Prologue
It was dark. The young unicorn couldn't almost see where she was going, however she had walked this same route many, many times past couple of months so she knew the road inside-out, even though the black hood sometimes dropped down and covered her eyes completely.
The night was beautiful as ever. Moon was gazing from the sky, creating long shadows of trees she passed by while soft breeze blew trough her robe. It was pretty chilly, but the mare didn't let that bother her as her thoughts were consumed by the things she would witness and learn this night, so she started to walk little faster.
It didn't take very long until she reached her destination. Before her was a forest clearing full of ponies who were dressed in black , red rimmed cloaks, just like hers. There was also a huge campfire in the middle of the clearing where the ponies started to gather which was the sign to start the practice so the unicorn took one last deep breath and started to trot to the clearing.
As she came closer to the campfire, she started to hear familiar sound which she had heard many times. The other ponies had started to chant, like they did in every meeting she had attended. Still, it was pretty creepy to see all these ponies that had gathered around the campfire to chant with their ancient tongue. The mare hadn't learned the language yet so she got free-pass from the chanting ceremony.
" תשמע את תפילותינו, הלורד האדיר שלנו. ללמד אותנו את האומנות של רוע על הלילה המושלם הזה... " ponies chanted with hollow voices as they rose their heads towards the fullmoon that was glowing cloomly on the clear night sky. Atmosphere was very creepy or even oppressive, but the unicorn didn't mind that. She made her way to giant throne which was build from bones.
The mare sat right below the throne and looked right under the hood of black figure with her purple eyes. It was clearly an stallion and it was completely white with black mane that had a few red stripes so he looked like ordinary pony, maybe a little bit off because of the stripes, but you could be fooled to think he was an ordinary stallion. His only odd trait was his right eye which was very obstrusive. It was completely white and it was blind. She had seen the same stallion every time she had attended a meeting, but that eye still got her offguard every time. Still, she took her courage in hold and started to talk
" Evening, Grand Master. I see that you have started the practice without me " mare said as she gazed angrily right into that obstrusive eye
" You are late, my student, Very, very late " Grand Master said coldly while observing the ritual and giving little interest to that gaze, maybe because he didn't see how angrily the mare had gazed him.
" I'm sorry about that. I had some things I needed to complete " said the cyan mare, eager to start the practice.
"Join your borthers and sisters now, my child. Tonight is the best time to practice your art under the fullmoon" he said and gave the young mare reassuring gaze which was very uncommon from the Master.
The unicorn was shocked for a few seconds, but she quickly nodded and started to trot towards other students who had already begun their practice.
"Wait for a second" stallion suddenly said
The unicorn turned her head over the shoulder, interrogative look in her eyes
"I know you have been with us for some time, but I haven't even asked your name yet although you are one of my most promising student" stallion said.
Unicorn gave the Grand Master a sly grin and said " You might have heard it already. My name is Trixie Lulamoon or what I like to use, Great and Powerful Trixie" while letting out a little giggle and made her way past the other apprentices to the center of the field
The Master sat there and watched as Trixie melted right into the group of other ponies. On his face paraded a toothy smile which would scare even the bravest of stallions.
"You are very arrogant Trixie but I see great potential in you. I just hope that you will be able to control the powers you will be bestowed on" Master thought to himself.
Loud bang shook Master from his own world and he started to look around to find the source of loud noise. It didn't take long for him to see it came from center of the apprentices and there were even smoke coming from the center where the apprentices stood. Master jumped from his throne and ran through the ponies.
"What is the meaning of this!?" the stallion yelled when he arrived at the scene
Nobody answered his question, not a single word came out of the group and Master saw why. One of the apprentices, young and skillfull mare who was going to be very good at the art, was now in pieces. Limbs and other body parts where lying all over the training ground and there were lots of blood in the centre where the smoke came from.
Then Master saw the other pony who was standing few feets away from the gore filled centre. Masters´ eyes expanded when he realised who the other pony was. It was Trixie but she looked way differend what she had been just moments ago. Her pupils where red as blood, the cyan coat was now way darker and the aura which came out from her was something what Master hadn't felt for very long time.
After the shock, Master shook his head and started to slowly walk towards Trixie, keeping his guard up for the second burst, if it came. Trixie just stood there, emptyness in her eyes while breathing very heavile, like she had used all her power to that one blast. She didn't notice Master until he touched her shoulder, not a single emotion on his face, even though there was pony parts all over the place. Just then Trixie noticed all the gore and the pupils who backed away when she looked at their direction, many of them had fear in their eyes some even shook a little.
" Wha-what happened here? Why there is pony parts everywhere? Why are you looking me like that? Wh- " Trixie panically started to ask questions until Master put his hoof on her mouth.
" Trixie, everything is okay now, calm yourself and we will discuss the events " Master said calmly and gave a little smile for the mare
The smile relaxed Trixie a bit, well not fully because Masters´ smile was always creepy, but it helped her to shake the dizzyness away and concentrate on what had happened.
" Do you remember anything about that huge pang Trixie? You were the only one who was standing close to the impact point " Master said calmly.
"I-I only remember that Red Rose was being mean to me, telling everyone how pathetic I was and retired showmare, like myself, shouldn't be allowed to practice such a fine art. At that point something snapped in my head and I felt great power run trough my veins, but then I blacked out or so I think" Trixie told with shake voice.
Master closed his eyes and started to think about what had happened.
" How could it be that my most skillfull and powerful apprentice has died to apprentice, who is just on Adept level in skill? That doesn't make any sense... Unless... " smile was glowing on Masters' face when she faced Trixie
" Somepony, clean this mess. I think we have another High Pupil among us " Master stated and smiled his devious smile
Everybody started to gasp and some started to mumble things like " New High Student? That mare is going to be a new High Student?" " She just killed Red Rose in one hit which is really impressing" "Ugh, do I really need to clean this mess up?"
Trixie was just staring everyone, confused what would happen next. Master came to her side and said "Come now Trixie. You have beaten my star pupil and I will take you as my new High Student which means that you will no longer take normal studies, but you will learn everything from me. You are going to learn the TRUE nature of Blood Magic"
Master trotted past the other apprentices and Red Rose's body parts, which one apprentice had started to dispose. Trixie sat there for few minutes but it didn't take long until the same arrogant smile was on her face and one thought in her mind.
" Now, dear Twilight. We will see how much pain your little meek body can handle! "
Twilight opened her eyes and sprang right on upright position as her eyes dialated from fear and confusion that the dream had created. "Again, another nightmare. I don't know how long my head will take this kind of stuff" she thought as she rose from her warm bed and looked around her room which now was showering in golden light of the sun.
She was a student of W.O.L Academy so her room wasn't very interesting, just plain, one colored walls, study desk with chair, bed, mirror and red carpet with little lamp hanging from the ceiling. She had her school equipment on the desk ready to use and on the chair was her saddlebacks, filled with used parchments and books she used yesterday, and her robes were nicely folded on the chair frame. Her Power Trinket, which in her case was a staff, was leaning side of the table.
She sighed, her head still hurt a little bit, and walked towards the desk. She looked at her robes as she picked it up and smiled a little bit as she ran her hoof along the fine and old fabric. The robe was very classy and old , just like Twilight liked. It was a gift from Celestia, who gave it right before she had returned to Ponyville six months ago to help her new hometown against all kinds of problems that would occure. Celestia had said that she would always have a place by her side as Royal Right Hoof Mare but Twilight didn't like the idea of sitting in the Throne Room and ruffle trough hundreds and hundreds of parchments while Celestia talked to diplomats and solved problems. She wanted to do something more, be there when things started to get interesting and help with all of her heart.
She broke off from her memories and looked at the clock. It was almost 8:00 AM and lessons started at that time, so she only had few minutes to crab her stuff and make a run for her first lesson. She had never dressed so quickly in her lifetime and in a minute she was outside her door, her saddlebacks full of new parchments, books and quills. Then. she just ran like fire on her tail along the empty Living Hall, straight at the Elemental Magic Class.
"I can't believe I'm late! I'm never late!" Twilight thought to herself when she galloped through the empty Living Hall. Students were propably on their classes or just hanging around Ponyville because of their free periods. She finally reached her class, Advanced Elemental Magic,and rushed right through the door to the classroom. She didn't remember the step right at the front of the classroom door was very tall in Elemental Mahig Class, so she tripped and landed right on her face on the floor.
Whole class just stared at her, even the teacher couldn't do anything besides just stare at the mare. Twilight slowly rose from the floor while rubbing her sore face, confirming everything was still in place and allright. Well, everything was alright until she saw that everyone else was staring right at her, even the teacher. She blushed furiously and shouted "I'm sorry that I'm late!" while trotting fast to her place where she sat down and hit her face in the desk.
"I'm such an idiot" Twilight thought to herself as she heard giggles and muffled snorts coming all around her.
"Ahem, all right everypony, stop that already. Everyone here is clumsy sometimes so we can leave that matter to that. So, lets get back to the subject and learn something about Fire Element. Fire Element is very hard Element to control so if you are trying to cast it be wary of the consequences..." teacher started, but Twilight didn't listen.
She had learned all about this Element, as well all other 3 Elements: Water, Earth and Wind, so there was nothing to learn. Still, she had to sit trough these classes to get her certificate. Without that she wasn't allowed to use damaging magic, unless it was life threatening situation and her Cantrelot certificate wasn't allowed here in Ponyville. So, she just sat at her seat and daydreamed until it was luch time.
As she walked out of the classroom she decided to eat at W.O.L's own personal student caffeteria. There were two other caffeterias as well, one for Dark Scarlet and one for Cross Swords. They were all themed and named by the academies: Dark Scarlet's was named The Nest and it was very gothic and dark place, Cross Sword's was named Tavern and, as you could guess by its name, it was very tavern like place and it even had a corner for hoofwrestle and beat them up's. Finally there was W.O.L's place and it name was Mystic, decorated with calm, original colors so it felt like going in fortune tellers tent.
She ensured that she had enough money before galloping to the Mystic. As she lleft, she could hear few laughs and snorts behind but Twilight didn't care about that anymore, now she just wanted to eat.
She arrived at the Mystic in few minutes, which was located right at the side of the W.O.L. She stood in front of the café for a short time, straightened her robe and went inside. She decided to take a booth, which was far side of the room where nobody could see her. She enjoyed to be alone like this sometimes, it gave her time to think and wonder stuff what was happening. Twilight sat down in booth and ordered apple juice before twelling to her thoughts.
Her thoughts were broke after two characters walked inside the café and straight to her direction. The first one was walking her head held high with steady steps. The other one was covering behind the first one and walked slowly behind her, her head spin in every direction like she was scared that somepony would come and attack her. Twilight smiled as she knew who these two were as they made their way to Twilight's booth.
"Rarity! Fluttershy! It is so nice to meet you here" Twilight shouted to her friends
"Good day to you too, Twilight" Rarity said
"H-hi, Twilight" Fluttershy said in whispered voice
"Come, sit and have something to drink. I would love to hear how have you been" Twilight said while making room for her friends
As her friends sat down in front of her, she couldn't help to notice that they had new clothes on. Rarity had same kind of robe as her but this one was more proper for Rarity. Fabric was white as Rarity's fur, it had red crystal rims, dark and pale blue sapphires ran down on her hips and her Power Trinket was melted into her necklace. The robe was verry flashy, like Rarity on her good days.
Fluttershy had quite opposite robe. It was same style and fabric maybe a little bit darker white with pure white rims. Other than the brown belt where her Trinket, big book named "Mortuus est Deus", was hanging, it was simple and looked like monks robe.
Rarity sat down, ordered a brandy and started "Well, studies are going good, I suppose. I don't really pay mutch attention on the theory, I'm more like hoofs-on pony if you catch my drift".
Twilight sighed as she pretty much knew what Rarity meant by that. Rarity was on Enchanting course which specialises in boosting weapons and armor with enchanted crystals, emeralds and diamonds. For Rarity though, it is just a way to learn new placements for gems in clothing so she can go back and continue her career as fashionista while to her it is just wasted studying.
Twilight rolled her eyes and said "Well, we got that your studying hasn't changed a bit in these couple of weeks so Fluttershy, how is your studying going? It was Faith and Religious magic, right?"
"Ummm... Yes that is right. My studies are going wonderfully, I even know how to speak latin fluently" Fluttershy said and blushed
"Really? That is amazing! Good thing that you have mastered it, given that your Religious magic needs is because you are not an unicorn" Twilight said with a smile.
Fluttershy was extraordinary being. She was suppose to be in Dark Scarlet because she was pegasus and almost every pegasi goes for the agility based classes. Fluttershy chose the W.O.L because she was afraid she would get hurt by the training daggers and that kind of stuff but there was this mindset that she wanted to help everypony instead of hurting them. The road to become decent magic user is always harder for pegasi and earth ponies because they aren't magically gifted so they have to study atleast one ancient language which boosts their Trinkets so they can cast magic trough their words.
Still, for some it isn't good thing that different races go to other races academies. Even Fluttershy had some bad words said to her face like she has betrayed the pegasi and she has dirty blood in her, they even talk about her with name "Pathtaker" which means taking different path that she had given. Twilight didn't like that kind of thinking so she had tried to speak to Princess Celestia about it but the princess couldn't help so they had to deal with it.
As they were talking, the door was slammed open and one of the pupils of W.O.L ran in. She looked frightened as she tried to take breath like she had ran for many miles nonstop.
"We need.... help at the.... town center... they are..... BACK!" The mare exclaimed before collapsing to the floor.
Twilight stood up and watched the twitching body for few seconds before shaking her head.
"We are going to the town center and see what the fuzz is all about. Come on girls!" Twilight shouted and ran out of the Mystic, Rarity and Flutters right on her heels.