Gateway to a New Beginning

by SinOfPride

Rating: mature
Tags: Mystery, Sex, Pinkie Pie, Twilight Sparkle, Anthro, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Alternate Universe, Rarity, Other, Romance
Length: 12041

There is something different about the world somehow, something fundamentally off about everything. Or, at least that's the nagging suspicion in the back of Twilight Sparkle's mind. But she must be mistaken, this was her academy... Wasn't it?

When the fates are flipped on their own heads, Twilight Sparkle wakes up one day to find herself entering her first year in The Royal Academy of Magic, Princess Celestia's personal training grounds for the next great ponies of the next generation. Or, she thinks she is, but she can't escape the feeling that everything here is not as it seems...

Author's Greeting: Hello and welcome to the begining of our shared journey into this darker world of magic. Before we dive in I would like to start by clearing up a few things; firstly, starting from the second chapter the time line begins with the first season, that will make sense once you get through the first chapter; second, I appologise for the use of OCs, but there aren't enough characters in the Mane 6 to fill appropriate spots, and I dont want to anger the fandom by butchering your favorite side ponies.

Published 2016-03-27 16:20:02 UTC
Last updated 2016-04-21 05:58:45 UTC

The Darkness Circles

Dark storm clouds circled overhead, their accompanying winds whistling harshly through the dense branches of the Everfree Forest's many trees. The sound intensified exponentially as the thunderhead continued to roll in, purple bolts of light cutting through the dark sky as they made their destructive path towards the earth. The entire forest shook with the loud claps of thunder that accompanied such a storm, that is, except for a small clearing; like a small island in the eye of a hurricane, a small clearing deep within the living heart of the forest, stood perfectly still.

The trees here were old, impossibly so, their bark rough and knotted, marred by the scars of centuries spent standing guard over the clearing. The harsh storm had no effect on the ancient trees, but nevertheless, each tree bowed outwards away from the clearing, their branches following suit as if desperately trying to escape from an unseen horror. However, despite the general feeling of unease produced from the arrangement of the trees, there was no real reason why the roiling gale would leave this minuscule patch of land untouched; and yet that is exactly what it did.

The wind left the stretch of earth untouched, parting around its borders as if cut by an invisible blade, leaving the clearing in a state of silence... Interrupted only by the sound of fingernails drumming on hard wood. There, in between the purple flashes of lightning, disappearing each time the sky glowed its deep violet, was a long wooden table; sitting around it were three figures on either side, and one at the head. It was too dark to make out their individual features, only the dim glow of their eyes cutting through the darkness giving them away. Their silhouettes momentarily disappeared as another bolt of violet pierced the sky.

The drumming sound was emanating from the figure just to the fight of the head, their ruby eyes fixed on the smooth wood of the table itself. "I feel that I must side with Pride on this..." The red-eyed figure spoke up, a rich baritone filling the otherwise quiet clearing. Six pairs of glowing eyes turned to focus on him, but he only turned to his right to look into the piercing white eyes of the figure seated at the table's head. "While it pains me to let go of it, I must confess that I find little amusement in watching this story play out when I know it is destined to end in failure."

"But Greed, we cannot simply undo the past, you remember how that ended for our young Starlight Glimmer?" Came a voice from his left, a seductive purr emanating from beneath a pair of amethyst eyes. A round of quiet laughter echoed around the other members of the assembly.

"I shall handle that." And like liquid silk, those words seemed to slither through the air coming from the direction of the table's head, seeming to coil around the others, ending their laughter and drawing in their undivided attention. There was a pregnant pause before the figure spoke again. "The elements were only necessary because we left them to fend for themselves, were we to lend a hand, the need for them would never arise. They needn't even meet." They faded from view for an instant as another bolt of lightning lit up the sky, but returned an instant later, those white irises staring down the rest of the assembly, daring any of them to suggest that he was not capable of handling a few errant gods.

"And what about the Princesses?" Came a voice from the other side of the table. The figure at the head turned his white gaze to meet the smoldering twin charcoals of the figure at the far end of the table. "Do you seriously expect them to go along with this? What you're implying involves extending Princess Luna's stay on the mood indefinitely, and that is something neither her nor her sister are going to stand for." The voice finished angrily, feminine tones distorted by mockery. And there was silence, the gathered figures eagerly anticipating the response.

"Must I repeat myself Wrath? I shall handle that." The silken voice returns, colder this time. Several of the other figures disappear from view momentarily, their eyes closed as they shiver under the intensity of the gaze held between the opposing forces. The two held eye contact, neither willing to submit to the other; cold white eyes held fast to the smoldering pair across the table, fire and ice clashing against each other under a dead silence until ice finally prevailed, the other gaze falling to the table. "Neither of them will have a choice, they won't remember anything from this chain of events." He finishes cooly; a few of the others around the table nod, as if the figure had addressed the last of their concerns.

"Although it pains me to admit it..." Came the soft voice from the direction of the amethyst gaze, "Pride has a point. There isn't really any reason not to do it, and like Greed said, we already know that they are going to fail, so we would have to do this eventually, so what's the point in refusing to act proactively?" She said, the melancholy twinge of resignation heavy on her voice.

"So, I gather that it is time we vote on this issue." Came a voice from the golden pair of eyes to the head's left. The dim light from their eyes bobbed slightly as the assembly nodded in reluctant agreement.

"So it would seem." Replied the smooth voice of the chair. His gaze turned to each of his companions one by one, meeting each of their own in turn. "Envy?" The golden eyes nodded. "Gluttony?" There was another nod. "Wrath?" The smoldering gaze hesitated for an instant before relenting, smoldering gaze lowering in a nod. He continued. "Sloth?" Nod. "Lust?" The violet eyes bobbed in the slow motion of hesitant approval. "Greed?" The ruby orbs to his right nodded. "And I, vote yes as well." Pride said evenly, his white gaze tilting upwards towards the dark sky as the faint sound of a melody began to fill the still air.

"And so it begins..." Greed whispered softly.

"The Ouroboros."

Author's Note

Thank you everyone for reading the very first installment of this new epic, I hope it was enough to get you excited for what is to come. Feedback is always welcome, as are suggestions. Keep in mind, while this is a story based fic, I will be using a few romantic subplots and may include a few clop chapters if you want, so feel free to post requests for pairings, characters, lr anything you feel may improve the story. Once again, thank you for reading, and please stick around for the next update.

Orientation

Orientation

The thick stone walls of the fortress that was Canterlot Palace had seen much in the countless years since their construction. They had survived two rebellions, six sieges, an invasion, The Great Calamity, and a swarm of plundering dragons. Even so, the storied stones were no match for the excitement of the several thousand first year students who crowded the pyramid steps of the outdoor amphitheater.

The entirety of the marble colossus seemed to be alive, so heavy were the reverberations running through the stone as the voices of excited youth overflowed from the open air theatre at deafening levels. Row upon row of bright eyed students lined the stadium seating, pairs yelling over each other in attempts to carry on conversation, speculation, or introductions. The noise and excitement of the crowd seemed to spread like wildfire, anticipation mounting as they waited for orientation to begin and the dean to take the stage, and it seemed like no one was immune to the wash of adrenaline surging through the crowd. Well, almost no one.

About fifteen rows up from dead center sat a solitary grimace; or rather a solitary girl wearing a grimace across her otherwise pretty face. She puffed her lower lip out, trying to blow her violet and rose bangs out of her eyes; this was ridiculous, while she was all for formality and protocol, there was nothing that Twilight Sparkle hated more than crowds. Especially loud crowds. The lavender-skinned magician pulled the purple blazer of her uniform tighter around her, almost as if she was trying to disappear into herself so that she wouldn't have to endure the crowd any longer. But while that proved impossible even for her, it did save her the awkwardness of rubbing elbows with her loud neighbors.

It wasn't until the setting sun touched the tip of the marble wall of the amphitheater behind her signaling the beginning of the proceedings, did she finally relax. Or at lease let go of a fraction of her tension. A hush fell over the crowd in ripples, silence spreading through the crowd as the moon crested over the stage. The rapid shift startled the girl, as what had only a matter of seconds ago been a rowdy crowd full of excitement and noise, was now a veritable statue garden. Hardly a twitch could be seen in the crowd as they stared with bated breaths, eyes fixed on the figure slowly stepping into the stage's solitary spotlight.

Even the girl's own breath seemed to catch in her throat as soon as that first satin-clad leg passed into the beam of light. Inch by tantalizing inch, the figure seemed to appear, time seeming to slow down to accommodate her entry. When she had stepped fully into the light, the figure stopped to smile at the crowd for a moment, giving Twilight ample time to burn her visage into her mind, not that it was unfamiliar to her already. A rich gown of black satin lay draped across her slender figure, clasped only over the left shoulder, the gown pooped generously around her chest, the white skin of her exposed shoulder contrasting beautifully with the rich fabric. Bright pink eyes and a sculpted face peered out from behind long locks of pale rainbow hair that obscured her left eye from view. Hanging around her neck from a golden chain was a bright orange gem which had been carved into the shape of a stylized sun, the flickering light reflecting from the stone moving her appearance past merely stunning and into the very definition of divine.

She looked out over the assembled crowd for another long moment before she began to speak; and when she did, it was in a clear and powerful voice, soft words gripping her audience in a tender yet absolute embrace. "I personally welcome you all, and congratulate you for making it this far." Her voice rang out pure, a voice worthy of the diarch which it belonged to. "You are the best and brightest of the new generation, the next sorcerers, philosophers, knights, politicians, and leaders of Equestria." She paused to look out across the crowd once more, her gaze seeming to meet that of each assembled student; a feeling that sent a shiver through Twilight's spine as she felt their eyes meet for the briefest of moments. "Each and every one of you has earned your place here, and as such, I am deeply honored to have each and every one of you sitting before me tonight." She said, flashing the crowd a soft smile.

"Now, before anything else, I would like to start off by reiterating our rules and policies here..." The princess went on, but Twilight had stopped listening. It wasn't that she was trying to be rude, or even that she had been distracted for that matter, no, she simply had heard this speech before; in fact, up until just a month ago, she herself had been the princesses's personal pupil. The memory still brought a blush to her cheeks whenever she thought about it, the day that her beloved mentor had told her that she would no longer be allowed to learn directly under her.

It wasn't that she had failed Celestia as a student, no, far from it. It was because she did well, too well, that she had been dismissed. According to her former mentor her grades were remarkable, but her studies had completely done away with the possibility that she would make any friends, or any meaningful relationships... Or even passing acquaintances. And so, 'for her own good', Twilight Sparkle had been relocated from the privacy of her mentor's tutelage, and transplanted into the student body of the Royal Academy of Magic. She was still allowed a weekly tutoring session with her old mentor, but even that included the caveat that she needed to bring a 'friend'.

Twilight sighed, shaking herself mentally as she forced herself to stop dwelling on things she couldn't change and focus on the rest of the speech. "Now, with all that being said, I think it is about time that I gave you all your rooming assignments and let you get some rest. I understand some of you traveled quite a ways to get here today." Her smile was met with applause and a light spattering of cheers from the audience.

"Very well." She laughed softly, the radiant noise drifting from her pink lips as she placed a hand on her hip. "Okay, so this is how room arrangements work here at the RAM, you will all be separated into groups of five to share a suite of rooms, but since these rooms are co-ed," This was met with another round of cheers. The princess simply gave the crowd a stern but knowing smile and continued. "Since these rooms are co-ed, each group will be living with a fourth year student to ensure that the population of each suite hopefully wont exceed six." Her tone was light, but the look in her eyes was dead serious. "So no funny business."

A series of excited murmurs ran through the crowd before she spoke again. "I am going to read your groups off by name. When you hear your name called, please find the fourth year assigned to your suite and follow him or her to your rooms, your bags will be waiting for you there." She smiles, waiting for the information to sink in before she began to read from her list. "Vinyl Scratch..."

Almost half the amphitheater had been emptied out before the princess had called Twilight's name. Accompanying her through the palace's corridors towards their new suites were her new group members. Walking quietly next to her was a rather shy boy named Poet Laureate; his alabaster skin contrasted sharply with his obsidian black hair which dipped down just past his ears, a pair of downy white wings protruded from his back, the tips of the opalescent primary feathers tinted the same deep black as his hair. He had been silent for virtually the entire walk so far, but his eyes were kind, and if the quill protruding from the pocket of his uniform blazer was any indication, the two of them would get along just fine.

On her other side was a girl who she was less certain about. Perfect violet curls rested upon the perfect pearly skin of her face, light reflecting from her perfectly customized jacket. Twilight didn't exactly know if bedazzling one's uniform was allowed, but after spending the first ten minutes of the walk listing to the girl, who she now knew was named Rarity Diamond, do nothing but complain about how plain the school uniforms were... She decided not to press the issue. She seemed nice enough... Perhaps a bit eccentric, but if she were going to have to spend the next year living with her, she would have to get used to it.

Truth be told she had been almost a little happy when she found out she had been paired to these to, they both seemed composed, responsible, and open to reason. Then she met the other two first years she would be living with, and it was a match made somewhere south of heaven. Running out ahead of their older guide, had to be the two happiest people Twilight had seen in her entire life. Other than the fact that one of them had pink puffy hair and blue eyes, and the other had longer violet and orange streaked hair and amethyst eyes, the two of them were nearly identical. Matching bubblegum pink skin, matching jaw-breaking grins, and matching mile-a-minute mouths. She didn't know who the most talkative student in the school was, but she was almost a hundred percent certain that it would end up being a tie between Pinkie Pie and Sunset Bliss.

Twilight let out a small groan as their combined laughter continued to drift down the hall towards them, reminding her of all the studying she would miss because of it. Her reaction elicited a small grin from Poet, who flashed her an apologetic smile, obviously thinking the same thing. She smiled back at him, feeling a slight flutter in her chest. 'Hey, he's kinda cute...' She thinks, mentally shaking the thought away with a nervous laugh. A light pink tinted the girl's cheeks prompting the boy to respond with a shy laugh of his own.

Their guide turned back to look at them just in time to catch the end of the exchange. He didn't say anything, rather he just chuckled to himself and flashed the, each a wink. Twilight blushed harder at this, holding in another nervous chuckle as they caught up to their more giggly room mates. Their guide, who was a tell fourth year named Winter Glory walked slightly ahead of them towards a large wooden door at the end of the hall, his black and red streaked hair flowing softly after him, the wind trailing from his broad form shifting the bright red and white feathers of his wings.

Winter stopped before the door, spinning around to look at the rest of the group, hands on his hips as he met each of their gazes in turn. "Alright everyone," he places an open palm on the door. "Welcome to your first night at the Academy." He pushes the door open with a warm smile on his face. As Twilight stepped foreword to enter her new home for the year, an uneasy feeling taking over her for the smallest fraction of an instant. It was similar to deja vu, except rather than just feeling like she had done this before, she felt that whatever it was she was doing, it wasn't happening how it was supposed to...

Author's Note

Well guys, I hope you liked the second chapter, I'm sorry the first chapters are so short, but don't worry, they're going to pick up towards the middle. Now, I have a brief update for the future of the Author's Notes, as well as thanking you and reminding you to give feedback and requests, this is also where I am going to be giving a log introducting you to the new relevent characters.

*Twilight Sparkle: Unicorn
-Class-Magician
-First Year

*Poet Laureate: Pegasus
-Class-Magic Swordsman
-First Year

*Rarity Diamond: Unicorn
-Class-Magician
-First Year

*Pinkie Pie: Earth Pony
-Class-[Data Corrupted]
-First Year

*Sunset Bliss: [Data Corrupted]
-Class-Sorceress
-First Year

*Winter Glory: [Data Corrupted]
-Class-Divine Swordsman
-Fourth Year

Dawn of The New Elements

The suite itself was nice enough, the door leading to a large living room equipped with a sizable sofa and TV, a nice kitchen with all the basic appliances, and three doors centered in the three remaining walls. Each of these led to identical two-person rooms equipped with a symmetrical set of beds, dressers, and desks; in addition, each room came equipped with its own bathroom, meaning that Twilight would only be forced to share with whoever she was rooming with, a fact that the lass than social girl vastly appreciated. All in all, it was rather generous for a college dorm, even considering that it was designed for an occupancy of six; but in the end, that too was just another perk of learning in the school the Princess of The Sun herself ran.

Twilight joined the other four first years as they gathered around Winter, who had a sheet of paper held loosely in his left hand. "All right everyone." He started in a warm voice, making sure to meet each of their eyes in turn before continuing, his wings spreading slightly in an expression of trust and relaxation. "I know you're all very tired, so I'm going to give you your rooming assignments and let you settle in; we'll have time to get to know each other better tomorrow." He said with a knowing smile, adjusting the paper and clearing his throat before he went on.

"Pinkie and Sunset, the two of you will be together in room one." The two obnoxiously pink girls squealed in excitement, hugging each other as they practically jumped for joy. Twilight caught Poet's eyes and rolled her own in mock exasperation, eliciting a silent giggle from the pale boy.

"Op-Poet." Winter coughed, catching himself half way through the name as he looked towards the only other winged student. "You will be staying with me in room two, that shouldn't be surprising considering we're the only two guys here." He chuckles warmly to his younger roommate, wiving him a playful wink. Poet blushed lightly, eyes flicking momentarily towards Twilight before focusing on the floor.

"And last but not least." Winter turned to look at the lavender girl. "Twilight, you will be rooming with Rarity." He gestures go the third and final room with an extended wing, his red tipped feathers pointing to their new home. "Now, your luggage is already waiting for you inside your rooms, so I advise you to claim your sides. If you have any questions about the arrangements, or feel that your roommate isn't working out, come talk to me, and I'll see if I can switch you." He smiled, clapping his hand on Poet's shoulder. "Well, goodnight everyone, get settled in and I'll see you at seven thirty tomorrow for breakfast and ice-breakers!" He smiles charmingly, leading his own roommate into their room, leaving the rest to do the same.

Twilight left the pink balls of caffeine to race to their room, before she made to enter her own. Rarity was already inside, her bedazzled purple suitcase open on her bed, and half empty as the beauty worked meticulously to place her clothes and effects neatly in their drawers. The lavender girl walked slowly to her own bed to the right of the room next to the washroom and began unpacking her own bags, but she couldn't resist the occasional glance at her new roommate.

The opal girl had her purple hair pulled over one shoulder, causing the violet ringlets to cascade down the swell of her breast, the frilled neck of her blouse revealing the start of said swell, pressing open against the open folds of her violet blazer. Despite the fact that Twilight had never really been interested in the female form, she would be lying if she said that her roommate wasn't the most beautiful woman she had ever laid eyes on. In fact, she would have stared longer, putting her clothes away on autopilot were it not for Rarity finishing her own unpacking, and turning toward the lavender girl.

"Now, Twilight was it?" Came her soft voice, the sound itself carrying several of the nuances and pitch of people of society life. The addressed girl shook herself, meeting Rarity's eyes with a nervous smile.

"Y-yes?" Twilight answered nervously, her soft voice almost cracking. She brushed her violet bangs from her eyes, trying the best she could to remain composed.

"I do so hate to be rude, especially considering that this is our first meeting, but I am afraid that the journey here has left me quite exhausted, and I doubt that I can keep my eyes open for very much longer." She sighed in what was perhaps an overly dramatic fashion, retreating into the bathroom to change into her nightgown.

"As such, I regret that I must insist that we hold off any real introductions until tomorrow in favor of getting some much needed sleep." She emerged from the bathroom in a sheer cotton gown which succeeded in both protecting a moderate amount of Rarity's modesty, and bringing a blush to Twilight's cheeks. "But tomorrow at breakfast I shall brew us both a cup of tea and we can get to know each other, is that alright darling?" The opal girl asked in her song like resonance, batting her lashes as she slid under the sheets of her bed.

Twilight just nodded a bit awkwardly. "S-sure, I would like that." She said softly, changing into a gown of her own before sliding into the warm embrace of her own bed, the soft mattress and sheets cradling her perfectly, eliciting a small moan of comfort from her lips.

It felt like she had only just closed her eyes when Twilight felt a hand gently shaking her shoulder. Her violet eyes cracked open and she instantly brought a hand to her face to block out the rays of sunlight streaming in through the window on Rarity's side of the room. Speaking of Rarity, Twilight traced her gaze up the hand resting on her shoulder to the bright azure eyes of her roommate.

"Good morning~" Rarity cooed softly, the violet whips of her hair drifting down to the lavender girl's face, tickling her nose which scrunched up in the most adorable response. Twilight pushed herself up to her elbows, careful to keep the lip of her sheets firmly in her grasp and raised to her throat to protect her modesty.

"Morning..." Twilight grumbles, rubbing the sleep from her eyes with her free hand as she sat up fully; letting the sheet fall fall from her grasp she spread her arms wide in a large yawn. "Wait... What time is it?" She asked groggily, reaching for the clock on her nightstand. 5:25. Twilight groaned softly, at least it explained why the sunlight was so harsh, they were catching the sunrise as the light blasted directly through their window. Now, while Twilight loved her former mentor dearly, she never was one for the uncomfortable brightness of sunrise, she was more of a sunset girl, pun on her suite mate not intended.

"Rarity..." She groaned dryly, meeting the blue eyes of her roommate. "It's not even five thirty, why did you wake me up, and why are you already dressed?" The other girl just giggled in her light, musical, way, twirling slightly to kick up the short tails of her purple uniform blazer. The bedazzled fabric caught the light softer than she expected, casting the room in its pale illumination, pleasantly offset by her normal black skirt and the ruffled front of her blouse. It may have just been a school uniform, but she made it look good.

"Twilight, dear." She tittered softly, placing a hand on her cheek in amusement. "We have only two hours before we are formerly introduced to the other four people we are living with, not to mention the cute one I saw you making eyes at last night." She winked playfully at the lass social girl, giggling at the blush that quickly appeared on her face. "So, as your roommate and new best friend, it is my privilege, nay, my solemn duty to make sure you make the best impression possible." She finished the speech with a hand pressed to her breast, chin tilted high for the addition of some pomp.

"T-thank you, but that really isn't neces-" Twilight began before Rarity cut her off.

"Oh but I insist." The pale mare interjected, pulling her from under the covers and onto her feet, causing the other girl to blush slightly as she was left before the practical stranger turned sudden 'best friend' in only the sheer fabric of her nightgown. Twilight continued to feebly protest as she was gently pushed into the room's bathroom. It wasn't until the door shut behind her, closing her into the linoleum fortress that she resigned herself to Rarity's help, deciding that as always, she would just make the best of it.

"I left your uniform on the counter, just get yourself showered and changed, I'll be here to do your hair when you're done." Came Rarity's voice from the other side of the door. Twilight just sighed, looking towards the frosted glass doors of the surprisingly sizable shower stall. About a third of the size of their shared room, the bathroom consisted of a toilet, sink, and a single shower, fairly usual for dorms.

As the girl considered the room, she slowly shrugged the thin straps of her gown off her shoulders, letting the silk dress pool at her ankles as she was left bare. Her lavender flesh raised slightly in goosebumps as it was suddenly left exposed to the bathroom's cold air. She instinctively wrapped her arms around her chest, pushing her fairly sizable breasts together as she shivered slightly. Wanting to get out of the cold, Twilight rushed to the shower, closing the stall door behind her she sighed in relief as she turned the knob.

Thankfully, Rarity had readied herself before rousing Twilight, so the shower was recently used and the hot water poured from the shower head immediately, bathing the lavender girl in wonderful steam. She sighed again as she felt the steady stream plaster her hair back to her scalp, the wet locks draping over her shoulders, running down to the small of her back. Taking a bottle she assumed Rarity had left for her, she slowly lathered her hair with shampoo and conditioner, leaving it to sit as she reached for the soap.

The mint green bar slid across her smooth skin, the soft flesh giving way under it as she slid the soap up and down the soft skin of her arms. Twilight wasn't fat mind you, perhaps she held on to a bit of baby fat, but all in all it helped add to her nerdy appeal. She ran the soap down the swell of her breasts and across her flat stomach, dipping down her thighs as she lathered the green foam across her. After perhaps five minutes of the meticulous cleaning, she stepped back into the jet of water, washing the mint bubbles from her body and the conditioner from her fair. She closed her eyes as she let the water wash over her face, her newly cleaned bangs falling down in front of her eyes.

With a puff of air, she swept the bang away and turned the water off, reaching out the stall door for the purple towel that hung on the wall beside it. Grasping the soft fabric she pulled it from the metal rung and into the shower with her, dragging it across her face and her head before moving down, rubbing each inch down so that she wouldn't wet the uniform when she got dressed. After running the towel down her slender legs, she stepped out of the shower, wincing slightly at the floor's lingering coldness.

She stepped gingerly towards the counter where her uniform had been laid out next to the sink. Twilight was a bit embarrassed when she saw her underwear in the pile, knowing that Rarity had gone through her drawer, but not wanting to assume the worst about her new roommate, she pushed down the blush she felt coming on and slid into the lacy black undergarments that had been supplied for her. She admired the rest of the uniform as she put it on, a plain white blouse, not one with ruffles like Rarity had obviously added; a medium length black skirt; comfortable black socks and formal shoes; and a violet blazer.

Twilight, however, hesitated before putting the blazer on, looking with curiosity at the small insignia stitched into the left breast in black; the Moon and Sun orbiting each other in perfect harmony. She questioned the addition of the Moon because, as everyone knew, Celestia's affinity was for the Sun. But for some reason the girl could not place, she felt a pleasant warmth spark in her upon seeing the two symbols united. But, rather than dwell on it, she elected to don the jacket, buttoning it up before she brushed her teeth, and made to leave the bathroom.

Another sigh escaped her lavender lips as the door opened, the rush of cold air flooding the bathroom being exceedingly pleasant after the comparatively oppressive heat of the shower. Back in their bedroom, Rarity sat on the foot of her bed, hands folded politely in her lap, her eyes waiting expectantly on Twilight's own.

"Enjoy the shower darling?" She asks in her song-like voice, standing up slowly so that she didn't wrinkle her skirt. Twilight simply nodded, stepping aside as the opal girl walked past her and towards the bathroom counter. "Good, come now, we still have to do your hair." She patted a stool as she pulled it in front of the counter, beckoning the other girl to sit down.

"Oh, you really don-"

"Oh, but I want to darling!" Rarity cut her off again with a disarming smile, gently guiding the lavender mare to the stool and sitting her down. The next twenty minutes were a flurry of motion, Rarity seemed to be everywhere at once as Twilight felt her soft hands on her hair, cheeks, lashes, and lips; brushes and sponges appearing and disappearing from nowhere as the pale girl tended to her. After an eternity, Rarity stepped away allowing Twilight to see her reflection.

The purple girl gasped, hand reaching up to cover her gaping mouth. All reservations fled her, anyone who was willing to do all of this for a stranger really was her best friend. She looked beautiful. Her hair had a light curl as it cascaded down the left side of her face, her rose stream and bangs curled tightly before her left eye, her lashes stood bold and dark above perfect rosy cheeks and deep violet lips.

"Rarity... I..." She couldn't find proper words as she turned towards the girl who had done this for her.

"No thanks required, seeing how beautiful you look is thanks enough." She smiled charmingly, pulling the blushing Twilight to her feet. "And now that that's squared away and its only... Ten past six, how about we take a seat in the kitchen and I'll make us some tea, alright darling?" Twilight just nodded before pulling the other girl into a sudden hug. Rarity was momentarily surprised, but quickly returned the gesture, embracing their new friendship.

The embrace lasted for several warm moments before Twilight released her, folding her hands in her lap as a blush warmed her cheeks. Rarity simply giggled, waving her off as she made for the door to the living room, and by extent the kitchen. The opal girl walked toward the stove, a happy hop to her step which caused her skirt to wave in time to her hips. Filling up a sterling kettle with water she placed the pot on the stove and with a snap of her fingers a fire lit in the appliance. The magical fire radiated around the sleek metal of the pot like an incarnadine aura, coaxing the water into a greater and greater state of heat, the cap shaking as the kettle whistled after only a minute.

Twilight simply took a seat at the small dining table as she watched her roommate expertly handle the making of their tea. The opal girl had laid her materials out in a perfect line: two mugs, a spoon, a jar of honey, a strainer, and a canister of black and pink tea. Lifting the spoon in her dainty fingers, Rarity slowly filled the strainer with three spoon's worth of the loose leafs; she then lifted the jar of honey, adding a generous amount to each of the two mugs. Than, placing the strainer above the mugs, she began to pour the scalding water from the kettle, wrist oscillating in a circular motion, so that the water passed through the leafs evenly.

With a few twirls of the teaspoon within the ceramic mugs, Rarity removed the utensil, tapping it lightly on the rim of the mug. She turned back to Twilight with a smile, gingerly carrying the two mugs of the sweet-smelling liquid to the table where the lavender girl sat.

"Oh my... That smells delicious!" Twilight beamed as the scent of the fresh tea wafted over her. She inhaled deeply, letting go a loud sigh as she relaxed into the chair. "Thank you so much Rarity, you've already done so much."

The other girl just shrugged humbly, setting the mugs before them on the table as she took the seat directly across from Twilight. "Nonsense, the pleasure is all mine, it's all too rare to meet another woman who favors the subtlety of good tea over that new drink, what was it? Coffee." She snapped her fingers as she remembered the word, shivering slightly as if she had invoked a taboo. "Honestly, I don't know how anyone can palate that bilge; who grinds beans into hot water anyway? At least flowers and leaves add class and a wonderful fragrance to the room, all coffee does is give one the most horrible bloodshot eyes." She fumed.

Twilight giggled at her friend's immense overreaction to such a simple drink. "Yeah, I could never bring myself to drink it when it was first served in the cafés here. You might not be able to tell by looking at me, but I was actually raised in Canterlot and the tea here was..." She stops to take a sip of the rich amber drink Rarity had placed in front of her. As soon as the hot tea touched her tongue, she felt her eyes roll back slightly and an involuntary moan except her lips.

"Oh Sweet Celestia, nowhere near as good as this!" She gapes, raising the mug back to her lips and takes another slow drink. Rarity beamed at her, bright smile appearing from around the rim of her own mug.

"Why thank you darling, that means a lot to me coming from someone who has rubbed shoulders with the elite." She jested, but her voice didn't carry the distain that ponies usually had for the upper classes, but rather the envy and longing of those who felt their place was to be among them. Not wanting to risk a schism by revealing just how true the statement was, Twilight elected to say nothing and just savor her tea. Eventually the conversation moved away from pleasantries as the two girls began to talk about their pasts, their triumphs, and their lives up to this point. As it turned out, the two had a fair bit in common and the shy girl couldn't help but realize how comfortable she felt with her more fashionable counterpart.

However, around seven, the other inhabitants of their suite began to exit their respective rooms. Poet was the first out, emerging from the middle room in a cloud of steam, his jet hair still shiny from his shower. His hair had been completely slicked back except for a single black curl which he let trickle down over his left eye; the black iris met Twilight's violet ones and a shy smile spread across the boy's pale lips. He took the seat immediately to the girl's right, sitting gingerly so that he didn't crease his violet blazer; the one article of clothing which offset his otherwise dichromatic figure.

Twilight blushed slightly, pushing her hair behind her right ear as the light rose hue appeared on her cheeks. She looked back at Poet, the two of them maintaining eye contact for a few moments before each turning away, a bit embarrassed. Rarity simply observed the interaction, a knowing smile on her rosy lips as she watched to two less social students. The table was silent for several long moments before Poet finally spoke up.

"Good morning Miss Diamond, Miss Sparkle." He said in an even voice, his clipped pronunciation causing the girls to perk up a bit.

"Oh, it's just Twilight, no need to go calling me Miss." Twilight blushed, trying not to look directly at him. "Say, that accent, are you a local?" She asked, mentioning his precise language, the pointed signature of and Canterlot noble, and even pointed enough to sound Pritish.

"Why yes!" A wider smile broke across his pale face. He shifted his head to the side, letting his black bangs fall from his eye as he spoke. "My father is a member of the elite, and while as a Pegasus I can't follow in his footsteps, I did get to grow up here, and the bit of latent magic I do possess got me a spot at this school." He smiles shyly, letting the curl obscure his eye once more. "I'm sorry if I act a bit formal, I'm just used to private study, being the only winged child in a magical neighborhood made me a bit less than social."

And speaking of less social, just as Poet and Twilight's little moment ended, the door to the first room burst open to release a veritable flood of bubblegum. The lavender girl nearly spit out her tea as the two peppy inhabitants of the room exited in perfect unison, looking even more identical then they had the previous night. The same uniform and skirt, the same bubblegum skin, same wide smile, same fluffy hair; if it weren't for the bright summer streaks in Sunset's hair, Twilight doubted she would be able to tell the two apart.

The seated trio's jaws hung slightly slack as the two made their way to the table in perfect synchronization, their hair even bouncing in tune to the other's footsteps. The two took seats next to each other at the unoccupied side of the table closest to the exit, huge grins on their face as they both rested their chins on their shoulder's.

"Morning!"

"I'm Pinkie Pie!"

"And I'm Sunset!" A pair of amethyst and sapphire eyes both turned to scan the other three students seated at the table with the same wide eyed joy experienced by most small children upon first seeing a fireworks show. While the sight was rather unnerving, Twilight found herself almost admiring the two mares. To have lived long enough to make it to college and still be fascinated and enthralled by every new person and discovery; such innocence and purity was too beautiful a thing to waste over reservations. This sentiment was apparently shared by Rarity and Poet as the entire trio was unable to greet the two with anything but sincere smiles of their own.

"Good morning to you too." Twilight laughed, feeling their infectious smiles prying open her shell, trying to coax her out. "I'm Twilight." The lavender girl smiled warmly, welcoming the two to the table.

"Poet, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintances." The pale boy declined his head slightly in a nod, but the warm smile on his face alleviated some of the rigid formality of the gesture. Rarity echoed his statement, her own refined tones complimenting his.

From there the conversation devolved into a soothing babble, the five first year students each sharing their stories and experiences with one another, neighbors occasionally going on tangents as they got to know their suite mates. They learned about Pinkie's childhood on a farm, that Rarity actually ran her own shop in a small village not far from the capital, and about how each of them had tried to get into the school. Twilight chose not to reveal her former connections to their principal, not wanting to create any jealous friction; but what surprised her was that she wasn't the only one at the table who wasn't exactly revealing. While Poet's silence could probably be chalked up to his shyness of reserved nature, Pinkie's 'biffle' Sunset was acting uncharacteristically quiet.

Twilight however chose not to ponder that, not everyone liked talking about themselves, so there was no reason to make them uncomfortable. Rather, as she looked around the circle she felt another feeling all together sash over her. Twilight was never the kind of girl to have a lot of friends; it wasn't that she didn't like company or that other people tended not to like her, no, she was just so busy learning directly under Celestia that her studies had left her all alone. When she had first arived at the academy the prior day, ahe had avoided the other students, fearing that she wouldn't have enough time to study and maintain her grades. But looking around the table, she felt something stirring in her, something she had never quite felt.

Rarity, one of the most generous women she had ever met; Pinkie, the girl who made them all laugh without even trying; Sunset, that girl was honest to a fault, but her blunt nature combined with her bubbly attitude made her a joy; Poet, so gentle and kind, the mere thought of him brought warmth to the lavender girl's cheeks; and even Winter, their advisor and chaperone, he had seemed so warm, inviting, reliable. Somewhere in the back of her mind, these thoughts set off a strange nagging feeling, but Twilight would have none of that, no, she realized what this was. She had friends, for the first time in her life she was in close proximity to other people, and actually enjoyed it. Maybe, just maybe, Celestia had a point when she said that Twilight needed to make some friends.

Twilight felt heat flush her cheeks and face as her eyes started to moisten. So this was the feeling she had been missing out on, this warmth, this was friendship. As she felt a tear escape her lashes and start to roll down her cheek, she quickly raised her hand to wipe it away, only to feel something blocking her path. She looked up to see Poet's opal hand a mere inch from her face; she shifted her gaze to meet his, a questioning expression on her face. He simply gave her a tender smile, slowly running his thumb over her cheek, gently wiping the tear away before it could stain her face.

The lavender girl felt herself blush harder as her heart rate began to quicken. Poet returned the favor, his snowy cheeks burning a pale red, the glow only brightening as Twilight instinctively leaned foreword, pressing her cheek into the soft heel of his hand. Her slow lean didn't stop into she was only a foot away from his face, as only then did she notice his eyes flickering back and forth from her to the others at the table, who had by now all stopped talking to stare at the two of them.

Twilight immediately retreated to her own personal space, the blush on her cheeks threatening to alter the color of her entire face. Pinkie and Sunset couldn't help but giggle as Poet awkwardly ran his hand through his hair.

"So, ah Twilight?" The pale Pegasus asked, his jet eyes slowly making his way to hers, the blush on his cheeks having died down slightly from their recent inferno. "Would you, ah, would you want to get dinner sometime?" He asks shyly, struggling to maintain eve contact.

"Oh, um, yeah, I would like that." Twilight replied softly, nudging his knee with her own under the table, her own blush still burning with awkward intensity.

"Well, that took less time than I expected." Rarity chuckled, splaying her fingers against each other as she considered the pair. "But I suppose things always do when you're young."

"Yeah, that was-"

"-out of the blue." Sunset and Pinkie finished for each other, giggling slightly. "I mean, here we are, the five of us, having a nice little talk about ourself, and out of nowhere you two decide to make it a 'party of two'. I mean, what gives guys?" Sunset huffs with an obviously exaggerated pout, making it obvious that she was more entertained than offended.

"Yeah, I mean at the very least you could have invited us!" Pinkie added with a snort and a playful wink. This only caused the two to blush harder.

"Oh come now, I think it's absolutely adorable." They all turned as they heard another voice coming from the entrance to Poet's room. Standing in the doorway was their advisor Winter Glory; his red and black hair combed back and tied into a small ponytail behind him. "You have to remember that until yesterday, neither of them got out much, it's only natural that the two shy kids would find something in common." He smiled warmly as he walked towards the group, his white eyes greeting each of them in turn.

"Now then." He starts, stepping past the table and towards the door to the hall. "I'm glad to see that you're all awake and ready on time, and now that you're all at least a little used to each other, I think its high time we got to our first activity, what do you say?" He asked with a disarming smile, turning to face them with open arms. The first years just nodded, standing to follow him out of the room, the door shutting automatically as soon as they had exited.

"So, Mister Glory, what exactly is the first item on our itinerary?" Rarity asked in her graceful cadence, walking just a bit faster than her friends in order to speak with Winter. The man just smiled, turning to look at the pale girl with friendly amusement.

"Oh, there's no need for that Rarity, please, just call me Winter." He said, bumping into her playfully, eliciting a giggle from the fashionista. "And as for our first activity, its a bit of magical aptitude testing." Rarity frowned, looking back at Twilight who returned the expression with a confused look.

"But Mist- I mean Winter, I don't understand, we already had a magical aptitude test as part of our entrance exams." Rarity asked in a slightly bewildered voice.

"I know, but not like this." He chuckled darkly as they stepped out of the hall and i to a large room which resembled a stadium. The edges of the room were filled with bleachers, while the middle was dominated by a circular stage. The students watched in confusion as Winter crossed the floor, walking towards a rack near the stage, and drew a rather real looking sword from the wooden holder.

He spun the blade a few times, slashing it through the air with a more than audible whistle, causing the assembled group to gulp. "You all had a classical aptitude test, you had time to plan and prepare spells, and while that is still very useful, it doesn't show how you react to stress or pressure. I don't know how reliable your'e magic is. To do that, I have to see you in combat." He smiled apologetically, walking towards them with the sword lowered.

"B-but, we're only first years! You can't really expect us to fight you!?" Rarity exclaimed, backing up half a step, obviously shocked by this sudden and dangerous escalation.

"Oh, no. Please, understand that this wasn't my idea, this is part of my instructions. And don't worry, you wont be fighting me." He said soothingly, trying to calm the frazzled girl. "No, you'll be fighting her." He said evenly, raising the sword so that it pointed directly at Twilight's throat.

"Well... Shit."

Author's Note

Welcome back everyone! I hoped you enjoied the newest chapter on Gateway, I know it was fun to write. I'm sorry if the chapter seemed to move super fast, I was trying to make it seem like the events lf the day were blending, like you can tell they were escelating. Tell me if you didn't like it, and I'll try to make the next chapters smoother. Anyway, the matchups for the next few chapters Combat Testimg are:
Rarity v. Twilight.
Pinkie v. Sunset
Poet v. Winter

Who else is excited to see Pinkie fight
Please make #letthepartycannonkickit trend on twitter!

Haha, anyway, as you might have noticed there is some Spareate shipping going on pretty heavy, I did promise that there might be some clop, and right now it looks like they're going to be our cannon couple, but I can change that if the public has other ideas.

Now, remember to favorite or track this, give it a follow mayhaps? But what I really love seeing is comments, it lets me know you thought about what you read, so I hope to hear and talk to a few of you, I hope you enjoied, and I'll see you in the next update!

Stars and Strings

"Are you sure about this?" Rarity's voice called out from the stage, her hands planted on her hips as she looked out nervously into the bleachers where Winter, Poet, Sunset, and Pinkie were seated. Across from her on the central platform of the indoor arena, stood Twilight Sparkle, the lavender girl's hands knotting up the hem of her skirt as she looked out at their small crowd with just as much nervousness as her pale companion.

"Trust me." Came Winter's reply, his voice silky and deep as he tried to settle their nerves. "This is just a practice match, you're goal is to incapacitate your opponent, not do any harm. If at any point you feel you're actually in danger, just call and I'll come flying to stop it." His smile was visible even from the distant stage as he beamed warmly at the two roommates. "Don't worry, you're both perfectly safe. Just relax and try to have fun. You're both magicians, magic is in your blood; so try and enjoy it."

Both girls nodded nervously, slowly turning to face each other, trepidation evident on each of their slender faces. "Twilight, promise me something. Promise me that this event will just be training, and that no matter what it won't effect our relationship." Rarity said seriously, her blue eyes locking onto Twilight's violet orbs. There was a slight waver to the girl's voice, raw emotion slipping through her elegant facade.

"Rarity, you've done more for my self esteem in the past twenty four hours than anyone else has done in years. You're my best friend; I only hope you wont be too cross with me when I wipe the floor with you." Twilight said evenly, feeling her body start to relax as her instincts slowly overrode her fear. Despite the details of the situation, this was still an examination, a test; and if Twilight was good at one thing, it was tests. She used one slender finger to neatly tuck her rose bangs behind one ear so that they would be out of her way, her legs sliding slightly apart as she readied her stance.

As Twilight readied herself physically, her mind already deep into the raw testing logistics, a small smirk spread across Rarity's lips; she brushed her perfect curls out of the way, her eyes twinkling with anticipation. She certainly wasn't expecting Twilight to be so confident about this, considering that she was far bolder than her roommate and had felt more than a little anxiety; that her lavender friend could so calmly assume a ready attitude, spoke volumes about her character. In a way, Rarity could almost understand Winter's thought process when it came to this less than civil examination; each pair of roommates would get to see the other at their most raw state, what they truly were under decorum. Admittedly, it wasn't a bad idea, if a pair contrasted too harshly on a deeper level to get along, it would be better to learn that side of them now and switch rooms, then to discover it later.

Her smile only grew as she squared off against the lavender mare, resting her right hand calmly on her hip, the other left to hang loose. "Very well Twilight dearest, I was about to say the same to you. Like you, I have a reputation to uphold as the top student, so if it's a test of magic you want, then I shan't disappoint!" She continued under her breath. "Show me who you really are under all that bookish reservation."

Twilight returned her friend's competitive grin, her own eyes sparkling as she envisioned what was to come. The calm which accompanied testing for her was one thing, but the feeling which now ensnared her was something else all together; Twilight didn't know why, but she wanted this, the danger, the excitement. She breathed in deeply, feeling her magic surge through her as she readied herself. She slowly raised her right hand, violet wisps of magic trailing from it as she splayed her fingers, palm aimed at Rarity. "In the name of the house of Sparkle I accept this duel."

Rarity followed the motion, her hand reaching out across the distance towards Twilight; pale blue tendrils of magic easing around the curvature of her fingers as she repeated the contract. "In the name of the house of Diamond I accept this duel." She returned in a confident voice, eyes still locked with Twilight's. Both girls could feel their hearts beat in tandem, their breaths shallow as the sound of their breathing became the only sound to echo within the arena. Their four companions in the seats were silent as well, leaning in on the edge of their seats in anticipation of what was to transpire, their gazes mirrored by another emanating from far above them.

Standing in the far corner of the top level, concealed by shadows, was a figure with piercing red eyes; the twin orbs almost seeming to glow dimly with a deep ruby light as he watched. There was a moment of silence, an etherial stillness which seemed to echo throughout the arena; no one dared to move, not the fighters, nor the spectators, nor the shadowy observer; and then it began, the battle between two former Elements of Harmony.

"First Magic: Star Assembly!" Twilight's voice broke the silence, pervading the still air like the lick of fire coursing through oil. The purple wisps of magic which had been dancing around the magician, seemed to flow and coalesce into her waiting hand; the mist swirled in her grasp until sparks of gold erupted from within the magical orb, igniting it into a burning sun. Twilight swiftly extended her elbow, forcing the star to exit her grasp and form an orbit around her where it promptly broke apart into six separate orbs, each one growing to the rough size of a cantaloupe. The lavender magician relaxed within her orbit of stars, gently rotating the wrist of her right hand in time to the orbit, her index finger spinning lazily as she shepherded the proto-suns.

Three of the spectators were immediately on their feet. Poet applauded eagerly, bewitched by the spinning stars, and why wouldn't he be? Celestial magic was a rare gift, even by the high standards of the academy, as such it was rather exhilarating to see it in action. Sunset and Winter also rose to their feet, albeit much slower; the connection wasn't lost on them either, but as the two shared a look, it was one of concern rather than exhilaration. While both of them may share a kind of laissez faire attitude when it came to safety, the risks of setting celestial objects loose indoors was rather self-explanatory. And as for Pinkie, well, the pink girl was not among the onlookers, rather upon the materialization of Twilight's magic she had left in search of a stick long enough to roast marshmallows on.

However, when Winter showed no signs of censuring the battle, Rarity decided that she had no other choice but to face the glowing constellation. "I do say darling, that is simply one magnificent spell. I can see you must be a connoisseur of fine magic." She licked her lips, the blue tendrils of her magic slowly trailing to the ground, connected to her fingers by only the smallest thread. "While my own magic may not be quite as breathtaking as your celestial arts, I promise that it shan't disappoint."

"Second String: Diamond Marionette!" With a flourish, Rarity's extended hand shot skyward. The strands of magic trailing from her fingers hardened into nearly invisible threads, the thin strands floating gently in the air, coiling to the tune played by the pale magician's fingers. The crystalline threads writhed, slowly weaving together into the shape of a winged mannequin; the silk golem touching down on the stage softly, staring at its opponent with blank features, its joints hinged and simple. The creature held the appearance of one of those flexible dolls artists used to sketch figures, only with the addition of some rather sharp looking wings.

Rarity smiled, stepping foreword to stand beside her magical automaton, who was still connected to her by her fingertips. "So what do you think of him Twilight? I call him Tom, a bit angular and plain sure, but you know what they say about diamonds in the rough." She chuckles darkly, drumming her fingers in the air. The shifting of the strings seemed to hit a chord in the mannequin, it slowly cocked its head to the side before darting at Twilight with incredible speed. Each of it's joints operated independently causing Tom to adapt a grotesque shamble as he partly ran, crawled, and flew towards his quarry. The lavender girl only barely had time to duck before the creature's fist, then knee, then wing tore through the space which had recently been occupied by her head.

"Oh, I'm sorry darling, I didn't mean for Tom to get so carried away." Rarity chortled with obvious amusement, her fingers dancing as she sent the automaton spinning away again towards her friend. "But fret not, as you can see I am quite adept with needle and thread, if he decides to be a bit rough it wont be a problem for me to st-" She was cut off by the sound of burning fiber. She focused her attention back on Twilight just in time to see the girl spin her assembly of stars around her, sending three of them flying towards Tom. The burning orbs pierced his body, burning away the thin puppet strings as their flames ate through him, leaving him down half a face, a heart, and his left wing before returning to their orbit.

"Oh, I'm sorry, was I interrupting something?" Twilight laughed warmly, genuinely enjoying the discourse. "I just thought I had to remind you that string is flammable." She let off another barrage of stars, severing the golem's right arm at the elbow, finishing off its blank face, and taking its left leg out at the hip. "Not that it matters really, those threads could be solid diamond and my stars could cut through it just fine."

Rarity quickly covered her shocked expression, scoffing indignantly as her creation slumped to the floor in a pile of loose thread. "As a matter of face, they are solid diamond." Her right hand finally left her waist as Rarity raised both hands in tandem as if to play the piano. The pile of thread fluttered on some unseen breeze before scattering, their thin forms soon invisible as they dispersed.

Twilight frowned pensively as she watched the remains of the mannequin fade. "Now what was that supposed to d-." She took a step toward Rarity before she felt an unexpected warmth on her cheek. She backed up a step and ran her hands over her cheek, only to have her lavender fingers come back coated in a small layer of red. It was then that she understood what Rarity had done; the glint had been subtle before, but now that she was looking for it, the air around Twilight was full of the telltale shimmer of the diamond threads of the spiderweb her roommate had trapped her in. A rather sharp spiderweb.

The feel of the room had changed, such forwardness and violence was vastly out of character for both of the girls, and all of the spectators knew it. But nevertheless, the battle continued; even though both Sunset and Poet cast the older student several concerned glances, Winter continued to watch. The three of them watched the fight with bated breaths, equally awed by the raw magical display, and frightened for their friends' wellbeing. Perhaps the confrontation of two powerful spells had effectively 'amped' their adrenaline and caused such uncharacteristic vigor. Yes, of course, that must be it; neither of these girls were this ruthless, were they?

Twilight shifted awkwardly from inside Rarity's spiderweb as she tried to identify each of the deadly strings which posed immediate threat to her, her stars orbiting her slowly, 'hissing' softly on occasion as they burned through a strand. "Nice spell, but you've made one mistake." Twilight spoke clearly and confidently as she raised her eyes to meet Rarity's. "These are long range projectiles, I don't have to move." She raised her left hand, the assembly of stars spiraling around it, coiling as if preparing to pounce on the pale magician.

"You've neglected to account for a certain factor as well darling." Rarity retorted with a smirk. "Puppet strings aren't stationary." She spread her fingers, flourishing her arms upward as she whipped the strands attached to her fingers harshly. The diamond web surrounding Twilight burst to life like a roiling serpent; strands of web lashed everywhere, leaving scarlet lines to spread across the lavender girl's skin.

Twilight grimaced in pain as the diamond threads cut into the soft flesh of her face and hands, her arms quickly rising to shield her face. Lash after lash rained down upon her as the roiling threads cut into the sleeves of her uniform, tearing the purple fabric, ripping her skirt, and carving slender lines of red into her exposed flesh. Even still, Twilight refused to let the assault phase her, the attack, that was what was important, this was a test and she just had to figure it out.

There it was. A sly grin spread across Twilight's lips despite the pain; she had won. She quickly darted to the left, avoiding the next lash which would have taken her on the cheek; her stars swung down from orbit, carving a path through the web as she ran in a circle around Rarity. The pale girl only laughed, continuing to play 'air piano' as she warped the web to continue her assault on her friend's tender flesh. Twilight ignored the pain, her mind completely focused on her image of victory. Her right hand shot out towards Rarity, sending a burning sun sailing through the air, missing the fashionista by a matter of inches as the pale girl ducked out of the way. Fire. Narrow miss. Fire. Burned shoulder pad. Fire. Caught a bit of sequence. Fire. Fire.

Twilight released each of her stars, and Rarity avoided each of them, albeit in progressively decreasing effectiveness. A bright grin spread across the magician's face as she realized none of the incendiary projectiles had hit her. Rarity flashed her teeth as she flipped her hair, giving her friend a sad smile. "Looks like you're out of stars. Too bad, you were getting close to hitting me." She says genuinely, raising her hand as if waiting for Twilight's concession. It never came.

"I wouldn't be too sure if I were you. Take a look around." Twilight replied calmly, gesturing to her opponent's feet. Rarity frowned for a moment before looking down, her eyes widening as she did. Just before the lavender magician spoke again, Rarity realized what she had done. Game over.

"Event Horizon!" Twilight called grandly, arms extending in a grand sweeping gesture. Immediately, the six stars that Twilight had cast; the ones that had 'missed' their target and landed in a perfect circle around that same pale girl, imploded. A harsh gale tore through the room as the six stars collapsed into themselves, singularities spouting black holes in their wake, with Rarity trapped right in between all of them.

Rarity sunk to her knees, the gale winds and suction of gravity ripping at her hair and clothes as it got harder and harder to breathe. Twilight pressed harder, her celestial magic forcing her opponent all the way to the ground, gasping for air. It wasn't intentional that she was suffocating her friend, rather it took quite a lot of concentration and thought to control six black holes and keep them from consuming the Earth, so the condition of one mere Equi was on little consequence in her priorities.

It was not until she felt a firm hand clasp her shoulder that Twilight even realized anything was wrong. She looked over her left shoulder to see Winter standing behind her, his hand on her shoulder, gripping it firmly, yet tenderly. She followed his gaze to Rarity and immediately realized what she was doing; the magician quickly relaxed her magic, allowing the black holes to fade from reality, leaving a very tired Rarity lying on the ground as she gasped for air.

Twilight quickly rushed to her friend, kneeling down beside her and pulling her into a tentative hug. "Oh Sweet Celestia! I'm so sorry Rarity, I didn't mean to go that far, I'm so sorry!" She cried, gingerly holding the girl as a tear found its was down her cheek. Rarity slowly raised her head to meet her gaze, her breath still ragged, but at least stable.

"Twilight..." She hugged her roommate back softly. "We promised that no matter what this fight wouldn't ruin our friendship, and I'm standing by that. I know you didn't mean to hurt me, and if anything I should be apologizing for ruining your hair and uniform, not to mention all those scratches." She want on, suddenly back to her own self as she half-joked about their equally disheveled appearances.

A wide smile spread across Twilight's face even as she started to cry in earnest, her grip on Rarity tightening as she pulled her into a true hug. How blessed was she, a girl who had never known friendship, to meet such a generous girl, powerful magician, and a friend who was understanding to a fault. She had beaten her, they had hurt each other, but at the end of it all, they were still friends; for the first time in a long time, things were really looking up for Twilight Sparkle.

Winter looked down at the pair with a wide smile. "Congratulations to both of you, full marks." He said as he helped the pair to their feet. As he led them back to the bleachers he handed each of them a small green healing crystal. "For the cuts and bruises." He explained, leaving Rarity to rapidly work to mend their uniforms. The fourth hear stood and surveyed the rest of his charges, his wings extended slightly as his red and white feathers fluttered in the remaining traces of the gale.

"Right, who wants to go next?"

Author's Note

The first fight has ended! Twilight Sparkle is victorious! I hope you all liked that and enjoied the powers I tailored for our 'former elements of harmony'. I am aware that this behavior eas out of character, and as much was stated in the chapter, I don't want you to think that this was just poor writing, it will have plot relevance.

Next weeks chapter will feature Pinkie Pie and Sunset, and I know you're excited to see how fourth wall breaking-yet magicless Pinkie is going to handle a magic duel.

So, as usual, please leave a comment, suggestion, request, or just a message. I hope you liked it and will continue to follow the adventure. Until next week.
-Pride