Princess Amity

Throughout the day, Celestia tells the same story to all of the classes of teenage ponies, and after finishing the story to the last class, just like the classes prior, all the students before leaving bow their heads, thank the princess, and leave politely. The teacher lifts a pink and white purse with her magic and wraps it around her neck and approaches the princess. She says in a clear tone, "Thank you so much for being here today, Your Majesty."

"Thank you for inviting me, Mrs. Lily," Celestia replies with a smile. Mrs. Lily bows her head and heads for the door until the princess says, "Before we leave the school, I would like to ask you a question." The educator turns to her, and the princess asks, "May I see Amity's grades?"

"Of course, Your Highness," Mrs. Lily answers immediately. She walks back to her desk, opens a drawer and takes out a file with "Amity" written on the file tab. She places it and opens the file which contains with highly graded tests, quizzes, and rubrics. Using her magic, Mrs. Lily lifts the graded material in the air in a straight line. Celestia looks at each graded item while the teacher says, "She is or was a fantastic student. So bright, responsive, respectful, and..."

"What is this?" Celestia asks in concerned tone. With her magic, she brings one test closer to her face and stares at a red eighty written on the top of the assessment. Then, Celestia turns her head to her left to see Amity with an empty bookcase standing in the classroom doorway.

After about ten seconds of silence, Amity asks her mother, "What?" Celestia with a stern expression shows the young princess the paper. She looks at it, her pupils slightly dilate, looks back at Celestia, and says in a nervous tone, "Uh, that was...uh...a hard test."

Celestia raises her left eyebrow and says, "I thought you knew the material."

"Your Majesty?" Mrs. Lily then interjects. "That assessment was about a week ago. Also, she made the highest grade. Don’t be mad or disappointed with her. Besides, she’s graduating and particularly makes this grade pointless." Celestia places the test back in the row of tests and places them back on the teacher's desk in a tall stack.

Celestia approaches Amity and says, "From now on, you will tell me every single test you will have and what grade you receive."

As Celestia passes Amity out the room, the young princess lowers in eyebrows, follows her mother, and says, "But today was my last day of school."

"Exactly," Celestia replies. "I was referring to when you go to college." Amity rolls her eyes behind her mother, then Celestia responds, "Don't roll those eyes behind my back. I'll roll that little head of yours."

Amity sighs knowing anything she does is pointless. Celestia then says, "Now, let's go home and practice your magic. I have something unique to teach you."

Amity darts beside her mother and responds, "But I wanted to help set the concession and banners for the hoof-ball game tonight. It’s the last sport event of the school year."

Celestia looks at her and says, "You can go to the game later, but you need to practice your magic first."

Amity breathes out and replies, "Okay."

About thirty minutes later, Celestia and Amity stand in the middle of the Castle Ballroom alone. Celestia stands in front of Amity and says, "Like I said earlier, we’re going to learn something new today."

Amity enthusiastically replies, "Alright! Let's do it! Is it a powerful magic beam?"

Celestia calmly answers, "No."

Amity then asks, "Is it a powerful spell in controlling all the natural elements? Will my eyes glow when that happens?"

Celestia shakes her head, and Amity responds in a less excited tone, "Uh, going to a different dimension where we stand on two legs and wear the same clothes all the time?"

Celestia with shrunk eyes and raised eyebrows responds, "I knew you’re a creative pony, but…wow.” She then shakes her head and reverts back to her prior expression and continues, “No. It's something you'll like but first practice your teleportation spell."

Amity's smile and enthusiasm quickly deteriorates, and she lowers her lips and raises her right eyebrow. She then says, "Mom, really? That's like the most basic spell I know. Heck, I learned when I was two."

Celestia shows an expression of annoyance with her right eyebrow raised high. Amity then breathes in and out heavily, makes a neutral expression, closes her eyes, and thinks of one of the corners in the ballroom. She concentrates her magic to her horn, and then a golden-colored aura glows around her entire horn. Suddenly, a white flash engulfs her and disappears from standing in front of Celestia and appears to one of the corners behind Celestia. Celestia turns to her left to see Amity standing there staring back. Her daughter calmly says, "Now what?"

Her mother responds, "Do it again." Amity still with the annoyed expression repeats the same process but now appears in front of the ballroom doors which lead to the Canterlot Garden. As soon as Amity appears, Celestia says, "Keep doing it until I tell you to stop."

Amity simply replies in an annoyed tone, "Okay." Amity continues practicing her teleportation but after the sixth time teleporting, she realizes Celestia has vanished. Amity looks around and says out loud, "Mom? Where did you go?"

"Nowhere," Celestia's voice echoes in the room. Amity looks all around the room but does not see Celestia. Suddenly, Celestia spooks Amity by whispering in her left ear, "Boo."

Amity shrieks and jumps in the air, and her wings start flapping keeping her in the air. Her eyebrows lower down, pupils slightly shrink, and say with an irritated tone, "Mom, that's not funny!" Celestia giggles which Amity can hear underneath her and slightly to her left. Then, she feels a slap across her bottom. She yells, “Ouch!” and turns swiftly to see nothing. Suddenly, she is tackled from above by Celestia and pins her to the floor which did not hurt either of them.

"Gotcha," Celestia says to Amity in her left ear. Amity looks at her mother visible but then slowly vanishes. Amity still feels Celestia holding her down for a brief second until she is free. Celestia then says from a distance, "This is your new lesson but answer this question first. What are the five senses?"

Amity stands up, looks around for her mother but to no avail, and answers Celestia's question aloud, "The five senses? Touch, hear, taste, smell, and see. Why?"

"Well," Celestia replies still invisible and from a distance, "there is a sixth sense that only unicorns and alicorns have: the sense of magic." Amity shows a confused expression by raising her lower eyelid and lowering her eyebrow of her left eye and raising her right eyebrow. Celestia continues, "Basically, because alicorns and unicorns are active with magic, both species can use their own magic to sense the magic within others including the passive species, Earth ponies and pegasi. You will not be able to master this tonight, but it is a start.”

“Mom,” Amity replies, “I have mastered ‘tough’ spells quickly before. What makes this one so different?”

“Excluding I, your father, and your aunt, less than fifty ponies in existence have mastered it.” Celestia answers. “Listen carefully because it is confusing at first. Close your eyes, think about me, and concentrate your magic."

Amity closes her eyes and concentrates with great effort. Her horn glows gold again, but she is unable to sense Celestia. Amity stops and breathes heavily and says, "Can't sense anything."

“You’re doing something wrong," Celestia replies.

"What is it?" Amity asks.

"Try to find out," Celestia asks.

Amity thinks about what she just did and still does not understand. She concentrates hard again but still with no success. She stops again and breathes again. Celestia then grabs her daughter again and says, “Gotcha again.”

Amity then says, "Not for long." Amity then rolls on the floor with her mother still holding on. Celestia then starts grinding her left hoof against her daughter's head. Amity squeals a bit and slides out of her mother's arms. Both princesses stand and stare each other down with playful smiles. Amity suddenly leaps at Celestia, but within a second, Celestia teleports herself right above Amity wrapping her arms around her daughter again, and both princesses drop to the ground laughing. Celestia calmly says, "You've grown up so much, Amity. I’m proud you’re graduating. I love you.”

"I love you too, Mom," Amity replies.

"After the graduation ceremony next month, what do you want to do to celebrate?" Celestia asks.

Amity merely shrugs and turns her head to look at her mother, but she stops her head when she sees her blank flank. Her playful smile slowly turns into a frown of disappointment. She lowers her head and stares at the floor.

Celestia raises her head looking at Amity and asks, "What's wrong?" Amity just keeps looking at the floor. Celestia then looks at her daughter's flank and says, "Oh." She looks back at her daughter sympathetically says to her, "Amity, how many times have I said to ignore that?"

Amity sighs and responds, "Too many, but I can't let it go. Your and Aunt Luna's cutie marks represent more than just raising or lowering the sun and moon. They also represent the marvelous wonders you both had done in the past. I'm 19 years old and still don't have one. When I look at my blank flank, it just reminds me that I haven't done…anything. What kind of princess am I? Not doing anything wonderful or having a cutie mark."

Celestia lays her head on her daughter's cheek and replies, "I understand how you feel, but you can't let it haunt you. If you work hard and stay true to yourself, destiny will reward you someday."

"I hope so," Amity says.

"It will, and I know it will be astounding," Celestia replies and Amity’s smile returns. Both princesses stand up and Celestia says, "Go ahead to the ball game." Amity hugs Celestia and runs through the ballroom doors.