The three weeks had already passed since Princess Celestia's letter had arrived at our home, and now, finally, it was Thursday. The sun was shining brightly from above, as if it knew just how important this day was.
At home, the atmosphere was thick with nervousness. My mother kept going over my manners, how to greet properly, how I should address a princess. My father was magically brushing my mane, trying to make it look as neat as possible. The tension in the air was so heavy, you'd think they were the ones meeting the ruler of the kingdom.
I, on the other hoof, was just excited… and slightly impatient. I had so many questions written down in my notebook! Questions about magic, time, the stars… about how everything was connected.
To me, Princess Celestia wasn't this nearly divine figure my parents idolized. I saw her as a powerful mage, yes, but also as someone who had simply lived longer than most. Being born on Earth made me see her from another perspective; she was more of a mentor than a goddess. And if she was really going to teach me, then I had to see her with curious eyes, not blind reverence.
We walked together through the streets of Canterlot, heading toward the castle. As we made our way through the corridors near the main wing, we passed several royal guards. One of them watched us as we walked by and greeted us with a kind voice:
"Good morning, Star family."
At first, none of us responded, surprised by the familiar tone. It wasn't until we turned to get a better look that we realized who it was. Serene! Her magical uniform hid both her face and figure so well, it was nearly impossible to recognize her until she spoke. She raised an eyebrow, smiled a bit at our surprise, and bowed slightly before continuing on her way.
"Was that Serene?" I asked, still trying to process how different she looked.
My mother nodded silently, still a bit stunned.
Shortly after, a maid found us in the hallway and kindly guided us to the princess's office. The door opened just as we arrived, and there she was.
Celestia. The Princess of the Sun.
Her presence filled the space—not just because of her impressive height (which was, admittedly, far taller than any other pony), but because of the calm harmony she radiated. She walked with a composed grace, with such absolute confidence it was impossible not to notice. Her magical mane floated gently, as if it moved to its own rhythm.
And yet, when she saw us, her face lit up with such genuine warmth that all the weight of protocol faded a little.
"Welcome!" she said with a smile. She gave my parents a slight nod, a gesture that only made them more nervous than relieved.
They returned her greeting with careful bows, and after a few brief words, left me in her care. My mother gave me one last look that screamed "Behave yourself!" before they disappeared down the hallway.
"Wizbell," Celestia said, looking at me gently. "Today, I'm not a princess. Today, if you'd like, you may call me Celestia. Or even… Tia."
It took me a few seconds to process that. Tia? Just like that? I chuckled a little, half-nervous.
"Alright… Tia, then."
She nodded, clearly pleased.
As we walked through the castle halls, we passed more guards and maids working with precision and elegance. Everything was spotless, like time itself had paused in these corridors to preserve the harmony.
"Tell me, Wizbell," she asked as we walked, "what do you enjoy doing? Do you have friends? What do you love most?"
The question was so simple, it caught me off guard. I thought for a moment, then replied:
"I love learning. Everything about how magic works. I like imagining spells and trying to make them real. I enjoy spending time with Flash and Lyra… and a little with Twilight too… and asking questions. A lot of them."
I proudly opened my notebook, showing her the pages full of notes, doodles, and formulas.
"Can I ask you something now?"
"Of course," she said with a patient smile.
"Your mane… why does it move like it's alive? And how can you control so much magic without it overwhelming you? A moment ago, when you came out of your office, I felt it. Your magic felt huge, like your whole being was made of it. But now… it feels different. Familiar, comforting, like a hug. It's not wrapped in that layer of dignity anymore."
Celestia stopped walking. She looked at me with a mix of surprise and admiration.
"You could feel that?" she whispered. "No other pony has ever noticed that. Not even my best mages."
I shrugged a little with a shy smile.
"I guess… magic speaks. It's just that almost no one listens."
She didn't say anything for a few seconds, but her eyes were shining. I could feel her satisfaction as she looked at me. She was happy. And whatever it was she had seen in me when she chose me… now seemed even stronger.
"You're not wrong, Wizbell. Magic has a voice. But it also has a heart. And I'm so glad you were able to feel it."
As she spoke, we finally arrived at a smaller door, discreet, hidden behind a wall of stained glass. With a flick of her magic, she opened it, and we entered her personal study. This wasn't the formal office where she signed decrees, nor the grand throne room nobles loved to visit. This was her sanctuary—warm, filled with soft cushions, shelves of ancient books, and a pair of teacups waiting beside a magical teapot that had just begun to boil softly.
"Here," she said, sitting down on a round rug embroidered with stars, "here we can talk with no titles, no interruptions. Just you and me."
"Back to your question about my mane," Celestia continued with a kind smile, "it's a magical phenomenon that happens when the excess energy can no longer be contained by my magical circuit. Also, over time, my magic has taken on a new nature. The combination of both results in this constant and gentle release of surplus energy. Would you like to touch it?" she asked with a spark of curiosity, catching me mid-stare, clearly fascinated by the shimmering waves of her magical mane.
Fear does not run through my veins.
"Of course!" I said eagerly, jumping to my hooves.
I stepped forward carefully as Celestia leaned down slightly so I could reach. When my hoof finally brushed against her mane, the sensation took my breath away. It was like touching enchanted silk—smooth, slippery, almost ethereal. Through my magical senses, I could feel a comforting warmth, as if every strand was woven with light and peace. The magical particles within it vibrated softly, syncing with mine.
"Amazing! So… is this something that happens because you're an alicorn? Is it unique to your species?" I asked as I returned to my place, still staring at her in awe.
Celestia let out a soft, amused laugh.
"Yes and no," she replied. "There are rare cases where a pony may also exhibit similar effects. And you are one of them. Or have you forgotten? According to the professors present during your entrance exam, you showed something very similar."
"Oh, right!" I exclaimed, remembering. "But it was so brief I'd almost forgotten. I remember that my magic overflowed, way beyond what I could handle or contain. And I also remember… the energy in my mane didn't feel like mine. It was something else. Something different. But I don't know how to explain it with words."
Celestia and I kept talking, like we had known each other forever. All the formality had melted away, replaced by a warm comfort that made me feel at home. At some point, the conversation shifted to books.
"What do you like to read?" she asked with genuine curiosity, settling gracefully on a cushion as she poured tea with her magic.
"I really enjoy structural spellcraft treatises," I replied, taking the cup with my own small telekinetic auras. "Especially the ones with illustrated diagrams… like The Cycle of the Living Runes and Inkbound Souls. Oh! And the 'Sun and Moon in Balance' series… those books changed my life. The language was so clear, so wise… it felt like the author was speaking directly to me."
Celestia smiled with a hint of mischief. Without saying a word, she stood up and walked to a bookshelf adorned with golden solar symbols. With a flash of her magic, she pulled out several books I recognized instantly.
"You have these!?" I exclaimed, stepping closer with wide, shining eyes. "They're my favorites!"
"I don't just have them," she said in a playful tone, "I wrote them."
I froze. Literally. I think my brain needed a full restart.
"W-what…?"
She turned one of the books around, revealing the symbol of the sun intertwined with a stylized moon—the same one that had always been on the covers, but I had never connected it to her.
"You're the author?! That's why they were so good! They had so much clarity, so much heart… so much magic!" I sat back down, holding my head. "Oh no! I would've brought them if I'd known it was you! I'd love for you to sign them!"
Celestia let out a soft laugh, with that elegant tone only she could pull off.
"Don't worry, dear. There will be plenty of chances to sign them. This is only the beginning."
I relaxed a little, still in awe. The universe made sense now. All those texts that had inspired me to study magic so passionately… came directly from her.
I took a sip of tea before pulling out my notebook. There was a question that had been burning in my mind for weeks.
"Tia… about the Accio spell," I began, opening to the page marked with diagrams. "I've been studying its runic construction, but there are runes I don't fully understand. Are these correct? And these others… could they have double meanings? I couldn't find clear references."
Celestia studied my drawings closely. Her expression turned focused, yet calm.
"I see you've been working with the classic three-ring schema… an interesting choice. These runes," she pointed one by one, "are correct. But these others… are a bit off. This one uses the rune 'Veir,' not 'Thael.' And this symbol," she drew one with a flick of magic, "represents 'projected will,' not 'forceful impulse.'"
She pulled out a small notepad and began jotting down book titles.
"I recommend The Twelve Currents of Summoning and Applied Runology for Spatial Movement. Both offer excellent explanations for that rune set you're struggling with. You'll find them in the restricted section of the library… but don't worry, I'll send you a transcript later."
My eyes widened.
"Really? Thank you!"
We kept discussing. Celestia explained how Equestria existed inside a magical bubble—a closed, self-contained space, limited in many ways. That's why the Sun and Moon had to be moved manually: they were magical bodies, not celestial. A design imposed after something—or someone—broke the natural balance.
"Discord was the one who trapped our world in this bubble long ago," she said, her tone filled with ancient weight. "He never explained why, but since then, Equestria has been isolated. The natural cycle was replaced by a magical one."
"And why hasn't anyone tried to undo it?"
"Because no one wants to return to the chaos that came before. This bubble… it may be sealed, but it's given us stability."
""!!!""
"I can't take it anymore with these ridiculous nobles!" cried a young voice, full of exasperation. "Every week it's the same thing! Empty compliments, recycled verses, promises of castles and jewels… but not a single spark of real love!"
Suddenly the door flew open and a mare burst into the room.
A pink-toned mare stormed in like a whirlwind. Her coat was light rose, and her tricolored mane shimmered with every step. Her wings were slightly spread, still restless from flying, and on her flank was a beautiful crystal heart cutie mark.
My eyes went wide instantly.
"Cadance…?" I asked, stunned. "Is that you?"
She froze, looked at me in surprise, and let out a nervous laugh.
"Wizbell! Wow… I didn't expect to see you today," she said, lowering her voice.
"It's you! You used to be my foalsitter!" I said, a mix of joy and confusion. "But now… you have wings! And that's your new cutie mark?"
Cadance rushed over and placed a wing around my shoulders, lowering her voice even more.
"Shhh, please, Wiz," she whispered. "Don't tell anyone… especially Twilight. She doesn't know yet. It's just… not time."
I blinked, letting it sink in. Then I nodded seriously.
"Alright. Your secret's safe with me."
She smiled, this time more relaxed, as if a weight had been lifted.
"Thank you. I knew I could trust you. You were always a special colt."
Celestia, from her cushion, watched with a calm, amused expression, clearly not planning to intervene.
"Don't worry, Cadance. Wizbell has shown admirable maturity. He understands the importance of certain truths… and the timing of when to keep them."
Cadance playfully ruffled my bangs with a wing.
"I'm glad you're here. We'll talk more later. But first I need to… vent a bit," she said, turning dramatically to Celestia. "Because seriously, these nobles care more about the size of my crown than who I am as a pony."
It wasn't magic, but it was still fun to hear and watch the calm, caring Cadance complain about nobles like a schoolfilly in front of Celestia.
The Princess let out a soft laugh and, without a word, extended one of her large wings, wrapping Cadance in a tender embrace. The pink mare sighed and melted into it, like it was the only place in the world where she could truly relax.
"Shhh… there, there. You're doing the best you can, my dear niece," Celestia said in a voice so gentle, almost maternal.
In that moment, for the first time, I saw both of them not as powerful figures, not as princesses or legendary mages… but simply as family.
As for me, I kept carefully jotting down the titles Celestia had mentioned. Each one felt like a new door opening in my mind—a promise of future understanding for the Accio spell formulas. I was so focused that I barely noticed when a maid entered the study. She floated in a tray of delicate pastries, placed it on the table gracefully, and left just as swiftly, without a word.
"Relax, Wizbell," Celestia said kindly. "This is a casual meeting. You don't have to answer all your questions at once. Today is also about getting to know each other… to feel at home."
I sat properly, lowered my quill, and looked at her, a little sheepish.
"Sorry, it's just… there's so much I want to learn."
"And we'll have time for all of that," she added warmly. "But tell me, what's your favorite cupcake flavor?"
The question caught me off guard. It made me think, for a moment, of home. Of Mom baking, of cupcakes, of the little simple joys.
"Vanilla," I replied without hesitation. "If they have strawberry bits, even better."
Celestia nodded proudly, as if confirming a universal truth.
"A noble and wise choice. The vanilla cupcake is a subtle art—simple yet elegant."
"Oh, please…" Cadance jumped in playfully. "Everyone knows strawberry rules the flavor kingdom. Sweet, juicy, vibrant… unbeatable!"
Celestia feigned scandal and pushed her out of the hug dramatically.
"Blasphemy! I won't tolerate such words in the presence of noble vanilla pastries."
"Tiaaaa!" Cadance protested with a giggle. "I'm just speaking the truth!"
"Truth lies in the taste buds of each pony," I said, taking a moment to savor my vanilla cupcake with strawberry bits on top. "But this… this one is definitely spell-tier delicious."
Celestia gave me an amused look.
"Oh, you have no idea how many pastries I've eaten over the centuries. In fact… if you stacked them all together, they'd form a mountain. Or two."
The image stunned me.
"A mountain of cupcakes…?" I whispered, somewhere between impressed and horrified. "That… that deserves a study of its own. How did you not explode?"
"Ancient magic," she replied solemnly and theatrically—though her eyes sparkled with humor. "Very ancient."
I chuckled softly and kept enjoying my cupcake, watching the Princess of the Sun and the Princess of Love joke and argue over flavors like any ordinary family. It wasn't magic… but something in that moment, in that warmth, made it feel like it was.