Magic: the Blessing, and the Curse

"NO, NO, NO, NO, BY CELESTIA'S SECRET MULTI-HUED 'STACHE, BUCK YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK!" I exclaim as I slammed my hoof don on my Alchemy table. I was angry, as can be expected. What had occurred, was one of the major glass jars had exploded to to the pressure placed on it from the potion I had tried to make. Who would have guessed that the table couldn't handle a simple mixture of Poison Joke extract and Daffodil at 500 degrees. Sighing, I cleaned up the jar fragments when I heard a knock at the door. Well, I say door, but what I mean was the two planks of wood that span the height of the cave entrance, that I had put up for the purpose of knocking.

What? I need privacy sometimes, just like every other pony.

I took this queue to roll down the sleeves of my clothing, put my mask over my mouth, and don my hood. "Enter." Leaving the makeshift room made of parts of crates, I went to see who wanted what from me this time. Lo and behold, it was the Royal Guards. Joy. To be fair, it has been almost 600 years since my corruption, and I had gone to greater length to ensure they do not know who I am, and the guards who come as messengers tend to be more pleasant than the regular ones; but still, they're Royal Guards.

"Are you Singularity?"

"Who else would I be" I replied whilst rolling my eyes.

"We have an order for you."

"Of course, why else would you be here. Let me guess, full armor set, same enchantments?"

"Correct."

"Alright, how many this time?"

"Fifty, and we need them by the next full moon." I froze. What did he just say?

"I apologize, I must have misheard you; did you say, by next full moon?"

"I did."

"You expect me, to put five enchantments per full set of armor, on fifty sets, in under a month. Do you have any idea how difficult that would be?"

"I'm just a Pegasus sir, I don't understand your fancy magics." I sighed and put my hoof to my face.

"Fine, total cost this time will be 5,500 bits."

"Excuse me?" What now? "They said your rate was 100 per set, so where did the extra 500 come from?" So some actually DID go to school.

"The 500 came for the time compensation, I thought that as a Guard, you of all ponies would understand that." He was silent, "Unless, you would like me to rush through these sets and give them sub-par enchantments?" He sighed.

"Fine, where do you want the crate?" I would think they would tell these new delivery ponies something.

"I don't care, just keep it out of my way." Two earth pony guards then came in with a crate, that looked quite heavy if they were struggling to lift it. Curious as to how they got that thing here, I looked past the Pegasus guard and saw an Airship. So, they finally brought those things out of prototype, eh? With that, the guards then packed up and left, leaving me with my thoughts. I took the opportunity to pull down my mask, take off my hood, and roll back up my sleeves.

Fifty sets in under a month, I wonder what is so important to need so many in such a small amount of time. I looked to a cave wall, from which hung a calendar I got from the new settlement, Dodge City. Lets see here, 1000 AD, the summer sun celebration is next month; maybe that is why. I thought back to what I heard the last time I was in a city, apparently, the celebration is being held in Ponyville this year. I guess that makes sense, it is still a new settlement, and it is next to the Everfree forest.

There was a sudden drop in wind temperature at that moment, damned Windegos.

I guess that is why they need the new armor, perhaps they think Princess Celestia is in danger. Clearing my mind, I thought back to the enchantments I had to do. Two were illusion, both to change color, one for the coat, the other for the armor. Two more were a protection spells, one for the armor, the other for where the armor wasn't. And the final one was a magic-absorbing spell; for when they fight against magic users; of course, I skimp out of putting this spell on them, after all, I do need some kind of edge.

I was cut out of my thoughts by a squeak coming from the crate. Did a mouse get caught inside? I grabbed a crowbar, and pried off the side; and everything inside spilled out. Among the grey, unenchanted armor; a small filly also came out, her head stuck inside the flaps of a helmet. I quickly placed my clothing back into position before getting her free. She was a small, light grey/purple unicorn, with yellow eyes and a matching mane and tail. She looked up at me with both fear and admiration. "E-excuse me, are you Mr. Singularity?" What? I picked her up and set her down on a stump I had been using as a dining table.

"Who are you and why were you in that box?"

"I was looking for Mr. Singularity, are you him?" I nodded. "I'm dinky hooves, and I want you to be my magic teacher!"

"No."

"I'm glad yo- did you say no? Why not?"

"I am a very busy stallion, and am not looking for a pupil, especially not for somepony who nearly gets herself killed getting here."

"But, but-"

"How did you even get here?"

"Oh that's easy, my mom's the postmare in ponyville. She helped me sneak me in!" Is this pony for real? "Then I just had to wait to get here." I placed my hoof on the bridge my muzzle.

"I'm pretty sure that's illegal, why do you even want me to be your teacher? Isn't there somepony that is closer to town that can be?"

"Well, yeah, but they aren't as awesome as you! You do the enchantments for the guards armor!" I sighed, I'm too old for this. There was an unusual moment of silence, which caused me to look at her. She looked downtrodden. "I have an inverted horn, which means I can't do magic as good as normal ponies. Everypony in school bullies me about it."

"Telling me you're handicapped will not change my mind."

You know, she went through a lot to get here, don't you think you should at least humor her?

Not now, Liquid Fire. I have enough on my plate without needing to deal with you.

And you call ME the demon, all i'm saying, is to give her a trial run, you know, see what she can do. Need I remind you of YOU when you were her age?

At her age I mastered complex telekinesis, she couldn't even get her head unstuck from a helmet.

Give her a chance, unless you want to make a foal cry.

"Fine." She looked surprised, as expected.

"I'll give you one week, before I cast my final judgement, but."

"But?"

"There are conditions." I waited a moment. Good, at least she knows when to listen. "One, you will obey my commands. Two, you will be my assistant, not apprentice. And three, you will not use ANY magic for three days; if you use any, I will know and take you back to Ponyville, no questions asked. Understand?"

"Yes sir!" Kids, I hate kids.