Memoirs

Chapters

A Chance Meeting
A Chance Meeting, Part II
Golden Crescent, Diary Of

A Chance Meeting

"Sorry, Pinkie." Twilight began. "You know I'd love to, but Princess Celestia called me to Canterlot."

"Aw, come on, Twilight!" Pinkie Pie pleaded as she climbed up onto the counter. "This is Mr. and Mrs. Cake's ten year anniversary! They're my bosses and my second family, they deserve only the best!"

"I know, Pinkie, and you know I'd love to be there to celebrate, but my duties as a princess have to come first." Twilight explained as Pinkie's hair drooped and she turned her eyes downward. "Cheer up, Pinkie. I might make it back in time before the party starts."

"I hope so..." Pinkie sighed. "Why'd Princess Celestia call you up, anyway?"

"She's meeting with the Changeling emissaries, tomorrow, and she wants me to be there. She says it'd be a great learning experience when dealing with other nations, let alone other species." Twilight said.

"But that sounds sooooooooo boring!" Pinkie groaned.

Twilight Sparkle gave a little chuckle and a shake of her head at her friend as she used her magic to fluff up the pink pony's hair once more. "Usually these things are very boring, but we haven't heard anything about Changelings since the wedding, a few years back. The fact that they're willing to talk diplomacy after what happened says a lot about them."

"Yeah, show's that they're not a bunch of mean ol' bug butts." Pinkie Pie said with a slight glare.

"But, more importantly, it shows that they trust us enough to come out of hiding." Twilight noted. "If I were in their horseshoes, after what happened, I'd expect Equestria to hunt us down until they found us, then who knows what would happen."

"Why would we hunt down a bunch of scary bug ponies?" Pinkie Pie inquired, quizzically.

"Because they impersonated, imprisoned, and attacked royalty, for one." Twilight stated as-a-matter-of-factually. "But that doesn't matter. Sorry, Pinkie, but I need to get going if I'm going to be well rested for the meeting, tomorrow."

"I understand..." Pinkie sighed with a half-hearted little wave of her hoof. "Don't let the bug ponies bite!"

"It's so good to see you, again, Twilight Sparkle." Princess Celestia said as she bent her head down to nuzzle the young alicorn.

"I missed you, too, Princess." Twilight replied into the nuzzle. "Sorry I'm so late; the weather ponies forgot to mention they were brewing a storm between Ponyville and Canterlot."

"That's quite alright." Princess Celestia chuckled as she lifted her head. "Although, truth be told, I'm rather glad you arrived late. There was a slight... Miscommunication with the Changelings, earlier. Nothing to be worried about, the matter is resolved and everypony is fine."

"They're already here?" Twilight asked.

"Indeed, and they made quite a mess of the guest chambers." Celestia explained with a little chuckle as she began slowly off down the hallway with Twilight in tow. "But I'm not one to judge, especially now."

"Who all is going to be there?" Twilight asked as she sped up slightly to pace the princess by her side.

"You, Luna, and myself, of course." Celestia explained as she nodded respectfully at a pair of guard who stepped aside to salute as the pair slowly made their way down the castle hallway. "Your brother, Captain of my guard, Nighteye, Captain of Luna's Guard, Queen Chrysalis herself, her two bodyguards-"

"Bodyguards?" Twilight interrupted.

"Do you honestly expect her to have this meeting with open hooves?" Celestia mused as they turned a corner. "No, she still dislikes me, and I don't blame her, but I do not expect her to trust when I say she has nothing to fear while she's here. In fact, I doubt she's comfortable even sleeping in this castle."

Twilight opened her mouth to say something, but quickly closed it with an understanding nod of her head.

Princess Celestia cleared her throat, quietly, before she continued. "The Gryphon ambassador, Stormfeather, will be there, as well as Princess Cadance and her Captain of the Guard; I don't think I've met him, yet."

"Why doesn't Stormfeather have a bodyguard?" Twilight asked.

"The Gryphons you've seen are only commoners, if you'll excuse the term." Princess Celestia answered. "Gryphons of their army and those that serve the King, directly, are of a much larger and more fearsome breed, although I've heard that, when drunk, they're just jolly fluffy birds."

Princess Celestia gave a playful wink down at her student, who in turn gave a humorous snort that dissolved into soft giggles before the pair halted just before a corner.

"At the end of this hall is your old room. I figured you'd prefer it but the guest chambers, as you know, are right across the hall." Princess Celestia explained. "I'd understand if you wanted to sleep somewhere else, tonight."

Twilight gave a little shiver at the information before carefully peering around the corner to catch a glimpse of the side of a black figured in sickly green armor, who turned its head to face Twilight while giving a menacing glare from behind its hazy blue nictitating membrane.

"Don't worry, Twilight. They won't hurt you." Princess Celestia explained. "They're under strict orders from their queen, and she knows what could happen if a fight is started."

"I-I don't want to be rude..." Twilight began. "Would it seem unprofessional if I slept somewhere else?"

"I wouldn't hold it against you, and I doubt that Chrysalis, let alone her guard, know that your old room is in the same hallway." Princess Celestia chuckled. "Come, I've prepared 'the library canopy' in case you changed your mind."

"Oh my gosh..." Twilight groaned as she pressed her face into her hoof. "I thought you'd forget about that!"

Princess Celestia gave a hearty laugh as they continued down the hall and towards the Royal Archives. "How could I forget about 'the library canopy'? You had an entire book fort in there! Of course, when I remade it, I didn't use books, but it's still in the same place."

"I don't even remember how I got up there, as a filly." Twilight said with a little smile. "There's no way I could have unlocked the door to the second floor, and I don't think my magic was strong enough to teleport, then."

"You and I remember filly Twilight so very differently." Princess Celestia joked as she nodded to a guard beside the tall red-wood doors, who nodded in turn and pushed them open.

Twilight stepped into the room before Celestia and held her chest out as she inhaled deeply. "I'll always remember this smell, though. The smell of ancient knowledge and books from as far back as Hearth Warming Eve times."

Princess Celestia gave a little 'hmm' sound in acknowledgement before clearing her throat. "Try to get some rest. I know how you love to read before bed, but you have a big day, tomorrow, and I need you well rested, as well as presentable."

"I will, Princess." Twilight promised as she began to make her way towards the stairs to the second floor. "Good night."

"Good night, my faithful student." Princess Celestia replied, before stopping her hooves and turning her head. "And Twilight? Never grow up."

Twilight smiled warmly at Princess Celestia, who did so in kind, before shutting the library door behind her.

The young purple alicorn took another deep breath to bring in the familiar scents before using the moonlight that shone through the giant glass windows to ascend the stairs, where she found a comfortable looking bed underneath a tattered old cloth, which in turn sat below one of the many windows.

Twilight wasted no time in snuggling under the covers; murring softly at the memories that came flooding back into her mind as she looked out the window into the Equestrian countryside as it bathed in soft moonlight.

Twilight Sparkle's life had changed so drastically since those years. New places and friends, new adventures and lessons, but at its core, things stayed the same.

And, as she turned her head to scan the shelves for an interesting book, Twilight hoped that they'd always stay the same.

"Golden Crescent, Diary of." Twilight Sparkle said, to herself, as she used her magic to pull the book from its spot on the shelf and lazily drag it onto her chest. "I wonder what they did to earn a spot in the Royal Archives."

A Chance Meeting, Part II

"Princess Twilight?" a Guard asked as he knocked, once more, on the door to the second floor of the library. "Princess Twilight, it's time to get up."

The tumbling of hooves told the guard that the young alicorn had heard him, and his theory was proven correct as the hooves came closer as they descended the stairs.

"Oh, uh, hi. Sorry." Twilight apologized with a sheepish smile as she quickly straightened her mane and did her best to widen her eyes as to appear more awake. "Is the meeting starting, already?"

"No, Princess. The meeting isn't for another three hours." the guard explained. "However, breakfast will be served within the next few minutes in the dining hall."

"Oh, right." Twilight said, to herself, as her stomach gave a little growl. "Breakfast."

Twilight rubbed her eyes roughly before taking a deep breath and putting a smile on her face as she turned the corner into the dining hall to see Princess Celestia and Princess Luna eating quietly across the table from each other. Normally, it would be Celestia's breakfast but Luna's dinner, but Princess Luna was needed, later in the day. Unlike Twilight, however, she was much better at hiding her lack of sleep.

"Twilight," Princess Celestia began, with a small sigh. "Did you stay up all night reading?"

"No." Twilight lied as she climbed into the chair with nervous and heavy eyes. "I-I mean, I stayed up reading, but I still slept. A bit."

Princess Luna gave an amused hum as she chewed her food, while Princess Celestia offered a knowing, if not disappointed, smile at Twilight. "Will you be able to be a part of the meeting effectively, later today?"

Twilight gave a little nod to Celestia as her eyes wandered down to the plate in front of her. At least four stacks of hot pancakes drizzled in delicious maple syrup sat on her plate, with several blueberries surrounding a single strawberry sitting neatly on top cause Twilight to hungrily lick her lips before she looked around for some sort of utensil with which to eat her meal.

"Lulu." Princess Celestia interrupted, catching Twilight's attention, as well. "Ten bits says I can eat these pancakes faster than you or Twilight."

Princess Luna gave a determined look towards her sister before she, as well as Celestia, slammed their snouts into the pancakes and began to sloppily devour them

Twilight shook her head clear and opened her eyes wider before she realized that what she was seeing was not, in fact, a sleep-deprived hallucination, and quickly buried her snout into her own stack of pancakes as the guards that flanked the doors remained as stoic as ever.

"I win!" Princess Luna shouted as she slammed her hooves on the table in triumph; syrup and whip cream smeared on her snout, which caused Princess Celestia and Twilight to burst out in laughter. True to her claim, Princess Luna had beaten her sister and Twilight, the former of which had nearly matched her while the latter had barely finished half.

The three ponies shared a friendly laugh as they looked upon each others' snouts, smeared with syrup or whip cream, or even both, before eyes flicked to the side and heads turned to reveal Queen Chrysalis and her bodyguards giving concerned looks at the trio at the table.

Princess Celestia and Luna's demeanor instantly changed from that of playful carelessness to respected seriousness as the two princesses cleaned their snouts with napkins and cleared their throat. But, if she looked closely enough, Twilight could still see the two ponies holding back laughter as the purple pony cleaned her own snout.

"I trust this is not an every day occurrence?" Queen Chrysalis asked, flatly, as she circled the table with her guard to take a seat opposite of Twilight, at whom she gave a glare in greeting.

"Good morning, Queen Chrysalis." Princess Celestia greeted. "I trust that you slept well, and found your way to the dining hall pleasant?"

"The bed was far too fluffy for my likes, so I slept on the floor." Queen Chrysalis began, coldly. "And we would not be late if your guards would have woken me."

"I apologize that the room was not to your liking, and that the guard did not wake you." Princess Celestia continued, unfazed. "Perhaps if your own did not appear so menacing, you would have been woken in a timely matter."

The Changeling queen did not respond to Celestia, instead quizzically poking at the pancakes with a hoof before wrinkling her nose in disgust and motioning to her guard, who rummaged through its saddlebag before producing a large glass bottle that contained a swirling pink cloud.

Queen Chrysalis gave a short nod to her Changelings, who produced two more smaller bottles for themselves before pulling out the corks as their queen did the same; holding her lips close to the opening of the bottle and inhaling the thick pink cloud as it rose.

The three princesses watched in utter fascination as her guard followed suit, until the bottles were empty and Queen Chrysalis was left flicking her glare between the three ponies. "Yes?"

Princess Celestia and Luna turned their heads from the scene and continued to eat their breakfast in silence, respectfully, while Twilight continued to stare in bewilderment.

"If you have questions, ask them." Queen Chrysalis ordered, flatly.

"S-Sorry." Twilight stuttered, shying away from the Queen's angry gaze as she looked towards Princess Celestia for guidance, who gave her a reassuring smile and a nod.

Twilight took a small breath before turning her head back to the Changeling and clearing her throat. "W-What was in those bottles?"

"Love." Queen Chrysalis explained, unamusedly. "Or, rather, what becomes of love that Changelings store after taking it from their prey."

"W-What do you mean?" Twilight pressed.

"I mean," Queen Chrysalis sighed with a roll of her eyes. "That Changelings do not eat like you ponies. We siphon love through our magic and store it in our bodies, then we return to the hive and I dispense it to special Changelings who, in turn, spread it around our home to be consumed, like birds feeding their young."

"O-Oh..." Twilight stuttered. "I-I meant no offense..."

Queen Chrysalis gave no response other than a roll of her eyes as she chittered quietly to her guard, who quietly chittered back; flicking their tongues against their fangs and vibrating their throats as they idly talked amongst themselves.

"Mares and Stallions, Gryphons and Changelings, I'd like to personally welcome you all to Canterlot, and thank you for having the patience to attend this very important meeting." Princess Celestia began, her voice smooth and silky as a dull looking mare with her mane in a bun used her magic to rapidly click away at the keys on the typewriter that sat at the end of the table. "As you all know, I am Princess Celestia, and I rule jointly over Equestria with my sister, Princess Luna. I bring the sun for the world to wake."

"I am Princess Luna." Princess Luna stated, for the record, as she bowed her head, respectfully. "I handle Equestria's affairs during the night, while my sister, the day. I raise the moon for the world to rest."

Princess Celestia gave the purple unicorn beside her a subtle nudge after Princess Luna finished. "U-Uh, m-my name is Twilight Sparkle, and I am studying the magic of friendship under Princess Celestia."

Queen Chrysalis snorted softly at Twilight's announcement, before she cleared her throat to speak.

"I am Chrysalis, Queen of the Changelings." Queen Chrysalis said, simply.

The room was silent for a moment as the large brown-feathered Gryphon waited for more to be said from the Changeling, before shrugging and clearing his throat. "I am Stormfeather the Wise, of King Feathermoon's court in the Gryphon Empire. On behalf of the king, I am in attendance at Princess Celestia's request."

"I am Princess Mi Amore Cadenza of the Crystal Empire, heir to the Crystal Throne after King Sombra's defeat." Princess Cadance stated.

"I am Captain Carnelian of the Crystal Guard." the red, shimmering Crystal Pony explained. "I protect the Princess and serve the Empire."

"I am Captain Shining Armor of the Royal Canterlot Guard." Shining Armor began; the early morning sunlight that shone through the surrounding windows doing nothing to compliment his purple and golden armor. "I command the Royal Guard in Princess Celestia's name."

"I am Commander Nighteye, of the Lunar Guard." the grey-furred batpony mare spoke. "I command the Lunar Guard and the Equestrian armies in Princess Luna's name."

For a moment, all was silent in the sunlit room, save for the rapid tick-tacking of the typewriter keys as they smacked into the device, before they, too, fell silent as the unicorn mare flicked her eyes towards the Changeling guards that flanked their queen; clearing her throat loudly in annoyance.

"They don't speak Equestrian." Queen Chrysalis replied, darkly, with a glare at the old unicorn mare, who unamusedly flicked her gaze towards Princess Celestia for guidance.

"Queen Chrysalis, forgive me, but I specifically told you to bring guard that could speak Equestrian, for the records." Princess Celestia explained, politely. "If they cannot understand what is being said in this room, they will have to wait outside."

Queen Chrysalis did not move, save for her eyes to hold their glare, before she turned her head slightly down towards one of her guard with a slight nod.

The armored changeling cleared its throat before parting its lips as it spoke with a raspy, scratchy voice. "I am Er'Atz of the Changeling... Guard. I serve the Queen until my dying breath."

The unicorn mare began typing once more as the other Changeling began to speak. "I am Or'Val of the Changeling 'Guard'. I serve the Queen until my dying breath."

Princess Celestia nodded her head, once, respectfully to everyone in the room before she spoke, again. "As I have said, before, welcome to Canterlot. Stormfeather, I'm sure you're wondering why this meeting is taking place in the first place. You see, three weeks ago, a changeling came to my court disguised up until its meeting with me, at which point it revealed it was a courier, rather than an assassin as my guard had believed. It told me that its Queen wished to enter parley with the Equestrian nation, to which I agreed."

"As you can see, this is the culmination of that message." Princess Celestia continued. "We are here to discuss the terms in which the Changelings will cease all deceptive activities within Equestrian borders, and the terms in which the Equestrian nation will offer its help to the Changelings."

"But, first," Princess Luna continued for her sister. "We must know more about your kind in order to know what can be offered from our side. Lets start with the wedding of Princess Cadance and Shining Armor."

Queen Chrysalis remained silent as she studied the faces of Cadance and Shining Armor, whose snouts remained stoic and neutral to an untrained eye, but to Chrysalis's keen eyes they revealed themselves to be nearly seething with anger. "What would you like to know?"

"Perhaps you should begin with why you came to Canterlot at the time." Princess Cadance said, her voice suggested, calmly.

"We came to Canterlot because it would be the biggest outlet of love I had ever seen." Queen Chrysalis explained. "Love between you two, from parents to children, brother to sister, and from stranger to celebrity. That much love could have fed the hive for eons. We just needed to be there to harvest it."

"So you came for food." Princess Cadance stated.

"I do believe that's what I said, yes."Queen Chrysalis smiled.

"But then why impersonate me? Why not just be a part of the crowd?" Princess Cadance asked.

"Siphoning love out of magic requires one to be in close proximity." Queen Chrysalis explained. "My changelings were in the crowd and among the Guard, but their love is petty compared to that which oozed out of Shining Armors' magic, dear Cadance. I couldn't just take his love from the sidelines, I had to be right there next to him to siphon it out. Plus, why would I have stopped there? He loves you so much, that faucet alone could keep me alone going for a few years."

Shining Armor shifted slightly under his armor in anger, just enough to alert Queen Chrysalis, who gave a toothy grin in acknowledgement. "Not the answer you were hoping for? What, did you want to try and take pity on me? Play me out as the mother to several thousand starving children, just trying to feed them all?" Queen Chrysalis laughed.

"But you were starving." Princess Celestia interrupted, carefully. "When you imprisoned me in that cocoon, I started to change. That was its purpose, right? To turn me into a Changeling? For a time, I could hear the voices of hundreds of starving mouths, crying for food as close as Canterlot and to somewhere far beyond. It's a hivemind."

Queen Chrysalis's laughter faded away to be overtaken by the familiar glare as Princess Celestia continued. "You're a mother to them all, and you love each one dearly, but you couldn't bear to see any more of them starve to death."

Queen Chrysalis remained quiet as her glare carefully burned through Princess Celestia's fur.

"Queen Chrysalis," Princess Celestia began to break the silence. "We understand your desire for privacy. Whether it be true or a clever ruse, you've come to us because you feel as though your kind will not survive. Your children are starving. You are starving. Despite our past interactions and what tall tales have been spun and spread, we are all here in this room because we want to help. But we cannot help you if you do not want it."

"Celestia is right. The future of your children is dependent on what happens in this room, over the next few days. I know how hard it can be to swallow your pride, but if you continue being snarky and 'shutting down' when we hit at soft spots or show that we know more about your kind than you thought, these peace talks will only lead to your children starving."

The room fell silent as the tacking of keys subsided, before a gentle snore was heard from the nose of a certain purple alicorn. All eyes fell on Twilight as she snored softly in her sleep; Shining Armor holding his pose as Cadance held back a little groan and Princess Celestia let out a small sigh as she nudged her student awake.

"Mmn... W- I mean yes, I completely agree." Twilight stuttered as she awoke. "Why is everypony staring at me?"

"I'm so sorry, Princess Celestia!" Twilight whined as she thumped her head against the wall of the hallway.

"Calm down, Twilight." Princess Celestia cooed as she lay a hoof across her student's back to comfort her. "I actually thought that was quite well timed. It gives Chrysalis time to decide if she wants to continue these talks or not. Did you sleep at all, last night?"

"N-No..." Twilight admitted. "I tried to, but I found this really good book..."

Princess Celestia chuckled softly and sighed with a smile. "You need to learn when it's time to read, and when it's time to sleep, dear Twilight."

Twilight Sparkle didn't respond right away. She had stopped thumping her head against the wall for a moment, instead pressing her horn against the cool marble surface as her mind rolled around before she pulled her head away from the wall and opened her mouth. "Princess, do you think Chrysalis really wants our help?"

"Deep down, she does." Princess Celestia explained. "But she has too much pride and anger. She believes that she is all powerful and all knowing. The fact that she was willing to enter parlay in the first place, however, shows that she realizes how dire her situation is. But she doesn't know anything other than that pride."

"Why do you think she's angry?"

"I do not know." Princess Celestia said, her voice trailing off, slightly, as her eyes focused on something out of time. "But I can hear it with every word, hidden behind snide and sarcasm."

The two ponies stood in silence for a moment before Princess Celestia turned her head down towards Twilight's. "You should use this time to take a nap. If you're not too hungry, you can sleep through lunch, as well, but it is important that you be awake to hear all that is said during this meeting, Twilight." Princess Celestia explained, sternly yet motherly at the same time.

Twilight nodded her head, ashamed, before trotting determinedly off to the library and, in turn, her bed.

Author's Note

Small edit towards the end of the chapter, didn't like the way I ended it.

Golden Crescent, Diary Of

Twilight Sparkle lazily blinked as she stared out of the window next to her temporary bed in the Royal Archives. She was tired, yes, and she knew that she had to be awake for the meeting, but it was more than the squeaky wheels of the librarian's cart as she made her rounds through the bookshelves that kept Twilight awake.

Her mind was swarming with thoughts and theories, questions and qualms. Did Queen Chrysalis really come to Canterlot for help? Was she just here to make trouble? Perhaps she was only here as a distraction, or to get a better layout of Canterlot for an attack?

Twilight sighed to herself and shook her head clear of such a silly notion. Princess Celestia had always taught her to try and give ponies, no matter what they had done, the benefit of the doubt. "Hate cannot drive out hate, Twilight. Only love can do that." she'd always say.

Still, she felt uneasy around Queen Chrysalis, and she doubted that would ever change. Princess Celestia was right: Chrysalis had too much pride and hate in her, and it dripped from her tongue with every word. Twilight just couldn't shake that there was much more behind that than what Princess Celestia would tell her.

A short series of knocks sounded from the door leading up to the second floor, rousing Twilight from her thoughts and bed. "Princess? I need to make my rounds, upstairs, if you don't mind." the librarian called.

"Of, course, sorry!" Twilight replied as she tried to tidy up her bed as much as she could before the elderly, light-brown unicorn mare with a short white mane reached the top of the stairs.

"It's quite alright, Princess." the librarian explained with a smile. "I just wanted to make sure you were decent before I came barging up into your 'room'. At least you aren't making forts out of books, anymore."

Twilight gave an awkward laugh as the librarian pulled an empty cart from a side room before slowly wheeling it along the bookshelves; her old yet keen eyes scanning for any missing or misplaced books. "I remember when you used to come up here, years ago. I'd find you with a big book on the floor in front of you, and a dictionary and thesaurus. Every time you came across a word or event you didn't know, you had your snout pressed into the other book as fast as you could so you could figure it out." the librarian remembered with a chuckle.

"Oh my gosh." Twilight smiled in embarrassment as she turned her head away. "I must have ruined so many books because I couldn't get them up onto the tables."

"Oh, you dented quite a few, but nothing that these eyes and hooves couldn't fix." the librarian reassured. "What book are you reading, this time?"

Twilight Sparkle gave a short little chuckle as she levitated the book in her magic; bringing it close to her face to study the cover. "The Diary of Golden Crescent." Twilight explained.

"Oh, that's a good one." the librarian explained with eyebrows raised; impressed. "She used to be one of Celestia's students, just like you, a few hundred years ago."

"What did she do to earn a place in the Royal Archives?" Twilight asked as she began pacing the librarian as she made her rounds. "I mean, Princess Celestia must have had hundreds of students ever since she started taking them, but there's only ten or eleven books from her students."

"Well, most of them either retired to a quiet life style after their time with the princess, were banished for straying into illegal magics, or passed away due to magical mishaps or wars at the time. Equestria wasn't always this peaceful, you know." the librarian explained, before she paused to pull a book from the shelf and carefully place it on the cart. "As for what Golden Crescent did to earn her book a spot, here... Why would I ruin a perfectly good story, especially for you?"

Twilight Sparkle gave a defeated shrug at the librarian's answer. "It's just that I really want to read it, but I'm so busy right now, what with the meeting between nations."

"The changeling Queen, right? That mean looking bug pony?" the librarian asked.

"Yeah. Her name is Queen Chrysalis." Twilight explained, before her mind began to trail off. "How many of the books in this library have you read?"

"I started managing the Royal Archives when I was about twenty-two." the librarian replied. "I'm seventy-two, now. Technically, I've read roughly... eight hundred and twenty nine? Twenty eight? But the librarians before me have always written summaries on the books that they've read, so I've just read those for the books I wasn't interested in. Why do you ask?"

"It's just... Queen Chrysalis. She puts herself out as one way, but Princess Celestia says that, deep down, she's another way." Twilight explained. "I'm just trying to figure out what's really going on inside of her head. What she wants, what she's willing to give, why she's so hostile, you know?"

The librarian gave a knowing little smile as Twilight explained her plight. "So you came to me because you think I'm good at figuring out characters."

"Yes?" Twilight answered, with a sheepish little smile, hoping that it was not rude of her to have assumed such.

"I'll need to know more about this Queen Chrysalis, and I won't get the transcripts from the meeting until the meeting itself is long since passed and the text is cleaned up and ready to be published." the librarian explained.

"Well, she's the Queen of an entire nation, so you can guess how much stress that she's under. Princess Celestia says that changeling share a hivemind, so that could add a lot more stress, but she always talks fondly of her 'children', the changelings. She says children like she gave birth to each and every one, herself, so perhaps changelings lay eggs?" Twilight explained. "I don't know. But every time she talks, you can hear anger and pride with every word. It's like those are the only emotions she feels."

The librarian did not say a word as the wheels on her cart squeaked softly while they turned, before they stopped completely. "Please keep in mind that I'm not a psychologist. Reading characters in books and reading ponies in real life are two very different things. Characters in books are predictable because you can go back and read to see how they got to this point. But memories can be obscured, and not everyone has experienced those memories."

"What do you mean?"

"This Queen Chrysalis has had something very big and very bad happen to her. From what you've told me, she loves all of her kind very much. I'm sure, in the right circumstances, she'd be willing to give her life for her children. Everything that she does is meant to protect them. That's the pride. But I don't know why she'd be so hostile, especially since our first contact with the changelings started with an attack by them." the librarian mused. "She's angry, yes, but she's angry at somepony in that meeting room. I can't imagine at whom, or why, however. If there's anything in this library on changelings, I haven't found it. There's no history or record on them."

"What about the Canterlot Vaults?" Twilight asked. "Aren't there hundreds of ancient books and scrolls down there?"

"Yes, but the librarians of the Royal Archives have always made copies for public use of what's down there, save for the books on necromancy and other such things. The books down there are just the originals." the librarian explained. "Believe me when I say that I sincerely doubt there is a single book, scroll, or loose page in regards to anything about changeling history."

Twilight sighed softly in defeat as she slowed her pace. "Well, thank you for your help. Do you know what time it is?"

"One o'clock; you have an hour before lunch." the librarian replied, offering an apologetic smile, before leaving Twilight behind with the fading sound of slightly squeaky wheels.

"An hour before lunch." Twilight mused, to herself, as she settled onto her bed. The afternoon sun shone through the window in the Royal Archives, keeping sleep from the purple pony, who instead decided to roll over with her back to the window as she levitated the book up onto the blankets. "Golden Crescent, Diary of."

Twilight Sparkle closed out the world beyond the book as it began to swallow her whole, once more. The squeaky wheels faded away as Twilight's imagination conjured the voice of a soft spoken mare to read the words from the pages before her.

Twilight made a mental note to come back to those five pages at another time, silently cursing herself for being on a schedule as she quickly turned five pages ahead.

Twilight Sparkle moved to turn another page before she realized that a series of loud, slow knocks were sounding from the door leading up to the second floor of the library. "Princess Twilight? Lunch is being served."

"Horse apples!" Twilight whispered harshly, under her breath, at herself as she hurriedly closed the book and cleared her throat "Be right there!"

Dear Diary,

I did it! I actually got into Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns! Wow, what a mouthful! I'm already packed, but I don't leave for Canterlot until next week. I'm so excited, I don't know how in the world my mother expects me to sleep; my hooves are shaking as I write this! Luckily I'm holding the quill with my magic, so writing isn't a problem! I can't even think right, my mind is racing around in excitement! ME, just a seventeen year-old unicorn nopony, got into Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns! Wait until that dumb bully Ironside hears this! Goodbye, Tall Tale, hello Canterlot!

Tried sleeping, couldn't. No surprise, there. I wonder what Canterlot is like? I've heard ponies tell stories about it from when they went on vacation. They say it's going to be the biggest city in Equestria when it's done being built. Some say it's the biggest city, already, even though it's not done. Bright Eyes got a telescope for Hearth's Warming Eve a year ago, and he let us see the castle all the way from Tall Tales! It's not much, so far. Just a few towers and three or four bigger sections. I hear that the surrounding streets have sprung up with a few houses, but mostly it's shops. Looks like Canterlot might be more of a trading hub than a capital.

I wonder what the school is like. I've heard that most of the students that do graduate end up taking a government role. Head Mage/Wizard to the Throne, Disciple to the Head Mage/Wizard, Minister of Magics, or any of the 'slots' within the Ministry of Magic. I wonder if they get to choose? I'd rather not spend the rest of my life investigating foul use of magic with the Ministry... But still, even if we do get to choose, what do I want to do? I use to think I wanted to join the Equestrian Army, but my mother would kill me before the Dragons do. I don't know... I still have a few years to think about it - four, to be specific.

Dear Diary,

Might have made a bad move at school, today. Rubbed it in Ironside's face that I got accepted into Princess Celestia's school, but all he did was grin and laugh. Turns out that just means, for the next week, he wants to bully me twice as hard as a 'going away present'. Dear Celestia, what did I do to deserve this brat? I took a walk in the woods, after school to calm down. Made sure Ironside thought I went home. I've been careful about that ever since he and his jerk friends pelted me with stones from the bushes one day on a walk. I come to the woods to relax, damnit...

Anyway, calmed myself down and listened to the wonderful sounds of nature. It's almost Autumn, and the leaves are starting to brown. A squirrel bounced up to me, so that was nice. Just the little things, but it still made me feel good. Only six more days...

Dear Diary,

There's so much to write about, I may have to take up tomorrow and the day after's pages! The sky chariot flew in right on time, and I hugged and kissed my mom for as long as I could before the guards said they were on a schedule. Two more kids to pick up before noon, and I was only the third one! I tossed my bag in the space under the chariot with the others and could barely stop shaking as the guards flew off with us! It was terrifying, it was exciting! We were flying just below the clouds. A few more feet and I swear I could have reached up and touched them! But the guards told us to stay seated and hold onto the rails until we landed. Didn't want to break the news to Princess Celestia that one of the students she accepted wouldn't be making attendance on account of being dead.

On the ride to Yanhoover I met Starlight Sprinkles, a light blue-coated mare. She seemed really excited, too, but also really confident. She said she came from Las Pegasus, and that her mother and father were actors! I'm glad Starlight isn't like a lot of the snobby rich ponies I've heard about. I really hope Canterlot isn't like that, either.

I also met a gray-coated stallion named Musical Glory. He had this cute little blue bowtie, but he was so shy and nervous that all I got out of him was his name. He seems nice, and he's kind of cute.

We picked up Velvet Magic in Yanhoover. I already don't like her. She's this white-coated mare with a black mane. Her parents escorted her out of the house when the chariot landed, and they took one look at us and snorted in disgust. She still got on the chariot, but she sat as far to the edge as she could so that she could be the first one off when we landed, if only to get away from us, faster. She's one of those rich pony types I was talking about...

But I guess Salty Shores made up for it. We picked him up in Manehatten before we made a beeline for Canterlot. He's an eccentric stallion with a dark blue coat and a reddish-gray mane. Just looking t his mane makes me tilt my head, no offense to him. It just looks like one of those colors that shouldn't exist, but you don't feel good or bad towards. Anyway, he comes from a family of fisher, yech. But, apparently the Gryphons up north pay good money for Equestrian fish. I guess they don't get many fish up north, or they have trouble holding fishing poles with those talons. Salty Shores is really friendly, too, and he likes to sing. He sang us a fisher tune his father taught him, but it was pretty raunchy, but still funny. I don't remember all of it, but it went something like "the Captain said/fear not me lads/you all can come with me/I live just 'round the corner/and you all can stay for free/but when the Captain's wife awoke/upon the break of day/they say that you could hear her wailin'/clear to Horseshoe Bay!

That's all I can really remember, but it had us laughing in tears by the time he had finished. Velvet Magic was the first one off when we landed, but the guards made her stay close to us so she wouldn't get lost as we were led onto the castle grounds and into the school.

The castle grounds alone were amazing! I saw pegasi construction teams flying around overhead as they worked on the rest of the castle, I saw earth pony gardeners planting all over the place and setting up statues; there was even this one beautiful statue of a mare standing on he rhind legs with her head and one hoof to the sky holding up a crescent moon. I wonder were these sculptors find their inspiration. We didn't have time to sight see, though, and we were herded into one of the larger buildings attached to the side of the castle with about twenty other students. Almost everypony was talking amongst themselves, getting to know each other's names and stories and generally making friends and being happy, if not loud, until the guards quieted us down as Princess Celestia came into the room.

I've seen her in paintings and had her described to me, before, but seeing the Princess of Equestria right in front of me made me shiver. Not in fear, I don't know why I shivered. But she was amazing! Her smile was so loving, and her voice matched it as her eyes twinkled over all of us. She greeted each of us, individually, by name! She welcomed us all to the school and explained that, from time to time, she'd be sitting in on some of the classes to see how we were developing. She cared about each and every one of us, you could tell from the way she talked, and yet we had never met her up until now.

It was a magical experience. I'll write more, but it's 'lights out' time, now, and I don't want to make a bad impression my first night here!

Author's Note

The fisher's tune mentioned in Golden Crescent's letter is this lovely song. Warning, the song IS semi inappropriate, but it's all innuendos.

The tiny text at the end of the chapter is the word count for Golden Crescent's letters, set to tiny in an attempt to not be intrusive to the writing but so that I still get the word count in for this chapter.

For those of you reading this story on a mobile device, or having trouble reading cursive in general, plaintext and plain font versions of Golden Crescent's letters in this chapter can be found at this page.