The eternal Princess

By Joseph Jason Gwinnett

My dearest and most faithful student

You have always been loyal to me and your studies of ancient equestrian lore, I believe it is time I should reveal my secret. I knew this time would come. I have never been sure exactly when but now I feel it. The time is right. You see I am not the true Princess Celestia, I inherited the title from the previous Princess, she neither was the true Celestia. I am the most recent in a long line of Princess Celestia’s, each of us inheriting the name from the last to take the position. Most ponies believe that their Princess is immortal, they think her one eternal ruler. This is not true.

The true Princess Celestia lived over 2000 years ago and was one of the two last alicorns left alive after an unknown evil fell on their race. Left alone with her sister in the charred ruins of their decimated race she vowed that she would keep the flame of alicorn existence alight. The legend has been told to each successor that for many years Celestia, with the aid of her sister Luna, spent many years rummaging through the debris of their capital city desperately trying to locate the royal library.

When they finally found it they read through every single book that was still readable, gradually assimilating every piece of recorded knowledge known to their race into their young brains. They came across many useful spells including one curious enchantment which claimed that an alicorn may choose to change another creature into an alicorn too, provided sufficient manna and magical capabilities where present in the caster. The change, the spellbook said, would be gradual. A matter of weeks or even months depending on what species of animal was being made to transform into an alicorn.

I have the exact spellbook here in front of me as I write and at the bottom of the age stained page of this particular spell is scrawled a dire warning:

Beware: if you should cast this spell the creature you have cast it on will indeed become an alicorn but as they gradually change to gain the life of an alicorn so too shall you change, as they grow stronger so shall you grow weaker. When they are fully transformed you shall surely die.

As it was mere seconds after the very last word was writ, still is it today; the page is stained and warped not only by age but also by tears. Many previous to me have speculated on who wrote this note, I believe it to be the original Luna, the one who had most reason to weep at the loss of her beloved sister.

All of my life has been spent serving and protecting my subjects and indeed searching for one with sufficient magical power and knowledge of the arcane arts. I once was the student of the last Princess, just like you are now to me. I studied hard and spent every waking moment stretching my arcane powers, becoming stronger with every new book I read. The Princess Celestia that I served was truly named Annabeth, in turn she served as a student to a Princess who’s true name was Elijah.

The tradition has been upheld for generations stretching all the way back to when the true sisters first arrived in equestria; the current Princess protects her subjects and locates the individual who has the raw capacity to become a magical genius, then tutors her in all aspects of magic to bcome the successor to the throne.

Over the ages a cycle has been maintained to ensure that the glory of the alicorn race remains eternal, a cycle that allows Princess Celestia to live forever. History has an ironic way of repeating itself in such cycles. Every new Princess starts life as a young unicorn with outstanding raw talent, they study hard and push the boundaries of normal magical capabilities, at this point she is offered a place as the royal student where she is always close to the princess in case of sudden danger. It is at this stage when a great evil will threaten the land and if the student is truly the chosen one she will be able to harness the power of the elements of harmony to defeat the looming evil. This provides conformation to the current princess that the student is truly the chosen one.

The princess chooses the student but the fates choose the true successor. So far none of us have got it wrong. So far. It is the fates who select from each generation the chosen six, the spirits of the elements of harmony. Just as I am the most recent in the long line of celestia’s so too are you the most recent in the long line of students, the most recent chosen one. From birth you were destined to be the element of magic, it was written.

This all came as a shock to me when my tutor first told me this most closely guarded tale. Trust me the next bit will hit you harder than you could ever imagine. In fact take my advice; go and make a cup of tea, plenty of sugar. Go the whole hog and have a few biscuits, make them chocolaty. Take your time, breathe deeply, then come back and carry on reading.

Ok I hope your nice and calm. Brace yourself.

I know you desperately want to be a princess and raise the sun or the moon, not to mention FULL access to the royal Canterlot library. I know this because I was once exactly like you and felt exactly the same.

You showed great courage and outstanding grace under pressure in the field. You are loyal, kind, honest, generous, and are always happy; these are important. It is clear that you are this generations chosen one. This is why I have chosen you, Twilight Sparkle.

I am growing weaker, soon I will surely die.

I have set aside memories from past generations of Princesses, they hold the wisdom of ages and will aid you in your growth. You will also find them of great use in a short while, trust me, I could never have made it without these memories to guide me. Obviously I will not be sharing personal memories but they will offer you no academic wisdom anyway so I assure you you’re not missing out on much.

I am growing weaker, soon I will surely die.