The indefinitive properties of magic

Twilight sighed looking at the remains of her living room, it was clear that the furniture was beyond repair and the books were not much better. Fortunately most of her reference material was in the main library, however loosing so many of her precious personal reading books was disheartening. She had read all of them but still. With a sigh she began to clear away the debris starting with the largest pieces. Once she had gathered all of the large things together she cast a simple spell to send them to the dump. A thought occurred to her that it was quite disturbing how often she used that spell. Getting back to work she gathered all of the ruined books and sent them after the furnishings, followed by the soot she swept up using wind magic. Finally she turned to the walls and floor that had been scorched, the advantage to living in a living tree was that any damage was easily repaired with a controlled growth spell. After the room was returned to its original state she went downstairs and began teleporting the spare furniture she kept in storage to the main room. Another thought about how odd it was that she would be so accustomed to things like this that she had spare furnishings crossed her mind before being shoved aside. Her work complete she took a seat giving a long exasperated sigh.

"I wonder if he's awak..." was all she got out before a shimmer appeared before her. Reaching out with her mind she opened the telepathic communication.

"Twilight?" A familiar commanding voice asked.

"Hello Princess! I was just thinking about calling you up. How is he?"

A long silence filled the air. "About that..."

Twilight felt her stomach drop. "I-is he...?"

"What? Oh, no no no. He's alive, a little to mush so as it seems. I think that when I sealed the corruption away I took a portion of his memory with it. Apparently he thinks he's a member of a group of rebels and that I'm his enemy? I honestly have no idea what he's talking about. I think it would be best if you came back and talked to him, you have a way with ponies after all."

Twilight was slightly taken aback by the last part, she had never really though of herself as a social person, but in the last few years she had to admit she had become rather skilled at talking to others. "O-of course, I'll get on the train."

"No need, I'll teleport you. Hold on." Celestia said the connection intensifying slightly before vanishing along with the room she was in. Suddenly finding herself in the throne room of the Canterlot castle she noticed that she was no longer sitting upon anything and fell to her rump rather suddenly.

"There, oh. I didn't realize that you were sitting... Are you ok?" The princess said leaning down offering a white furred hand.

Grabbing her hand Twilight pulled herself to her feet. "Fine, a bit sore but fine." As she looked around the room she was surprised to find a large grouping of guards standing about in different areas, some even tending to minor injuries. "What happened?"

Celestia looked around the room before looking back to Twilight. "When he awoke he apparently thought he had been captured by his enemies and broke out attempting to flee. Fortunately nopony was seriously hurt and I subdued him rather easily. Still his skills in combat are extraordinary, he fended off at least a dozen guards at once whilst fleeing."

Twilight took note of this, casting spells while being still was difficult enough but to cast while running required almost unmanageable levels of concentration. "So where is he now?"

Celestia turned and beckoned to follow, "Come, I had to put him in a cell to keep him from making another break."

Twilight followed the Princess up a set of narrow stone stairs into a tower, reaching the top she saw O chained to a wall by the neck with chains designed to neutralize magic.

"Well, if isn't the mighty god that brought me down. You must know that I will never talk, so you and your traitor there can just go ahead and kill me. And as for you Starshine, I would never have thought my own apprentice would be a traitor." he said opening his eyes. To Twilight's surprise she found that his eyes were no longer blue but instead a chromatic silver.

Shaking her head she spoke. "I believe you have me mistaken for another, my name is Twilight Sparkle, and I am not a traitor. I think we need to explain some things."

His face which had before been one of betrayal now fell into one of confusion. "You aren't Starshine? But your aura is... no....... you aren't her. I can see now, the differences but still. To have such a similar aura you would have to be a direct relation, and she has no immediate family. Who are you?"

Twilight cringed as she realized what she would say next would most likely wound him, "Had, she had no previous relations. I doubt that she's still alive, this isn't the time you are thinking it is." Over the next few minutes she explained the circumstances under which she found him.

"And so we brought you here, Celestia sealed away the corruption but we still don't know what exactly it is." She finished.

He nodded his face dreadfully serious closing his eyes. "So... the revolution?"

"I'm afraid I've never heard of it before." Twilight said looking to the Princess.

Celestia spoke up at this. "I have been alive for well over three thousand years and I myself have never heard of any rebellions of significance nor seen any."

He smiled in a kind of sad way "Hah, we weren't even worth a mention. Heh.... he he ha... Ha Ha HA HA HAHAHA!" he began to laugh. Twilight watched horrified unable to bring herself to speak. Finally calming down a bit he wiped his face with the sleeve of the ragged robes he wore. "Sorry, it's just... life has that way of doing exactly what you never expect. Even if our rebellion failed, I can clearly see by the way you two talk that times have changed. And your aura means that at least Star survived long enough to have a family." At this he stood up, "Well, no use living in the past. What happens now?"

Twilight who was still stunned by his sudden outburst stayed silent, Celestia spoke up however. "The corruption does present a significant threat not only to you but to the safety of those around you. This unfortunately means I cannot allow you to do as you please, as so I have decided to let my apprentice here take care of you until a cure can be devised. Should another incident occur she should be able to handle it, I will continue to research the source of this corruption with the notes she gathered from your journal before it was destroyed. I hope you understand." She said snapping her fingers. As soon as she did the manacle around his neck fell to the ground.

Smiling he nodded, "I understand, were I in the same position as you I would act similarly. It is strange to speak on even ground with an alicorn... however the experience is pleasing if for no other reason than the fact it is possible."

Celestia smiled, "I am happy that you are. Now Twilight, I apologize for not bringing this up until now but would this be favorable to you?"

Twilight quickly regained her composure. "O-of course Princess, my house has plenty of space."

"Twilight that's not what she meant." O said, "She meant is it okay keeping somepony as dangerous as me under your roof. However I doubt she would have said it so plainly."

At this the both of them turned to face him before Celestia stammered. "M-more or less?"

"It is fine, you may speak plainly to me. I would actually prefer it rather than being treated with undue privilege." he said smiling.

This time Twilight spoke up, "Of course I'm fine with you living with me! I've been though WAAAAY worse things than that. I even already moved my spare furniture into the living room!"

For a moment the room was silent before O spoke up. "I realize that times have changed drastically but is that normal?"

"No, no is not." Celestia said her hand on her face.

As they began to make their way down the stairs O spoke up again. "Um, I forgot to mention. Can one of you show me how to get out of here. I'm blind."