Chapter one

A book flew across the room, and nearly smacking Princess Twilight Sparkle in the face as she read through her own paper back. The young Princess has been just that for a few years now, but is still getting used to her wings. Being graced with a lovely set of lavender eyes to complement her lavender coat that stretches over her tight frame. She has long dark blue hair with a single purple and pink highlight trail through it. The mare started off her studies at the school for gifted unicorns, and after passing her entrance exam (with more than stellar colors, almost bringing down the room after hatching a dragon egg) was noticed by Princess Celestia herself. Seeing the potential in this young foal at the time, the Princess took her under her wing and became her mentor. The rest is as they say history.

Twilight has learned a lot in the years of her schooling. Most importantly, the magic of friendship that she shares with her friends back in her home of Pony Ville. It was thanks to all the lessons she learned with them that got her to realize her true destiny, and become Equestrias latest Princess. The lessons of magic that she received from Celestia herself proved invaluable, but once she picked up her new title, and further proved herself competent in anything in that field, a perfect note considering she has a magical start as her cutie mark. Celestia thought it time to break out a new set of teachings for her most faithful student. Mentoring the new alicorn and grooming her in to becoming a Princess capable of leading her own kingdom one day.

Twilight used her telekinesis to levitate the book off the ground from beside her after a quick dodge on her part, as she glared over to the alicorn across from her at the table. The young alicorn can’t help but raise a brow at her mentor for the act of trying to literally assault her with a piece of literature. Celestia sat across from her, with a light innocent smile on her face as if nothing has changed from that act as she kept her eyes off of her student and on her own book for the moment. Having been the ruler of Equestria for well over a millennia. She knows to be quick on your hooves, and after knowing Twilight for most of her life, is more than comfortable teaching her in a more unconventional way. Even if it means being a little mean to one of her own books in the process.

The sun Princess herself is exactly that. Just as her younger regal sister Luna handles raising and lowering the moon and stars, Princess Celestia does the same for the sun itself (explaining the sun cutie mark on her flank). The Princess even with ruling an entire kingdom manages to keep in shape and maintain her elegant figure, much to the appreciation of her husband. Long powerful legs, and a slender torso stretching up to her beautiful face. Celestia has a solid white coat that would rival that of the cleanest clouds with a sky blue mane for the same back drop as green and pink make up the same contrast that always seems to keep itself in order no matter what time of day it is as it waves in the air from a seemingly unseen breeze. Having been around far longer than most others. The princess has learned to handle things in her kingdom and keep all the ponies under her in check, and happy with her warm, caring attitude that seems to lift the spirits of those even in the darkest of times. Although she may wear a crown atop her head though. That in no way shape or form means she will act royal all the time. After all to do so would make life rather boring, so even a princess must act like a foal at times.

Such as now…

Celestia bit down on her lower lip as she tries to stop herself from laughing at the look on Twilight's face. The look of ‘are you serious’ plastered all over Twilight as the two lock eyes finally with one another. Eventually though it becomes too much and the eldest Princess finds herself laughing wholeheartedly at her actions and their result. Meanwhile Twilight is left to fight the urge to do the same.

“Now what was the purpose in this lesson, Celestia?” she tried to ask with a straight face.

Celestia composed herself before answering and takes a breath, “It did have a point to it my student. I wanted to see if you would use the spell I taught you earlier today after all.”

Twilight can’t help but roll her eyes with a smirk as she addresses her mentor, “I thought magic study was done for today? Wasn’t now supposed to be devoted to book study of past rulers for me to learn from?” the young alicorn gave just a glimmer in her tone as the same expression makes its way on her face.

Celestia can see the look on Twilight, almost hinting for a challenge for some sort, “What was Prince Leos down fall?”

“Easy,” She grinned after having the answer fresh in her mind from less than an hour ago, “Overconfidence in his actions. Lead him to march his army right in to a trap.”

“First time anyone leader attempted to use a summoning spell?”

“Three hundred years before you, and Luna were in the throne,” Twilight answered quickly.

“What was the first thing that Discord did when me, and Luna tried to-”

Twilight though cuts her off, already knowing the answer to it before Celestia finishes, “Planted seeds that were set to capture you, and Luna. While obtaining the elements for himself,” She said smiling all the way.

Celestia can’t help but smile at the speed at which her student can rattle off these answers. She is rather impressed, but at the same time hides it so as not to revile her next actions. “Remarkable, Twilight,” She replied with a sly grin crossing her face. “Let’s see though if you can remember all that you learned today though in a slightly different field.”

The alicorn goddess raised a few more books in the air, before rocketing them at her young student. Twilight wasn’t expecting that to come from her, at least not a second time around, and is forced to dodge them as they fly in for the strike. Rolling about in the room out of her chair from the table do dodge the projected books. That is until she looks behind her, and the books trail back as if they’re homing missile spells.

“Try it, my student,” Celestia pushed protégée.

The young alicorn looked at her mentor to see what her game is. Knowing what her teacher expects from her, Twilight lets the energy flow through her and concentrate in her horn as her eyes go dark and her own itself horn starts to have sparks of black and green come out of it. Closing her eyes to focus, she puts all of her mind in to this spell and once she manages to bring it out to its fullest she snaps her eyes open to watch the inbound projectiles.

A black barrier protruded itself from beneath her hooves in front of her before contact. Bathing the room in a slightly eerie green glow. Spikes stick out from the side away from her as the books crash in to it at speed. Some of them even pinning themselves in to the spikes while others slide between and come crashing down to the floor harmlessly. None though make it through the barrier, and reach her. Feeling her power draining before her at the fairly new spell in her arsenal. Twilight cancels the spell, and the damaged books fall to the ground as she takes a seat on her hind legs to take a load off after the surprise attack. Celestia waltzes up to her side, and rests a gentle hoof on her shoulder after seeing what her student has done. All the while using her own magic to pick up the books, repair them, and place them back on the shelf.

“You did very well, my student,” She praised while helping Twilight to all fours. “Especially for having only done that spell in the training court yard once.”

“Ahh… That explains why it hurts still,” Twilight rubbed her head. Feeling the pain from the excursion of her magic taking its toll. “Thank you, Princess Celestia.”

“Now do you remember that spells origin?” The eldest Princess asked, to give reason to her own actions.

“King Draper,” She answered snapping back to reality while the pain leaves her like nothing happened after hearing a scholarly question being posed.

Celestia started to chuckle lightly as she still wears the same comforting smile about her face, “How right you are. King Draper was far before Luna or I. his magic was legendary, even if he didn’t use it for the best of reasons,” Celestia starts to explain while they put away their own study materials to wrap up for the day. “As a leader you can be expected to use magic of all sorts in your duties, and to do that you will have to possess a knowledge of all types of magic. Even that which is considered dark by most.”

Twilight pauses for a moment to think about this. She knows it’s true, after all Celestia has told her this before, and she is always willing to learn when given the opportunity to do so. Especially when a new enchantment or incantation is on the table in front of her. Then again at the same time, some of these spells are just down right evil. A spell that can bend another pony or even objects to your will and make them do anything you want like a puppet on a string, one that can cause a slow burning fire inside the body of another before it finally causes them to burst, and even one that causes a pony to lose all sense of reality and drift in to insanity before their mind breaks and they fall apart. Never the less, Celestia is right, as usual.

“I understand Princess,” Twilight bowed at her mentor's hooves, as Tia does the same to her fellow princess. “I know you will train be to the best of your own abilities.”

“And I will try to do that myself,” Celestia stopped her student as she finishes cleaning up, leaning over giving her a warmhearted hug in response. “I would like to see you ready to take on a kingdom of your own one day after all.”

“I know you would Celestia,” Twilight said. Still with some concern in her mind.

After all compared to the other alicorns. She is essentially the baby to them. Her brother and sister in law got an entire empire to rule after they were married. Resulting in many questions along the same line to be posed in the young alicorn's mind. ‘Would I really be ready to take on my own kingdom?’ Young Twilight has found herself asking on more than one occasion. “Then again I don’t see a new kingdom sprouting up anytime soon that needs a Princess to lead it,” She finishes off half-jokingly with a cringe on her face.

“Very true, Twilight. For now we can just continue with your studies should that time arrive,” Celestia told her, smoothing over any worry that Twi may be feeling. The older Princess makes her way to the door, and soon enough Twilight follows suit behind her, “Shall we get a bite to eat before you head home?”

The stomach growling in the room of the younger mare answers that question as they both giggle, and head out the door down to the kitchen.

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The dining hall is already set as soon as they arrived, considering it is well in to the evening. An assortment of fruits, vegetables, and baked goods riddle the table as the two Princesses make their way to the head while chatting about the day. Mostly what they went over with one another in the study room, out in the courtyard previously, and what can be learned from past leaders. However once they reach their spots at the table, they run in to the other regal sister that shares the castle with Celestia.

“Sister! Twilight!” Princess Luna jumped up from her seat, and gives both of them an almost bone crushing squeeze.

The younger sister is always glad to see the pair when she can. After her dark past as Nightmare moon, and her banishment to the moon by Celestia herself. Upon her return and subsequent transformation back to the Princess of the night, she has relished to see her older sibling that she missed for over a thousand years. Luna still even to this day welcomes them with a warming, if not back cracking, embrace. Fully living up to the name of a Princess of the night as well. A crescent moon adorns her flank as a cutie mark, with a coat that nearing a darkened blue sky. While a cobalt and sliver mane that holds a twinkle in it from the stars above them flows much the same way her sisters does. The evil alter ego is all but a memory behind her kind blue eyes, as she relinquishes her companions so they may eat, and take a much needed breath.

“Princess Luna,” Twilight kicked off the pair talking as she fills a small plate with several peach crisps and a turnover, “What have you been up to while Celestia and I were practicing?”

“I’ve been doing my own duties here and there. As it would seem not much happens at night, but who could have guessed that?” Luna waved it off sarcastically with a swipe of the hoof in the air. Knowing full well what can happen on a peaceful night after having nearly as much experience as her sister on the throne. “However, in my day I got a letter from our niece, sister. It seems Cadance will still be visiting here tonight. Her train just got delayed an hour or so. ”

“Well at least she still will be coming,” Celestia nodded, “I’m sure Twilight will love to see her when she can. Whether it be here or in Ponyville.”

The mare in question also nods in agreement, before her eyes are drawn to something else, “Oh my!” Twilight nearly choked on her turnover, as she takes notice of the several bruises running along Luna's body, “What have you been doing in your spare time?”

“Oh you know the usual,” Luna brushed it off her shoulder. “I’ve just been, practicing.”

“Still picking up that game called ‘Splatter Spell’ I see?” Celestia trailed off after seeing some of the bruises over her younger sister’s body.

Luna covers up quickly with her wings. Grinning slightly though at the fun of it all. The game is quite simple, instead of using the more forceful spells that could cause injury. A slightly less powerful spell splatters against a target and paints it a certain color depending on what team you are on. Albeit with a rather impressive amount of energy judging by the several marks on the mares frame. “What can I say?” Luna chuckled under her hoof as she covers her mouth. “I enjoy a little release here and there when I can. Besides shooting at another pony in combat is very relaxing and it does get me out from the console games that I’ve come to love.”

“That is very true,” the older sister grinned rolling her eyes at the younger counterpart. She knows that Luna was introduced to the electronic entertainment available through the simple console and controller only a few years ago, and sense that day she may have found the love of her life. Although Celestia never could have picked up on the skill. “Perhaps, Lulu,” She calls her sister the child name she once had, “you could use Splatter Spell to train some of the guards for combat?”

“Who do you think I play with?” She answered innocently while her eyes do far more talking. “Besides none of them are really good at the console games, and I do get tired of wiping the floor with your character every now and then,” Luna teased at her sister with her tongue stuck out. Just as the slightly bickering between the two siblings, or rivals in this instant, start to fill the space.

Twilight can’t help but snicker at the two sisters going back and forth with one another like they probably did when they were her age. Perhaps even younger for that matter. The only sibling she has is Shining armor and he is off with his wife (her previous foal sitter) Princess Cadance out in the Crystal Empire. Although her thought process of remembering all the little playful disputes she had with her BBBFF is interrupted when Celestia gains her attention.

“Speaking of which though that reminds me,” the eldest brought the lost in thought alicorn back to reality. “The subject of guards is another thing I wanted to talk to you about while I had you for the day.”

Twilight's eyes fluttered at her in confusion of where the Princess could be going with this, “What do you mean? Is there something wrong?”

“Oh no nothing of that sort, Twilight,” Celestia responded, “It’s the simple fact that, well.” She nudges her younger sister to help explain this with her.

“The fact is, young Twilight Sparkle,” Luna hit it off. “With your new home built and finished not too long ago in Ponyville. You will likely be alone most of the time there at night, considering Spike has decided to stay at the library as a home provided should you need any more reference material.” She took a moment to quench her thirst while letting what she is saying sink in to the young Alicorns mind. “There are very strange, and bad creatures out there, Twilight. Some would be all too willing to harm a young mare such as yourself. Princess or not. So in response, my sister and I have both thought it would be best to have a guard to accompany you in your new home. To help watch over things and assist you as such,” she said cringing, trying to gauge the mare’s response to the news.

“Do you really think I need a guard to keep a watchful eye on me?” She asked seeing the subject at face value for what it is. The princesses just trying help keep her safe in the world that has proven to have many nasty things about it. Most of them somehow finding their way to a little town such as Ponyville of all places.

Celestia finally chimed in to explain what her sister started, “Not so much to watch you, but others around you. It’s only for the best my student.”

“I know it is. After all you wouldn’t have even thought of it if it wouldn’t benefit me in the end,” Twilight responded while her mind categorizes the pros and cons of having another there with her. Finding no real fault with it, but still not sure on a few things. “I guess I’m just not sure how to go about this. I don’t have much interaction with the guards here in the castle to know any on a personal level.”

“That much we do know,” Luna brought up to try and ease her mind. “However, we can provide a list of the most exceptional ones here. Their skills and qualities from their personal records, and then you can choose one that’s to your liking.”

Twilight pondered this thought for a moment, but soon finds herself shaking her head in response. “As much as I may like to think I’m a good judge of character. I know somepony else who will be better at it than I,” She gestured to the royal sisters, “you two have more experience with them then I do. I would be honored to have you pick the guard of your liking for me, if you would do so that is,” she bows her head at the table.

“Are you sure about this, Twilight?” Celestia asked while looking to her sister, as Luna did the same.

“Yes, Celestia,” she nodded in response, “I trust your decision entirely, I mean after all you have been around your own guards far longer than I ever have. You know them,” Twilight excused herself from the table and prepares to depart. Spreading her wings to flex them out a bit after being more or less rolled up all day. After that little stretch is done with she walks over to the open window as the regal sisters’ escort her. Celestia is the first one to break the silence with an all too important question.

“Is there anything in particular that you would like to see in your own guard?” She asked. Mentally going over the list of them in her mind right now, “Traits that you’d personally like to see?”

Twilight puts a hoof under her chin, thinking hard about it more and more. She knows that because of her crown all the guards would be willing to sacrifice their own life to ensure her own lives. Even though the thought of one doing so doesn’t make the idea any better. It’s more of a matter of what else she would like to see from a guard that she will soon have living in her home with her. She turns to her mentor after mentally throwing together a short, but important, list. “Dependable, Reliable, always willing to lend a helping hoof when need be, and one that I seem... comfortable around,” She smiled as she gives them a last hug before she hovers off the ground. “Tell Cadance I’m sorry to leave, and not see her tonight, but let her know I’d be more than happy to meet her tomorrow at my place if she’d like.”

“We will, Twilight,” Princess Luna answered while she waved. “Take care now, have a nice flight.”

With that the young alicorn departs through the skies to her own home and leaves the two sisters to chat amongst themselves. The question of who would it be to help, and protect their young Twilight brought up more than once as the night furthered itself as they find something else to occupy their time for Cadance’s arrival.