//------------------------------// // Dear Princess Celestia, // Story: A Letter to the Princess // by Raymanguy //------------------------------// Dear Princess Celestia, This may be part of a class assignment but Miss Cheerilee only checks the length and gives it a passing mark, they're never sent so I decided to actually send you this letter because I really do feel the need to talk to someone who might care. My name is Chopper and I just moved to Ponyville about a month or so ago with my mom. We don't have any family here or anything, I'm not actually sure why we moved here from Trottingham. I think I heard her say it had something about a lay-off and cost of living. I don't know but it really didn't make a difference to me. I didn't really have any friends and the school bullies made sure it stayed that way. I won't bore you with any stories as I'm sure you're quite busy as it is being a princess and all. When we got to Ponyville, things seemed to get better. Mom found a couple of odd jobs here and there, but they were at weird hours so I rarely got to see her. When I did get to see her, she seemed both really happy to see me and tired like nopony's business. Still, we would talk for what seemed like hours about stuff we had been doing. We even had an unspoken formula in place so that we at least we're able to talk every couple of days. When she got home from work at really early morning hours, I was already prepared for school and had cooked her favorite breakfast, and if it was late at night dinner was already on the table. I sort of took over the housework so she didn't need any more on her plate. School was fine, although it was too easy. I wasn't sure if my old school was that far ahead or if I was just really smart. Either way, I got noticed rather quickly in the worst of ways possible. It wasn't too bad, but it was notable for being not good. Needless to say I haven't made any friends here either. I suppose all of this sounds rather dull to you. I bet your days are far more exciting, but I do enjoy my life, I suppose. Well, at least I did. Everything went bad very fast. It started two weeks ago, Mom took a job to that would keep her away for five days. That was unusual thing but she comforted me, told me not to worry. Four days pass and by suprise she comes home early. I was overjoyed beyond anything you could imagine, but she didn't look to good. She said she still wanted to catch up even though she really wasn't feeling well. We talked and I made her some soup, after which she seemed to be doing better. We both were tired so we said our goodnights' and went to bed. The thing is...I was the only one to wake up the next morning. She died in her sleep from some unknown ailment, the doctor said she didn't suffer. A couple days later, I buried her. I say I because I was the only one at the service. When I said that we didn't have a family here in Ponyville, I meant we had no other family at all. We had each other and that's it. I don't know who my dad is but considering not even he was at the service, I doubt he cares. I'm all alone now. It's a hard feeling to describe. Knowing that the one you love the most you'll never see again. Never see them smile at your terrible jokes, never hear them sing to you when you're scared, never to feel their bearhugs to cheer you up. I'm not sure if you know what I mean, but I honestly hope you don't. This feeling...it hurts. It's pain in my heart that won't go away and I don't know what to do. This isn't a feeling I'd wish upon my worst enemy, let alone the ruler of Equestria. I don't know if anyone else here knows what happened. I haven't said anything but everypony seems to not get anywhere near me, even the bullies are apparently giving me a break, which is nice I guess. Mom paid the rent for the apartment for this month, so I can stay here for now. Ponyville doesn't have an orphanage and neither does Trottingham if my memory serves me right. Are there even orphanages in Equestria? I don't know, now I'm just rambling and wasting your time. To be honest, I'm not really sure why I wrote you this letter. Maybe it's because I needed someone to talk to, like I used to do with Mom. You dont need to respond or anything, but thanks for listening. Sincerely Your Loyal Subject, Chopper ~~~ Celestia stared at the letter currently held in her magical grasp for what seemed like ages. Her eyes remained glued to paper as she read and reread it. There was a pain...a sadness welling up in her chest and yet she continued to read. She stopped reading as a wet sensation trickled down her cheek. She touched a hoof to her face, she was crying. Celestia's mind became a battleground of emotions fighting for dominance. In the end, sadness won and she began to weep. The letter was now soaked in the princess' tears as it rested on the bed and she rested on it. Celestia turned over onto her back, tears now slowing, and thought about why the letter had brought out the emotions it did. She knew the answer right off the bat. She had experinced those feelings once before. On the day her sister turned against her, the day Nightmare Moon arrived. Celestia shuddered as the memory of here sister's terrible transformation flashed before her eyes. She had felt that loss, she carried the actions of that day for a thousand years, but she had something this colt didn't. Hope to see her beloved sister again someday. Her tears began to flow freely once more. She rolled back over and over-top the now soaked, but still legible, letter. Now, determination in eyes, she set to work. Her horn glowed it's golden glow as a fresh scroll, a jar of ink, and a quill floated over to her bedside. Now she only had to figure one final thing, how to respond.