Twilight,
I'll be there shortly. Gather the other Elements of Harmony.
Celestia
Twilight looked at the letter before turning it over. Was there more on the back? Spike looked at her expectantly.
"Well? What'd she say?"
"She. . . said to get the girls together and that she'd be here shortly."
Spike raised a scaled eyebrow.
"That's it?"
"Yeah. That's. . . it. Nothing else. It's written very nonformally, almost as if she was in a rush."
Spike peered over her shoulder at the letter.
"Want to send something back?"
Twilight shook her head.
"No. . . no, I'll go get the girls. Would you straighten up the place a little?"
"Sure"
Twilight nodded in thanks and galloped out the door. Spike started to clean downstairs, putting away left out books and dusting the shelves. The young dragon felt a slight rolling feeling in his crop, but he didn't worry. It was his body subconsciously rotating the egg. Spike gave a slight huff as he stirred his fire pouch. Smoke escaped his nostrils as the inside of his body became a little warmer.
His concentration on the egg broke as he heard hoof steps approaching. Spike smiled. It had been only ten minutes since Twilight had left, but he wasn't surprised that she had been able to gather them all so quickly. Walking over to the door, he pulled it open. The slight smirk on his face dropped at the sight of Princess Celestia.
"P-Princess! Please, come in!"
Spike stepped out of the doorway, bowing his head as the sun demi-goddess walked in.
"Rise, my little dragon. There is no need for such formality among friends."
Spike looked up at Celestia's gentle smile. Spike smiled back and stood up onto all fours.
"Please come in."
Spike led Celestia into the main section of the library. Both of them sat down. However, Celestia's two guards stayed outside the front door.
"Um. . . are they going to come in?"
Celestia hid her smile behind her hoof.
"I don't think so. I fear Regal Mask and Thunder Twine take their jobs a little to seriously. They've been my personal guards for five years, and I have still not been able to make them take a vacation. . . or a simple evening off."
Spike looked at the two guards, who stood at the door. It was obvious that they could hear them, but were ignoring the conversation.
"You've got to give them props for loyalty."
Celestia looked at her two guard out of the corner of her eye.
"Oh, yes. They are by far the best guards I've ever seen."
Spike and Celestia shared a smile as the two royal guards stuck out the chest a little more, preening at the praise. The sun princess shook her head before turning her attention back to the young dragon in front of her.
"If I may ask, where is Twilight?"
"Oh, she's gathering all the-"
"Spike! The Princess's carriage is here! Is she-"
Twilight burst in through the front door, but didn't make it any further. Regal Mask and Thunder Twine had intercepted Twilight. Regal Mask had put up a shield of magic while Thunder Twine held Twilight down, his wings flared.
"Hey! Get off her!"
Thunder Twine was knocked off of Twilight by a cyan rainbow blur. Thunder Twine and Rainbow Dash tumbled before crashing into a bookcase. Thunder Twine had Rainbow Dash pinned. A quick scuffle ensured between the two royal guards and six mares, the guards coming out on top.
Rarity was being dramatic and screeching.
"My mane! Oh, you're ruining my mane!"
Poor Fluttershy had fainted. Spike stood up to help his friends, but Princess Celestia beat him to it.
"Stop!"
Spike had never heard Celestia use the Royal Canterlot Voice, but he was sure that was it.
"Regal, Twine, would you please release the Elements of Harmony?"
The two stallions looked over the mares before releasing them. Both bowed.
"Forgive us, Princess."
Celestia rolled her eyes.
"You two are wonderful guards, but you two are a little too overprotective."
Regal Mask and Thunder Twine didn't rise from their bow.
"Please wait outside, we will discuss this later."
The royal guards left, looking just like they had when arriving. Except poor Thunder Twine's wings drooped a little. Pinkie Pie looked over at the princess.
"You're not really going to punish them, are you?"
Celestia shook her head.
"Oh, no. They we're just doing their jobs. I only wish they wouldn't attack anything that moves too fast. I'll let them sulk a little before we apologies to each other. This is not the first time this has happened, but I do love them like family."
The six mares each took a seat, once Rainbow Dash had woken up Fluttershy. Twilight turned to her teacher.
"Princess, it's so good to see you. . . but. . . is there something wrong?"
Celestia sighed.
"I'm afraid my little ones, that I have not been completely honest with you."
Twilight looked nervously around the room.
"About. . . about what?"
"About your entrance exam to Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. About Spike's egg and where he came from. About Spike's father."