To be a Princess

by NatureSpell

Rating: everyone
Tags: Spike, Random, Princess Celestia, Slice of Life, Twilight Sparkle, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 1245

Mornings can be hard, even for a new princess, but this day promises both answers and even more questions.

What does it mean to be a princess? Twilight Sparkle is not yet sure, but a difficult morning puts her long awaited meeting with Princess Celestia at risk and with it the answers she seeks.

Published 2013-04-05 05:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2013-04-05 05:50:01 UTC

Chapter 1

To be a Princess by Nature Spell

“Twilight, Twilight! You have to wake up! It’s getting late!” Twilight Sparkle tried desperately to hold on to her dream and ignore the persistent and increasingly loud cries of her faithful assistant, Spike. Her dream was wonderful, beautiful. She was in a magnificent library discussing magic, history, and science with some of the most famous, and brilliant, unicorns that had ever lived. Even better, they were there to see her! Twilight Sparkle, Equestria’s newest princess, holding court as a princess should. It was magical.

“Please Spike.” She pleaded in her dreams. “Just one moment longer-”

The young dragon shook his head and tapped his foot with increasing speed. Enough! “TWILIGHT!” He yelled. Twilight flew into the air, thumping her head on the ceiling, and falling ungracefully on to her bed with a loud thud.

Spike’s eyes opened wide at the unexpected and grotesque sight of his friend thrashing around like a fish out of water. Her wings became entangled in her bed linens, which just served to enrage her even more.

“I think I over did it,” Spike thought to himself. Normally he would have no qualms about waking Twilight. She never had any problems doing it to him. However, the gleam in her eyes, and the glow around her horn, made him hesitant and step backwards.

Her meaning was clear. “Leave the room NOW!”

“Oh no,” Spike blurted, “Is that the breakfast burning? Ah-ah, I got to go!” He moved as quickly as his legs would carry him. He dared not look back at her for fear that looks really could kill.

Twilight watched him go and fought the urge to blast him. Instead, the purplish glow of her magic enveloped her sheets, untangled them from her wings and folding them neatly at the edge of her bed. She sighed deeply and shook her head vigorously in an attempt to wake herself and glanced at her clock. She gasped at the time. She was going to be late for her meeting with Princess Celestia.

“Spike, Spike,” cried Twilight. Spike came running into her bedroom. “I’m so late! I’m so late!” Twilight could feel the old panic and tension rising inside her, but she forced it away, and took several deep, cleansing breaths.

Spike put up s clawed hand. “Hold on Twilight! It’s OK. Remember she is coming here, right?”

Twilight smiled and nodded. “You are correct my faithful assistant. Thanks Spike and I’m sorry if I made you a bit nervous. I would never zap you. Well,” she thought, “at least not for waking me up.” Spike grinned at her. “It was a really nice dream,” she said longingly.

Spike opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by a knock at the door. He went to answer it and was confronted by the formable presence of Princess Celestia flanked by two of her royal guards. Spike bowed as the princess entered.

“Princess Twilight. It’s so good to see you,” said Celestia in her most regal voice.

Twilight tried her best to emulate her. “Likewise Princess Celestia. The pleasure is all mine.” They stared solemnly at each other for a moment before breaking into laughter.

Celestia moved to hug her prodigy and now fellow princess. “Oh Twilight it is so good to see you. I know your mind is full of questions and I’m sorry I’ve not been able to give you the time you deserve.”

Twilight shook her head. “It’s fine and honestly this,” she searched for the right word, “this break has been good for me. It allowed me to come to terms with this change.”

Princess Celestia studied her favorite student with a searching gaze. “And how do you feel about what’s happened?”

“I’m happy, excited, overwhelmed and honestly really scared. I worry about my friends. I think about them a lot and how huge a role they played in making me into the pony I am today. Without them, I’d have nothing. I want to be true to them and to our friendship. But,” Twilight paused, “honestly, I just want to start my new life. I’m getting a little bored. What will I be the princess of? I don’t even know that much!”

Celestia nodded and smiled, “You, my dear Twilight, are the embodiment of friendship and the magic that it brings. I told you that already. We all have roles to play in this life, Twilight. My hope, and Luna’s, is that you will be able to move freely among our people and still be an inspiration to them. Help them when they are in trouble, guide them, and be their friend in a way that my sister and I can not. You mentioned your friends and you’re right to say they made you a better pony and that is what friends are supposed to do. You did the same for them and they’ve done the same for each other. You, and they, will still wield the Elements of Harmony to help protect our people. But above all Twilight, I want you to live your life, love your life, and allow life’s currents to take you where they will. You need to grow into your new role and that will take time and may not always be easy. Does this make sense to you?”

Twilight nodded slowly. “I think, yes. I guess I’m a student once more and maybe a teacher as well.”

“A student yes, but you are even more so a teacher. People will come to you, Twilight, as they come to us all. They come filled with questions, concerns, fears. You must meet them in friendship, and do your best to guide them, as I’ve tried to guide you.”

Twilight shook her head in confusion. “But how? How will I find the time to listen to every ponies problems? It’s impossible.”

“You’re correct. No pony, not even I, could manage such a feat and I’m not expecting you to. Many will come to you in person, or to your fiends, or to their friends or to perfect strangers. You’re not alone Princess Twilight Sparkle. Never forget that. You are not the sole source of friendship. No more than Cadance is the sole source of love, or Luna of darkness, or me of light.”

Celestia paused and smiled. “I think, my dear Twilight, that I’ve said enough, I think maybe too much. You will find your way. It will make sense in time. Trust in that. However,” Celestia sniffed the air, “I sense there is a far more pressing matter to deal with.”

The perplexed look on Twilight’s face made Princess Celestia smile. “I smell breakfast, Twilight, and I must admit I am starving after our conversation.”

Twilight reddened as it dawned on her that, in her quest for answers, she’d utterly failed as a hostess. “I’m so sorry! Spike! Spike! Please bring in the breakfast you made.”

Spike shook his head in mock disgust, “Finally! I’ve only been waiting for hours to serve Princess Celestia my famous flapjacks and-” A knock on the door interrupted him.

Twilight opened the door and in bounced Pinkie Pie. “Did somebody say flapjacks? Who doesn’t love flapjacks? I mean duh! They are like the best breakfast ever. I mean come on..” Pinkie moved to greet Princess Celestia with her typical overwhelming exuberance.

Twilight sighed, but Celestia was content, and called to Twilight. She winked. “Remember Princess Twilight, Friendship is Magic.”