//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Letters From the Capital // by Apple Bottoms //------------------------------// To Trixie: Today started out like any other day for me. Well, let me clarify - any other day in the last month. I’ve been staying in Canterlot to help Celestia plan the upcoming festival, so I’ve been away from Ponyville. It’s nice to be in the city where I grew up, but it feels so much smaller than it did when I was a filly. Just after breakfast I was summoned to Celestia’s quarters, which is very unusual. She’s so busy with the festival sometimes I don’t see her for days at a time! But today she said she had something very special to show me, and pulled out a thick sheaf of letters for me to read. They were copies, she said, of letters she sent you. I read them for a long, long time. I apologize for my last letter. I’m not as skilled at writing as Celestia is, but I will do my best to do better, if you’ll give me another chance. I see now that the purpose of these letters is not only to hear your impressions of the new realms you explore, but also to remind you of home. It must be difficult to continue writing letters after a long day on the road with only a few sentences to look forward to in reply. I’m still figuring out this princess - thing. I feel like everyone expects me to be in control, and I’m really, really not! I always feel like I’m saying the wrong thing, or acting foolish, or not “royal” enough. I spend hours every night reading up on royal etiquette, but I’m still a nervous wreck at the banquets and parties and official ceremonies. And trust me, there are way too many banquets in Canterlot!! I was so focused on writing the most “royal” letter to you that I wrote a really lousy letter. Sometimes I wish I could give up being Princess Twilight Sparkle, and just be regular Twilight again. I think it would be easier. If it would be all right, may I ask for another chance at being your pen pal? Apologetically, Princess Twilight Sparkle ________ To Princess Twilight Sparkle, Thank you for your last letter. I know how difficult it feels to be told that you’re … wrong. Princess Celestia has given me a lot of advice in the past year, and I looked through my box of letters from her to find this quote. It reads: Sometimes, my dear Trixie, we must learn to forgive ourselves, for there is no one in the world we will spend as much time with as ourself. In learning to forgive ourselves, we learn how to forgive others, and how to be as forgiving and loving towards them as we are towards ourselves. I don’t know if that’ll help you, but it always helped me in tough times. I used to keep it pinned up above my bed. I would like to try to be “pen pals” again. I’ve never had one before, but I’m sure I would be a truly great and magnificent pen pal! Tonight I’m stopping in Bridgetown, so named because of the big bridge that crosses the river. It’s a big market town, so tomorrow I’m going to do some shopping. Sincerely, Trixie Lulamoon ________ Dear Trixie, I was so relieved to receive your letter! I won’t deny that I’ve been waiting for it very anxiously, and Spike caught me peering into the mailbox more than once this past week. Whoops! The preparations for the upcoming festival are almost finished. I went to the castle kitchen a few nights ago after dinner and saw the massive cake they are working on. It’s beautiful! I really wish I could send a slice to you, but I’m pretty sure it would be crumbs by the time it got there. There’s a lot going on now, but not very much to do with me, personally. Oh! I got fitted for my festival gown last week - but that’s something that Rarity would be more interested in, I think. (She’s one of my friends back in Ponyville, she’s a fashion designer!) I hope you enjoyed your shopping day in Bridgetown! It sounds absolutely fascinating - I can’t imagine what a griffin market must be like! Please tell me everything you remember when you are finished!! Finally, I have one small request of you. If you would like to call me just “Twilight” in your letters, that would be alright with me. Sincerely, Twilight ________ Dear Twilight, I had a lovely time in Bridgetown, thank you for asking. If you really want to hear about the market, I’d be happy to share everything that I remember with you. First of all, it’s full of griffins. Not another pony in sight! I’m used to standing out in public places, being that I am the Great and Powerful Trixie, but this time it wasn’t my great and powerful self that I was being noticed for! Most of the griffins didn’t pay me much mind, but the little ones kept pointing at me and hiding behind their mothers. It felt like the old days again. They have a great deal of armor and weaponry for sale, focused on fine metalwork and finery. Griffins are known for their delicately wrought metal crafts, ranging from armor to jewelry. I found several things I liked, and I purchased several trinkets for Princess Celestia’s collections of griffin art - those will be arriving shortly after this letter. I was wondering I wanted to I also have a favor to ask of you, Twilight. I’ve included a small package and a sealed letter inside the box I sent to Celestia - would you be willing to deliver that for me? The address is on the box. I would have sent it myself, but I didn’t want to risk something so small being lost. If you could just put it in a mailbox in Canterlot, that would be all I need. Sincerely, Trixie Lulamoon ________ Dear Trixie, I would be glad to deliver your package! The address on the box isn’t far from my parents’ home, so I’ll just drop it off on my way to see them this afternoon! I’ll write more after I see them - Mom always has the best gossip about what’s happening in Canterlot! Sincerely, Twilight Dear Trixie, I didn’t want to wait for your reply to write back to you - I’m pretty sure your letter would have told me not to deliver the package myself. I found the address and had planned on just leaving it in her mailbox, but an older mare came trotting out of the house before I could close the lid. She asked me if it was a package from you, and when I told her it was, she started crying. She turned to go back inside, and I couldn’t disobey when she waved at me to follow her. Her house is very pretty, as I’m sure you know; it’s pretty much covered in pictures of you. She led me over to a small table, which I realized was covered in trinkets, mementos, and small treasures from the griffin realm. She was still sniffling when she opened your package - the star-gem necklace was a good choice, she liked it a lot - but she started crying in earnest when she read your letter. She didn’t tell me what was in it, but she asked me to ask you to come home soon. She said she misses you, and that you don’t have to feel bad anymore, and that all she wants is to see you again. I think she really meant it, Trixie - she really seems to miss you, a lot.   I didn’t want to leave her when she was obviously so upset, so I made her some tea, and we shared some cookies, and talked about my letters to you. She’s very proud of you, even if you aren’t the greatest and powerful-est - she told me so. She told me that she feels sorry that she pushed you too hard, and that she thought it was her fault that you left. I told her that we all make mistakes, and I’m sure that if she told you she was sorry, you would try to forgive her. I told her that you’re keeping yourself safe, and that she shouldn’t worry too much. I told her that I’m sure you miss her, too, because you kept sending her such lovely presents. I know it’s not really my place to say, but - she really does miss you. She gave me a letter to send you, which I’m including. You don’t have to read it, but - if you could give her a chance, maybe it would make you feel better. I know sometimes our parents make mistakes, but it’s obvious that she really, really loves you, and misses you. I think she’s really sorry for what she did wrong. She seemed like a nice pony to me, anyway. I’m sorry if I intruded too much into your life. I know that we don’t know each other very well, but … if one of my friends was in this situation, I’d give them the same advice I’m giving you. Take care, Twi ________ Dear Twilight, You’re right - if I hadn’t received these two letters at the same time, I would have told you not to deliver it. But… I am very glad that you were there to comfort my mother. Thank you. I will have to take some time to think about this. ~Trixie