Twilight woke up in a strange place. It looked like the night sky, but light blue instead of lavender. She looked around to see screens that were showing events of her life.
What is this place? How did I get here? Twilight thought. Then she remembered.
After finishing Starswirl's spell, the elements had blasted her.
"Oh no. Nonononononono! I can't be dead!" Twilight shrieked in panic.
"At ease, Twilight. You are not dead. You are only about to fullfill your destiny." A familiar voice said.
Twilight looked around until she spotted the white alicorn. She ran towards her.
"Celestia! Where am I? What do you mean by 'fullfill my destiny'?" Twilight asked. Celestia had a kind look on her face before she replied.
"This is the dreamscape. The place where the ponies' souls go at night when they sleep. It is also a place of memory."
Celestia walked forwards something that looked like a hall made of the screens.
Twilight, still confused, continued to listen to her mentor.
"You see these screens? They all show your memories. All your lessons. All your adventures. And all the times you made me proud." Celestia continued.
"Today, you did something even a great unicorn like Starswirl the Bearded could not. He didn't understand friendship like you do. You are the pony most deserving of the reward I'm giving you."
Hearing that she would get a reward, Twilight perked her ears up in exitement. "A reward? What is it? Tell me, tell me, tell me!"
Celestia chuckled at the innocence of her pupil. It reminded her of when Twilight was just a filly.
"I am going to make you an alicorn princess." Celestia answered enthusiastically.
"WHAT?" Twilight screamed. "Hahahaha, funny joke, princess."
Celestia looked at her student in confusion. "I'm not joking, Twilight. Why do you think I would joke about this?" the alicorn asked.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, princess. I'm flattered, really, but I think I have to decline."Twilight said.
Celestia shot up in surprise. She hadn't thought Twilight would say no.
"What? Why not? After all you have done for Equestria, you deserve this." Celestia asked.
"Because I don't think it's my thing. To sit through hours of boring meetings, almost no time for friends, the pressure of ruling a nation, no time for myself, I don't think I could handle all of that. I'd rather be a mage, like Starswirl the Bearded." Twilight answered.
Celestia lowered her head. "Then I have to accept your answer. But I was hoping you would say yes. You deserve princesshood more than I do."
Twilight, surprised by this statement, asked:"what do you mean? You are an amazing princess!"
Celestia looked up at Twilight. "Because you have succeeded where I have failed! I couldn't save Luna! You did! You got rid of Nightmare moon while I was hiding, too afraid to face her again! I couldn't make friends with Discord, but you did! I stood at the sideline, watching you and your friends risking your sanity! I couldn't save The Crystal Empire from Sombra a thousand years ago, but you and your friends did! I didn't notice that something was off with princess Cadence, but you did! And to top it all off, I didn't even listen to your concerns!
"And here's what I have done! I banished my sister to the moon! I turned Discord to stone instead of trying to convince him to stop! I sent you and your friends to take care of a dragon, and you almost got killed!
Queen Chrysalis almost took over, and I couldn't do a thing! I let you and your friends go to The Crystal Empire, even though me and Luna could have gone instead! When I sent you there, you almost failed. I risked the citizens of The Empire, my niece and her husband, you and your friends and the rest of Equestria by letting you go on your own with almost no information about king Sombra. I was born into princesshood, and all I've done is make mistakes."
"Princess... You are wrong," Twilight said.
"Huh?"
"There was nothing else you could do. Luna was consumed by her sorrow and hatred. Besides, it was the elements, not you who decided to banish her. Also, if you hadn't, I'd never meet my friends.
When Discord returned, you and Luna weren't connected to the elements anymore, so there was nothing you could do. He is the spirit of chaos after all. When Discord corrupted me, I was giving up. But you sent all my friendship reports to me, and then I remembered why I was fighting him in the first place. Those letters reminded me of how important friendship is, and how important it is to fight for them. If it weren't for you, Discord would have won.
"As for Chrysalis, she fooled everypony. You were busy with your duties, my friends didn't know her, Shining Armor was brainwashed and Luna was sleeping. The only reason I knew something was wrong was because I have known the real Cadence since foalhood.
"And as for The Crystal empire, that experience made me realise how foalish I was to think I couldn't ask for help. If I had left Spike behind, I would have failed. Besides, if you hadn't sent me there, the crystal heart wouldn't be found, and Sombra would win.
You may not interfere directly, but.. I'd be lost without you." Twilight said.
"But I SHOULD have done something!" Celestia shouted.
"Would you have done any difference? If you fought Nightmare Moon, she could have killed you. If you fought Discord, he wouldn't even get a scratch. Chrysalis would still defeat you. And if you and Luna faced Sombra, I'd never find the crystal heart." Twilight said calmly.
"I.. Never thought about it that way before. You're right, Twilight." Celestia said. "Although, you do deserve a reward. Instead of princesshood, you will become headmaster of my newest magic school, and acces to an enchanted library." Celestia said, giving her a diploma and a key.
"A diploma?" Twilight asked. Celestia smiled.
"You have graduated as my personal student. You no longer have to send me letters if you don't want to. But if you want, send as many as you like. For example help to how to run the school." Celestia answered. "Now, we better get back to Equestria." As Celestia said this, the dreamscape illuminated in a bright light.
***
Twilight woke up outside the Golden oaks library. To her surprise, Celestia was beside her, along with the key and diploma.
"Princess? Can I ask you a question?" Twilight asked.
"Yes, Twilight."
"Where does the key fit?" Twilight asked.
"It can be used in every lock. It opens a door to a dimension where everything that has ever been written lies. But remember, Twilight, you must never lose the key. Always lock the door afterwards." Celestia answered.
"Why do I have to lock the door every time I leave?" Twilight asked.
"You'll find the answer inside." Celestia replied.
"TWILIGHT!" Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Rarity shouted when they spotted their friend outside. They quickly ran over to greet their friend.
"What happened to ya? You were finishin' that spell o' yours, and suddenly tha elements blasted ya. What happened?" Applejack asked.
"I'll tell you later. But good news! I graduated! And I'm headmaster of a magic school!" Twilight answered.
"Graduation party!" Pinkie shouted, wearing a graduation robe and hat.
Celestia left the giggling group of ponies.
Thank you, Twilight. You made me realise how important my role is, even though you are more successful in protecting Equestria than me.
The end
