The fire crackled merrily in its hearth, casting a warm glow on the study's occupants. Twilight Sparkle was enjoying a rare visit from Princess Celestia, and after a long day of activity the two had returned to the Ponyville Branch Library for some R&R. Spike had already drifted off to sleep on the rug in front of the fire; the older two ponies still awake to read a few more pages of their novels. Celestia was reading a century old biography of herself titled Celestia, Philosopher Queen, which was inaccurate and sycophantic enough to elicit an occasional chuckle. Twilight was reading a copy of Equestrian Revolution, detailing the known history of Equestria.

“Say Princess, I've been meaning to ask you something for a while now,” Twilight began. “I've read a lot of Equestrian histories, but most of them leave out anything about the founding other than what's already in the Hearth's Warming Eve pageants. And none of them really have much until after your first victory against Discord...”

The Princess placed a hooftip in her book to mark her spot on the page, and looked up.

“Which has led you to wonder what happened in between and why it isn't mentioned, I presume,” Celestia said.

“Well, sort of. I'm curious about that time, sure, but it has more to do with...” Twilight hesitated. “Not to be rude, but more to do with where you came from, Princess. There aren't any mentions of you at all in Preclassical history.”

Princess Celestia smiled. It seemed every few decades somepony worked up the nerve to ask her about this, and she had been suspecting Twilight would ask her someday.

“I suppose I could tell you, my faithful student,” Celestia began with a bit of concern in her voice. “It's not as interesting a story as you might think, though, and I tend to keep it secret so as not to disappoint ponies. Are you sure you want to know, even if knowing might make you think me less impressive?”

Twilight paused for a moment. “How would it change my opinion of you?” As she was saying that, though, Twilight realized what the Princess was getting at. “You don't think I'm one of those superstitious ponies that thinks you're as old as the Sun, do you?”

The Princess was slightly surprised to hear this. Most ponies that looked up to her as much as Twilight did were of that camp. But it made sense, Twilight was a student of magic first and foremost, and Celestia had had plenty of time to see that firsthoof. Celestia was the most knowledgeable magician alive, so it made sense, then, that such a dedicated mage would hold her in high esteem – even if she wasn't a Goddess.

The Princess smiled. “It is a fairly common misconception, but it does make my job easier from time to time. But! I digress. It seems like no harm would come of telling you. Do promise not to tell too many ponies, though? The Court can get fairly unruly at times, and I don't like to give away the ace in my horseshoe everyday,” Celestia winked conspiratorially at Twilight.

“Of course not, Princess. Losing a friend's trust is the fastest way to lose a friend!”

In the distance, a voice could be heard to shout, “Forever!” but it went unnoticed over the crackle of the flames as Celestia began her story...