Who wants to read what's in Celestia's private mail? Spike has a crush on a certain unicorn. This little dragon has grown up under constant literary bombardment, so it's natural for him to write out just why he cares about her. As he grows a little bit older and wiser from his contemplation, he sends a letter to Princess Celestia about his feelings and questions his own bloodline.
=#= Wrote this as an exercise in Spike's perspective on his life in Ponyville. For one thing, how he would have rationalized acting the way he did on the night of the Grand Galloping Galla. For another, how he would have responded psychologically to Rarity saving him when he was on the rampage. Overall though, this was inspired by how a crush matures or declines when one grows up. Good things do not always wither and die, sometimes they have strong roots.
Now with a follow-up story, A Kiss and A Duty.
Pretty good. More chapters please.
This is fantastic, and masterfully crafted. You touch on so many important things and show Spike's character above all else, while also showing Rarity's.
This is lovely~
This... is .... denver.mylittlefacewhen.com/media/f/rsz/mlfw8433_small.jpg
As I was reading this denver.mylittlefacewhen.com/media/f/thumb/mlfw8307.gif became this denver.mylittlefacewhen.com/media/f/img/mlfw8323-cutiemark_crusaders_being_cute_by_iks83-d4p6jbs_486x270.gif
That was a masterpiece of Sparity fanfiction- Fav'd, Thumbed, Tracked and hoping for more
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(Sorry for all the gifs
Holy crap, this was way more than I expected.
Please, for the love of Celestia, keep going...
Do carry on good fellow, do carry on....
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Beautiful. I have no trouble believing that canon Spike is almost intelligent enough to write something like this. At the very least, he would agree with every word.
So true. Spike expects nothing from Rarity; he simply basks in her company. She ranted about his stench and used him as a pincushion, yet he remained completely infatuated with her on both occasions. I hope you had fun writing this little analyzation of his relationship to her, because I sure enjoyed reading it.
I request, Neigh! Demand! more chapters to this magnificent fic
This is most believable. So are we going to see Celestia's response?
I really like this. Far too often I see people try and write off Spike's helping Rarity as being solely part of his attraction to her. Now, its definitely part of it, but I think that even if she was dating someone Spike would help her out, because he likes helping her. I also enjoyed that you made Spike realize the difference in his lifespan, that always gets me when people write him as barely educated. Though I will say that he threw out a lot of large words after he mentions needing a dictionary to spell thesaurus.
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That's exactly what I was aiming for. The reader should think "Wow, this is pretty deep for a little dragon." Then, context hopefully kicks in. This is someone who has been raised in libraries or halls of learning nearly his entire life. According to Faust, Celestia took care of him until Twilight was ready for the full responsibility of a baby dragon. That means he was raised by an immortal Princess with the weight of an entire nation on her back, then used as a card-catalog by a bibliomaniac. Plus, he's a dragon. Not a baby human, or even a filly like the CMC, he's one of a race far more ancient than ponies can often comprehend. One deciding to nap in Equestria for a hundred years and snore out smoke is viewed as a natural disaster, not an act of war. They could be compared to moving volcanoes that eat almost anything. Take one of those, expect him from an early age to be cognizant and pursue knowledge, and factor in that he's really just a few years younger than Twilight since she was a filly when she hatched him. Then, let him fall in love. Then, let reality set in, the knowledge that he's immortal and anyone he cares about will probably amount to couple grains in his personal hourglass.
He's got two options. One, angst about "If I can live forever, what do I truly live for", wah-wah, eyeliner and poetry. Two, sober up, realize that he's not the measuring stick of the world, and figure out how to make the most of what little time he has with the ones he cares about. That's the context for him writing this letter to the Princess who raises the sun every day. This is not a little note at the end of one of the Mane Six's scrolls, but something that actually represents his own feelings and thoughts. So, he's gonna polish up his phrases, get out the reference texts, and do a great job because it's not a report she's expecting from him. It's something he wants her to read and agree with him on, because there's two little questions he wants her to answer. The entire theme of the letter is that he's intellectually able to comprehend these concepts, even though he admits they turn his stomach to think about, and so he's written it like a big boy. Hope that adds to your immersion!
I'm glad you liked it! Positive comments that provide good criticism are always awesome.
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Wow. That made my day. You spent a couple minutes duct-taping together some pretty pictures! Some of them even move! Seriously, thank you. I spent about a week and a half, probably averaging 2-3 hours a day, to write this and the blueprint for the next chapter based on a few musings. You, and all the other kind comments, mean something very special. They mean that I touched someone's heart enough for them to spend a couple minutes actually putting that feeling into words or pictures of ponies. All the favorites, all the likes, and all the other ways this site offers for an audience to interact with an author are really revolutionary, and I appreciate everyone who uses them. There's just something about a few nice words that means more than any number, no matter what it represents.
Words are individually yours. As an individual, I thank all you one-of-a-kind people who like this story enough to show it in some way. No matter how small, it means a great deal.
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Thanks! One thing I love about this community, it's full of smart people. People who think about things and try to make educated guesses about what's coming next, even if it's just a gut instinct.
I was hoping for maybe ten or so views and a thumbs up, given the reception of my last story. I still can't quite get my head around the fact that over two hundred folks have had a look at this, and over thirty left a thumbs up. That's awesome. I thank all of you.
With that said, I originally designed this story as a simple letter from Spike to Celestia. As I was writing, I felt that there were a few things that could be gained from her perspective on his feelings. So, I left myself the option for a second chapter. The main impact of the story is in the first chapter with Spike writing out his feelings, hopefully convincing the reader that he's thought about this long and hard, and showing that he's not destined for a heartbreak.
Out of respect for you, my audience, the next chapter will be up before the heat-death of the universe. I will make this story priority-one, because I know exactly what it feels like when an author writes something, promises more, and goes waltzing off on a completely different tangent about how wonderful it would be if somehow John suddenly fell into Equestria while being bullied by Megatron who was actually Chrysalis disguised as a Transformer but then magically PONIES EVERYWHERE and then John was a Zombie.
I just don't want to get everyone's expectations cranked up and then have the next chapter be a letdown. This story's strength is in its size, a small story with a powerful message is better than a longer tale with a diluted one.
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Nice author = instant watch. I look forward to future stories. :3
Words cannot express how humbled I am by you, my audience. The first chapter has three hundred and forty views as I write this. I hope this second chapter has not let down your expectations. I spent a considerable amount of time working on this segment, but I would not call it the greatest part of the story. I believe Spike's letter is the focal point, and this one is a worthy compliment. Originally it was a short reply, just a few lines about the pitfalls of love and a firm reassurance that Celestia had no plans to crush the little dragon's heart. Because of all the support for the first chapter, I had the drive to strengthen this letter with several more ideas from my original blueprint, and I hope it shows. Oh, who am I kidding. I just wanted to slip in a Derpy reference.
This started as a little musing I had one day to enhance The Show in my own mind. I hope makes watching adorable ponies all the more pleasant for each of you as well. If you enjoyed this, I hope you will mention it to others, or simply hold it close in your heart. An author's reward is the knowledge that their work is loved.
Sweet Celestia! That was brilliant!
Deep, thought invoking, clever (i could go on)... the origin story was cool
and the references I only knew a few
Griffon commander, a bounty hunter wrapped up in technomagical power armor, and one dragon-duke who wielded an arsenal fit for a king
The first- no clue, Samus, and again no clue-Help?
and few turtles who were masters of ninjutsu - TMNT duh.
Glad I'm tracking this
so awesome
yay
TMNT refrence
Dragon Duke? not sure but Spectral Duke Dragon maybe?
Griffin in magical power armour? no idea
i look forward to more
It seems for your vast, impressive, and truly poetic vocabulary and it's use, you have one word that's meaning is not quite what you think. Almost all fauna are sentient, but very few are sapient. You did use sentient correctly here and there, but in other places sapient was the correct term. I would tell you where, but I think it best you look it up and see for yourself. This is, as always, a truly magnificent read with strong emotions being played through.
P.S. TMNT reference,
Oh wow my brain hurts a little trying to wrap my head around this whole thing. then again its very well done. I would love to now how it goes now that the letters are done. Seeing how well you can write these 2 letters leads me to believe you can spin an amazing tale that can and most likely will draw in readers
Let's real talk for a moment, shall we? This piece is glorious in a way few other stories are. It kept me at rapt attention all the while and gave insight into how Spike and Celestia think, also keeping a spice of humor to it.
Simply put, I loved it and it truly deserves more attention.
Lovely, just lovely... I started reading, and it was as if I was sucked into your world. Few can do this.
Have a stache please!
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This! This is what an author lives for! Well, at least one on the Internet who can go back and frantically edit such errors while applying the needed twenty lashes to the area of the body where it traditionally does the most good. Thank you very much, gracious Reaper.
While I was writing chunks of this, I kept thinking that sentient was not the right word in every case, it sounded too machine-like for creatures like dragons. Had that sorta C.S. Lewis-intelligent-critters mentality. I wanted to make it clear that even the animals cried out in pain while Discord tormented them, but it was the races with wisdom and love who were able to rise up against that oppression. It slipped my mind when I was in my editing phase, I was too focused on trying to get Celestia's "tone" right. Many less big words than Spike, much more confidence since she is speaking with her own authority and experience. That'll teach me to trust my memory over my notebook!
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Happy to assist
Wow, that was deep, even for Celestia. I mean just wow. I have nothing to say about this at all, as you have done a great job on this tale.
I came across this story when an alert popped up from the "Protect Celestia" group, and as the Admin of the group I of course had to check it out. I am very much impressed with this, showing the connection between Spike and Celestia, as Mother and Son. I look forward to seeing more
1710741 While we're at lash-worthy offenses
: There's at least one instance of homophones tripping you up, where you wrote "pouring" over books when "poring" was what you probably meant. Unless Spike was actually bathing the books in something, which I doubt. 
A rare, deep & insightful look into Spike. I love it!
'few turtles who were masters of ninjutsu' Reference got!
Others... not so much.
Still. Awesome and interesting. Still disagree about Celestia not being that powerful, controlling a sun and all... but I love what you did with her.
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Ospero, big thanks for pointing that goof out. I finally have time to fix it on my source-document as well as the story above. Fun fact, I actually have a 1993 copy of Mage: The Ascension less than a meter from my head as I type this.
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You folks rock! Thanks for the nice comments. All the thumbs and favorites are awesome, but actually hearing from readers lets me improve. I wrote Chapter Two because of the great response for the first letter, originally intended as a one-shot. My main struggle was trying to get Celestia's "voice" right, her attitude toward the reader, the way she phrases her sentences, and how she speaks with authority. Judging by your comments, I managed it. This gives me confidence for the next phase.
I am working on a third letter. It is... different in style, to say the least. It will be published, of that you can be sure, but it is harder to write. How dare my audience force me to challenge my skills and improve as a writer?
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Yes, References! In the interest of fewer spoilers and shorter comments, I put a post on my blog with a few more hints about the aforementioned references. I plan to flesh them out a little more in the future, but just in case I get run over by a stampede of bunnies I left a few clues along with more info on the upcoming chapter:
http://www.fimfiction.net/blog/99773/the-referenced-road
Thanks for sticking around since the first letter, and I hope I didn't disappoint!
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Awesome point about Celestia's Power-Level. For this story, consider the difference between building a robot and creating a new medical drug. Both are applications of science, but the Electrical Engineer and the Chemical Engineer would probably be lost if given the other's task. Magic in The Show seems to work like science, so it makes sense that raising and lowering the sun or moon represents a specialized skill set. Sure, that requires a lot of power and intellect, but it's not the same as going to the gym and working out until you can throw cars at your enemies. It's science, not smackdowns. Luna seems to be the more assault-oriented sister. She was champing at the bit to give Sombra a thrashing, and acted like she was roaring commands to an army in Luna Eclipsed. Celestia usually comes off with a more "Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars" mentality. She's sculpted an entire society that produces heroes. When she says she is weak in this letter, it is to underscore just how powerful the creatures who fought for her were, and are.
That's my opinion, anyway. Thanks for voicing yours!
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Hmmmm... well that's a very interesting mentality behind it. Honestly through... I see Celesita being more powerful in a brute-strength kind of way, but prefers not to use it.
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That's interesting. I see Princess Luna being the more "brute strength" princess, and Princess Celestia being the more "diplomatic."
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Princess Luna comes across more of a... subtler type of power.
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I hate that I'm derailing the comments, but I respectfully disagree. In the episode about Luna and Nightmare Night, her power wasn't very subtle (high winds, thunder, and lightning flashing everywhere).
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Oh I disagree. Although you see those powers as bold and daring, I can see how they can be used in a much more subtle and sneaky way. Besides, just because she can do that doesn't mean her main power is based on that.
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Indeed they could be used in a much more subtle and sneaky way; however, we have not yet been shown this in the show or given any references towards that.
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She's the Princess of the Night, a Princess of darkness.
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And your point is, sir? Also, shall we take this discussion elsewhere? A series of PMs maybe? I really hate to ruin the author's comments with this.
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That what she is the princess of is subtle, so it makes sense for her powers to reflect it.
Oh dear... Wow you have a HUGE way with words. you can write on and on saying the same thing and still make it feel new every time. I can't wait for this to all come to fruition.
This chapter was beautiful. I couldn't imagine a way to judge these chapters against each other. I honestly can't wait to hear Celestia's response.
Damn, can you write. Emotions and feelings are vast, fear and love racing, fighting for dominance. Masterful.
i look forward to Celestias reply
oh my... I loved it. now I can't wait for Celestia's response!!!
Profound. That's the word I would probably use to describe this fic. You have a simply amazing ability to show expression through words. I'm also glad you didn't make it like Rarity was hopelessly in love with Spike. Love is being unsure sometimes and you really hit this nail on the head. I will casually await the next chapter.
This is just a great story you're having both of them express all their feelings their worries their fears about the possibilities of being together. Yet you also have Celestia responding with calm knowing words with her knowledge of the ages. It's all very good and I hope you continue to keep up the great work.
You have such a gift with your words, these chapters have been masterful. Making someone feel these feelings in something that is written as a letter is art. I look forward to seeing you write more
ANOTHER! *spikes drinking glass*
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Oh, good sir, you have no idea how close that strikes to the next chapter! Hopefully it will not take anywhere near as long to finish as this third one, but I've set out a very unique challenge for myself.
Sucker? That's her adopted son she talking about.
I love Sparity and this is just awesome. A lot of fics I've read simply have a confession and then love but this...this goes beyond that and I think it represents a real relationship better. The level of maturity of which with Spike and Rarity approach the subject is amazing and it demonstrates just how important it is to them.
Kudos and I can't wait for the next chapter.