Twilight took a deep breath. The dusty aroma of the Royal Library never ceased to bring a smile to her face. With her eyes closed, she walked down an aisle and imagined what she’d find next. Would it be a book on astronomy? Maybe ancient pony history? All she knew for certain was that it was Friday, and her schedule called for picking a book at random and diving right in.
She added a slight sway to her walk, turning the lanyard around her neck into a pendulum. Thinking about the little card she was wearing made her smile broaden; Princess Celestia always gave her the most wonderful birthday presents. Last year, her first as the Princess’s personal student, she’d received a collection of rare books on somepony called Starswirl the Bearded. How did the Princess know she’d get so attached to the writings of an ancient unicorn conjurer? Regardless, nothing could top this year.
The white card was inscribed with two wonderful words in golden script: All Access. The entirety of the Royal Library was hers to read, a privilege that few adult scholars seemed to have, let alone fillies as young as her. Introducing her to Starswirl might’ve been a long-shot, but granting her free reign over the biggest and most private library in the world couldn’t have been a more obvious birthday gift. Every book on every subject was available here, from magic to mathematics to metallurgy, and in due time she’d read them all.
Her nose bumped into something cold and hard, and her eyes flew open. She’d run into the one remaining barrier to her all-inclusive reading goal: a metal gate that cordoned off a small collection of shelves. She stepped up it and gazed at the forbidden shelves on the other side. A sign hanging just above her eye level read “No Admittance” in bright red letters. Not even her special card would get her in there; at least that’s what every librarian had said. They always gave Twilight a funny look when she asked, and only deigned to answer once they saw the card around her neck. Hopefully they’d start recognizing her soon; maybe then she could leave the lanyard in her saddle bag instead of having to hold it up whenever she tried to leave the foal’s section.
Beyond the gate was a small room lined with shelves. The books in there didn’t look any different, and yet they had to be. There was something special about them—something that, for whatever reason, merited being locked away.
By putting her eye up to the metal bars she could almost read the nearest dust jacket. “Adv… advanced… theory…”
Almost.
She stared down at her card and sighed. “It should say Almost All Access.”
A shadow fell over her. “Good afternoon, Twilight.”
She whirled around and bowed low. “Princess Celestia! I didn’t expect to see you here.”
From this perspective, all she could see were the Princess’s golden shoes. As always they were polished to a mirror-like shine, and as always she could see her own self-consciousness reflected in them.
“My afternoon appointments ended early, and I was wondering if you’d like to join me for lunch.”
She looked up at the Princess’s ethereal smile. From her current position on the floor, the Princess was even more of a giantess than usual. “I-I’d love to! I don’t think you’ve ever invited me to lunch.”
Princess Celestia reached down to help her back to her hooves. “I usually wouldn’t want to pull you away from your classes, but when one of my assistants said you spend your Friday afternoons here on your own, and then I find you reading through that gate…”
Twilight followed the Princesses gaze, which slowly moved from the lanyard to the forbidden section of the library. All Access. No Admittance.
The Princess’s smile faltered, and Twilight’s heart stopped. “I-I wasn’t trying to get in there. I’d n-never abuse my new library privileges!”
She was on the ground again, this time shivering and moments away from smudging the Princess’s polished shoes with kisses. “Please don’t take my card away.”
The Princess moved the shoe back and helped her up again. For the first time in Twilight’s memory, her smile was gone. “Twilight… I don’t want to take away your freedom to learn on your own, but I do want to instill a proper respect for the limits I’ve set.”
Twilight tried to speak, but nothing would come out. She couldn’t even manage a simple “I’m sorry.”
Princess Celestia turned away and beckoned her to follow. “We should’ve discussed this sooner. Time and time again I’ve underestimated your abilities, including your thirst for knowledge.”
Twilight followed with her head bowed. “W-what are you going to do?”
“Very little, I hope. Do you have something to write with?”
Twilight’s saddle bag flew open and her supplies floated out. Rolls of parchment, backup rolls of parchment, quills of every size, and ink of every color were at her disposal. Normally her preparedness was a source of pride, a sign that she was ready for anything her teachers could throw at her. This time she had a sinking feeling that she was tying her own noose.
Was she going to have to write “I will obey Princess Celestia” a hundred times, or a thousand? She’d do it a million times if it meant returning to her mentor’s good graces.
The Princess stopped at a small study table near a window. She sat next to it and offered Twilight one of the wooden chairs. Twilight obeyed, despite the uncomfortable fact that this seating arrangement, her in a chair and the Princess on the floor, brought them to eye level. She stared at the polished tabletop instead. The light through the window cast a pale blue glow on the her writing supplies. The world outside looked cold and unwelcoming, an endless expanse full of everything she didn’t want; everything but a forgiving smile from her mentor.
Somewhere beyond her peripheral vision, a quill scratched against a piece of parchment. Princess Celestia was writing up the terms of her punishment, most likely. Every so often the scratching would pause, and Twilight’s breath would follow.
“Twilight?” She jumped. “Y-yes, Princess Celestia?”
A sheet of parchment and a quill floated in Princess Celestia’s magic aura. “I’m going to give you a short test. It’s simple, but take all the time you need.”
She took the paper and read the four lines on it. “Twilight is a faithful student. Princess Celestia thinks of Twilight like family. All grass is purple. One of these statements is false.”
Her eyes darted from the paper to her stone-faced mentor. Was this some kind of joke? Did she dare point to the third sentence instead of the first?
“All g-grass isn’t purple?”
Princess Celestia nodded. “Very good.” A quill scratched out the lie about grass. “The second part is on the back.”
She turned the paper over and found three more lines of text. “Twilight is a faithful student. Princess Celestia thinks of Twilight like family. One of these statements is false.”
Tears formed in her eyes. This time there was no mistaking it. She was done here. She’d have to go back to public school where all the other ponies called her a bookworm. What would they call her now that she’d been expelled from Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns?
“T-Twilight isn’t a faithful–”
Princess Celestia’s hoof touched her lips, silencing her. “No. Never think that.”
“B-but–”
The quill moved over the paper again, this time crossing out the last sentence, “One of these statements is false.”
Twilight gasped. “I… I didn’t think of that.”
Princess Celestia stepped around the table and embraced her. “Yes. Please forgive me, Twilight, I knew that would be hard. I didn’t want to upset you, but when it comes to some lessons it just can’t be helped.”
“But why…”
“Why not ask the other question on your mind, the one about the gate in the library?”
Twilight gulped. “What… what’s so special about those books? Why can’t I go in there? Why can’t I read them? I… I just want to learn and… and to make you proud.”
“You do make me proud, Twilight. I wouldn’t have given you access to the Royal Library if I didn’t think you were ready. The forbidden section on the other hoof… I should have discussed this with you as soon as I gave you that card. It’s not just a question of wanting knowledge, it’s a question of wisdom.”
“There’s a difference?”
“Knowledge is what you gain from study, wisdom is what you gain from experience. You needed a certain amount of wisdom to spot the lies in this test, and you’ll need much more to discern the lies in those books.”
Twilight flinched and stepped back. “Lies? In books?”
Princess Celestia nodded. “Surely you don’t think every novel you’ve ever read belongs in the history section?”
“Well, no… but that’s supposed to be fiction. Aren’t all the reference books checked for accuracy?”
“Who could check them? Some of your favorite books on Starswirl the Bearded are still hotly disputed today. Some ponies doubt he actually came up with as many spells as he did.”
“But the history books–”
“Reflect the best efforts of historians, nothing more. No book written by the hooves of ponies is going to be free of errors. Some are large and obvious, like claiming all grass is purple. Others are small and destructive, like there being any doubt that you’re a wonderful student who’s dear to me.”
Twilight dragged a hoof across the table. “So the forbidden books… they’re dangerous?”
“Oh yes. They’re extremely dangerous. Some contain spells so complicated that a slight miscalculation could destroy this castle. Others simply contain dangerous ideas… ideas that drive ponies to seek after destructive things, things that could ruin their lives and the lives of those they care about.”
“Then why keep the books in the Royal Library at all?”
Princess Celestia closed her eyes and sighed. “Because they contain some very important truths as well. Books aren’t merely for the celebration of knowledge, they’re a window into the mind of their authors and the times they lived in. I’ve seen far too many ponies, some of them dear students such as yourself, venture into the forbidden section in search of some tidbit of knowledge and never return. There is a great deal of good in those books, Twilight, but it’s mixed with just enough evil to lure away the unprepared. Now do you understand?”
Twilight nodded. “I… I do, and… I’m sorry.”
At last Princess Celestia’s warm smile returned. “You have nothing to be sorry for, Twilight. I may be a Princess, but I’m also you’re mentor, your teacher, and, I sincerely hope, your friend.”
Twilight dove forward and hugged her. If they’d been standing she would’ve only been able to wrap her hooves around the Princess’s leg; instead her cheek was pressed against her chest, and the thump of a heartbeat sounded in her ear. “Of course you’re my friend, Princess. Between you and my brother I’ve got the best friends in the world! Did… did I pass?”
She could feel the Princess laugh. “Yes, Twilight, you passed. Don’t forget to pack up your things.”
Her writing supplies were repacked in record time. She picked up her test last of all. Part of her wanted to crumple it up and pretend that hoof-biting moment of panic never happened. Another part of her wanted to file it with the rest of her papers and exams. She’d never thrown one away, not even when she received a less than perfect score.
“Twilight?”
She looked up. “Princess?”
“Could I keep that paper?”
“I guess, but why?”
“As a reminder that I’ve chosen a wonderful student who even I sometimes struggle to stay ahead of. A student who, when she’s ready, will go places and do things that will exceed my wildest expectations. She’ll even be able to peruse the forbidden section if she so desires.”
Twilight felt a fresh set of tears coming on as she rolled the paper up and handed it over. “Does this mean we can still–”
Her rumbling stomach finished the question, and Princess Celestia grinned. “Of course we can. I usually just have tea and toast, but what would you like? Today we’ll eat whatever you choose, even if it’s cake.”
Twilight blushed and ground a hoof against the floor. “Well… there is this donut shop I really like…”
“Pony Joe’s?”
“You’ve been there before?”
“Oh… once or twice.”
She saw something new in the Princess’s smile, something bordering on mischievous.
“Perhaps once or twice a month, to be precise.”
Twilight burst out laughing. “Really?”
Princess Celestia leaned down until they were eye to eye. “Could we keep that our little secret, my most faithful student?”
This time Twilight had no trouble meeting her gaze and matching her smile. “Sure.”