The Principles of Magic

by Starlight_Flight

Rating: everyone
Tags: Snails, Spike, Twist, Cheerilee, Adventure, Diamond Tiara, Slice of Life, Twilight Sparkle, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Snips, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Silver Spoon
Length: 3717

Twilight lectures on magic but adventure happens, so her lessons are illustrated along the way.

Twilight Sparkle is invited by Cheerilee to teach the children about magic, the different types of magic each pony has, and the very basics of how it all works. As Twilight is getting started, what appears to be a ghost starts haunting the schoolhouse; mayhem ensues, and each of the lessons in Twilight's lecture must be used to clean things up and send it home.

Published 2011-10-06 22:53:06 UTC
Last updated 2011-10-14 23:33:50 UTC

A bright and sunny morning

The Principles of Magic
By Starlight Flight

Chapter One: A bright and sunny morning

It was a beautiful morning, and the sun was rising gently over the eastern hills. Ponyville was coming alive with the sounds of ponies getting to work in their gardens and market stalls. Twilight's alarm clock rang out, and she sat up to reach out her hoof, pressing its top and shutting off the rattling bells, then bringing the clock over to look at the time. With a roll and a smile, the violet unicorn leapt out of bed.

"Hey, Spike! Wake up! Today's the day I'm going to teach all the fillies and colts at the schoolhouse about magic."

"That's nice," said Spike, waving a hand at her. "I'm going to stay here and sleep in."

Twilight lifted the blanket off of Spike's basket with her magic. "Now, Spike, what would a lecture on magic be without my Number One magical assistant?" When he continued to lie there trying to snooze, she lifted him as well, and set him upright on the floor. "Why don't you get a little breakfast started while I check my things?" Spike stood there rubbing his eyes until Twilight gave him a nudge with her muzzle.

"All right, all right! I'm going." And he headed downstairs to the kitchen.

Once Spike was moving, out came the checklist, followed by getting things done. "Wake Spike: Check! Brush mane:" She gave her mane and tail a handful of strokes with her brush. "Check! Notes and saddlebag: Check and check! Breakfast..." Twilight leaned over the railing and called downstairs, "Spike! How's breakfast coming?"

"Doing just fine, Twilight!" came his reply. The pony nodded to herself and trotted down the stairs, eager to finish her breakfast and head off to the schoolhouse.

Spike emerged from the kitchen with a chef's hat on his head and a big stack of pancakes balanced on a platter in his hands. He walked proudly to the table and laid out two plates and some silverware, then pulled up a stool and tossed his hat aside. The dragon grabbed a pair of flapjacks and laid some butter on them, then poured syrup all over. "I hope you're hungry, Twilight. I know I'm starving!"

"Thank you, Spike. These smell wonderful." Twilight placed two pancakes on her plate, then topped them with a two-bit-thick pat of butter and an eighth of a cup of syrup. As she was eating, there was a knock at the door. She set down her fork. "That must be Cheerilee! I'll answer the door, and you clean up, okay?"

As soon as Twilight's back was turned, Spike scarfed the other three pancakes on the platter. "Whatever you say, Twilight. Man, I'm a good cook!"

It was indeed Cheerilee at the door. "Good morning, Twilight! I came by to see if you were awake. I know you stay up late some nights." More like most nights, but perhaps she was too polite to mention it.

"Good morning, Cheerilee! I made sure to get plenty of sleep last night, and I set my alarm extra-early before I went to bed, so I should be just fine."

"That's good. I hope you're ready for your guest lecture. I know it's a big subject, but I hope you kept things as simple as possible for our schoolfoals." In her mind's eye, Cheerilee was seeing the huge stack of notes at the last speech Twilight gave.

"I did my best. I read a book on teaching before I started, and it reminded me to keep my audience in mind when I write something. I know they aren't all professors of alchemy or thaumaturgy, and this was supposed to be just about the basics."

"I'm glad to hear it. I'm going to head up to the schoolhouse now, and let the students in. We'll be ready for you in about a half-hour or so, after I've taken attendance and read the day's announcements. I'll introduce you, and then you'll have the floor. If you need help, I'll be grading some papers in the corner."

"All right, Cheerilee, I'll keep that in mind. See you then!" And with that, Cheerilee walked off and Twilight shut the door. "A half-hour, good. That means I have time to finish my break--" The purple pony's eyes got rather big as she saw the empty table where she'd been eating just a few minutes ago.

"Spike!"

A purple and red-finned head leaned out of the kitchen doorway, a few soap bubbles floating by. "What is it, Twilight? I'm cleaning up like you asked me to."

Twilight planted her hoof on her face. "Of course."

The guest lecture

Chapter Two: The guest lecture

Twilight and Spike arrived at the red schoolhouse exactly half an hour later, knocking on the door, then opening it to see the whole room looking at them. Cheerilee saved the pair from an embarrassing silence with her quick response: "Oh, Twilight! Good, you're just on time. Everyone, Twilight Sparkle will be delivering today's lesson, on magic!"

Snails spoke up first, "Magic, woohoo!" That earned him a sour look from a couple of earth ponies.

Applebloom spoke up next. "Why do ah gotta learn about magic? I ain't got no horn!"

Twilight jumped in, saying, "I think you'll be surprised, Applebloom. Magic per se isn't restricted to just unicorns. Pegasi and even earth ponies have their own special forms of magic. Cheerilee, shall I just start into my lecture?"

Cheerilee grinned. "Certainly, Twilight! If you need me, I'll be over here in the corner, grading papers." Then to the class she added, "And if any of you ponies need me, I'll be right there!" Watching you all, you little troublemakers. She retired to her desk with a smile.

Twilight nodded, and stepped front and center. She placed a few notecards on a nearby lecturn and cleared her throat.

Twist spoke up, "My mom can make you a lozenge for that throat, Miss Twilight." The class laughed.

Twilight smiled. "Thank you, Twist, but that won't be necessary. Why don't we get started? Spike?" Spike picked up a marker and went to the flipchart, turning it to a blank page. Then he drew a horn, while Twilight lifted up her first notecard.

"All right. Magic. Magic as we know it was discovered in the misty past, before the Nightmare War, before Celestia and Luna were even born. As far back as ponies can remember, we have had magic all around us, and magic within our souls.

"Most of us think of unicorns when we think of magic. Making light with our horns, lifting things, making images and causing objects to come to life are some of the tricks and spells that unicorns like me have access to. Pretty awesome stuff, right? But there's more to it." Twilight nodded to Spike, who drew a wing and a hoof on the same page.

"Pegasus ponies have the magic of weather, wind, and flight. When you need a raincloud or a gust of wind, they can bring one to you. Some can carry enormous loads through the air. Some can fly fast enough to produce fantastic effects. And a few have special tricks, like trails of lightning."

"Like the Wonderbolts!"

"Yes, Scootaloo, like the Wonderbolts. A lot of that comes from how they train to use their special weather magic to make that power come alive."

"But what about earth ponies? All they get is tough and stringy!"

"You take that back, Diamond Tiara! Big Macintosh ain't stringy! 'Sides, yer an earth pony too!"

"Applebloom is correct, Diamond Tiara. You, and all earth ponies, will usually receive more physical strength than other ponies. Your connection with the land is also deep enough that earth ponies who don't have farming cutie marks often still have excellent green hooves. Plants grow easily in your care, and the power of the land dwells strongly in you. Earth ponies are also extremely flexible in terms of the kinds of jobs you can hold. And while Princess Celestia's royal guard is primarily big, tough pegasi, earth ponies make up the bulk of the peace officers' corps, as well as many governmental positions where an understanding of the land and the people is needed."

"This is boring! Why don't you show off a few tricks like the Great and Powerful Trixie?"

"Now, Snips, you should know by now that I don't like to show off. Spike?" Snips gave her a downcast look. Spike flipped the page, and drew a six-pointed star on the page. Twilight moved to yet another notecard.

"We all know now about the Elements of Harmony, and how friendship can win over terrible evil. But what else goes into magic? There are many natural elements of magic which must be considered if you wish to learn the secrets of its power."

"Haaay! Who pulled mah tail?!" Giggles came from all around. "Ah'm serious, somepony pulled mah tail." Applebloom turned around. "Was it you, Snips?"

Snips shook his head immediately. "Uhh, no! It wasn't me! I wanna learn about magic!"

Then Diamond Tiara squeaked. "Who was that, tickling me! I demand to know!"

Cheerilee frowned as the ponies accused shook their heads. "I didn't see anything, Diamond Tiara."

Then Diamond's eyes grew large, and she gasped as everypony saw the tiara on her head rise up and fly out the window. "That's my favorite tiara! I made it yesterday! I need it back, now!"

Cheerilee stood up and looked to Twilight. "Twilight, would you be so kind as to help her out?"

"I certainly would!" Twilight reached out with her magic and tried to pull the tiara back in, fighting a strong pull all the way. The window slammed shut, and then the flipchart slammed backward onto the floor. Twilight immediately looked at Spike, who held his hands up.

"It wasn't me! Look!" And he pointed at the blackboard eraser, which lifted up and clapped Twilight over her head, leaving her briefly stunned, her face covered in chalk dust.

Twilight stared, then sneezed. "Cheerilee, we might have a poltergeist in here."

Eyes and ears

Chapter Three: Eyes and ears

Silver Spoon screamed. "A poltergeist! That's a horrible spirit that throws things around and pulls mean tricks!"

Twilight tried to smile, saying, "Well, they don't always..."

Spike yelled "Duck!" as the blackboard eraser swung at the back of Twilight's head. She ducked, and it flew onward, hitting Silver Spoon in the nose. The filly coughed and sneezed, rubbing her muzzle.

"My looks! Ruined by that awful ghost!" She started to cry.

Cheerilee walked out from behind her desk. "Now, everypony, let's not get too upset! Why don't we go outside, and maybe Miss Sparkle can finish her lecture out there."

Twilight nodded, "That would be an excellent idea, Cheerilee! By the way, would you happen to-" The teacher gave her a blue kerchief. "Thank you." Twilight wiped the chalk dust off her face as they got all the little ponies lined up and out the door amidst a storm of chalk pieces and school papers.

Once everypony was outside, Spike showed up again, shielding himself with a book. "When I agreed to come along, I didn't think I'd have to be afraid of a paper cut!"

Finally the whole group was settled and organized, and Twilight could resume her lecture.

"Since most of you forgot your notes inside the classroom, I guess I feel better for forgetting mine, too." She gave them an embarrassed smile. "Now, one of the first lessons, the most basic principle for learning magic, is awareness. You have to feel the magic in your hooves, your horn, and your wings. Other creatures also have magic in them, and you can learn to feel that, too. Becoming aware of your inside starts with becoming aware of your outside. Does anypony remember what happened first when the poltergeist manifested?"

"Ah do! Ah do! It pulled mah tail, an' that hurt!"

"Good! Anypony else?"

Twist spoke up: "I heard somepony giggle next to me when we all laughed after that. It was right next to my ear, too!"

"Excellent! If you remember where you were sitting in relation to one another, we can find out things like how quickly it might be able to move."

Sweetie Belle broke in. "Or if there was more than one! I heard two strange voices laughing."

"Two? Are you sure?"

"I know what I heard!"

Snips looked horrified. "There's more than one? Oh, no, they're gonna take over the school!"

Snails also looked horrified. "Oh, no! No more school! Wait... Yaaay! No more school!"

"Yaaay!" everypony cheered, except for Cheerilee and Twilight Sparkle (who looked at each other).

"All right," said Cheerilee, "Now, who else can remember what happened, and if there was something they saw or heard that nopony else did?"

Hooves shot up all over, and everypony had an answer, but Twilight managed to shoot down the more outrageous ideas so they could focus on actual observations. Finally, they had a list of observations that everypony could agree on.

"All right. There were two voices laughing, and objects flying from two different directions. It seems we might have two poltergeists or other spirits playing pranks in the schoolhouse, and not one." Twilight had Spike write that down on a salvaged piece of paper.

"Now, the next principle after observation isn't always as much fun. It's information. I don't know a lot about poltergeists, but the library probably has a few books on ghosts and spirits. So the next step is research, finding out about spooks, haunts, and other scary things. Would anypony like to make a field trip to the library with me?"

Cheerilee stood up and interrupted. "Twilight, I know you're probably eager to finish your lesson, but it's almost lunch time, and most of our lunches are inside the school."

A dozen pairs of young eyes looked at her, and the whole group trembled in fear. "My lunch," cried Diamond Tiara.

"We're not far from the apple farm," suggested Applebloom. "Maybe we could get lunch there if we tol' mah sister Applejack 'bout the poultrygeist!"

"I don't want your common farmer apples, I want my lunch! It had grapes and bluebells in it!"

"Oh, quit your whining," said Scootaloo. "You can have some of my apples if you'll shut up about your lunch!"

Cheerilee smiled despite the attitude. "That's quite generous, Scootaloo, but let's go ask Applejack about lunch first, before we start sharing apples we don't have yet."

Lunch break

Chapter four: Lunch break

As Cheerilee gathered the group, Twilight looked at the schoolhouse and spoke up.

"Cheerilee, I think it's gotten quieter inside. I'm going to try fetching my notes. Is there anything special I should bring back out?"

"I don't have anything I need to get. Perhaps one of the children might. Everypony?"

"I want my lunch!" This was followed by a chorus of demands for lunches, and a few notebooks. Twilight listened and nodded to every request, asking Spike to make a list of names and items.

"Aw, shucks. Ah was hopin' Ah could go see mah sister."

Twilight smiled to her. "It's all right, Applebloom. If I can bring everything out here, we can have lunch here and I can finish the lesson. And then school will probably be done for the day."

One of the younger foals was getting fidgety, and raised a hoof. "Miss Cheerilee, I gotta go to the bathroom!"

"Uh... perhaps Twilight could escort you, if we ask nicely?" The teacher smiled to her guest. Please?

"Pleez Miss Twilight can you take me to the bathroom?"

"Of... course I can! Spike, could you add that to the list?"

"Okay, Twilight! Um, I'm gonna put that right at the top if that's okay with you." He ripped off the sheet and held it up for her. Twilight caught hold of it with her magic.

"Good. C'mon, kid, we're going in!"

"Yaaay!" The little pony was practically dancing at this, though she probably would have been anyway. At least she had a grin instead of a grimace now.

As they stepped inside, Twilight warned the foal to be careful, as things might start flying at any moment. Fortunately, the trip was entirely uneventful, and all the lunches and notebooks and other things were retrieved successfully, while other business was quite happily taken care of.

As they approached the other ponies, however, something grabbed one of the lunches Twilight was carrying, and tried to run off with it. She lifted all the bags higher, and the forward pull turned into a downward pull. "Hmmm. Hey, Spike? Do you see anything on this saddlebag with the tiara on it?"

Spike looked closely. "Hmmm. Nope! I don't see a-- waaait a minute, there's something different there. It's like the air's a little shimmery."

"Ooooh, shimmery!" All the ponies crowded around to see, and to try grabbing their bags and materials. "Wait, that's my saddlebag!" "I wanna see!" "I want my lunch!" "Didja get mah pencil, too?"

Cheerilee once again came to the rescue. "Now, now, children. What do you say?" And they all stopped yammering to say "Thank you, Miss Twilight!" as their belongings were properly distributed. The shimmering and pull seemed to have gone away when they'd gathered, and nopony was being bothered as they all got their lunches out and began to eat.

With all that taken care of, Twilight looked over her notes and tried to arrange them in the air. "Darn, they're out of order. Let's see... Introduction; Horns, Wings, and Hooves; Observation and Information... I think this is the next one." Then her own stomach grumbled, and she looked embarrassed. "Er, oops! Heh, heh, I guess I didn't have as good a breakfast as I thought." With two things trying to occupy her thoughts, she knew she wouldn't be able to focus, especially if one of them was hunger. "Cheerilee, would it be a good idea for me to finish this lecture tomorrow?"

Snails looked up from his lunch and gave Twilight big puppy eyes. "But I wanna learn about magic! I wanna be an awesome magician and save Ponyville and put on a big show and stuff!"

Snips chimed in with a mouthful of sandwich: "Yeah!"

"There's no school tomorrow, Twilight," said Cheerilee. "You'd have to wait a few days. It would probably be best if you finished up after lunch. After all, your adventures make you more qualified to handle this poltergeist than any of us!"

And then Diamond Tiara was heard, complaining to her clique. "Do you know my Aunt Crystalla was haunted? She must have passed her curse down to me!" Twilight shook her head at the melodrama, then perked her ears.

"That's it!" She trotted over. "Diamond Tiara, do you know anything about hauntings?"

Doing the research

Diamond Tiara looked at Twilight. "Hauntings? Do I look like a ghost hunter?"

"Well, you were just talking about your Aunt Crystalla."

"Gasp! That's a family secret! How do you know about her?" Little Diamond tried to skewer Twilight with a suspecting gaze. The young mare gave her a quizzical look in return.

"You were... talking about her. Just now."

"I have no idea what you're talking about. Right, girls?" Diamond tried to hide her nervousness. Then Scootaloo jabbed her side with a hoof.

"C'mon, tell us! It's not like we don't know your aunt went crazy anyway."

"Your aunt went crazy?"

"She did not! She had a ghost haunting her! It wasn't her that threw that bag of amethysts at the mayor!"

Twilight was intent, trying to ignore both her hunger and the impending squabble. "So... did she ever get rid of the ghost?"

"Yeah, did she?" taunted Scootaloo.

"Yes, she did! She went to see a mystic who gave her a ritual to perform, and she performed it that night. The next day the ghost was gone."

"Do you know what sort of ritual she used?"

"Daddy never told us. He just said that ghost would never bother us again."

"Interesting. Thank you, Diamond, you've given me a lot to think about."

The filly looked proud, until Silver Spoon stage-whispered, "Yeah, telling family secrets to strangers is gonna get us sooo far!" That earned a dirty look which was quickly hidden.

"You know, Twilight, I've been doing some research on ghosts myself," said Spike. "I just didn't want to spoil my Nightmare Night surprise. But... one thing I read is that you can use a bell, a book and a candle to banish ghosts."

"You can? Diamond Tiara, is that something your aunt might have used in her ritual?"

"I... I think so! She always had this crystal bell on a ribbon around her neck after that, and said as long as she wore it, no trouble would ever bother her agAAAAAAHH!" Diamond lifted up into the air, and spun clockwise three times, then dropped to the ground. "Oof!"

Then Spike yelled out. "Hey! Now something's got my tail!" He grabbed hold and yanked it back. A nasty little giggle echoed from nearby.

Cheerilee sighed. "All right, children. Let's go inside and gather our things, quickly. Diamond Tiara, why don't you stay with Twilight Sparkle, and we'll see what we can do for you, all right? I really don't want this to get wild again." All but a few of the ponies ran for the schoolhouse. "I'm sorry, Twilight. I hope I can make this up to you; I'm sure you don't get to discuss the subject of magic as much as you've been used to, here in Ponyville."

A few minutes later, all the ponies poured back out, followed by Cheerilee, who walked over to Twilight, Spike and Diamond. The others mostly scattered toward their homes.

"Class is dismissed, I take it?"

"Yes. I really don't want a poltergeist ruining the lessons they're supposed to learn."

"Hey, Diamond," said Applebloom.

"We wanna hunt ghosts," said Scootaloo.

"And use magic rituals to end the hauntings," said Sweetie Belle. "So now we're..."

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS: GHOST HUNTERS!! YAAAY!!!"

Twilight, Cheerilee, and Spike all winced. Diamond Tiara covered her ears.

"Oh, yay," whispered the little jeweler, with an unhappy look.