My most loyal student,
If you are reading this than you must have supplanted me as I had hoped for you and just like my teacher before me, there is one last lesson I must teach you. I know that you have noticed how you are allowed to fail or make mistakes that would otherwise end with horrific torture and death. I have made sure you have lived your entire life in fear of that. Knowing what I could and would do if you betrayed me. You are not like other ponies, and no, my student, not because of your current position or the magic contained within you. You, as is every alicorn that now lives, a clone of your mentor. The process is not perfect and one cannot clone experience. The deals we have made with the dark kings to accomplish this is a bit more complicated than I care to get into. I'm sure by now you have had dealings with these creatures and understand.
You will of course be asking, why go through all of the trouble? Why not simply groom a member of my court for it? For my kingdom and my people. You are me. I can predict your thoughts, patterns and inclinations. I can trust that by the time you have the power to overthrow me you will have the same single minded focus needed to keep my people safe and complacent. You have met the people of this land. They are weak willed and ignorant of the dark forces that seek to destroy them on a practically daily basis. We are not ignorant of the threat these things pose and how to slay them. If the people knew what we must do to answer these threats or to keep the peace, we would be unable to control them. A shell political system that allow those with ambition to operate in their own little sandbox while I keep an ever watchful eye for those that would seek to destroy my lands. The people live peaceful docile lives where I am their god. I know all and hold all the power.
But you are special. With you, my people will remain safe. My kingdom will be secure and everything I am will be carried on in you. I have groomed you your entire life, let my most loyal vassals raise you in your youth in the manner I decided for you. I took you into my tutelage to control your pattern of growth. If ever I could say this of anyone, you are my daughter. My child. My legacy.
Of course, you are aware this whole letter might just be a means of making you drop your guard. That if you act in accord with this while there is any chance that I am yet living, your life will be forfeit. And as I have been grooming you, I know exactly how much pressure to use. What methods, for how long, to make your death as slow and painful as possible. If you try to supplant me while still too weak to defeat me, I will not restrain myself from truly reminding you how traitors should be dealt with.
Stay Cunning,
Princess Celestia