To My, Mostly, Faithful Student

by StormDancer

First published 26th of April, 2015

Princess Celestia asked the element bearers to write her friendship reports. When she reads about how Twilight overcame Tirek, she is... somewhat less than pleased.

Princess Celestia asked the element bearers to write her friendship reports. When she reads about how Twilight overcame Tirek, she is surprised and... somewhat less than pleased.

After all, as the Princess of Friendship, shouldn't she have tried to work through Tirek's issues? Shouldn't she have tried to reform him? Shouldn't she have known better than to give the villain all their power?

And then there is that one, last, thing...

Dear Princess Sparkle...

Author's Notes:

Hey all.

Since it has been pointed out MANY times now, and I've responded just as many, let's put this out there before anyone else feels the need:

I am aware of the difference between "your" and "you're"... and even "yore."

Your: possessive. You're: a contraction of "you are." Yore: referencing a place of long ago... similar to saying "the age of Camelot" or "when I was your age" with a crotchety old voice.

The usage in one particular place was completely intentional. It was a joke that the other individual in the scene was completely clueless about.

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.

Dear Princess Celestia...

A curl of smoke and a soft pop brought Celestia's attention to the scroll floating in a magenta glow before her. For the briefest of moments, she hesitated before plucking the scroll from the air and breaking its seal. Normally, she would have had to catch the scroll, but Twilight's magic had been growing almost as fast as she had and the result had been impressive.

Even at such a great distance, her scrolls could be held aloft with mere telekinesis.

It was enough to bring a slight smile to her face. Even if the contents of the letter proved unpleasant, she could still find a bit of pride in her student progressing so well.

Celestia took a small sip of tea as she unrolled the scroll and began to read.

Dear Princess,

I'm just writing to respond to your concerns about my handling of the Tirek incident.

Let's be perfectly clear here. I did what was needed to be done. Not only had that monster already started leeching away the magic of countless ponies, but he had been feeding off their destinies... their special talents, magics, what helped to make them unique and special. He had siphoned off the natural abilities of all three tribes, causing untold hardships, injuries, and even deaths. It's not bad enough that he was harming them all then, but he was stealing their futures.

I know that's not what you want to hear, but I thought you should know.

While you ran around, afraid that he might acquire your and your sister's magic, you let him continue unopposed.

You can account for the value of something, you can weigh it's worth by comparing it to other things of value. He was stealing their futures, the infinite potential of any and all of them. He was stealing the infinite, priceless, worth of every pony in existence... their very souls, and if you don't believe me, go look in their eyes... I've seen a few of them who didn't get their magic back. Look in the eyes of those whose 'magic' was burned to fuel his greed. You look in their eyes and tell me if it was a cost worth paying.

While you collected Cadence, forwardly to consolidate your powers, you actually brought exactly what he was searching for all in to one place.

While you decided to 'give' your magic to me, you managed to outfit a young, inexperienced, and newly minted alicorn princess with the phenomenally potent powers of the SUN, MOON, and the HEART. You effectively washed your hooves of responsibility while giving more power than any being has a sane thought to endure to me... somepony who had, until only a year ago, been nothing but a powerful unicorn, with little to no instruction on what to do with that power.

While you played a game of schoolyard teasing, denying Tirek of his prize, I had to take over for three immortal beings, ensure the survival of EVERY lifeform on this planet, hide the facts of said magic from my first, and closest friends, and FIGURE OUT how not to annihilate the sun, moon, minds of every being, and accidentally tear the planet in half because I might be startled.

Pinkie is a friend of mine.

Think about the wisdom of that plan.

Think about it really, really hard because I think you owe me a friendship lesson after that letter.

Oh, and about trusting Discord? You're right. I shouldn't have trusted him. You have thousands of years of experience with him. You disagreed with him. You argued with him. You fought him... in HIS kingdom, in HIS realm. You and your sisters were the invaders in that conflict. Yes, the ponies ended up happier and better off without him in control, but you've done a very good job at pointing out his faults and glossing over your own.

How about the fact that never, in the entire existence of Discord, has he EVER been responsible for a single death. Not just of ponies... but not a single death at all. His magic actively avoids injury. He CAN'T kill. Death is too final... it doesn't allow creativity or continuation via his abilities.

Shining Armor and Cadance killed more Changelings with their love-bubble thing than in all the eons of Discord's reign. Don't believe me? Ask your janitors and public works comittees. No, the bubble wasn't harmful, but it was powerful. It pushed the Changelings out of the kingdom... in lethally straight lines... without regard for any form of infrastructure or architecture. My own brother and sister-in-law are now propagators of near-genocide... because you DIDN'T LISTEN TO ME WHEN I WARNED YOU.

How about Nightmare Moon? Your sister... banished for a thousand years. You can't tell me you didn't know the exact date she'd break free, or at least a very good guess.

You had more years than most history books considered REAL to think up contingencies and plan for your reunion, and you came up with "I'll throw my student into another town, cross my hooves, not tell anyone, and hope for the best?" THAT was your plan? You ignored it?

Princess, if you hide from a flood, you drown.

Blind luck, devotion, and determination has seen my friends and myself through all your foolishness. When you turn your head and hope for the best, we've stepped up and saved Equestria. When you've laughed at our struggles, we risked everything to do all we could to spare our friends and families. When you've condescended to us and treated us as mere children who need to learn the ways of the world, we've pulled ourselves out of the dark places of the world, looked at our tormentors, known that you could have helped but chose not to, and did what needed to be done in the most gloriously magnificent ways imaginable. We've created miracles. We've made things work. We've sweat and bled for our peaceful lives.

That's right, we've FOUGHT for our PEACE. Your guard were worthless. They harassed innocent ponies and ignored the real threats. Only a few of the batch have any real skill or devotion beyond the image and paycheck. They run at the first sign of trouble and fall over like bowling pins when faced with a real threat that doesn't happen to be a blond white unicorn prince with an entitlement problem.

Think about what my 5 friends have done. Think about it very hard.

Consider what the six of us do for a living. I'm a librarian. Rarity is a seamstress. Applejack is a farmer. Rainbow Dash is on the weather patrol. Fluttershy is a reclusive veterinarian. And Pinkie Pie? Pinkie Pie is an assistant baker... she's JUST LEARNING how to make things that don't involve gravel or hazardous materials as foodstuffs.

Now, think of what we've had to become to deal with your problems. We've faced dragons, chimeras, hydras, the diamond dogs, rogue unicorns with ancient artifacts that you didn't keep track of, evil unicorns, the spirit of Chaos himself (on more than one occasion since you thought it a good idea to let him go), monsters, dangerous environments, the elements themselves, our own fears since you didn't even think to warn us, then a being that moves an infinite number of suns on a nightly basis as a pastime, and even our own friends and family. We've faced an entire army.... no, wait, that was JUST ME until you admitted you were wrong and let my friends feel safe to help.

To put that in perspective, Applejack has no parents and is the one who runs the family farm. If something were to happen to her, the Apple Family in Ponyville would not be able to support itself. Rarity cares for her sister more often than her own parents. Fluttershy is not only the only vet in town, but she's the only thing that stands between civilization and the Everfree forest, let alone the only one able to control the wild cockatrice population or DISCORD. Rainbow Dash has now had to use lightning offensively, and that's ignoring how many times she's had to put herself into direct risk of death. Pinkie Pie carries explosives as a habit and hides even more everywhere she goes out of a mental need to 'be prepared for XXXX emergencies."

That last one should make you sweat. Pinkie's been everywhere. If she weren't Pinkie Pie, she'd have been labeled a mad bomber years ago and likely arrested, tried, imprisoned or executed for the public good.

And just to point out, since you mentioned Discord, YOU trusted him before I did. You demanded we release him, but you fled before we did. You said to give him a chance, but left it to us. You even mocked him, forcing me to prompt him to admit something... "friendship is magic" remember that? What kind of resentment do you think THAT little slap to an immortal ego is?

And as to my 'corruption' and 'instinctual use of dark magic'... let's be clear here. Zecora speaks in rhyme. I don't know why, but she's only broken it a few times, usually when she's startled. She didn't exactly give me a spell to use. I just went through the gamut to try and find something that might react. Heck, if it were so dangerous, maybe a little instruction or warning would have been helpful. I KNOW I told you what Sombra's door made me see, so maybe a little confidence building or comfort after the fact would have been helpful?

You know... hindsight 20/20? No? Still not getting it?

Let me lay it out for you then Princess: We've been doing the hard work.

I respect you. I love you. I trust you implicitly.

I follow you. I believe in you. I will jump whenever you ask me to, and I'll ask how high, what direction, and when I should stop.

But, if I'm being totally honest with you, and your letter suggests that's what you were being with me and what you expect me to be with you, I really shouldn't.

With all those years of experience, with all your raw skill and power, with everything you've done and seen, I don't know why you seem to believe you are immune to mistakes. I don't know why you seem to think that others can do your job for you. I don't know why anypony really listens to what you have to say anymore other than the gentle voice and the ever present threat of total destruction at the behest of a flickering glow of your horn, the moon, or instant death to all life if you just got tired of our whining.

Heck, Chrysalis only invaded because her ENTIRE race was starving to death and we had such a surplus of population that we could have supported them without any detriment to ourselves. And don't give me that line about an unprecedented population increase, food, resources, or anything else. They were already here and they eat EMOTION. We could have had them sitting on stools, using their glowing eyes as light in the evening, without a speck of extra housing or food being needed. We could have asked them to help with construction or industry, lunch breaks and labor included since all they need is appreciation to be revitalized. We could have been allies and friends, but you had to go and be so xenophobic as to make them into the monsters of myth and then force their hoof in a desperate act of survival. Your thoughtlessness may have actually eradicated an entire sentient species.

No, let me correct that. You may have made my brother do it for you.

And once again, that's pointing out that you couldn't even do it yourself... make someone else do it so you can look down on them, tut your tongue, and be the moral equivalent of a schoolyard bully kicking a puppy.

And to answer what you should tell the mother or the father of those fillies and colts... tell them that someone else had to sacrifice something very very precious to her to make sure that they could still make mistakes, that they could wake up to the sun and drink clean water. Tell them that a group of ordinary ponies, just like themselves, sacrificed everything they held dear, watched their hopes and dreams, their every possession and memory annihilated and burned before them so that they wouldn't have to live in that world. You tell that mother or father, that brother or sister, son or daughter.... you tell them that fighting is wrong because even when it is done for the right reasons, things can never go back to how they were. You tell them, Celestia, that while you hid and played the good ruler, while you made your moral stand, you left ponies that are less than even infants to you go off to face nearly certain death with only the merest whisper of hope. You tell them that you supplied them with a sabatuer, a traitor, and a faulty defense. You tell them that you sent them out blind and hid precious knowledge to 'protect' them. And you tell them that you were wrong.

That filly or colt on the playground? Why don't you ask why there was a fight? Why don't you find out if the teacher was watching as carefully as they were supposed to? Why don't you ask if any of the other students saw anything?

Or better yet, why don't you ask the parents to wait a few days while a new student shows up at the school to see things for herself? Telling the teacher never works very well unless it's a very big problem. A slap on the fetlock is nothing more than a warning not to get caught until the crime is worth actually teaching a lesson.

If you had to ask such a question, and you had to attempt a guilt trip or logical fallacy to make your argument, you're out of touch with those ponies who you profess to lead.

Celestia, I'm not angry at all, but I am insulted and hurt that you would think those things of my friends and I. We've done everything for you. We've lived our lives in your guidance and teachings. We've sacrificed our own hopes and dreams to make you proud of us.

I'm going to pretend that I didn't get your letter. I'm going to burn it and wipe Spike's memory before wiping my own of the last two hours forty-three minutes and eight seconds. I'm going to stage the scene so when I wake, I'll think I just drifted off while reading Of Harmony and You, like I was before it arrived, and hope that I didn't forget to account for anything.

Pinkie will be over sometime tonight with cupcakes, and Applejack was planning on dropping by with Rainbow Dash and Rarity for a slumber party. Fluttershy might even make it for the scary story part if Beary's chiropractic alignment goes smoothly. You're welcome to come.

No. I'd encourage you to come and see your little insurgents in their native element.

I think it would be a good idea to get back in touch with the little ponies around you.

You can think of this as my first royal decree.

Twilight Sparkle

My Dearest Twilight...

Twilight Sparkle jolted awake as the pattering echo of Spike's approach lanced through her slumber. She shook her head for a moment, trying to clear the last vestiges of cobwebs from her mind and turned with a smile as Spike hopped up on a stool and bowed with a flourish.

"You're mail, Princess!" He grinned, the joke almost having lost its shine after a year.

"Spike, you know I don't like that title. It's just silly." She smiled and pulled him in for a hug, "besides, it's just little old me. Nothing special."

After a few moments, the two parted, Spike promising to be back in a few minutes with sandwiches for lunch.... and a napkin to wipe up the soggy part of the book.

With an embarrassed chuckle, Twilight levitated the scroll up before her, popping the seal and looking within.

My Dearest Twilight,

I heard you were having a little get together this evening, and I find myself somewhat in need of company.

I have been troubled recently, in part from the growing number of events that have thrown Equestria into conflict. I fear I am becoming out of touch with my subjects and am in need of a bit of wisdom from you and your friends.

I know it is short notice, and you might have had plans but... I was hoping you might be willing to play host for an evening. I could come in disguise, a friend of a friend or a distant relative, whatever might set your friends at ease, but please, Twilight, please let me visit tonight. I feel I have misjudged entirely too many things and ponies of late. The wedding, Discord, Sombra... I have even worried myself over you.

Twilight... Princess, please. I see you all so often, smiling and laughing despite everything you've been through, what I've put you through. I see you and I can't help but remember Luna and myself so very long ago. If I had only paid more attention, if I had only heard what troubled her heart, so much pain and loss could have been avoided. I don't want to risk that kind of loss again, Twilight, and I fear I am growing separate.

I await your response.

Your loving mentor,

Princess Celestia

For a moment Twilight Sparkle simply stared at the scroll.

"How does she always know?" With an almost sad smile, she floated over a blank scroll and blinked back a few tears that threatened to fall as she wrote out simply:

Dear Princess Celestia,

I would like nothing more than to have you join us tonight. Please, come as you are, we're all friends here and I hope you never feel like an outsider with us.

You could never be one to me.

Twilight Sparkle

(because you know that whole Princess nonsense is just plain silly)

With a smile and a bit of hope in her heart, she sealed the scroll and set it to wait for Spike to return. She had a schedule to update and, somewhere, she'd have to come up with an extra large pillow for the pillow fight.

Author's Notes:

EGADS, Someone actually caught the joke.

Hats off to CassandraMyOCisBestpony for reading, and commenting on, Spike's little quip. Well done!

And a second hats off to Cavenerd20 for catching a botch on my part regarding a portion of Celestia's letter that Twilight NEVER GOT, YET RESPONDED TO. <engaging shifty eyes and Pinkie Pie levels of foresight> Well done!