The Royal Ranking Cycle of a Princess
"So little info!" I said to myself. "So little need-to-know information! How in Equestria am I gonna get this report done in just two days?!"
The assignment we've all been dreading, the assignment we all must take on our second to last year at Celesta's School has finally been given to us. For the first few years I attended older foals would use it as a way scare us newcomers, and oh boy did it work. But after a while I began to think it was just a legend. Well about two years ago our teacher informed us that it was indeed true, and I've been dreading it ever since.
What exactly is the assignment you ask? Well when we first enrolled in the school as foals we're asked what's something we would like to discover when we're older. Most of the new students said they would like to find some rare magical object or a cure to uncommon illnesses. And as for me? "I would like to know how and why Princess Celestia's hair is flowing all the time." Yeah, despite the magical potential my parents and even the mentioned princess were convinced I had, I was not very bright back in the day. I assumed that I just about died from embarrassment and blocked out that memory because I had no recollection of that event. I only know the details due to my parents always joking about it, and of course my teacher who had it written in her notes for this exact assignment that was set in stone years ago.
We were told that the project, while not grade effecting, is a requirement and will determine if we will enter our final year at school. SERIOUSLY?!!! Our qualifications to enter our final year at the best magical school in Equestria is being judged based on a answer to questions we gave as kid's?! And as if most of the other student's assignments were impossible enough, literally no one know's why Princess Celetia's, and now her sister who as of right now has been back for three years, why their hair is always flowing. It's always been a mystery, and everypony is afraid to ask. I can understand why this is royalty we're talking about. But I'd be lying if I said I still wasn't very curious about the subject. Not just about her hair, but her height as well. Also I wondered why is it that Princess Cadence and Princess Twilight Sparkle had normal manes.
It was something that I was joyfully curious about when I was small, but now, at almost the end of my penultimate year of school, it's driving me crazy! I looked through every book related to the subject and came up with nothing. And I even if I had the courage, I can't just get a meeting with the princess, ask her to find room in her endlessly busy schedule to chat about why her hair always moves. Then it hit me, "Princess Twilight was Celestia's pupil! She may know why!"
Ponyville, it's been a few years since I last visited, by it's a nice enough town and will definitely visit it more often when I get the time. After getting directions from a grey pegasus (who was very kind, but had something a little wrong with her eyes to the point where I was almost tempted to offer to fix it for her) I was standing in front of The Castle of Friendship. Ever since it's appearance I've admired it's uniqueness and beauty from Canterlot, but to stand right in front of it is truly a treat. I was told all are welcome to enter during daylight, as Princess Twilight has also made part of her castle into the new Ponyville Library . So I entered , no guards or escorts, I was told Princess Twilight was very laid back so this didn't come as much of a surprise to me. It would've been impossible to navigate through these long hallways had I'd not stopped at a shop earlier that was filled with business cards, brochures, and maps that related to the town. Luckily my eyes met a stack of maps of the castle and I and bought one assuming it would come in handy.
I was told if Princess Twilight was available she would be in the thrown room. When I arrived I noticed the room was almost empty, the only living creature was a baby dragon sitting in a crystal chair that was surrounded my six empty ones that circled over a a table that had what I could only describe as some sort of phantom map of Equestria. "Well hi there!" The tiny dragon said. "I guess you're here for the Princess of Friendship?" I nodded yes. "Well Twilight's out now solving a friendship problem."
It was then I noticed all the chairs had symbols, two of which I recognized as cutie marks, one obviously belonging to the princess and the other belonging to a Pegasus named Rainbow Dash, who I recognized due to her growing success with the Wonderbolts. So it was safe to assume the rest of the cutie marks belonged to the princess's four remaining friends who helped her saved Equestria more times then I can count. I noticed in a certain area of the map Princess Twilight's cutie mark, as well as that matched trio of butterflies on the chair circulated around a village in the middle of nowhere. There was a third mark with them, one that wasn't on any of the chairs, but I could tell by the mark whoever it belonged to, that their talent was something to due with magic.
"Is that where she is now?" I said as I pointed to the village on the map.
"It certainly is! " He said cheerfully. "Her and Fluttershy got called to Starlight's old village because there's some sort of problem there. It's weird, usually only Twilight and her friends, Rarity, Appljack, Dash, Fulttershy, and Pinky get called by the map. But this time it called for Starlight, that's never happened before." I recognized Starlight's name as word had spread to Canterlot that Princess Twilight had taken her on as her pupil due to her powerful magic.
"Well then I guess it must be important." I said. "Is there anyway of knowing when she may be back?"
"Heck if I know, it usually depends on the problem, and I can only imagine what could be going on in that village, that's the only reason I didn't go. This is the second time the map has called them there, and the first time around I sat it out, and after what I heard they have to deal with, I'm sitting this one out too." It was then he noticed my anxiousness. "Um are you okay? If it's serious I could send her a letter letting her know to see you ASAP when she get's back."
"Oh--it's isn't serious--I m-mean it is. I--ugh! I'm a student at Celestia's school and my final assignment--"
"Is to do a paper in which you write down the answer to an impossible question they had you ask when you first started school as well as how you came across your answer." After zipping through with what he just said without drawing breath, he gave a humongous grin.
While I on the other hoof, my mouth almost dropped to the floor. "How did you--"
"Know?" He chuckled. "I was Twilight's assistant long before she became a princess. Out of all the times I've seen her worked up about something, I would have to put that assignment in the top 5. But she got her answer and had her paper handed in in time and read it to the class the day after, and I'm sure you will too no problem. Hey if it isn't asking too much, what exactly did you want to talk to her about?"
This little guy seemed alright, might as well tell him what I've got on my plate. "Well it was just one question that she may or may not know the answer to. It's the question that the assignment's revolved around."
"Is it something to due with magic, like a super powerful spell that in the wrong hoofs could turn Equestria upside down?!" He seemed really excited, it pained me a little knowing I was about to disappoint him.
"Um not exactly." I took a deep breath. "I figured since she's close to Princess Celestia, she could maybe tell me why she and Princess Luna's hair is flowing all the time while her's and Princess Cadence doesn't.
His eyes grew wide as he tried to hide the impending laughter with his tiny claws until he could keep it in no longer. "HAAAAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! Out of all the mysteries in Equestria, Princess Celestia's hair was the best you could come up with."
"Hey! If I'd known I was going to be asked years later to write a paper with the answer and how I got it as term final, I would've picked something better! It's not like this has been any easier than any other assignment, in fact it's been pretty much impossible! I looked through every book related to royalty in Equestria and found nothing!"
"I don't know what's funnier. The fact that princess hair is the assignment your stuck with. Or the fact that you're getting this stressed out over nothing, do you not know you could just ask Princess Celestia herself?"
I was shocked to hear him say this. "Um, Princess Celestia has much better things to do. And if I set up a meeting with her and take time away from her just to talk about the abnormalities of her mane, she might get angry and have me kicked out of school."
It was at that point he rolled his eyes. "Aww Princess Celestian isn't like that at all. And don't tell Twilight I said this, but she used to be so uptight, and I really think it was Celestia who taught her to mellow out over the time. Besides even if she was like that, you have no other way's of getting your answer right? And if you don't get your paper in they won't let you in your final year right? So even if she would do something like that, you got nothing to loose anyway." Ugh, he's right. "You should go back to Canterlot and ask for her, I'm sure she'll understand, you'll be surprised with how cool she is."
I noticed it was getting dark outside, by the time I would get back it'll be too late to request a meeting, I'll have to wait the next day. "Okay I'll ask her tomorrow, I have to get back though. And thanks for letting me know, I hope you're right. I'm Newt Galla by the way, everypony just calls me Newt."
No problem! I'm Spike, everypony calls me Spike!" He said follow by a wink.
As I left I turned around once more. "I'll be sure to visit more when I get more time off."
"Sweet! Also lighten up, you'll pass don't, worry."
"Thanks, I'll see you later. I have to go find a place in town to stay until tomorrow, hope you have a good night. "
The next day I woke up and wasted no time heading back in Canterlot, even though I was as empty-hoofed with knowledge as I left. Well at least I now know that Celestia will see me, assuming she can even squeeze time in for me. Last day, I've got until tomorrow morning to get my assignment in. First thing I did was went straight to the royal guard and request a meeting.
"Princess Celestia is out attending to a certain business." The guard said. "She had to leave in a hurry and was unable to give me her schedule for today, and I have no way of knowing it until she comes back in about four hours, that's all she told me. You should come back shortly after that and I could tell you when she can see you."
"Okay thanks."
Well the time couldn't have gone by slower. I utilized the time I had with one last attempt on finding information in the library, nothing, big shock, not really. Finally the time has come for me to finally get my answer.
"I'm terribly sorry the princess is actually busy with a student."
"Is there a chance I can squeeze in a little time with her after? " I asked.
"There's no way of knowing, because the student she's busy with, is one she's actually looking for. And apparently that's what she was doing earlier as well. I'm sorry but whatever it is it'll have to wait until tomorrow afternoon." I think I died a little inside. Tomorrow afternoon would be too late. "Would you like to give me you name so I could give it to her when she's available?"
It would be too late by then, but maybe I could at least beg her to let me back in. "Newt Galla." I muttered.
"Okay I'll see what I can do and I'm sorry for the inconvenience."
"Thank you." I said.
My life is over, I thought to myself. Why? Why do they expect us to do something so impossible? I mean they give us two day to gather an answer to a stupid question we have as kids?! The worst thing is there's a chance I could've actually passed, but they only gave us two days! How in the hay am I suppose to get a meeting with the princess that soon? They should've known it'd be impossible and gave me the option for another assignment. It isn't fair!
I decided the only thing I could do is write a paper on how I failed to get me answer it's better then nothing. As I was on my way home I heard the sound of rapid beating hoofs growing louder. I assumed it was a cab with passengers in a hurry to get somewhere until--
"NEWT GALLA!" It was the member of the royal guard from earlier, what could he want? "It's you! You're the one the princess has been looking for."
"What?! What does she want with me?"
"She didn't say, but when she came in saying she was doubtful she would find the student she was looking for today, I mentioned your name, seeing if she had time to arrange a meeting with you. She told me you're the one she's been looking for and insisted I'd fetch you right away."
What could the princess want me for? It didn't matter, whatever it was, it was my chance to use the time to see if she could tell me what I need to know.
At last I was in the throne room. Two things were possible, either Celestia would be happy to help me like Spike said, or she would be offended and kick me out. But like Spike also said, I have nothing to loose at this point.
I waited for about two minutes when from behind be a soft voice spoke, "Ah, Newt Galla, I've searched all day for you. But from what I've heard you been searching from me as well."
"Princess!" I bowed, she instantly invited me to rise. "Y-yes I have. But I'm sure whatever you wanted me for is more important."
"Oh but what could possibly more important than you end of term assignment?" She said smiling. She knew? "Why else do you think I've been looking for you, was it not the same reason you've been asking to see me? A certain Dragon wrote to me this morning saying you were there and was coming to speak to me. I thought I'd visit town and talk to you while you were still there, but when I saw you weren't, I assumed you had returned home and decided to take care of lat minute business in Cloudsdale before returning to find you."
"Well about my assignment my question is a tad bit--"
"Ah, yes! I spoke with your parent's earlier today, they said you remembered very little about that day. Quite understandable." No! She knows! If I didn't almost die of embarrassment then I certainly almost did there. But the fact that she remained cheerful but calm, as she had been when she first entered the room, was a sign that she wasn't offended, so that relieved me. "You probably don't remember that when you told your teacher your question that I just happened to be in the next room. I was curious to what aspirations our new students had. And when you gave your question, I remembered some of the other foals laughed at you. I can understand why they would think it would be a silly thing to ask. But I walked in because I appreciated your curiosity and took you to an empty room and I told you that one day if you can prove you can work hard enough, I would give you the answer."
"I can't believe there was a time where you spoke to me and I forgot it."
"Ah, yes. Well, you see there's a reason that I said it was understandable that you forgot. I wanted to see how hard you would work without the knowledge I would help you in the end. So with your parent's permission I used a spell to cloud your memory of that day. I hope you can forgive me. But you see no one knows the answer to your question but me and I had to be sure you would do everything you could on your own before you asked me, and after Spike had informed me about how much you searched for answers you've proven you did." While a bit shocked, I actually understood her reasoning. "You see there's a reason I haven't told anyone why only my sister and myself have flowing manes, among other differences I'm sure you've questioned. But seeing how Princess Cadence's baby was unexpectedly born an Alicorn, I feel there are things my subjects need to know. Let's find a smaller room and we can discuss everything you want to know."
Foal's Entry Question: Why Does Princess Celestia's Mane Flow?
By Newt Galla
In all honesty I was worried I wouldn't find my answer. I had searched through dozens of books cover to cover. I had traveled to another town. I even entered The Castle of Friendship. And in the end, it was a little dragon, who not only convinced me to go for it, but informed the princess of my journey. When she learned of how hard I've worked, she decided that she would help me. You may ask why hasn't someone got the answer before. I assumed it was because it seemed like a ride question that the princess would take offence to. But I've learned that Princess Celestia is a very understanding, kind princess and with her permission, has allowed me to write in detail of our conversation. The truth is, I do have the answer, but there's a great significance to why her and her sister's mane flows. And not just their mane but their height. What will follow is a detailed account of our conversation.
We entered a small room, there was a nice, little round table where we sat opposite of each other. Princess Celestia very kindly offered me tea, and after a that along with few refreshments she decided to tell me everything.
"My mane didn't always flow on it's own. And I wasn't always as tall as I was. Same with my sister. Her mane didn't flow until after Cadence was made a princess. And soon enough Cadence will have a flowing mane and grow a little taller. My sister will become my height, and I shall evolve as well. You see, every time a a an alicorn has been crowned a Princess for a thousand days to the very second, she, and the other princess's ability's and appearance evolve. And since Twilight's time is coming soon, she will grown a little, and Cadence will have grown as well and her mane be flowing as me and my sister's are. My sister will reach my height and I will reach my final stage as an Alicorn."
The word 'final' made me nervous but she's been around for thousands of years I was sure she had plenty of millennium left. But then I finally remembered. "Flurry Heart." I said. "She was born an Alicorn, if your next stage is your last, what'll happen when's she's been made a princess after a thousand days?"
She smiled. "Yes, due to the situation he will undoubtedly be made a princess when she grows up, and I won't be given as much time in my final stage as I had hopped. Princess Cadence offered to withhold her coronation for as long as I felt, but I see no justice in denying someone of their right, especially if it's one they are born with. So not long from now when she grows up and undoubtedly proves herself as a princess, my time will be over and my sister will be the highest ranking princess. And once I'm gone it will be her job to raise both the sun and the moon."
It was that point where I felt a deep sadness and could feel it. "There's a very good reason for this. Equestria can only have so many princesses. We can't go on forever. I even if we could, I know I at least certainly wouldn't want to. Yes I'm sad to leave behind, my sister, the other princesses, and all my wonderful friends and subjects behind. But where I leave them, I'll join many other friends and subjects that I've come to known and love over the thousands of year of my time here. Eventually my sister, Princess Cadence and Twilight, and even you along with everypony will join us. We all have are certain times here, but when we move onward, it's forever."
Even when she spoke of her inevitable death that would be too soon, she remained calm and never stopped smiling. "You could imagine how I was reluctant to tell anyone. I've only recently just told Princess Twilight, as she her time is coming. But I feel you were the first subject I wanted to tell, and through you, I want the rest of the school and all my subjects to know. They deserve to know." She was right this is something the citizens of Equestria had to know.
We concluded our meeting with nice little chats about the school along with me sharing some embarrassing stories of potion making gone complete wrong. When I left the castle thrown room, the one thing I felt is privileged. Privileged that Princess Celestia thought I deserved her help. Privileged that she trusted me enough to tell me something very personal. Privileged that she wanted me to be the one to distribute her personal story to the public. And given that she'll only be around for a few more decades, I most of all feel privileged that I had the chance to speak to her.
As I conclude this, I know this will concern many. But as Princess Celestia said, we all have a certain time here, and it ends. So how did i find my answer? One could say I simply could've asked Princess Celestia right from the very start, and it would've saved me a lot of trouble. But that wasn't what my particular assignment was about. Due to my irrational fear of how she would react if I had took time away from her to ask what I thought at the time was a silly question, I did everything else I could to find answers until I was completely out options. The truth is the answer was always waiting for me if I worked hard trying to discover it for myself. Princess Celestia knew from the beginning what I needed to know, and she waited until I had tried everything for myself first before she stepped in and helped. And for her feeling i was deserving enough of her help, and for entrusting me to be the one to reveal her secret, I'll always be grateful to her.
Author's Note
First time doing this, I'm sure there's plenty I can approve upon. Please share opinions about the story and such. Credit for the OC in the tittle card goes to Generalzoi's Pony Creator.
