Princess Twilight Sparkle sat within the library of the Castle of the Two Sisters reading from a particularly large tome. This had become a habit of hers since discovering the library’s marvelous collection, even more so after the fall of Tirek.
The castle provided the one thing Twilight had been woefully without since her own Castle of the Friendship Rainbow Kingdom (she really wished to work on the name) had appeared:
Peace and quiet.
So here she was doing two things she loved: reading and magical research.
The massive tome, bigger than a filly, that lay open before her was filled to the brim with magical theory devised by Star Swirl the Bearded himself. While no actual spells were present, and she had almost reached the halfway point, the theories themselves were quite impressive. Far ahead of his time even.
It was no wonder that most modern magical theory had yet to disprove Star Swirl the Bearded; he was a genius.
Sure, ponies had expanded on the theories, but Star Swirl the Bearded could have easily done so himself had he lived longer.
“Oh yes yes, one more page and I’m officially halfway finished,” said Twilight with a clap of her hooves.
All it took was one more page and as she used her magic to surround the current one she noticed something strange; it wouldn’t budge.
Twilight raised a brow. “Strange,” she licked the tip of her hoof and went to turn it manually, but found she couldn’t budge it. “Ugh, what’s wrong with this thing.”
She decided to turn to the page after the other one and was able to turn it, the previous two pages were stuck together.
Her eyes narrowed, “Okay book, I’ve never been beaten by one of you before and I’m not starting now!”
She gripped both of the stuck pages in her magic and slowly attempted to work them apart to no avail.
She groaned and, more forcibly than she intended, turned the pages and skipped the middle. “Fine, be that way.”
As she read the passage on the next next page, she couldn’t help but lose focus. She glared at the page, knowing that it was the horrible offender. How could she read when the source of her problem was right in front of her. She couldn’t skip another page, that would be anarchy. Anarchy!
She went back to reading the passage and though she couldn’t focus on it she did manage to catch part of the final sentence.
...and you shall find the prior shall part for your efforts.
Twilight’s eyes shot open and she went to the start of the passage.
I have painstakingly filled this tome so far with theorems that at present may appear anathema to current beliefs. And yet instead of spreading it to the masses and attempting to enlighten them I have done this not for that purpose. No, this is a defense mechanism. Few If any of the learned would read this through to this point out of offense or even may attempt to destroy it. Of course, my enchantments would make such impossible, but picturing the look on their face when their attempts fail brings me great amusement.
But those protection charms are not the only enchantments I have placed upon this tome. I have also done so to the prior pages, made inseperable, and this page as well. You may have noticed that the next page is blank.
Twilight took a moment to look to the next page and realized that this was correct. “Strange.”
This is because that you are reading the last writing present in this tome. A writing that would only appear to those who had read through the previous in its entirety. This tome was not meant for knowledge; it was meant to conceal. If you are reading this then I must assume that that which is hearsay is now acceptable or you are a true scholar and the truth may well deserve to come out.
This tome will be hidden away within the newly constructed castle of the Royal Sisters. Even they are unaware of this tome’s existence and if they were to discover it I truly doubt that either would bother to read it through. They can be quite lazy when not on their thrones.
I will leave to you, dear reader, a vocal spell that shall appear once you finish this passage. Speak it and you shall find the prior shall part for your efforts.
As Twilight read the last word, her focus finally upon it, a small flash appeared below it and the spell had appeared.
“Amazing,” Twilight smiled, “I’m the first one to ever see this. YES!”
With an earsplitting grin and with much vigor Twilight spoke the words of the spell. At least that was the plan, but the actual spell caused her confusion.
“Shibbity doo… shibbity dah?” A flash from beneath the page confirmed the success of the spell.
Twilight’s eye twitched. “Seriously?”
Taking a moment to overcome the absurdity of the spell’s words she finally got to see what was hidden from her.
Twilight studied the drawing present on the rightmost page.
“A magic circle?”
Twilight studied it, but it seemed just so simple.
Magic Circles didn’t necessarily have to be complex, but in a book with so much advanced magic theory, Twilight would expect something much grander.
Nevertheless, Twilight was fascinated. Even with its simplicity the fact that this circle was so well hidden meant that there had to be some incredible spell within it. Twilight was absolutely giddy thinking of all the possibilities.
She reached out with her magic and traced the circle. As she felt the magical energies coalesce she placed her hoof in the center and…
Twilight came to.
She slowly rose to her hooves and placed one on her forehead. “What happened?”
She gave her head a quick shake and took a look at her surroundings. Or lack thereof.
She was quite obviously not in the castle any longer. She also didn’t appear to be anywhere. She looked all around her and saw nothing.
Nothing but an endless expanse of white.
“Okay Twilight,” she said, “you activated a spell hidden away in a book without taking any safety precautions because you were too excited to use common sense,” she facehoofed, “good going Sparkle.”
She took a deep breath and looked to the… sky? “Where am I?”
“A book,” a voice said.
Twilight’s head snapped back down and she started frantically searching for the source of the voice. “Who’s there? Hello?”
“One moment,” said the voice, “sheesh let me appear first.”
Right before Twilight’s eyes an earth pony mare faded into view. Unfortunately, the pony in question was yards in front of Twilight and looking away from her.
“Seriously ruined my big entrance you know,” the mare said, “I get the questions, but you could’ve waited a second. Or been in a stunned silence like you were supposed to be.”
Twilight raised a brow, “Um, I’m over here.”
The mare turned her head to look at Twilight before letting out an exasperated sigh. The mare faded from view and almost instantly faded back, this time facing Twilight. The mare hadn’t actually moved any closer though.
“You couldn’t just turn around?”
The mare smiled. “When you have cool powers why waste them.”
Twilight rolled her eyes. “Okay then, who are you?”
“I’m the Index,” she said.
“The Index?”
“Yep,” The ‘Index’ brought a hoof to her chin. “Although, I guess Table of Contents would be more accurate right now given we’re before the beginning. What should I call myself?”
As the mare contemplated what she should be called, Twilight looked her over. The earth pony mare had a three-toned, purple-pink mane of decent length and her tail matched. Her coat was blue, maybe pale cobalt-ish. Her cutie mark was a pink swirl around a white star and was dotted with pink and white stars.
“I know I’m easy on the eyes, but mine are up here.”
Twilight blushed and met the mare’s purple eyes. “Sorry, I was just-”
The mare raised a hoof. “Checking me out. But that’s not important right now, what is is… my name. I think I’ll go with my real self’s.”
“Real self?”
The mare smiled. “Yep, I’m a fragment of the soul of the one who created this spell and wrote this book. My name is Star Swirl.”
Twilight was surprised by this. Star Swirl obviously wrote the book she buried her nose in (quite literally now) for hours and the spell that brought her into the book, to what appeared to be a separate dimension so it would make sense that he’d leave a copy of himself within it. And Celestia had said that he was an eccentric but...
“Okay, I’m not sure why Star Swirl would make his fragment an earth pony or a mare, or even how he could have,” said Twilight.
“Oh she didn’t,” said ‘Star Swirl’, “I’m a perfect copy of the one whose soul I was taken from.”
“No you’re not,” said Twilight, “Star Swirl the Bearded wasn’t a mare or an earth pony, he was an old unicorn stallion. You know, the typical long bearded, wisened elder image that all stereotypical wizards have.”
“Nope,” said ‘Star Swirl’.
“What do you mean ‘nope’,” Twilight said. “We have paintings and banners and artifacts how can you just say ‘nope’?”
“Artifacts? How long have I been hidden away?” ‘Star Swirl’ brought a hoof to her chin again. “I was placed here shortly after Luna went all psycho on us. Well, actually I was added on to after that… twice maybe… huh.”
‘Star Swirl’ set her hoof down smiled widely. “I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m not a calendar.”
Twilight facehoofed. “It’s been around a thousand years.”
“With your input I’ve concluded that it’s been a thousand years.”
Twilight slid her hoof down her face and sighed. “Star Swirl the Bearded wasn’t a complete whack job either. If you are ‘Star Swirl’ like you say then you must be a niece or child of his with the same name, though I’m pretty sure you’re just delusional.”
“Interesting ideas, but nope,” said ‘Star Swirl’.
Twilight was at her wits end with this pony. The excitement of discovery had waned and she just wanted one thing:
“How do I get out of here?”
‘Star Swirl’ gave her a quizzical look. “Why do you want to leave? We haven’t even started yet.”
“You’re crazy and obviously this has to be some kind of prank the princess setup. I don’t know why Princess Celestia would do such a thing, but I guess she was less restrained back then. I’ll find my own way out.”
Twilight turned around and started to walk away.
And then the ‘sky’ started to turn a dark grey.
‘Star Swirl’ faded into existence in front of her, the same distance as before. Her expression was different though. Her eyes were narrowed and she radiated an aggressive aura. It was terrifying.
Twilight took a step back.
“LISTEN,” Star Swirl’s voice echoed and Twilight winced.
“You invade MY sanctuary and you have the audacity to question me?” Star Swirl moved forward while Twilight kept stepping back. “Listen well, invader, and absorb this.”
Star Swirl reared back and slammed her forehooves into the ground and parts of the white expanse under Twilight wrapped around her hooves, rooting her in place.
Star Swirl closed the distance and was almost nose to nose with Twilight.
“I am a perfect facsimile of the writer of this book, of the great mage that crafted the spells weaved throughout, of the most respected, the most feared, mage to ever live.”
“I am Star Swirl the Bearded and you, dear invader, if you so choose, will find out how this can be. Understood?”
Twilight nodded slowly.
Star Swirl perked up. “Good.”
And just like that everything returned to normal. The white that bound her legs faded and the ‘sky’ returned to the same white as before letting the place look like one large expanse once more.
Twilight’s heart was still pounding in her chest when Star Swirl spoke again.
“Now then dear… I guess reader, you are within the personal journal of Star Swirl the so-believed Bearded and I am your guide. I was placed here to remove confusion, to help the one who would find this journal understand it. And I find it quite rude that you have yet to introduce yourself.”
Twilight’s heart had slowed and she took a deep breath. “I’m Twilight Sparkle.”
“Nice to meet you,” said Star Swirl. “You’re an Alicorn.”
“Yes?”
“I thought Celestia, Luna and their mother were the only ones left… not that they never lied to me…”she trailed off.
“Well, there are two more of us now that they… wait mother?”
Star Swirl gave her another quizzical look. “Well yeah, where do you think they came from?”
Twilight thought on it for a moment. “I guess I never really thought about it before.”
“No surprise,” said Star Swirl. “The old bag was a bit of a recluse. So two more?”
Twilight nodded. “There’s me and then there’s Cadance, my sister-in-law.”
“Interesting, moving on.”
Star Swirl moved next to Twilight and waved a hoof.
A pair of cushions appeared in front of them. Starswirl went to one and lay across it.
“Let’s get off of our hooves and get started.”
Twilight sat on the remaining cushion. “Get what started? And just where are we, how do I get out?”
“You can leave whenever you want really. Just tell me you want to and I’ll send you on your way and I told you already, you’re in a book or at least you mind is.”
“How is that possible?”
“A spell Star Swirl developed specifically for this book so her tale could one day be told. And in answer to your next question, you’re actual body is still wherever you left it. Don’t worry though, you could spend days in here and only minutes will have passed outside. Though to be fair I doubt anyone would actually stay in here that long. Or even know it if they did for that matter.”
Star Swirl gestured around her. “This place is a bit of a void, no way to tell the time.”
“What do you mean by her tale being told?”
Star Swirl grinned. “This isn’t your typical journal. It is the ultimate example of show, don’t tell. You’ll actually see the events Star Swirl lived through as if you were there yourself.”
“That’s amazing.”
“Yep.”
Twilight looked up for a moment. “Do you think I could leave now? I’m kind of inside an old library and I’m not too comfortable with my body being there without me. Never thought I’d say something like that.”
“Your body will be fine,” said Star Swirl, “but I can understand your worries. You may leave, but I would like it if you return to me soon. My purpose is to show you this story and you’re kind of preventing me from fulfilling it.”
“I promise,” said Twilight. “This is just too incredible not to.”
Star Swirl smiled. “Good, just fill the book with your magic and concentrate on returning and you’ll re-enter my domain.”
Star Swirl waved a hoof and Twilight felt herself slipping away. “Hope to see you soon, Twilight Sparkle.”
Twilight came to.
She was back in the library no worse for wear. There was one big difference though: the large tome was gone. In its place was a much smaller, though by no means small, book; it was just the size of the longer Daring Do novels.
Twilight opened the front cover and found writing on the first page:
Twilight Sparkle. Fill the next page with you magic and concentrate on returning whenever you feel like continuing.
“I really need to speak to Princess Celestia about this.”
Author's Note
Finally. I've been sitting on this idea for years and I finally got around to writing it. Hope you all enjoy and please let me know if there are any mistakes. Criticism welcome as long as it's constructive. Also, I have no idea how to tag this. It'll have romance, adventure, slice of life, poor attempts at humor and so on. So any advice on that would be lovely.
“A truly interesting tale,” said Celestia.
Twilight was seated across from Celestia at a small table in Canterlot Castle’s private dining room. A teapot sat between them along with a plate of tea cakes.
“Is it true? Was Star Swirl really a mare, an earth pony?”
Celestia took a sip from her tea before nodding. “Yes.”
Twilight’s eyes widened. “But… but how? Why? All the history books we have say otherwise. You’ve said otherwise. This just… it’s hard to believe. Why would you keep this from us, from me?”
“Because Star Swirl wished it.”
“But why?”
Celestia sighed and set her teacup down. “Twilight, you have to understand that things were different back then. Star Swirl took up a false identity because she believed it necessary and kept it for the rest of her life so that all she had accomplished could not be undermined. She wished for the few that did know the truth to never speak of it.”
“Why would somepony have to do that?”
Celestia looked to the book on the table, just a bit to Twilight’s side. “If that truly is a secret journal of hers then maybe it would be explained within.” Celestia refilled her teacup. “It would be best to hear it from the mare herself.”
Twilight looked at the book. “I want to, but…”
Celestia took a sip from her tea. “I’ll be here Twilight. You need not fear for you safety and I will break Star Swirl’s spell should it appear to be harming you. I promise.”
A small smile graced Twilight’s lips. “Thank you, Princess.”
Celestia nodded.
Twilight used her magic to bring the book directly in front of her and opened it to the front page. With a deep breath she turned it to the next blank page and filled it with her magic.
Twilight came to.
As Twilight’s head cleared and she got her bearings she became aware that she was laying on a and very comfy sofa. A sofa too modern to come from such an old soul.
“It’s from your mind.”
Twilight’s head snapped in the direction of the voice.
Star Swirl and her sofa were perpendicular to Twilight and Star Swirl’s attention was off into the white abyss. At least it seemed that way at first. Twilight followed Star Swirl’s gaze with her own and her eyes fell upon a television; a fairly high-end one at that.
“You really need to watch more of these moving pictures of yours. Books are nice and all, but being one for a thousand years leaves much to be desired. I’ve already watched most of the things you have, mostly comprised of these documentaries of yours by the way.”
Twilight’s eyes were wide with disbelief. “How in Equestria do you have a television?”
Star Swirl’s eyes were still glued to the screen when she answered. “It’s from your mind. Pay attention.”
“What do you mean ‘from my mind’?”
Star Swirl groaned and looked at Twilight. “You’re smart, right? But if you really can’t figure it out yourself I guess I can humor you.”
Star Swirl waved a hoof and the television vanished. With another wave, she and the sofa faded away and reappeared across from Twilight.
“I said before that it was more like your mind had been drawn into the book, remember?,” Twilight nodded and Star Swirl continued. “When you entered my domain your mind became an open book to me and I read it. I’m limited to things you have seen which is why when you next depart you will watch every bit of quality programming that you can find. Your documentaries are boring.”
Twilight bristled. “They’re not boring.”
“They are when you either created, discovered, or were present for the things they drone on about,” Star Swirl grinned. “They’re wrong about a number of things by the way.”
Twilight’s offense faded almost immediately and her inner scholar took over. “What are they wrong about? Will you tell me? Please? Oh this is so amazing!”
Star Swirl’s eyelids lowered in annoyance. “Give me more stuff to watch and I’ll consider it.”
Twilight deflated slightly, but her enthusiasm returned almost immediately. “I can do that.”
Star Swirl lit up. “Good. I’m learning a lot from the few fictional shows of you’ve seen. So let’s begin shall we?”
Twilight nodded. “So how will this work exactly?”
“I send you to an entry and you just sit back and experience, simple as that. I recommend going in order.”
“Obviously.”
Star Swirl smiled. “Entry one it is.”
She waved her hoof and Twilight’s world faded away.
“GET OUT!”
A blue-coated earth pony mare was flung through large, imposing gates by a magical grip and landed in a puddle of mud.
A bulky unicorn, clad in silver armor, stood at the gate’s threshold and sneered at the filth covered mare as she slowly got to her hooves.
“Well look at that, the mud-pony right where she belongs. And yet you dared to grace our halls with your presence. Be a good mud-pony and stick to the filth.” The stallion turned from her and made to walk back through the gates when he was struck from behind from a squishy, wet, blob.
He whipped around, eyes full of fire, and leveled a murderous glare at the smirking earth pony. Another glob of mud was ready in her hoof.
“Who’s the mud-pony now ya bastard. Why don’t you take that horn of yours and sodomize yourself with it.” She punctuated her last remark by throwing the glob of mud and hitting the stallion square on the muzzle.
The stallions horn flared. “You will know you place, YOU FILTH!”
He charged a spell and prepared to send it at the confidently smirking mare when a small, translucent sphere of magic smashed into the side of her head.
The stallion’s spell broke along with his concentration and he blinked. He turned his attention to his side at a smaller stallion next to him. “You dare to take my satisfaction from me, apprentice?”
The smaller stallion was dressed in a plain gray cloak and wizards hat. “Of course not, guard captain, but why should you have to bother with this mud-pony filth.”
The apprentice walked up to the now unconscious mare and took her in his fire-colored magical grip. He lifted her until she was floating next to him. “I’ll toss her out of town where she belongs. Someone of your stature shouldn’t have to do so yourself.”
The guard captain snorted. “She is a worthless waste of my time. Make sure to break her in a few places before you leave her. Mud-ponies need to get the message.”
The guard captain looked out to a gathering crowd and growled. “Disperse peasants, or you shall receive my unsated wrath in the filth’s place.”
The crowd dispersed almost immediately with the ponies taking only brief glances back at the scene.
The guard captain turned and left; the gates were magically shut behind him.
The apprentice sighed and began carrying the mare to the edge of town and into the neighbouring woods.
***
“DAMMIT!”
A ball of solid ice the size of an average snowball slammed into a tree within the Magister’s Woodlands. The ball of ice hit the tree with such force that the ice shattered accompanied by a number of splinters. A noticeable crater had formed where more ice balls had impacted before.
The earth pony mare was breathing heavily from her attempts to expend her anger. The unicorn apprentice was sitting on a log off to her side as she vented.
“Not to add fuel to the fire Star Swirl, but did you really think that this would end differently?” said the apprentice.
Star Swirl glared at him. “I swear, Comet Fire, you don’t want to talk to me right now.”
“This is about me hitting you with the knockout spell, isn’t it?”
“I could’ve taken the bastard!” she said.
“I know,” he said, “even if he was a stronger mage, not that I’m saying he is, the shock of an earth pony throwing around magic would cause anyone to just freeze up for at least a few seconds. But that’s why I did it. Do you really think the Magi would allow an earth pony, that can somehow do magic, live? They’d burn you at the stake.”
“Not after Platinumville burned to the ground the last time they did that,” she snorted. “Serves King Bullion right for naming a village after his freaking filly. I’d probably just get the guillotine. The bastard’s obviously developed some sick obsession with that thing.”
“Not the point Star Swirl.”
She grunted. Star Swirl knew that he was right, but damned if she’d ever accept it. She returned her attention to the tree and reached down for another ice chunk only to come up empty. She growled at this inconvenience.
“Star Swirl, since you’re out of projectiles maybe you should just take a deep breath and-,” a glare from the mare silenced Comet immediately.
Star Swirl looked down at the snow covered ground and used her hoof to draw a Circle with a five-pointed star. When the Circle was completed she slammed her hoof at its center. The lines of the Circle and star lit up with a rose-colored glow. The snow around the Circle formed up around it and in a flash a pyramid of ice balls had formed.
Star Swirl grasped the top sphere in her fetlock and flung it at the tree once more, impacting the same spot.
“It’s just not fair!” She picked up another ball and threw it, “Damn unicorns hoard all the magical knowledge they can find at their damn academy,” she threw another ball. “It took us years, years to find just a few scattered books on magic that escaped their notice. All I deserve, all anypony deserves, is the chance to read what they have hidden in their library, but of course they can’t allow that. And all because they’re selfish, greedy, bastards that should just burn in the flames of Tartarus!” She flung another ball at the tree.
“Star Swirl, maybe-”
She shot Comet a murderous glare. “No, don’t you dare Comet. I don’t care what any of you say. My cutie mark means that I have a talent for magic, but none of you can accept that because you were all lucky enough to be born with horns.”
She turned her glare to the tree and drew another Circle with a five-pointed star just in front of the dwindling pyramid of ice. At its completion she reared up and slammed both of her hooves into its center. A blinding rose-colored light flared from the Circle and as the light faded the snow on the ground around them had completely vanished along with the pyramid of ice balls.
In their place was a truly massive sphere of ice, easily the size of the average pony. This time, Star Swirl drew a smaller Circle with no star. A small flicker was all the indication that any spell had been cast until the large sphere began to levitate in front of her; surrounded by a rosy glow.
Tears had begun to flow from her narrowed eyes. “WHY COULDN’T I BE BORN A UNICORN!”
She reared up and slammed her hooves down on the now exposed dirt and the sphere of ice barreled forward at tremendous speed. It slowed only slightly as it smashed clean through the damaged tree. It continued on until near a dozen more trees had been felled.
She sat down with an audible thump and sniffled. “Why couldn’t I just have a horn?”
Comet trotted over to her and wrapped a comforting arm around her.
“Star Swirl, you don’t need a horn to be a great mage,” said Comet. “Seriously, I don’t think many unicorn mages could pull off half the stuff you can and you’ve just be reading scraps compared to them.”
Star Swirl sighed. “At least you got accepted by the Academy. You’ve been with me this whole time, better one of us at least.”
He removed his arm from her and smiled, “I’ll find some way to smuggle some of those books out for you, don’t worry.”
Star Swirl shook her head. “Don’t risk it. You have a great opportunity, don’t waste it on me.”
“You should be there with me, horn or not.”
Star Swirl got to her hooves and shook her head once more. “Even if I did, it’s not like they’d accept a mare either. Been a century since one was allowed into the Academy. Misogynistic bastards. Heck, if I was a stallion I’d even be able to be with a mare without all the disgust ponies would give me. It’s just not fair.”
“Too bad there isn’t a spell you could use to change that. At least temporarily, so you could study there,” he laughed. “I really don’t think you would want to stay that way.”
Her eyes widened. “If I could turn into a unicorn and a stallion they’d let me in, wouldn’t they?”
Comet shrugged. “Like I said, a lot of unicorns would kill to perform magic like you can.”
Her frown was slowly replaced by an almost manic grin. Comet was not happy about this. Especially after she started cantering back to town. He hurried to catch up to the retreating mare.
“I know that look Star Swirl and whatever you’re thinking is a bad idea. It’s going to be another Trotsdale”
She slowed to a trot and grinned back at him. “I know, so it’s definitely going to work.”
Comet caught up and met her gait. “You and I remember Trotsdale very differently then.”
“My plan worked.”
“Your plan got us imprisoned.”
“I broke us out.”
“Along with a murderous psychopath.”
“We caught him didn’t we? What’s important is that we got the books in the end.”
“You gave up, blew a hole in the side of the library, and stole them.”
She rolled her eyes. “We returned them when we were done with them. Stop worrying.”
“I’m pretty sure that we’re to be killed on sight if we ever go back.”
Star Swirl sped up, blocking his path, and turned to face him just before they entered the town. “This time is different. This time I’m just going to disguise myself as a unicorn stallion, get accepted into the Academy, read their whole library, and probably break some things out of spite before leaving. No sweat.”
She turned around and officially crossed into the town proper.
Comet sighed and mumbled. “You’re insane. Completely, completely insane.”
Despite his reservations, and with much reluctance, he followed her into the town.
“...a costume shop, seriously?”
Comet Fire stood next to Star Swirl in front of a costume shop. More specifically, a costume shop for the coming Samhain celebrations.
“Yep, a costume shop seriously.”
Star Swirl pushed through the door and was greeted by the smell of spiced apples. She breathed deeply and smiled. “Oh the smell and the warmth, this place is so much better than the dump of a city it’s trapped in.”
The shop was decently sized. It could easily fit a dozen or so ponies comfortably in its front room. Strewn about were the typical decorations of Samhain: grotesquely faced jack-o’-lanterns, cauldrons, and even brooms. Though those could’ve just been for cleaning. The place did seem spotless.
Costumes of all sorts hung around the shop. Ghosts and goblins stared down at the two ponies with anger, disgust, and in a couple instances goofy smiles. Other tailoring mainstays such as bundles of fabric were present behind the counter.
“It really is a nice place,” said Comet. “Creepy, but nice.”
“I try my best.”
The pair looked up and saw a mare appear from a room in the back of the shop.
She was a light-purple unicorn with a short mane of purple, blue, and turquoise mixed evenly throughout; in some lights her mane looked like one solid color. Her cutie mark was a single large clover flanked by two smaller ones; they were green like her eyes.
Star Swirl’s eyes widened. “Hello, beautiful.”
The mare brought a hoof to her mouth and giggled. “Why thank you. I rarely get such compliments.”
Comet rolled his eyes when Star Swirl bolted to the counter with a large grin.
“I’m Star Swirl,” she said. She grasped the mare’s hoof and kissed it. “And what is the lovely lady’s name?”
The mare was red in the face. “Um… Clover.”
Star Swirl released Clover’s hoof and the mare lowered it to the floor.
“Beautiful name for a beautiful mare.”
Clover looked away with a shy smile. “You’re so sweet.”
“You know—”
A fiery glow shut her mouth and Comet walked up to the counter. “Forgive my friend. She has self-control problems.”
Star Swirl shot him a look and elbowed him.
Clover looked up bashfully. “It’s quite all right. Like I said, I don’t really get compliments. It’s kind of nice to hear.”
Star Swirl mumbled.
Comet sighed and released his hold on her mouth.
“So you own this place?” Star Swirl leaned in and whispered, “because I expected a wrinkly old hag, not a beauty like you.”
Star Swirl’s head met the counter thanks to Comet’s magic. “Down girl.”
Star Swirl shot up and rubbed at her head while glaring at her friend.
Clover giggled at the display. After she settled down she shook her head.
“I don’t own the store,” she said. “Miss Doublet does.”
Star Swirl leaned over to Comet and whispered. “Old hag.”
Comet rolled his eyes and Clover gave a slight nod.
“She’s a good pony, but she’s gotten old and her skills have waned. I’m her apprentice. They call me Clover the Couturier.”
Star Swirl caught a glimpse of something just past behind Clover. It was a book sitting among the various fashion supplies. The book was old and worn; obviously somepony or someponies had read through it a lot. Star Swirl’s jaw hit the floor when she saw the green leaf etched into its spine.
Clover followed her gaze and smiled. “I see you like my grandfather’s book.”
Comet waved a hoof in front of Star Swirls face. “Star Swirl, you there?”
“Th-that’s…” she looked back at Clover. “Your grandfather was…”
“Star Swirl, what’s wrong?” said Comet.
Star Swirl shook her head. “That’s Greenleaf’s spell tome. So many of the books I’ve read mentioned it. It was supposed to be lost forever.”
Comet’s eyes shot open. “By the Sun.”
Their view of the book was broken by a piece of cloth being pulled over it and Clover stepping in their path.
“Grandfather wanted the book kept safe and in the family. I shouldn’t have brought it out front like this.” She looked down and away.
“This needs to be in the Magister Library.”
Star Swirl elbowed him. “The hay it does. That thing is priceless. They’d just ruin it somehow.”
Comet rolled his eyes. “I know you don’t like them, but even you know that they’re the best bet for preserving these things.”
“Oh please. Don’t tell me that they’ve gotten to you,” said Star Swirl.
“Of course not. But there are no known copies of Greenleaf’s tome. It needs to be preserved until one can be made,” said Comet.
Clover loudly cleared her throat.
The two friends turned to her.
Clover looked at them with what she hoped was irritation and not bashfulness. “Excuse me, but if you’re not here to shop then leave.” She then placed both forehooves on the counter and clasped them together. “Please don’t tell anyone about the book.”
Star Swirl shot Comet one last angry look. “We won’t. Right, Comet?”
He sighed. “We won’t. I’m sorry.”
Clover smiled and her hooves retreated. “No. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t just leave the book around the shop. I know that it’s a big deal to scholars but I promised to keep it in the family.”
“It’s ok,” said Star Swirl. “And not why we’re here.”
Clover nodded. “What can I do for you?”
Star Swirl made a show of looking around at the various costumes surrounding them. “I’m looking for a costume.”
“Well, you’ve come to the right place,” said Clover. “This time of year we’re dedicated to bringing you the best Samhain attire in the whole of Seidrshire.”
“What is Seidrshire?” said Star Swirl.
Comet rolled his eyes. “The town we’re in.”
“Right, understood,” Star Swirl said with a smile.
Comet sighed. “Just tell her what you want.”
Star Swirl began to speak when Comet’s magic forced her mouth closed.
“About the costume.”
He released his hold and Star Swirl pouted. “You’re no fun.”
“Wasting the good mare’s time.”
Star Swirl returned her attention to the smiling Clover. “Right, sorry. I need a costume for a party.”
“Really?” Clover said. “I didn’t think anyone would be having a party so close to Samhain. Especially with a costume requirement.”
Star Swirl grinned. “Well it’s not really a costume party. It’s just…”
She looked to Comet who just shrugged. She shot him a glare before she continued.
“It’s just that,” she said, “well you see that my friend is a unicorn and a mage. He just got accepted into the Academy. I want to be there for the celebration, but I’m not a unicorn.”
Clover nodded. “You’d be kicked out at best.”
“Tell me about it,” Star Swirl grumbled.
“So you need a costume to sneak into the Academy.”
“Yes,” said Star Swirl. “It needs to be like a mage’s clothes and a huge hat. Like a horn could fit under it.”
“Well I can’t say I approve of you defying the laws of the Magisters,” Clover brought a hoof to her chin, “but seeing how it’s for a friend I do think that I have just the thing. One moment.”
Clover departed for the back room.
Star Swirl’s eyes immediately fell to where Greenleaf’s tome was hidden. It would be so easy to snatch it, stuff it in their bags, and be gone before the mare knew it was gone.
The sweet, beautiful mare.
Star Swirl sighed. No matter how much she wanted to just take the book, and with the reminder that she’d return it when she finished with it, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Clover was just too nice to do that to.
“Wow,” Comet broke her from her thoughts. “You really are smitten if you haven’t snatched the book yet.”
“We’ll,” she took one last look at the hiding place and forced herself to look away. “We’ll be fine without it.”
“That really hurt you to say, didn’t it?”
“Yes, very much.”
Star Swirl didn’t have to stew in her disappointment in her softness for long before Clover returned.
Clover used her forest green magic to lower a folded outfit, with a large hat on top, to the counter. The hat was definitely big. It was blue and covered in stars and crescent moons. A bell sat at the top of it and a number of bells lined the brim. The rest of the costume matched the hat in style; the bottom edge of the cloak even had bells.
“Try it on,” said Clover.
Star Swirl nodded and quickly donned the cloak and hat. Clover levitated a mirror over to her and Star Swirl couldn’t help but smile.
“This is perfect,” she said with a nod and a jingle. She narrowed her eyes and nodded again with a jingle. “That’ll take some getting used to.”
“I could remove the bells.”
Star Swirl held out a hoof toward Clover. “I like them.”
Comet smirked. “Yeah, she likes being the center of attention. Even when she’s trying to stay incognito.”
Star Swirl shot him a look, but quickly returned her attention to the mirror. She rubbed her chin. There was something not quite right.
“I still look like a mare.”
“I figured as much,” said Clover. “I thought you’d need to look like a stallion too, so I got you this.”
Clover levitated something to Star Swirl and affixed it to her face.
It was a fake grey beard. It was small, but it hid her more feminine facial features.
“Perfect,” Star Swirl said as she reared back and clapped her hooves.
“Glad you like it,” said the smiling Clover. She levitated the mirror back behind the counter. “Now I just… well you know.”
“Hmm? Oh right,” said Star Swirl. She turned to Comet. “Pay the mare.”
Star Swirl zipped out of the store and ran off down the road.
The two remaining ponies blinked.
“Oh stars above,” said Comet. “She doesn’t know where we’re staying does she?” He levitated a bag of bits to the counter. “Thank you.”
He quickly followed after Star Swirl as she went door to door looking for their place of board.
“I would have found it eventually,” said Star Swirl.
“Yeah, you were about twenty doors down from the inn, but you would have gotten here eventually. If the ponies you kept bursting in on didn’t decide to chase you out of town. Like the last time,” said Comet.
Star Swirl waved him off. “Details.”
Comet rolled his eyes and lay back on one of the two beds in their room at the inn. Star Swirl was at the table on the opposite side of the room. Along with a dresser perpendicular to the beds that was all that was in the sparsely decorated room.
Before Star Swirl, who had set her new clothes on her bed, was her beard, a bowl of wine, a quill, and a few sheets of parchment.
“So what are you doing again?” said Comet.
Star Swirl didn’t look up and instead took a slip of parchment and started scribbling on it with the quill in her fetlock. “I can’t very well go infiltrate the place with pink hair and a grey beard.”
It finally hit Comet. “So that’s what the wine’s for. You use a spell to meld it with the beard in order to color it. I just assumed you wanted to get drunk again.” Comet narrowed his eyes. “And burn down another inn.”
Star Swirl looked up at that. “Is that why you packed?” She gestured to Comet’s full bags.
“Yep.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Jerk. And that only happened because those guys cheated in the drinking contest.”
“If you say so.”
Star Swirl grunted and finished her sketching. She placed her beard on the newly crafted magic Circle and then poured wine on top of it. She touched the edge of the Circle with the tip of her hoof. A spark of rose-colored light slipped from her hoof and soon the entire Circle was glowing. The wine was drawn into the beard and it quickly changed from grey to a dark pink.
The glow faded and she snatched up the newly colored beard and showed it to Comet. “Little darker than my mane, but that’s fine.” She reached back with a hoof and grabbed the wine bowl. She downed what remained in one draw.
“Magic and now wine. I’ll pack your things,” Comet sighed.
She narrowed her eyes. “Jerk.”
She tossed the beard onto her folded cloak on the bed and returned her attention to the table. She took another sheet of paper and started to draw runes along the top and bottom edges of it.
“What now?”
“Just wait.”
Comet shrugged and went back to packing all but Star Swirl’s new attire.
Star Swirl flipped over the piece of paper after marking the edges with runes and marked only the left edge of the opposite side.
She set the quill aside and carefully rolled the sheet of paper into a cone shape. She carefully touched her hoof to the left edge runes and with a snap the spell was cast. She grinned and placed the tips of her forehooves at the top and bottom of the cone. A flash indicated the casting of a spell.
She took the final sheet of paper and drew a Circle near identical to the one she used to color her beard.
“Pluck some of my fur.”
“...ok.”
A fiery glow covered a small part of her body and pulled out a few of her coat hairs. Star Swirl winced.
“Careful.”
Comet rolled his eyes and floated the hairs over the table. “Where do you want them?”
Star Swirl set the cone in the center of the new Circle. “Right inside the cone.”
He nodded and complied. Star Swirl plucked an eyelash hair with a grimace and placed it with the other hairs.
She cast another spell and the hairs melded with the cone and a color matching her coat spread and covered the cone in its entirety. Then a darker line spiraled around the cone, giving the cone the appearance of a unicorn horn.
“Ta da.” She said and presented the cone to Comet.
“A makeshift horn. Not bad.” He poked it. “Still feels like paper, but you wouldn’t know by looking at it.”
She smiled triumphantly. “And that’s not the best part.”
Star Swirl placed the horn on her forehead and removed her hoof. It stayed in place. “It stays in place and can only be removed by me. Try it.”
Comet grabbed the horn with his magic and pulled. The horn didn’t budge. Star Swirl then pulled the horn off easily and replaced it.
“And that’s still not the best part.”
She was absolutely giddy when she closed her eyes in concentration. A rosy glow surrounded her new horn and a similar glow surrounded her new hat. She levitated it onto her head and opened her eyes.
“A levitation spell in the tip, with room to put even more spells.” She squeed.
Comet was awestruck. “That’s brilliant.”
Star Swirl quickly moved from her seat and levitated her new cloak on. “Now let’s head to the academy.”
Star Swirl started for the door, but quickly fell over and started snoring.
Comet shook his head, but couldn’t help smiling. He grabbed her in his magic, stripped her of her clothes and set her softly on her bed. He folded her clothes and placed them in the room’s dresser.
He looked down at the sleeping unicorn and smiled while he tucked her in. “You really are a genius, Star Swirl.”
The sleeping unicorn smiled.
The newly dressed and bearded Star Swirl pushed through the gates in front of the Magister’s Academy of the Arcane, using her new levitation magic to do so, with Comet in tow.
“You’re lucky that apprentices are allowed to apply throughout the week. You get one chance, so make it count.”
She waved him off. “Name one mage that knows Circles of Power like I do.”
“Crescent Moon the Geometric.”
“Dumb name and dead for a century,” she said.
“Still, you should have put more spells in that horn of yours. I don’t know if Circle magic will be enough.”
She looked back at him. “I’m not trying to learn how to fling spells and set ponies on fire.”
Comet smirked. “I know. You do that enough already.”
Star Swirl stopped and elbowed him.
“You know what I mean,” she said. “I’m here as a scholar. I want to read books and experiment in peace.”
“And be able to cause explosions and fires with less angry mobs.”
“Bingo,” she said and started walking again.
Comet walked alongside her. “And that’s another thing. You need to disguise your voice, it’s too girly now.”
Star Swirl puffed out her chest and spoke in a deep voice. “I have it covered.”
Comet tried and failed to stifle a laugh.
“Jerk.”
They made their way across the large stone bridge that led from the town to the massive structure that towered over all. Once the town had been made as the area received more and more traffic, a large chasm was created, a bridge built, and magically infused gates were forged in order to keep them separate.
The Academy itself was seven floors of dark, snow-covered stone, flanked by seven tower placed in the shape of a pentagram. The Academy was as large as King Bullion’s castle to the south. And that wasn’t even accounting for the rumors that the Academy was bigger on the inside.
The duo were let through a large, gated arch by two guards flanking it. The sight of an apprentice was enough to allow the unknown visitor passage.
They entered into the courtyard. At the courtyard’s center was a fountain that matched the height of the entire first floor. Iridescent water, said to be taken from beams of the moon and sun, flowed freely despite the freezing temperature. Star Swirl took a moment to place a hoof in the water and was surprised to find that it was warm to the touch.
“Now that’s nice.”
Comet nodded. “While you were in town during my admittance test I learned that the water is cool during the hotter parts of the year and warm during the colder parts. Same goes with the bathing water.”
Star Swirl retracted her hoof and look Comet in the eye. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for your test.”
Comet waved her off. “It’s no big deal. I might’ve been kicked out with you if you tried to get in that day.”
Star Swirl chuckled. “Yeah, but I still should have been there.”
He placed a hoof on her shoulder. “You were in spirit. That’s all that matters.”
She smiled at him. “Thanks.”
Comet moved past her and looked back. “Now I can be here for you.”
Star Swirl couldn’t ask for a better friend.
Comet lead the way past the towering double doors that served as the entrance to the building proper. Star Swirl was immediately overcome by a warmth that seemed to permeate the entire building.
During their walk down the hall, following signs meant to direct applicants, they passed by a huge fireplace with a blue flame. Star Swirl, with her extensive knowledge of fires, could tell at a glance that it was an illusion. The warmth in the building was likely being spread by the glowing crystals that served as torches lining the walls. That did not stop the mages from placing furniture near the flame nor from the apprentices she could see from being near it while they chatted.
The crystals lit the halls with light greater than that of regular torches. Star Swirl had yet to see more than just a trace of shadow.
Paintings of old mages were set between the crystals. She recognized most of them from her readings and was excited by the ones she couldn’t recognize.
She was so entranced by the sights that she bumped into Comet’s back. He turned back to her and motioned to a desk set up next to an entryway.
Star Swirl stepped forward and the white-bearded stallion behind the desk pushed a parchment forward. Star Swirl looked it over. It was a simple application asking for name, birthday, place of origin, etc.
She used her new levitation ability to fill it out, but her inexperience caused her to fumble with the quill and drop it.
The stallion raised a brow at the display.
She let out a nervous chuckle. “Just nerves,” she said in her deepened voice.
The stallion seemed satisfied by this and Star Swirl quickly reactivated her levitation and finished the last little bit of the application. She pushed it toward the stallion and he looked it over. He pointed to the entryway.
“Once the prior applicant has finished, you will be allowed your chance. Present a display of your magic that you believe will impress the Magisters.” He looked past her at Comet. “And I do hope that your companion has refrained from telling you the nature of his passing display.”
Comet nodded quickly.
The stallion gave his own nod.
Star Swirl rejoined Comet and gave him a quizzical look.
“You’ll find out when you pass.”
She nodded.
It wasn’t long before she saw a unicorn in a green cloak walk dejectedly through the entryway and sluggishly past them. He obviously failed.
The stallion behind the desk met her eyes and pointed toward the entryway.
Star Swirl gulped. Her confidence had taken a blow at seeing the poor failed applicant among other things. The place was so massive and impressive that she really was scared.
She felt a nudge from her side and she looked over at Comet. He smiled at her and nodded.
She smiled in return. She took a deep breath and walked forward and through the entryway. If Comet believed in her then she could do it. No problem.
Just be yourself, she thought. Your fake unicorn stallion self.
She moved through a small hall and entered into a massive circular arena. The walls towered over her and the edges of the arena’s top was surrounded by a number of stallions in various colored robes.
They chatted amongst themselves, seemingly unaware of the new potential apprentice.
She looked up at the stallion directly above and across from her. He had a long white beard and he wore a red cloak and wizards hat. He held a large wooden staff in his magical grip. It was a dark, cherry-colored wood with the design of a serpent coiled around the tip; its mouth was gripping a red sphere.
He looked her over with piercing eyes for a moment before her brought the bottom of his staff down on the stone floor. The booming sound silenced the surrounding Magisters and they all turned their attention to the new applicant.
All those eyes on her cause Star Swirl to gulp.
“State your name,” the lead stallion in a commanding voice.
“Star Swirl,” she shouted up at him. “Star Swirl the… um,” she brought a hoof to her chin and perked up, “the Bearded. Star Swirl the Bearded.”
She deflated slightly when she heard a laugh go through the gathered stallions. They were silenced by the head stallion clearing his throat.
“Very well, Star Swirl the Bearded,” he said. “I am the Archmage. My name is irrelevant. My title all that is important.”
She bowed. She hated bowing.
“Rise. Bowing is a waste of movement. No mage should waste even a single movement. Even one improper wave of the hoof could be catastrophic in one's attempts at spellweaving.”
“Yes, Archmage.”
He nodded and gestured around the arena with his staff. “Gathered here are those with the title of Magister. They are here to observe only and none are taking personal apprentices this year. As such, you will instead be judged by the six Grand Magisters and myself.”
Star Swirl saw as a few of the gathered Magisters raised their staves. She turned around and looked up to see the remaining Grand Magisters with their staves raised.
When the Archmage lowered his staff, so did the others. “Now then, show us your skill.”
She nodded and slipped a hoof behind her. She reached into the bag hidden by her cloak and pulled out a piece of chalk.
She then drew a large Circle, the size of a grown pony, in front of her.
She heard murmuring in the crowd.
“A Circle mage,” said the Archmage. “Not since the Geometric have I known of an applicant succeeding in impressing those gathered here through the years.”
She gulped again. That wasn’t a good sign.
She continued to drawn with the chalk in her fetlock, even adding five smaller Circles within the larger one.
“Why do you not use your horn, young one?” said the Archmage.
“Using one’s horn is good for on the spot Circles,” she said without pausing in her drawing. “But for one to truly use a Circle to its fullest they must have a physical connection to it along with a magical one.” She finished filling in the larger Circle with runes and started on the smaller ones. “Using horn writing is quicker, but it leads to a weaker spell.”
The Archmage nodded.
Star Swirl finished filling in the smaller Circles and slipped the chalk back into her back. All or nothing.
“Now then,” she said. “You all should prepare yourselves to be amazed by the phenomenal magic of Star Swirl the Bearded!”
She reared up and slammed her forehooves onto the Circle’s edge. The Circle lit up with a rose-colored glow and expanded until a glowing Circle filled the entirety of the arena. There were gasps and Star Swirl smirked. If they were this easily impressed then this would be easy.
It was then that the spell was unleashed.
Swirls of stars filled the arena. Miniature galaxies flowed around the arena as did planets and the sun and moon.
Star Swirl made a circular motion with her right hoof and the objects merged in the middle of the arena to create a starry dragon akin to an Ursa Minor or Major. It raised its head until it looked straight up. With another circular motion, this time with her left hoof, the dragon unleashed a breath of stars that smashed against a barrier that had been erected to protect the gathered mages.
After the dragon’s breath faded it let out a roar before it faded as well. Star Swirl smiled wide when she noticed cracks at the top of the barrier where the breath was directed.
“An impressive display,” said the Archmage. “For a child’s party.”
Star Swirl deflated. She made a mistake and went for spectacle rather than substance.
“But,” the Archmage continued. “The sheer power of the spell, enough to damage a barrier of my own creation, along with your further control of it past the initial casting, all but the most talented Circle mages are capable of, has impressed me. You have my vote, young one.”
It seemed that his word was enough as the Grand Magisters all hit the floor with their staves in a clapping rhythm. The other Magisters present stomped their hooves and cheered.
Star Swirl smiled and she started to tear up.
The Archmage raised his staff and everyone went silent.
“Though I doubt that there is another capable of such a display,” he said. “You must never speak of your actions here to another applicant lest you be expelled from the Academy. Understood?”
She stood at attention. “Yes, Archmage.”
He nodded. “You will be provided your robes on the morrow Apprentice Star Swirl the Bearded. You will be expected to meet here in two days for your formal acceptance along with the others that have passed. Until then, young one.”
She went to bow, but caught herself. Instead she smiled up at the Archmage. “Thank you.” She turned and looked up. “Thank you all.”
She dashed out of the arena and through the entryway. She spotted a waiting Comet and charged him. She wrapped him in a bone-crushing hug and squealed.
“I did it! I did it!”
Comet smiled and returned the hug. “Ha ha. I knew you could.”
They stayed there and laughed. They had both been accepted. Things were finally looking up.
Twilight came to.
She was still on the couch across from Star Swirl who had an expectant look on her face.
“Well?”
Twilight took a moment to gather herself before speaking. “That. Was. AMAZING!”
She leapt from the sofa and started bouncing up and down before she stopped with a yawn.
“Oh wow,” Twilight said. “I feel really tired.”
“Staying in the book for too long will do that to a pony,” said Star Swirl. “You are basically channeling a spell the entire time you’re in here. And you were in here quite a bit longer than before.”
Twilight’s eyes drooped. “Yeah, maybe I should take a break.”
Star Swirl nodded. “Sounds good. I guess I’ll see you soon.”
Twilight nodded. “Definitely.”
Star Swirl waved a hoof and Twilight began to fade.
“One more thing,” said Star Swirl. “Tell Celestia that she’s still not good enough to crack this book’s spell. Oh and no harm will come to you either. She might need to hear that last bit.”
Twilight nodded and faded completely.
Twilight came to.
She blinked and looked up at Celestia.
“How long was I gone?”
Celestia smiled. “Merely half an hour.”
Twilight sighed. “Good, because it felt like a couple days. Well it was for Star Swirl and Comet Fire, so I guess that makes sense.”
“Comet Fire?” Celestia said.
Twilight looked up at her quizzically. “You don’t know Comet?”
Celestia shook her head. “I have never heard of him.”
Twilight was concerned. That probably wasn’t a good sign.
“It seems like you’ve learned a lot.”
Twilight was broken from her thoughts and she nodded. “Definitely. You should hear this.”
Twilight took a sip of her tea and then began to tell Celestia of what she had seen.
Author's Note
Wow. This ended up a lot longer than I thought it would. I don't know if I can match the length of this chapter, but we'll see. Hope you enjoyed. And remember to let me know of any mistakes and constructively criticize me if you feel inclined.
