The Diary of Celestia

by Fictatious

Rating: everyone
Tags: Adventure
Length: 7341

The story of a city built on a mountain and the great lengths one loving Princess will go to protect her little ponies.

Shortly after the banishment of her sister and the death of her best friend, Celestia seeks to escape the castle walls which hold such memories of days gone by.

She looks to a mountain in the north for her escape. She sees this both as an opportunity to leave her past behind and to build a new future for her kingdom.

This is the story of her trials to cope and unite her little ponies.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2015-01-28 00:02:20 UTC

Page 3

The Diary of Celestia

        Dear di--

        Dear diary.

        Not much has happened today. We have still been cleaning out Star Swirls study to move it all into a library and or exhibit. I want everypony to know what an amazing pony  and friend he was. I also hope that maybe one day somepony I, or who ever will one day replace me trusts, will be able to continue his research in order to further his work.

        I will admit it hurts to throw away some of his more pointless notes. I’ve kept some just incase they turn out to be something important. Maybe I’ll make a wing of the library dedicated to what we will consider “junk notes.” I keep crunching the numbers in my head and on paper hoping one of these mean something but  I can’t seem to find anything of importance on anything he worked on that’s not in his book.

        He crammed all the solutions into this one book and left all the problems laying around. Of course there is still so much to keep, as there a lot of unfinished works, but so many of them are worthless. In my eyes at least. I can’t tell which of these could have meant the world to him and what didn’t.

Some of the spells don’t have names or hoofnotes on what they were supposed to do. Some of them are even so scattered to the point I can’t even begin to guess on what they were supposed to be.

Either way. I trust if I keep enough of this around one day somepony will make sense of this and maybe be able to finish the last spell in this book.

I never knew Star Swirl to speak so oddly about friendship.

-Celestia

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Page 5

The Diary of Celestia

        Dear Diary.

        I never expected such a disagreement amongst my representatives on this matter.

        The only pony to agree with me in that room was Commander Thunderhoof. Chancellor Puddinghead and Princess Platinum on the other hoof were appalled I even suggested it.

        Princess Platinum was outraged I took her Idea for a city on the hill from the unicorns and used it for my own “Political gain.” As for Chancellor Puddinghead, She felt I had taken this whole “Princess thing” (As she put it) too far and I wanted the “Next biggest thing” for myself.

        I cannot believe those two would think such things. Have I not gained the trust of my little ponies? or am I still viewed as some foreigner taking a hoofhold over a weakened nation?

        I have got to think of a way for them to see the truth of the situation. Perhaps I will speak with Commander thunderhoof in the morning and ask her for her thoughts on this.

-Celestia

5

Page 7 & 8

The Diary of Celestia

Oh dear diary what have I done.        Last week (Yes I know I’ve been forgetting to write daily) when I decided to build this city I felt so confident and proud of myself. Then I got a letter from Commander Thunderhoof and the rest of my compatriots.        instead of telling you what they said I’ll embed them into the book.

Dear Celestia.

I hope this letter was delivered to you unopened as I asked. The team of pegasi you wanted for the building of the city is ready, they will arrive and set up camp at the base of the mountain tonight.

They will bring extra equipment and tents for any others that arrive. Please let Smart Cookie and Clover the Clever know I need an exact count of ponies they will be sending.

If they cannot provide this information yet let me know and I will keep a small section of the team back here in Cloudsdale until we have that count

-Commander Thunderhoof

Dear Celestia

The students are very willing and excited for this. They understand how much of commitment this is and are willing to give up their time to this project.

Just remember they are here for the learning of architecture, magic and to meet you. Keep this in mind when you’re doing this.

Also I hope you are still confident in this plan. I for one am still very positive this will be a good thing. Remember, if you need reassurance speak with me. I’m by your side through and through.

-Clover the Clever~

7

Dear Celestia

I’ve been speaking with the farmers and farm hooves across the northern areas and I’m proud to say we have plenty of hooves ready and willing. Though I’m sure you’re waiting for the bill so I’ll get right to it.

Right now we’re lookin at 50,000. That’s a rounded number and not accounting for the aditional amount of helpers I plan on getting. If I were to guess on that I’d say, maybe 100,000 bits. Maybe more.

I know this is a lot to ask for but it’s the only way we’re gonna get these ponies budgin. Farm owners need money to account for the crop loss and their farm hooves need reason to leave the payment of their employers temporarily.

I didn’t mean for the prices to get this out of hoof but it had to happen.

I’m sorry

-Smart Cookie

Dear me what am I going to do? In one day everything has been turned on it’s head.

AND HOW AM I GOING TO MOVE THAT MANY BITS SECRETLY!?

-Celestia

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Page 11

The Diary of Clestia

Dear Diary

        These days have gotten a lot livelier since all of this city building.

        I got the final bill from Smart Cookie today. It was around 76,350 bits. I am glad I sent the extra amount. I expect the four ponies to be back soon,  I hope.

        Clover the Clever also decided to visit today. She seemed very excited to show me the revised plans for the city. It was honestly very impressive, the students have an excellent idea of architecture and structure. Though I must admit it does have a stronger unicorn inspiration to it than a mixture of everything like I was hoping.

        I told Clover this and she understood. She said she will try and incorporate more pegasi architecture as well, and maybe even take the students to study Earth Pony culture.

The more surprising thing that happened this evening was that I was visited by Private Pansy. She came to tell me how honored she was to be able to work under me and how this was her greatest duty shes ever had. Though with every word her voice shook with worry and fear. It honestly did not help my current state of mind.

        I promptly thanked her for her humbleness and offered her to stay for a meal. She refused of course, something tells me it was because she could not handle being with me without Thunderhoof. Which makes me think.

        Why did Thunderhoof not come with her? Those two are inseparable. Odd.

-Celestia

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Page 12

The Diary of Celestia

        Dear Diary.

        It has been three days since my last entry. The reason I am writing today is because Smart Cookie finally sent me the letter I have been dreading.

Dear Celestia.

The Construction team is on their way to the mountain.

        There is more to the letter but it is the only part that matters.

        I have been waiting for this day for some time now but now it is happening. I plan to leave in the morning to greet the ponies responsible for this. I also will be happy to greet Smart Cookie, it has been too long since I last saw her.

        For as scared as I am, I am also very excited. Every time I think back on it I realize how free this is going to make me and it makes me want it more and more. My only fear is my kingdoms reaction when they figure out I went against the wishes of counsel.

        I know I must forgo these fears and remember I am the princess and that I am in charge. I just wish being in charge did not scare me so much. I wish you were here Luna.

-Celestia

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Page 13

The Diary of Celestia

        Dear Diary.

        I am writing today’s entry from the camp at the base of the mountain. It’s just about to be time for dinner, it’s a bit of a late dinner but still. I’m writing now as I’m not sure I will be able to later

        Today I walked with Clover the Clever and Smart cookie a good way to the mountain this morning. We started before I had to raise the sun. It was nice speaking with them about the plans for the city. Probably the most relaxing thing I have been able to do in all this time.

        We talked about Smart Cookies adventures across cities and the ponies she met along the way. As well as the many days Clover the Clever spent speaking with the students. I even shared my worries with them. They reassured me that I am doing what is right.

        I am glad that no matter what happens we have at least all learned something from this. even if it is only so much.

        Eventually we met up with the Earth Ponies, it seemed as though they all met in Fillydelphia. It was a little ways further than expected but I guess it was a good enough meeting point.

        It was great to see them and they were ecstatic to be greeted by me but it was quite overwhelming. There had to be a little under eight hundred of them. It is- Very frightening seeing all of these ponies here willing to work to build something they could very well be persecuted for.

        Clover the Clever and Smart Cookie offered to help pull some of the carts and carriages and they were welcome with open hooves to do so. I on the other hoof tried to help and they would not let me. They said I should not “Tire myself.” I just wish to let them know I am no better than them.

Tomorrow when construction begins I plan to help the earth ponies pull the marble and stone up, then help the unicorns set the frame up and help the pegasi start terraforming the side of the mountain to better support the city and the castle.

        As for the next week I will be staying here to help with construction as stated. I told the captain of the guard before I left that I was leaving on important business. I made sure to not use names or places. I just hope Clover the Clever has found a way to keep Princess Platinum from questioning anything.

-Celestia

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Page 14, 15 & 16

The Diary of Celestia

        Dear Diary, I am starting today's entry off as I walk up the mountain.

        Today Clover the Clevers students arrived and we began the first steps to construction of the city. As soon as I rose the sun, I and the Earth ponies began pulling the stone, marble and wood up so we will not have to do it after all of the terraforming.

        One thing to note though. Before we left to climb the mountain everypony gathered around to see me raise the sun. I had done this before in front of ponies but it somewhat caught me off guard. They looked all so amazed and happy as I was doing and that positivity had helped me get through it despite how nervous I was. Trying to prove myself no better than them though is now going to be twice as difficult.

Dear Diary, the waterfall is beautiful from here!

        I am sorry, it is just. We reached the place where we will begin terraforming and the the view and the waterfall is just amazing.

        Anyway. The Earth ponies will begin digging into the wall and the unicorns and I will start lifting the frame into place to help give everypony an idea of how we want this done.

        I am very pleased with Private Pansy’s team so far, they seem to be taking the place of the jack of all trades. They helped bring all of the equipment up and are now helping us with the frame and the terraforming.

        The thing that most impresses me is Private Pansy’s hoofhold on the the team in general. Everypony seems to have this undying loyalty and respect to her, it is odd seeing as every order she gives sounds so timid and worried. I will have to ask Pansy about it later.

        I managed to pull Private Pansy aside and asked her why her team respected her so much. The only answer I got from her is “We just understand each other. We have  been through enough that a lot goes without saying.” I asked her what that meant but she dodged the question in her usual timid manner.

        Either way I hope one day to have this kind of bond with all of my little ponies.

        It seems the Earth Ponies have dug into some kind of cave. I will have to check it out.

This was unexpected. It is a cave that spans both far up and down the mountain. I asked Clover the Clevers thoughts on it but it seems she has no idea how a cave like this can form naturally.

        Clover the Clever, Smart Cookie, Private Pansy, myself and three other ponie have decided to explore and map out the cave. We took one pony from every race to help explore.

        As far as I can tell this cave seems to span the whole mountain, but right now that is only a guess. We started by heading down and have not even gotten a chance to fully explore the area around the entrance and above.

        This place never seems to end. Just when we think we can start heading back another path is discovered. Clover the Clever seems to be worried about and her student seems the same way.

        Private Pansy and her soldier have been flying around together exploring down long paths to help make things go by faster but even then it feels so useless. Luckily Smart Cookie has been drawing a map of the place as we go or I fear that we would never get out of this place.

        I will write again when we leave or if even get to explore the upper areas.

        We decided to leave the cave as it seems to have been a good while since we entered. It took a good while to get out of the cave but eventually we finally got out of there.

        Once we got out the ponies greeted us and helped us as best they could. After we got out one of the ponies somehow managed to pull my attention to remind the sun was still up and it was eight PM. So I lowered the sun and raised the moon then made our way down the mountain for dinner. I would work us longer only send only a few back to start preparing dinner but the cave exploring made this day odd.

        Note to self bring more food for these  ponies to cook with they do so much with so little! what could they do with more!?

        Just before bed Clover the Clever pulled me aside with the map Smart Cookie had drawn out for us. She looked me in the and told me something could be very wrong.

        She told me that the formation of the cave and the sheer size could not be natural, and certainly not pony made. She also said that with the way the mountain and cave is formed that the mountain is almost just a shell and will not be able to hold the city the way we wanted it to.

        Though she also said now we have a back up story if ponies get suspicious. We can just disguise it as a mining job and any buildings that show up are for the miners. though construction will now be much longer we now have to actively fill in the mountain so it can actually hold the city itself. On top of that we get some very nice Crystals to release and sell to the market.

        She left me with this information to think about. I thought maybe we should pull out, whatever creature made that cave must be huge. Though I think it is too late to leave the job undone now. So many ponies have left their homes for this and are relying on this payment.

        I told her I would make the decision tomorrow but I believe I have made my decision.

-Celestia

Pages 19 - 22

The Diary of Celestia

        Dear Diary        Today we begin mining! Honestly the mining is a relief only because we get to make back the large sums of bits I had to dump into this. It was worth the cost but it was still a lot.

        It is very nice to hear all of the ponies speaking on their way up the mountain. It relaxes me a bit hearing their stories of their foals growing up, playing sports all of those things. It warms my heart as well because foals are cute and sometimes I just really want to pat their cheeks.

        I just wanted to write that for some reason I do not feel good, It is not a physical feeling more of an emotional one. I feel like something bad is going to happen. Maybe I should not have tempted what ever created this cave.

        Oh Dear Diary what have we- what have I done?        The mine- the crystals they were-  I will have to start from the beginning, maybe that will help clear my head before I get back to the castle.        When we began mining the crystal I should have stopped us. The Green crystals started acting weird and it looked like I saw movement in them. I passed it off as the reflection of all of the ponies swinging but then one of the green crystals got broken off of the wall.        It fell to the ground and my heart skipped a beat. Even though I had no idea what was happening it just felt wrong.        The bottom of it opened, and a black bug-like creature crawled out. When it tried to stand it looked like a newborn foal trying to walk for the first time. In fact the creature itself looked similar to a pony but the eyes were- blank and the hooves and horn had holes strewn all over.        These creatures were both bug and alicorn-esc. I have never seen anything like it.        We have reached the castle I will continue later.

        Okay- I am currently on my way to Cloudsdale to speak with Thunderhoof about deploying her army.        Okay. When the creature finally stood straight it looked at the pony who had mined it off the wall and- sent him flying across the floor of the cave and took his appearance. Just as I went to fly down to deal with it only to be greeted by a spine tingling screech so loud I could hardly focus.        That is when the whole cave started to shake and things within all of the green crystals started to move along with the reflections of the cave. As fast as I could I ordered the pegasi and unicorns to try and help the earth ponies back up to the entrance of the cave.        The unicorns all gathered around and used their magic both to hold the elevator together and to form the rest of it, while the pegasi pulled earth ponies up one by one.        Just as I was about to confine the small creature in the chaos loud buzzing could be heard. When I looked up there was a mixture of black and green careening towards us from all around.        What was once just hectic panic turned into true fear. The creatures quickly started to mirror the image of everypony. Ponies started being unable to trust each other. One pony became two, then three and so on.        Clover the Clever Smart Cookie and Private Pansy quickly joined my side. I was about to send them aside out of panic but the look Clover the Clever gave me- I knew it was her. Clover casted a shield around us to give us some distance between everything.        She was determined to escort me out of the cave but I told her that we could not leave until everypony else got out. Smart Cookie tried to help persuade me but I was stuck in my way.        Reluctant, Clover the Clever asked how I planned to spot the creatures. At the time I had no idea. All I knew was that we had to. Smart Cookie suddenly realized that the reflection on the crystals were not affected by their magic. We connected the dots and were beginning to start fighting back.        That is when everything got quiet. The creatures all went back to how they originally looked and stopped attacking. Instead they began surrounding us four. From the mass of bugs one larger one glided down from the highest point in the mountain and landed not too far from us. I remember exactly what she said to me the moment she looked me in the eye.        “So you’re the Princess Celestia whose name has been echoing within my walls. You have turned me and my childrens dreams restless. All this rattling and banging. It’s childish really. Taking what is not yours. Even waking us prematurely. Honestly I find it rude.”        I tried to ask her what was going on but she silenced me with a wave of her- hoof(?).        “I am speaking.” The creatures began to make a sound similar to giggling which got another wave of her hoof. “It applies to you all as well!” She began to walk towards us slowly. Clover tried to deter her by beginning a spell but the creature simply knocked her away with her own magic.        I caught Clover with magic of my own but I did not have time to pull her back to me before the creature shot me. Unlike Clover though this did not hurt, in fact I felt nothing. I was about to demand to know what she was and what she was doing but she waved her hoof a third time as I opened my mouth.        “I am truly sorry. I haven’t introduced myself have I? I am Queen Chrysalis, I’m also sorry about your subject. I just wanted to show her the price of her paranoia.”        That is when I stomped my hoof down. “I WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS!” My voice echoed through the cave. The creatures backed up as I shouted. “Explain your intentions and what you are!”        She scoffed, causing both the creatures to laugh again and take a step forward. “If you keep yelling like that you’ll get wrinkles.” She walked closer and put her hoof on my cheek. “I really don’t want to have to have wrinkles so please stop.”        I smacked her hoof away and sent a volt of magic at her. It missed as she simply stood to the side but my point was made. This caused her to sigh. “Fine fine.” she turned her back to us and began walking away. “You may have the mountain. This place was beginning to bore me anyway. Enjoy your city.”        I tried to grab her and pull her back with my magic but several of her creatures shot at me causing me to lose focus. I tried to hide the pain but it was quite obvious it hurt. Clover the Clever replied with a quick raising of her shield again. She asked if I was alright and I simply nodded.        Private Pansy called out to troupes for help and they quickly flew in towards Chrysalis. With one wave of her horn she stopped the flight team with a magic barrier and used it to slam them against the wall.        “Well,” she turned towards us again. “I wanted this to be a peaceful goodbye but it seems you don’t want to be very polite. Now I truly don’t feel bad about this.” She flew up to the ledge where the entrance was. She looked down at us and broke out laughing for a bit. “Who am I kidding? I was never going to feel bad about it.” She flew out of the cave followed by her creatures, destroying the elevator and some of the base we were building on their way out.        When I flew out of Clovers barrier I was met by the frantic screaming of the ponies outside of the cave. As quickly as I could I left the cave. What I thought to be another attack was them simply flying towards the south.        I quickly rallied everypony together and began having Smart Cookies count heads. After we figured out everypony was fine I flew off to the castle to begin assessing the situation and now we are here. Wait- I actually am here at Cloudsdale. I will continue after my discussion with Thunderhoof.

        Thunderhoof is on her way to begin negotiating stationing troops within the cities and and villages across Equestria. I only hope they listen.-Celestia

Page 23 & 24

The Diary of Celestia

        Dear Diary,I cannot believe they would be this dense! Princess Platinum and Chancellor Puddinghead refused; outright refused to let Thunderhoof place troops in their cities!        I demanded a reason as to why and they explained- explained more like complained- Sorry. Princess Platinum “explained” that if we were to put pegasi soldiers within her cities walls there would be unbridled panic and Thunderhoof would have too much control “via” threat of force. Puddinghead on the other hoof simply wanted no “Pegasi tight heads” walking through her villages and disrupting the peace by worrying everypony as well as having a strategic position within her very walls.        I tried to make them see common sense that one, I would never allow thunderhoof to wage war or even threaten to as long as I am alive. Not to mention two, more peace would be obstructed from those creatures invading than having some soldiers wanting to protect the innocent ponies walk around.        Alas they seem set in their ways. I cannot make them do what do not wish, even with debate. That would only destroy the freedom in which I have sought to create within this kingdom.        I will think this through over a cup of tea I suppose. It has been a good few days since I have gotten to relax.

        Dear Diary.        Something worrying has occurred to me.        When I asked for my tea the usual pony came in to deliver it. Though seeing as Thunderhoof had taken most of my guard to help scour the southern region of Equestria I was curious as to why he got to stay.        “Here you are your majesty.” He said placing the tea and saucer on the table in my room. I thanked him which he replied with a bow and a simple. “My pleasure.”Before he left I told him to wait and to take a seat across from me. He tried to refuse feeling nervous and uncomfortable. This only made me want him to sit with me more. When he finally sat down I asked him why he was not taken with the other guard and how he felt about it.        He began to explain that he felt guilty for not going with them, but also relieved that he was not going to have to face creatures who were so readily violent. I asked him if any of his friends were picked to go to which he said yes, quite a few of them infact.        “Most of the stallions I’ve gotten to know got pulled into it Ma’am.” Those words made me feel awful with myself. I remembered thinking, infact I still think it sometimes, that if I had just given into not building the city none of this would have happened. I then asked him again why he was not taken.        “Well Thunderhoof had ordered her night patrol commander to take who he needed. He took the captain of the guard and I was next in line.” When he said this I was shocked. I asked him why was the second in command giving me my tea every morning?        “I wasn’t second in command. I was a little ways away in fact, and the reason I’m still doing this is because it’s the only thing I have to look forward to right now.” I was silent at this. Had I so little care for my ponies I did not even know the rankings of the very royal guard that protect me everyday?        I did not even know my Captain had left, as well as who got promoted. I could not tell you the names of who are here and who had left. If the very happenings of my own home go unnoticed by me every waking hour, how am I supposed to rule? My captain had been taken without my permission and without him telling me. Does he not respect me that much?        Starting today I will become the pony I wish to be. I am even beginning to know the kind of ruler I shall be known as.        I am no push over, I am not the mascot that Platinum sees me as nor the ironhoof Puddinghead sees me as.

I am -Celestia

        Something awful has happened in a village down south, I pray to the stars they are well.

Pages 1 & 2

The Diary of Celestia

        Dear Diary. Well that certainly isn’t something I’ve written in awhile.

        Dear Diary,

        I’ve begun writing in a different diary from my sisters and I’s. I felt like if I continued to write in “The Journal of the Two sisters” (So titled by Starswirl) I would be dishonoring her. Though it does bring up an interesting question if I should even care about that after--- Nevermind. I should be focusing on the future and not the past. Or I suppose I should say, focus on the recent happenings. When it comes to my journal.

 Should I call it a journal? The front says diary. Then again this is something my guard picked up for me on short notice.

        Oh, I’m writing my idle thoughts. Sometimes I forget writing with my magic can cause that to happen. It’s been so long since I’ve let my mind wander while writing. Usually I just sit around signing paperwork and focusing on what I’m doing.

        Perhaps I should switch to writing with my mouth to stop it from doing that again.

        Test Test.

        This is readable at least. Dear me my mouthwriting has gotten awful after all this time. I can’t even write cursive without struggling. Oh well this will do until I begin to get better at writing in one of these again.

        I suppose I’ve been dragging on far longer than I should.

        The reason I have decided to write in this journal is because  Last month Starswirl the bearded past away, and today I braved my emotions to look through his study.

        I found his book of spells which turned out to contain more than just that. He even used it as his own journal. I was shocked but at the same time I expected something like this from him. He was the one who came up with the idea of the Journal of the Two Sisters in the first place.

1

        Finding this book, seeing that he continued write to the day he left us, The fact that now this is all that’s left of him. It made me realize, someday even I will pass away. I am not immortal. My life may span many years compared to other ponies, but one day I will pass away.

So other than just leaving my legacy behind I want those of the future to know of my endeavours and how I both dealt with them and who I truly am.

So for now. I will be leaving this entry at this. Tomorrow night I hope to add more.

-Celestia

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Page 4

The Diary of Celestia

        Dear Diary

        I know I’ve been missing days and it’s very terrible of me. I’ve only just started this Journal and I’ve already been skimping on my work. Well I’m here today to amend that.

        As of late I’ve been growing more and more  depressed in this castle. We’re still rebuilding after  the event with Luna but I’ve slowly been releasing maybe I should leave this castle. I feel this way for many reasons.

        one because I feel I am too distant from my citizens. This castle is not near any towns, villages, cities. or any other sort of settlement.

        and two   I feel as though I am beginning to become too depressed in this lonesome castle. All I am reminded of is my sister and now Star Swirl.

        Lately I have been getting more and more requests to look at the plans for a city on the hill that looks over most of Equestria that the unicorns wish to build. I have been waving it off as I deemed it too much work to put in for something so grand. Not to mention it seemed too  much. It made it seem like the unicorns were shadowing over Equestria.

        Though as I look at this crumbling castle that we struggle to keep repaired each day and I struggle to walk through each day. I find myself coming back to those plans again.

        Maybe I have found my next home. A new beginning.

        Yes. Tomorrow I will speak with the representatives of Equestria and see to it that this city will be not be a city for the unicorns but a capital for all the races to live..

        And that will be where I will watch over all of Equestria. I can already feel the greatness of this city expanding. I feel this city will be the grandest in Equestria. And finally we will have even more unity than we have ever had.

-Celestia

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Page 6

The Diary of Celestia

Dear Diary.

        Today Thunderhoof, Smart Cookie, Clover the Clever and Private Pansy all gathered to discuss the plans for the City on The Hill (as I have titled until further notice). We’ mulled over and over on the matter.

        We mulled over it for hours on end trying to figure out a way to get it approved by Princess Platinum and Chancellor Puddinghead. Alas we could not think of anything to convince them. Nothing realistic that is.

        Finally I had enough once the first 5 hours passed. I don’t know what came over me but I was certainly convinced I knew what I was doing.

        I finally stood tall and proud and decided that I was Princess of Equestria And my Word is law! (As I put it). Though as brave as I got I was still worried of the repercussions. So all of us put together a plan. We were going to build this city in secret.

        Smart Cookie was quick to help with the aid of some bits. She said many farmers and farm hooves would gladly help with the offer of bits for their labor and time. So I gave Smart Cookie access to as many bits as she would need.

        Clover the Clever knew many students which would gladly help for the chance to meet me and to learn and test their magic ability. She would offer them many credits for this.

        As for thunderhoof. On her return to Cloudsdale she plans to organize a special Pegasi team in order to help build, and Private Pansy will lead this team (much to her dismay).

        As for how we’re going to keep this city secret as we build it  I’ll figure that out when we finally start construction. For not we amass our construction team.

-Celestia

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Page 9

TheDiary of Celestia

Dear Diary

        I have held off writing in you as nothing much has happened. I have been waiting for letters to reach me and vice versa.

        Today I somehow managed to send 80,000 bits to Smart cookie (We will see if they actually make it. I hope every second they do). Even now I do not know if I could trust those two guards with this. four ponies carrying that much on them and are expected to not run off with it? If they do I cannot even chase after them because I would have to explain myself. I cannot even begin to explain how my body is reacting to all the stress I have over it.

I can tell Thunderhoof is getting a little more than anxious about all of this. She visits almost every other day now asking how plans are going and if I have heard anything back from the others. Each and every time I reassure her everything is going to plan.  I only wish I believed that myself.

Of all the ponies to be worried I was shocked it was her. Though I know how much she hates under the table activities. I can only imagine how much pressure she is putting on poor little private pansy.

As for Clover the Clever, she is very confident in all of this. I got a letter from her yesterday speaking about how her and the students have been looking at the plans for the city and how we can build this.

I sent a letter back telling her they need to figure out how to build this city in secret. Hopefully she can figure out because I am clear out of ideas

I will say though. I am very glad to have so many wonderful ponies working with me on this. I would be a ball of stress waiting to explode by now if it was not for them.

I only wish Starswirl could have seen this. He and Luna would have loved seeing us do all of this.

-Celestia

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Page 10

The Diary of Celestia

Dear Diary        Today Thunderhoof stopped by again. I told her that I sent the money to Smart Cookie and she seemed very worried that I had only sent four ponies to carry around that many bits across Equestria. She offered to get a proper team together and meet with them to help carry it but I was quick to remind her that it had to be done as discreetly as possible. She seemed annoyed but eventually she understood I was right.        During Thunderhoof’s visit what I was not expecting was a visit from a certain Princess Platinum. The guard who had to tell me that she was here requesting an audience was rather scared, the poor thing.        I put on my most gracious and confident looking face as I walked into my throne room to see her. When I walked it she looked furious. I sat down at my throne and greeted her as kindly as I could, only to have her completely undermine my authority.        She was absolutely enraged after “All I had done” I would have the gaul to sit in my own throne in her presence. She demanded to know what I was making Clover the Clever do. Apparently Clover the Clever decided to ignore one of Princess Platinum’s orders to do something for me. She knows it was me because when she asked Clover the Clever immediately told her that my authority resides over all others.        I sat there for a good thirty or so minutes as I listened to Platinum rant on and on that I was overstepping my boundaries and among other things. Finally with a wave of my hoof she silenced. I stood up and told her she needed to calm herself. I also told her it would not happen again and that I would never try and forsake the unicorns authority.        Rant after rant began about how it should not have happened in the first place. Eventually she ran out of things to complain about and she left. I made sure to make her think she really accomplished something by coming here though by offering one of my guard to help her with things as Clover the Clever finishes what I need her to.        The only thing that worries me now is that Princess Platinum might start getting suspicious, and who knows if Smart Cookie is going to be able to stay away from Chancellor Puddinghead for long. I am sure she is getting bothered by her absence.

Then again. I am sure Smart Cookie was able to get somepony to keep her distracted. She is a simple pony. -Celestia

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Page 17 & 18

The Diary of Celestia

        Dear Diary,

        We all have gotten breakfast and we are on our way back up the mountain. I told Clover the Clever we are continuing construction and that we will also double this as a mining operation. Somewhat.

        What ever made the cave can see me if it wants to stop this.

        Today I am going to help start setting in the stone in the mountain for the base. I The pegasi are building an elevator quickly so the earth ponies can get up and down easier. As for the stone itself the unicorns are helping lower it to the ground for us to place.

        As much hard work as this is I do not mind working down here. The red and green crystals are beautiful to look at.

        The Earth ponies are too flattering. They always try and keep me from working too hard,not wanting my “Beautiful mane and coat” to get dirty. I keep trying to remind them that I am trying to work with them as equals but they seem to still think too highly of me.

        Infact I am only writing this right now because I am on my way to help the pegasi. Maybe they will be more open to me helping.

        Private Pansy and her workers were much more welcoming of the extra hoof. The questioned why I was not using my magic though. I told them that if I am helping the pegasi I am helping them as a pegasus.

        One of Private Pansy’s colts tried to hold a conversation with me. It was cute how after only one reply to his ice breaker I felt like I was talking with Private Pansy instead of a soldier.

        I decided to move from the pegasi work force to the unicorn task force. I wanted to do something a little more mindless.

        P.S. I swear I saw something move in one of the green crystals. Probably just someponys reflection. It still scared me though.

        Another long day of work. Tomorrow we begin to mine so we have something to show for our work.

        So far it is going well. We are really seeing progress.The elevator is almost finished (it took about two hours to get everypony back up), and the I can really see the foundation of the cave come together.

        I am really beginning to like these walk down the mountain. Also dinner was amazing again. I love these cooks.

        Smart Cookie came up to me as I was going to my tent. She told me that she felt I made a good decision continuing the build. Clover the Clever must have spoken with her.

        I am glad somepony finally backed me up on this. Clover the Clever did not bother to give an opinion.

        I can not believe it has been only two days into this. I am already exhausted. I wonder how everypony else is doing. Probably faring better than I am. Perhaps after this I will put together an exercise program for myself to keep in shape.

-Celestia