
"Alright, Shining Armor. I promise I will hide my wings, alright?" Shining Armor smiled in relief and nuzzled his sister. "And I will come back to visit you, I promise."
"I only wish the journey was not so dangerous," another voice cut in, walking over. "Princess, we are ready to go. Your chariot awaits you."
"I really wish mother had not declined the Princess' offer to send a chariot with pegasi leading it," Twilight sighed, going towards the chariot being pulled by two unicorn guards and flanked by four more, including Shadow Steel and one of the only mares on the royal guard, Stardust. "Guards," Twilight started, addressing them. "When we reach Equestria, you cannot tell anypony that I am alicorn. By my brother the Prince's request, it will be kept secret from all but the Princesses of Equestria themselves. Am I understood?" Each guard nodded, and Twilight smiled. "Then let us make quick of this journey and make it to Canterlot by sundown Friday, three days from today."
--End Chapter 1--
(1) Gymkhana: Rodeo events made up of games such as pole bending and barrel racing.
Well, what do you think?
The unicorn guard returns to Gymkhana after leaving Twilight with Celestia. Yes, she will go to live in Ponyville soon enough, and Shining Armor will go to Canterlot within the next two chapters.