The Elder Wizard

It's amazing how many books there are in this castle. Most of the books remained intact over the course of them being locked away in several different rooms in the castle.

Nightmare Moon was trying to help me out in finding a good spell book for me to understand how to properly use my magic. We've been unsuccessful in finding the book case that would contain magic spells for unicorns and alicorns alike.

How many book cases are even here? It reached to the top of the roof at different points while just walking in the library. Only a few bookcases have fallen; the books they contained were damaged assumingly both by old age and when the bookcases fell over.

You'd expect that there would be signs telling where the magic aisle was located. I do believe that maybe the signs have probably disappeared a long time ago. Surely Nightmare might be able to discover where the spell books are located.

As I continued to look, there was a strange statue that was in front of me. I could tell it was a stallion just by looking at the muzzle. It would appear that it had a long beard, a starry cape, and even a matching wizard hat on top of its head.

Looking to see who this stallion may be, I saw a gold plaque that was just underneath the statue:

'Starswirl the Bearded'.

What it also said was he was a very powerful wizard that changed the rules and limits of magic-casting. His role was to create spells that had good intentions, and he worked closely with the Royal Sisters. Unfortunately, most of the spells he created ended up becoming what is known as dark magic. He was trying to only make light magic that was practically impossible to do any harm to anypony in Equestria.

In addition, the dark spells that he created were put into a book that still remained a mystery of where it is located, but it's rumored that it could've been placed here in the Royal Sisters' Palace.

Starswirl was never seen again after he finished all the spells he created. Many believe that he's not dead. He might still be alive and is just waiting to return to make more spells for future gifted unicorns like himself to perfect. I wondered if this guy did something that he regrets to this day? Maybe… but who am I to judge of what he did back then? I didn't come to this world when he was around.

Giving a shrug, I continued looking around to find maybe at least one book about magic spells. There were books about history, science, the Royal sisters of Equestria, really advanced-looking math, different animal species that live in Equestria, etc.

How hard is it to find books that are just about magic?! It shouldn't even be this hard. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to find books filled with magic that I might not have a problem to learn as an alicorn to understand and take time to harness. Especially of one the most renowned wizards used.

I lost track as to where Nightmare Moon was. Feels like we're trying to find a needle in a haystack. Did the designers add a map layout to this place? This is possibly one of the biggest libraries that was ever made in this world. I've been to libraries in my world, but this one is just too big for even the best ponies to get around.

As the old saying goes, 'Knowledge is power'. But I think there's way too much knowledge in here. This place could be used for college students in my opinion. That's how many books are in the library.

Continuing to go further down the aisles, I felt something faintly cracking underneath my hooves. Looking down, I noticed that there was a crack encircling my left forehoof. It continued not just from there, but spread out in all directions from where I was standing.

My blood went cold. Was it about to collapse?!

I froze in place; I don't think I'll be able to gallop away before it collapses.

Finally, the floor collapsed along with me going down into a big, black hole.

"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! NIIIGGHHTTMAAARREE!!!"

I.....ow....my head.

What......what the buck...just happened?

I couldn't see anything to save my flank! It was nothing but darkness all around me.

Oh, wait. Now I remember. The floor I was on collapsed right under me and also made me fall to maybe the bottom of the castle.

"N-Nightmare?” I coughed out some of the dust that got in my lungs, “You- ugh..." I could hardly talk. I must've really hit the bottom hard. I'm surprised I'm even alive! A normal human would've died upon impact. Seems like alicorns are stronger to withstand hitting the ground at high speeds. Felt like I hit a brick wall that was reinforced with steel from inside of it.

I tried to move my body, but it was painful to even move my legs. My whole body was screaming to be released from all this rubble on top of me. My wings were the ones that are probably in more pain than the rest of my body. I think I might have broken bones now.

Great. That's just great! I'm at the bottom of this place and I'm not sure Nightmare even knows I'm in this mess.

Is this how it's going to end for me? I'm gonna die in the darkness? Nightmare won't even know until she finds a hole in the floor of the library. And I'm not even sure she heard me scream before falling down here.

"S-Somepony..." Coughing out more dirt. "Anypony....h-help me."

There was a sound of hoof steps coming from in front of me. I wasn't sure who it was.

"N-Nightmare? Is.... is t-that you?" I called out.

There was no sound again. Was I just imagining things? It sounded so real. Noises that are not that far wouldn't be making anypony think they are hallucinating.

There it was again. I could hear the sound of bells shaking in unison. The hoof steps were also being heard again. It was getting louder, louder, and louder as it was coming to me. I know Nightmare Moon doesn't have any bells for her armor or for mine. It wouldn't make any sense as to why you would need bells for yourself.

Unless it were to help you wake up or tell the owners of a house that the newspaper has arrived. Which, of course is hardly even used anymore on earth.

I could hear breathing now. Not from me. But from the individual who might be looking down at me.

Who is this pony? And why would he/she be under the castle? Could it be another spirit that's like Nightmare Moon? If that were the case, I would've already seen the pony. Maybe it was wanting to know if I was a threat to it.

"Lost you are, it seems." The voice sounded wise and very old.

"Y-You could s-say that.” I slightly laughed out of nervousness, “I can s-sure use some h-help getting all the rubble off of me though..."

"Be patient, you must. Don't struggle. I shall help you get back on your hooves." I felt lighter all of a sudden. He must be lifting all the rubble off me.

I tried to move my body again, but I had to withdraw due to having a sharp sensation of pain all around me.

"Injured, you are. Stay still, it will be over in a minute or two."

I felt myself being levitated off the ground. The bruises I sustained were disappearing and I could feel my bones starting to reconnect to one another. There was no pain. Only bliss.

The anonymous pony then gently placed me back on the ground.

"Great thou art, for thou art powerful."

Now he was speaking in Old English as well...

"Who are thou to help thyself from falling down in this place of darkness?" Suddenly, I was now speaking in Old English. This seems to be more natural to me. Perhaps I should speak in this language.

"Aren't thou Nightmare Moon, hmm?" he asked.

"My name is Nightmare Moon," I replied.

"Likewise. My name is Starswirl, Starswirl the Bearded."

Wait. Starswirl the Bearded? No way... how is he even here? So it is true. He still lives to this day.

"Ah. Thou are surprised? Surely thou must be. For thy eyes don't lie." He gave a chuckle.

Yeah, he was right about that! This guy must have a spell that makes him live forever!

"Hehe. Yeah.” Looks like the Old English talk wore off… but not entirely. “For I am surprised that you are standing here before me. Why have you come to this place, Starswirl?"

He shows himself to be the wizard of mystery, at long last. The statue had every bit of detail on him just like I see him now. His eyes, for the most part, looked golden. More like a darkish color of gold. Though old, he still showed that he could walk without needing a cane.. if elderly ponies were even able to use them. His coat was dark gray. His mane and tail were light grey, almost white. His beard and hooves were a snow-white color.

For his appearance and magic, he is a unicorn... A very powerful unicorn indeed.

There was something on his back. It looked like an old book. The cover was leathery blue with an elaborate golden border and lock on it. What's he doing with an old book on his back?

"You seem to be curious as to why I have this book with me. I’m afraid I cannot say exactly… but it holds magic no-one should touch; it’s much too powerful for anyone.” He stopped speaking in Old English just like I did, for now.

"You mean.... That's the book that's been rumored to be in the Royal Sisters' palace? That book?" I was trying to process this new information. I was thinking that maybe the book would have been destroyed to prevent power hungry ponies from using it for evil deeds. I wouldn't dare try to even think of having temptation to take Starswirl's book away from him. Wait! I must tell him who I am. How will he react? He knows that I'm the Mare of the Moon. He wouldn't just give me his book like this.

Taking in a deep breath, I told him who I was. "Although you see me as Nightmare Moon, I'm not really her. I've been reincarnated in her image," I confessed. "My name is Ada. I was once a being that would be known as a human, or in science terms, Homo sapiens. I'm not from Equestria. The world I come from is known as planet Earth."

His eyes were closed. He didn't say anything. But I could tell he listened to what I was saying. Then, without even thinking of what he might say next, he starts to… chuckle?

"I knew you were different when I saw you, Ada. I might be old, but I can sense who's who." Now I'm starstruck. He knew this whole time??

"Why, I know you are now a sister to Nightmare Moon. And you have changed her in the matter of just two days. Many would fail to try to change the Mare of the Moon for who she is. But you have been successful in ridding her of the hatred and sorrow that was deep inside her heart."

"How do you even...?" How does he know this stuff? Does he read minds or something?

"Remember the voice you heard when you first came here, Ada? Do you not recognize it?" He smiled and looked at me.

"Wait, you...that...you mean...?" I couldn't talk… or I just couldn’t find the words to say.

"Yes, Ada. I was the voice you heard at the beginning of your new life here in Equestria. I heard your wish to become a creature you always wanted to be. The voices from the pond answered your wish to help Nightmare Moon redeem herself? That was also me."

My jaw dropped to the ground.

"What?! T-that was you… you, Starswirl the Bearded...??? " I sat down, and I could hear him laughing softly at my dumbfounded reaction.

“It is a bit of a surprise… and I see you have heard of me before.” He glanced up at the hole that I fell through in thought. “And you fell through one of the traps I set up so long ago… at least you know where I am now.” Starswirl looked back at me. “I see you’ve been though a lot recently, as I haven’t seen a human in many, many moons.” (I thought he would know what a human is, just only the basics of them occasionally “coming to Equestria like falling stars” but it was very rare, and they did often get transformed into ponies.)

This is something I never saw coming. Words could not describe how he was the one who answered my wish. He wanted to help me. Not just me. He wanted me to also help Nightmare Moon at the same time. And to make it easier was for me to become her sister.

My mind is blown away.

"I do believe you were also wanting to find a book that contained magic spells, yes?" I merely nodded. There were no words coming out of my mouth.

The book that he had on his back was now being levitated towards me. I slowly extended out my forelegs to grab onto it. The seal that was on the blue cover contained an alicorn that had a gold coat and it showed great power towards me.

There was something that was written under the seal.

Umbra possidet, lux perstat

I looked up to notice Starswirl giving me a smile. "That book is all that you need to learn about dark and light magic, Ada. But be warned. The spells that are in my book are more powerful than any other spells that ponykind has seen before. I was the only one who tried to master these spells… but I made a grave mistake in trying to master them.” He held his head down for a moment before his golden-yellow eyes glanced back at me with the same smile as before. “But I sense you will master the spells far more than I would."

“Aren’t you supposed to be a master of magic?” I asked. That last part that he said confused me… how would I master something that one of the said greatest wizards of pony history wasn’t able to complete? "I'm merely new to magic that this world has to offer. How are you certain that I could master these spells, Starswirl?"

"I know you can do this, Ada. You just gotta believe in who you are. My spells may be difficult for me to use, but I see you as my successor in both kinds of magic." He slowly backed away and was disappearing into the dark. "May you be successful in your training, Ada. Use the time to your advantage. Only then you will become the most powerful alicorn that Equestria has ever seen. Good luck. And may the night aid you in your quest to becoming what I could not." His voice echoed in my head.

There was a light I could see on my right side.

"Go to the light. It is your exit, Ada. There you will meet up with Nightmare Moon. She's worried about you. Don't keep her waiting," whispered Starswirl.

Nodding, I placed the book on my back and galloped over to the light. While doing so, I could see I have entered the throne room. It was also sunny now.

"Nightmare? Are you here?" I asked.

My ears perked up when the sound of door was creaking open from behind me. Turning around, I could see Nightmare Moon's eyes go wide and she tackled me to the ground, causing the book on my back to fall right off of me.

"Whoa, whoa. Easy there, Nightmare! I'm here. I'm not going anywhere." She just wasn't letting go of me.

"Where were you? You didn't hear me in the library! I thought you left me!!" She snuggled against my chest trying not to cry a river of tears. Geez. I thought all her pain was gone from two days ago.

"Relax, Nightmare. I got a book that.....I found in another part of the castle." I pointed my hoof at where the book was now on the floor. She turned her head to where I was pointing. When she did so, her pupils were contracted to where I wouldn't be able to see them.

She looked back at me and said, "Is that......"

Nodding my head, I said, "Yes, it is. Starswirl the Bearded's spell book." I didn't want to tell her about what really happened when we got separated. I might tell her that I met him in pony… er, in person.

Nightmare let go of me and allowed me to stand back on all fours. Doing so, I walked over to grab the book with my hoof. Now I just need to figure out how to open it. There was no key to unlock it. But perhaps there is another way to open it: magic.

"Magic is a powerful tool, Ada. It's like an animal. You must control it. I had resisted dark magic many times back when I was young, but I know you will master both sides of magic. Concentration is most important to understand taming magic. Just don't kid yourself. You were born from the night that was created out of jealousy, pain, and sorrow by Princess Celestia. Those three emotions will keep you sane. Take my advice seriously. That's what I will continue to teach you over the course of your life in Equestria."

Smiling, I told Nightmare that we would leave the castle for maybe an hour or two. She seemed to understand that it was time to learn magic outside. Wouldn't want to blow this castle off the face of Equestria. That's something I wouldn't want.

I'm gonna need a saddle bag to keep the book from slipping off my back. Surely there would be a few in the armory room for me to take with me. I might also need to make a hoodie so that nopony would get to see my face. They would alert the Princesses and everypony in Ponyville. I must be cautious in my surroundings.

Now it's time to take in some inventory.

"One more thing. Allow me to give you a temporary disguise, Ada. It's to ensure you are safe when walking into the fields where you were placed in before. This may cause you to black out… but Nightmare will still feel you as a sister even when I'm done. Don't worry. Everything will go according to your plan."

I felt a sudden headache just hit me. As I looked down to look at my forelegs, I noticed that the upper part of my legs were turning to dark purple, while the lower part remained  midnight black. The purple color was still spreading all around me. The armor had disappeared, replaced with a black cloak that covered my wings. I also felt a sudden pain around my body where I couldn't bear it any longer.

I blacked out like Starswirl had warned me.

"Ada!" Nightmare shouted but her voice was being tuned down while entering the void of darkness.

"You'll be fine, I promise. It's merely temporary. That is the opportunity I am giving you. By the time your current appearance wears off, you will know magic and how to change back at will.

"Good luck, Nuray."