The Crooked Inheritance : A Lunar Rebellion Side Storyby ZelderonChaptersThe Winged-PonyThe ArchmagusThe DancerThe Winged-Pony“Star Buck, arise. Thou art late for school,” yelled the callous voice of my father. It was followed seconds later by a cuff to my shoulder, after I tried to protect myself by scrunching further into my blankets. A book fell of the side of my bed with a loud thump as I clumsily threw off my covers and emerged from my bed. “What have I told thee about reading in bed before sleeping. Thou art going to ruin thine eyes trying to use such lacking candlelight to read.” I responded with an affirmative grunt and blearily grabbed my saddlebags in my muzzle. Judging by the fact I could see rays of light streaming through my curtains, it was too late to worry about hygiene, as usual. When I was little my father would use his magic to secure them onto my back but on my sixth birthday he informed me I was going to have to learn how to do it myself because “It’s important for non unicorn ponies to practice dexterity.” My poor lifestyle choices meant I had plenty of opportunities to practice putting them on quickly. I could now put saddlebags on even whilst flying, a skill I oft had need for. I gulped down a glass of lukewarm milk and chomped on a piece of cold toast before dashing out of the house. Of course, father had probably set out my breakfast about an hour ago. I still couldn’t understand how he could wake up so early every day even though he always came home late from work. I flew over the city streets, already bustling with activity. I always wondered at how ponies had the patience to deal with all the traffic that tended to congest the streets in the morning. I often found traveling with my parents or sister through the narrow streets to be a test of patience. I crossed over some of the larger markets, listening to the familiar din of ponies selling their wares. As I flew north, the density of ponies in the streets decreased. The buildings grew shorter and wood replaced brick. The streets were rougher and the windows more often than not held iron bars. I passed over a distinctive abandoned warehouse with a sizable hole in its roof, I started making my descent, knowing I was nearing my school. The Sunbeam Sparkle Unity School was a very recent, unusual affair. The current Grand Vizier of Unicornia along with many of her friends funded the school in an attempt to promote education for those who would normally lack the means to afford schooling. Additionally, few schools boasted as diverse a population, and even though most of my classmates were earth ponies, there was a mix of pegasi and unicorns, too. Unlike many of the more affluent schools in Manehattan, entrance was determined based on a test rather than one’s parents’ ability to pay. It was said that Sunbeam herself always made sure the brightest graduating students had bright futures via her various connections. I landed in front of a four story brick building surrounded by a metal fence. I nodded to one of the security ponies and made my way to pass through the main gate leading to the school’s grounds. Unfortunately, a group of loudly conversing earth ponies shoved me out of the way ere I could enter. I made no comment, knowing twould be easier to stay silent. When I entered the classroom, I took a seat next to my best friend Anvil who was in deep concentration over whatever latest novel had caught her attention. In any event, our history teacher Grey Mane soon entered the room. We quickly fell silent as he began lecturing. “Yesterday we discussed the Lyequinegas reforms that unified the Pegasopolis state. The formation of the Ephorate as the head ruling body helped to unify the largest of the roving bands. The old nomadic bands became the various clans of Pegasopolis. Over time various clans rose and fell. Currently, the four major clans are the Kickers, Strikers, Chargers and Doos. Each of these major clans usually takes a spot in the Ephorate. The fifth spot in the Ephorate is typically claimed by a member of one of the lesser clans.” “The first ephorate signed agreements with the earth ponies and unicorns to provide regular weather services and military protection in return for food and other material goods. Although Cloudsdale is the largest city in Pegasopolis, there are other smaller ones occupied by the lesser clans. Many earth pony smiths and unicorn enchanters even moved to the ground near these cloud cities in order to be closer to their customers. Since the pegasi themselves do not use bits, these craftsponies are paid by the central government. Chancellor Celestia and the Ephorate decide together how many resources go to Pegasopolis each year.” “While the four main clans and even the lesser clans directly oversee the military training of their young, the Ephorate also set up public schools to oversee the training of the clanless. It is not uncommon for Ephors and their subordinates to visit these schools to recruit bondponies or even adopt pegasi into their own clans. Starting from the age of eight, all pegasi undergo mandatory military training until the age of twelve, after which some ponies may continue their military training or decide to go into noncombat careers, including the weather service….” I will admit I did not listen to the lecture as attentively as I perhaps should have. Staying up late the previous night had taken its toll and I struggled to merely keep my eyes open. My writing frequently trailed off into illegible scribbles as my quill fell from my hoof. While some might think it strange that a pegasus was less than attentive in learning the history of their biologic tribe, in all honesty I had no more interest in pegasus history and culture than the average unicorn or earth pony. Perhaps if I had been born to pegasus parents in Pegasopolis I would have been more intrigued, but as it was, I could feel my head nodding. When school was finally over I burst out of the building and flew home as fast as my wings would take me. I loved learning but sometimes I felt an overwhelming need in the pit of my stomach to just fly, the need to stretch my wings and test their limits. There was something deeply alluring about the open sky and feeling the sun and crisp air kiss my face. Nothing could compare to the feeling of flying high into the sky and then diving faster and faster towards the ground. Most of my classmates were pulled home on private carriages, while smaller percentage walked home. For all the school liked to boast of its inclusiveness, the children of day laborers and farmers did not have the same time or resources as those of magnates who could hire private tutors for their children. While the school was located in a less than reputable part of Manehattan, it was still well known for the high quality of education it provided. After graduating, most alumni found themselves receiving further education to become lawyers, bankers and civil servants. My sister herself was a prime example, having recently graduated from the Manehattan School of Law. When I arrived home, I was met with a surprise. Usually neither of my parents came home from work until evening, but today they were both waiting for me. There was also a white mare with an orange and red mane sitting at the kitchen table with them. I removed off my saddle bags and awkwardly greeted them. I recognized the mare from the many paintings of here that decorated the walls of my school. My heart froze for a moment. I had heard stories about Sunbeam Sparkle, the Grand Vizier to the Chancellor and Archmagus of Canterlot. Even though our civics teachers frequently mentioned all the good her reforms caused, they did not easily cover up tales of her ruthlessness. “Star Buck, I’d like you to meet Sunbeam Sparkle,” my mother said. “She would like to speak with you.” The ArchmagusI was sure Sunbeam Sparkle noticed my entire body go stiff because the archmagus tried to offer a smile that I suppose was meant to be warm and comforting. It only made me feel even more nervous. “Yes, I’d like to speak with you Star Buck, alone. It’s very important,” the archmagus said in a gentle voice, that still somehow simultaneously held the expectation her request would be granted. Both my parents went into their bedroom and closed the door, leaving me alone with the most powerful unicorn in Equestria. There was a palpably awkward beat of silence before she began. “Hello Star Buck, how was school?” “Fine, I guess.” Another pause stretched on until eternity. “What are you learning right now in class?” “Well, in science class we’re learning about plants. Today we went over a bunch of anatomy and dissected flowers. We’re reading The Canterbury Tales in literature class,” I found myself rambling due to my nervousness, “Oh, and in history class we’re learning about Pegasopolis.” Archmagus Sparkle thankfully latched onto my last sentence. “Oh that must be very interesting to you. Have you ever studied pegasus history and culture before?” “Not really. I sometimes read stories and books about Pegasopolan warriors and battles, but most of them are fictional. My friend Anvil really likes them, so she sometimes lends me her books. I think a couple of them are based on real ponies and battles. And in class we had to read Reliable Source’s book on the liberation of Manehattan by Princess Luna, but doesn’t everypony have to read that in school?” I quickly correct myself, “That is everypony who is able to afford schooling.” “Really? I’m surprised your sister never made you read more about Pegasopolan culture.” “Wait, how do you know my sister?” “Principal Sharp Needle keeps me informed of particularly promising students in my school. I like to keep tabs on talented young ponies. From what I hear, your sister is one of the best writers and most avid readers Sharp Needle has seen come through my school. It’s a shame she refused my offer to come to Canterlot and undergo magus training. I have no doubt that she would have become one of the greatest magical researchers of our time.” I felt the need to defend my older sister, even if it was to one of the most powerful ponies in all of Equestria, “Even though Star Quill is really good at magic and scholarly pursuits, she didn’t want to devote her life to either of them. Our parents wanted her to go to the academy to study magic, but she decided to become a lawyer so she could help ponies who can’t afford them.” “Peace, peace, Star Buck. I was only pointing out that Star Quill’s talents as an example of why I started my school here in the first place. Contrary to what my colleagues in Manehattan would like to believe, there are many great ponies born outside of Unicornia and outside of noble families. I merely wish to help them reach their full potential. Think of all the talent and potential that goes to waste everyday in this world just because some ponies are born into situations that don’t allow for them to explore their true talents. Think of your friend Anvil. If she had been born to a family of sharecroppers she couldn’t possibly read on a level that I hear comes closer to rivaling your sister than any other pony at my school.” I didn’t know what she expected me to say after all that, so the Archmagus continued talking to avoid any awkward silences. “So, Star Heart and Carrot Buck have been telling me that you’re interested in studying the healing arts like them. Do you also want to go into medicinal research?” “Oh no, I would slay myself if I had to spend the rest of my life doing research. I sometimes bring down storm clouds into my father’s lab so he can have a supply of electricity without needing to use his own magic, but I would never actually become a researcher.” For some reason the Archmagus found this humorous. She smiled and asked, “If you’re able to control storm clouds well enough for your father to use them indoors for his delicate experiments, you must have inherited your parents’ knack for magic. I’m sure you’ve never even had proper weather training.” “Well my father is always talking about how each of the tribes has their own special magic and skills. He said at a very basic level we all are connected by the same fundamental magic that flows throughout Equestria. He actually taught me a lot about how to control my pegasus magic by slightly the altering the lessons he received on how to control his own unicorn magic. My mother has been teaching me how to do very delicate and precise actions with my hooves, but I don’t think I inherited her talents. I doubt I’ll ever be as good as her.” The Archmagus chuckled at that, “Oh, your father has always been a strong supporter of Celestia’s Unifying Theory of Magic. And I doubt most unicorns can achieve the level of fine manipulation using their magic that Willow Buck has with her hooves. I’ve seen her perform eye surgeries using only her hooves and a scalpel. Do not worry about trying to follow exactly in your parent’s hoofsteps. I certainly did not.” Before I could inquire about what she meant with her last statement, she contiued. “Did you ever think about going to Pegasopolis to learn from their chirurgeons? I’m sure it would be more helpful for you to learn skills suited for pegasus doctors rather than learn from unicorns or pegasi. You can only learn so much from your father’s reapplied lessons on magic. Surely as a unicorn, he cannot appreciate what it’s like to have the body of a pegasus.” “I don’t think I could. I’m not a Pegasopolan citizen and I have never been through their mandatory military training. Even if they did let me study there, I doubt any of the teachers or other students would ever respect me. And I wouldn’t blame them.” “Well, when you turned eight did you ever want to go to Cloudsdale to begin your military training?” I winced at the question. That was a bit of sore point for me. The archmagus must have noticed because she quickly apologized, “Oh dear, I didn’t mean to draw up any painful memories for you. It must have been a difficult decision to make.” “No, it’s fine,” I quickly replied. I didn’t want to make her feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. “Of course I dreamed of training to become a warrior of Pegasopolis. But my parents and sister were very against it and eventually convinced me not to go. They said it was too dangerous and that I’d have to join the Long Patrol and go to places like the Griffon Kingdom to fight. I’ve always been interested in learning how to fight just for the sake of it so my dad did hire an old pegasus soldier to help train me. He lives near here because his wings got hurt when he was fighting griffon reivers.” The archmagus chuckled, “That sounds like something Star Heart would do. You know when he was your age, he dreamed about becoming an officer in the Royal Guard.” “What?!” I was quite shocked. “Yes, but he wasn’t able to because of his family background. I know that after your sister was born and his family fell back into favor in Unicornia, your father entertained some wishes for your sister to join the Royal Guard.” The image of my sister going through guard training and fighting another pony made me laugh until I suddenly realized something, “Forgive me for asking Archmagus, but how did you know?” “Oh, your father never told you about me? We’re old friends. We often correspond with each other about our research. You ought to learn more about what your father does. He’s one of the greatest healer magi in Equestria. If he had stayed in Canterlot, I’m sure he would already have been appointed as the head of the royal hospital and academy of medicine. We help each other with our research. Your father has quite a knack for the physical sciences. He once helped me develop a more efficient method of producing fire gems. But I digress. Star Buck, I am starting a special school in specifically for pegasus citizens of Equestria who live outside of Pegasopolis. I wanted to invite you personally to come to Canterlot to become part of the first class of students.” The Dancer“But mother, I think it would be a good experience for me,” I pleaded while helping my mother water the vegetable plot behind our house. I was laying on my stomach on a small rain cloud, hovering next to her head. “Star Buck, it just doesn’t seem to be the best use of your time. You should stay focused on your goals,” my mother said as she harvested chives for dinner, “You should stay here in Manehattan and use your break to further your studies. I could easily get you a job in Peppermint Oil’s lab. He’s always looking for apprentices to help him with his experiments.” “But it would only be for a month. The archmagus said she wanted to hold a preliminary trial session before her actual school opens. I think it would be a good opportunity for me to learn more about pegasus culture and maybe even pick up some ancient Pegasopolan.” Because I knew my mother well, I also added, “And I could learn more about controlling my pegasus magic.” To emphasize my point, I made a tiny arch of lightning come out of the tiny raincloud I was using to sprinkle my mother’s blueberry bushes with water. Sadly, I would miss out on eating this year’s fresh crop of blueberries if I went to Canterlot. “Your father and I still believe you should stay here over the summer. It’ll be more beneficial to your current career if you do something medicine-related during your break. You don’t want to be like your sister. She changed her mind so much about what she wanted to do with her life that I’m surprised she ever even got her cutie mark. If you stay here and apprentice yourself to a doctor, you might even finally get yours before the summer’s end.” My mother knew me well. My lack of cutie mark was a constant source of ire for me. I already knew what I wanted to do with my life and I knew that I was good at learning the knowledge and skills needed to be a good healer. Ponies told me I had a special knack for learning medicines, pony biology and caring for other ponies. So where was my mark? My sister received her mark before she even knew what she wanted to do as a career. She spent years jumping around different ones long after she received her cutie mark of a quill with an ink bottle in the shape of a five-pointed star. I looked my mother’s healer’s hoof cutie mark, a hoof print with a swirling spiral in the center, and thought about my father’s healer’s cross with 4 little stars, one in each of the spaces between the limbs of the red cross. I wondered if my cutie mark would take after my mother or father’s family cutie marks. I knew some ponies had cutie marks that did not look anything like their mother or father’s, but I was sure that mine would at least also be befitting of a healer. We worked in comfortable silence for a bit. My mother was alternatively harvesting sweet potato ivy and various other leafy vegetables and weeding while I careful controlled the amount of water coming from my raincloud to prevent the water from washing away soil. Eventually the raincloud became too small, so I let the remaining water vapor disintegrate and diffuse away. I flew down next to my mother’s side and started helping her wash her small harvest. Even though my mother was not a farmer and our plot of land was relatively small, she grew enough vegetables to augment every dinner. I sometimes marveled at her ability to make plants that most ponies would dismiss as dead lost causes grow large and healthy. Part of the reason why her vegetable garden was restricted was the grassy lawn my father cultivated around our house. He used grass seeds imported from Canterlot to recreate the well-kept lawns that he said were common in the unicorn capital. He and my mother were often at odds about the usage of space on our property. While my father preferred the heavily manicured lawns, hedges, and flower beds of his hometown, my mother preferred the natural beauty in wild vines and plants growing without the direction of ponies. My mother usually came home from the Manehattan Academy of Medicine an hour or two before my father did. My mother had just finished cooking dinner when he arrived home. I was in my room supposedly doing homework, but I was actually reading a memoir written by an old Long Patrol pony that Anvil lent me earlier that day during school. It had been a week since the archmagus visited. I heard from other pegasi in my class that she had sent them letters. Most of the pegasi in my class were born to earth pony parents, but some were born to pegasi who had just decided to live with the earth ponies rather than in Pegasopolis. My father and mother had to call me to dinner several times as usual before resorting to threats to make me leave my room and walk into the kitchen. We ate in silence for a bit before my father said, “Are you still bent on going to Canterlot, Star Buck?” “Yes, father, but if you and mother do not want me to go, of course, I will respect your wishes.” My father sighed and said, “Star Buck, your mother and I just want to look out for your best interests. We don’t want to unnecessarily complicate your life. If you really wish to go, you may go.” I looked up in interest and hope before he continued, “But be wary of Sunbeam Sparkle. You cannot possibly comprehend how many layers of schemes and machinations that mare has running at any given time. I suspect even Princess Celestia doesn’t know all that her Grand Vizier plots. I suspect this whole pegasus school idea of hers is just a small part of her grander scheme to centralize Equestria. She believes the 3 pony races should be united under one hegemonic political system, rather than be administered to as 3 separate tribes. She has spoken to me about it before and even though she does not believe in Celestia’s Unifying Theory of Magic, she truly believes that Equestria will be better off if it has a central power in Canterlot controlling all of Equestria. Do not let her use her for her own personal gain. She will use sweet words and gifts and favors, but keep in mind that mare will do anything to further her own hegemony.” When I told Anvil and our private hammer hooves instructor that I would be leaving for one month, retired Sergeant First Charger merely grunted and gave me a heavy pair of practice hammer hooves so that I would not “Become soft like one of those spoiled unicorn fops.” Anvil in her usual laconic way did not say she would miss me but gave me several of her books to read on the journey there. The day came when I had to leave for Canterlot. I shifted uncomfortably under my heavy saddle bags filled with various items my mother insisted I bring. My father continuously drilled me on things I could have forgotten and whether I had enough bits. I assured him that I had enough bits with me to buy a private army, but he just snorted and said things in Canterlot were more expensive than in Manehattan. I reminded him that at any rate they could always send me more if I needed it and that all our meals were already provided for. He gave me a slip of paper with the addresses and names of his siblings and relatives who lived in Canterlot. I had visited them a few times, but I did not know any of them very well. I had no intention of informing them I was in Canterlot. My mother was worried that it was too dangerous for me to fly by myself to Canterlot and both my parents agreed I should’ve planned to go with some of the other pegasi from Manehattan who would also be attending. I reminded them that I would be flying with a group of weather ponies who were going back to Cloudsdale and that the route was perfectly safe. When the weather ponies in question had all assembled I gave each of my parents a nuzzle. My sister, unfortunately, was unable to come because she had to be in Filydelphia that day to represent a client in court. The Equestrian countryside flew by as we made our way west. Some of the pegasi grumbled that I would slow them down, but my father had already bribed their squad leader to let me fly with them and I was able to keep pace with them since I’m naturally a strong flyer. I could see Canterlot in the distance when we finally branched off and went our separate ways. I swooped down lower as I neared the city. The tall, elegant spires of Canterlot always took my breath away. As I landed in front of the palace gate, I became painfully aware of how dirty I must have looked. My mane and tail were a mess and I was covered in sweat from the long flight. The ponies around me were are excruciatingly clean and well dressed. Sunbeam said that there would be someponies waiting at the gate throughout today and take us to her new school as we arrived. I looked around the mass of ponies for the wings and eventually made my way over to a small group of young pegasi around my age milling about who could only be the group I was searching for. As I made my way towards them, a pale unicorn with a deep mane with slight curls at its tips looked at a piece of paper and smiled at me. “You must be Star Buck. It’s nice to meet you. My name is Platinum Dancer. I will be one of your teachers for the next month.” Author's Note For Star Heart's cutie mark, just imagine Nurse Redheart's cutie mark except with stars instead of hearts. Carrot Buck's cutie mark is kind of like Zecora's but it's in the shape of a hoof instead of the sun.
The Winged-Pony“Star Buck, arise. Thou art late for school,” yelled the callous voice of my father. It was followed seconds later by a cuff to my shoulder, after I tried to protect myself by scrunching further into my blankets. A book fell of the side of my bed with a loud thump as I clumsily threw off my covers and emerged from my bed. “What have I told thee about reading in bed before sleeping. Thou art going to ruin thine eyes trying to use such lacking candlelight to read.” I responded with an affirmative grunt and blearily grabbed my saddlebags in my muzzle. Judging by the fact I could see rays of light streaming through my curtains, it was too late to worry about hygiene, as usual. When I was little my father would use his magic to secure them onto my back but on my sixth birthday he informed me I was going to have to learn how to do it myself because “It’s important for non unicorn ponies to practice dexterity.” My poor lifestyle choices meant I had plenty of opportunities to practice putting them on quickly. I could now put saddlebags on even whilst flying, a skill I oft had need for. I gulped down a glass of lukewarm milk and chomped on a piece of cold toast before dashing out of the house. Of course, father had probably set out my breakfast about an hour ago. I still couldn’t understand how he could wake up so early every day even though he always came home late from work. I flew over the city streets, already bustling with activity. I always wondered at how ponies had the patience to deal with all the traffic that tended to congest the streets in the morning. I often found traveling with my parents or sister through the narrow streets to be a test of patience. I crossed over some of the larger markets, listening to the familiar din of ponies selling their wares. As I flew north, the density of ponies in the streets decreased. The buildings grew shorter and wood replaced brick. The streets were rougher and the windows more often than not held iron bars. I passed over a distinctive abandoned warehouse with a sizable hole in its roof, I started making my descent, knowing I was nearing my school. The Sunbeam Sparkle Unity School was a very recent, unusual affair. The current Grand Vizier of Unicornia along with many of her friends funded the school in an attempt to promote education for those who would normally lack the means to afford schooling. Additionally, few schools boasted as diverse a population, and even though most of my classmates were earth ponies, there was a mix of pegasi and unicorns, too. Unlike many of the more affluent schools in Manehattan, entrance was determined based on a test rather than one’s parents’ ability to pay. It was said that Sunbeam herself always made sure the brightest graduating students had bright futures via her various connections. I landed in front of a four story brick building surrounded by a metal fence. I nodded to one of the security ponies and made my way to pass through the main gate leading to the school’s grounds. Unfortunately, a group of loudly conversing earth ponies shoved me out of the way ere I could enter. I made no comment, knowing twould be easier to stay silent. When I entered the classroom, I took a seat next to my best friend Anvil who was in deep concentration over whatever latest novel had caught her attention. In any event, our history teacher Grey Mane soon entered the room. We quickly fell silent as he began lecturing. “Yesterday we discussed the Lyequinegas reforms that unified the Pegasopolis state. The formation of the Ephorate as the head ruling body helped to unify the largest of the roving bands. The old nomadic bands became the various clans of Pegasopolis. Over time various clans rose and fell. Currently, the four major clans are the Kickers, Strikers, Chargers and Doos. Each of these major clans usually takes a spot in the Ephorate. The fifth spot in the Ephorate is typically claimed by a member of one of the lesser clans.” “The first ephorate signed agreements with the earth ponies and unicorns to provide regular weather services and military protection in return for food and other material goods. Although Cloudsdale is the largest city in Pegasopolis, there are other smaller ones occupied by the lesser clans. Many earth pony smiths and unicorn enchanters even moved to the ground near these cloud cities in order to be closer to their customers. Since the pegasi themselves do not use bits, these craftsponies are paid by the central government. Chancellor Celestia and the Ephorate decide together how many resources go to Pegasopolis each year.” “While the four main clans and even the lesser clans directly oversee the military training of their young, the Ephorate also set up public schools to oversee the training of the clanless. It is not uncommon for Ephors and their subordinates to visit these schools to recruit bondponies or even adopt pegasi into their own clans. Starting from the age of eight, all pegasi undergo mandatory military training until the age of twelve, after which some ponies may continue their military training or decide to go into noncombat careers, including the weather service….” I will admit I did not listen to the lecture as attentively as I perhaps should have. Staying up late the previous night had taken its toll and I struggled to merely keep my eyes open. My writing frequently trailed off into illegible scribbles as my quill fell from my hoof. While some might think it strange that a pegasus was less than attentive in learning the history of their biologic tribe, in all honesty I had no more interest in pegasus history and culture than the average unicorn or earth pony. Perhaps if I had been born to pegasus parents in Pegasopolis I would have been more intrigued, but as it was, I could feel my head nodding. When school was finally over I burst out of the building and flew home as fast as my wings would take me. I loved learning but sometimes I felt an overwhelming need in the pit of my stomach to just fly, the need to stretch my wings and test their limits. There was something deeply alluring about the open sky and feeling the sun and crisp air kiss my face. Nothing could compare to the feeling of flying high into the sky and then diving faster and faster towards the ground. Most of my classmates were pulled home on private carriages, while smaller percentage walked home. For all the school liked to boast of its inclusiveness, the children of day laborers and farmers did not have the same time or resources as those of magnates who could hire private tutors for their children. While the school was located in a less than reputable part of Manehattan, it was still well known for the high quality of education it provided. After graduating, most alumni found themselves receiving further education to become lawyers, bankers and civil servants. My sister herself was a prime example, having recently graduated from the Manehattan School of Law. When I arrived home, I was met with a surprise. Usually neither of my parents came home from work until evening, but today they were both waiting for me. There was also a white mare with an orange and red mane sitting at the kitchen table with them. I removed off my saddle bags and awkwardly greeted them. I recognized the mare from the many paintings of here that decorated the walls of my school. My heart froze for a moment. I had heard stories about Sunbeam Sparkle, the Grand Vizier to the Chancellor and Archmagus of Canterlot. Even though our civics teachers frequently mentioned all the good her reforms caused, they did not easily cover up tales of her ruthlessness. “Star Buck, I’d like you to meet Sunbeam Sparkle,” my mother said. “She would like to speak with you.”
The ArchmagusI was sure Sunbeam Sparkle noticed my entire body go stiff because the archmagus tried to offer a smile that I suppose was meant to be warm and comforting. It only made me feel even more nervous. “Yes, I’d like to speak with you Star Buck, alone. It’s very important,” the archmagus said in a gentle voice, that still somehow simultaneously held the expectation her request would be granted. Both my parents went into their bedroom and closed the door, leaving me alone with the most powerful unicorn in Equestria. There was a palpably awkward beat of silence before she began. “Hello Star Buck, how was school?” “Fine, I guess.” Another pause stretched on until eternity. “What are you learning right now in class?” “Well, in science class we’re learning about plants. Today we went over a bunch of anatomy and dissected flowers. We’re reading The Canterbury Tales in literature class,” I found myself rambling due to my nervousness, “Oh, and in history class we’re learning about Pegasopolis.” Archmagus Sparkle thankfully latched onto my last sentence. “Oh that must be very interesting to you. Have you ever studied pegasus history and culture before?” “Not really. I sometimes read stories and books about Pegasopolan warriors and battles, but most of them are fictional. My friend Anvil really likes them, so she sometimes lends me her books. I think a couple of them are based on real ponies and battles. And in class we had to read Reliable Source’s book on the liberation of Manehattan by Princess Luna, but doesn’t everypony have to read that in school?” I quickly correct myself, “That is everypony who is able to afford schooling.” “Really? I’m surprised your sister never made you read more about Pegasopolan culture.” “Wait, how do you know my sister?” “Principal Sharp Needle keeps me informed of particularly promising students in my school. I like to keep tabs on talented young ponies. From what I hear, your sister is one of the best writers and most avid readers Sharp Needle has seen come through my school. It’s a shame she refused my offer to come to Canterlot and undergo magus training. I have no doubt that she would have become one of the greatest magical researchers of our time.” I felt the need to defend my older sister, even if it was to one of the most powerful ponies in all of Equestria, “Even though Star Quill is really good at magic and scholarly pursuits, she didn’t want to devote her life to either of them. Our parents wanted her to go to the academy to study magic, but she decided to become a lawyer so she could help ponies who can’t afford them.” “Peace, peace, Star Buck. I was only pointing out that Star Quill’s talents as an example of why I started my school here in the first place. Contrary to what my colleagues in Manehattan would like to believe, there are many great ponies born outside of Unicornia and outside of noble families. I merely wish to help them reach their full potential. Think of all the talent and potential that goes to waste everyday in this world just because some ponies are born into situations that don’t allow for them to explore their true talents. Think of your friend Anvil. If she had been born to a family of sharecroppers she couldn’t possibly read on a level that I hear comes closer to rivaling your sister than any other pony at my school.” I didn’t know what she expected me to say after all that, so the Archmagus continued talking to avoid any awkward silences. “So, Star Heart and Carrot Buck have been telling me that you’re interested in studying the healing arts like them. Do you also want to go into medicinal research?” “Oh no, I would slay myself if I had to spend the rest of my life doing research. I sometimes bring down storm clouds into my father’s lab so he can have a supply of electricity without needing to use his own magic, but I would never actually become a researcher.” For some reason the Archmagus found this humorous. She smiled and asked, “If you’re able to control storm clouds well enough for your father to use them indoors for his delicate experiments, you must have inherited your parents’ knack for magic. I’m sure you’ve never even had proper weather training.” “Well my father is always talking about how each of the tribes has their own special magic and skills. He said at a very basic level we all are connected by the same fundamental magic that flows throughout Equestria. He actually taught me a lot about how to control my pegasus magic by slightly the altering the lessons he received on how to control his own unicorn magic. My mother has been teaching me how to do very delicate and precise actions with my hooves, but I don’t think I inherited her talents. I doubt I’ll ever be as good as her.” The Archmagus chuckled at that, “Oh, your father has always been a strong supporter of Celestia’s Unifying Theory of Magic. And I doubt most unicorns can achieve the level of fine manipulation using their magic that Willow Buck has with her hooves. I’ve seen her perform eye surgeries using only her hooves and a scalpel. Do not worry about trying to follow exactly in your parent’s hoofsteps. I certainly did not.” Before I could inquire about what she meant with her last statement, she contiued. “Did you ever think about going to Pegasopolis to learn from their chirurgeons? I’m sure it would be more helpful for you to learn skills suited for pegasus doctors rather than learn from unicorns or pegasi. You can only learn so much from your father’s reapplied lessons on magic. Surely as a unicorn, he cannot appreciate what it’s like to have the body of a pegasus.” “I don’t think I could. I’m not a Pegasopolan citizen and I have never been through their mandatory military training. Even if they did let me study there, I doubt any of the teachers or other students would ever respect me. And I wouldn’t blame them.” “Well, when you turned eight did you ever want to go to Cloudsdale to begin your military training?” I winced at the question. That was a bit of sore point for me. The archmagus must have noticed because she quickly apologized, “Oh dear, I didn’t mean to draw up any painful memories for you. It must have been a difficult decision to make.” “No, it’s fine,” I quickly replied. I didn’t want to make her feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. “Of course I dreamed of training to become a warrior of Pegasopolis. But my parents and sister were very against it and eventually convinced me not to go. They said it was too dangerous and that I’d have to join the Long Patrol and go to places like the Griffon Kingdom to fight. I’ve always been interested in learning how to fight just for the sake of it so my dad did hire an old pegasus soldier to help train me. He lives near here because his wings got hurt when he was fighting griffon reivers.” The archmagus chuckled, “That sounds like something Star Heart would do. You know when he was your age, he dreamed about becoming an officer in the Royal Guard.” “What?!” I was quite shocked. “Yes, but he wasn’t able to because of his family background. I know that after your sister was born and his family fell back into favor in Unicornia, your father entertained some wishes for your sister to join the Royal Guard.” The image of my sister going through guard training and fighting another pony made me laugh until I suddenly realized something, “Forgive me for asking Archmagus, but how did you know?” “Oh, your father never told you about me? We’re old friends. We often correspond with each other about our research. You ought to learn more about what your father does. He’s one of the greatest healer magi in Equestria. If he had stayed in Canterlot, I’m sure he would already have been appointed as the head of the royal hospital and academy of medicine. We help each other with our research. Your father has quite a knack for the physical sciences. He once helped me develop a more efficient method of producing fire gems. But I digress. Star Buck, I am starting a special school in specifically for pegasus citizens of Equestria who live outside of Pegasopolis. I wanted to invite you personally to come to Canterlot to become part of the first class of students.”
The Dancer“But mother, I think it would be a good experience for me,” I pleaded while helping my mother water the vegetable plot behind our house. I was laying on my stomach on a small rain cloud, hovering next to her head. “Star Buck, it just doesn’t seem to be the best use of your time. You should stay focused on your goals,” my mother said as she harvested chives for dinner, “You should stay here in Manehattan and use your break to further your studies. I could easily get you a job in Peppermint Oil’s lab. He’s always looking for apprentices to help him with his experiments.” “But it would only be for a month. The archmagus said she wanted to hold a preliminary trial session before her actual school opens. I think it would be a good opportunity for me to learn more about pegasus culture and maybe even pick up some ancient Pegasopolan.” Because I knew my mother well, I also added, “And I could learn more about controlling my pegasus magic.” To emphasize my point, I made a tiny arch of lightning come out of the tiny raincloud I was using to sprinkle my mother’s blueberry bushes with water. Sadly, I would miss out on eating this year’s fresh crop of blueberries if I went to Canterlot. “Your father and I still believe you should stay here over the summer. It’ll be more beneficial to your current career if you do something medicine-related during your break. You don’t want to be like your sister. She changed her mind so much about what she wanted to do with her life that I’m surprised she ever even got her cutie mark. If you stay here and apprentice yourself to a doctor, you might even finally get yours before the summer’s end.” My mother knew me well. My lack of cutie mark was a constant source of ire for me. I already knew what I wanted to do with my life and I knew that I was good at learning the knowledge and skills needed to be a good healer. Ponies told me I had a special knack for learning medicines, pony biology and caring for other ponies. So where was my mark? My sister received her mark before she even knew what she wanted to do as a career. She spent years jumping around different ones long after she received her cutie mark of a quill with an ink bottle in the shape of a five-pointed star. I looked my mother’s healer’s hoof cutie mark, a hoof print with a swirling spiral in the center, and thought about my father’s healer’s cross with 4 little stars, one in each of the spaces between the limbs of the red cross. I wondered if my cutie mark would take after my mother or father’s family cutie marks. I knew some ponies had cutie marks that did not look anything like their mother or father’s, but I was sure that mine would at least also be befitting of a healer. We worked in comfortable silence for a bit. My mother was alternatively harvesting sweet potato ivy and various other leafy vegetables and weeding while I careful controlled the amount of water coming from my raincloud to prevent the water from washing away soil. Eventually the raincloud became too small, so I let the remaining water vapor disintegrate and diffuse away. I flew down next to my mother’s side and started helping her wash her small harvest. Even though my mother was not a farmer and our plot of land was relatively small, she grew enough vegetables to augment every dinner. I sometimes marveled at her ability to make plants that most ponies would dismiss as dead lost causes grow large and healthy. Part of the reason why her vegetable garden was restricted was the grassy lawn my father cultivated around our house. He used grass seeds imported from Canterlot to recreate the well-kept lawns that he said were common in the unicorn capital. He and my mother were often at odds about the usage of space on our property. While my father preferred the heavily manicured lawns, hedges, and flower beds of his hometown, my mother preferred the natural beauty in wild vines and plants growing without the direction of ponies. My mother usually came home from the Manehattan Academy of Medicine an hour or two before my father did. My mother had just finished cooking dinner when he arrived home. I was in my room supposedly doing homework, but I was actually reading a memoir written by an old Long Patrol pony that Anvil lent me earlier that day during school. It had been a week since the archmagus visited. I heard from other pegasi in my class that she had sent them letters. Most of the pegasi in my class were born to earth pony parents, but some were born to pegasi who had just decided to live with the earth ponies rather than in Pegasopolis. My father and mother had to call me to dinner several times as usual before resorting to threats to make me leave my room and walk into the kitchen. We ate in silence for a bit before my father said, “Are you still bent on going to Canterlot, Star Buck?” “Yes, father, but if you and mother do not want me to go, of course, I will respect your wishes.” My father sighed and said, “Star Buck, your mother and I just want to look out for your best interests. We don’t want to unnecessarily complicate your life. If you really wish to go, you may go.” I looked up in interest and hope before he continued, “But be wary of Sunbeam Sparkle. You cannot possibly comprehend how many layers of schemes and machinations that mare has running at any given time. I suspect even Princess Celestia doesn’t know all that her Grand Vizier plots. I suspect this whole pegasus school idea of hers is just a small part of her grander scheme to centralize Equestria. She believes the 3 pony races should be united under one hegemonic political system, rather than be administered to as 3 separate tribes. She has spoken to me about it before and even though she does not believe in Celestia’s Unifying Theory of Magic, she truly believes that Equestria will be better off if it has a central power in Canterlot controlling all of Equestria. Do not let her use her for her own personal gain. She will use sweet words and gifts and favors, but keep in mind that mare will do anything to further her own hegemony.” When I told Anvil and our private hammer hooves instructor that I would be leaving for one month, retired Sergeant First Charger merely grunted and gave me a heavy pair of practice hammer hooves so that I would not “Become soft like one of those spoiled unicorn fops.” Anvil in her usual laconic way did not say she would miss me but gave me several of her books to read on the journey there. The day came when I had to leave for Canterlot. I shifted uncomfortably under my heavy saddle bags filled with various items my mother insisted I bring. My father continuously drilled me on things I could have forgotten and whether I had enough bits. I assured him that I had enough bits with me to buy a private army, but he just snorted and said things in Canterlot were more expensive than in Manehattan. I reminded him that at any rate they could always send me more if I needed it and that all our meals were already provided for. He gave me a slip of paper with the addresses and names of his siblings and relatives who lived in Canterlot. I had visited them a few times, but I did not know any of them very well. I had no intention of informing them I was in Canterlot. My mother was worried that it was too dangerous for me to fly by myself to Canterlot and both my parents agreed I should’ve planned to go with some of the other pegasi from Manehattan who would also be attending. I reminded them that I would be flying with a group of weather ponies who were going back to Cloudsdale and that the route was perfectly safe. When the weather ponies in question had all assembled I gave each of my parents a nuzzle. My sister, unfortunately, was unable to come because she had to be in Filydelphia that day to represent a client in court. The Equestrian countryside flew by as we made our way west. Some of the pegasi grumbled that I would slow them down, but my father had already bribed their squad leader to let me fly with them and I was able to keep pace with them since I’m naturally a strong flyer. I could see Canterlot in the distance when we finally branched off and went our separate ways. I swooped down lower as I neared the city. The tall, elegant spires of Canterlot always took my breath away. As I landed in front of the palace gate, I became painfully aware of how dirty I must have looked. My mane and tail were a mess and I was covered in sweat from the long flight. The ponies around me were are excruciatingly clean and well dressed. Sunbeam said that there would be someponies waiting at the gate throughout today and take us to her new school as we arrived. I looked around the mass of ponies for the wings and eventually made my way over to a small group of young pegasi around my age milling about who could only be the group I was searching for. As I made my way towards them, a pale unicorn with a deep mane with slight curls at its tips looked at a piece of paper and smiled at me. “You must be Star Buck. It’s nice to meet you. My name is Platinum Dancer. I will be one of your teachers for the next month.” Author's Note For Star Heart's cutie mark, just imagine Nurse Redheart's cutie mark except with stars instead of hearts. Carrot Buck's cutie mark is kind of like Zecora's but it's in the shape of a hoof instead of the sun.
