Once Upon A Chanted
-1:Urchin's Delight-
Chanted was...well, 'a normal pony' didn't exactly fit for her. She was homeless and had been since an early age, after accidentally obliterating her kindergarten while playing a harmless game of hide and seek. Her magic was incredibly unstable, almost every settlement in Equestria knew of her and hated her, partly because half of them had been accidentally leveled by her. Her magic was so unstable she had learnt to do things how normal Earth Ponies did it, completely refusing to use magic. Despite this she had managed to keep herself...well, fairly clean and tidy. She had kept her bluey-purple coat relatively free of dirt and so forth and brushed her dark purple mane every morning with her crude brush she had made from a piece of wood and some wire. Her most recent residence was Ponyville, where the famed Elements of Harmony and Celestia's protege Twilight Sparkle lived. Life was a little better there, there were less dark, dirty alleys and the people there were at least somewhat kind. Except for this one 'Diamond Tiara' girl, but she had taught that little runt a lesson when she set her house on fire with magic. The one upside of her unstable abilities; destructive magics worked completely fine. In some respects. She had actually intended to blow up her house, but fire was good too.
She had heard from some pony chatter that there was some event going on here, and she intended to see. The two Princesses, Celestia and Luna, supposedly reigned this kingdom and made it great for everyone, no? Then why was she forced to live and suffer on the streets? If she had the chance, she might confront one of them on the subject. Not publicly, of course. As she walked down the street from her little space between two houses, she heard the cheers of ponies near the town square. As she turned a corner and passed what she knew to be Sugarcube Corner, she saw the gathering of what she guessed to be most of this town. Shrugging, she joined the crowd.
For quite a while absolutely nothing happened, and Chanted considered going home. However, before she could turn and leave, two grand chariots pulled by four stallions each came almost thundering through the crowds. She would have guessed this was that 'Summer Sun Festival', but from what she knew Princess Luna didn't attend those. Strange, how she did not get her own day. Unless you counted Nightmare Night. The two chariots landed and skidded to a halt, before the two Alicorns stepped off. Chanted was taken completely by surprise. She had thought they had been no bigger than your average pony, and to be wearing far more, but instead they stood almost twice her height and positively dwarfed everyone. They walked past the crowds, waving and greeting ponies as they did so. As they neared her, she pulled the best 'I'm suffering and its your fault' face she could. While Princess Celestia, or at least the one she thought was Celestia, did not see her, Luna did, giving her a friendly "Hello, subject!" As she passed. Well, it was best not to make a fuss with so many ponies around.
This festival, celebration, whatever it was, was quite nice, and with the buffet that had been made Chanted got the most food she had gotten her hooves on in quite a long time. The day was dragging on, though, and she was sure the two Princesses would leave for Canterlot soon. Chanted giggled as she thought of going to Canterlot and then intentionally overloading her magic. The mighty capital of Equestria, now a smoldering ruin. As she sat near a house, Princess Luna walked past, almost invisible in the darkening sky. The blue goddess, whom Chanted had decided was by far the best Princess, noticed her as she went about her business, and stopped.
"Hello! We saw thee in the crowds, yes?" She greeted. Wow, words.
"Uh, indeed."
"What is thine name?"
"Uh, Chanted. Chanted Star."
"You look as though thou hath been beaten. Are thou alright?"
"As good as I'm going to be."
"We do not understand."
"I don't have a home. Or any money, but that changes occasionally."
"Thou are homeless? Why?"
"I was abandoned when I was a filly, and my unstable magic means I can't get a job anywhere."
"Unstable magic? Thou mean all your years, thou has lived on the streets?"
"Yeah, basically. I'm lucky if I get dinner." Chanted had to admit, she was pushing a little here, but she wasn't lying, and Luna was kind. So far.
"What dost thou mean by 'unstable magic'?"
"I can't use it. I know how to do a fair bit, it's just my horn overloads and blows up everything around me. Do you know of the school that exploded in Manehattan?"
"Indeed we do."
"That was me as a filly." Chanted explained. Luna thought for a while.
"Thou are a character indeed. We would like to invite thee to Canterlot for a while."
"Really? Me? Why?"
"The reasons would take too long to explain." Luna looked over her shoulder.
"W-When?" Chanted asked, stuttering.
"Tomorrow. We will send a chariot to take thee to the Palace, where we reside." Luna smiled.
"Aren't you afraid I might blow up the Palace?"
"What happens happens." Luna blinked. Fair enough.
"Well, uh, I will see you tomorrow, Princess!" Chanted grinned, taking a few steps back.
"Come! The night has not ended yet!" Luna smiled, gesturing for her to follow.
Chanted walked home, cheerier than she had been in a long, long time. Celestia hadn't exactly been pleased with Luna inviting who was essentially a beggar to Canterlot, but Luna hadn't exactly shown much interest in Celestia's opinion. She could have invited anypony to Canterlot, for whatever reason she was, but had instead chosen to pick Chanted. Of course, she wasn't going to decline, and Luna had changed her opinions on the Princesses in one night. She turned into her little alley and, taking the coat she had been given, lay down on the two thick blankets she used as a bed, using said coat to cover herself. It wasn't much of a life, but those blankets and her bag had kept her alive so far. As she snuggled into bed and closed her eyes, she thought about what might happen once she reached Canterlot.
She woke up the next day to hearing a single Royal Guard in the streets, asking various ponies if they knew of her.
"Excuse me, ma'am?"
"Oh, yes?"
"Do you know of one 'Chanted Star'?"
"Um, no, sorry."
"I see. Thank you anyway." Slowly, she hauled herself to her feet and walked out into the street. The Guard spotted her and walked over.
"Ma'am? Do you know of one 'Chanted Star'?"
"That's me, yes, why?"
"Oh, uh, we expected-Nevermind. Princess Luna has requested your presence by name."
"I see."
"Follow me, if you please." The Guard turned and walked down the street once she had gathered her things, to a closed chariot, carriage? Was it a carriage? Either one, where another Guard waited. He opened the door, and she clambered in, before he closed it again and hooked himself up to the front. Chanted sat on the chair, before the carriage set off. She didn't dare look out the windows, she knew well the carriage was flying, and she had a fear of heights from an early age. As the carriage flew, she continued to wonder why Princess Luna, of all people, invited her, of all people, to the Canterlot Palace. What did she want with a hazardous unicorn like her? She decided it was best not to think about it, and merely wait for arrival.
It turns out blankets can be more fun than you think when bored in the back of a carriage. When it landed and began slowing, Chanted had to hurry to get herself out of the mess of blankets/coat and shove them all back into her bag, brushing her hair quickly and sitting back on the chair, as if she had been waiting patiently the entire time, and not tumbling around in a ball of cloth like an excited filly. The carriage came to a stop and she heard the Guard unhook himself, before the door was opened. Picking up her bag, she stepped out of the carriage and observed her new surroundings. Canterlot was nicer than she thought. The Palace, anyway, she couldn't see much of the actual settlement from here. She stood as the guards took the carriage away, before one returned, asking for her to follow. He led her into the Palace, and any feeling of being out of place were immediately tripled as soon as she passed the large, ornate doors. The guard she was following stopped.
"Please wait here, ma'am." He asked, walking out of sight. After a while, another guard came up to her.
"Please follow me, ma'am." Wow, these guys got straight to the point. The guard led her through the Palace, and it was a beautiful building. While it was aesthetic and beautiful to look at, there was little to actually see, and most of it was just patrolled by guards, although she did pass by Princess Celestia once, who seemed to be intentionally ignoring her. Maybe she remembered Luna had invited her, and still wasn't pleased. Eventually the guard stopped outside another set of doors. He knocked twice, before opening the left door.
"Princess Luna, your highness, the mare you asked for." He said, allowing her to pass inside before closing the door again.
Luna turned from the window she was staring out of and smiled when she saw her.
"Come." Was all she said. Chanted came over and looked out over Canterlot from the window.
"Beautiful, is it not?" The dark blue Alicorn asked.
"Indeed. I can see why this is the capital."
"It is the capital because the palace is here, and it is how it is because it is the capital." Luna laughed.
"Makes sense." Chanted blinked. There was a long silence as they observed Equestria's capital city.
"So, tell us, what is behind your...unstable magic?"
"I don't know what does it. Just it's happened since I was a baby."
"What happens when thou tries to use magic?"
"Well, it starts perfectly fine, but then my horn overloads and blows things up. A lot of things."
"We see. Dost thou think it could be controlled?"
"Maybe, but I doubt it."
"We shall see. Follow, We wish to test your skill." Luna led Chanted back out and through the Palace once more, again passing Celestia.
"Good day, sister."
"Good day. I see you have your new friend with you."
"Indeed. She is of interest to Us."
Luna led her to a courtyard somewhere inside Palace grounds. Luna said something to a guard, before he ran off. Luna led Chanted to some chairs and a large parasol putting said chairs and a small table in the shade. Luna sat in one chair and Chanted sat in the other. A moment passed before a servant came over and gave them some cups of tea. She had never had tea. The warmth and flavor took Chanted completely by surprise, and she almost spat the first sip out. Luna laughed.
"Hast thou never tried tea?"
"Afraid not."
"And? How is it?"
"Its...nice. Maybe a little too hot, but nice." Chanted chuckled, putting the cup on the table. A few minutes passed before a guard came over.
"It has been set up." He said, returning to his post. Luna stood up, followed by Chanted.
In front of them sat two stools. On one of them was a book. Looking, Chanted found it was an old, illegible ledger of some description.
"We would like thee to teleport the book from one stool to another. Thou know teleportation magic, yes?"
"Uh, no actually."
"Ah. Can thee move objects?"
"Yeah."
"Well, do that instead, then." Luna gestured. After a reluctant pause, Chanted gritted her teeth, her horn encased in its respective purple aura. The book was surrounded by the very same aura, before lifting up.
"Very good." Luna nodded. Using the encouragement, Chanted began to move the book to the other stool. So far, her horn had remained stable. Funny, last time she tried to move a book via magic the town exploded. However, her luck was not to last. As the book neared the second stool, it caught on fire, the pages flailing uselessly. Before either could react the stool exploded, the smoldering remnants firing off and flying through an open window, before the book shredded itself and the pieces burst into balls of fire, leaving the surviving stool burnt. Luna thought for a moment.
"We see what thou means. We have two more tests to do." Luna moved the stool aside, and the two progressed. The next involved a loose tent made from some wood poles and a large square of black cloth.
"Head inside, and try to light the inside until We can see the light." Luna instructed. Nodding, Chanted headed inside and, closing her eyes, lit her horn. Slowly the light increased in brightness, and Luna could almost make out a solid light before the cloth burst into flames. Chanted rolled out from under it before the poles exploded, shredding the cloth and leaving but smoldering remains.
"Thine magic be more unstable than We thought. One more. This one may be easier for thou." Luna circled around the smoldering former tent.
The last was a simple target with the white and red stripes.
"Uuuh..." Chanted looked up to Luna.
"See if thou can destroy this. The more damage, the better."
"If you say so." Chanted shrugged, her horn lighting up once more. She winced, she hadn't used magic in so long it was starting to wear on her. After a pause, a bolt of light fired from her horn, smashing into the target. Immediately it was torn apart by a violent explosion, the flaming pieces firing off in various directions, one narrowly missing a guard. When they hit something, they were crushed, the ashes falling uselessly to the ground. Luna smiled.
"Thou hast done well. Thou shalt spend the night here, We have some things We need to attend to. Follow." Luna gestured, leading her once more through the Palace, taking her to a smaller guest room.
"But, Princess, it isn't even dark yet." Chanted raised an eyebrow.
"We hath not made it so, yet. Watch." Luna smiled, closing the door and vanishing. Chanted turned and looked out the window. After about 15 minutes, the sky turned dark. Night time. That was fast. She heard one more voice before heading to bed and into her most comfortable night yet.
"Good night, Chanted Star!"
Once Upon A Chanted
-2:Counterpart Protege-
Chanted woke up slowly, in the comfort of the guest room bed. She still had no idea why Princess Luna had invited her to Canterlot, but she had forgotten entirely about confronting either of the Princesses. Slowly hauling herself out of bed, she realised it was still early morning, and decided to look around the little suite she had. Opening the door opposite the exit, she found a moderately-sized bathroom. Immediately reacting, she took the first shower she could ever remember having. Once she had cleaned out the bits of dirt and dust from her coat and mane, and dried herself out once leaving the warm shower, her slightly grimy, darkened coat was replaced with its...vaguely glorious purple with a hint of blue, her dark purple mane with its two twirled ribbon parts hanging down either side of her face. She walked back over, poking her head out the window and looking around. She had almost forgotten she was in Canterlot. Looking either side, she saw a small ledge near the far window. Pulling her head back and walking to said window, she saw it was just wide enough to walk along, and she could likely climb onto it. Before she had a chance to try, the door opened.
"Ma'am? Princess Luna has requested your presence." The guard stood, holding the door open. Walking over, she stepped outside, the guard closing the door.
Chanted began to wonder how anypony avoided getting lost in the Palace, it was almost a city in its own right. Eventually, the guard stopped by a door and opened it, revealing a darkened room fairly similar to hers, just a little larger. Inside sat Princess Luna, absentmindedly staring out the window.
"Princess Luna, Chanted Star." Was all the guard said before leaving. The Princess of the Night did not turn from the window.
"Ah, hello Chanted Star."
"Uh, hello, Princess."
"Please, just call Us Luna."
"Of course, Luna." Chanted looked around. There was a long pause.
"Did you need me for something?" Chanted asked.
"Not need, no. We wish to test your abilities, and see if We can get thine magic under some control."
"You can try." Chanted chuckled. Luna finally turned to look at her, with a smile.
"Indeed We can. Thou hast cleaned thyself today?"
"Yeah, I did."
"Good. First, We would like to show you something." Luna stood up, walking to a chest of drawers. Opening one, she drew a book, setting it down on the bed, which depicted numerous constellations.
"What is this for?" Chanted asked.
"Take a look for yourself." Luna gestured. Chanted opened the book. It contained some information, and vague instructions or incantations for various spells. A spell book, essentially.
"Right. What is this for?"
"Some find it easier to perform magic effectively if read from a book."
"Aaaare you giving this to me?"
"No, this is quite advanced magic, the kind Our friend Twilight Sparkle would read. We do not wish to push thou that hard." Luna smiled.
"Do I get one, though?"
"Yes, but later." Luna moved the book to one side, but kept it open. Her horn lighting up, she rearranged the room in moments. Chanted stumbled and fell, narrowly avoiding a chair. Luna laughed and, using the magic more, pulled her to her hooves.
"Now, for book magic." Luna lifted the book and flicked the pages, stopping and reading one, her horn still lit up. In a flash, everything was back in its rightful place.
"Some find it easier because it requires less memory." Luna shrugged.
"How is this meant to get my horn under control?"
"We suspected thou may struggle because thou lack the real knowledge to perform magic correctly."
"Sooo...?" Chanted started. Luna opened the drawer again, and once more using magic, lifted out another, smaller spell book, handing it to Chanted.
"This one belongs to thee now."
"Uh, thank you." Chanted bowed.
"Come. We shall test." Luna gestured. Holding the book carefully, Chanted followed.
Luna took her once again to the courtyard, once more telling a guard to set it up, how, she didn't know.
"So, just book magic, or?..."
"Yes. We do not wish to cause damage."
"Fair enough." After about 10 minutes the guards had finished. It was similar to the black tent from the previous day, but longer, like a maze.
"We would like you to try light magic again. There is a spell on Page 68 titled 'Recon Bulb'. Try it." Luna gestured. Cautiously, Chanted walked over and lifted the thick black canvas, ducking inside. It was almost complete black inside, there was no way she was navigating through here. Opening the book, she carefully flicked it to a page 68. Indeed, there was a spell titled 'Recon Light'. Beneath it was a short description and some nonsensical garble.
"Do I read the weird words?" She called.
"Yes. Read them carefully, and focus." Luna called back. Focusing as hard as she could, she read them aloud. Indeed, it was actual jibberish.
"Uuuuh...Navius Optius?" Chanted muttered. Her horn lit up. Focusing, Chanted closed her eyes and gritted her teeth. Her horn sparked, and for a moment bolts of magic fired off on various directions, and Chanted was sure it was going to end in disaster, but then a small, if odd-looking, ball of light ejected from her horn. Looking up, Chanted saw it slowly glide down her line of sight. She followed it, slowly, as it came to a corner. The ball stopped for a moment before returning. It traveled back and forth between her and the first surface it reached, she realised. Walking up and turning the corner, it started heading down, after a distance opening into a crossroads of sorts. She followed, gaining confidence. She could do magic, after all!
"Thou are doing well! Continue!" Luna called. Smiling, Chanted continued. The path straight ahead immediately turned a corner, so she didn't trust that. The one on the right turned too soon as well, so she went into the left path, using her Recon Light to guide her. However, as her confidence slowly became bravado, the light wavered. She immediately stopped. Oh hell.
Chanted began to back off, but the light was returning, wavering more and more and turning a dull red. She panicked. Before she could react, the light span and lost shape, turning into a growing ball of fire and dissipating in a bang, setting the black canvas alight. Before she could get any distance the poles toppled, trapping her under hot canvas, the fire racing towards her. She thought she was going to burn to death, before the canvas flung off her, the flames just barely licking the underside of her hooves.
"Thou did not think We would let thou die?" Luna asked, lifting her up and setting her down behind her. Her horn didn't die down, her magic now encasing the flames in blue magic. In a moment they died down and vanished.
"Come, We think that was enough for today. We need to clear up an issue with Our sister." Luna gestured for her to follow. Chanted picked up her book and followed obediently. No way was she going near black canvas tents again.
Luna led her through the Palace, the first time she had led her anywhere but a guest room or the courtyard. Eventually she came out into a room she imagined the Princesses used to talk with subjects. Celestia was talking to a pony with some papers and a pair of glasses. Celestia was talking to the stallion, what she was saying, Chanted paid no attention to. She was busy flicking through the book, seeing what kind of spells were in here.
"Sister?" Luna called. For a moment, it seemed as if she was ignoring her, but Celestia stopped, waved off the pony, and turned.
"Ah, hello my sister. I see you have brought your...friend as well." Celestia greeted, giving Chanted a look. She shut the book, looking up.
"Indeed We have. We need to clarify one issue with you."
"Of course. What issue is it?"
"Twilight Sparkle is your apprentice, yes?"
"Yes?"
"We would like to make Chanted Star ours." At this, Celestia and Chanted raised an eyebrow. Or their equivalent.
"Her? Why?" Celestia asked.
"She is of interest, and displays magical talent. Her magical instability may prove an interesting challenge."
"Well...if you wish to make her so, make her so, it is not my decision."
"We merely wished to make sure our sister was happy with the decision."
"Of course." After a short moment, the door to the room opened and a purple unicorn like her. Unlike Chanted, she had no blue in her pelt, and her mane was a darker purple, brushed to curl around her neck.
"Hello, Princess Celestia! Princess Luna!" The made greeted, not noticing Chanted.
"Ah, hello Twilight, I almost forgot. Please, I will be with you in a moment." Celestia smiled. Twilight nodded, before finally noticing Chanted.
"Hello! I'm Twilight, who are you?"
"Chanted. Chanted Star." Chanted smiled.
"Ah, yes. Twilight, Chanted Star is Luna's new apprentice."
"Oh, wonderful! I'm sure we will be seeing more of each other."
"I look forward to it." Chanted smiled before Twilight headed through the opposite door Chanted and Luna had passed through.
"So, it is decided?" Luna asked.
"Indeed. Chanted, from here on you are now Luna's apprentice. Do you have a residence anywhere?"
"Nope."
"Ah, I see. Well, I will let Luna solve that matter. I have some things to attend to
Have fun!" Celestia called, following her pupil.
"Well, it is decided!" Luna grinned, looking at Chanted. Chanted merely smiled in response.
"Will we do anything else today?"
"Nothing as hazardous as that last test. Come." Luna gestured. Chanted hadn't been as happy as she was in...well, forever! She had gone from a homeless unicorn who refused to use magic to Luna's own protege in two days. Today was a good day.
