Sunset Shimmer: Student of Magick

The audience was whispering. Sparky was certain she heard "kid," "lost," and "never" but was unsure whether they came from the same person. They offered brief congratulations, though they could not stay to talk as the time for the opening speeches was near.

Because of her concentration on the game, Sparky had not noticed the Great Hall filling. Most of the tables had occupants, nearly one-third of them mixed. There were hundreds in attendance, including far more Awakened than Sparky had seen at the weekly Forum. Despite only having attended two, Pearl and the others had stated that the numbers she had seen were about normal.

The Kindred formed the smallest number of attendees. She had heard that they required direct action to create another of their kind, though doing so was also prohibited to prevent their numbers spiraling out of control.

She had also heard that they had a prohibition against killing, though it did happen; rumours stated that they had friends in high places and disposed of criminals too dangerous to put into the mundane legal system. While the thought that the rumour might be true made her somewhat uncomfortable, she also already understood how dangerous the world really could be. Even a well-trained mortal authority could not hope to stop the creatures she had studied.

The Concord officially encompassed the entire county. Due to their location, there were stretches of wild land around them, leaving plenty of space for the Uratha to occupy. Though Clash had told her that the packs tended to be territorial, they did permit limited travel across claimed hunting grounds, especially for meetings. They were easily the most numerous, many of the guests likely having come from the far reaches of the county just for that night.

Then there were her fellow Awakened. Sparky did not try to count them, but she had excellent memory for faces she had seen only briefly. Even a quick survey revealed tens of Mages she had never seen. The Trois Fleurs were only the first new faces.

With so many examples of beings that the great mass of humanity would deny existed, it was easy to forget that there were others like Orchid in attendance that night. While Sparky did not know what the Kindred and the Uratha called Sleepwalkers - she had heard Clash reference 'Wolf-Blooded', but she was not sure if they were the same thing - she could see them scattered about the Great Hall.

The Herald's authoritative voice startled Sparky's attention back to the front of the room. She had stepped onto the dais as Sparky observed the crowd.

"The annual Congressus Peculiaris is now in session. I am Solstice Cherry, the Herald for the Consilium Hierarch, and will be introducing our hosts."

Stepping to the chair on the left from the crowd's orientation, she said, "Night Star, Prince of the Kindred."

A woman in a traditional black dress that looked to be made of silk - which could only be a designer label - ascended the dais, gave a slight nod to the audience, and sat. Like the Hierarch, she was a little below average height, but Sparky could feel power radiating from the woman. It may have been different than that of the Awakened, but that made it no less intimidating. Night Star was a hunter and the cattle below existed at her whim.

"The Prince is a girl?" Orchid whispered.

"Kindred tradition. Ah'll explain later."

Solstice Cherry moved the right-hand chair. "Lightning Rider, elected representative of the Uratha."

The man to take the seat may as well have been a professional cage wrestler who played football alone against the other team. He wore jeans and a leather jacket over a plain white undershirt. Patches with various symbols she did not recognise adorned his sleeves. His rugged body was not comically overwrought as a certain hulking superhero was, but his muscles were very visible. Sparky was starting to realise that nearly all of the male Uratha seemed to be hairy, in varying degrees of grooming or lack of the same. Lightning Rider had curly hair trimmed short, matching his facial hair. Like with Night Star, Sparky could feel his power. It was much more primal, that of a savage beast stalking his prey. She felt as though annoying the man would cause him to rip the offender in half.

Solstice Cherry approached the centre. "Bronze Luck, Hierarch of the Consilium."

Sparky had not been certain the Hierarch had a name. She almost expected him to wear wizard's robes and felt some level of disappointment to see him in a full suit and tie. When he was seated, Solstice Cherry left the dais.

As one, the Prince and the Hierarch nodded to Lightning Rider, who stood. Even seated, he dwarfed his counterparts. Standing at the edge of the dais, he was able to dominate the enormous room. His voice was not as rough as Sparky expected, though it did boom across the Great Hall. "The Uratha extend our thanks to the Awakened for hosting an excellent Congressus Peculiaris. We are pleased to continue this relationship under the Concord and hope for many more years of mutual respect."

He sat and nodded with the Hierarch to Night Star. She smiled at the crowd as she approached the edge of the dais, her bright teeth and elongated canines visible even from where Sparky was seated. In a silky voice, she said, "The Kindred are likewise pleased to engage our fellow citizens in open discourse. Thanks to the open communication between our leaders, incidents between our peoples have all but ceased. On behalf of the Kindred, I extend our appreciation for this night's festivities. Thank you, all Awakened, and thank you, Bronze Luck."

She reclaimed her seat with such poise and grace that it would have made Rarity weep with joy.

At his counterparts' nods, the Hierarch finally rose to address their audience. "This night is meant for our enjoyment and the betterment of relations between our peoples. I therefore thank you, Lightning Rider and Night Star, for your willingness to maintain the tradition. The Awakened are pleased to be host to you and yours this year, and I am glad that our preparations are to your liking. Thank you, all members of the Consilium, for your excellent work in this endeavour. I have nothing more to add than this: I wish you all - Kindred, Uratha, Awakened, and others - an enjoyable night."

When he was seated, most of the audience gave a light applause, which everyone at Sparky's table joined. The three leaders stood, gave small simultaneous bows, and left the dais to retreat to the Hierarch's office. When they were gone, conversation resumed.

"I was expecting that to go for a while," Sparky admitted, looking first to Pearl and then to Orchid. "Like 'short' school assemblies."

"They have some years if there were serious problems. Ain't had anythin' like that fer a while, but that's not ta say we ain't had any this year. They'll be meetin' with anybody with a beef with one of the other groups before they come back."

Midnight stood. "We should get our bet settled. I can find a skilled Witch to set the geas."

"There's no way that really counted," Sparky protested. Both of her experienced table mates looked at her in shock. "I mean, you proved that you could have won three in a row if you really wanted. You were taking it easy on me, Midnight."

"So? You didn't cheat, and we have plenty of witnesses who'll say you won. A bet's a bet."

"Even if you basically let me win?"

"Sparky, she learnt a lesson tonight, too. Her cards weren't protected, 'n she underestimated what ya could do. Just because someone's better at somethin' don't mean they have ta win. Y'ain't never underestimated someone 'n lost because of it?"

Images of Princess Twilight bumbling around Canterlot High in an effort to retrieve a stolen crown flashed through Sparky's mind. Her other self could have won that contest on multiple occasions, but had stayed her hand to play an elaborate game. She had expected it would make her final victory more enjoyable, while simultaneously crushing her then-opponent. Had Sunset Shimmer instead seized the crown again as she had the first time, the human world and Equestria would likely be very different places.

"Yeah, I guess I have. Midnight, let me know when you're ready."

The girl nodded, skipping into the crowd and vanishing. Orchid took the opportunity to revisit her earlier question. "So why isn't the Kindred leader called a princess?"

"Cain't say Ah rightly know. When Ah asked, Ah was told 'That's just how we do it.' Maybe they use different names in other places."

"You know, other than the whole 'feasting on the blood of mortals' thing, they aren't as scary as I thought they'd be."

"Ah've got a few acquaintances, if'n ya'd like ta meet 'em, 'n Ah'm willin' ta bet our witnesses will come back over ta talk eventually."

Sparky was surprised Dark Ace and Clash had not joined them yet and expressed the thought to Pearl. While Ace was a Councillor, and therefore could be assumed to be busy all night, she expected Clash would check on them eventually. He had some influence with his fellow Uratha and was a Pack Alpha, so there was no way to know how long he would be.

Midnight returned, another Mage in her wake. "This is Sky Nectar. She'll take care of the geas. I got us a space. Ready?"

Sparky nodded. "Orchid, do you mind staying with Pearl for a bit?"

"I'll be fine. Pearl, I'm going to grab some more food."

Sky Nectar, a Guardian of the Veil in her mid-thirties, led the way to the rear hall with all the conference rooms. Midnight stopped at one and opened the door, revealing a space like a restaurant booth. It seemed horribly out of place and tacky, but Sparky did not question it.

"I'll cast the geas after you enter, and then I'll need to close the door when it's ready," Sky Nectar explained.

"Thanks." Midnight gestured into the room, allowing Sparky to enter first. When they were both settled, she said, "Go ahead, Sky."

Sparky felt the magick being summoned as Sky Nectar tapped her fingers against the doorframe in a particular rhythm Sparky could not quite follow. It was strong, enveloping both Sparky and Midnight and filling the room. When it had reached a peak, Sky asked them both to pledge that the information to be revealed was accurate and that neither party would ever let another know it for any reason. The whole speech seemed longer than all three leaders' speeches combined and covered every possible loophole - including such clauses as 'partial death,' 'soul-body separation,' and 'soul memory erasure'. When both swore, the magick settled into them.

"Thanks for your business, Midnight," Sky Nectar said with a smile when they were done.

"I know good Fate magick. You just don't advertise enough."

Sky Nectar gave them a pleased grin and closed the door.

The girls sat quietly while Midnight hesitated. Sparky was surprised, given how confident the young Mage had been all night. This Midnight was more like the child Sparky had first met, quiet and unsure of herself. Taking a deep breath, Midnight said, "I'd like to tell you something else first, if that's okay."

"Sure."

Again with hesitation, Midnight mumbled, "I'm not actually related to Ace or Clash. They took me in when I was a baby."

Before Sparky could respond, Midnight continued. "Ace found me in a dumpster when I was a couple of months old and gave me my True Name. He said that I was already Awakened when he found me. Even with magick, I can't remember my family or figure out why they threw me away. He had to keep me hidden for a long time, since there's never been a provable record of someone Awakening that young before. Pearl thinks that my being left out like that might be why I Awakened, since I shouldn't even be alive. A few people who found out back then wanted to study me; they even tried to kidnap me."

Unsure what to say, Sparky reached across the table to take Midnight's small hands. The girl had a few tears dripping down her cheeks, which she wiped on her sleeves.

"For what it's worth, I know what it's like to be thrown away. I was angry for a long time because of it. Now I have friends who are like my family."

"Ace and Clash are both my family," she said. "They both raised me from the earliest that I can remember. Pearl's been like a mum to all of us, too. I wouldn't ever trade them for anything, but I'd still like to know why my parents wanted to get rid of me. Part of me kinda hopes that it wasn't their fault, like someone else broke in and took me by accident, but then wanted to get rid of me."

Sparky gave Midnight's hands a light squeeze. "Maybe you can find the answer to that question one day."

Midnight offered a shrug in reply. "We should finish up and get back out there. They're probably waiting for us."

Sparky nodded. "I'm ready when you are."

Midnight briefly glanced side to side. Sparky felt a familiar twinge at the edge of her senses and realized that the girl across from her was studying the small room they were currently occupying with her magick.

"Always check for scrying magick if you don't want someone to know something. It doesn't matter how many wards you have, it's a good practise for all of us," Midnight explained.

She then cupped her hands on either side of her mouth before leaning halfway across the table. Sparky followed suit, tilting her head slightly, just enough to hear Midnight whisper her True Name into her ear.

Sparky blinked. Midnight pulled back, giving another awkward side glance.

"That...," Sparky started, then belatedly realised she was smiling as she sat back in her seat. "That's a pretty cool name, actually. It fits you."

Midnight rolled her eyes, but Sparky could see her lips were turning up at the corners.

"I don't know, I think I might have preferred something like—"

"No, really," Sparky persisted, intentionally cutting her off.

The other girl abruptly hopped from her seat and moved around the table. She took Sparky’s arm and rose from the seat, gently urging her up and back towards the party.

"Let me tell you funny story to make up for the sad stuff. Last year, I got into a game for rights to study a verge with another Witch...."