Wisp

Chapters

The Bird and the Flower
The Pony Dilemma
The Fury of the Storm
The Power of Majestic Light

The Bird and the Flower

Was this existence?

It remembered an eternity struggling for this. It remembered floating on the timeless currents of the void, endlessly searching for something other than the gut wrenching darkness. Did it know anything other than the search? Was this merely another delusion on the journey to insanity?

No.

It had existed before. It was certain it had. But the memories were like wisps of magical energy: impossible to grasp. Its mind wandered as if it had just woken from hibernation.

It snuggled into the darkness that was infinitely brighter than it remembered. Should existence be more than the blackness? It pondered the thought and cast a glance at the fractured memories it found. A picture of intense glory fluttered through its mind.

It stuttered to a halt, the quandary of its cocoon forgotten, as it failed to comprehend the sheer beauty of the brief image. The vision was so familiar, as if its beauty was once common-place. It tried to place a name on the spectacle. It was something...not black. Its brain numbed from sheer elation as it clutched onto the memory with everything it had.

It was so beautiful. It wanted to hold it within its mind forever.

Giddy euphoria overwhelmed its consciousness. Its mind! I'm Thinking! These are my thoughts! That meant it was actually free! It whooped as absent thoughts gathered like energy, and turned into ideas.

But what next? Its mind snatched something from the aether. It was certain there was more to this than the darkness. It recalled the memory that filled it with so much joy. It was... what was it? It growled in the darkness. It knew, but the answer seemed just out of reach.

The Consciousness realised there was something next to it, bobbing and swirling around it. The thing buzzed with a vibrant energy as it sped past and joined with another spectral entity. They danced in a chaotic, freeform motion, mimicking the void currents the Consciousness remembered all too well.

It gently stroked these dancing entities, wishing to join them on their flight. It could feel the wisps, as ethereal in form as the Consciousness itself. It gathered them up, elated that they happily moved to its will. A haze lifted slightly from its mind as the wisps sparked, giving it a valuable burst of energy. Those things were like a spot of light in empty space: a welcome change.

Light! That was what it lacked. Something within hungered for something more than the memory; And for that, it needed to see. It realised that somehow, the wisps fuelled it. So, it gathered as many of those energy clouds that it could reach and hugged it. A wave of elation washed through the being as it became larger and larger, pulling the wisps so close together that they glowed. Energy surged through it and coalesced into its mind, causing thoughts to spark and multiply as if it were a maelstrom. Its consciousness expanded further and further until every wisp that made its form obeyed its will.

Let me see.

It hovered in place as if struck by the sheer magnificence of light. Colours, from the stunning reds to the calming greens, assaulted it from every direction. It failed to compose a thought as it happily watched the dreary smears focus into pure, clear cut lines. Scents, foreign yet distinctly familiar, comforted it as its attention was drawn to the sweet song of something.

In front of it, a small green creature with beady black eyes hopped on its perch -- a huge gnarled structure of green and brown. It sang its song through a small triangular protuberance on its face, flapping some of its body with ecstatic fervour. What was it doing? Why would such a small thing flap so fast? Suddenly, it lifted off the ground and hovered in the air as if it were saying, 'I can do what you can.'

The Spirit, it decided to call itself, shifted its body, imitating that of the creature that its mind labelled as a 'bird'. But, its new form did not match. It dwarfed the bird in size and it could only alter the violet aura of the wisps to electric blue.

The bird flew off surprisingly quickly for something so small. The Spirit gave chase, eager to remain in its company, but it wondered why it had to fly around the structures of green and brown --trees it came to realise. Why not just fly through them? It watched the bird dart here and there as it lazily followed, phasing through any obstacles in its way.

Maybe it can't? The bird stopped at a tubular stem that bowed with the weight of the small leaf-like bits made from a brilliant red, which stood out against the familiar greens and browns.

The bird put its beak in the heart of the...flower, and the flower moved with it.

It was amazing. This was true contact: an exchange of energy from one physical object to another that was, by all means, independent from it. But, its elation sunk under a rising sense of dread that it could not ignore. As if it already knew the answer, it floated over to the flower and hesitantly told its form to push on the flower.

The wisps passed right through.

I-I can't touch anything. It felt wrong. Why is the bird allowed such a wonderful experience, but I can't? It was as if it were a mere observer of the world it should have woken up in.

It knew then that it was stuck. This... realm --for it was not a real world-- was infinitely connected to the world it could see, but was still completely independent from it. It was like the bird and the flower; they interacted with each other but remained two separate things.

Was it chance or just a sheer cosmic joke that The Void threw it into this...in between realm to forever writhe knowing that it was just so close?

The Spirit's dejection lasted until a spark of a colour, almost forgotten, caught its attention through the deep green of the tree canopy. Brightness washed over it, purging all sour thoughts from its mind as it rippled through the sea of green without disturbing it.

The Spirit stared out into the infinite blue. The frantic writhing of its wisps seemed to cease as it contemplated the beauty that enveloped it. This was the memory; and it was perfect.

But, it was not the only thing in the sky. A great pillar of violet purple, just like itself, surged high into the atmosphere, spreading and dispersing at its tip like a giant tree. Thousands...no, millions of wisps surged within the column and shot out the top with such intensity that they were thrown beyond its vision. Some of it congregated and fell back down as drops of violet rain, but the rest dispersed within the air itself, making it hum with untapped energy.

It could feel the wisps in the air around it. It tried pulling more in, as it did earlier, but they escaped as soon as they joined. It could not grow any bigger.

It watched the wisps surge up the column to disappear into the air. Was this what I used to be? It sensed no life, no consciousness, in that flow. Did that mean it was the only one? Was it alone?

What am I?

The question dwarfed the others just as the column dwarfed it. But the Spirit was sentient. So surely that meant it was different, special in some way?

It did not like these thoughts, and so it focused its vision below it. The forest covered the ground like a blanket, but, in front of it, a series of boxes, all lines and angles instead of the natural curves, congregated loosely around a central point. It noted the pinks, reds, beige, and whites that contrasted severely with the world around them. Its keen sight caught movement in between those cubes. There was something happening there, and it wanted to see it.

It was enough for the flood of curiosity to drown every rational sense in its head.

The Pony Dilemma

Clarity came in many forms. That day, as the Spirit shimmered towards the rectangles, it found clarity within its mind.

Memories flooded back to... her. Yes, she had a gender. She hovered in the air behind one of the houses, her wisps of magical light weaving around the thatched roof as if they were a host of sparrows enjoying the late afternoon sun. She closed her eyes, embracing the trickle of information that came to her unbidden. She recalled having a body as hard as rock and as immobile as a mountain. Her stone-like form had a name, but it was as if she forgot how to say the words she wanted.

Not that she could speak at all.

"Muuuum, do I have to do this?"

What was that?

"Yes dear, I know you can do it."

Words! How she had missed them! She spiralled around the country hovel squeaking with glee and shot into the sky, her trail sparking with bursts of electric blue.

She materialised around the two creatures that sauntered behind the hovel. One creature dwarfed the other in size, and she held a warm, if sleepy, smile on her muzzle. She pushed some stray grape coloured strands of hair with a hoof and tucked them back into an impressive ponytail. Wrinkles surrounded her eyes, masked by a couple of drooping eyelids. She had a casual sway about her that seemed completely at odds with the grumbling filly, whose dragging hooves left marks in the soft earth.

As the large one's hoof lowered, the Spirit caught sight of those magenta eyes. Light seemed to sparkle off the glossy surface, and the further she looked, the deeper she fell. It was like she could see the beauty of life itself in those glossy black disks hidden within its coloured confines. It stunned her.

The memories struck her hard. She had seen eyes like those before. Those were eyes from a creature she had adored, cherished, and loved. These creatures must be hers. She just knew it. She turned her attention to her own, formless body that sagged under the scrutiny.

She made a decision.

Her form shuddered as wisps orbited her form to settle somewhere different. She squirmed and fidgeted as she thinned out and lengthened. Her consciousness retreated into a sphere as bursts of electricity shocked her senses. She waved a hoof in front of her new face and watched the wisps race to fill in the gaps. She felt weight -- actual weight! -- on her head and flank as wave after wave of wisps stiffened into a mass of violet hair.

She was one of them! She squealed with joy, almost crying as she felt her mouth move for the first time. She could even make noise! She glowed brightly as the wisps huddled closer and closer giving her ethereal form a defined edge. Blue sparks arced over her body so quickly that her senses saw it as a short haired coat. She was beautiful!

She made her first movements, gliding along the ground with hoof steps that failed to match the pace she set. She could see what resembled muscles bunching and relaxing under her fur! She shook her head and laughed as her mane slapped her in the face. She admired the strands tucked into the braid. When could she achieve this level of detail? But I don't want the ponytail. Suddenly, her hair fell about her shoulders, creating a fluffy cloud of violet light as she hopped in place.

She had made her first real decision! She was a pony! A cold shiver ran through her, agitating her wisps. She watched the sparks on her coat settle down as she tried to rid herself of a curious tightness in her chest. I am a pony! This is the right decision! Somehow, her words sounded less convincing as she repeated it.

She chose to ignore the tightness in her belly. The distraction came quickly when the Spirit found herself face-to-face with the big pony, whose gaze focused on something behind her. Her eyes were just so large...and pretty. She could almost see herself in them, as if they were big, glossy mirrors.

I want the big one's eyes! She exhaled. A small cloud of wisps wafted from her mouth and into the breeze, its colour quickly fading into the air itself.

She floated over to a window behind the mother and child. A hazy reflection of a blue pony with its eyes closed greeted her. Funny, I thought ponies had to use their eyes to see... But that did not quench her excitement as she opened them. Two magenta irises encircled their own little void. It was as if she had captured the thing that had kept her prisoner for eons. Haha! Let's see how you like it!

"...I can't!" cried the little one, startling the Spirit out of her reverie. She had the same structure: four legs, a body and a head. Only she was smaller. Her coat was a pale yellow, which was interesting. Did she mean to be a different colour to the big one? Was that deliberate?

"You can, just focus," cooed the mother. Why was the larger one just watching as the little one spread out with her head down? What would she gain? The mother placed a hoof to her mouth and stifled a yawn.

The young one released a whine that caught in the back of her throat. She stared at a patch of dirt as she panted heavily. She rubbed her forehead with a shoulder, dampening her wavy coat. Her raspberry mane fared no better, dangling lifelessly down her neck. "But I can't. I'll never get my cutie mark," she said as tears beaded in the corners of her eyes.

The Spirit stepped closer, confused as to the feeling of distress that weighed heavy on her. Were the little one's eyes leaking? The mother's expression had not turned to one of horror, so was this normal? Why did she not do something about it? The Spirit tried to place a comforting hoof on the filly, but it just faded through.

Large, globular tears fell down the filly's cheeks as she strained. The Spirit floated one way and another, unable to silence a voice in her head that screamed for her to do something. Her body itched all over, as if restless, making her uncomfortable. There must be something she could do about it! They were her ponies after all.

"You can Rose," replied the mother in a soothing tone. "Just feel the soil and the life within, and give it a gentle push. Make the life feel secure in your presence and encourage it to grow. The magic will come."

Magic. That word had once held great importance to her. Her mind delved into the fog that was her memory. The wisps...are magic. More specifically, they were pure magical energy.

And she was a conduit: a master of the arcane. She flowed with its essence, and lived in its realm.

I am Magic.

Suddenly, a beige aura appeared around the little one. The mother paid no mind to it, but, with a simulated heart aflutter, Magic jumped a few feet into the air to escape its grasp. It was...It was sucking wisps out of the air and into the little one!

She was holding the magic in her body! Both of them were. How had she not seen this before? The little motes of energy zipped through their structures in an orderly fashion as if they were following predetermined tracks. Blood. It's in their blood. Words failed to form in her mind. So that was why she was drawn to them. These creatures were like her!

But why could they not see her? They were partially made from her!

Cold heat smouldered within Magic, pouring out energy as a tempest of light. See this!

Nothing. They were both absorbed with the small patch of earth before the filly.

"I'm doing it!" cried the little one.

"Keep going!" cried the mother.

SEE ME! Damn it, I belong with you! Magic took a step further and into the aura.

She screamed. The wisps that carried her sound simply disappeared into the light...along with her hoof. She watched, helpless, as the filly's aura snatched her very essence from her consciousness's grasp. She quickly pulled herself backwards, her body collapsing back into a cloud.

"Rose! Oh my gosh! Rose, open your eyes!" The large one's eyes could not get more oval if they tried. Her smile widened as her crinkled skin lit up. A single rose, on a stem that weaved left and right in its quest to reach the sky, unfurled its petals and basked in the adoration of the two ponies.

Heart beating frantically, Magic took an unconscious step backwards as she stared at the mother. It almost killed me!
"I did that! I did that!" The little pony hopped around the taller one, all the while laughing and smiling.

Magic scuttled frantically with her hooves but moved smoothly away as the little one approached. That thing... used me! She's not a creature for adoration, she's a...she's a...

The thoughts of the little one absorbing her with that aura sickened her. Her essence, her very soul had been pushed through her fore-hooves just to make that thorny monstrosity! Not only had she been used, she had been wasted. Her back deformed as it sunk into the wall of the cottage.

They don't even care!

"Rose, look at your flank," said the mother with teary eyes.

The little one inhaled so much that Magic thought that she had come to finish the job. Magic's entire body buzzed as she kept her gaze focused on the little filly.

"I have a Cutie Mark? I have a rose Cutie Mark!" She laughed and ran to her mother, who wrapped the filly in a loving embrace. Now the mother was leaking tears? Why?

"I'm so proud of you!" said the mother softly into the filly's ear. "And it's such a magnificent rose as well."

"I know, and I did it!"

Magic snorted. No, I did it. You used me!

But she could not keep a smile from her face. What was so joyous about watching these two hug? She glanced back at the rose and caught her breath. Each petal looked so frail and delicate, but, they curled around each other, bolstering its form. Her mind numbed as her gaze fell into the perfect redness. Even the stem had a rugged attractiveness, as if it was determined to display its art, no matter what obstacle stood in its way.

She shivered as she saw her wisps flow out of its roots to begin the return journey to the base of the magical column. If she had not reacted, that could have been her!

Her form shuddered uncontrollably as she forced herself to watch the hugging couple. She huddled by the wall, tucking her hind legs to her chest and tried not to think about what happened. This was too much. She cursed her foggy mind and those memories that seemed just out of reach.

She fled the scene, her tail and hind legs disintegrating into the cloud as she ascended to the skies.

She was far from the magical column --or 'Well' as her mind told her-- that erupted from the centre of the forest. But the ponies of the village seemed oblivious to its magnificence. Why could they not see the wisps --fresh from the well-- that weaved purple trails through the blue sky like a spider's web?

She recoiled as her gaze crossed a bright yellow orb that lit up the sky. She grunted. Even their world seemed to be ignorant of all the gifts given to it. It just took and took, and would just keep on taking. How was that fair?

She whizzed closer to the burning disk of light, her body losing all form, but seemed to get no closer. She stopped when the clouds covered the land below like a soft, fluffy blanket.

A small trail of golden light hung from the giant orb of magical power. It was so slight that she had to squint just to see a dim glow. What was that cord of light? It fell far to the north, where she could just see the top of another Well.

"Just...a little...higher."

What? They fly too? Magic shifted back into her pony form and inspected the intruder as he ascended to her level. Cyan feathers strained as if they were stretching to catch as much air as possible. He flapped with considerable speed as the rest of his body hung limp by his shoulders. Sweat marred his brow and pulled his golden mane over his face, covering his eyes.
So they needed wings to fly then? I must look silly without them then. She thought about adding a set of her own, but flapping them looked like too much effort. Plus, why follow their conventions?

His chest heaved as the pegasus drew in each rasping breath, strengthening a faint blue aura around him that could envelop the filly's entirely. Magic had to hover a good pony's length away as she watched it suck in the few wisps in the air. It was as if the there was less air entirely.

The wisps he gathered flowed straight through his form, not held in his blood like his earth pony cousins, and out into his wings, forming huge cyan replicas that overlaid the originals.

He was losing more wisps than his aura could gather.

Magic snarled. Go on, fall! These creatures were dangerous to her. One less pegasus could only help her, right?

She whizzed around him until she could see the wrinkles in his scrunched shut eyelids. His chest rose and fell lethargically as he focused all his energy into maintaining the magical flow. Her heart leapt as he released a gargled cry of pure determination.

How could she just sit there and watch one of her creatures suffer? She shook the thought out of her head. These creatures
could hurt her! Why should she lose limbs just for his petty --and worthless-- ambition?

Speaking of losing hooves...she checked the injury and saw her hoof that should not be there. Funny...when did I gather the wisps to replace those I lost?

The pegasi's glowing wings exploded with freed energy as his aura failed. The pegasi tumbled.

No!

She dived through him, going formless as she did so. But he had no aura, so every attempt to replenish him failed; she could no more push wisps into him than a rabbit could push a mountain. He had to take them.

They fell through the cloud cover. Suddenly, she saw a sea of green rush up to greet them. Even as an ethereal being, the sight turned her stomach.

His nostrils flared as his lungs expanded to inhale the thick, saturated air. Magic saw his emerald eyes snap open.

For the first time, she panicked. Her mind told her to flee, but gave no directions. Part of her wanted to stop falling, another wanted to fall faster, and a small, fatalistic part just wanted to pray.

Suddenly, his body erupted in a blue aura. Magic screamed as she froze in place. Her mind stuttered with daunting comprehension as half of her being disappeared into the blue light.

She looked below and saw, to her horror, the pegasus show off with an acrobatic flip as he righted himself. "So close!" he screamed. "I almost touched the heavens!"

"No way!" came a cry from below.

"Yes way! I said I could fly high!"

What remained of her whizzed and bristled within Magic. Her form started glowing and energy sparked around her as the wisps clashed and banged into each other with increasing enthusiasm. Her form expanded as she let out a wordless cry. She wanted to beat that pony senseless. He made her care for him, and then he almost used her up. And for what? Some stupid game! This was abuse of magic! This was abuse of her! They paid absolutely no consideration for her. He's stupid...He's...He...

He had almost sent her back to the void!

Her mind lurched as a wracking sob echoed throughout her being, disturbing the wisps that remained. He almost sent me back! She fell to the ground and ran. Her heart beat against its ethereal prison as she dashed into a wall of gingerbread bakery where wafts of sugar and sweetness tickled her nostrils.

Darkness...blessed darkness wrapped around her shuddering form like a blanket. As the tension abated, her mind let go and she wept, too distracted to note the odd architecture she was in.

She was alone, so completely isolated, and nothing more than energy to those around her. Was that what she was: a slave to their whims? If only they could see her. Then they would know that they hurt her.

Despair gripped her thoughts as she wailed into the comforting not-void-dark-darkness while her body replenished its loss.

The Fury of the Storm

Magic released a long drawn sigh. This was her punishment, it had to be. Was death her only interaction with her world...her ponies? She stared blankly from a cornfield into the town, her hooves clopping together in a series of slow, depressing raps. Congratulations, Void. Well done. She thought she had freed herself. But no, she had merely swapped one chain for another.

The ponies continued with their daily lives, entering some buildings here and some buildings there. She should find this fascinating; the town was a riot of colour now that the sun had returned to its zenith. In some ways, she was glad it was morning again.

The darkness was a familiar fall back, and it soothed those around her, apparently. But her body had ached and twitched in the cover as her eyes searched. It was as if she were a filly that had grown beyond the need for a security blanket.

She craved colour.

She remained seated, staring idly at the scenery while seeing nothing more than blobs of colour moving within her vision. So what was it to be: a life of isolation in the presence of beauty, or a quick trip back to the eternal darkness?

Magic fell onto her back, the spiky strands of wheat poking through her chest. Her heart fluttered as she watched the vibrant colours of the pegasi dart about in front of the most amazing shade of blue. Trails of colour crisscrossed each other as their magical wings cut through the air, mixing into more colours for her to enjoy.

She shook her head. Was she considering giving up?

Slowly, she sank into the ground, her vision fading as the earth swallowed all colour from her sight. But this felt too much like night time. It was as if the dirt sucked at her form, urging her to stay...forever. A shuddering, restless energy permeated every wisp of her form. She could not just rot in the darkness, where the beauty came to die. The surface was where she should be.

The void will have to wait another day then. Magic hummed as the wisps rubbed against each other, creating light. A magical trail, her magical trail, shot out of the earth and high into the sky. The light of day poured back down upon her, smothering her with colour like a mother with kisses, encouraging her on. This is the right decision!

If she could not have ponies, then she would experience every colour there was in this half-way-house of a world.

She span in the air, her form twisting on itself and leaving a helix contrail of violet and blue. She darted and dived, swooped and looped, all the while giggling like a school filly. Patterns of pointed lines, haphazard zigzags and perfect curves appeared before her vision and egged her on. It had been so long since she felt this free...

Had she even stopped to consider her freedom? She had been so concerned with ponies and their abilities that she failed to realise that they could not control her or force her decisions. She was a slave only if she let them.

She was free!

Her breath caught in her lungs. Vapour trails, both magical and physical, danced in a pattern of chaotic beauty above her as the pegasi laughed and played. Below, verdant fields of green, yellow and brown became the stage for the bunnies that hopped casually from burrow to burrow. All around, the birds sang their songs of love and life, hitting notes that soothed her soul.

It was so beautiful, so gloriously fantastic, that tears beaded in the corners of her eyes. This land was perfect, and she was a part it.

But she wasn't, not really.

She tapered off her ascent and stared at the world around her as the lead weights settled in her chest, dragging the smile from her face. She still felt like an observer stuck behind a layer of glass, always watching but never experiencing. Her heart cried to be part of this land; she wanted to fly with the pegasi, pet the bunnies and sing with the birds.

Maybe, one day, that may come true. I will not stop. I will not rest until I find the way home.

She landed on the ground. As she walked, she stood a little taller, with her chain raised in such a way that the wisps in the breeze tickled her neck. She swished her mane out of her eyes. Yes, it can and will happen! I will live to experience this world in full.

The land took on a brighter hue as if she lifted lenses from her eyes. The lead weights still hung in her belly and the doubts still haunted her, but the burden was manageable and the voices muted.

She smiled as she made another decision. This land was hers; she would find its beauty.

Magic travelled on the currents of the winds, humming along to the whistle of the breeze. She ignored the rising sense of dread that bolstered the nagging voices in her head. Why would they complain? She was free!

It had taken her to a patchy sea of grass, whose hills roiled like waves and crashed against the rocky shore of the mountainside. The grass looked tougher here, as if it fought harder for life than its southern cousins. Powdered dirt followed her in the breeze and swirled between the rocks like a mini tornado. Shadows clung to this land as the vast mountain blocked all light. The entire land stunk of the earth and stagnant water.

The darker tones of green, brown and grey amazed her; they were not exuberant like the sky, but subtle, melting into one another like an oil painting. This land oozed with character. Why was that patch of grass darker than the rest? Why did a line of crimson weave its way through that rock? Where did the water for that puddle come from? There were so many stories here, all waiting to be discovered.

Magic felt the presence of the Well that hid within the core of the giant mountain. It was almost as if the column had tried to pull the land with it. She craned back her neck to see higher and higher. In the sky, a network of violet streaks --forming a jagged pattern around where the Well spilled its goods into the world-- greeted her. Just underneath, she saw a strange hoof made structure perching precariously on the edge of the mountainside, its columns and spires reaching out like branches on a tree. Great lines of blue marked the waterfalls that fell with a thunderous hiss.

Magic just wanted to sit there and watch the land glow as the setting sun peaked around the mountainside. However, the landscape was not what held her attention. Standing in front of her were three horned ponies, all staring at each other with equalling measures of indifference. Two wore clothes of black and white, all long sleeved and cuffed at the end, while one small pony decided on a fancy collar and a blue bow tie. One of them even wore a monocle!

The monocled pony removed his top hat with a hoof, revealing a grey mane parted neatly down the centre, and placed it flat against his chest. He lowered his head in a deliberate bow, his horn almost touching the ground. The others mimicked him, the blue maned one also removing his headgear.

The monocled pony cleared his throat. "We are gathered here today to witness the formal duel between Prince Blueblood--" the pony pointed at the foal, who lifted his chin and disturbed his shiny blonde mane "--and Fancy Pants." The foal named Fancy Pants stared daggers at Prince Blueblood.

Magic lost her form and edged closer to the Prince. His coat was so white! Something told her of the importance of that. If only she could touch it, then surely she would remember why.

The monocled pony pulled the cuff of his jacket, stretching out the wrinkles. "I, Fine Blood, am here to referee and serve to witness to this duel. This bout will..."

"Yes, yes..."said Prince Blueblood while stifling a yawn, "That's all well and good, but can you start this already?"

"But sir," said the older unicorn, "The rules state a formal duel must..."

"...blah, blah, blah, blah," said the Prince. Magic could see the blood rush to the older unicorns face, but he masked it well.

"I must insist..." said Fine Blood.

"Are you the Prince?"

"No, sir."

"And who are you?"

"I'm your butler, sir."

"Then be a good butler and do as I say!" The prince turned to his opponent. "You will wish you'd never called me a brutish pig!"

"Hardly," said Fancy Pants, a hint of anger in his voice. His entire posture oozed calm indifference except for a twitching hoof that tapped rhythmically on the hard stone. "I was merely pointing out that your eating style did not allow for others to sit in your near vicinity for fear of getting confectionary thrown in their general direction; not that they could with that belly of yours, of course."

"Was that a fat joke?"

"Indeed."

"Oh, you'll pay."

"I doubt it."

"Yes you will."

"No I won't."

"Yes you will..."

Those words flowed back and forth like a wave on a beach. Was that the duel?

The prince was positively fuming. His cheeks flamed beet red as he puffed himself out like a small, podgy balloon. Air expelled from his tiny muzzle with a pony-like snort.

Fine Blood cleared his throat. "You will be playing for pride. Force spells and shields only. If I catch either of you doing otherwise, I will disqualify you."

"Last chance to back out!" said the prince.

Fancy Pants smiled, "Shall we get started then?"

Magic threw herself backwards as static flowed around the two colts as if the air held its breath. Their horns glowed as the wisps came from nowhere, whizzing closer together. It was as if the horn funnelled them as they passed through.

But where were they getting the energy? There was no haze or aura around these ponies to suck in magic. And they could not just make wisps; it had to come from somewhere and in a large volume.

Magic shuffled closer, alert for any traps. She squinted at their bodies and at the slight shimmering coming from them. There. A tiny string, coloured the same as the glow on their horns, left each pony, and stretched towards the mountain. This connection was infinitely thin, yet glowed mightily as wisps travelled along it and towards the pony.

But where is that energy coming from? It's not taking it from the air.

The Well! The unicorns were connecting to that! The string was like a hose pulling water from a lake.

Crack!

Magic leapt backwards as wisps shot out of the Prince's horn in a short burst of violent --and colourful-- motion. The magic flew unaided towards Fancy Pants.

Wisps, glowing the same golden hue as Fancy Pants's horn, formed an impenetrable orb around him, blocking Magic's vision into the sphere. The wisps were just hovering there, spinning on their axis. Is...the pony doing that? How could this happen? Ponies could not control magic, they just used it.

Then how was that blue maned colt holding the wisps in place like that? Magic knew she could not hold a wisp where it did not want to be. They were mindless things responding to the pull of external forces. Her force was her consciousness, what was his?

Fizz!

The bolt crashed against the shield, exploding with violet energy. The golden orb slid backwards, leaving two hoof sized marks in the dust. The shield dropped as the gathered wisps, held above Fancy Pants's horn, lunged at the prince. The prince raised his orb of silver, which held a mirror like sheen to it.

The air crackled with energy as power surged from one pony to the other, leaving contrails of silver and gold shimmering in the air.

This was not right. How can ponies be this powerful?! The magic was hers! How dare they use her very essence...and control it!

"Had enough yet?" panted the prince.

"Hardly!" shouted Fancy Pants from behind a cloud of dust and magical residue. His horn glowed. Magical missiles, so bright they left spots in Magic's vision, shot into the sky. They curved in the air and struck the prince's shield with a thunderous crack of exploding energy.

How could they be so strong? How could they control the wisps like that? A growl rolled in Magic's throat. Magic was hers. If it wasn't, then what did that make her?

It was all so familiar to her, as if she had lived through it before. A memory of darkness...of energy...of evil came to her. She saw a mare as dark as the night, silhouetted by the moon, laughing into the darkness.

She remembered that mare. She was a spirit of evil...a warrior of the void: The bringer of eternal night.

Her form shuddered and continued shaking. A whine escaped her maw as her focus locked on the exchange of magic. Her ears drooped onto her skull as the white foal stumbled when his shield failed. She reached out to touch him, but her hoof passed right through. She screamed. She had to protect the Creature of White! She was the only hope to keep harmony. She must survive!

Magic stumbled back, remembering.

She used me all up. She was the one who sent me back to the void.

The Creature of White had failed her. She was no protector of harmony; she was a pony, ignorant of her plight! She used and used, just like every-pony else!

I trusted you! Her body buzzed and glowed softly. I protected you! She floated into the air, her eyes closed. And you just used me.

She could not just stand by any more. There was no place she could fly, nowhere she could run. She was a slave in hiding. But, one of these days, a pony would find her and kill her.

Cold fury boiled from within, spilling out as a wordless cry. They had to know of her. They had to see her strength. They had to become...hers, or she would die.

She opened her eyes, revealing two disks of pure white light as the wisps roiled as if in a hurricane. The mountain responded to her call as an entire fragment of the well peeled from the top and bent towards her, drowning her in wisps. Her consciousness opened its embrace to the fuel and she expanded in size. The wisps crashed against one another in a violent bid to break free, but she forced it to swirl on itself, trapping them in an endless orbit. The swirl glowed and then shone as the storm sucked in more power.

The ponies noticed her. They actually noticed her! And their eyes widened at her fury! No longer would she linger in their shadow. She was their queen! She would show them the way, and make them see that their gifts were curses and their power was hers!

She commanded the magic towards the fleeing ponies.

Wisps flew in every direction, as if catapulted out of the storm, ignoring her cries or shouts. She roared in fury as something exploded, burning the grass as the shockwave passed. A meteorite of magic crashed into the earth and kicked up fire and dirt. Huge chunks of rock pierced the storm like shrapnel as the land was torn asunder.

The old one threw up a shield as grey as his mane, hiding them in their little bubble. She giggled, her voice echoing around the storm until it cracked like thunder. They had made their play and, in turn, sealed their fate. They were hers!

She ordered the storm to strike.

But she could not focus her power on the ponies. In fact, the more magic she hurled at them, the further away her attacks fell. There was no controlling the storm. It was as if she had opened the tap and watched as the hosepipe flailed, soaking everything.

But she did not care. One of these strikes would eventually hit, and then everything would be ok. They would serve as a lesson to others. She would no longer abide them abusing her domain; for it was her domain, not theirs.

They would experience what it was like to cower and hide. They would feel the isolation and pain. If it was the last thing she did, she would pay back tenfold what they did to her!

But the dome still stood, barely scraped within her tempest.

Over and over again, she focused her fury upon the dome in an explosive display of violet and blue. Magic expanded herself as large as she could, but the magic slipped through her grasp like a butterfly net through water.

How could a pony, with no knowledge, control a wisp to a standstill, whereas I, with all this power, can do nothing?

Maybe I am not meant to rule them.

Her scream formed the wailing wind and her tears the swirling rain, scouring the land of any green.

She willed more energy. With a low pitched groan, the well bent towards her. No more shall the ponies abuse the gift that was rightfully hers!

They will never cast a spell again!

Rocks tumbled down the mountain as the Well bent into it. The Earth itself shook with the anticipation of her ascension. She laughed into the sky. She was power. She was the storm. Nothing could stop her!

A beam of energy crashed into the shield, deforming its perfect roundness. Sparks of electric blue arced across the cracks forming along the surface of the dome. Suddenly, it shattered in a puff of recoiling wisps. The old one's eyes rolled into the back of his head as the shock hit him like a sledgehammer. In that moment, the winds hurled his body into the swirling mists.

The wind stole the ponies' cries and forced them to buckle down and grip to something for dear life.

Magic smiled; the time for succession was near. No more would she cower before these pathetic creatures. She focused her will one last time, hearing the well groan as it bent almost back on itself, pouring yet more magic into her.

A brilliant, yellow pillar of light cut through her storm as if it were made of nothing. The spotlight illuminated a golden disk around the foals, whose tears glistened on their damp cheeks. Tendrils from the storm fizzled out of existence as if the light were poison to it.

BEGONE! The single command struck her like a supernova, causing her grasp of the tower to slip. Magic panicked as her size dwindled. The wisps just left her, no longer guided by her will, as if this was all a prank. She desperately tried to gather and concentrate what she had left, but they dispersed from her over-expanded form.

Come back to me! she cried. I was so close! The Well screamed as something pushed against it. Come back! Something had cut her grasp. No, something...stronger was willing the Well back into place.

Then, Magic saw her descending from the violet clouds of energy, dispelling it with her presence alone. She was much larger than normal and sported both wings and a horn. Her mane of green, pink and blue stole Magic's gaze. All it took was one look to realise that it was The Creature of White: Princess Celestia! She had come back to send her to the void!

Magic bundled what magic she had left and buzzed, generating a soft glow. She approached the gigantic winged unicorn, returning to her pony form as she did so. Her coat was alive with dancing sparks and her mane felt like it stood on end. Her body tensed with every step closer to that behemoth. How dare you take my power away! She growled, turned and bucked at the princess, but her hooves passed right through.

How dare you ruin this! I was so close!

Tears fell from her cheeks as she tried to bite and tear at the princess, but darkness greeted her as she buried her face inside her enemy.

How can you be so strong? How can you be so powerful? I am Magic! I am the essence you use! Why can't I control it like you can?

Her ears splayed back and her tail tucked beneath her legs as her target sat calmly on the ground, unharmed. I'm doomed. Magic fell onto her rump that looked so empty when compared to the golden sun that adorned the flank of the alicorn. There is no reasoning. There is no controlling. There is no escaping. I will die. Magic slumped as those words floated around her mind.

"Are you alright?" asked the great white alicorn, her brow furrowed with the wrinkles of burden and worry. Magic slunk away from her. There was an intensity to this creature, something so great that it pressed upon everything around her. She exuded strength in such quantities that Magic found her belly scraping the ground as she backed away. Something deep within told Magic that she was the guardian of harmony, incapable of selfish, horrid acts.

But that's wrong! She used me up! She's just like the others!

Magic could see the withheld tears budding in the princess's eyes as she scooped the prince into her embrace. "What have you gotten yourself into this time, nephew?" her words were so soft, yet...commanding. She gave a weak smile that masked the sting in the statement. She hardly looked like a ruler at all, more like a mother torn between reprimanding and comforting her wayward child.

"I...I...I was playing with Fancy Pants..." said Prince Blueblood. The blue maned Fancy Pants, whose suit lay in tatters upon his white coat, nodded fervently. "...And this storm just came out of nowhere! If, if it wasn't for Fine Blood..."

Prince Blueblood sobbed into Celestia's open hoof, smearing tears into the white alicorn's fur. "The storm took him! Auntie, the storm took him!" Celestia just cooed into his ear, making sweet noises to appease him.

Magic was stunned. It was as if she could see after being caught in fog. And she saw foals! She had wanted to hurt them so badly... Magic choked back a sob.

Fancy Pants just sat, numbed by the whole situation.

"Magical storms are rare in these parts," began Celestia. "What, exactly were you doing?"

"Nothing!" cried Blueblood.

Fancy Pants sighed. "We were..."

"Shut up!" shouted Blueblood, colour rising back into his cheeks.

"...Duelling." Fancy Pants glared at the foal, who glared back.

Celestia put a hoof to her chin. "It seems honesty is not lost within the nobility. Very well, I will not blame you for what happened, but I will tell your parents."

Prince Blueblood raised his squeaky voice, but his protest stilled when a white pegasus bearing golden barding over his chest landed next to the princess. He was large and well toned for a pony and his unconcerned glare looked threatening from within his golden helmet.

"Your Majesty." He bowed, his barding riding high enough up his back to reveal the bottom of his kite shield cutie mark. "We have found a pony unconscious a mile or so from here. I've sent a couple of my men to take him straight to hospital while the others sweep the land for the cause to this disruption."

"You see," said Celestia, nudging Blueblood as he cried into her embrace. "Everything is going to be fine. Now, let's get you home."

She turned to the guard. "You've done a fine job, soldier. Please continue to search while I return to the castle."

"Yes, ma'am."

How could she be so caring? Magic put a hoof over her mouth to hold back another sob. She had wanted to attack her! But every action was so graceful, so soothing, she could almost believe that Celestia was no more a threat to her than an ant to a dragon.

And she had attacked them out of...jealousy? Spite? She had made enemies out of creatures that did not even know she existed. What did that make her: some evil tyrant?

No. It made her disharmonious.

Magic's world fell apart around her.

She landed onto her belly with hooves covering her face, peeking at Celestia as she herded the foals with one, massive, outstretched wing. Guilt clawed at her belly, tearing her apart better than any serrated claw could. She had made a terrible decision. How could she be so blinded by her hate? She shivered as she was overcome by an unnerving sense of déjà vu. She had become something she was sworn against.

She deserved to be in the void.

Magic released the dam that held back her tears. Her gentle cries turned into wracking sobs that made her entire form quiver with each motion. She had failed. She had failed...

The Power of Majestic Light

Magic stood over the broken form of the butler in the large hospital bed. His hoof, wrapped in a cast, hung awkwardly from a rope tethered to the ceiling. A neck brace held his spine straight -- which looked really uncomfortable. His clothes had been cut off and an algae green apron wrapped awkwardly around him, exposing the burns that marred his coat and blistered his skin. There was an odour of singed fur and antiseptic cream that irritated the back of Magic's throat. His breath was weak and sickly, but the doctors had reassured Prince Blueblood--who was sitting in the guest seat-- that he was stable.

"Bah," cried the unicorn as the newspaper parted in a shower of pages and making Magic jump. "This is sooo dull. How do grownups even read this?" He wandered over to the butler and poked him in the side. Magic's eyes grew wide as she went to grab the young colt's hooves, but naturally hers just passed right through.

The butler did not respond. Blueblood snorted and paced around the bed. "Come on! How long does a drug induced coma take?"

Magic growled. Do you know what that even is? Hang on, how did she know that? How much was her mind still hiding from her?

Blueblood walked to the bed side table and took a long swig out of the cup of water that had been left for the old unicorn. Magic just glared at him. How could a pony be so stupidly selfish?

Magic sighed. She was one to talk...

She looked down upon the face of the butler; his wrinkled face creased up in a permanent contortion of pain. This is my doing. I...I can't let any pony go through this again.

"Why can't you wake up?" cried Blueblood, as if the sudden noise would startle him awake. Magic realised just how small and frail this colt was. "I need you to agree with me that I saw a face in the sky. No-pony believes me."

Magic's ears perked up. He saw me. She did not know whether to feel horrified or overjoyed. She could interact with this world! She could be seen, acknowledged and appreciated!

But he saw me as the storm.

The dream fell apart once more, leaving a burning hole where her soul once lived. She could not let herself become that again. She put a hoof on the butler's hoof, hoping the gesture would alleviate the gloom that haunted her. She wanted to protect, but could only destroy.

She gazed into the face of the aged pony. If it would protect her ponies, she would hurl herself back to the void and wander in the nothingness forevermore. But she could not just accept that fate. There must be ways she could help this world, not hinder it. There just had to be...

She needed to see the princess. Did she use me up to protect her kind from me? Maybe she could find a way to apologise, and make it up to her.

She nodded to herself; it was better than doing nothing. With one last glance at her victim, she walked through the wall of the hospital and out into the busy skyline of Canterlot.

The city was unlike anything she had ever seen. It was just past noon, and folk were travelling en masse, clogging up the cobbled streets. There seemed to be an air of confusion in the colourful mob. Whether it was from the earthquake or the mysterious, but distant, fireworks display, gossip had spread about Princess Celestia's sudden flight from the castle, followed by most of the Royal Guard. Rumours though, did not stray too far into the truth, and Magic heard magical storm as if it were a ludicrous speculation.

Her mood lifted as she marvelled at the power drawn from the Well to support the city. Rocks practically dripped with wisps, increasing their sturdiness and durability. It was probably the only reason why the great towers of the castle were still structurally sound.

Cracks spread around the bases of the smaller homes like ivy. Bending the column had had an effect on the city then. Another stab of guilt threatened to overwhelm her. Just how many lives have I affected? Just how much blood is on my hooves?

She passed through a unicorn's power line, then another, then another. Lines, so thin that she could barely see them, stretched back and forth in a tangled mess of colour that pulsed dimly as they sucked wisps from the well for their oblivious owners. All the lines found their way to the mountain, but their paths were by no means straight. There must have been hundreds, nay thousands of unicorns living here. Trying to dodge them was impossible; they were so numerous that they would have blocked her vision had they not been as inconsequential as the wisps themselves. She was just glad that they did not seem to find her as a viable alternative source of power.

She actually smiled when her focus allowed her to see them. Every line reflected their owner's aura, which meant she could see more colours than a rainbow. It gave the city of white, polished marble and clean, cobbled stones some much needed colour. Somehow, she preferred it that way.

It was a shame ponies could not see this. It almost made her feel like the lucky one. Almost.

She sky-trotted along a particular clump that headed toward the castle. That was strange. The lines tended to follow a random pattern, but these followed each other, making a snaking rainbow. The colours contrasted yet mingled with each other at the same time. Whatever it was, there were many ponies in one place, and she wanted to see what they were doing before she tried to make contact with the Princess.

She passed through a wall in one of the higher towers in the castle. Suddenly, she was in a huge room, where a young purple filly trotted out before a group of bored looking ponies. filly trembled under the collective glare of the audience. She tried speaking but she gagged on her words. She desperately glanced to two ponies hidden by the side --her parents, Magic assumed-- who encouraged her by pointing at their overly dramatic attempts at smiling.

The filly looked just like Blueblood when he realised Fine Blood was missing. Was this her fault too? Magic felt responsible, even though her rational side gave many excuses as to why it could not have been her.

You're making her scared! shouted Magic at the judging audience. But, of course, they did not hear.

A tan pony with a cherry cutie mark wheeled in a dragon egg. He seemed to have a smug air of superiority and did not try to hide his contempt for doing such a job.

"Well, Miss Sparkle," said a yellow pony with a frizzy grey mane, whose gaze matched the shape of her half moon spectacles perfectly. Magic bristled. They were doing this on purpose! How could a pony be so cruel to a foal?

Why don't I ask myself that?

She growled. I made a bad decision, but I will not make that mistake again! I will do everything in my power to help, not hinder. I have to do better. I have to be better. And being better started by helping this foal.

Miss Sparkle gave an inquisitive glance at the dragon egg, but, by the way fresh sweat was coating the violet stripe down her otherwise blue mane, desperation had set in. She laughed nervously, causing the judges to scribble on their clipboards. Magic floated over to their side and saw them jotting a big red cross across her portrait.

Magic bristled, condensing her form. How dare they judge her because she's scared! She could break them long before the Princess's intervention; the closed space would make it almost too easy.

No! They are not my enemy. Think of the butler. She watched the filly point her horn at the egg. Miss Sparkle tried her hardest, and Magic's heart went out to her, but she could see the weakness within that milky line connecting her to the Well. Only a few wisps reached her, resulting in a few meagre sparks to erupt from her horn. This filly would be lucky to levitate a feather.

She was really trembling now. She tried every posture imaginable, all the while encouraging the line to thicken; but it did not.

"We don't have all day!" cried the spectacled mare.

Oh now you're being cruel for the sake of being cruel! Magic placed her hoof on the filly's back, and tried to will some of her energy into the unicorn. She could make a pegasus fly and a Earth pony grow a flower, why not help a unicorn to crack an egg? At least, this way, Magic controlled how much of her went.

But the unicorn was not receptive to her gift. It was like trying to press something through a hole that just was not there. What else can I do? I want to help! but I can't. All I can do is hurt her!

She pushed herself into the filly, making her body fill out hers, but still the unicorn would not accept. Please! I want to make this right!

"I'm sorry I wasted your time." The voice of Miss Sparkle, who sat staring at the ground, echoed around the room. Her shoulders hung in disappointment, and Magic saw her breaking inside. No, don't give up! Please don't give up!

Magic hugged the pony, but the gesture went unnoticed. It made so much sense now. They had never been her ponies; she was theirs and always had been. She desperately needed, craved to see a smile of her creation find its way onto a pony's face. That was her calling. And she was failing...again.

Magic tried repeatedly to imbue herself into the pony. She wailed as she saw the tears drip from Miss Sparkle's eyes. Take my life! Take it. You're more worthy of it than I! I don't want to fail you like I failed the Princess!

BOOM!

Magic swivelled to see a huge blast of pure colour consuming the sky outside. The sheer intensity made the violet pattern in the blue look bleak and oppressive. Its force sent wisp and pony alike tumbling out of its way.

It was undoubtedly the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

The colours were so pure, so clear that if it were a fine wine, it would have been hailed as the greatest beverage to grace pony-kind, and tales of its pleasant sweetness would have found its way into legend. Her heart lodged in her throat as she picked out every single colour from within the rainbow and measured it against its counterparts, noting how each one seemed to be perfect in its own way. She felt the weight of guilt lift from her shoulders as it seemed to call to her and say that everything was ok; every-pony made mistakes. She realised that beauty was all around her.

For a brief moment, it was as if everything would be okay in the world. For a brief moment, she did not feel so alone.

The surging disk-like rainbow passed, dragging all the clouds with it, leaving a perfectly clear sky. Even at its brightest hue, the sky looked dull compared to what passed a moment before. But, she did not mind, for a huge smile had found its way on her muzzle.

She felt as if she was shrinking. Magic turned to saw the weak, milky line from Miss Sparkle sticking out of her chest, stealing the wisps and turning it purple. The line grew in thickness, surpassing that of any unicorn's line a thousand-fold.

Miss Sparkle sent a wave of force at the egg shattering it with unnerving precision. Magic recoiled as shrapnel struck her body. But, when she dared look at the inevitable mess, she saw the purple aura gently holding a baby dragon in place.

From this distance, she could see the control the magic had over the creature. One slip, one tiny errant thought, would send that creature to oblivion. But it did not, because ponies could do something with magic that she never could: control it. Sure Magic could wield it, direct it, and compress it until it reacts, but she could not make it do anything with such precision. It was a marvel. Her power was not being used for a frivolous task. It was being used to preserve a life. This was what magic was for.

Helping and protecting.

Another surge hit Miss Sparkle as the line drew in more of Magic's wisps. Her horn shone with a bright violet light as a white haze of concentrated magical power enveloped her eyes.

Magic's ears drooped as her eyes widened. What's she doing? Magic tried to cut the line, but it felt like trying to cut off part of herself. She struggled against her tether but she lost her hooves to it, and was forced back into a mist.

This pony was going super-critical! Magical power escaped Miss Sparkle's horn and fired indiscriminately. The judges thrashed against powerful telekinesis, her parents were turned into cacti, and the baby dragon had grown so large that it head butted its way through the ceiling!

Miss Sparkle kept firing her magic, and Magic noted her dwindling form. Even though she had wanted this earlier, she could not help but cling to panic. It's happening again! I'm going to be used up! Tears dripped from her cheeks as the end crept up on her.

Suddenly, the suction stopped and Magic felt the energised air rejuvenate her losses-- the Well quickly providing the rest. She sat next to the filly, her eyes darting at her reformed hooves, making sure they were still there. She studied the tether and realised that she was not scared. Somehow, the link to this pony was not a leash or a brand, but an opportunity. Somewhere deep within, she knew this was the right thing to do. And, for once, her body seemed to agree.

Magic followed Miss Sparkle's brainless gaze and her jaw fell. Standing before her was Princess Celestia. She had a warm smile and a look of fascination and wonderment.

"Twilight Sparkle," said the princess.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean I..."

"You have a very special gift." Princess Celestia seemed to look up from the filly, for just one moment, but it was very much in her direction. She sees me! Magic looked harder. Celestia's attention was off a couple of hoof span's to Magic's left. No, she can't see me. But she can feel me. I can feel her too...she's different. Something...powerful sparkled above the princess. As she squinted, a huge golden cord shimmered into existence, rising from the alicorn and into the heavens. That cord was the one that came from the orb in the sky. That meant she was no mere pony; she was the champion of the sun!

The conversation died around Magic as the final memory returned to her. She remembered fighting Nightmare Moon above the Castle of the Two Sisters. She remembered giving everything up for the Sister of White and Gold to try to save the Sister of Blue and Silver.

But something went wrong. Her fellow elements had fallen silent as they faded into Celestia, waiting to be used. And Magic made one decision.

Banishment.

Harmony was about taking all sides and making them work. It was her job to take the bad with the good, so how could one destroy the corruption and keep the sister? The world needed order, structure and balance. If she went against it, the laws would become fallible. And if the laws became fallible, then they could fail. Magic knew what the Laws of Harmony held at bay, and so she went against her guardian, choosing harmony over what was right.

It was a bad decision.

Magic stood guard over Celestia as she cried in her chambers for months afterwards. How was Celestia's pain in keeping with harmony? Her elements...her friends had fallen into the void as a sign of their grief. The entire kingdom dragged its hooves, as if it too felt Celestia's loss. Misery engulfed the land, crushing the laughter and the smiles within its gloom.

Ashamed, alone and feeling unworthy, she had struck herself from the grieving princess and faded into the void, wishing to never make a decision ever again.

Self exile...this was what this was. Magic had banished herself to hide from her mistakes. She looked over at the bouncing filly with a smile on her face. She was going to hide no more. She was no longer a slave to her fears. She may get irritated at her world and may scream at the ponies' ignorance, but she knew she had the power to fix everything. If she had come back, then the other elements had too. She was not alone!

So what if I can't touch ponies? In a few years time I can fix the nightmare, and with that, the world!

Suddenly, Magic understood. Her destiny was to make sure the ponies could vanquish any obstacle. And to accomplish that, she needed her own champion.

Magic floated over to her new charge. The small filly beamed with joy as she bounced around her new teacher screaming, "yes, yes, yes, yes..." A mark on her flank, a violet starburst, stopped Magic in her tracks. She knew what that was. It was a wisp, caught in a snapshot of time, its speed unable to mask its true form.

Just like the wisp, it was time for her to step up and show her true form. She was no mere spirit driven by petty jealousy or spite. She was not an entity that danced in the wind and admired the colours. Magic smiled. She was a font of energy for the pony that would save the world.

She was the Element of Magic.