"But- but- but-" Twilight stammered as she stood before her former mentor's throne.

Celesta merely continued to drink her tea, her calm demeanor not reflecting the gravity of the news she had just given.

"What do you mean it wasn't a test!" Twilight half-shouted half-cried up to her.

"Now I didn't say it wasn't a test, I only said that the letter from the Griffon Emperor was not fabricated."

Twilight slumped to the floor in relief, "Oh thank Harmony! I thought you were saying that you actually sent that letter back to him!" Twilight released a weary chuckle, "You had me worried there for a bit."

"I didn't say I didn't send the letter either, What I said was that you responding to the letter wasn't the test." Celestia said, not reacting to the building fear on Twilight's face.

Unable to build any more than a shaky whisper, Twilight's need for an answer prevailed over panic, "Then what is the test princess?"

"You are to deal with the Griffon threat in its entirety."

Then panic finally had its way, and Twilight's unconscious form finished its slump to the polished marble.

Author's Notes:

I really didn't want to add anything to the original letter because I feel that adding context to the letter may lessen the experience for some, to those I apologize and request they happily ignore this chapter as if it was non-cannon to the letter, otherwise, if you like where this is going, this is a tie in to the sequel found here.