Dear Princess Celestia,
It is with some amount of hesitation that I write you today. I’m sure you noticed that this letter came by normal post, and not via Spike. To be honest, I didn’t want him to know I was sending this. I’ve been thinking a lot about some things, and writing down my thoughts has always helped me to sort them out. You know me and my lists.
I know you told me that now that I’m a princess, we would be equals, no longer a student and a teacher. At the very least, you said that I would no longer be your student in the same way. I’ve graduated from many courses of study before, and I’ve advanced happily in my studies through many successes. However, this time it felt different. There was a melancholy feeling that I was not expecting. I was made a princess, transformed into an alicorn, and coronated. It’s like a dream come true, certainly different than the sort of job placement most students expect after graduation, but there’s still this uncertain feeling inside of me. At first, I thought that it might have been nervousness related to my new duties as a princess, but I’m just not sure anymore. After all, it is still unclear what my duties even entail.
When you and Princess Luna vanished last week, I had responsibility suddenly thrust upon me, and even though things turned out well in the end, it wasn’t without issue. To be honest, I didn’t know what to do. All of the sudden, I was being looked to for guidance and orders. I was being relied upon not as just another pony, but as a princess - as an authority figure. Somepony who would have all the answers, and yet I didn’t have anything but doubt.
My uncertainty, of course, is only one reason why I’m writing to you. There is a deeper reason. You recently sent my friends and me into your old castle home in the Everfree Forest. More correctly, you sent me there, but my friends all ended up there as well for different reasons. We eventually came across a secret study, and within it was a journal that you and Princess Luna kept a thousand years ago. As I flipped through the pages of that book, I realized the castle wasn’t such a scary place, at least not as scary as I had initially thought. However, looking down at the pages, seeing your writing, imagining all of the words as if you were speaking them, filled me with a great feeling of nostalgia, but also comfort. It also filled me with longing.
I decided that the girls and I should keep a journal as well. Since we’re not going to be writing any more friendship reports for you, I thought it would be a great way to keep track of what we’ve learned and experienced as a group.
I don’t think that’s really why I wanted us to keep the journal, though. Here is where I will have to confess something to you about why you’re even reading this letter right now. To be honest, I miss writing you letters. When I was sending you reports on the magic of friendship, I had a reason, an excuse, to write to you every chance I had. There is something about writing a letter and sending it, knowing that when you get it you will read it and hear my words in your head that I find so very appealing. I love it. I thought that writing in the journal could be a replacement, but I have quickly come to realize that a replacement is impossible. There is nothing in this world that could replace the act of writing to you, sharing my thoughts and feelings with you, even sharing my frustrations with you.
So, in closing, I must ask you a question. If it’s not too much of a bother, would you mind terribly if I continued to send you letters? I await your response.
Your Faithful Student Fellow Princess,
Twilight Sparkle
P.S. My goodness, I can’t believe I wrote “Your Faithful Student” there. It’s just such a force of habit.
My Dearest Twilight,
There is no need to be worried, and there is no need to be so formal. I was your teacher, and you were my student, but more important than that: We were friends, and we still are. There is nothing wrong with friends writing letters to one another, and I would never find a letter from you to be anything but a joy to receive. Of course you may continue to write me letters. In fact, I encourage it! If writing to me brings you happiness and comfort, I think that it is an important activity for you. After all, you must keep yourself level-headed and well-grounded. I, too, have always found that writing helped me to organize my thoughts and relax, and when you’re writing to a friend, it can fill you with such joy.
In other words, nothing you said is anything you should be embarrassed about, nor should you think that you’re strange in thinking the way that you do.
Here is a little confession of my own, just for you: The life of a princess here in Canterlot can sometimes be so drab and dreary. Every time I got a report from you while you were studying the magic of friendship, it was a highlight of my day. There were some days when I would insist that my schedule be rearranged and some of my more boring duties be dropped so that I could read your report and reflect upon it myself. Your letters about friendship may not have always taught me something new, but they were always lessons to reflect upon and remember.
So, please, continue to write to me! Your letters will surely brighten up my day, and if you don’t mind, I would like to share them with Princess Luna as well. Believe it or not, she has become quite fond of you, but I think she feels that her relationship with you is not as close as mine. Between you and me, I think she may have been feeling a little bit left out, even a little bit jealous. Don’t feel bad about it, though! I’ve assured her that it was just because you were my personal student. Now that our letters will be friendlier in nature, rather than academic, I just know she will be overjoyed to be included.
So, you found our journal, did you? I cannot believe you were reading our personal and private journal!
Just kidding! I knew you would find the journal eventually. It has been so very long since Luna and I wrote upon its pages. Did you take it with you, or leave it at the castle? I may want to pop down to the area at some point and spend an afternoon reading it, myself. Now that the memories of those times are not as darkened by the weight of banishing Luna to the moon, I may be able to joyfully relive those past days in my mind. How I long for those simpler days, sometimes. Always hold onto your past dearly, Twilight. Your precious memories are an irreplaceable treasure of the heart.
I look forward to hearing all about the things you’ve experienced and done, particularly now that you’re a princess. Always remember, if you ever need any advice, I’ve been doing this for a rather long time and just might have some for you.
Until next time!
Your Friend,
Celestia