Ascension

AscensionBy Word WeaverChapter 2: Potential

Now it wasn’t long before the young foal started developing her magic. You see, foal unicorn have dormant magic that is naturally repressed by their own bodies. However, at times the foal will not be able to fully repress its own magic. Being so young it is difficult for their bodies to contain the magic, and sometimes they must let it out.

Celestia was a special case though. She went on more magic surges than any foal unicorn. A magic surge is when a foal can not control the magic inside itself. They are able to do things they normally can't do as infants. They can preform spells without knowledge of that spell. If it weren't for the fact that Sol was her father any other parents wouldn't know what to do with her. He could easily contain her with his own magic and prevent her from damaging anything; including herself. But Sol was still concerned. Every time his daughter went on her little tirades, she would get more and more powerful.

It was late at night, and Umbra had long since put Celestia to bed. She had sung her a lullaby that her mother had always sung to her when she was a small filly. She remembered it fondly as it was one of the few memories she had to remember her mother by.

Umbra’s mother was usually a tough mare, but after giving birth to her she was put in a severely weak condition. She held on for 3 years before passing away. During those 3 years, her mother was bed ridden. Often Umbra's mother would have her sleep with her, and she would sing her a lullaby to help put her at ease. Umbra would sing the lullaby just to remember her mother and cherish what few memories she had of her.

Her lullaby spoke of the moon and the sun:

Oh moon in the sky, so bright and so calm.

You hold the dreams of young fillies softly in your palm.

Oh sun in the sky, so radiant with life.

Watch over the fillies and protect them from strife.

Umbra was sitting outside looking at the moon for which she was named. Sol approached with some concern written on his face.

“Umbra… I’m worried about Celestia. Her magic surges are becoming worse and more frequent.”

“Sol I know how you feel, but you are the strongest unicorn around. I know it’s not difficult for you to control one foal!”

She laughed and Sol joined in as well, but worry soon took over Sol’s face again. No matter how easy it was for him to prevent Celestia from causing damage to herself or others, he knew that this was strange.

“I know, Umbra… I know… But with how often these are becoming… It’s not normal at all.”

“Well Sol, if you are so concerned, why don’t you send for your friend Star Swirl? He knows a lot about the properties of magic, doesn’t he?”

“Ah… Star Swirl. It has been a while since I’ve seen him too. That’s a wonderful idea Umbra. I’ll send for him tomorrow. He’s a brilliant stallion. His face is always in a scroll or writing one though!”

Sol laughed again in his usual deep a booming tone. He may be the strongest magic user, but he wasn’t a pushover. He was fairly large; a real stallion among stallion. Umbra was the opposite of Sol in many ways. While he had a very loud booming voice, hers was soft and sweet. And while he was large and bulky, she was small and swift.

With a plan set, Umbra looked back at the moon. Sol joined her and they enjoyed another peaceful night in Canterlot. Sol nuzzled up against his wife and the two fell asleep under the caring watch of the moon.

A week had passed since Sol had sent a letter for Star Swirl. He had gotten a reply from his old friend that he would be passing by Canterlot that day. Sol was anxious to see Star Swirl again. He wanted to catch up, but he primarily wanted some answers on Celestia’s “condition.”

“Where could he be? Its already past noon!”

Sol was pacing, and he was getting impatient.

“Sol, just calm down! Star Swirl will be here soon, just you-" Umbra looked down the road, and noticed Star Swirl walking toward them. "Oh, why look there, speak of the devil!”

Down the road walked a young gray stallion with a white mane. He wore a hat with bells and stars, and a matching cloak to compliment it. He was fairly large, but still paled in comparison to Sol. As he got farther down the road, he noticed the couple waiting for him outside.

“SOL! IT’S BEEN TOO LONG OLD FRIEND!”

Star Swirl knew Sol could be impatient, so he had decided to yell down the road and calm him a bit. Sol waved back at Star Swirl and waited for him to get closer to the house.

“Ah, Star Swirl! It is good to see you! How have you been? I hope you haven’t been spending ALL your time with your face glued to a scroll now!”

The two exchanged chuckles.

“Well more time in scrolls than outside, but it is refreshing to get out of that tower of mine!”

“I bet it is! Won’t you please come in and have a seat?”

“As much as I appreciate the offer I think I’d rather chat out here for a while if you don’t mind! I did mention that I don’t get out often!”

Again the two laughed in unison, and they sat down in a small field near the house. Umbra went back into the house to wake up Celestia and feed her. The two chatted and reminisced about their days as children. They talked about the magic they had learned, and what their families had been up to. Sol and Star Swirl had been friends for years; ever since they were young colts. They were each other’s greatest supports and greatest rivals when it came to magic.

Sol showed more raw magic while Star Swirl demonstrated more skill. Sol had a habit of using too much magic when he would perform spells, and Star Swirl was a stallion of knowledge. He had a knack for inventing new spells and finding ways to minimize how much magic is used during a spell. After their catching up, Star Swirl decided to get to the reason for his visit.

“Alright Sol, what was it you called me here for? Your letter sounded urgent. You haven’t called in a favor in years… Not since we were young little ponies, and you asked me to teach you a simple levitation spell!”

“Well, the reason is concerning my foal, Celestia.”

“Ah. Celestia you say? That is a fine name! What is your concern?”

“Well you see, as all young foals, Celestia is having magic surges. They are easy for me to contain and control, but they are becoming stronger and more frequent. Much more frequent than any other foal I’ve seen!”

Star Swirl nodded. He often did this when thinking deeply about something.

“May I see your daughter please? I think it would help if I could examine her for a second.”

“By all means my friend, of course. If it will help; anything.”

The two stallions walked back to the house and found Umbra feeding Celestia.

“Oh are the two of you done talking so soon? Did you put your worries to rest?”

“Actually Umbra, Star Swirl would like to examine Celestia for a second.”

“Examine her? Well, I guess its fine, I just finished feeding her so go right on ahead. I trust you Star Swirl.”

“Thank you Umbra. I’ll only take a moment.”

Star Swirl levitated Celestia in front of his face and looked her over very carefully. Then he sat her down on the table. He went into their kitchen and pulled out some salt and berries. He made a circle with the salt and ornamented it with characters written in berry juice. He started chanting. Celestia started to float and glow; but was soon after returned down to the table.

“Well Sol, my friend, I have the answer to your dilemma.”

Sol’s eye’s widened with surprise, “Do you now? What’s the cause of all this then?”

“It’s actually very simple… and… well… astonishing really. I haven’t seen anything like this before!”

“What do you mean by that, old friend?”

Sol raised an eyebrow thinking that Star Swirl had bad news.

“Well, from the spell I just preformed I can measure a pony’s magical capabilities. And from what I measured, Celestia’s potential is beyond anything I’ve ever seen. Even now her magic is roughly half of what ours is, Sol.”

Sol took a step back, clearly amazed by what he had just been told. But not only was he amazed; he was overjoyed! His daughter had extreme potential to be an immensely powerful unicorn just like himself!

“Star Swirl, I must say, this has definitely lifted my mood. Thank you for your time, old friend!”

Sol looked over the horizon and saw that the sun was setting.

“Do you have a place to stay tonight? It’s getting dark.”

“No, no. It’s quite all right. You see I've developed a new spell, but to do it you must know exactly where you want to go. I couldn't use it to come here because I have never been to this house of yours. But getting back to my tower shall be a completely different matter.”

“Star Swirl what are you talking ab-“

Without another word Star Swirl’s horn glowed and flashed, and was gone in an instant. Sol shook his head in disbelief.

“That little genius, he’s always coming up with something new!”

Sol trotted over happily to Celestia who was currently in Umbra’s arms. He lifted her with his magic and spun her around with great joy.

“Did you hear that, my daughter? You truly are destined for greatness!”