Title:           Prologue
Author:          Anonymous
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/RVViAWKZ
First Edit:      Sunday 26th of April 2015 05:07:33 AM CDT
Last Edit:       Sunday 26th of April 2015 05:07:33 AM CDT

"So, how are you settling into the new castle?" Celestia asked with a smile, between bites of pasta.
Twilight poked at her own food with a fork held in her telekinetic aura. "We've been trying to make it feel like home, but it's still this big, empty building made of harsh crystals."
Celestia nodded, twirling her own fork. "Yes, that is to be expected whenever anypony moves, especially if most of her old belongings have to be replaced."
Twilight sighed, shifting her weight as she felt the back of the chair press her wing bones awkwardly into her spine. "Maybe, but an emptier building means fewer distractions, and more time alone with my thoughts."
Celestia set her fork down and smiled, looking directly at Twilight. "It does seem as though something is on your mind. It's been so long since we've both had enough time away from our royal duties to have a chat like this; I'd love to go into more detail on your musings."
Twilight took a sip of her cider. "I've been wondering…" She shook her head. "Never mind."
Celestia sighed. "Okay, now I know it's something important. You're almost never this evasive."
Twilight set her glass down and took a deep breath. "It's just… I've been thinking about this whole 'princess' thing, and… I'm not sure I want to do it anymore."
Celestia's fork clattered onto her plate, but her face kept its composure. "Why do you say that, Twilight?"
Twilight shrugged, wincing as her feathers got caught between the slats of the chair. "I looked over my schedule, and the time I have available to study has gone down by twenty to forty percent, taken up by all sorts of state dinners and public appearances that I frankly don't care about."
Celestia sighed. "Of course, some parts of the job are tedious, but that's no reason to give up entirely."
Twilight poked at her food some more. "I just find it hard to believe that you gave me this job, and didn't have something in mind for me to do other than stand there and look pretty.
Celestia shook her head. "We went over this before; I told you you'd find your place, and you did." She smiled, but it seemed only partly genuine.
Twilight raised her eyebrow. "That's completely backwards. You don't hire someone and then hope a job comes up!" She should her head. "It's been very rewarding to apply what I've learned to the real world and spread the magic of friendship across Equestria and beyond, but if my friends have taught me anything along the way, it's that you don't need a princess to do that job."
Celestia stood up and pushed her plate towards the center of the table. "Twilight, could you follow me? I'd rather continue this conversation somewhere more private."
Twilight pauses for a moment before nodding. "Okay, if you think that's best." She stood up and followed Celestia into the hallway, where they sat on a bench.
"I'm sorry for interrupting our meal, but you seemed to be getting agitated, and I didn't want to cause a scene."
Twilight nodded. "It's just… sometimes it feels like I can't go anywhere without my mere presence being treated like some sort of event.
"Of course. That is to be expected from a royal visit."
Twilight groaned. "That's just the point! They don't see *me*; they see the wings. They don't care about who I am or what I've done, just the title."
Celestia shook her head. "The title is not meaningless; you earned your status when you completed your studies of friendship."
Twilight rolled her eyes. "You and I both know I was playing catch-up. The lessons I wrote you about were things I would've learned in kindergarten if I hadn't been such a shut-in. If you want somepony who truly understands friendship, go to Fluttershy; she knew how to use it to reform Discord, and all I did was mock her and stand in her way, while I tried to fix things with magic like I always do!"
Celestia looked around, but fortunately nopony else was in earshot. "That's partially true, but nopony is perfect. You also created new magic. That was what let me know you were ready."
Twilight raised a hoof. "So did the author of every single spell I've studied."
Celestia nodded, impatience starting to show through her façade. "Of course not every author of a spell ends up ascending. Starswirl's spell was special."
Twilight realized her voice was rising and made a conscious effort to lower it. "Was it? I only wrote half of the spell, and it wasn't a major breakthrough."
Celestia shook her head. "That's where you're wrong. Completing that spell showed me that you'd finally come to truly understand the magic of friendship. Even Starswirl himself could not do that."
Twilight rolled her eyes. "Because you set me up, Celestia. The only reason I'm the one who solved that spell is because you sent it to me as a test. The magic of friendship is what Equestria is founded on; it's not like nopony else could've done what I did if given the opportunity."
Celestia shook her head again. "Don't be so modest, Twilight. What you did was an impressive achievement, and a worthwhile contribution to the knowledge of ponykind."
Twilight nodded. "Okay, even if the spell is as impressive as you say, and I'm not even impressed it's *useful*, since when are scientific discoveries rewarded with godhood?"
Celestia groaned. "We're *not* gods. You of all ponies should've figured that out by now."
Twilight's ears flattened. "Okay, fine, political power, then. My friends are my subjects now, and I'm really not comfortable with that."
Celestia nodded. "Do you treat them like your subjects? Do you look down on them now that you've moved up in life?"
Twilight shook her head. "Of course not, but–"
"Then that's all that matters." Celestia interrupted."
Twilight groaned. "That doesn't change the reality of the situation! Even if I don't treat them any differently, I *could*! It's not like it's perfectly fine to hold your knife to somepony's throat as long as you don't actually make the cut."
Celestia nodded. "I see what you're saying. Have any of your friends expressed this thought to you. Have they given any indications of jealousy or resentment?"
Twilight shook her head. "No, they haven't. They couldn't be happier for me. What kind of friends would they be if they weren't? What kind of subjects would express that thought to royalty?"
Celestia sighed. "You seem to be projecting your own insecurities onto your friends; you have no reason to suspect they secretly envy you. You mentioned Fluttershy as somepony who understands friendship better than you do. Do you think she'd *want* to be a princess? You said yourself how difficult it is. Your friends have lives of their own; they likely wouldn't *want* to be princesses."
This set Twilight off. "Don't you psychoanalyze me!" She looked Celestia straight in the eyes. Oh, they wouldn't, would they? Well, guess what. I NEVER ASKED FOR THIS! You're so sure that you know what's best for anypony that you never thought to ask me what I wanted, or even warn me beforehoof!"
Celestia nodded. "Things worked out in the end, however. If you had not ascended, we would not have anywhere to hide our alicorn magic from Tirek."
Twilight rolled her eyes. "Oh, don't try to pretend like you planned that; I wasn't exactly kept a secret. You just expect everything to just work out on its own; I still haven't forgiven you for laughing at me when I asked for books to help me with the transition, as if I'm supposed to figure things out by instinct!"
Celestia's ears went back. "That's what you thought…? No, I was just happy to see you hadn't changed."
Twilight's eyes went wide. "Was that a possibility?"
Celestia continued, not responding to Twilight's question. "I didn't 'force' you to do anything. The magic that transformed you came from inside yourself; I was merely a guide."
Twilight stood up. "But did you tell me what that spell would do? No, you didn't! That's not informed consent, is it?"
Celestia shook her head. "Sit down, Twilight, and lower your voice. We're still in public."
Twilight forced herself to sit back into the bench.
"I didn't force you to do anything, Twilight. I simply allowed you to fulfill your destiny."
Twilight rolled her eyes. "If I learned anything from the incident with Starswirl's spell, it's that destiny isn't set in stone, and you'll never be happy with a destiny that is simply thrust upon you." She took a deep breath. "This isn't an argument; this is my resignation. I'm stepping down, and I want you to turn me back to normal."
Celestia shook her head. "I'm afraid I can't do that."
Twilight's eyes went wide. "What? Why not?"
There was a pause before Celestia answered. "The transformation cannot be undone. If you wish to step down to focus on your studies, I don't have the authority to force you not to, but you can't go back to the way you were."
Twilight shook her head. "I know that's not true. The only transformation that cannot be undone is death itself, and even that is an open question at this point. I do have a spell that can alter 'destiny', maybe if I–"
"N-No!" Celestia interjected. She shook her head, quickly regaining her composure. "That would be… I'll advised, casting the incomplete version of a spell after it caused so much heartache the last time." She paused again. "No, come back tomorrow morning; I'll do some thinking, and maybe some research, and see what I can come up with. Just don't do anything… reckless."
Twilight sighed. "Okay, fine. I guess it can't hurt to wait another day."
Celestia smiled, clearly partially lost in thought. "Good, I'm glad that's been taken care of. Now, let's not let our food get too cold."
Twilight nodded, following Celestia back to the table.