//------------------------------// // 14. Letters back and forth // Story: Longma // by JeckParadox //------------------------------// Dear Shiny, What can I say... the past week has been hectic. I've been a Princess for a while, but this is the first time I've had to think about the real responsibility of it. Now, with what I'm about to say, I have the absolute highest respect for Cadence, you know that, and it isn't even true any more. I assumed that I was going to be like Cadence was; have my normal life, but with wings and a crown. Go around town smiling and going to shops like everypony else, having a normal job, maybe dealing with guards and going to big events. And actually, thank Celestia, or rather Luna in this case, that's going to be true for the next few months. I'm sure you've heard about it, being the Prince and all, but another Empire like the Crystal Empire sprung up in the North. They disappeared after Celestia banished Nightmare. They marched down South to Canterlot to proclaim Luna their queen again... and instead Luna proclaimed me their queen. Now I've got bodyguards, a Royal Captain, and a tower that sticks out of Ponyville like a sore thumb. I'm the successor to Nightmare Moon, and there are seven trained warriors living in and above my house who watch me while I sleep. Do you have any advice? Love, Twily. Brand new Queen of the Night Empire. Dear Twily, I've heard about them recently, one of my friends from the guard academy sent me a message about the 'army of monsters' that showed up. I was about to contact Princess Celestia and offer any help the Crystal Empire could offer, but she told me it was all under control. But still, that's quite something, isn't it? I guess the Armor family is officially just as royal as the Alicorn family, we've got two ancient empires now. I bet Mom and Dad are happy about this. Well, I supposed that would have to do with how much acceptance they have for the monster ponies. As for advice; stay calm, learn as much as you can, and remember the reason you agreed to become Princess of your Empire. I've been doing okay, as far as I know, so I'm sure that you'll do amazingly. These ancient suddenly-appearing Empires really lucked out, huh? The Night getting you and the Crystal getting Cadence. They're almost as lucky as me. You'll do fine. Stay in touch, your brother Shiny. Prince of the Crystal Empire, and married, your move. Dear Shiny, What's that about the "Armor" family? I've always thought we were the "Twilight" family, considering that Mom and Great-Grandma had the same name. I've taken your advice to heart, though it's almost completely useless. I've been trying to learn as much as I can, but my Guards prefer to speak as little as possible around me, and Oscuridad, my Captain, always manages to slip around me or twist the conversation in a different direction unless I get overly assertive. As for my reason for agreeing to being Princess... I'm not sure I've found it. At first, I assumed Celestia was training me because she just saw a promising Mage. Then, after the Nightmare Moon fiasco and I moved into Ponyville I thought she had trained me all those years because she wanted me to be the best possible bearer of the Elements of Harmony I could be. And after I finished Starswirl's spell and got my wings I found that that she had trained me to be the best Princess I could be. That's the belief I'm currently holding, but that's just because I can't think of where I can go up from here! I mean, what could I be next? A god?NOPE, NOT JINXING IT. I know almost nothing about the Night Empire, except the little Luna and Celestia told me, and though I like all my guards, I don't consider them really my friends yet. I don't have any real connection to them. And all they've done for me is make my life more stressful and get in the way of my schedule, and more importantly, get in between me and my friends. I can't even have a hug without being glared at. I'm sorry for pouring out into this letter. Oscuridad's been driving me crazy by trying to alter all of Ponyville's laws and making me change them back, and now the library is probably going to shut down. And I've been trying to stay calm, but I have three stallions and three mares in my home who think everypony who walks by might try to kill me. I've been working on being more assertive as a rule, and trying to see their side of things. I mean, if I were used to guarding someone in a big palace surrounded by servants, and then suddenly I were stuck in the country in a little tower with nopony I recognize, I'd be stressed too. But Celestia is right, if these guys had their way, I'd probably be up North locked in a room in their giant ice Castle. I've been less nervous about giving orders lately... though I'd prefer if I didn't have to. Love, Twily. Empress of the Night Empire, Mare of the Moon, Mistress, Shadow Lady, etc. your move. Also, living with four stallions. Dear Twily, I get where you're coming from. The move her was a big change... and honestly, I'm still not sure whether I'm used to it. I don't have the same problem giving orders as you do, since I spent a while with the Royal Guard, actually being trained on how to give and take orders. It's possible to still be friends with a Pony and still give them orders when it's necessary. It's about finding a good balance and not abusing that power. You just have to try and find that balance. Your bodyguards are going to be a constant in your life from now on. Me and Cadence both have our own sets of five bodyguards each, and then an extra set of three that guards us when we're together in public. They're almost always nearby, and for the first few weeks they were pretty annoying. It didn't help that for the first week only one of them could remember their name, and that was the one who had worked previously for Sombra, so he was the most nervous around me. Though by now we can joke around like old buddies. That brings me to another point. You're aware of the amnesia that the Crystal Ponies have, right? The magic-based one that was attached to Sombra's curse? Well, let's say that news about your Night Empire jogged a few memories. They don't seem to like the Night Empire that much. Apparently Sombra was a member of your Empire, which could explain a good percentage of it. The gem trade has picked up considerably though, so I doubt the ill feelings will continue for long, now that our biggest customer has apparently risen from the dead. Luna's buying gems like there's no tomorrow, and requesting Crystal Ponies to build new buildings. The Crystal Empire is the richest it's been since it magically appeared last year. Love, Shiny. Prince of the Crystal Empire, Supreme Leader of the Crystal Guard, ex-captain of the Equestrian Royal Guard, co-slayer of the Changeling Queen. And married to Mi Amore Cadenza, thus giving me the official position of luckiest stallion alive.Your move lil' sis. Dear Shiny, What's that about being 'co-slayer'? We don't have records of a single Changeling dying during the entire invasion. Face it, for once in my life, I am the one with the most titles! Anyway, today was interesting. I had a picnic planned with Rarity and Applejack before I became Empress, so I ordered all my guards to have a day off. I chatted with the two of them for about two hours before Crescent, one of said guards, asked as quietly as possible if she could join us. We had an actual conversation between the four of us, and she actually opened up a little to us, which surprised me, because I pegged her as being antisocial and even more shy than Fluttershy before then. She became fast friends with Rarity as they debated about Longma and Shadhavar fashion, and Rarity almost left early to get started on what she calls my 'official unveiling' gown. When I got home I found that Crow Moon, another one of said guards, had spent his day trying to make up for being rude to Rainbow Dash when they first met. Crow really hates the Wonderbolts, he apparently murdered killedfought a group of early Wonderbolts a thousand years ago during the Civil War, and when he found out they were still operating he lost it for a little while and shouted at Rainbow Dash back when the Longma first arrived. So he spent his day off with her and Scootaloo, a filly from the local school, at a Wonderbolt Show to make up for it. In the end, he even agreed to participate in a Wonderbolt Derby with Rainbow Dash just so that they could have an excuse to give Scootaloo a private race. It was so sweet and I didn't know he had it in him. He came back with a serious concussion and a few other injuries. I'm not too sure about all the details, considering he's confused and Rainbow Dash doesn't understand what happened, but apparently a mishap with some Longma magic led to him weighing almost nothing and crashing into another pony. Tonight he's confined to his room for bedrest, but Oscuridad mentioned getting a reserve guard until he's well. That would mean sending a message to Luna and waiting for him to arrive, but by then Crow would probably be well and it would all be pointless, so I assured Oscuridad nothing bad would happen. Love, Twily. Protege of Princess Celestia, Successor of Nightmare Moon, Dark Queen, Alicorn, Element of Magic, Organizer of Winter Wrap Up, Librarian, and Actress of the Canterlot Hearth's Warming Theater. I have led a very active life and I think Den has a book full of Nightmare Moon's titles, all of which I have inherited. You cannot hope to beat me in a contest of who has the most titles. Dear Twily, Shame about your guard, hope he gets better soon. And about your other guard, I'm happy you two are friends. And I am still in possession of the title "Older Brother" which is all that matters. Besides, I have a long list of ranks I held or passed over I could list off. Beside, as Prince I'm sure I have a similar book of titles lying around somewhere. As much as I love that game, I'm afraid I'll have to put it on hold. Something big happened in the Crystal Empire recently. Sombra came back, again. He gave up without a fight, and currently he's sitting in our dungeon with the best locks we possess and our most secure holding spells. I already sent a message to the other Princesses, Luna suggested that you speak with him for some reason, and Celestia told me that she's begun researching a more permanent method of sealing than the Elements of Harmony, the Crystal Heart, or banishment. Love, Shiny. I'll be there first thing in the morning, I'm bringing my bodyguards, and my Captain, who met Sombra before, with me. Hold on big brother. Love, Twilight.