Chapter 1: Canterlot Castle

Twilight Sparkle smiled internally as she stepped into Canterlot Castle for the first time as official royalty. It gave her an excited rush - it was still difficult to believe that she wasn't dreaming, and just for the fun, she fluttered her new wings gently to make sure it wasn't all a mirage. They were oversized, yes, and she had no clue how to use them for real, but she couldn't help but be proud of the pale mulberry feathers matching her coat, as well as her fancier new mane style and the way everypony would respectfully dip their heads to her whenever she passed. She, the smartest pony in Ponyville, had rewritten a spell that even Star Swirl the Bearded had given up on, and this was her reward. She had certainly done well.

Princess Cadance breathed a sigh from next to her, tugging at the jeweled shoes she'd worn during the coronation. Twilight almost instinctively pulled her's off too, because the older alicorn had just reminded her how uncomfortable this outfit was. Rarity likely would have worn it no matter how itchy the seams were. Twilight's smile drooped as she thought of Rarity and the rest of her friends. Would they miss her? She brushed the thought away with ease. Of course they wouldn't; they'd always have each other to confide in. But what she'd told herself make her mouth quiver with the threat of tears. That would mean they didn't need her.

The new alicorn took in a shaky breath in and held it. There was no reason to worry about the other five. Maybe she would still see them at some point... But until then, she had Celestia, Luna, Cadance and Shining Armor - forget Cadance and Shining Armor, Twilight thought with a sniff, they rule the Crystal Empire - to keep her company. But Celestia and Luna were obviously more distant from her than her old foalsitter and her beloved older brother, which made her the slightest bit wary. Would she be comfortable here?

Celestia interrupted her worried thoughts so suddenly that chills ran down Twilight's spine. "Cassandra, would you mind giving Twilight a tour of the castle, and show her to her room?"

A younger beige mare with a navy mane and tail, dressed in a maid's formal attire, scurried out from behind a pillar and quickly lowered her head to the ground in front of Celestia before looking up at Twilight Sparkle, repeating her bow this time with a slight blush. She looked back toward Celestia for a moment, and murmured, "...an exception... ...West Billiard room... ...Yes, princess." Cassandra then stepped back toward Twilight and nosed her in the direction of the stairs, and Twilight caught the glances of Shining Armor and Cadance and received a wave good-luck from Luna as Cassandra hurried her up the stairs.

"And that's the way to the courtyard... Down that hall," Cassandra wheezed, completely out of breath from spilling both the history and architectural wonders of each room nonstop for, well, for Celestia knows how long. "Uh... And here's your room, right near it, princess."

Twilight stared, amazed, at the large space before her: the walls matched her coat color perfectly, striped with brilliant raspberry pink like her magic aura - and the ceiling exactly imitated the night sky, with stars and nebulae exactly as they should be - with a large but cozy window space with soft blankets and pillows galore. "Who... Who thought of this?"

"Shining Armor, I believe, Princess Twilight." The young pony dipped her head. "It was really a priority for him."

"Really?" Twilight couldn't help but grin. Her BBBFF had certainly done it again - surprised her with something amazing but not being there to see her reaction. "Do you maybe know where he is?"

"By now he's probably down in the throne room, ready to leave, Princess Twilight," Cassandra said softly. "He and Princess Cadance have to take the next train back to the Crystal Empire. Something about a celebration race..."

Twilight's eyes went wide and her wings flapped out. "Are they taking the Friendship Express?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"I'll be back."

Twilight Sparkle rushed around the castle, hoping she'd remembered well enough what Cassandra had been telling her as they toured the massive building. Passing room after room after room, she started to wonder if she could possibly be lost. And then, after she had been running around for at least three minutes, she stopped... At the entrance to her own room.

She nearly groaned out loud in frustration. The entire floor was one round passageway? She pushed open the door again, still annoyed with herself for not listening well enough to the young maid's directions. Cassandra was still standing just where she had been before, patiently and loyally waiting, except now her eyes were wide with confusion. "Princess, if you, um, if you need help finding your way around..."

"I'm fine." Twilight sat down on the floor, which she now realized was also brilliant raspberry carpet. "I just wish I could have thanked him before he left, that's all." She looked up, only to see that the maid wasn't there but was staring out the window. The slightest bit curious, the young alicorn stood up and stared out the window - and there was the Friendship Express train, about to leave. And there was Cadance and her brother, and they were both smiling... Smiling at her. They'd noticed her from so high up. Well, I imagine it's difficult to ignore a pony with a horn andwings, but that's still nice. After a wave from Cadance and after Shining Armor mouthed to her "Good luck, Twily," the train lurched and pulled out of the Canterlot station heading to the arctic north.