//------------------------------// // Dear Princess Sparkle... // Story: To My, Mostly, Faithful Student // by StormDancer //------------------------------// Princess Celestia lay upon a thick pile cushion slowly rereading the letter she had received some hours ago for the umpteenth time. The servants had come and gone, bringing dinner and tea, as well as clearing the dishes and setting a small platter of simple butter cookies on the nearby plinth for her consumption, before retiring for the night a few hours ago. She had thanked them politely, offering up a smile that had sent her helpful little ponies out with light hearts and the feeling of unending appreciation that her realm was so known for, before quietly retrieving the letter that she had carefully rerolled and put aside for later. That had been several hours ago and Luna had long since set the moon along its sovereign path in the night sky. Taking a small sip of tea, Celestia paused and let her mind drift back over the previous months, searching for any signs or warnings she may have missed. Perhaps an idle glance or an off-hoof remark that could hint at an underlying discontent? A snap decision with long standing consequences? Maybe even a falling out with an otherwise helpful acquaintance? And yet, even combing through her memories, she could find nothing to indicate a present danger. Nothing to spell out the doom and horrors of what her precious student had brought to Equestria. Finally, with a regretful sigh, she set the letter aside and levitated a blank scroll over along with a small inkwell. Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle, I hope this letter finds you well... No... that was not how she wanted to start this letter. It sent all the wrong messages: that Twilight's health and well being were on her mind, that she had enjoyed writing this, and (of course) that Twilight's actions were acceptable. No, it couldn't start that way. With a brief flash of magic, the scroll became blank once more before the fine quill tip sought out its own path upon the pristine scroll. My dearest Twilight, there are concerns I must discuss with you... No... once again, the wording made it sound as if her actions were only questionable at worst. Frowning, Celestia flicked her horn again, once more wiping the scroll clear before dabbing her quill and starting for a third time. Twilight Sparkle, I am astounded at what I have read in your letter! After all this time, after all you've learned, was it truly so easy to slip back into your callous and hostile demeanor? You outright attacked Tirek? We gave you our power so that you could escape! We gave you our magic so that you could overcome Tirek and protect all of our little ponies. How could you trade the lives of countless ponies for those of your friends? They weren't even in any danger as far as any reports have indicated! You literally decided to gamble on a fool's wager that Tirek would actually honor his trade! Tirek backstabbed Discord... DISCORD, spirit of chaos? Discord, the one who tormented the entire world until the combined forces of two alicorns AND the Elements of Harmony were used.... and only then because he didn't realize what they were. I simply cannot believe that... The quill skittered across the parchment surface of the scroll as Princess Celestia blinked back tears. She couldn't say that... not to Twilight. Not even when she had done something so boundlessly foolish. Twilight was still her student, even if she no longer held the title. Twilight Sparkle was an alicorn now, a princess of Equestria, but she was still so young and so very fragile. Celestia thought back a number of years to when the small lavender filly had joyfully tramped through the halls of her castle, obliviously wading through court proceedings to ask her a question about an obscure word or block of text. She thought back to the many humorous moments, much to the consternation of some hapless noble, and to all the memories and happy times. Flinching as she reread her last attempt, Celestia flicked her horn again, wiping the scroll clean. Twilight Sparkle, While I commend the result, I am surprised and not a little worried over your choice of tactics while addressing Tirek. I feel I should remind you that Cadance, Luna, and myself all gave you our powers for safekeeping and to ensure the continued survival of all of our little ponies. We had hoped that you would be able to hide yourself away, protecting the vast magics of this land, and ensuring the lives of its citizens until you or we had been able to devise a method of containing or reforming Tirek. And while it is apparent that your approach was ultimately successful, I must impress upon you the almost incalculable odds of such an event occurring. That you did succeed is nothing short of a miracle, but I am forced to wonder what that magnificent mind of yours could have come up with had it not surrendered to the siren's call of violence. Twilight, to say that I am disappointed would be an understatement. I would love to praise your victory, to list off your virtues and the wonderous nature of the event, but you have given me nothing worthy of praise. How shall I explain to a mare that her child cannot strike a classmate when her princess ran into battle? How shall I condemn a petty thief while his ruler destroyed hundreds of acres of arable land? What of the mountains that were destroyed? What of the raining debris that ploughed troughs through towns for miles around? What shall I tell my sister, one who praises you as her savior and first friend in over a millennia, when I can barely look upon your face for the tears that cloud my... Celestia paused again, frowning at the letter. It was closer, that much was certain, but it felt more and more like a letter meant for a special somepony.... and one looking to break it off no less. For a few more moments Celestia sat, the quill poised over the partially written scroll. I can't simply sugar coat everything.... Twilight deserves better. She deserves a straight answer. With a long suffering sigh, Princess Celestia wiped the scroll clean again. Twilight Sparkle, I want to congratulate you on the defeat of Tirek. Another horrible crisis resolved through your dedication and the aide of your friends. I would, however, like to explain just how difficult wishing I could commend you publicly is. I cannot praise you for your choice of approaches. Not only did you not try to engage Tirek socially, diplomatically, or through negotiations of any sort, you immediately leapt to violence. I can appreciate the nature of the threat he posed... we have met before under even more dire of circumstances... but even then, words should have been your first choice. How can I, in good conscience, praise your actions when I must remind fillies and colts that fighting on the school grounds is not appropriate? What might I say to their parents? Were I to praise your approach, precedent would be set for nearly any disagreement. After all, Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship, said it was okay. Violence is only ever to be a final defense. I cannot praise your gambling the lives of all of Equestria's citizens, and potentially the entire planet, for those of your friends. While I admire your devotion, and can certainly understand your need to help them, I must point out that as a ruler, you will be called upon to make painful decisions and even sacrifices, on occassion. It is a horrible thing... a brutal and cruel truth... but it is something that comes with being a leader. As agonizing as it is, sometimes we must lose what we love to save others. I do not understand why you didn't question Discord. While he is 'reformed,' even you have seen what his tendencies have been. He is not evil... he never was... but if asked to draw a straight line, you know very well that he would look for every single loophole there is. If given the parchment, a quill, and an inkwell for the task, when next you saw him, there would likely be a sign hanging over the local nunnery that read: "Interested in having foals? Queue starts here!" And why didn't you check with Zecora? Her people are renown for their wisdom. You, with all your vast intellect and knowledge, were fooled by the title of one of her books, were given the means of overcoming a corrupted performer with the magic of an alicorn, and even given the insight to defeat one of Discord's 'pet projects' from well over a millennia of gathering its strength.... all from speaking with that Zebra. For studying friendship, you ignored your closest friends, betrayed their trust, and left them to become bait to be used against you. They have been, and will continue to be, your greatest strength. Without your magic, they gave you the inspiration to seek out another way to save the day. I wonder what might have happened if you had told them before. What about if you had all gone into seclusion and discovered another way? Unfortunately, we may never know. And last, but perhaps most troubling to me, I read the reports of Zecora's vision potion some months ago, just after the Plunder Seed incident. I had been chuckling at the description of your magic, but after this incident, I find myself wondering. Why, when asked to use your alicorn magic upon the flask, did you choose to use Sombra's dark magic? Has my single example of the field become so ingrained in your mind, so integral to your being, that you instinctively reach for corruption rather than that of harmony? Of Friendship? Of Good? Twilight, were you any but who you are, had I not personally taught you for years and seen the innocence and kindness within you, I would have sought out the Rainbow of Light for the simple fear of what an empowered alicorn princess, weilding the Element of Magic, with a troupe of powerful allies at her side could do. You and your friends represent one of if not the single greatest forces of magic in all of Equestria. Knowing that your instinctual use of magic, your own element, has become dark and corrupted fills me with a dread I have not felt since before the Crystal Empire fell, my sister became Nightmare Moon, or the rumors of Tartarus' locks being broken. I trust that this letter will strike a cord within you. I know you to be a good and kind soul, but I find myself at an impasse. If I praise you for your defeat of Tirek, I condemn thousands of years of work to create the peace and harmony of Equestria... the land where the Royal Guard can afford to be kind and friendly. And yet, if I condemn your actions, I risk losing the support of all my little ponies, sacrificing their happiness and my wisdom for a bit of momentary celebration. If I condemn the approach but praise the result, we all risk falling into an 'end justifies the means' mentality that will lead to ruin for so very, very many... I don't think I need to remind you how, exactly, Nightmare Moon came to be, nor how Sombra's influence sealed away an empire of tortured slaves. So, Twilight, I will leave you with this: Please, please, help me to find comfort in this. Show me something that I have mistaken. Prove my fears unjustified. I beg you, my faithful student, please remain so. Princess Celestia Celestia frowned. It was all she could do once she had read off the letter to herself. The words would crush Twilight. They would bring heartache and doubt. They would draw into question things she had held immutable. And with a heavy heart, the scroll was gone in a flash of golden light. They needed to be said.