The train screeched into the station, jolting me out of the quick nap I had attempted to take. I tentatively stepped down from the car and began a quick trot towards the castle. I was so nervous it took all my focus just to keep putting one hoof in front of the other. Of course, I was so caught up in walking that I did not see my older brother, until he was right on top of me.
“Twily!” Shining Armor yelled from across the street. Leaping over to me in a few quick bounds he continued, “What are you doing here, sis? Why didn't you tell me you were coming?”
I winced at his questions.
“Umm...” I murmured, continuing my straight path along the sidewalk, “Royal business. It's a secret.”
“Hey!” he said as he stepped in front of me and stopped me in my tracks. I still wouldn't look him in the eyes.
“I'm your brother. I'm also a prince. Whatever it is, I'm sure I'll understand.” Holding back tears, I simply said, “I really don't think you will.” and brushed past him. He didn't come after me.
After several more narrow escapes with old Canterlot friends, I finally reached the base of the staircase to the castle. I sighed and started the trek up, since using wings or magic was strictly forbidden within the boundaries. You'd think I would get some kind of pardon from this, me being a princess and all, but apparently not.
About halfway up, I lifted my head to see the face of Princess Celestia gazing down from the top of her tower. She caught my eyes and gave a small wave, withdrawing from the balcony to meet me at the door. I sped up a bit, the promise of satisfying my curiosity urging me on. Panting, I placed my hoof at the top, looking up into the smiling face of my former teacher.
“Twilight,” she hummed, “you came. I wasn't sure if--”
“Of course I came, Princess. What did you want to tell me?” I cut her off, too curious to be patient. She blinked once, slowly, then turned and went to the door, mane and tail swaying elegantly behind her.
“You see, Twilight,” Celestia spoke over her shoulder, “I know for a fact that you always wanted to know about Alicorns. You seemed to be the only one who found them such a mystery.”
“That's right!” I affirmed.
“Well...” she took a deep breath, then stopped and turned to face me, “I know about them. All about them. Everything you ever wondered. All the questions you ever asked, I'll answer them for you, under one condition. You must never tell another living soul about what I am going to show you.”
I nodded courtly as Celestia led me to the library door. She walked to the shelf containing several ancient tones on biology. Her horn lit up with a blue glow, as she shifted the entire shelf up, revealing a small hatch in the floor. I knelt down and flipped open the hatch, and pulled out a small, wooden box. It was badly water damaged, and had some stains that resembled blood. On the top, a metal plaque was mounted that had a sun emblazoned on it. Celestia's cutie mark. I opened the box with my magic, while Celestia replaced the shelf. Inside was an enormous stack of crinkling parchment, which was so tightly packed that the top few pages fluttered to the floor. I set the box aside and lifted the pages, stacking them neatly.
“Wait,” I muttered, peering at the blurry, damaged pages, “Is this... a diary?”
I glanced at the dates, “FROM NEARLY ONE THOUSAND YEARS AGO?!” Then, it hit me, “Is this your diary?”
Celestia sadly responded, “N... no,” then took a shaky breath, “It was a friend of mine's. She...” I saw the beginning of a tear at the corner of her eye, “Well, you just read it and see. But on no account can it or it's contents be shared outside this castle!”
I jumped a bit at her sharp reminder and nodded. I have only heard Celestia raise her voice at me once, when I ruined my brother's wedding reception.
She exhaled sharply, “Oh, I'm sorry. It's just--”
“I understand,” I interrupted once again, “Don't worry about it.”
Celestia looked ashamed, but quickly covered it with her pleasant aura and said, “I have a guest room set up for you, but you're welcome to read that anywhere in the castle. I'd suggest a room with a fireplace, but your room should be rather comfortable. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.”
“That's fine. Thank you. And I promise: not a word of this will leave the room I read it in,” I swore.
The Princess smiled sweetly, “Thank you Twilight. I knew I could trust you with this.”
I bowed my head politely and walked past her, heading toward my favorite room in the castle-, the tower inspiration room. It was situated at the very top of the highest tower in Canterlot, it had a loud, crackling fireplace, and walls decorated with spiraling murals about Equestrian history. It meant another long climb, but whatever these diaries were about, it sure was important to Celestia. I wanted to know every word by heart, forwards and backwards. This was the best place to absorb it that way. When I was little, I had used it as my study room. Now it would be a sacred place. For the next few days, it was where I learned the secret that Celestia had held so close.
I laid down on the Persian rug, putting the cushion I had loved so much as a filly between my foreleg joints, and began to read.
January 1st, 1011
Well, here I am. The first day of a new year. My parents told me that today would be the day I learned about their 'surprise'. They told me they had enrolled me in something. Something they thought would put our names in the history books forever...