Part 1 of a small series, this story takes place in an alternate universe where Celestia is the student, and Twilight the ruler.
This is part 1 of a (probably) 3 part series.
Celestia(Age 10) had finally done it! Her and her family have patiently waited 3 years to get approval to take the exam safely to enter Twilight's School for Gifted Unicorns! After her mother's gruelling multiple desk jobs and her father working double shifts to even afford it, they got the fees covered!
Her real challenge was now actually taking the exam. Will she be able to finally have her wish come true, and be allowed into the premier school, or will it end in failure? Only time will tell...
In the lower city of Canterlot, a small white unicorn pony with pink hair cuddled next to her younger sister, Luna, sleeping peacefully. Slowly, dawn broke over the horizon, no doubt another great sunrise by Equestria's ruler- Twilight Sparkle. Suddenly, a soft knock came to the door of their shared bedroom. "Celly, Lulu!" Their father, Solar Blaze gently called, slowly waking them up.
Cracking the door open to see his two precious girls still half asleep gave him a hearty sigh. "Hehe! Alright Blaze, time to let your inner Dad shine!" Grasping the curtains with his magic, the Pearl white unicorn suddenly jerked them open, causing two girly shrieks to emerge from the fillies. Chuckling quietly, he stood just to the side of the door, making sure to get the prank just right. "Oh no!" The bulky stallion yelled in mock distress. "Your mother made your two favorite pancakes- pineapple and banana, and since Nopony is awake, she'll have to throw them away!" Suddenly, a crash followed by the scrambling of two fillies could be heard just on the other side of the wall.
Getting ready, he prepared the ambush waiting for them... Only to get trampled down by their immense combined filly strength. Hearing a small chuckle from the kitchen, he relented. The chuckle belonged to his wife, and their two fillies' mother, Eclipse Spirit. "That's what you get for trying to trick our daughters on their first day!" She giggled, her midnight blue wings holding said pancakes from earlier.
The purple mane she normally had parted to the side was tied up in a bun, obvious signs she was slaving in the kitchen even in the early hours for her two daughters; a trait he admired from the royal blue Pegasus even before the fillies were born. "Now come sit down and have some breakfast with us again, you big goof!" Not one to pass up pancakes, he happily obliged. "Now girls, are you excited for your big day?" She smiled, bringing over a cup of coffee for Blaze.
"Yep, I sure am! F-first day of flight academy, heh heh!" Luna nervously chuckled, pawing at her food half-heartedly.
Eyeing her suspiciously, she continued. "Ookay, how about you, Celestia? This year is the one, you're gonna be a student at TGSU! Aren't you excited?!"
"I guess..." She smiled, putting on the mask her mother knew well. It was that plastic smile her daughter put on whenever she wanted to keep someone happy, even though it wasn't what she really wanted.
Coughing to pry his attention from the food he was scarfing down, she nudged Blaze to butt in. Sighing, he cancelled out the silvery magic levitating his silverware. "Look, I know it's a scary thing, my wonderful daughters, but look on the bright side! You'll make tons more friends at school! Luna, flight school isn't that scary. I mean, just ask your mother!" He gestured to Eclipse. "She had wings smaller than yours at your age, and she graduated top of the class!" He said, causing his wife to blush.
"And Celestia, I know you'll do great this year! Your mother and I worked really hard to get this last entrance exam for you, so I know you'll do your best!" He smiled, giving her a bit of his pancake to help cheer her up.
"Yeah, but-" Celestia began.
"But what if-" Luna continued, finishing part of her older sister's sentence.
"What if we fail?" They both finished in unison.
Looking at each other, their parents just smiled and said "At least you gave it your all!"
"And giving it your all means...?" Blaze asked.
"Not giving up." The two fillies rolled their eyes, finishing the family motto in a monotone voice.
"There's my girls!" He chuckled. "Now you better finish up breakfast, school is gonna start soon."
After a few more bites of pancake, the family got ready to go. Luna headed with her mother to Cloudsdale while Celestia trotted along the streets of Canterlot towards the upper city, towards the Royal Palace. "You nervous, Celestia?" Blaze asked.
Looking back up at her father, she could tell he was more asking for himself. This neighborhood always put him on edge. Marbled houses and gold trimmed pathways were everywhere, places meant for only the elitist of elite. Putting on the mask didn't hurt as bad around her dad, and made it easier for him to deal with this place, though she didnt know why he was so nervous. "Yes Daddy, a little bit." She smiled with that plastic expression she always put on to comfort those that needed it.
"Good, heh, good..." He mumbled, looking at the passing ponies with, what looked like anger, to her at least. Suddenly, the unicorn realized what the small unicorn said and his eyes shrank to pinpricks. "I-I mean, of course you're nervous! Being nervous is a good thing!" He smiled down at his daughter, the golden hues of his swept back mane glistening in the sunlight. "It just means you're still my Princess!"
"Hehe, you're silly, Daddy!" She giggled. Thinking on it, she did feel a bit nervous the closer she got to the Palace and, incidentally, Twilight's School for Gifted Unicorns. She had a million questions, like who would run the test or how hard it would be, but her most important question of all would soon be answered: Would Princess Twilight be there?
After trotting a few more blocks up the district, she finally saw the first glimpses of the ivory towers and golden and purple spirals topping them. The sight was simply breathtaking, but nothing compared to finally seeing the golden gates when the duo passed the hill:
"Wow..." Celestia whispered in awe. "Canterlot Palace!" Suddenly, she bolted towards the gates as fast as her hooves could take her.
"Celly, slow down!" Her father called out, chuckling at her enthusiasm. Once he caught up, the stallion took her shoulder by the hoof, staring at the same place she was; there, off in the distance and to the side of the Palace, was the school they all waited for. Three years... We finally did it, Eclipse! We did what everypony said we couldn't. Our daughter is one step closer to being part of TGSU...
"Are you alright, Daddy?" His daughter asked.
Not even noticing he was crying, Blaze quickly wiped the tears away and straightened himself out. "Y-yeah, I'm fine. Your dear old dad was just... Caught in the moment. Come on, let's see if we can get you in relatively early, alright?" He smiled.
Showing the guards standing watch outside the gate their visitor's passes, the purple armored ponies let them through and directed them to the registration office. Just out of earshot of her dad but not quite her, Celestia heard the guards say something:
"Another 'crowdfund' pony looking to get their kid in TGSU again..."
"That's the same one from the last two years, isn't it?"
"Yeah, but both those ended pretty badly. Had to call our boys down in Magical Suppression. Apparently that little filly there would've passed, if it weren't for her Flare-Up."
"Flare-Up? You mean-"
"Yep. Poor kid lost it, and I mean bad! Nearly took out half the castle! I mean, if Princess Twilight were here for it-"
"Shhh! I think the kid can still hear us!"
Unfortunately, she did. She knew she had... magical problems, but all of those were because she got too nervous and lost control. This time was different. This time, she had Daddy with her, he made sure of that.
Every day after the last incident, Solar Flare spent all of his time dedicated to pleading with Princess Twilight's assistant to change the rules. He was up all night writing petition after petition, until finally, his summons were answered by her royal majesty herself. She told him if he could secure payment for not only him, but for all the parents that were to register this year, she would hire groups of mages to ensure the parents could attend their entrance exams safely. An undeveloped magical field, such as a filly's, could potentially leech off of other magical sources, and is the sole reason why the entrants wishing to take the exam were to be alone, monitored closely by those observing them. His success came at a great cost, for Princess Twilight had said this would be their final chance at enrolling. They would be barred from further attempting, Princess Twilight said it was "for the safety of Canterlot's citizens", but he knew it was for an entirely different reason.
Shortly after being shown the way to the entrance exams, Celestia finally stood before the main entrance, jaw dropped in awe. Aside the entrance stood two marble statues of famous ponies from long ago: Trixie Lulamoon the Great and Powerful was on the left, her famous hat and cape donned on and her expression as confident as ever. On the right was an even older statue of a pony she didn't recognize. Approaching closer, the unicorn read the plaque aloud.
"Starswirl the... Bearded? Who's that, Daddy?"
Scratching his chin, Solar Blaze concentrated on the statue, trying to remember who it was from history. The pony, like Trixie, had on a hat and cape, though his were less flashy, and his expression was stoic. Looking at the beard, he suddenly remembered. "That's right! This here is Starswirl the Bearded, but you probably know him by a different name: Beardy the Lesser."
"Oh yeah! He was Trixie's great-great grandpa, wasn't he?" She asked.
"Yes, and she didn't like how his name put her accomplishments in his shadow, so she gave him a silly name like Beardy the Lesser. Legend goes that Princess Twilight laughed so hard she couldn't stop crying for at least 3 days!"
"That's a long time!" Celestia giggled.
"Yes, but I also heard and read that he was the one who taught her how to use magic." He looked back at the statue with the same look of awe her daughter now had. "In fact, he was the very first Dean for TGSU."
"Wow..." Her eyes sparkled with wonder. To think somepony as silly as Beardy-Starswirl she corrected- was Princess Twilight's teacher! Suddenly, they both heard the ringing of Canterlot Palace's bell chimes. If they didn't hurry inside, they would miss their chance for the exam!
"Quick, hop on my back Celly! I'll get you there!" Doing as instructed, she held on tight as her dad rushed through the halls dodging ponies left and right. Ducking and weaving, Solar Blaze galloped to the doors of the exam room, and right before they closed, he slid through last minute, stopping in his tracks.
Hopping down, Celestia looked around the large circular room she was in. It looked like a lecture hall, with seats leading several rows above the doors now shut behind her. Curiously, the only ponies in the room, aside fromherself and her dad, were the usual examiners she recognized from previous years, as well as the mages the Princess must have hired sitting near the windows at the top. Aside from them sat an elderly pony behind the podium she didn't recognize, but the most noticeable, and the scariest individual that was in the room, was the massive purple dragon slumbering behind him. It was so large, it's spade tail wrapped around the entire room, it's green spikes glistening in the afternoon sun.
"What is the meaning of this?!" The pony behind the podium all but shouted.
"We're sorry, Mr...?" Blaze asked.
"Silver Quill. And I will not tolerate outbursts such as this! We were expecting dignified ponies to show, not...not some rabble found on the streets! Why if it were up to me, I'd fail you right here and now for wasting my-" suddenly, the slumbering dragon's tail slammed down with a thundering BOOM, one of his slitted golden eyes boring into Silver Quill. Clearing his throat, he straightened his white and red lecturer's robe out as the dragon went back to sleep. "Greetings, and welcome to the magical test examinations for entry into Twilight's School for Gifted Unicorns. Today, we will have you perform a series of tests to prove your magical potential is worth our school's pedigree. Name?"
"Celestia, and her father, Solar Blaze." he stated.
"Solar Blaze, as in the same Solar Blaze that petitioned our Majesty for another chance, despite your previous Failings?" He uttered that last word with venom, making his intentions clear for the spiked unicorn.
"Y-yes, that's correct, Dean Silver Quill." He said through gritted teeth. He remembered him now, this was the same pony that contested every petition to see the Princess. Every. Single. Time. Then, when he finally got an audience with Princess Twilight, he was there, discussing how dangerous it was to, quote, "let commoners into the dignified school." Much to Blaze's chagrin however, he was escorted out and they were to talk about his "less than noble attitude."
"Very well. Since I am forced to endure this pointless test for a third time, your daughter may begin." Nodding to the pony on his left, the unicorn stood and approached, her blue robe disguising the cream colored coat and strawberry mane.
"My name is Moondancer and I will administer, as well as grade, the first test." The elderly pony smiled behind her rimmed glasses down at the filly. "It's good to see you again, Celestia."
"Good to see you too, Miss Moonie!" She giggled, smiling back. The Dean, clearing his throat annoyingly loudly, ushered Moondancer to continue.
Rolling her eyes, she began to explain the rules of the first test. "Your first exam, Celestia, is to perform advanced levitation." Lighting her horn, the older pony conjured 3 magical weights, all weighing 100 pounds each. "Your goal is to simultaneously lift each of these magical weights, hold them for at least ten seconds, then release. Are you ready, Celestia?"
"Yes ma'am!" The small filly smiled, her horn shimmering in a golden hue. Waiting for the signal, she manipulated the aura around the weights, ready to start the test.
"Begin." Concentrating, the unicorn tried lifting the weights. Sweat pouring down her brows, she began to remember how this test went the first time:
"All I have to do is lift them?" Celestia asked. "For how long?" At this time, she was only seven and didn't show much talent in magic yet.
"Just for a few seconds, that's all." Moondancer, also known as Miss Moonie to magic kindergarten students, said. She was the first to recommend Celestia take the exam. "Just give it your best shot!" She smiled.
At first, the white unicorn struggled, sweat pouring down her face. It started out as being very light, and Celestia smiled when it finally lifted from the ground. Then, the weight began to get heavier. Straining once more, she poured more magic into her horn, keeping the weight afloat. Once again, the weight was even heavier.
Finally, having enough, Celestia growled and sent as much magic into her horn as possible.
"No, wait!" Moondancer pleaded, but it was too late. Her horn crackling, the filly lifted the weight with ease and tossed it out the nearest window. However, her magic didnt dissipate. Instead it steadily grew and grew, eventually lifting her examiner as well as the entire building the exam took place in.
Moondancer, being quick on her hooves, activated her magic and cast a dampening field around the filly's horn, cutting off her magic and putting her to sleep. Since then, the regulations regarding the Test of Levitation have changed, not interacting with the user's magic to test thaumaturgic strain, but instead was left up to the examiner's discretion. The building's foundation had to be replaced with anti-magic concrete to prevent further incidents.
Coming back to reality, she heard the final seconds count down. "...2,1. Congratulations, Celestia! You did it." She smiled, clapping her hooves in a small applause. Some of the mages watching the exam even started to clap, until Quill bored his grey eyes into them.
"Hmph, if it were still done the way it was the first time, she wouldn't have passed!" He grumbled. Summoning his own weight, the second part of this exam began. "This is a weight of my own making. Lift it."
"Come on Silver Quill, you can't just-" Moondancer began, but was interrupted.
"I'm the Dean here, not you!" He spat. "True, you are a certified Examiner, but I think you've spent too much time teaching at the Magic Kindergarten! You've grown soft." He gestured to the filly to lift it. Behind him, the dragon's eye was open again, but he refrained from putting the Dean back in line.
Looking back at her dad, Celestia was unsure what to do. "It's alright, Celly! I'm here now, so don't worry." He smiled, putting her back into spirits.
Just like the exam when she was seven, the weight was easy to lift, and just like back then, every time Celestia lifted it, the weight got heavier and heavier. This time, however, she was more in control of her magic. The weight kept increasing, and every time it did, she poured only enough magic to keep it suspended in the air. It still kept getting bigger and bigger, the mages setting up protective barriers in case the worst happened and there was a magical surge. One ton, two tons, three. Clutching her eyes shut, her whole body shook, sweat coming off of it in gallons.
The weight was so big now, it had no more room to expand, and at this point, the purple dragon raised his head and, with a mighty breath, blew the brightest green fire she ever saw. Its magic fire fizzled out everypony's horns, shutting off the protective barriers as well as the weight Celestia lifted. Leaning down closer to Silver Quill, it bared its teeth and whispered something into his ear, sending a shiver up the Dean's spine. After it was done, the purple drake stretched its front claws and went back to sleep.
"C-congratulations, y-you passed the first exam." He muttered, still shaking in his boots. Lighting his horn, he cast a rejuvinating spell on the worn out filly, revitalizing her and her magic reserves.
"Congratulations, Celly! You did it!" Solar Blaze laughed heartily!
Still out of breath, she gave a small chuckle back. "Thanks Daddy!"
Nodding to the next Examiner, the Dean announced the next test this time. "The previous exam was to test your magical limits. This test is to test your creativity. Sunset Shimmer?"
Lifting her hood, Sunset flicked her greying hair and conjured some reading glasses, her tired eyes and wrinkled body shaking slightly. "Your next test is to create a magical construct entirely unique. However, you can only have three things for you to enchant." Lighting her horn, the orange mare conjured a small pile of mechanical parts and random objects on a small cloth "You can use anything in this room. The timer is set for 2 minutes. Are you ready?"
Nodding, Sunset continued. "Begin."
Looking at the cloth, Celestia peered through the bits and pieces there to try and find a good enough body to start off with. Peering through the objects, she began to levitate one of the bigger sized items- a small wooden block, only for it to fall right through her magic. Trying again with another item produced the same effect. "One minute left." Sunset Shimmer announced. Panicking, the filly tried, and failed, to pick up any of the objects sitting in the cloth when she remembered something: Sunset said "Anything in this room." Quickly looking around for anything, she noticed one of the dragon's scales was loose.
Trotting up to the sleeping drake, she tapped it on the shoulder. It's eye slowly opening up, it looked down at the mare. "Hmm? What is it, my little pony?" He rumbled deeply. Despite looking very menacing, the dragon sounded very friendly, much to Celestia's surprise.
"Is it alright if I take your scale?" She pointed to the loose one on his arm. Looking down, he cocked his head curiously.
"I don't see why not." Plucking it off, he gsve it to the filly. "Just make sure to use it wisely."
Smiling, she nodded. Running back to the cloth, Celestia levitated the scale above the objects and fired a spell at it. Suddenly, the scale wobbled and shook with arcane energy, pulling in all the objects below it before erupting in a blinding light. "Time!" Sunset yelled, stopping the timer. Looking down, she gasped in shock. What stood before her was a perfect miniature replica doll of her that mimicked her movement.
"H-how did you-" the elderly mare began, stopped by Celestia explaining.
"Well, dragon's are magic, and the objects on the cloth didn't want to be picked up by magic, so I sent a spell to Mister Dragon's scale to make it do the work! I was just trying to draw you on it, but this is way better!" The filly giggled.
She couldn't believe it. In all her years, Sunset Shimmer never saw somepony actually make a construct using the test materials! It was meant to test a filly's patience around magical objects. The timed aspect would pressure them into using advanced spellwork so she could see the range of spells they were capable of. This filly was on a whole other level, it seemed. "I-I... You passed. You're the first person to actually pass. Congratulations..."
"Really?! Yay!" Celestia jumped up and down, excited she passed this one too. Just one more to go and she would be able to finally get in! Looking back at her dad, she ran and hugged him, crying tears of joy. "I did it, Daddy! I did it!" She giggled, the happiest 10 year old alive.
Ushering the other two other, the Dean collaborated with them in hushed whispers, deciding what the final test would be. Breaking up, Silver Quill cleared his throat. "Miss Celestia, due to your results from the previous two exams, it is with great pain that I must announce we cannot go further with your Exam." He said stoically.
"W-what?" She said, on the verge of tears. "WHY???" She huddled closer to her dad, trying to calm down.
"Your two tests were designed just like they would be for any other filly. However, you were supposed to show certain things. The first was control-" he gestured to Moondancer, who approached with sad eyes.
"The Weighted Levitation exam was designed to strain your magical reserves and have you set the weights down one at a time. The second part was to see how far you can go without pushing your body over the limit. I'm sorry, Celly..." She leaned down to the filly. "You would have passed, but-" she glared back at the Dean. "*sigh*, I dont have the final grade. He does." Standing back up, she stepped back to her place beside the podium.
"The second test was designed to test your patience." Quill stated. Nodding to Sunset, she continued where he left off.
"Look," she sighed. "In all my years teaching, I have never seen creativity like that done before. If it were up to me, I'd put you in advanced classes right now. However, Mister High and Mighty over there is being too much of a prude to let you go through with it. Call it Hubris, I guess. Sorry, kid." Stepping back to her side, the Dean continued.
"Due to these circumstances, se must give you a FAILING gr-"
"ENOUGH!" a voice echoed through the lecture hall louder than even the roar the dragon had earlier. Suddenly, in a terrifying cascade of purple and white light, Princess Twilight appeared behind him. She stood 3 heads taller than the tallest pony in the room, her wings stretching out regally. Scanning the room, her violet eyes and shimmering purple mane flowed addressed each and every pony with regality. "I apologize for the loudness of my arrival." She bowed.
"P-princess! What are you doing here?!" Silver Quill asked, flabbergasted.
"Setting you straight, Quill." She spoke with a stern tone. "I've been watching the entire exam through Spike." She ignited her horn in a purple aura, projecting a live feed from the dragon's eyes. "Care to explain why you're failing her?"
"W-well, t-that is, um..." He stuttered, trying to find the right words.
"Dean's office. Now." Was all she uttered before she teleported again.
A few hours passed, each pony quietly eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich Moondancer prepared for all the exam attendees this year, when Dean Silver Quill reappeared alongside Princess Twilight. Clearing his throat, he approached the podium and began to speak. "Through careful...deliberation between the princess and I..." He stared up at the princess in question, only to receive a scowl in return. "The princess and I have decided to let Celestia take the final exam." Lighting his horn, he teleported a small fiery egg to the center of the room on a small purple pillow. "Your final test is to hatch this Phoenix egg." He stated.
"Okay... What do I need to do?" She asked, looking at the ponies around for answers.
"As with every filly entering this illustrious school, their final test is to hatch the egg of a magical creature; a tradition set by Princess Twilight since Spike the Dragon was hatched by Trixie the Great and Powerful." He looked back towards the slumbering dragon. "The object of this test is simple: you must exert your magical power using the knowledge from the first two tests, but since you bungled it up-" he said, receiving a whack on the back of his head from the Princess. "*ahem* knowing your magical limits from the first test, and using the patience learned from the second, you must hatch the egg using your magic. You may begin when ready."
Still skeptical, Celestia stared back at her dad with a look of hesitation. "Go ahead, honey. I'm here with you." Gulping, she slowly approached the egg, her horn lighting up. Thinking on how to best hatch the egg, the filly began by levitating it and applying a heating spell. Suddenly, the egg began to wobble steadily. "You're doing great, Celly!" Her dad yelled. "Keep going."
Nodding her head, Celestia powered her horn with more magic, causing the first crack to appear on the egg. Panicking, she stopped her heating magic, thinking she was harming the egg. Seeing no other changes, the unicorn continued, this time with less power. Another crack appeared, when everypony heard it: the small chirping of a chick. There, among the cracks in the shell, sat a small beak poking out, greeting the world for the first time. Suddenly, the chirping began to get sporadic and weak. Panicking, Celestia increased the heat tenfold until, suddenly, the egg burst into flame.
Silver Quill panicking, began to approach and dampen her magic when he was stopped by Princess Twilight's hoof. Looking on at the spectacle, the egg burned away until all that stood in Celestia's telikinetic field lay a small chick, chirping happily at the filly before it. "D-did I do it?" She asked, out of breath. Stepping down from beside the podium, the Princess approached.
"Yes, you did it, my little pony." She smiled down at the small filly. "Congratulations, you passed the test!" A roar of cheers erupted through the exam room, Celestia jumping for joy and Solar Blaze crying tears of joy. "However," the Princess began, ending the celebration early. "You may not enter my school in the traditional sense."
"What do you mean?" Celestia asked.
"Well," Princess Twilight sighed. "After counseling with Dean Silver Quill, we both came to an arrangement." She smiled once more. "Due to your enormous magical potential presented in the exams, you may still attend the regular curriculum for fillies as ordained by the Board of Education, but all magical lessons will be taught by me personally."
Once again, everypony cheered and even Princess Twilight and Silver Quill, reluctantly, clapped their hooves in celebration. This year, she finally did it, and what's more? She was to be taught by her idol, her royal majesty of Equestria, Princess Twilight Sparkle! This year, she was going to have the best classes ever! Solar Blaze chuckled, finally realizing why his daughter was given special care:
Celestia was too powerful for traditional teaching.
It's been several months since the exam, and Celestia couldn't feel any better! She named the phoenix that hatched from the egg Philomena, who was perched on her shoulder as she trotted down the halls of TGSU. Her next class was Magic History with Sunset Shimmer. Making a few twists and turns in the large school, she finally reached her destination. Sitting down close to the back of the class, the unicorn opened up her desk... Only to be assaulted by a plethora of purple and pink clouds.
"Look at that everypony, 'Princess Twilight' is here!" The neighborhood bully Blueblood mocked, followed by several ponies in class giggling. Looking at the reflection on her desk, she could see why. The clouds she saw earlier were mane and coat dyes, making her look like a cheap knockoff of the Princess. Though they were loosely related, the white foal with lustrous golden locks loved to torment Celestia on almost a daily basis, but thankfully by this time, she was used to his pranks.
Rolling her eyes, she cast a quick removal spell before Miss Shimmer came into class. "Good morning, everypony!" Sunset mumbled, yawning.
"Good morning, Miss Shimmer!" Everypony greeted.
Giving a tired grunt in reply, her horn ignited in a bright red, levitating the chalk behind her and began writing the lesson on the board. Several strokes later, she was finished, producing a murmur from the class. Raising her hoof, Celestia was called on. "Why are we learning about dragon history? I thought we were learning about pony magic." The fiery maned mare smiled at the question, her wrinkles more prominent as a result.
"Glad you asked, Celestia. Though most of your lessons so far have been on the history of pony magic, it's important to learn the magic of other species as well. This helps in understanding the effects your magic will have on all forms of life, not just your own." Dimming the lights, the teacher switched on the crystal projector in the back, near where Celestia sat, and it was easily as old as she was. "The history of dragons in this land dates far back before even Princess Twilight was given her title." Flickering to life, the projector magically displayed a slide-show suspended on an artificial backdrop Miss Shimmer pulled down from the ceiling. The first image showed the Banner of the Three Tribes. "Dragons began to show up in Equestria during the Union of the Three Tribes, sensing the nation's newfound magical power after the Windigos were banished." Flicking to the next slide, a fearsome red dragon as tall as Canterlot Castle was shown bowing before the three ponies from legend: Clover the Clever, Private Pansy, and Smart Cookie. "As You all know, the three Chancellors of Friendship, serving as Royal advisors at the time before founding the Pillars of Harmony, approached the leader of the Dragon race, Dragon Lord Torch. By expressing their concerns and maintaining the dragons do not roost near any settlement, they agreed to let the dragons have the hoards they desired." A few hooves raised up as she paused.
Calling on Blueblood, he stood up. "It's silly to even think they could just barge in and lounge on what's rightfully ours! Why didn't we tell them to leave?!" He exclaimed.
"One more outburst like that, and you'll be held after class for detention, you little-" Stopping to calm herself before she got fired, Sunset continued. "You're on thin ice after pulling that prank on Celestia before class. Don't deny it, I could sniff out the dye agent before I even got near the doors! Now, if you'll pay attention, I'll explain why we didn't drive them out."
Flicking to the next slide, it now showed a mural of what looked like hairy ponies wearing horned helmets chasing ponies out of their homes. The scene was followed by a group of ponies pleading to a nearby dragon, then the hairy helmeted ponies being driven away by dragon fire. "Due to the pillaging nature of our friends, the Yaks of Yakyakistan, many ponies were driven from their homes. Pleading with the dragons, their magical fire drove away the invaders while avoiding the homes altogether." Another filly raised her hoof, the elderly mare calling on her.
"How can fire avoid houses? It's fire!" The filly exclaimed.
"Because Dragon magic has a unique property." Flicking the lights back on and turning the projector off, the teacher pulled up the backdrop and wrote on the blackboard once more. Drawing a picture of a dragon guarding its hoard, she began to explain. "With dragon magic, it's potency gets stronger the bigger the hoard is. It can also cancel out any harmful magic to said hoard as well as avoid its hoard entirely." Drawing a circle around the dragon on top of its riches as well as swirly lines bouncing off of it, most of the class finally understood.
Raising her hoof, Celestia was called on once more. "So when the pony settlement was protected by the dragon's fire, he thought they were part of his hoard too?" She asked, only to receive a nod from the teacher.
"And since foreign magic was now considered part of their hoard, the dragons protected it with magic of their own. However-" She began again, erasing the drawings on the board and drawing new figures. "This also meant they couldn't protect themselves against our magic if we're considered part of it." This time, Sunset drew a dragon being attacked by the same villagers' magic while the fire breathing out of it avoided the ponies. "Which is why it's important to use our magic responsibly." She glared at Blueblood, hoping he would take the hint.
"Makes sense." Celestia mumbled to herself, taking notes. She was a bookworm through and through, taking notes upon notes, enough so that she had at least 3 notebooks for each class. Philomena, perching on the corner of her seat, chirped in agreement. Smiling, the filly levitated a small saltine cracker out of her backpack for the phoenix- it was her favorite. Glancing at the clock, she noticed the time.
The lesson was done, but the class still had another half to go! It was at times like these she forgot that this school wasn't like Magic Kindergarten; Lessons were twice as long, curriculum twice as hard, and the teachers ten times more strict! Erasing the board once more, Sunset Shimmer cleared her throat and addressed the class. "Now that you know how dragon magic works, how about I take you to go see one?" She smiled, a roar of cheers coming from the fillies and foals excited to see a dragon.
Ushering the children to pack their notebooks, she escorted them quietly through the hallways and into the Canterlot Wing- a wing specifically designed to exit out towards the east side of Canterlot Castle. "Now everypony, I expect you to be quiet. So quiet in fact, that I'll be grading you." A chorus of groans followed. "Now don't you groan at me, kids! I have a pounding headache from getting too dr- I mean, from grading tests all last night, and the only thing keeping me alive at this point is this thermos!" She jiggled the object in her magic for emphasis. Good save there, Sunset. "Teacher of the Year" you are not... she thought to herself.
The class kept quiet during the remainder of the trip, save for a few whispers here and there. Celestia was in the back as always, trying to keep herself invisible to the rest of the ponies. Once word got out she was being taught by Twilight herself, the teasing began immediately. Most of the parents whined to the Dean, complaining that a "commoner" was being given special treatment. He had the very same judgement of character about her as well, but thanks to Princess Twilight's interference, Silver Quill was only able to utter the same rehearsed sentence to every family that approached him.
"I'm sorry, but the Princess witnessed the innate magical ability that Celestia possessed with her own eyes: her level of magic power was too much to be taught in the traditional sense. If you have any inquiries, please file them with Day Court." It was very well thought out, and even had a few facts they both agreed on: this small filly's magic was on a separate level altogether.
Turning the corner, Miss Shimmer talked to the guards outside the entrance to the Eastern gardens. After a few minutes, the group was allowed through, though had to be escorted by the guard following the rear. "This everypony, is the Royal Garden!" The fiery maned mare exclaimed. The sight was breathtaking to the rest of the group: several statues were littered about the gardens; some were wacky and mismatched, like the statue labelled simply "Chaos", while others were divine and added elegance, like the statue named "Chrysalis". It was dark green, and depicted what looked like a Pegasus, save for it's butterfly wings and the beginnings of a crooked horn.
The final, most mysterious piece in the garden lay near the center, Celestia always avoiding it whenever she came to visit the garden in her spare time between lessons. The object was a group of stone orbs rotating around a singular large obsidian one in the center. It glowed a sinister orange at night, illuminating the entire balcony it watched over, and nopony knew why or even how. The stone centerpiece was simply labelled "Nightmare", and it always scared her whenever she looked at it for too long. Thankfully, their lesson was during the day when it was inactive, and as an added bonus, the towering dragon from her exams was slumbering on the balcony just behind it, putting her at ease.
"Spike? Spiiiike." Sunset called out, nudging the purple behemoth.
"Nngh, huh, what?" The dragon slowly woke up, his towering form shaking the ground with even the slightest movements. Yawning, he looked around for the source of his interrupted nap, when he saw the teacher and students standing nearby. "Oh, it's just you, Shimmer." Spike yawned, his massive teeth bared.
"Yes, it's just me, Spike. Did you forget something?" She glared at him, gesturing to the children behind her.
"Huh? Oh yeah, I'm supposed to be a guinea pig for you today. *sigh* Alright, just get it over with." He yawned again. "I just wanna nap again."
Stomping her hoof in anger, Sunset huffed and turned around, ready to escort the class back because of Spike's attitude, when suddenly, she got an idea. "Hey everypony, since our resident dragon is being a bit too tired for his own good, why don't I wake him up?" She winked. The class agreed, still keeping quiet for the sake of not spoiling the surprise. Turning around once more, Miss Shimmer charged her horn and fired a quick blast right at the dragon's snout only for it to bounce right off without even a scratch. "As you can see, my magic becomes clearly ignored by Spike's dragon magic. But if a guard were to zap him however..." She smirked to the two escorting guards in the rear.
Offering a small bag of bits, Sunset whispered into their ears and told them exactly what to do. The guards turned down the bits, saying they'd "do it for free on account of his bad breath stinkin' up the garden." Readying their horns, each gave a small pelt of magic to the spot Miss Shimmer tried earlier. It earned an irritating grunt from Spike, bringing his claw up to itch his nose. "Again!" Sunset shouted, the guards repeating their magic. This time, he brought up his entire claw and wiped the entire snout, the dragon's grunts sounding even more annoyed. The guards, not quite satisfied, nodded to each other and gave a large blast this time, giving a pinch to Spike's nose.
"Youch!" He yelped, bringing his head up, only to hit the balcony outside Princess Twilight's room with a resounding Thud.
Smirking at the drake, Sunset continued her lesson. "As you can plainly see, the guard's magic was entirely ignored by his latent draconic magic. Who can answer me why?" She looked at the hooves raised, only to point at Celestia who was just trying to stay away from the statue they were dangerously near. "How about you, Celestia?"
"Huh, what? Oh, um... Because they were part of his hoard?" She asked. Suddenly, she was pushed by Blueblood hard, knocking her a bit too close to the "Nightmare". Unfortunately it was out of view from the teacher.
"Teacher's pet!" He spat with venom while Miss Shimmer was distracted.
You don't have to take it from him, push back... a mysterious voice whispered, sending shivers down her spine.
After the lesson was over, Miss Shimmer assigned homework for the class to pour over when they were at home. Celestia never told her about what happened in the garden, she wouldn't believe her anyways. Packing the last of her things, the filly jumped up from her hooves and excitedly entered Canterlot Castle; Her next magic lesson with Princess Twilight was about to begin! Bounding through the halls, she greeted and was greeted by the staff and guards patrolling the halls, many of them used to her presence by now. "Hi, Flash!" She giggled, waving to the guard outside the Princess' personal quarters.
"Hi Celly!" He smiled back. Flash Sentry was unusual for a Royal Guard: he was a Pegasus instead of the traditional,unicorn, and didnt have any masking enchantments on his armor, his orange coat and blue spiked mane showing clearly through. "Are you here for another lesson?"
"Yeah! I'm super excited! What do you think she's gonna teach me?!" The unicorn beamed.
"I... Don't know, could be anything" Flash scrunched his muzzle.
"Aw, no fair! You know, don't you?" She pouted.
"She... might have said something on our last d-, I mean, patrol!" He blushed.
"Ooh, she finally did it?! I knew she would!" She giggled, happy her plan worked. Celestia had been trying desperately to get Princess Twilight to spend time with Flash Sentry, and it seems her hard work finally paid off, though them dating wasn't something she expected. The filly was even more excited now, in the special way when children find out grownups are dating that is. "Twilight and Flash Sentry, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" She sang.
"AHEM!" A voice spoke up behind the two. Curling his head, Flash nervously smiled before straightening himself out and standing at attention.
"Princess Twilight, Celestia is here for her lesson." He saluted.
"I can see that. Now what was this about sitting in a tree?" She arched her brow at him.
"U-uh, I um..." He stammered. Celestia quietly giggled behind him.
"I see." she stared between the two. "Come Celestia, your lesson awaits."
Trotting in quickly behind, the little filly gave the guard a smug grin right before the door shut. Looking around the personal quarters of the Princess never ceased to amaze Celestia. In the main area sat a small lounge with pillows set right near Princess Twilight's personal fireplace. Attached to that was a small balcony overlooking the gardens, and provided an excellent view of the sun's rising and setting. Finally, there was the bedroom, separated by a velvet curtain to the left of the lounge.
The Princess trotted past the curtains, tying them as they parted with her magic. A round lavender bed sat in the corner, surrounded by bookshelves- Twilight's personal collection. Just the opposite of that sat a small writing desk for her personal missives. "I had some of my raspberry chamomile tea brewed today." The lavender Alicorn spoke, hovering a tea set over to the filly. "Would you like some?" She smiled.
Nodding quietly, she took a cup with her magic, the Princess pouring her favorite blend of tea for the young filly to sip on. They sat in awkward silence for a few moments. "I heard about Spike's lesson today." The princess began, trying to defuse the tension. "Did you learn anything?" She smiled awkwardly.
"N-no, not really. Well, I learned about dragon magic, but I already knew about that from studying..." She spoke. It had been like this since their very first lesson, and to be honest, Celestia had an inking suspicion that the Princess didn't really talk with ponies a whole lot, or at least not on a casual level. "Princess-"
"Just Twilight, please." The Alicorn beamed a little too excitedly.
"Okayyy... Um, Twilight, do you... I mean, do you ever-" she paused, trying to find the right words.
"Yes, what is it, Celestia?" Again, she smiled over-enthusiastically.
"Well, do you ever... Hang out with your friends?" The filly winced, dreading the answer.
"I, well, I don't uh..." The Princess stammered. "I mean, what really are friends? Heh heh..." She chuckled nervously. Seeing the filly was dead serious, the mare sighed. "Well, to be honest, I haven't had a good friend in close to a thousand years. I mean, i have Spike, but even he is only two hundred and fifty, so that has only been recent."
"But 250 is a huge time to make friends with him!" Celestia exclaimed.
The Alicorn giggled. "I suppose so, my little pony! Though, to be honest, he's more like... My little brother." She explained.
"I guess that makes sense. So, what am I doing today?" She decided to change the subject for now.
"Well, A little bird told me that today is your birthday, so how about you decide?" She smiled.
"Wow, you have animal friends too?" Suddenly, she realized there was still a phoenix sitting on her shoulder. "Hey, was it you, Philomena?" She glared at the small chick only for it to blush and nod. "You traitor!" The filly harumphed, crossing her forelegs in defeat. Celestia wanted to keep it a secret; her memories were never happy ones when it came to her birthday.
"Please, don't be mad at her, Celestia. I just wanted to get you a present, and a lesson of your choice seemed like the right call!" She explained. "Forgive me?" Twilight smiled.
Looking up at the princess, she couldn't resist, despite the fact the gift she was given was horrible. "*sigh* Fine!"
"Yes!" She pumped her hoof in the air, before regaining composure. "I mean, thank you."
"You're really silly, Princess!" The filly giggled.
"I suppose I am." She chuckled. "So, do you know what you want to learn today?"
"Hmm..." She gave it some thought. Most of their lessons were almost always straight out of the curriculum, much to her dislike. Looking at the spellbooks could be fun, she thought for a moment, before a painful memory surfaced of her trying one of the spells in Twilight's study and ending up almost destroying the entire palace. Looking around for ideas, she finally spotted a good lesson to learn, or in her case, teach. "I have an idea, Princess!"
"Oh good! What did you want to learn?" Twilight asked.
Pretending to think hard, she blurted out what they should do. "I want to learn how a Princess makes friends!" She beamed in her feign childlike expression.
"...what?" The Princess looked genuinely surprised. No magic lessons? No pouring over books? "O-of course!" She smiled nervously. Those are the only two things I know!
Standing up, the Princess made her way to the door leading outside the palace, when she was stopped by her student. "I have a better idea, Twilight! How about you teleport us?" Celestia trotted over to the balcony, dragging the Princess by the hoof. "Well, what are we waiting for?!" She exclaimed, waiting for the spell. She always got excited seeing Twilight's magic in action, after all.
Moving instead to the balcony, she lit up her horn. "Hold tight, Celestia. It's been a while since I used anything like this." In fact, aside from raising the sun and the moon, the princess rarely used any of her power for anything really. The occasional letter was sent using it, but aside from that only mundane spells like levitation were ever used. The filly clutched tight to her forehoof, and Twilight concentrated on the best place to start this "lesson".
With a brief flash and crackle in the air, the pair vanished. Suddenly, a knocking came on the chamber door moments later. "Your Highness? Is everything alright? I heard some noise." Flash Sentry waited for a response. When none came, he announced he was coming in. Turning the handle on the door, prepared for anything, the guard swiftly pushed it open, only to be met with an empty room.
Looking around, nothing seemed to be out of place, save for the tea still warm and the open window. Wait... Alarm suddenly filled him, as he connected the dots. Still warm tea, an open balcony, no signs of struggle... She must have been foalnapped! "Sweet Stars, I'm fired..."
Bright Star, Twilight's secretary, was currently sitting in her office, pouring through several petitions and requests addressed to the princess. Most were mundane tasks that could have been taken to the local guard post rather than bother her with it. Grabbing a pencil from behind her ear, she began to sift through the mundane ones, her frazzled jet black mane becoming even more so as she read on. With every press of the pencil to paper, the poor writing utensil was subjected to more and more pressure as she read on:
"Missing cat, not worth day court." check.
"Timberwolves near Ponyville again? Ugh, it's Ponyville, so obviously!" Check.
"Help me find my dentures, I lost them in my bathroom... SERIOUSLY?!" CHECK. The tip of the pencil splintered, an annoyed grunt coming from Bright.
Suddenly, a ripple in the air formed, the shockwave knocking the plum colored mare out of her seat. After straightening her glasses and dusting off her coat, the pony sat up only to find herself face to face with her boss. "P-Princess! I, I didn't expect your arrival here!" She hastily bowed.
"It's okay, Bright Star." She smiled, looking around. Her secretary's undersized office wasn't what she was aiming for, but it would have to suffice. "To be honest, I didn't see myself appearing here so suddenly either. I was aiming for the front gates." She was definitely out of practice. Bright Star's office was more towards the barracks on the east wing; The gates were practically in the other direction.
"O-oh, um, okay. While you're here, can you please tell the guards to stop sending me all THIS-" she gestured to the piles upon piles of literal first world problems currently sitting on her desk.
"No problem is too big or too small, Bright Star. I thought your grandmother would have taught you that by now." She lectured the pony.
She rolled her eyes."Granny Starlight is senile with her old age, and threatens to take my cutie mark away every time I visit her in Ponyville. The only thing she's taught me is how to make checklists, and then checklists for my checklists. I blame you for that, by the way!" Suddenly, the mare noticed who was shyly clinging to the princess' hoof. "Um, not to alarm you, but there's a filly stuck to your leg..." She pointed at Celestia.
"Yes, she's my pupil." She moved her hoof so Bright Star could take a better look, much to the dismay of the suddenly very shy unicorn. "It's okay, Celestia. Bright Star is one of my friends and royal advisors." She smiled down at the filly. "Go on, introduce yourself."
"Mm-mm!" She shook her head; Something didn't seem...right to her every time she looked at Bright Star. She nudged Twilight to come closer to her. "She scares me. She makes me feel like Dean Quill does..." The filly whispered.
"That makes sense." The princess smiled.
"It does?!"
Twilight nodded. "Yes, it does. Miss Star is Dean Silver Quill's little sister."
"That's right, that brute is my brother." She tilted her head curiously at the Alicorn, only to receive a look that said "she's scared, cheer her up."
"Buut unlike him, I'm actually not a stick in the mud!" She rummaged around for something, cursing that she still wished she had her horn. "Now where did you- Aha!" Bright moved a stack of documents piled to the ceiling from her buried desk and pulled out a slip of paper. "I could use a break, so how about we all go out on the town for some ice cream from the local Donut Joe's?" Celestia's eyes brightened up like any filly would at the mention of Donut Joe's famous sweets. To be honest, Bright Star wasn't too sure how good the coupon was, but it was worth the distraction from the literal mountains of paperwork surrounding her.
Suddenly, a familiar guard came barreling through her office, knocking over a pile of papers and burying Twilight and Celestia underneath. "S-star, Princess...hah...missing...*Cough*"
"Slow down, Flash! Take a deep breath. Like your training in the Crystal Empire, remember?" Doing as told, he sucked in a deep breath, clutching his hoof to his chest, then exhaled slowly, moving his hoof away. It was a technique general Shining Armor made mandatory close to 900 years ago, back when he was still alive.
Thoroughly calmed down, Flash Sentry began to explain. "The Princess has been foalnapped! I didn't hear anything coming from her room, so I went in. What I found was the window open and no traces of the foalnappers."
"O-okay, then..." She glanced to the pile of papers Flash knocked over when he came bursting through her office in a hurry. "Anything else that makes you think it was a foalnapping? Maybe she went out for a stroll."
He nodded. "Her tea was still warm, and you know how she gets with her tea!" He chuckled. Glancing out of the corner of her eye, Star saw the pile of papers levitated in a familiar pink glow. Just as she was about to tell Flash to look behind him, she was shushed. Twilight wanted to see where this was going, it seemed.
"Listen, you might not want to-"
"And her schedule is a nightmare! I mean, every 5 minutes, there's another thing she needs escorted to. I swear, sometimes she does it on purpose!" He snorted in annoyance.
"That or a completely other reason, like that flank of yours..." She mumbled.
"What was that?"
"N-nothing! Anyways, I would love to help but I don't think it'll be necessary." Star had enough. Sighing, the unicorn pointed behind him to a very stern looking Princess.
"P-Princess Twilight!" Flash Sentry haphazardly saluted, trying to straighten out his uniform as he did so. "What brings you here?" He nervously chuckled.
Twilight simply raised an eyebrow. "What was this about my being foalnapped?"
"O-oh nothing, really! Just a harmless prank the guards pulled on me, heh heh..."
"And my tea?" She changed her tone to sound hurt, looking to toy with him a little bit further. "What's wrong with a little Chamomile?"
"O-oh nothing, per say... Just an... Odd choice, most ponies drink regular coffee nowadays." Good, he was out of the doghouse, he thought.
"What of my schedules, then?" She batted her eyelashes, playing dumb again. "Too much to handle?"
"N-no! I mean, yes, but n-not in a bad way!" He blushed.
"Hmm. Well," sbe stood out of the piles of papers regally, addressing the guard in an official manner. "I do believe he deserves something. What do you think, Celestia?" She stared down at her pupil.
Honestly, Celestia didn't know what was going on, until the Princess winked at her. "Ohhhhhhhh! Yeah, he sure does!" She giggled.
"Ahem, Flash Sentry," Twilight spoke in an authoritative voice. "For improper protocol when diagnosing a potential threat, you are hereby subjected to..." She paused for dramatic effect. "Keeping us company while we get donuts." She smiled.
"Yes ma'am! Wait, what?"
"You heard her, Mister Sentry! You need to, um, eggsort us!" Celestia smirked up at Flash.
"I think you mean 'escort', Celestia." Bright Star giggled.
"Yeah! Escort!" The filly beamed.
"O-okay, I think I can do that..." He stared at the princess apprehensively. "But I'm still not sure this is much of a punishment."
"Nonsense! It's not like we're just going to Donut Joe's! In fact," she gave him a knowing smirk, dread immediately filling Flash's eyes.
"No! No, anything but that, please!" He pleaded.
Her smile grew even wider. "I think it's time I go dress shopping."
This was already turning into quite the adventure for the young filly, and Celestia hasn't even got her present yet!
"Worst...Birthday...Ever." When she first convinced Princess Twilight to show her how she made friends, Celestia didn't expect it to take this long! "Why are we even in here? I thought we were going to Donut Joe's!"
"We are, but I'd like to do some shopping along the way." Twilight spoke, browsing through the various dresses on the shelves and racks throughout the boutique they ended up in. "Drat, nothing fits my size!" She mumbled in her breath. They all agreed to go incognito for this trip, so Twilight came disguised as a unicorn version of herself, with a neatly combed straight mane and tail, and a Cutie Mark of a book and quill; her real one was way too recognizeable. They were pale imitations of her true form, but it got the job done.
"Did you find one yet, Bookworm?" A nearby clerk asked the disguised princess.
"No, not quite." She smiled. "This may seem an odd question, but do you happen to have any plus sizes available? I'm shopping for, uh, a friend from Saddle Arabia so not many things fit."
"What's Saudi Arabia?" The filly asked "Bookworm".
"It's pronounced 'Saddle Arabia', Celestia, and they're friends of m- Princess Twilight's."
"I'm afraid we don't have anything of that size, unfortunately." The salespony mentioned regrettably. "However, we do have the seamstress on duty, if you'd like to talk to her. She's also a third generation owner of Canterlot Boutique to boot!"
It can't be... Could it? "Um sure, I'd love to meet her!" Twilight smiled nervously. If she's from the family I'm thinking of, my cover could be blown in an instant! They did have a flair for the dramatic, after all...
She motioned for Flash Sentry. "Get ready to leave, and quick."
"Why, what's wrong?" He asked, currently donning a blue and orange striped scarf around his neck. At the Princess's request, he had foregone his Guard's Armor for this trip.
"The Seamstress is here-" She drew out the word to hint at the meaning. "Ring any bells?"
Suddenly, the Pegasus' eyes grew to pinpricks. "We're so royally gonna be found out..."
Meanwhile, the White unicorn filly still looking at dresses her size was confused as to what was happening. "What's going on? Why are you freaking out? It's just a seam- seem... Dress maker!" She turned to Bright Star for answers.
"Let's just say they're... Old friends, or at least related to some." Star straightened out her glasses and business suit she still kept on, even for this outing. "Unfortunately, they also have a flair for the dramatic, so depending on which one we get, it could get way too crowded to, well, be just normal ponies going clothes shopping, and turn into a Royal catastrophe, if you catch my drift?"
"Ohhhhhhhh!" She think she understood now. "Wait, why does it matter who it is?"
"Well," Bright chuckled. "You'll soon find out." She pointed to a pair of heated voices growing closer behind a pair of dress curtains nearby.
"For the last time, Mr. Hoity Toity the Third, we will not sell mass production goods!" An elegant voice exclaimed.
"But think of the profit! There's money to be had here, and I already cornered the market everywhere else, so I implore you, listen to me and start some designs for my factories... Or else you'll have some... competition on your hands." Another voice argued back.
"*Gasp* You're extorting me!? Your grandfather would turn over in his grave if he heard all this! Our family used to be friends, why the change of heart?" The voices came closer, becoming louder with each step.
"Oh please! You honestly believe that marketing campaign you call 'old friends of the family'? I am part of the Canterlot Elite! Why should I listen to some hodunk mare from Ponyville when it comes to Friendship?" The other voice mocked. "My family's clothing factories can turn a profit faster than these two-bit fabric shops can!"
"...You get out of my store right now Hoity Toity, or so help me I'll press charges!" The curtains parted in a silver magic, revealing a beautiful unicorn mare with a silver coat along with a rosy mane and tail, with lavender highlights. The other pony looked like a Brown coated stallion with a similar swept back silver mane and large amber fashion glasses on.
Huffing, Hoity Toity marched out the entrance to the shop with an upturned nose.
"Um, Miss Belle?" The salespony from earlier cautiously approached the elegant seamstress.
"Yes, what is it?" She sighed, letting out an exhausted breath.
"Well, we have some clientele that requested plus sizes. I was wondering if-" Suddenly, she was interrupted by an exaggerated gasp.
"Is it the Princess?! No, a Griffin? Oh my gosh, it's a Hippogriff, isn't it?! Please tell me it is, I love a challenge!" Bouncing from her dour mood, the mare excitedly beamed at the salespony.
"Um no, it's, well, it's a normal unicorn mare, Miss Belle, but she is shopping for," she quickly glanced around for prying eyes. Saddle Arabians!" The pony harshly whispered. Saddle Arabia was in the middle of a terrible war, so to hear mention of them this far in Canterlot was unusual to say the least.
"Saddle Arabians, you say?" The tall mare sounded worrisome. However, her grandmother would rise from thegrave if she dared turn anypony away! "*sigh* Very well. Where are they-" She spotted that familiar purple coat out of the corner of her eye. "... Is that her?" She pointed to the unicorn, now trying to make herself as invisible as possible.
"Why, yes! May I introduce you to Bookworm and her fr-"
"Yes, yes, it's a pleasure and all that. Could you... Excuse us a moment? I believe these ponies are..." She glared into Twilight's violet eyes with her own silver ones. "VIP clients. What a pleasant surprise, 'Bookworm'." She smiled down warmly at the disguised mare. If Twilight were in her real form, the unicorn could easily stand shoulder height to her, but as she is now, the mare looked like a giant.
"Um, hi, eh heh." Clearing her throat, she continued. "A pleasure to meet you, Miss...?"
"Goldie Belle, though I'm sure you've heard of me from... friends of the family." She gave Twilight a knowing look. "Would you care to follow me? I'm afraid our store hasn't offered plus sizes in a very long time. At least none that weren't tailor made."
"Of c-course! Would you mind if my friends come along, too?" She gestured to Celestia and the others.
"Not at all, Pr- *ahem* 'Bookworm'. Right this way." She led the troupe back towards the curtains Goldie came from, shutting them tight behind her as soon as everypony passed through. Continuing, they walked up the flight of stairs and into what would normally be a fabrics and design room, but was hastily converted to an impromptu bedroom by the looks of things. "This is safe a place as any, I suppose..." Miss Belle mumbled under her breath. "Care to drop the disguise, Darling?"
"I-I don't know what you're talking ab-"
"Oh please!" The mare scoffed. "I mean 'Saddle Arabia'? Seriously? Of all places, you choose a country currently at war with itself? Luckily it wasn't my twin sister, Silver, who spotted you or else you'd have Equestria Daily here faster than you can say 'Tabloid'! "
The Princess sighed. "That obvious, huh?" Goldie Belle nodded. Giving up the charade, she lit her horn, and as if a balloon were being inflated, her body expanded until a magical POP! Could be heard. Gone was "Bookworm", and Princess Twilight took her place.
"That's better! Now, what can I do for one of our most respected clients today?" The seamstress beamed.
"Me? Oh, uh... A new dress? Maybe? I'm n-not sure entirely." Whatever courageous energy Twilight had when disguised was gone, replaced by that same awkward shyness Celestia saw before. Behind her, both Flash Sentry and Bright Star facehoofed audibly.
"Can't take her out of the castle even once without that awkward social anxiety turning up." One of them mumbled under their breath. Luckily, the princess didn't hear, or pretended not to at the very least.
Come to think of it, Celestia would have to agree with the two. In fact, the entire time she's been alive, the little filly couldn't think of one single newspaper or event where Twilight didn't smile and wave for precisely five minutes without promptly trotting away on "important princess things". Things were beginning to add up in the little unicorn's mind.
"What do you mean 'maybe'? Are you or are you not here for a fitting?" Goldie berated the princess.
"Uh um, I-I mean yes?" She stammered only to have the other mare giggle.
"Oh Twilight! As awkward as Granny Belle told us in her stories." Lighting up her horn, Goldie floated over several tape measures, sample fabrics, and pins. "What dress would you like me to tailor?" She smiled, holding up several different styles and colors of fabrics to the Princess's coat.
Twilight awkwardly shuffled in place. "Um, I'm not sure. Something simple?" Miss Belle simply nodded back, floating away several of the test fabrics.
"If you don't mind my asking," the seamstress floated over a pair of red fashion spectacles, eying a particular number on one of the tape measures. "Why Canterlot Boutique and not your personal seamstresses and dressmakers?"
"I-I well, um, you see..." She stammered.
Facehoofing again, Bright Star interrupted. "She doesn't have any!"
That shocked even Flash Sentry, a Royal Guard who literally patrols and protects the Princess herself,. "None at all?" Star shook her head.
"Woah! Really, Princess?" Celestia asked.
She sighed. "I never really saw the point. I mean, asides from big,cities like Canterlot and Manehattan, nopony wears, well, anything really! It's been like that for at least a few hundred years."
Goldie Belle gasped dramatically. "A Princess, saying dresses are pointless?!"
"I kinda agree with her on this one, Princess." Bright Star adjusted her spectacles. "You have many dignitaries during political meetings that would take great offense to, well I wouldn't call it nudeness, but there's no better word for it."
The princess sighed. "Well, when you put it like that..."
"If it helps Princess, I still think they're dumb!" Celestia spoke up.
"Well, at least I have you on my side, my faithful protegé!" She giggled, picking up the filly for a hug.
Humming away, Goldie Belle finished the last of the trimming and took out the pins holding fabrics in place- her work was finished. "This is truly my most elegant masterpiece! A dress that is simply Divine!" Taking off her glasses, she sat and squee'd at the sight- Princess Twilight Sparkle was dressed in the most elegant purple gown, with pink accented highlights and several glittery layers covering her hind legs.
Looking down, Twilight furrowed her brow. "I asked for simple."
"And simple it is! Simple colors, simple fabrics, Simply Divine! *gasp*, this gives me an idea for a new dress line!" She zoomed over to a nearby worktable and began drawing up sketches.
"Okaaaay, moving on... Celestia, do you like yours?" She looked down at her student.
After the dressmaking began, Miss Belle couldn't help but try and make a pair for Celestia as well, much to her objections. However, looking down at her white and gold dress, the unicorn started to change her mind. "I, uh, like it." She shyly spoke up.
"Alrighty, all done with these designs!" Goldie set down her pen.
"How much do I owe you, Miss Belle?" Twilight motioned to Bright Star, taking out a checkbook.
"Hmmmm..." she pretended to think. "How about.... Free? As much as the temptation to empty the Royal Treasury is, I must decline. This one is a gift."
"A-are you sure?" She simply nodded her head. "Okay, then what about Celestia's? At least let me pay for-" a hoof stopped her.
"A wonderful friend once told me the gift of generosity is reward enough on its own."
Princess Twilight sighed. "Well, I guess it'll do. I just didn't want to get it muddy. I don't think my 'friends' would appreciate if I showed up in a ruined dress..." She smiled sadly.
"Are you paying them a visit, then?" Miss Belle asked, a knowing look coming on her face. Twilight nodded. "Good, I think they'll appreciate that. Muddy dress or no."
After saying goodbye to Goldie Belle, Twilight wrapped their gifts and handed them to Flash while she donned her "Bookworm" disguise again. Continuing the impromptu journey, Twilight proceeded to walk down the dwindling streets of Canterlot and approached their destination: Donut Joe's.
"Finally! Now let's go say hi to all your friends!" Celestia giggled and sprinted through the doors, only to see it completely empty save for the stallion behind the counter- Donut Joe VII.
"Well heya Kiddo! What's got you all jumpy today, huh?" He smiled, polishing a coffee cup.
"Hi Mister Joe! Have you seen anypony else come in? Like some ponies that look like they could be a Princess' friend?"
"Aside from little ol' me, you mean? Nah, been empty all day, Kid!"
Suddenly the doors opened again to reveal the rest of the group trotting in. "Celestia, I told you I'd show you how I made friends, not that they'd be here!" Looking up, Twilight smiled and waved at Donut Joe. "Hi Donut Joe!"
"Well as I live and breathe! A pleasure, your Highness!" He chuckled, bowing. "It's not every day we get a Royal Librarian in through here. How ya been?" He winked.
"Oh, uh fine I guess. 'Bookkeeping' is as hard as it's ever been!" She chuckled. "Is,it alright if I 'get comfortable'?"
Unfortunately, the stallion shook his head. "I'm afraid not, Princess. I might have dead service today, but the streets are packed! Looks like you're gonna have to stay a bit cramped this time..."
"Wait, you mean you already knew she was-" Celestia began.
"Of course, Kid! First time I met 'Bookworm', she downed so much coffee that biologically should have been impossible, so after the bar was empty again and service was slow, I pulled her into the supply closet and asked her to spill the beans. I never lied to ya when I said I was friends with her!" He chuckled. "So, what can I do for ya, Princess?"
Bright Star came up and whispered something, handing the coupon to him from earlier. "Ah, I see. Well, I know just the thing for Bookworm here." Turning on the coffee machine, Joe poured in a bag of beans-extra dark, as well as a special few he kept for insomniacs or very studious princesses. "One Megabean Special!" He slid down a coffee mug, poured the coffee in, then added a few shots of "grown-up juice"- a blend of several herbs, spices, and a hot pepper or two- a class 7 magical hazard according to the health department.
"And a special Happy Birthday Surprise for the filly!" Joe pulled out a small vanilla cupcake topped with sprinkles and a small toy ring with the Donut Joe's franchise logo printed on it.
"Thanks, Donut Joe! I always did like coming here with my dad!" She beamed.
"I thought I recognized ya!" He chuckled. "How's your old man been anyhow? Haven't seen him a whole lot this week."
"I am partially to blame for that." Twilight spoke up, scratching the back of her head awkwardly. "I have been keeping him updated on your studies, Celestia." She smiled down at the filly currently munching away on her birthday cupcake. "He's very proud of you, you know."
"I know, Princess!" She smiled back.
The rest of the conversation at Donut Joe's went by in the blink of an eye, nothing important being said. Twilight casually talked with her friend while the other three played a few games like Tic-Tac-Toe or Uno. It wasn't until the sun started going down did Twilight realize they were going to be late.
I hope we can still make it in time... Shaking her head of such thoughts, the Princess along with the others said their goodbyes. As Celestia was leaving however, she was stopped by Twilight. "So, what did you learn so far?" She smiled.
"Huh? I thought we were just-" suddenly, she realized she was supposed to be paying attention to how Twilight talked to her friends! "Oh no! I'm so sorry Princess, I completely forgot! I was just having so much fun, please don't fail me!" The small filly began tearing up, fear of failure gripping her.
"Oh, Celestia. It's okay, I wasn't grading you!" She giggled, leaning down to embrace the white unicorn. "I just wanted to see what you learned." Twilight smiled, cheering up Celestia.
Thinking back on it, Celestia did learn a few things. Like how patience rewards friendships, such as when Goldie Belle asked her and the Princess to stay still while their dresses were being made, or how having the smallest of conversations can spark the beginnings of friendships to come, like when she was playing card and table games with Flash Sentry and Bright Star. "I learned a lot, Princess. Thank you for my present."
"You're welcome, my faithful student. Now let's get you home before your father starts to worry."
After all that waiting, after all the trials and failures, Celestia was excited to see what was in store; this First Year at Twilight's School for Gifted Unicorns was going to be filled with excitement! When she got home, the young filly was met with a surprise party-one in the making for all this week by Twilight and her father. Her mother was in Cloudsdale helping Luna, but sent a birthday card and best wishes from her sister. It was a night filled with laughter and joy. Celestia, for the first time in a long time, had no need for the plastic smile anymore- she was happy right here, surrounded by her new friends and family.
A mass of ponies were currently gathered in the Great Hall of Canterlot Castle, each bearing the uniform of TGSU's Canterlot High School. Each one of them, tired and strained, had enough of schoolwork. Nine months of the year were spent either here in the Castle or at one of the many dorms that the prestigious school contained for the older, more mature mares and stallions- a fact that drove most of them insane. Suddenly, the mumbling of student impatience was cut short by a pony walking to the podium and clearing their voice.
"Ahem, settle down everypony." Once the room became completely silent, the unicorn began his speech:
"As Dean of Twilight's School for Gifted Unicorns, I cherish the moments I have seen each and every one of you advance your studies, and grow as individuals, as I have since even I was a young foal attending these same lecture halls." He swept his hoof from wall to wall, stopping but for a moment to clear his throat again and continue. "This year was faced with many challenges and trials, but you were determined to push through and strive for greatness, as I'm sure the faculty has seen along with myself. Princess Twilight especially-"
"Kiss-a**!" A random student yelled out, causing a small roar of laughter.
Glaring at the area the voice came from, he continued. "She especially wished to congratulate you smart, mature, individuals with a feast where she would thank each and every one of you individually, but unfortunately was unable to make it due to an emergency summit in Saddle Arabia." A wave of groans followed. "However, the feast will still commence-" behind him hundreds of tables and chairs hovered into the room, landing between the rows of mares and stallions in a neat and orderly section. With a stomp of the hooves behind him, each faculty member's horn lit up and various tableware, food and drinks magically appeared. "That concludes the spring semester. You may all enjoy your week free of tests and studying, and whenever you feel your place among society is lacking, remember this always: All it takes is a spark of talent to ignite the flames of knowledge." Turning his head away, him and the other faculty members exited the hall and began to head to their respective classrooms to begin preparations for the next semester. Knowledge never rests, it seems.
"So, what did ya think of that, Blueblood? Another load of horse manure huh?" A fellow classmate chuckled, leaning back in his chair and stuffing his muzzle full with as much candied yams as possible. Blueblood barely held back his disgust.
"I have nothing to say about that pathetic excuse for a Dean." The alabaster unicorn simply stated, moving a pawn on his current chessboard game against a mock opponent- the board was enchanted to move the opposite side. "Ever since the fool was forced to let in commoners," he spat venom at the word. "This school has seen nothing but rot and decay. That bothersome cousin of mine was the start of it." He moved his pawn against a rook, sacrificing it to give his bishop an opening.
"Nonsense, Bluie!" One of his new groupies huddled closer, the unicorn mare trying to flirt with him.
"She's too dumb to do anything!" Her twin giggled near his opposite shoulder.
"Silence, please. I'm concentrating." He ignored them. They were part of the problem, after all. However, he allowed them in on account of their cute faces and rather elegant curves. Bishop takes knight. Check.
"All it takes to run this school is a little bit of pockets lined for just the right pony and it will be how it was before- how it was meant to be." Queen takes knight, Checkmate. Smiling, the unicorn gave himself a pat on the back.
That is, until the board reset. And the opposing side changed from black to Pink. Suddenly, Blueblood stood up. Before him lie his greatest obstacle, his dragon that must be slain, his opponent in the battle to reclaim the school:
The Pink Haired Jewel of Canterlot High. "Oh please, do continue." Celestia grinned, sitting down across from a now seething Blueblood. "I'm all for improving the health and welfare of TGSU." His groupies now joined in at giving her a glare that would probably kill lesser creatures. She rolled her eyes. "I won't butt in, I'm only here for a chess game. It's much better facing a real opponent, wouldn't you agree?" She smiled radiantly, her teeth sparkling in the afternoon sunlight. Ponies began to gather on her side, wanting to be as close as possible to the most popular pony on campus- the student to the Princess herself, as well as one of the most beautiful mares in the entire school, she was adored by everypony. A fact that Blueblood Despised.
His groupies were about to speak up, when Blueblood silenced them. "Very well, Celestia." With a flick of his horn, the white pieces reset themselves and the game began. "I doubt you can stop it, so it's of no consequense if you know my plans."
"Um, Blueblood-" one of the mares from earlier tried to point something out, but was interrupted.
"Silence, Commoner!" He spat, making the mare and her twin jump a little. "The game has begun, no talking." Pawn to E4.
"I agree." Celestia smiled, looking behind her as well. "This is a discussion between me and Blueblood only. No butting in, okay?" She cocked her head and grinned adorably, her lovely pink hair almost glowing in the sunlight. Knight to F6.
"As I was saying, all this school needs is bits to the right official. It wouldn't be hard, considering my father's vast wealth. That reminds me, doesn't your father work under mine?" Queen to F3. The first major piece moved, a bold statement from Blueblood.
"That he does." She smiled back. "He tries his best every day and has only the highest regards to his employer." Pawn to G5, no risky moves yet. Time is her ally on this. No need to be quick about it. After all, sacrificing smaller pieces was easier than bringing everything out all at once.
"All it would take is one letter, you know." Pawn to H4.
Her mask cracked, if only slightly at that, hovering over her rook on the left before going for the pawn. Pawn to H4. Pawn takes pawn, Queen advances to F5. The game officially began, it seemed...
The stakes ran high. It lasted an entire 3 hours, and many onlookers vanished, too bored to keep with the game. All that was left was Celestia's King and Queen, as well as a pawn. Blueblood had his King and most of his pieces, opting to save the most valuable for defense. "What exactly is your strategy? After you win, I mean." Celestia giggled.
"Everypony has left, Celestia. No more fun and games. Wipe that plastic smile off your face and tell me really how the 'Pink Haired Jewel' thinks." Blueblood seethed, advancing his last pawn, hoping to win back one of the Rooks lost earlier. Celestia honed in on his strategy as if it were a child's move.
"I have no idea what you mean." The mare wouldn't budge that neutral grin, even for family. Her "mask" as she liked to call it, was the only reason she was able to keep ponies like Blueblood in check. Speaking of...
"Queen takes pawn, Check." Grunting in frustration, the stallion looked to the board, trying to find a hole, a gap in Celestia's strategy, anything! How could she be winning? She had only two important pieces left!
"Hmph." Seeing a chance for an escape, Blueblood slid through the cracks in his defense and circled behind a Bishop and Knight. "Stubborn as ever, Tia. My plan involves ridding this school of that buffoon Silver Quill and replacing him with Chancellor Neighsayer from the EEA. At least he understands the difference between common filth and those who deserve their rightful place at the top!" His last Rook advanced. Check.
"Good." Was all Celestia said, shocking her opponent.
"Y-you don't object?" The alabaster stallion was puzzled now. Had he misunderstood his Cousin? Was she really on board with his scheme? King moves back, Queen takes Rook.
"It doesn't matter what I think, remember?" She reminded him of his earlier statement. "I could say I was Queen of Bananas and you would still try to attempt it. I can't stop you, anymore than the Dean can." Her plastic smile became a smidge wider, coming close to looking manic. "However, there's just one thing you forgot to put into your plan-" Her pawn had the final opening, after Blueblood shotgunned his way through his pieces in a desperate attempt to kill what can't be killed. Rook replaces Pawn, Checkmate.
"Taking down the Dean of a prestigious school is one thing, but don't forget who's name it's under." Game won, she bowed then calmly walked away to head to her dorm. Blueblood stood there in unbelievable awe. She had made her move, but it was a fatal one. "We'll see who has the last laugh, Celestia!" He mumbled, tossing the board in a fit of rage.
A few hours later, elsewhere in the Castle...
"Three months!?" Celestia exclaimed.
"Yes, three." Princess Twilight Sparkle said with a stern look. "Three months here, at the castle." Her protege was about to speak up, but was interrupted again. "Your father signed off on it. Your mother too."
"But, b-but I-" A gargantuan stomp of Twilight's hoof echoed in her personal bed chambers, silencing the mare.
"Have I made myself clear?" Twilight spoke in a tone Celestia never heard before- a voice that spoke with authority and a confidence she had never seen from the usually awkward and shy ruler...
It terrified her.
One question had yet to be answered, however. "B-but why?!" The latest issue of Equestria Daily appeared suddenly at her hooves, as if to answer the mare. Looking closer, the picture on the front cover by itself was nothing grandiose like Equestria Daily is known for- it only had a side shot of TGSU's empty entrance hall but nothing of note to be seen. The title of the article however, and more importantly, the author and editor of it was what drove the point home:
EXCLUSIVE! Brilliant Chess Game, or Pretty Pink Power Move? Princess Twilight's Protegé Embarrasses Equestria Daily CEO's Son! Exclusive interview with Blueblood inside!
Author: Solar Blaze, Editor-in-Chief Equestria Daily.
Oh. Celestia now understood. "I-It was just a chess game, I swear! I-"
"I'm not one of your fellow students, Celestia!" The Alicorn all but yelled. Looking away to gather her thoughts, she began to walk to the balcony in her bed chambers, watching the sun set. Flicking her horn, she peppered the changing sky with its first stars, streaking the night sky with her namesake. Her duty done, she sighed, turning back to face her student.
"...Regardless of why the actions were taken, they still have consequences." Lifting the magazine in her magic, the Alicorn turned to the very final few pages, seemingly looking for something. After a few minutes, she hovered a particular page in front of her now demure student. "Read it." She commanded.
Celestia's ears clinging tightly to her head like a puppy in trouble, she gently pulled the article closer, reading the highlighted passage silently.
"Out Loud!" Her mentor emphasized.
Yelping from the raised voice, she shakily began reading the passage. "Dear Readers, thank you for the love and support these great years. I thank my family especially for getting me through these tough times, but I must go away for a while. I will miss you all dearly... Your loving editor for Equestria Daily- Solar Blaze." She read and re-read the small paragraph over and over, trying to see what the Princess was pointing out. "I-I don't understand, what's wrong with getting some time off?" She was on the verge of tears. Celestia did something foolishly wrong, but the mare still couldn't see the full picture. "That's good, isn't i-"
"He was forced to retire, Celestia!" She stamped her amethyst clad hooves again, this time more gentle but still fierce and commanding. Taking a few breaths again, she regained her composure. "Your father no longer works for Equestria Daily. I'm sorry, Celestia."
"W-what? I-i didn't mean..." Tears began to flow, all the defiance from earlier vanishing quickly, like a plug on a drain slowly being pulled open. Lighting her horn, she was ready to teleport like some filly who heard Santa didn't exist for the first time, only to be stopped by a hoof on her shoulder. She looked up to the mare before her, tears constantly streaming down her face and matting her coat. "I'm sorry..."
The older mare sighed. "I know, but you've been behaving erratically lately. Knowledge is a dangerous thing, my faithful student-"
"B-but I-"
"And there is a difference between being smart-" she continued, glaring at the one who rudely interrupted. "And being knowledgeable. A lesson I am afraid has slipped your mind, as of late. Hence why I am Barring you from any more lessons from me about magic."
All argument died from her throat then and there. Celestia messed up in a big way this time. "Yes, ma'am..."
"Your new tutor will arrive soon. Make sure you greet her with the utmost respect, she is a close friend of mine."
The train whistle blew long and loud, a signal to its passengers that their destination had been reached. For many, this was a routine thing in the city of Canterlot- a small price to pay for the march of progress. For visiting ponies however, it was a nuisance that pierced their ears, much like the elderly unicorn mare exiting her cabin. She tried to convince her friend it would be alright to ride Coach, but Princess Twilight wouldn't have it. "Only the best for my friends!" She insisted. Glancing upwards at the suffocating city, the mare was awestruck, much like the many times before when she visited.
When you were younger, you mean... she thought. Shaking her head, the unicorn began to trot towards the palace. Ducking and weaving past the several hundreds of ponies too busy to be wary of an elderly mare, she began to remember why the city was suffocating, rather than serene like her hometown of Ponyville. Sighing, the mare relented. Her magic was now far too weak for simple teleportation, more than likely a cause of her... Accomplishments. Regardless, she pressed on. After all, it wasn't every day a Princess called somepony to Canterlot to help her in teaching!
Princess... The mare chuckled to herself. "Princess wouldn't be how I describe ol' Sparkle Butt!" Not much longer to go, only a few more blocks to the Castle. They should be expecting her already, but in case they hadn't, the unicorn came ready with an official writ of passage into the grounds past visiting hours. By the time she arrived, she would guess it would be pretty barren inside; Twilight had a diplomatic summit she had to attend, along with Spike who represented the Dragon Nation. He still wasn't Dragon Lord- that title belonged to his fiancé Ember, but the purple dragon was appointed as official dignitary a long, Long time ago.
I had to be, what, eighty? Eighty five? she thought. Back when I was younger, when I found out... she stopped, shaking her head. "No more dawdling." She quickened her pace up to the golden gates of Canterlot Castle.
"Halt!" A guard stopped her, he and his companion barring the rest of the way with their spears. "Canterlot Castle is off limits to the public."
The elderly mare cleared her throat. "I was invited by Princess Twilight, she is expecting me."
"Papers?" The other guard spoke up, eying her suspiciously.
Time to play the "dumb granny card".
"Hmm? Oh yes, let me just-" the unicorn dramatically swung her saddlebags around and pulled out a pair of spectacles at a snails pace, just enough to be bothersome. Afterwards, she dug around noisily to give away the saddlebags were little more than a glorified purse.
"Do you... Need help finding them, ma'am?" One of the guards offered gently, trying not to hurt the old mare's feelings.
"Nonsense, young stallion! You've been standing all day in front of these gates, what's another minute or two to indulge an old mare?" She toothily smiled.
After all, you fell right into my trap!
"Let me just-" She opened the otber side this time, the one with the actual notes and resources her old friend suggested she bring. "Ah, here we are!" She beamed, handing over a sealed envelope.
The guard hastily grabbed it, lest the old mare in front of him became confused and put it back, and his jaws dropped at the paper within:
To whom it may concern,
The pony and any/all items she has brought with her are to be given Royal Access to the throne room, private quarters, kitchen, garden, and any/all rooms, halls, chambers, etc. Attached above or beneath Canterlot Castle.
Your Princess, Twilight Sparkle.
No pony aside from the Princess herself had ever been given unimpeded access to the entire Canterlot Castle before! It just simply wasn't done! This old mare, this old coot, had within the span of less than a minute, put the fear of the Gods Above within them.
"Y-you may proceed!" He chuckled nervously, hastily opening the gate wider than what was necessary. After all, any pony given that kind of power could end a career with one word.
"Why thank you, young Colt! I'll make sure to tell the Princess what fine jobs you both are doing!" She giggled, trotting happily into the halls of the Castle.
"It was the beginning of 114 AD when the scholars began to do a analytical study on the naming for the now-called Twilight's School for Gifted Unicorns. Many believed the previous word choice- Twilight's Gifted School(for unicorns)- was more than likely influenced by the..." Celestia looked to Twilight. Her idea of waiting for somepony was vastly different than a normal pony's, and as such, subjected the unicorn mare to this academic torture instead. However fitting it may be due to her being grounded at the Castle, it still sucked! Twilight drew up her eyebrow and had a stern look about her face, enough to tell her to continue reading the rough draft of the small essay aloud.
"*ahem* Was more than likely influenced by the alienation of non-pony species of the time. Most towns, like Ponyville, had developed a racism to many creatures during that time, but Canterlot was different; Due to their elitist attitude, the ponies(especially the richer beurocrats) had taken it to an extreme: non-unicorns were becoming increasingly banned in what is now called the 'era of isolation'. It wasn't until Trixie the Great and Powerful petitioned Princess Twilight to change the word placement of the prestigious school had we started to see change. To this day, echoes of the former elitism could be seen in the commonly used acronym TGSU, despite the words being switched now in close to almost two decades." She sighed. "Is this good enough."
Twilight read and then re-read the article her student wrote. "Hmm. Well, you're certainly your father's daughter!" She smiled, earning an even bigger one from Celestia.
"C-" the pink haired mare's grin instantly vanished. "The essay was long and we'll thought out, but I wanted you to write an editorial for your fellow peers to be put in the school paper following Winter Break."
"B-but I-" Suddenly they were both interrupted by a hard knock at the chamber doors.
"Come i-" a magical blast knocked the doors completely off its hinges. Thankfully Celestia thought to put up a barrier in time to prevent any harm to her or her mentor.
*Click!*
The dust and debris cleared to reveal a small elderly unicorn mare hovering a stopwatch in her magic. ".027 second reaction. Nice! Though if it were me-" she blew a stray purple and teal streak of mane out of her face. "I would have gone for Stoneworth's Matrer Displacement. Much better for conserving energy!"
"Stay away from my teacher!" Celestia screeched out, sending a bolt of golden magic at the mare's hooves. A warning shot.
The mare didn't blink. She merely raised her eyebrow and put on a deadpan expression.
"Ah excellent!" Twilight spoke up, breaking the silence. "Your tutor is here!"
"My what now?" Celestia asked.
"Her what now?" The old mare mimicked.
"Celestia, I'd like for you to meet the tutor you'll be learning magic from. Let me introduce you to-"
"Name's Starlight Glimmer." The mare interrupted. "And you-" she pecked Twilight's barrel with her hoof. "Said three weeks."
