Chapters My Findings on Magic, Research Notes 1
Discovery of the Century
Primary Research Notes
Starswirl "The Bearded"
Head Researcher at the Equestrian Academy and Princess Celestia's Personal Student
On this day, three months after the defeat of Sombra and the disappearance of the Crystal Empire, I have made a groundbreaking discovery into my study of magic. As such I found it necessary to formalize my notes and findings up to this point for analysis of my discovery.
Magic, as it pertains to most ponies comes in three forms. For Earth Ponies, magic is transferred from themselves into their fields to grow crops like no other race is capable. For Pagasi, magic is imbued within them, allowing them to shape and mold clouds like clay. Unicorns are able to harness magic to preform a myriad of tasks, from a simple levitation spell to a transmutation of metals. It should also be noted that the magical abilities of most unicorns is limited to their talent. Only a select few unicorns whose talent IS magic, such as myself, are capable of preforming complex spells outside their field.
This brings me to my discovery. I believe that I have found a new type of magic, spoken magic. What I believe I have found is an incantation which, when spoken, should make magic happen. This spoken magic, in theory, should be doable by all unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies alike. It may even be that this spoken magic can be done by other races such as minotaurs or gryphons. However I have not had any interaction with other races outside of combat, so this point is merely speculative.
I arrived at my discovery continuing the research I did at the Crystal Academy on the nature of magic. (Side note: The Crystal Empire sure has a thing for naming things The Crystal _______) During my studies at the Crystal Academy I discovered a mysterious resonate frequency of magical energy. Luckily for my research I was able to "acquire" enough equipment from the Crystal Academy before Sombra's uprising, otherwise my research would have been put on permanent hiatus. Without droning on about the technical details of how I found it, this frequency could be mapped to form a sound wave. This wave seemed to be a chant, or speech spoken in an unknown language. Written phonetically the chant is:
Dee Slen Ak Kronen
Kronen Ak Slen
Mah Deend Es Slend Nahkneed
Krunten Nahd Okdee Ukneed
An interesting note about this is that after I discovered the original sounding out of the chant, I attempted to preform the spell by saying the chant as it appears phonetically. Nothing happened, indicating verbal magic requires that the caster knows what they are saying. For me as a researcher, this is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing in that I don't accidentally tamper with the laws of reality, a curse in that all progress is slowed immensely. This language is unique in that it shares no similarities with any known language, modern, or ancient. I brought is before scholars of all groups, and none of them were able to find a mach to my chant. Eventually my search led me to only one option, contact with Surprise, the Omen of Death. While I cannot say I enjoy his ( hers, it's?) company, we do share an inseparable bond. He represents the Element of Laughter, and I the Element of Magic. If there were anypony to grab his passing attention it would be me.
I headed down to the Canterlot dungeon in hopes a prisoner would be ready to go soon. Luckily for me there was. (Equesria is a naturally peaceful place, with few criminals as it is. And most criminals are able to be reformed to be functioning members of society. It is a rare occurrence that someponies life would need to be taken) During that unfortunate soul's passing breath, I called out to Surprise. I had my assistant, Quilldance, write down the interaction for inclusion in my research:
(Prisoner dies)
And just like that Surprise faded out of existence just as he faded in. With parchment in hoof I returned to my chamber to prepare this document. From this point on my entries are current and pertain to my research. The verse, translated into modern Equestrian is:
From One to Another
Another to One
A Mark of ones Destiny
Singled out alone Fulfilled
What this means or does is a complete mystery to me. (also a terrible shame it does not rhyme as well in Equestrian) It is my hope that by saying this phrase I will cast some spell and take the first step into understanding Spoken Magic. However I dare not speak the phrase now. I wish to have as many instruments as I can monitoring myself when I speak for the first time. However, that shall be another day, for it it is dark and me tired. Tomorrow I shall continue my work and unlock the secrets of Spoken Magic.
Author's Note
My inspiration for the other holders of the Elements of Harmony come from this piece of art. If you read this far, thank you for reading and I hope that you read the rest of my story as it plays out.
Just like every morning, Princess Luna lowered the moon to make way for Princess Celestia to raise the sun, bringing forth the day. For most ponies this means time to wake up and begin their daily activities. Though, this was not quite the case for Starswirl the Bearded, for he had gotten up hours ago to begin preparing his laboratory for the day's experiment. Not that he even noticed the rise of the sun, for he was far too occupied preparing his lab. The tables lined with all kinds of gizmos, gadgets, meters and dials, crystals of all shapes sizes and colors, yet the tables still had enough space to have stacks of parchment, ready for notes. "Well I can't believe I manged it, but there it is. Every piece of equipment I have, lined up to take whatever kind of data I can get." Starswirl said proudly to himself. "I think that just about covers everything I need to do before I begin." His stomach disagreed, letting out a loud growl. "Well, perhaps not everything"
On his balcony the old unicorn sat, sipping tea whilst his toasted oats cooked. Just as he watched the last bit of sun rise up over the distant mountains, he saw somepony flying toward his tower from Canterlot Castle. Somepony indeed, It was Princess Celestia coming towards him. As she landed, almost as if by habit Starswirl bowed before the princess, then spoke. "Oh, Princess Celestia, how unexpected. I wish I knew you were coming, I would have made more tea."
"That's quite alright" Celestia assured her student. "How is your research going? Grimm Day tells me you met with Surprise last night."
"Grimm Day?" Starswirl pondered for a moment before continuing, "Ah, yes the executioner. Terrible job that must be, to take somepony's life. But I digress, yes I needed Surprise's help translating an ancient text I discovered." Ding! The old unicorn jumped a bit when his kitchen timer went off. "Oh, that must be my breakfast ready. Please Princess, come inside and I'll tell you more about my work."
The two of them entered into the main chamber of Starswirl's tower. On one end sat his desk with the incantation out and ready to read. Surrounding the desk were three tables lined with equipment. The center of the room lay a staircase spiraling up and down around a bookshelf filed with books and scrolls innumerable. The other side of the room held the kitchen which Starswirl went directly towards to fetch his meal. While preparing his meal Starswirl continued telling Celestia about his work. "Remember the research I did at the Crystal Academy? Well this is a continuation of that. You will find my complete notes on my desk there. Do not read them aloud though, just in case. Basically I believe I am on the verge of creating a new type of magic entirely. Well new to modern ponies a least. What I found was a short passage, a chant more like it, in an ancient and unknown language."
While Starswirl was going on about his discovery, Celestia was taking a closer look at the notebook lying on the desk containing the spell. As she read her student's work she became both impressed and perplexed. Even for an alicorn Princess like herself, the prospect of creating new magic is completely unheard of. The closest thing to magic different from the three magics of the pony races is the pure magic of friendship, and that is still tied closely with the them. Upon reading the passage in the notes relating the work to the Crystal Empire, Celestia felt a wave of worry for her student. "Starswirl, I do hope you do not take this too far. This research seems dangerously close to what Sombra was doing before he went mad. I'd hate to see the same happen to you."
The robed unicorn finished his breakfast before answering his teacher's concerns. He explained, "Ah Celestia, your worries are just, but I assure you, what I am working on is truly my own. No, signs of corruption here." He then walked over to the tables lined with instruments and strolled between like a filly in a flower garden, admiring his setup, the bells on his outfit jingling as he moved. "And, unlike Sombra, who just rushed into his work, I take the time to monitor everything. That way if anything bad happens I know about it. Well, me and my assistant Quilldance that is. Celestia, I don't claim to know how much formal research you've done, but I cannot stress enough the importance of a second set of eyes."
Happy to see that her student was prepared for what he was doing she made her way back out to the balcony. The two said their goodbyes and Starswirl returned to his lab to begin his work. Well he would have, had Quilldance arrived. He told her to be early, as he wanted the whole day to work on the project.
After another 10 minutes of waiting Starswirl finally hears his assistant coming in downstairs. "Sorry, so sorry I'm late" Quilldance apologized frantically. She was unpacking her saddle bag practically throwing stuff around trying to make up for lost time. All the while giving a long winded explanation "I know you asked me to come in so early, but then I had to skip breakfast, so I thought 'I'll just grab a doughnut on my way there', but most doughnut places weren't open yet, so I was practically running all around Canterlot trying to find a place that was open, and, uh, I brought you a Trotston Creme?" She used her magic to pull the pastry out of her saddle bag and held it up to her master almost as an offering.
With a small chuckle Starswirl said "I was merely wondering......And thank you for the doughnut, Trotston Cremes are my favorite" He took the doughnut from his assistant and took a bite. With great joy he exclaimed with his mouth still full "By my beard! That ish the besht Troshton creme I've had. After we're done here you have to tell me where you got thish."
Starswirl finished the doughnut and seeing the light gray unicorn was done as well, he directed his assitant as to the experiment. On the outer tables sat equipment that would passively collect data which he could review at a later date. The center table held what he believed would be the most important instruments. Starswirl explained to his assistant in a professional manner, "You will be here, behind the center table. Flux meters, aura readers, you know how they all work. What I need you to do is write down as much data as you can. Just as this will be an experiment into new magic, it very well may become a test of our own abilities, so be prepared for anything. So, I'm going to be here, in the center and I will cast the spell. And then, we see what happens." Starswirl glanced over his set up one last time almost as if it would give him some last minute information. "Well, if everything is ready, let us begin"
The old mage took his spot next to his desk and opened his book to the final page. With great profoundness he read the lines. "From one to another, another to one, a mark of one's destiny, singled out alone fulfilled" He paused for a few seconds expectantly, but nothing he could notice happened. Yes, he could hear the scrawling of quills, and the tick tack of the equipment, but his spell had no effect on the physical surroundings. He stood there perfectly motionless still as if waiting for something to happen, eventually Quilldance began speaking "uhh, master?"
"Hush" Starswirl quickly silenced her. "I think I feel something coming" he said pensively. After another few seconds of silence he let out a loud sneeze, breaking the tension in the room. He then began, "Perhaps we should start looking at that data."
Meanwhile in the Canterlot Castle throne room, Princess Celetia was sitting at her throne, attending to run of the mill paperwork. Several guards were posted around the room, just in case something were to happen. And as always, by the princes's side Fenix the Dragonslayer, with his own phoenix partner, Philomena. Clad in his own gilded armor of plate metal, the earth pony stood vigilant for the princess. Under his helmet, nopony could see as his gaze became distant. Though this was only momentary, as he soon snapped himself out of it.
With a loud thud a bird flew into the stained glass window of the hall. everypony around took noticed it, but soon forgot about it. Everypony but Fenix that is. He soon began mumbling to himself on a long winded chain of reasoning making little sense. "Birds, no they don't fly into windows, no they fly in the open. Unless it were brought in close by a gust of wind. but winds don't blow into buildings so he bird mus have been led in by a pegasus." His rambling grew louder and faster, still not making much sense, but he wouldn't stop. "But a pegasus has no reason to fly a bird into he castle. Castle, in the castle is the princess. But what could a bird do to her? It didn't even make it in, it just made a loud noise." By now the armored stallion was pacing back and forth across the room nearly shouting his train of thought. "Loud, it shocked us, all of us. Shock the princess, while doing her duties. Princess Celestia!" He finally stopped talking for a second right in the face of Celestia, breathing heavily trying to catch his breath.
With a very worried tone Celestia tried to comfort the troubled pony "Fenix, it was just a bird, I think you're over reacting a little."
"Yes it was a bird, but now the question. The burning question. The burning burning burning BURNING" Fenix then ripped off his helmet and threw it across the room, revealing his firey red mane. He paced back and forth continuing to say the same thing, each time more painful than the last "Burning, burning, burning" He fell down at Celestia's feet and held his head between his hooves. Now weeping between words he continued "Burning, burning. Princess, my head, it's burning up." And just like that, he collapsed on the floor, unconscious.
He was brought to the castle's medical ward to be cared for. Like a worried mother Celestia waited outside the infirmary hoping Fenix was alright. Eventually the princess was waived into the room where Fenix lay. The princess asked "Well, what happened to him? Is he going to be okay?"
The doctor replied "Honestly, I'm not sure, It's like nothing I've ever seen. Physically there's nothing wrong with him, except for one thing." After a pause he pulled back the sheet over Fenix's hind leg, revealing his Cutie Mark. "This is not the Cutie Mark of Fenix the Dragonslayer" Right on his flank, where there would normally be the image of an ornate silver shield was instead an hourglass. After the shock of what had been revealed died down the doctor continued "I'm sorry to say, that I don't know what to make of this. It's not a case of the Cutie Pox, nor any other illness known to pony.
The collection of startled ponies was interrupted by a strange noise. Like a string instrument played incorrectly, the noise broke the silence with it's shrillness. Shortly after the noise started a tall blue box faded into existence in the corner of the room. A brown pony stepped out from inside the box wearing a grim look on his face. Celestia quickly recognized this pony as The Doctor, a time traveling stallion, and the element of Loyalty. As the Doctor approached where Fenix lay, Celestia began speaking to him. "Oh Doctor, thank gods you've come. Fenix, he went crazy, rambling on about nothing, then he said he felt his head burning, then he collapsed. But now we examined him and found his Cutie Mark it looks just like yours. Please tell me you've seen something like this before. Can anything be done"
The Doctor merely looked blankly at the unconscious pony lying before him. He then said, in a monotone voice matching his dreary expression "Fenix is dying. Not yet though, not until he wakes up. He has the mind of a time lord, and his body cannot handle it." The Doctor silenced himself for a second to let those in the room take in what was said. He then continued "That is why I came, I do not come to heal ponies, just help them to death"
Celestia knew the Doctor, she knew what he did in the past, who he is. This pony of death standing before her was not the same pony. She was about to speak up when she noticed something, something she had not before. The Doctor's Cutie Mark was not the hourglass it was supposed to be. It was instead a black winged skull. It was then she noticed a pattern, Fenix, with a time lord's mind, with the Doctor's Cutie Mark, and the Doctor, being so different, with a Cutie Mark also not his own. It was as though who they were was changed. As though their destinies were different. "Of course" She exclaimed, realizing the connection. The spell Starswirl had prepared spoke of destiny. She realized whatever that spell was, it did this. She grabbed a quill and paper and wrote out a note to her student. She called out to Philomena, who was at her master's side. "Philomena, bring this message to Starswirl the Bearded, make sure he reads it right away." She opened the window and the phoenix took flight, scroll in claw towards Starswirl's tower.
Back in Starswirl's tower the two unicorns were studying the data collected from the experiment. Quildance guided her master through the drawings she made from the aura reader. "As you can see, when you cast the spell, your magical aura spread out, almost to the point where it did not exist. Moments later it reformed, but from six directions going towards your whole body rather than just your horn, as one would expect."
"Fascinating," Starswirl began, "It's almost as if..." The old unicorn was cut off from his thought when a phoenix came in through the open balcony doorway and into the room. Philomena landed on the middle of he three tables, nearly knocking off some of the irreplaceable instruments from the Crystal Academy. "Blasted Bird! Doesn't the princess know how serious this work is?" Starswirl said under his breath. Pilomena let out a loud coo obviously directed at Starswirl to bring his attention to the letter she held. "yes yes, I see the note" grunted to the bird. He held it open with his magic and read it aloud to himself.
Dear Sarswirl
I believe your experiment may have had adverse effects on some of the ponies at the castle. I need you here Immediately to understand what's going on. Bring the spell.
Princess Celestia
With an odd mix of concern and joy Starswirl packed his saddle bag with his notebook and the aura reader and began making his way down to the door. As he was making his way towards he door he said to his assistant, "My spell had some effect at the castle. I'm going there now to see what happened."
Just as he reached the door Quilldance stopped him with a question. "Wait, what about me?" She asked with a hint of eagerness to join him.
For just a second Starswirl thought on this and replied, "No, you stay here and keep analyzing the data." And with that said he went out the door.
The bearded unicorn made his way into the castle and towards the ward. He was only half paying attention to where he was going, as he was looking more at his instrument, concerned more for the data he might collect than the effect this spell may have had on the ponies around him. Much to his disappointment he found no differences in the magical energy. Eventually he entered the room where Fenix lay, and Celestia and the Doctor by his side. Without fully realizing what was happening he said to the princess in an inappropriately excited tone "Celestia, I came as soon as I could. What exactly is it that my spell did?"
The alicorn walked over to Fenix and revealed the changed Cutie Mark. "Your spell, it gave my protector, Fenix the Dragonslayer the Doctor's mind. And the Doctor, he's not the Doctor, he says he only comes to help ponies die. These are not who these ponies are. You have to do something to fix this."
The Doctor too approached the old stallion to speak. "This pony will die when he wakes up. If you will do anything, you have until then."
In shock about what he just heard, Starswirl sat down trying to take everything in. Completely dumbfounded he did what felt natural, he went to his notes. He looked the over and over, trying to find anything that would help. When he realized that there was nothing he knew about what to do he just hung his head in lament. After several minutes of woeful silence he eventually spoke up. "I suppose I could re-cast the spell, and maybe that would help" he suggested, though with little confidence.
Celestia, not in favor of this idea said "Are you sure that is the best thing to do? I mean we have no idea what that spell could do."
Starswirl said back in a sharp tone "Well it's not like we have much of a choice" Celestia was visibly take back by her student's sudden attitude. Starswirl took a second to recompose himself before continuing "Look, we know this spell switches around ponies lives. Maybe the Doctor's mind will go back to him and Fenix will be okay. Besides, we can't leave him like this, we all know how that will end." Though still skeptical about this plan, Celestia knew it was the only hope for Fenix. She gave her student a know signaling him to go ahead. Opening his book to where the spell was held Starswirl began speaking "From one to another, another to one, a mark of one's destiny, singled out alone fulfilled."
When the spell was read, there was a pause, then Doctor began staring strait up, blankly across the room. Both his and Fenix's flanks began glowing. The glowing stopped to reveal new Cutie Marks on both of their rear ends. On the unconscious Fenix, the image of a Buffalo style drum appeared. On the Doctor, his own mark, the hourglass appeared. After the transformation took place Celestia breathed a sigh of relief as the Doctor explained that Fenix would be okay.
What nopony saw from this ordeal however, was what appeared on Starswirl's aura reader. Like the first time the magical field around the unicorn faded away, then reformed from six directions. Two of those directions were Fenix, and the Doctor.
My Findings on Magic, Elements of Harmony
The Elements of Harmony
Supplemental Notes
Starswirl "The Bearded"
I have found my experiment regarding the spoken spell to be related to the Elements of Harmony. As such I find it necessary to condense my knowledge of the subject to add to my research.
To speak about the Elements of Harmony means to speak about two distinct groups of things. Part the first is the physical relics. Six elements exist, representing the elements of Honesty, Loyalty, Kindness, Generosity, Laughter, and last but not least, Magic. The Element of Magic is represented by a golden crown, jeweled with blue gemstones along its ridge, topped by a pink gem in the shape of a six- pointed star. The other elements take the form of a golden necklace with a jeweled symbol in the middle. Honesty is an orange apple, loyalty a red lightning bolt, kindness a pink butterfly, generosity a deep purple diamond, and laughter a blue balloon. The shame of the matter is words cannot truly appreciate the beauty of the elements, nor can any image I can create.
These ancient artifacts, when worn by the proper beings, allow untold power to be let loose on the world. Despite countless ponies dedicating their life to the study of the Elements, there is no knowing what exactly will happen when they are used. The wielders of the Elements are capable of directing their power on whom they wish, but the effect it will have is completely unknown. The earliest stories of the Elements comes from mythological times, where it is said the very first ponies used their power to banish the demons of this world to Tartarus. Whether or not this tale is true, there have been many records of the Elements in use, and the ponies who wielded them.
The most recent use comes from my own lifetime. Where I, and the other five used the power of the Elements to put an end to Sombra's tyrannical takeover of the Crystal Empire. With the Equestrian Army at our backs, the six of us confronted the twisted king at his castle. When we let loose the power of the Elements, the entirety of the City was engulfed by a rainbow shield, then vanished into thin air, leaving nothing but us Equestrians standing in the frozen tundra where the Empire once stood. All traces of the Crystal Empire and Sombra were, and still are, gone.
Part the second of the Elements of Harmony are the six beings who represent each element. I have previously mentioned that I represent the Element of Magic. The other beings who represent the Elements are:
-Surprise, the Element of Laughter. Surprise is a skeletal undead pony who serves to help ponies and other beings to their deaths. (Surprise does not have a gender in the traditional sense, but from what I can tell has no issues regarding being called he) He does not quite appear physically when ponies die, rather he watches from above, unseen, unknown, then quickly wisping away to the next dying pony. While his job is gruesome, he goes about it in a lighthearted way, always managing to get a laugh out along the way. I once asked him about it to which he said "Don't you see? All you ponies do is try to stall the inevitable. Whatever you do, death is always coming. Death is just the final punchline to the best joke ever." He does not like to interfere with the acts of mortals, considering our endeavors, trivial and temporary. Despite his stance, he recognizes his place with the Elements and has no qualms about helping the rest of us to use them for good.
-Fenix the Dragonslayer, the Element of Generosity. For most of his life Fenix, and his pet/ally phoenix Philomena wandered Equestria, seeking adventure. Going town to town, seeing the world, and helping ponies along his way. Eventually his questing led him face o face with a rampaging dragon. Through wit and cunning he slew the beast, earning his title. News of this act reached Caterlot, where Princess Celestia invited him to the castle to thank him for his deeds. Upon seeing the beauty and magnificence of the princess, Fenix gave for the first and last time that which he had never done before. On his own accord, he swore his life for the Princess. And still to today he stands by her side in awe and service.
-The Doctor, the Element of Loyalty. He is a time traveler, criss-crossing the time stream in his magical blue box he calls the TARDIS. Unfortunately this is about all I know about him. While it surely is natural for a time traveler to keep his knowledge secret, the Doctor manages to keep the rest of him quite hidden as well. He does not stick around for very long, just popping in and out when he pleases. When he does show up however it is always in the nick of time to save the world from any number of disasters. What I do know about him is this, he is clever, very clever. He will notice things nopony else would and somehow make a plan and have it work. All the while managing to keep a cheery attitude in the face of danger.
Ban Dragonheart, the Element of Honesty. Ban is the chief of one of the buffalo herds which roam the southern prairies. He is giant of a being, even amongst his own kind. His actions are fair, and his rulings just, he has a natural gift for leadership which rivals even that of Princess Celestia. He has settled many disputed between buffalo herds and the ponies which have begun to settle the prairies. To hear him speak is to hear very land echo in his voice.
-Pallanen Lifekeeper, the Element of Kindness. Pallanen is what is known as an entdeer, a guardian of the forest. She lives deep in the Everfree Forest, and serves as both its protector and its nurturer. She cares for the entirety of the great forest like a farmer may care for his crops. She says that the Everfree Forest is like a garden, with dangerous weeds which must be looked after, lest the forest itself become a garden of weeds. Her own body is one of flesh and plant, with a mane of blooming flowers and her antlers and torso like an ancient oak. Standing taller than Princess Celestia, she looks down at all life like a mother to child, and her voice calm and soothing. And above all else, beautiful. Despite her seemingly passive exterior, her temper is one to be feared. To anypony who endangers her forest, or her friends, she is ruthless. I have not personally seen her like this, but those who have say that to even look at her when angry is to know fear itself.
Which brings me now to the relation to my research. My spell swapped the destines of the beings which represent the Elements. As it is currently, Fenix is still unconscious from previous events, but he has destiny of Ban. Judging by the changes in the physical elements, which I will go over shortly, it seems that Ban has the destiny of Surprise, Surprise is Pallanen, and Pallanen has the life of Fenix. The Doctor currently is himself, which is good news for now. In his own words, "The mind of a Time Lord can see all of time and space. Everything that ever was, is and could be. A pony's mind cannot handle it" He called it a pony-timelord meta-crisis, whatever that means. He said he's seen it before, but does not want to talk about it. So long as it is not happening to anypony currently it can go unexamined, but my gut tells me it is a harsh reality we will need to face soon.
As for the artifacts, the colors of the gems have swapped with the respective changes. Loyalty is still red, as it should be, the normally orange apple of Honesty is now blue, the Baloon of Laughter is pink, Kindness is purple, and Generosity is orange. In both times I cast the spell my element, Magic, has not changed. This is due to 1 of 3 things. 1, The Element of Magic exists higher to the other Elements, hence its crown, and thus is not effected by the spell. 2, Because I was the one who cast the spell it did not change. Or 3, Dumb luck. I pray it was not the third, as I shutter to think what would happen if I was not myself, if I did not have the drive to continue this work.
It had been a week since Quilldance had seen Starswirl. To her, what seemed like a simple experiment had turned all of Canterlot upside down. While the princesses did their best to keep it hidden, word got out that Equestria was left without it's greatest defense. The ponies grew uneasy and fearful, especially with the Crystal War still fresh in their minds. Parties had gone out to bring Ban and Pallanen to the city to try to straiten out the situation, yet none have since returned.
What her master was up to over the past week was unknown though. He merely told her to not come in for a week while he did research alone. Well the week was up and she was anxiously going to her master's tower to try to solve this.
When the gray unicorn entered her master's tower it looked like it had been robbed. Tables and chairs were overturned, pots and pans scattered on the floor. Most noticeable were the crumpled up pieces of paper covering the first floor and the bookshelf around the staircase had been emptied, the books scattered everywhere. She picked up one of the papers and found it contained a crossed out phrase
~~All for one~~
She looked at another to find it too had some lines.
~~To make to break~~
Many of the papers had similar writings, while some were unreadable scribbles. As she climbed the stairs she began calling for her master. When she rounded the last spiral up to the top floor she saw the laboratory in the worst condition of all. The wads of paper practically pouring down the stairs, and the tables stacked high to the ceiling with books. The windows had the blinds bulled tight, letting no light in. The rooms was barely lit by candles burned down to the nubs. Sitting next to the main desk, the only clean thing in the room, were the Elements of Harmony in a glass case. And lying face first in papers was the mage of the tower himself. Quilldance approached him, and with a gentle nudge tried to wake her sleeping master. "Uh, Starswirl?"
"AND ALL LIKE THE OTTERS!" Starswirl shouted, being awoken so suddenly. After realizing who was there he turned to his assistant and said, occasionally being broken by yawns, "Oh, Quilldance, what are you doing here at this late hour? Shouldn't you be off to bed?"
"What, no. Starswirl, it's morning." The gray unicorn puled back the blinds covering the windows letting the early morning light into the dark room. Its owner clearly had gone days without seeing the sun as he pulled the brim of his hat over his eyes to shield him from the brightness. "How long have you been a this exactly?" she asked.
"Three days!" the old unicorn replied back in an oddly cheery manner. "And I'll have you know that I have in fact made progress. yes yes yes yes, I have created a new spell in the spoken magic. Ahem. 'Of the trees and of the vines, of the sweetened up divines, to this wrongs do a right, old and new and blue and bright'"
A small magical crackle was heard when the robed pony held up his hoof. Out of nowhere magical energy began cracking the air, as what appeared as a vortex appeared under his control. It flashed out leaving in its place a single blueberry. Happy it worked Starswirl simply ate the berry, leaving Quilldance speechless.
Taking a moment just to take in what was going on she eventually confronted her maser "Okay, clearly it looks like, whatever it is you've been doing for the past three days hasn't worked. Surely you figured something else out. You know, something useful."
Initially taken back that his assistant would be so assertive with him, Starswirl realized he had gotten awful silly, something he was most clearly not. He straitened his robe, and began organizing his desk. And in a much more serious tone he began speaking "Well, unfortunately you are wrong. I did come up with a solution to fix the Elements. Despite my numerous failures at creating counter-spells, I have discovered something that would be effective" He took a long pause before revealing what he knew. "I would have to cast the spell, the original spell, over and over and over again until the Elements of Harmony were back in their correct order. Now there are obvious risks, there's the Doctors mind, the threat that I would be changed, the implications of such a massive use of unknown magics could be horrible. But, I suppose no worse than Equestria being left without the Elements."
Quilldance understood her master's desperation. He would not have spent three days doing, whatever it was he'd been doing, if it was not necessary. "There's really no other way?" She asked, hoping something might jog his memory. With but a nod he responded, sending the two of them into silence.
Quilldance was the first to move. She looked up in a determined way, gathered a couple of peices of blank paper and a quill from her bag. She looked to Starswirl, levitating the writing tools overhead and said "Well then, let's do some research."
With a new found breath of life he picked himself up and exclaimed "That's the mare I hired." Starswirl once again stood at his desk with his notebook open to it's last page. He kept one eye of the encased Elements as he began reading the spell "From one to another, another to one, a mark of ones destiny, singled out alone fulfilled." For the first time he got a good look at the spell's effect on the Elements. The elements glowed bright as the spell came to life. The Element of magic shone brightest of all and then cast its light on the five necklaces, who's colors jumbled randomly until they finally came to a stop. "Hrmm, no, not right. Again. From one to another, another to one, a mark of ones destiny, singled out alone fulfilled." And once again the Elements randomized, and still in a different arrangement.
Realizing this was going to take longer than he hoped, the mage sat down to ready himself for however long this would take. He again repeated "From one to another. Another to one. A mark of ones destiny. Singled out alone fulfilled" this time slower, pausing in between each line taking breaths. Just glancing a the scrambled Elements he began again, practically gasping for air with each line "From one... to another... Another to one... A mark... of ones destiny... Singled out alone.... Fulfilled."
After that final repetition he collapsed on the floor.
Starswirl awoke in his bed many hours later, dizzy and disoriented. He looked up to see two faces looking back at him wearing worried expressions. He immediately recognized one of them as his assistant, the other was hidden slightly under a cloak. As he came to, he saw the second face was actually just a skull. The skeletal pony began speaking "Oh, look who's all rested up. See QD, nothing a little R and R can't fix"
As his mind returned to him, Starswirl began to realize who it was staring back at him, it was Surprise. He practically shot up from his bed and ran to the corner of the room upon this realization. "No no no no no no no. It cant' be my time. No yet, Please not yet!" he yelled knowing who Surprise is. Frantically he raced around the bedroom trying to show his well being. "See, I'm healthy as a horse, no reason to take me now!"
Taken back by this unusual display, the skeletal pony walked over to the nervous unicorn and tried to calm him down. "The only 'time' it is for you is time to get out of bed. You've been asleep for a whole day. We were starting to worry that Pallanen might be coming for you, heh heh."
Starswirl began to calm down, still confused, but now with more questions than anything else. From Surprise's kind demeanor, to his mention of Pallanen, nothing really made any sense. With all of his vocabulary at the tip of his tongue all he could get out was "What?"
The gray pony chimed in to try to tame her master's inquiry. "You blacked out after saying that spell of yours so many times. I didn't know what to do. A some point I must began saying aloud how I needed to find a doctor, when... he showed up."
"Yes siree, That's me, best doctor in the universe." Surprise interrupted.
"Yes..." Quilldance continued her train of thought, "I thought the same thing when he arrived, that you were done for. But as it is, your spell switching up the elements, he thinks he's the Doctor." She looked to Starswirl trying to see if he completely understood what was going on. After a moment of thinking, the brown unicorn did the most unusual thing. He began laughing hysterically. "Really! That's your response to all of this? Laughing?"
After a good minute of laughter, Starswirl calmed himself down enough to get back to his assistant. "It's just the irony of it all. Surprise, Surprise was the one to nurse me back to health. Ha ha ha ha. Oh Quilldance, you know how he was, who he is. To think that HE was to one to help me in my time of need. Priceless "
Taking the serious stance in the room Surprise began to lecture Starswirl on his condition. "I really shouldn't have to teach you about magic, but it seems to forgot. Magic is like a muscle. You use it, you exercise it. You push yourself too hard, and you get exhausted. Even without your three days awake, casting that spell so many times in a row like that is dangerous."
Calmed down, and back to his usual self Starswirl considered his situation. He trot back and forth across the room pondering what to do next. "Surprise, how many times do you think I could cast the spell in a day?"
"Over a whole day? Oh, i'd say probably say four"
"Four, Four" he repeated to himself, thinking. "Well then looks this is going to take a while to get sorted out. Best we get started. From one to another, another to one, a mark of ones destiny, singled out alone fulfilled."
My Findings of Magic, The Fix
Plan for Fixing Everything
So, despite my failure to come up with some counter-spell to the Destiny spell, all is not lost on returning the Elements of Harmony to their rightful order. If casting the spell once shuffled the elements, shuffling it again, and again, and again is sure to work eventually. It does seem that the shuffling is not completely random. As of now I have preformed the spell 30 times, and each time there was a unique arrangement. As it seems the spell will not swap the elements to the same arrangement twice, there are a total of 120 possible combinations of randomness. And at 4 casts per day, I should be done with this within a month. Easy, simple, done.
That being said, the constant casting has become routine, and not in the good way. The monotony of my routine is wearing on me. While normally I relish in scheduling to limit the variables in my life, I can't help but feel like this normality and order is just too boring. While it is certainly possible that every cast will be THE ONE cast to change things back the right way, every failure makes it seem less and less the truth. While a scholar like myself should only trust in empirical evidence, my gut tells me I will have to cast the spell 120 times to fix this.
Due to how many times I have cast the spell I have had ample opportunities to gather data on the effects of the spell. I have found that when I cast the spell my magical aura fades; it then reforms from the direction the Elemental relics and the directions of the 5 other ponies (yes, I know) who represent the Elements. Though it happens fast, my aura first reforms coming from the Elements, then to the other 5 ponies. With each casting I feel the effects of the spell to a greater extent; when my aura fades, it feels more like it is becoming one with the universe. And when it reforms, it feels like the universe is pulling back. What this information means to me now however, nothing much.
Despite all my further knowledge into the Destiny Spell, I am no closer to discovering anything else about the nature of spoken magic, nor how to willingly create new spells. Aside from my Blueberry Spell, which no matter what Quilldance says, is a worthwhile discovery.
Ban Dragonheart and Pallanen Lifekeeper have been found and brought to Canterlot to help address this situation. While I cannot see the use of other Elements in my solution, Celestia insisted their company would be welcome. (Company my flank, Ban can't even fit into my house without breaking down the doors). None the less they are here and I have been able to get information about their changes. Also, much to my inconvenience, the Princesses have organized a formal banquet for the gathering of the Elements. I've never been fond of parties, too much small-talk and brown nosing. Unfortunately my presence is required, seeing as I am the Element of Magic.
The pegasus who found Pallanen naturally went first to the Everfree Fores to search. She reports that the forest is much more wild than it normally is under Pallanen's watch. She saw flora and fauna grown out of control and in some cases grown into one. One new species seen was a wolf made entirely of wooden branches. Amazing to think that in just the short two weeks of Pallanen's absence the Forest would change so drastically. I need to add that to my list of things to research when this is all over.
My original fears about the effects of the Doctor's mind are not as serious as I had thought. Surprise seems to be able to handle it, seeing as he is in effect immortal. I have also just recently learned Pallanen is over 300 years old, and according to her, still young for an entdeer. The Doctor says that such a long lived being will resist the negative effects of his mind for longer. That now just leaves Fenix and Ban at risk. But, I'll just make sure to try to not leave them like that overnight. An extra casting before bed can't possible hurt too much right? Heck, for all I know short term exposure might even make them more resistant. I'll have to keep track of that possibility.
Author's Note
I know, shorter chapter. I assure you though, the plot will pick up very soon, and things will begin changing for dear Starswirl.
