Piecemeal Pupil

by Ice Star

Chapter 3: To the Current Resident of 690 Starburst Avenue

[One slightly yellowed letter, stored neatly within an old horseshoe box stuffed with notes dated from the spring of 992. The letter is unremarkable in presentation, bearing the approved non-unique formatting sent out to the parents of every unicorn foal who was accepted to Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns from the years of 960-999 of Princess Celestia's reign. Even the faded wax seal it bears is that of the current secretary of the reigning Examining Board of Judges. There is nothing but the address typed at the top to suggest who this letter could have been the recipient of this letter. The address was typed by the secretaries of the Board and approved with the final touches of the wax seal before being sent to the mail ponies. There is little that is more impersonal, yet treasured than these acceptance letters. Even the parchment is standard fare, pulped, sold, and purchased in the most common stores of Canterlot.]

...

To the Current Resident(s) of 690 Starburst Avenue
Old Forte District of Canterlot, Canterhornshire
Equestria

To the guardians of one Twilight Sparkle, one Missus Twilight Velvet of Canterlot & Mister Nightlight of Canterlot
From the Desk of the Board of Judges at Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns

Dear Parents or Guardians,

We wish you the utmost congratulations! It is with great pleasure that we inform you of your foal's acceptance into Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. This opportunity has been granted in light of the resulting information gathered from your foal's test results and final entrance examination, and at this fine establishment aim to provide your foal with the most opportunities to succeed in the magical education that Equestria has to offer, and a place close to our goddess. Your foal is deemed to be outstanding among young unicorns and will be eagerly awaited on campus for the upcoming fall semester. Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns is the only school in the known world to be founded by a god, and it is with great honor that we extend not just this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to your young one, but the assurance that Princess Celestia works even more actively in the curriculum and decisions of her school than she does with any other educational establishment in Equestria. Your unicorn foal will join the ranks of future castle employees, mages, and a world of other fantastic possibilities. Every foal will walk among the most esteemed educators and occupy the same campus as the most heroic, humble, and important unicorns since Equestria's early days. Our establishment is the only one to provide Princess Celestia with her famous Faithful Students, and there is no other like it in the mortal world.

Enclosed with this letter is an information packet. In it, you will find pricing and styles for dormitories, as well as information about our roommate selection and friend assignment models. Foals who are to continue living with their families and commute to their classes are encouraged to have their parents or guardians write to our Residence Coordination Office, whose address is also provided with dorm maps and models. Their friendship assignment process has different information that will be provided by mail to ensure that all students still have 'buddies' to be with them and have an advanced headstart on herd-socialization favored by our educators. We also have included a list of meal plans, student clubs, and our student code of conduct book. A faculty directory, address book, and insurance information for the health centers of each campus are also provided. The list of textbooks assigned to all first-year students will be issued upon enrollment confirmation, but note that in the financial information provided, there is an estimate offered on how many bits should be set aside for such purchases. Most importantly, information about changes in parental involvement and expectations can be found in their own individual envelope. Their instructions are clear, and it is expected that they will be sent with enrollment confirmation by prospective students.

Sincerely,

Doctor Apple Polish, Ph. D. in Conjuration from Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns and Judge of Potential Students
Doctor Arpeggio, Ph. D. in Arcane Sciences from Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns
Doctor Crystal Clear, Ph. D. in Celestian Thaumaturgy from Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns and Judge of Potential Students
Doctor Top Marks, Ph. D. in General Magical Arts from Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns and Head of the Examining Board of Judges of Potential Students

The Board of Judges at Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns

...

[The following is from the same standard parchment as the former letter and was found tucked under the acceptance letter. Both were mailed at the same time and arrived on the same day. However, they make no reference to one another to the point that they could have been mailed completely separately. Only the wax seal bearing Princess Celestia's icon of the Eternal Crown indicates that Princess Celestia ever saw the letter at all. Everything else bears the distinct hornwriting of Raven, Princess Celestia's mononymous secretary at the time.]

...

Dear Missus Twilight Velvet and Mister Nightlight of Canterlot,

It is with great esteem that I write to you both on behalf of our goddess. Your young daughter is the subject of some of the most important news of this century. While she may have been accepted into Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, the Princess herself has declared that she wishes to see your daughter have only partial enrollment, which means one thing: your daughter has been selected to be the next Faithful Student. This means that her dormitory will be in the castle, and that with little to no exception, all of her classes are to be given by Princess Celestia herself instead of our resident teaching faculty. Her meals will be completely paid for through royal funds, and her tuition fees are waived entirely, as all Faithful Students are. Her textbook supplies, club fees, and all necessary expenses will be covered by the castle. This includes any and all bits that will go towards her health. Please disregard any paperwork mailed to you or sections in the student hoofbook that concern payments. It is with great pleasure and graciousness that Princess Celestia makes such an announcement through me, and there is little in the enrollment process that you are asked to do, save for the following:

• Please disregard the standard enrollment confirmation date and instead write back as soon as possible to confirm your daughter's enrollment.
• Please write to the address included with this scroll about the parcel of custody modification information specifically reserved for Faithful Student contracts.
• Information about dragon care is to be provided to your home without any explicit refusal. Faithful Students often have a famulus, and Princess Celestia expects such a creature to have some familiarity with the family of a Faithful Student in situations where these creatures are procured. Dragon care will alternate with the castle, as our goddess is not inexperienced when it comes to the basic upkeep of exotic creatures.
• Disregard anything about the current Faithful Student. Rest assured, the Princess is an expert at matters concerning her pupils, and the matter of Sunset Shimmer will be resolved shortly.
• It is with great hospitality that Princess Celestia awaits your visit! Please write to the castle and know that you will soon be corresponding with her personally. She wishes to meet your daughter properly and assuage any concerns of her wonderful parents, and negotiate anything that worries you two. Make sure that Twilight Sparkle is present, as this will be her first chance to tour the castle with your supervision and our goddess's guidance. Her living quarters as a filly and a mare will be presented to you, and she will get to see her future famulus again. Catering will be provided, and the first glimpses of her supplies, expectations, and lessons will be explained. A review of Faithful Student standards and family contact will be offered.
• Any other concerns you two may have should be addressed to the castle. The Princess wishes only to provide for the bright future of your daughter.

Your visit is awaited eagerly! Though, one thing must be made known: all these graces come with time. In order to fully resolve both the need to set up your daughter's future place in the castle and resolve the situation surrounding the problem of Sunset Shimmer, we are asking that your daughter be enrolled after a wait of at least one year. She is the youngest pony to ever pass the exams at her tender age. Princess Celestia would like your daughter to tour the castle with you when she is at least seven years old, as she believes that your daughter is still too young to be separated from her parents. She has done her research and is aware that your daughter has a May birthday, and finds it acceptable if you wish for the tour to be arranged as a birthday treat. If this is your choice, please specify in your reply letter, and Princess Celestia will ensure that the castle kitchens prepare a birthday luncheon for you both, and for your daughter.

Please note that this does not change that Princess expects Twilight Sparkle to wait before enrolling in order to leave no loose ties with Sunset Shimmer, among other things. During this time, the Princess understands that homeschooling is a stressful thing to endure, and wishes to offer her assistance in any way, be it financial or emotional. If this means providing for Twilight Sparkle's lessons, or other expenses, she will do so gladly to ensure only the best for an upcoming Faithful Student and blessing to Equestria. The needs that must be covered during this long wait can be discussed over mail or at the appointed meeting, depending on your comfort.

Sincerely,

Raven, Secretary of Our Goddess on Behalf of H.R.H. Princess Celestia

Comments

[StarzGecko]

Kind of thought we would get the parents view about learning that Twilight can take the test, during, and after what happens at the test. But I do like these letters.

Poor Sunset… I guess she goes into the mirror soon or has?

[Ice Star]

11565126

Poor Sunset… I guess she goes into the mirror soon or has?

All I can say is to stay tuned for the last chapter.

[Snowdrifter]

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Ominous.