Celestia walked the halls of CSGU, Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, her golden hoof guards clicked and clacked against the marble floor. Though one could not tell, as she carried herself in her usual calm and collected demeanor, she was practically bouncing in her hoof guards with joy.
Today, she was going to find a new pupil to teach personally. She could still remember the day she chose Twilight, the plans she had set forth for her, and she could see her now, with her friends in the castle at the heart of Ponyville. Today, and for years to come, she could enjoy watching another pony grow and mature under her wings.
Without any of the long and complicated plans, too. Who knows, though? Perhaps fate will find another way to mess with her. It was not the time to think of such things. Soon the enrollment process was going to begin, and this year she would be watching the fillies herself; prodding them to see their magical capability, see their most wonderful displays of magic. This all brought her back, her mind strolling through the many pupils she has had before.
She couldn't help but let her lips curl up at the ends, the magnitude of her joy returning as she left her thoughts. The room in which many young minds were going to prove themselves worthy of attending this school as she watched was right in front of her. Celestia opened the door, suppressed her smile, and put on a look of complete neutrality. She greeted each of the officials in the room with a slight nod before she sat down, making herself comfortable in a seat that was situated in the back left corner.
A name was called from the other room.
Fire Starter's P.O.V
"It's going to be fine, sweetie."
"She's right, we just know that you're going to get in."
My parents encouraged me. Burning Heart and Fire Light, respectively. The former having an arm wrapped around me, the latter nuzzling my neck. You're not the ones who are being judged! I thought irritably to myself, though they meant well, their encouragement was annoying. How could they not be worried?! The only thing keeping me from running out of here was the fact that I couldn't leave my friend behind to suffer.
Speaking of said friend; Azure Ocean sat across from me, her gaze always shifting between me and the door. I tried to give her an encouraging smile, which thinking about it was very hypocritical, since I found my parents' encouragement annoying, but I don't care. The smile probably wasn't very encouraging anyway, my head was hung, just barely tilted up enough so it wouldn't hurt to look at her. I had lost my second tooth a couple days ago, so my bottom left-front tooth was missing. The smile was weak, too, the ends of my lips barely raised, my mouth open just enough to make the missing tooth noticeable.
To put it shortly, my smile was not helping.
We stared at each other for a moment, apparently trying to talk to each other through our minds. Though we both knew that was impossible, we were bright fillies. We just kept staring at each other for a while longer, until my mom tapped on my shoulder.
"Just remember what you have to do, sweetie."
"I know mom, you don't need to keep reminding me!" I said with a huff. She uttered a small sorry.
What I wanted to do was quite simple, actually. Well, I shouldn't say that, to me it may have been simple. I've been practicing for months. Fire is almost impossible to control, the most an average unicorn can do is summon it, only the most skilled unicorns could grasp even the slightest control of it. Starswirl himself had troubles. Now, I'm not going to control fire, I'm going to make it LOOK like I am.
I would summon fire, that was the easy part, the hardest part was timing, mana control, and having enough of said mana. Now summoning fire didn't take too much mana, but what did was summoning a barrier. Now, how small of barriers I was doing would decrease the mana cost, but then there would be how many I'm going to summon in such a short amount of time. Same goes for the fire, size equals decreased cost, but then there's the AMOUNT that I'm going to summon; if I don't do it right, I may exhaust myself.
One session yesterday when I practiced, I had accidentally summoned a flame an inch bigger then I had meant to, and it had made me pass out for 3 hours! If that was going to happen now, then I could kiss my chances at CSGU goodbye!
*****
Over the hours the fillies and colts had trickled down, Azure Ocean had left quiet a while ago, and when she did so, I could swear she was ten shades paler. I don't blame her, because what she told me currently had me running calculations in my head, going through scenarios, sweaty enough to threaten dehydration. What had had me like this?
Celestia was in there.
I was going to perform my trick in front of CELESTIA! My mind was doing triple somersaults, and I could swear that I was ready to burst at any moment.
*****
I was the last one, the last little unicorn waiting to have their fate decided. The time had come.
"Fire Starter," The mare at the desk half-shouted "They're ready to see you."
"Come on." I could feel my father's hoof on my back, urging me to move forward. I wasn't moving. My legs had froze to the spot, I was NOT going in there!
"I'm not ready!" I whined foalishly.
"You could always wait until next year." The mare behind the desk commented, her tone giving the impression that she was uninterested in what was going on.
Celestia may not be here next year... If I went in there, this could end in one of two ways. Either I embarrass myself in front of Celestia, or I impress Celestia.
"You don't have to if you don't want to, sweetie." My mom told me, her concern clear.
I took a deep breath and sighed. "No..."I muttered. "no, I can do this!" This small shout seemed to give me some confidence. I walked to and through the door before I could change my mind. Which of course was after I noticed Celestia in the corner. Also the door closing behind me and my parents.
"Name." One of the deciders of my fate asked.
"F-Fire Starter." I hesitantly replied. Looking to the corner I saw that Celestia was studying every inch of my grass green hair and red body. Her piercing gaze rested over my heart for a moment, the slightest change in her eyes was seen, though they quickly returned to their stoic neutrality.
"Ahem." One of the deciders of my fate got my attention. They saw that I lost myself for a moment staring at the sun princess. "Will you please proceed to show us your best magic?" The same one asked.
"Oh... Oh! Right!" I nervously chuckled. I took a stance that looked like I was going to blast someone with my magic, though it didn't really help at all, I just felt like it was the right thing to do. As I stored the mana in my horn I calculated exactly what I was going to do, I wasn't going to do anything spectacular, really. Make some shapes, fireworks, perhaps? Anyways, I was hoping to get through with the complexity of the performance. Not to mention, again, that it would take a large amount of my mana.
I let out my mana and started to do a simple pattern as I made shapes and scenes in the air. Fire, barrier, fire, barrier. This kept repeating in my mind as I tried to ignore the growing feeling of exhaustion. I had to make it to the fireworks, even if I exhausted myself with the fireworks, it was the best part of the routine, and it was the most important. The scenes and shapes I was currently making in the air were quite simple compared to the fireworks.
Minutes passed by, I started to do moving scenes, ponies chatting, objects moving, etc. Of course this took more mana, but I wanted to give them a bit of a show. Finally, when I felt I had just enough mana left to do the fireworks, I began coordinating were everything would happen. The room was smaller then I would have liked it to be, but the just meant doing everything on a smaller scale, which would save mana.
It was planned, little balls of fire went higher into the room until they were a few feet beneath the single, then the burst into multiple flames that changed color as they fell to the ground. Well, they looked like this, but really I was summoning flames in different colors lower and lower until they reach the ground, and doing multiple at the same time is what was draining me. It may sound like this performance was long-winded, but really it only lasted about 10 minutes, and it was the most tiring 10 minutes ever.
After I had finished the last firework I promptly collapsed, taking in deep, raspy, breaths. I could hear hoof steps coming from somepony behind me, no, ponies. Their was a pair of rapid hoof steps, probably my father, and then their was hoof steps taking calm, evenly paced strides.
"Just breath." My father told me this as he appeared at my side, running a hoof through my hair that I assume was supposed to be comforting. I didn't have time to really think about why he would want to comfort me, because before me appeared princess Celestia. Though instead of the piercing gaze from before, her eyes had the famous warmness that she was known for, and of course there was her soft smile. I saw this before I laid my head back down, not finding the energy to keep it raised.
"Are you okay, my little pony?" She bent down to be level with me and lifted my head with her horn.
"Y-yeah... I'm just... really tired." I wheezed between breaths, I tried to give a light chuckle, but it just came out as a puff of dry air. The princess's smile just widened.
"I could see why, you know, if I were you, I would have started with the fireworks." She herself gave a chuckle. Then she had a more serious look on her face. "I think we should get you into one of the guest room's at the castle, barriers can be quiet draining to make." She gave me that knowing smile again, though I paid it no attention. I was too busy thinking about what she had said.
"The... the castle?" I asked, my mind was beginning to fog with my weariness so I was finding it hard to comprehend that. I had never been in the castle before, and the mere prospect of it was exciting, again, though. I couldn't really exclaim my excitement at the moment.
"Yes, and while you rest, I'll have some things to discuss with your parents." I wanted to question it, but the fog was thickening, and a nap sounded really good at the moment...
Celestia's P.O.V
"Should... should we tell her?" Fire Light asked, as to what he was asking about. Upon Fire Starter's flank a symbol had appeared, her cutie mark. It was three flames, one considerably large, the other two were below that and considerably smaller.
"No, she needs her rest." I whispered, telling them with my eyes to be quiet. This is the one. I reached out and grabbed the filly softly in my magic, I took the utmost care in laying her on my back, wishing not to disturb her. "Walk with me." I say as I walk through the door I had entered through.
In the courtyard, many of the school officials walking about thought that this scene looked strikingly similar to when Twilight had become my pupil. Though Twilight had passed out from pure joy. Who knows, perhaps I'll bring this one to Twilight's old room, make it a sort of tradition for my pupils. You know what? Call me a sentimental old fool, but that's exactly what I'll do.
It wasn't until we were in the castle that I said anything. "Your daughter must be smart to be able to think of something that complex."
"She is, we're so proud of her, she thought of that fire controlling trick herself." Burning Heart said, and you could indeed hear the pride in her voice.
"I see, it is for this very reason I have something to ask of you."
"Anything, your highness." Fire Light bowed slightly before looking at me with a inquisitively raised eyebrow.
"I would ask your permission to take Fire Starter on as my personal protege." It was at this moment we reached the guest room in which Fire Starter would rest, Twilight's old room. It still had some of Twilight's things in there, some books, a blanket, other random things. Mostly books.
Her parents looked stunned for a moment. "R-really?" This came from Burning Heart.
"Yes, but of course we'll need to ask her if she WANTS to." I gave them a kind smile as I watched them gather their wits.
"We'd... we'd love to have you teach her!" Burning Heart came up to shake my hoof, but then seemingly thought better of it and decided to bow instead. I held out my hoof to her.
"It'd be my honor to teach her." This was true, and my smile never faltered. Burning Hear hesitantly grabbed my hoof and shook. "Now you must understand, she will live at the castle." I gave a small frown.
"Would she be allowed to visit?" Fire Light asked.
"But, of course."
"Then that doesn't matter." I breathed a sigh of relief. With that out of the way we went in and placed Fire Starter into the bed, and placed Twilight's old blanket on her.
"Isn't that the new princess's cutie mark?" Burning Heart asked.
"Well, this was her room." I gave her a sly smile as she mouthed 'wow'. "Now let's leave her to rest." They both gave her a nod and turned to leave, while I wrote a note and left it on the end table.
Fire Starter's P.O.V
I woke up with a long, well deserved, yawn. Looking around I immediately noticed this was not my room, what first tipped me off was the blanket with princess Twilight's cutie mark on it. The next thing to tip me off is that it was considerably larger then my own room, and had many more books. Like, seriously, there were a LOT of books.
I explored the room with only my eyes for a moment, but the I spotted a unrolled scroll with my name on it.
Fire Starter,
I suggest you look in the mirror, and when you are ready, head to the dining area. It is straight down the hall to the right.
Princess Celestia.
Well, it was an odd suggestion, I find no reason not to take it. I look around the room, I assume the door the bed was facing to be to the hall, so the one to my left must be the bathroom. I crack my back as I get out of the bed, getting the satisfying pops I continued toward the door.
In the bathroom there was a large mirror, in that mirror I could see my grass green hair, my red coat, and my... cutie... mark...
Shouts of joy were heard all throughout the castle.
"Moooooooooooooom! Daaaaaaaaaaaad!" I shouted as I ran down the hall towards were the dining hall should be. She stopped when she came to two big doors with a guard on either side. They both had spears and they crossed them in front of the door. Which if you ask me is not very nice to do to a filly.
"Name."
"Fire Starter!" I said in a whiny voice. The guard to the left gave the one to the right a strange look before they uncrossed their spears.
"You may pass." They both returned to their positions with stoic looks on their faces. Their horns lighted up, but I stopped them.
"I can do it myself!" They merely shrugged as I reached out and surrounded the doors with my magic. Which was admittedly was difficult, the doors being so big, but I managed. I opened up the door and scanned the scene.
My father had a look of total pleasure as he took a bite of cake, I couldn't tell what type, my mom looked happy and was also was eating cake. Closest to me was the dark blue alicorn of the moon/night, Luna, who was eating a daisy sandwich. Finally farthest from me was Celestia, eating the same cake as my parents.
After thoroughly scanning the seen a rushed at my mom and threw myself at her, grabbing her in a fierce hug. She was surprised for a moment, but then returned the embrace."I got my cutie mark!" I shouted at her, probably breaking her ear drums.
"I know, I know honey, it's beautiful!" She shouted in reply.
"I take it this is the filly thou wished to be thy new student, sister?" Luna spoke, catching me by complete surprise, and I froze.
"Yes, she is," She smiled warmly towards me. "that is, if she would like to accept the offer."
"I... I would love to!"
"You wouldn't see your parents for two months." Celestia's smile dulled a bit before my response.
"I'm completely fine with that! This is the opportunity of a lifetime, and I'm taking it!" I emphasized that last sentence by hopping away from my mother and taking a high-chinned stance. Which elicited giggles from the surrounded adults, even Celestia. Getting a more serious expression upon my face I asked. "When do we start?"
"Tomorrow you will go back home to get your things, then come back here for a castle tour. Then the day after that we'll get started on your lessons." She seemed to maul something in her mind for a moment before coming to a mental conclusion. "Sister, what time is it?"
"I do believe it is time to lower the sun." Celestia nodded to her sister before lighting her horn. Outside it could be seen that the sun was lowering, and as Luna lit her horn, that the moon was rising. I do love sunset, the colors the sky turns, I do wish it would last longer.
"I know you just got up, but it's late and you should try to sleep. If you can't, I'm sure Twilight left some good books in there." That explains the blanket, and the books. Wait, I'll get to sleep in one of the princess's old rooms! Ohh, I wonder if she left anything interesting in there. Nope, focus, there's one thing I have to do before I go to bed.
"Could you send a letter for me before I go to bed?" I asked, giving her puppy dog eyes that all mares and foals have.
"To whom, my student?" Celestia seemed to love saying that, you could hear it in her voice.
"Azure Ocean, she's like, my best friend, and she HAS to hear about this!" This elicited a giggle from Celestia.
"I don't see why not." She levitated an inkwell an quill across the table to me. I didn't waste any time once the inkwell was set down. I began to write frantically.
My best friend, Azure Ocean,
You'll never believe it! I was worried for nothing at enrollment, I proved myself worthy of being princess Celestia's student! I wish you were here so I could hug you! Anyways, I won't see you for a while, I'm not allowed to visit or be visited by anypony for the next two months. Don't worry, I'll send you letters as often as I can!
Hugs, your friend, Fire Starter
I rolled up the scroll and levitated it to princess Celestia, along with the inkwell and quill. I couldn't wait for tomorrow, so I decided to not delay in getting to sleep. I kissed my parents, said goodnight, all of that stuff, and bound down the hallway back into my room. Plopping down on the bed I lay there for what seemed like hours before falling a sleep.
