//------------------------------//
// A Little Insight 
// Story: Being a Princess 
// by PonyTom 
//------------------------------//

	Twilight stared into the night sky, letting her vision gaze over the various dots and specks that illuminated the abyssal universe.  It was not uncommon for her to seek guidance from them; well, not from them, really, so much as enjoying their company while her thoughts relaxed and pulled together everything in a peaceful manner.  There was always something comforting for her in those stars, that inspired artist and scientist alike.  It made her feel small in the greater working of things, but at the same time, like she was part of something greater.

"Why hello, Twilight Sparkle."

Twilight jumped a bit and turned to face her mentor, Princess Celestia, as well as Princess Luna herself.  Twilight had not expected them; especially not in Ponyville, of all places (or, more accurately, a hill outside of Ponyville), so she was more than a little surprised to see not one, but two of her fellow princesses accompanying her tonight.  In the distance, she could spot two chariots with waiting guards who had pulled them, likely at the ready for when the princesses returned to canterlot.

"My sister informs me that you are still troubled?"

Twilight sighed a bit and looked up to the stars.  "Yes, Princess Celestia, I am..."

Celestia's gaze seemed to become sympathetic, looking upon her student sadly.  "Twilight Sparkle... do you not want to be a princess?" Twilight was taken by shock, but she did not show it.  She tried to pretend she didn't hear; truth be told, she wasn't entirely sure herself what she wanted.

"... I had hoped that when I gave you the title of Princess, it was a dream come true... that I was giving you something you truly wanted... certainly deserved..."  Twilight simply stared at the stars, letting the Princess say whatever she wanted to say.  Celestia seemed to hesitate.

"Twilight... if this is not what you want... I can take it back..."

The younger alicorn simply moved to slowly turn to face her mentor, her eyes visibly tired and watery.

"... It's... I really don't know, Princess..."

She sniffed a bit and looked at her hooves, pawing at the ground.  "... It's a wonderful thing... but I feel so... exposed..."  Twilight lifted her hoof to rub away a tear from her cheek as she tried to contemplate her words.  "... I mean, logically speaking, even once your teachings were done, there was a low probability I would have just become some normal pony... I kind of expected to be important... but... I'm worried... I'm worried that being a princess maybe too much for me..."

Celestia frowned a bit and looked to Luna, who simply stared at her sister with an empty expression.  The solar diarch sighed and put a foreleg around Twilight's shoulder.  Twilight, in return, leaned against her teacher and sniffed a few times.

"... I mean... what if I fail, Celestia? If everypony will look up to me like some kind of hero, or some kind of... symbol... what.... what if I mess up and disappoint everypony...?"

Celestia smiled and cooed gently.  "Twilight... you underestimate yourself, my little pony..."  She nuzzled against the smaller mare's mane.  "... You've proven yourself a capable pony, worthy of the title Princess..."  Celestia held Twilight back some and stared into her student's eyes.  "Twilight... I would never have given you something I didn't think you were ready for..."

Twilight sniffed again, still not seeming to change her demeanor.  Celestia grinned as she came up with a plan.

"Twilight... did you know the Unicorn Royals, from before the founding of Equestria and when the tribes were seperate, were all alicorns?"

Twilight seemed to stop and looked to Celestia.  "What...?"

Celestia smiled.  "Oh yes.  The 'alicorn gift' was reserved for only royals and particularly trusted guards and heroes, much as it is now; or had you failed to notice our alicorn guards?"  Twilight seemed to ponder this over.  Celestia nodded.  "It was tradition, usually, to convert those of royal blood into alicorns shortly after birth, as a sign of superiority.  Heroes and honored guards, however, were offered princehood or princesshood for great and heroic deeds, as a sign of the respect of not only the royal family, but so that all would know their greatness upon sight."

She looked up to the stars.  "Many ponies forget... I admit, the knowledge has been lost to time, and is probably hidden in tomes even you haven't read... yet."

Luna stepped forward, next to the two.  "Sister, why not tell her about Star Swirl the Bearded?"  Celestia's smile brightened.

"Ah yes! He was, in fact, one such unicorn who was to be blessed!"

Twilight quirked her brow and pondered this over.  "But... I've never once read anywhere about him being an Alicorn OR a Prince..."

"You wouldn't have.  He refused."  This seemed to make Twilight's eyes widen a bit.  "You see, he had done much in his time.  He was a hero, an adventurer, and some even say, a heart breaker... but, above all else, Star Swirl was a scholar."  Celestia looked to the sky in contemplation.  "He was offered the gift one day by one of my own ancestors... but, he denied it."

"What? Why?" said Twilight, her expression making it obvious she was enraptured with the tale.  Celestia smiled.

"For that very spell you finished."  Twilight's expression showed hints of confusion and at the same time awe.  "He had tried many things to finish the spell.  In the process, he had switched the destinies of his neighbors, and had to cast the spell repeatedly to fix the damage done...  He was so ashamed by his failure that he declared that he would not accept the royal blessing until his spell was finished.  With that, he disappeared and was never heard from again."

Twilight stared up to Celestia as she finished her story.  "... You mean... he died without ever gaining his reward?"

Celestia giggled.  "What? Oh, who knows, Twilight? He was a very capable unicorn... it wouldn't surprise me if he was alive to this day."

Twilight quirked a brow.  "What!? But he'd have to be older than you!"  Celestia nodded.  "And I'm fairly old.  As is my sister, Discord... even Sombra lived longer than he really should have... magic can do many things once you know how to use it...."

Twilight seemed to think this over.  "So... what if he came back?"

Celestia snorted and guffawed, almost uncharacteristically so.  "He'd have to do something else! If that pony was still alive, then he'd have a thousand years worth of making up to do for all the problems he ignored!"  Luna herself couldn't help but chuckle.  Twilight laughed a little herself, although it was insincere.

Celestia sighed and shook her head.  "... Joking aside... Star Swirl... his major flaw was, as much as he did for his fellow ponies, he was never one to form friendships... they say his only true friend was his apprentice, Clover the Clever, who also never figured the spell out, though she also gave up fairly fast, fearing that if she did discover it, she would be taking what was rightfully her mentor's.

In the end, Twilight... Star Swirl had the drive, but not the capacity to understand friendship.  You have the drive AND the heart... you defend the weak... you're loyal... and you've always remained diligent, even in the face of despair.  You're brave, you're strong..." Celestia offered a smile.  "You're everything a Princess needs to be."  Twilight smiled, tears in her eyes, and gave a gentle nod.

The three princesses once more were gazing at the night sky, silently.

"Hey, Princess Celestia?"

"Yes, Twilight?"

"Do you really think I'll be okay?"

"I know you will."

"... Sister?"

"Yes, Luna?"

"... I know it was you who farted and ruined Hearth's Warming Eve last year..."


THE END