One of the few redeeming facets of instructors, she thought, is that occasionally they can be led astray with false truths. It was true when her mother and father forced her outside to play, away from her books, it was true when her foal sitter had tried to bar her from the libraries, and it's true now with learning magic.

"You haven't been practicing!" Star Swirl admonished, "You've been putting that snout of yours to the books more than that horn to actual practice!"

"I have too been practicing!" Twilight protested. "It's just a difficult exercise."

As if in response, the feather she was currently levitating began to tremble and twitch in midair.

"You aren't concentrating!" he accused. "Have I not taught you better control!"

"It's the wind!" she argued. She wanted to add "from your loud mouth," but thought better of it. The High Wizard would probably add another control ring upon her horn, increasing the pressure upon her already strained abilities.

"The wind," he sneered, mimicking her voice. "Like this, foal!"

Her mental contact with the object of her concentration was suddenly interrupted as the feather darted towards the ceiling. Jarring to a halt as though imbedded before slowly rotating around and gliding about, as though caught in an invisible eddy.

She risked a glance at her master, whom was lazily draped over his chair, rear legs dangling, horn barely aglow as all his attention apparently devoted to devouring a well baked roll. A roll she had to not only slaved away with making, but also had given to him in hopes of appeasing the strict teacher.

He looked up suddenly meeting her eyes. It was far too late to turn away, and so Twilight intensified her glare, hoping to bore a hole through his head.

"Hungry?" His grease-flecked snow white beard was suddenly framing a wolfish grin. "Then show me how much you have truly learned, away form those books!"

For Twilight, it was a mere heartbeat before she realized what he'd meant; looking up desperately. The feather was tumbling towards the floor, a bare shoulder-height from landing.

"Don't let it touch the floor." Came the lazy challenge.

Forcing the tension from her body and easing a fine glow of magic from her horn, invisible fingers reaching out to and encasing the feather as she mentally spoke to herself...like a pillow...don't scare it...don't force it.

The feather halted a scant two hoof-spans from the floor.

She heard Star's low chuckle, but didn't allow it to break her concentration. She hadn't let the feather touch the floor for three years, and it wasn't going to touch now.

Slowly she raised it until it floated at eye level. Wrapped with a gentle purple glow, it rotated on its axis, then swapped ends. She allowed it to dance through the air, its movements not as smooth or sure as Star Swirls, thanks to the control ring, but it did move unerringly in its assigned course.

Although she had not been practicing with the feather, she had been practicing. When Star Swirl was preoccupied with his own studies. Twilight was lifting other objects, books, and keys among other things. Each type of item having its own inherent problems. Metal being inert, was difficult to maneuver, even control. Books being of nature, held its own rules which fought against the unicorns natural abilities. The feather, being once apart of life, was too responsive, the slightest adjustment in magical control being the difference between smooth flowing movement, to downright magical devastation, least in her part. All in all, it was a difference between effort and subtlety.

"Good enough girl, well then, put it back in the book."

Twilight smiled. This part she had practiced, not because of any potential applications, but because it was fun.

The book itself, "Magical Studies Grade One," sat open upon a workbench. Gently she lowered the feather, it dipped, once, then twice, before settling upon its point. As it rested, she quickly disengaged part of her mind to dart ahead of the book. As the feather crossed the pages with its tip, she brought her hooves together, and in response, the book snapped its hungry jaws, trapping the feather within.

"Hmm, a trifle showy, but effective." Intoned Star Swirl.

"Just a little something I worked up while practicing, away from the books!" said Twilight, casually maneuvering a steaming roll towards herself. Instead of actually coming to her though, it remained upon its plate, as though rooted to the spot.

"Not so fast my little bookworm. So you've been practicing eh?" He stroked his beard thoughtfully with his fore-hoof.

"Certainly, didn't it show?" It suddenly occurred to Twilight, that old Star Swirl the Bearded, was not an easy unicorn master to fool.

"In that case, I should like to see you light your candle. It should be easy for you now if you've been practicing as much as you've claimed."

"Er...I have no objections to trying, but as you've said yourself, some lessons come easier than others!"

Although confidence echoed in her words, Twilight felt her spirits sink as a large, glyph covered candle made its way form out of a nearby cabinet to rest before her. In four years of trying, she was yet to be successful with lighting the accursed abomination that was magically welded together wax and string. If Star Swirl meant to keep her from food until she was successful, she was going to be going hungry for a very long time. "Master Star Swirl, it has occurred to me, that I would be able to think better with a full stomach."

"It occurs to me that you are stalling."

"Couldn't I..."

"Now Twilight Sparkle."

She winced, it was no use. Once Star Swirl used her full name, it was too late to argue. That much she had learned over the years. Foal, bookworm, fool, eggplant, wandering eyes, though derogatory, as long as he was using one of these nick names, his mind was still open to suggestion. Once he reverted to her proper name, it was hopeless. It is indeed a sorry state when the sound of one's own name, was akin to that of a death knell.

"Gods I hate this candle," she muttered, her frown growing ever deeper as the control ring upon her horn was removed.

The control ring was a simple tool that came in many levels. Each level dispelled a creatures magical abilities, some went as far as completely removing their magic altogether. In Twilight's case it was a safety precaution, meant to keep her magical outburst from reaching levels of epic destruction.

Thus having the ring removed merely reinforced the seriousness of this current test against her almighty foe. The dreaded Alchemists Candle. With its intricate design and symbol. A test in of itself which forced the user to delve into the deepest parts of their soul in an effort to bring forth a flame, a spark of magic that could light its wick.

No half effort, nor feigned concentration would work here. Twilight focused, using every ounce of strength and skill to bring out all her power, all her control.

For Star Swirl it was a rather pleasing show of stupidity as his student danced about the candle in a mild panic, waving her hooves, shaking her head, and wiggling her flank, all in some stupid attempt to bring out an ability he had seen deep within her the very moment she had came into contact with the soul of magic itself. Of course a young foal of the past could be given some leisure, unlike the overly studios unicorn that danced before him today.

Negativity filtered through the unicorns mind with each failing second that past. Such a simple test seemingly controlling time itself, turning seconds to hours and minutes into years. The young unicorn hopped about, waggling her hooves in a silly display of spell casting, all of which proved useless against the might of the candle. A candle that Star Swirl had forced her to build. If she had known what she was building, she probably would not have been so thorough with inscribing the mystic ruins that adorned its body.

She paused, taking deep and long breathes, pushing thoughts away, as all the negative energy was dampening her abilities more than helping.

"How does Star Swirl do it." She allowed a momentary gaze to linger upon her master before returning to the candle. "He's so calm and controlled, like it didn't really matter...It...it doesn't really matter though...does it? No, it couldn't be so simple, but..."

She allowed her mind to wander, the wick itself merely another thought in her subconscious, the white water rapids of imagination and uncontrolled thought became clearer and clearer with each passing second. Soon she could envision the turmoil that was her mind, turmoil which she began to whittle away at, damming up the rushing waters so that it could become a controlled trickle. The final plug to the wall, that wick.

A sudden surge of energy grew within her, warming her to the tips of her hooves. Not wanting to scare it away, Twilight caressed the warmth with her mind and eased it to the tip of her horn.

It mattered not if the candle lit. All that mattered was Twilight, her abilities, and how it dwarfed all those around her. Her teacher, her family, and her homework.

She reached out, a very small yet very bright ember of magic kissing the candles wick. In a blink of an eye, the ember vanished, all evidence of its existence a mere plume of white smoke which drifted lazily into the air. She realized too late that she had broken concentration.

"Brilliant!"

Star Swirl was suddenly beside Twilight, almost cheek to cheek as he had been watching with great interest the inner battle that the younger unicorn was having. How long he had been there, she didn't care.

"It...it went out," she said plaintively.

"never mind that! You lit it, that is what matters most!" he cuffed her shoulder roughly in his praise, continuing "You've confidence now! Next time it will be easier! By Luna's stars, well make a magician of you yet. Eat, eat! You must be hungry after that ordeal."

She nearly yelped as a roll was skewered upon her horn, Star Swirl's enthusiasm not lost upon her as he had chucked the still warm roll at her with a flick of his horn.

"I was worried about you my dear, worried mind you! What made it so hard? Has it occurred to you that such a a spell could serve to light your way whilst picking a lock, or reading the darkest secrets kept in tomes hidden by other wizards? Maybe even start a fire as a diversion"

"I thought about it," answered Twilight, ignoring the odd screams of common sense. "Light would be distracting, it would surely show my presence within the confines of others homes and archives. As for diversions, I'd be afraid...of...hurting someone..."

She stopped as she realized what she had just said. A heavy cuff from Star Swirl and she was quickly seeing the stars themselves as they swirled about her head.

"I knew it, just like my last apprentice!" he shouted, "To be a common thief, to steal the spells of others rather than pursue your own avenue! What do you expect to go on and be a show mare for all the world to see?"

He towered over her, rage in his eyes, but for once Twilight stood her ground.

"What of it?" she snapped "It beats starving. What good is it to have all that knowledge locked away, to never be seen again? To have it forever out of reach from others, when it can benefit so many! What if I want a little more light to fight away the mold, its not like your lifestyle gives much for one to look forward too."

She gestured to the cluttered room that was the entirety of the hut.

"Listen to the foal complain!" Star Swirl sneered, "Bad enough you nearly blew away the School for Gifted Unicorns, expelling you from there teachings due to dangers beyond their control. No I had to be generous in hopes of educating a new apprentice, one I would expect to be humble and understanding."

"I haven't left! I'm still here," she shouted, "Amidst your insults, your cuffs, and your jerkish attitude, I have continued to stay, to learn, but you've done nothing, nothing at all to show me the benefits of my lessons. Levitate this, move that. Excuse me, but hiding in a tiny hut out in the middle of the Everfree is hardly what I would call high expectations of life as a scholar! You were living on roots and berries before I came along to organize your hut, your garden, and everything else!"

They glared at each other for several long moments, neither giving ground. Her anger vented, Twilight began to feel fear creep throughout her soul as she realized she had not only talker back to her master in such a condescending way, but insulted Equestrias greatest arch-mage. Sneering and berating a high class magician was probably not the answer to a long lived, and healthy life.

Surprisingly it was Star Swirl who gave ground first. Drooping ever so slightly as his gaze turned away form his student to the floor. Giving her a rare view of his unkempt mass of white mane.

"Perhaps you are correct my dear and young Twilight," he said softly, in a tone so strange and so rare, one of comfort and respect "Perhaps I have been working you to fiercely in the art of spell casting without showing you its rewards. I constantly forget how much others disregard the true abilities one can posses."

He met her eyes, and she shivered, a glow like she had never seen before flickered behind his dark grey eyes.

"Know you now, Twilight, that the land of today was truly not like that of the past, where a skillful practitioner of the arts can reap benefits the likes which you have never seen, requests, functions, meeting of like minds. Back when the princesses not only had power of the kingdom but of magic, all before the banishment of the dark one, and the day of long nights. Power, the power of the mana flows, the ley lines! Tidal waves of energy at your beck and call, such power that..."

He peered down, realizing he'd been standing upon his rear legs, emanating an aura around him so much so that his own student was trying to make herself as small and inconspicuous as possible in his sights.

"Ahem," he cleared his throat, wiping away the magical aura, "But you aren't impressed by mere words are you my dear? Come then, I shall show you a little demonstration of some of the power which you shall one day wield. If you practice your lessons that is."

The jovial tones in his voice were forced, and Twilight could only nod in agreement. Truth be told, she would rather opt out of the demonstration, fearing what was to come. His brief oration had been more than enough to inspire her with awe more than any angry tirade or demonstration, but of course she would never want to contradict him especially at this time.

Already striding into he middle of the hut, a series of lines began to etch away along the floor, eating at the wood and replacing it with the blue of his mystical aura. Soon the etchings held, permanently marked into the floor. Star Swirl gesturing all the while with his horn, a charred copper brazer scuttled out from a corner to meet him at the center of the now completed pentagram.

Something wretched Twilight's attention away from the cantering brazer. She checked all around, confusion etched upon her face. What was it? Star Swirl was at work, busying himself with many potions and powders, emptying a drop here or entire contents there within the brazer. Whatever he was working on, it promised to be spectacular.

Then she heard it again, muffled sounds, like those of hoofsteps upon the evening grass outside.

But it couldn't be possible, she thought. Star Swirl always sets the...no, her memory came up foggy. She couldn't recall him placing the protective wards before he started his work. That would be ridiculous though, caution was the first and most important thing that Star Swirl had hammered into Twilight when they first began her lessons, so far deep within the Everfree.

She was nearly ready to interrupt him in the midst of his spell crafting when he suddenly turned and leveled a powerful gaze at her. The warning quickly dying in her throat. This was no time to impose reality upon the situation, for that very glow was back in his eyes and it was only growing more intense.

"Even demonstrations can teach a lesson," he intoned. "Control, Twilight. Control is the mainstay of magic. Power is useless without control, even the strongest tidal wave is but an uncontrolled waste of energy. With control it becomes a force so powerful, none can stand up to it, be it the mighty mountains, or the world itself. That is what I want you to remember, even your powers are a danger, I've seen it, the destruction you had wrought upon your school during the entrance exam, uncontrolled power that could have killed if it weren't for my intervention."

"To demonstrate the value of control, I will call upon the vast void, and summon to us beings of impossibility. Beings from another world Twilight, so powerful that they would render us to pieces. Powerful, cruel, and vicious, and with a hunger for our very flesh. Yet despite this, we need not fear them, because they shall be controlled. Unable to harm us or anything else in this world as long as they are contained within this pentagram. Now watch Twilight, learn from my actions."

He turned once more to the brazer, horn aglow with power, its tip growing all the more brighter as he began his incantation. He braced his legs upon the floor, doing so as a series of candles slammed down upon the ground, encircling the pentagram and exploding with light. The lines began to glow with life as magic flowed through them, an eerie blue, symbols appearing within each quadrant in scripts that Twilight had never seen before. From the brazer, a thread of smoke rose, but it never touched the ceiling, instead it began to coalesce within the guarded circle, seething, pulsing. Star Swirl's chanting growing louder and louder. The brazer was soon enveloped in its own cloud, and within, something, two figures began to take shape.

"Discord sends his regards, Star Swirl."

Twilight nearly jumped. Those words had come from inside the hut, but not inside the pentagram. She turned to face the source. A figure stood just inside the entrance door, blinding in a cloak of chaotically meshing colors. For a mad moment, she swore it was the very demon whom Star Swirl had summoned. Then the crossbow appeared, and she saw it for what it really was, a black unicorn, yet the crossbow, cocked and loaded, did nothing to give peace to her mind.

Star Swirl didn't even turn as he snarled, "Not now you fool!"

"It has been a long hunt arch-mage," the unicorn continued, ignoring the elder unicorns warnings, "Did you really think you could continue magic outside the laws...and...hide from...us?"

"You dare!" Star Swirl turned, is towering form seemingly made larger by the aura of his rage. The armed one saw the wizards face, his rage, and soon his own face shifted from smug, to one of fear. The soft click and twang of the crossbow came, yet it was too late, the loud sound of *PROPERTY DEPRECIATION* exploded within the little hut.Twilight couldn't see what Star Swirl had done, but the other unicorn disappeared in a wall of flame. Shrieking in agony before falling to the floor. A smoldering corpse in his place, the only evidence of his existence that remained.

For several seconds, Twilight Sparkle remained rooted to the spot.

"Star Swirl," she said at last, "Star?...Star Swirl!" she gasped at his form, slumped against a nearby wall. In a single bound, she was at his side, but it was far to late. The tell tale sign of a bolt protruding from his chest signified his end. Star Swirls death rattle had already left, echoing in the room. He had given Twilight her final lesson.

She cradled his body in her hoofs, letting a tear drop before feeling all the ice of the north empty itself into her stomach. Before her, at the rear left hoof of her now dead master sat a single, unlit, tipped over candle. The northern most point, gone. Her blood froze, opposing the heated glow of the nearby smoldering corpse. The lines of protection were no longer glowing, with the master gone.

With agonizing effort, Twilight slowly, ever so slowly lifted her head, eyes trailing along shadowy silhouettes to see two pairs of eyes, draconic like pupils regarding her, one set embedded in gold, the other in ice cold blue.

Author's Note

Need to exercise my brain before I can really delve into my other writing ECHO...so here, have some comedic adventure instead!