Everyone was asleep during my little morning walk; it was 5:00 AM. I enjoyed walking when the day was just beginning, especially to read a book in the castle garden. In the castle corridors, there were only the sounds of my hooves clacking, along with those of the guards, of course, whom I tried to avoid at all costs. I didn't want to be found awake when a young pony like me should be asleep at this hour. But I guess I'm not like the others.
After a few minutes, I found myself outside the castle, in that famous garden. The castle garden was spacious enough for a good read and peaceful too. As I entered the garden, I couldn't help but light up my horn for a bit of light; it was still early morning anyway. After that, I turned my head from left to right, looking for somewhere to settle down and enjoy the early morning.
After a few tens of seconds of searching, I found the perfect spot, an open space with a tree. As soon as I found it, I headed towards it with a small smile while keeping the light of my horn on. I sat down against the tree before taking out one of the many books I had borrowed from the castle library. With a satisfied smile, I opened the book, titled "The History of Canterlot." After reading a few pages, I heard hoofsteps. I wasn't scared, but I was quite surprised to hear those steps getting closer and closer. After a few more steps, I could hear the sound of a unicorn's magic behind me.
"I can't help but wonder what you're doing here, Scarlet?"
After hearing the voice, I jumped a bit. I knew that voice well. As I turned my head, I began to see a floating, blue mane before recognizing the face of Princess Luna.
"Oh... Hi Luna! You startled me." She wore a somewhat bored expression. I wondered how she could find me here at this hour of the morning, so I asked her the question with an embarrassed smile, trying not to upset her.
"I didn't find your dream, so I concluded that you were awake. And since this isn't the first time, I figured you'd be here."
Indeed, she is right about this point, it's not the first time I've gotten out of bed very early, which explains her rather annoyed expression on her face. unlike Luna, I always wore that embarrassed smile.
"You know what I'm going to tell you, Scarlet. A little filly like you shouldn't be awake at this hour, especially knowing you haven't had eight hours of sleep."
She wasn't wrong, I've had some sleep problems lately, I couldn't say why exactly. But despite that, I don't feel any real fatigue.
"I know, Luna... but I really like this quiet moment when everyone is asleep! Besides, I'm just enriching myself with the castle's books."
It's true that I don't do nothing when I wake up at 5:00 in the morning, I mainly read various books on history, science, and fiction. But despite presenting it as a great idea, Luna doesn't seem convinced.
"Let's move on. You may not be aware, but we'll have a visit from Princess Twilight Sparkle today. I hope you'll be ready to welcome her."
My face, which was rather worried, quickly turned into a happy one. I have a rather close relationship with my aunt, I mean princess. Luna could see my excitement as well as my smile.
"Awesome! I can show her my new spells!"
"Wait a second, Scarlet. I know you like Twilight, but you still need to maintain proper posture. You see, Princess Cadence and her husband, Prince Thorax, and Queen Amber will also be there, it's an important dinner."
She emphasized the importance of this dinner, and I knew it was, it's not like I'm going to mess everything up. Despite my age, I'm wise, I think? I must be ready to welcome these heads of state.
"Noted, Luna! I'll do everything to ensure the dinner goes smoothly."
After saying that, Luna chuckled, I looked at her with confusion, what did I say to make Luna laugh? When I asked Luna the question, she smiled at me before placing one of her hooves on my mane. "You don't have to worry about that, just be exemplary, that's all I ask."
It was 8:00 AM, after Luna found me in the garden, we chatted a bit before heading back inside the castle, so I couldn't read my book or enjoy the morning calm nor the garden. But it's not a big deal; I have a new quest: welcoming my aunt and trying not to sabotage dinner. Pondering all this, I was having breakfast alone. Luna needed some rest before our guests arrived; we mustn't forget she has a shifted sleep schedule, sleeping during the day to work at night. I met Celestia this morning; she has to wake up early to raise the sun. And she had some royal duties to attend to.
Thinking about Celestia and all she does, I wonder if she wants me to be like her. I do like work, but despite that, I can't see myself doing bureaucracy. I'm just a filly; those kinds of problems are for adults, but time flies. And I can't help but think about the future; Luna often tells me, "Be a filly, think only of the present," but the future is important to me, especially when I'm part of the royal family, well... almost; I remain adopted, and I wouldn't know how to thank Celestia and Luna for taking me under their wings.
After a few minutes of eating while lost in thought, I get up from my chair before one of the many castle workers comes to clear the table. As they do, I thank them with a polite smile before heading towards one of the many halls of the castle. This one was particularly beautiful during the day, especially in spring, with sunlight streaming through the windows and the interior decoration being quite botanical, making everything radiant.
As I contemplate the hall, I make my way towards what appears to be a door: Celestia's office. The door was, of course, guarded by two guards who stood motionless, maintaining a straight posture and an expressionless face. They each carried a lance, wore golden armor, and had star-shaped badges that served as keys to many doors. Approaching the guards and the door, they said nothing and did nothing to stop me, as if they knew I was coming; no doubt Celestia had instructed them to let me pass. I finally knocked on the door, knowing well that Celestia was behind it. After a few seconds, a voice said, "Come in," Celestia's voice.
I opened the door slowly and entered. The room was filled with papers, scrolls, and books. In the center was Celestia's desk, behind which she sat, and behind her, a large window offering a view of the city of Canterlot. I greeted the princess with a nod before approaching her desk.
"Please, have a seat, Scarlet," she said in a calm tone, smiling as she looked at me. I couldn't help but smile in return. After this exchange, I sat down, observing Celestia as she wrote on a piece of paper with a quill, using her horn to aid her writing.
"I imagine you're eager to see Twilight again," she said, knowing well my relationship with the Princess of Friendship. She knows me very well by now; she's like a mother to me, and I'm like her daughter. I responded happily, "You got that right! I haven't seen her since the incident with the changelings. Plus, I've made progress in my magic abilities, and I want her to see that."
"You're certainly a talented unicorn, Scarlet. You learn quickly. You remind me of Twilight when she was your age, you know," she remarked warmly.
"Really?" I was a bit confused. Am I truly like my Aunt Twilight when she was my age? She seems to have many friends, while I have very few, if any at all. She's very skilled in magic, whereas I'm just a novice. I'm not the most sociable filly, quite the opposite, despite Celestia's efforts to connect me with other ponies in her school, I remain very distant. I suppose I'm too strange for them, and they don't have the same commitment to work as I do.
"Yes. Don't get me wrong, you are a strong filly, but if Twilight has become what she is, it's thanks to her friends, Scarlet. When I say you remind me of Twilight when she was very young, it's to tell you that you remind me of her qualities, as well as..."
"...her flaws..."
With a slightly annoyed look, I interrupted the princess, lowering my head slightly to continue what she wanted to say.
"Don't take it as if it's serious, Scarlet, I can see your expression. But you have so much hidden potential, which is being tainted by your lack of sociability. Just like what Twilight went through."
"I..." My potential? She sees potential in me, but it's just very hard for me to go talk to someone I don't know, furthermore, what guarantees me that the person in front of me is a good person. I don't want to compromise my schooling and discipline for a friend. So, I responded with a slightly raised tone.
"I can understand what you're saying, Celestia. But, I'm not a very sociable pony, you know that! I don't want to slow down in my studies or waste my time with friends."
Celestia was looking at me silently, in the eyes, as if I had just said something shocking, I hope not. It was quite an awkward silence, I looked at Celestia and she looked back at me without saying a single word, then, after about ten seconds of silence, Celestia broke it.
"Tell me, Scarlet, are you having trouble at school? It's not just the 'studies' that are troubling you, is it?"
I looked at her in shock, what is she implying? Surely she couldn't... Indeed, it's not just the studies that are troubling me, if you remember well, I said I was adopted. Well, some children got the idea to mock me about that, I didn't want to say it, I didn't want her to think I was going through this because of her and Luna, I kept silent, looking at her without saying a single word.
"Scarlet?" She called me, I'm ashamed of this, ashamed of this adopted status and nothing more, as if the only ones who pitied me were Celestia and Luna, and no one else wanted me. Before Celestia could say my name again, a knock interrupted what seemed to be one of the most embarrassing moments for me. Celestia, on the other hand, looked at the door before telling the person behind it to come in.
It was a guard, he came to tell Celestia to come see the preparations for the arrival of the guests, which she accepted of course. I was relieved that it was over, I sighed before getting up from my chair.
"Well, I suppose you'll be busy with those supervisions, princess! I'd better go prepare myself too." I said this quickly, as if I wanted to escape from the room, not wanting to talk about this topic again. As I headed towards the door, Princess Celestia called me, this time with a more authoritative tone.
"Young lady! After dinner, we will have a long discussion, you and I." She was rather upset by my silence, I turned my head slightly towards her before leaving the room without saying a word.
