“Hi there, little one. You must be Lavender Shadow.” A yellow unicorn mare with a short orange mane said, kneeling down in front of Lavender.

A violet stallion with a long dulled pink mane stood beside her. “My name is Scaramouche and this here is Harlequin. Nice to meet you.” The trio was inside a hollow, still living, tree, standing in the center of it. Lavender noted that it was clearly bigger on the inside. “Hun?” Scaramouche asked, thinking the black filly wasn’t paying attention.

“I’m going to forget your name sooner or later.” Lavender said harshly. “Sorry ‘bout that.” She added realizing she just sounded like a prick.

The mare just nodded. “Well then, you could just call me Smooch then.” She joked.

“Smooch it is, thank you.” Lavender said.

“Hey!” The mare shot out, her head jerking up.

“And you’re Quinn.” Lavender said, pointing at the stallion.

He in turn just said, “Meh,” as he turned his head over to Starswirl, who was sitting in a corner with a small smile.

The mare sighed, “Okay, fine. But you, little missy. Your name’s Dow.” Scaramouche ended with a smirk.

Lavender smiled herself. “Dow, huh? Dow, to be able, to thrive. Prosper. Do well… Ok, fair enough.”

Harlequin laughed, “Give it up Smooch. I don’t think she cares in the slightest.”

“But Quinn…” The mare started to whine.

“See. You’re all ready warming up to it.” Quinn interrupted looking back at the mare.

“Enough.” Starswirl interrupted as he turned around and walked towards the trio. “Do I have to take charge?” He asked, stopping a few feet away from the group.

“No, Master.” Smooch blurted out. She turned her head and cleared her throat, “I’ll begin now then.” She levelled her gaze at Lavender, “So firstly, Miss Dow. What can you tell me of magic?”

“Almost nothing.” Lavender said with a smirk, which made Smooch sigh. “However out of what I do know. Magic is the art and practice of moving natural energies to effect needed or wanted change. Magic is natural; there is absolutely nothing supernatural about it. Ponies, Zebras, Griffons, Dragons, Diamond Dogs… Buffalo and many other races throughout the world and throughout time, have used Magic. I can't think of even one culture that does not have their own form of magic. Magic is done every time you pray. Every time you wish for something. Magic can be done by anyone with an open mind and who takes the time to try it. Magic involves using your mind and will to affect the energy in and around you to perform the task or spell you direct it to.”

The pair of apprentice’s mouths slowly dropped as this 5-year-old filly was saying stuff that took them a bit longer to get. “Whoa…” Quinn muttered in awe.

“Agreed.” Smooch added. “I mean…” She looked at Starswirl, “I see why you picked her up, Master.”

Starswirl chuckled, “No. She came on her own accord.” He said. The pair just looked over at Star then back to Lavender. “However, Miss Shadow…” Starswirl started as he sat down in front of the trio, “You know anything that I didn’t tell you when we first arrived?” He asked.

The pair smiled sheepishly. Of course their master would start teaching right away. They both felt embarrassed after realizing that. “Right.” Smooch sighed, “Then I guess I’ll start from there.” Lavender sat next to Starswirl. “The 2 main types of Magic are Magic and Dark Magic. There is Magic that heals or helps; it is not used to manipulate ponies or cause harm. It is sometimes called Good magic. Dark magic is magic used to manipulate ponies, perform curses, etcetera.”

“In all actuality Magic is neither good nor bad.” Quinn interrupted, “Magic is a tool; it is how we use the tool that constitutes as good or bad. For example a knife can be used to help cut things, heal ponies and so on; but it can also be used for evil such as to kill ponies, hurt ponies and so forth. The knife is neither good nor bad. What makes it good or bad is the pony who uses it.”

“I hate using the terms good and dark when describing Magic,” Smooch interrupted back, “However, we used them here because beginners may find the cut and dried explanation more helpful to understanding Magic. In all actuality there is nottwo kinds of Magic.”

“Magic simply is.” Quinn started up again, “If I had to classify what is taught in these classes as either Good or Dark magic I would have to say Good… Because no aggressive or attacking abilities are taught here. What is taught is the abilities that will let you do magic to improve your life and that will help you defend or prevent ponies from using magic against you. I do caution those who tend to be pulled to the "darker" uses of Magic though.”

“Everything we do in this world, not just involving Magic,” Smooch said, “But everything we do in life comes back to another or us in some form. If you do good, good shall come back to you. If you do evil, you will get evil in return. Basically, everything in the world is connected, you harm something in the world it will come back to you.”

“We’re not saying all experiences in life are a direct consequence of what you do in life. In life there are lessons to learn as well so even if you live a ‘perfect’ life you would most likely have bad experiences” Quinn smiled.

“Not to say all lessons are bad experiences, but it seems the hardest lessons are viewed as bad rather then opportunities for growth.” Smooch said with a sigh, “There are many good or ‘happy’ lessons to learn as well. If it helps, think of it like a pond. If you throw a rock into the pond it will create small ripples. As these pebbles move away from the rock the ripples get bigger and bigger until eventually they hit the other side of the pond where they bounce back to you.”

So, for your own sake,” Quinn said, “Make sure the ‘pebbles’ or deeds you throw in the "pond" or world are those that will only bring you luck and happiness.”

Lavender that whole time was just sitting there, and staring at the pair intensely. “So in other words. Magic is what you make of it.”

The pair smiled at each other. “Well, almost.” Quinn said.

“It ultimately depends on your own beliefs and no matter what magic is to you, it all expense some sort of energy,” Smooch said.

“Energy?” Lavender asked.

“Yes.” Quinn started. “There are five overarching types of energy.”

“The most basic of these energies is the core energy, of inner energy.” Smooch continued. “The type we unicorn’s use instinctively. The catch is, there’s a limit.”

“Makes sense…” Lavender muttered. The pair in front of her tilted their heads. Starswirl smiled. “Core energy is an offal lot like chakra, the more you use the more of a chance of death.”

“’What?” Both asked.

“I mean, that’s true but…” Quinn started.

“I wonder if the gates are involved in this sense too?” Lavender asked nopony in particular.

“Gates?” Both of them asked, looking at each other.

“Miss Shadow?” Starswirl interrupted. Lavender jerked out of her thoughts and looked at him. “Let them continue, please…” She just smiled.

The other two were still a little confused but let it pass for now. “The second type is natural energy.” Smooch said, “It’s an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds us all in the strings of twine.”

“The Force…” Lavender mumbled.

“What?” Quinn asked.

“Nothing, continue, please…” Lavender replied.

So he did, “Even earth ponies can use this energy if they have an affinity for it.”

“All you need to do in order to use this energy is to let go.” Smooch added. “Just let it do all the work as it were.”

“I believe I get it.” Lavender said as she stood up. “So. What are the other three?”

A week passed and Lavender learned of the other three types of energy. The first other energy the pair taught Lavender was Celestial Energy, which she easily guess it had something to do with the princess. So she dubbed it ‘Prayer’, Dow quickly realised that the princess was treated more like God then she first thought. In order to use this type of energy all one needs to do is pray to the princess and she hears it. Somehow… And if she finds you worthy, she’ll lend you some of her power. However Lavender thought it wasn’t worth it. The little she knew about Celestia, Dow figured she thought everyone worth it, so she might be giving her power to all. She might be even be running herself rampant at this time of war. So no.

The next was Chaotic Energy. This was a bit more complicated. In fact Lavender thought it wasn’t so much energy but rather the ability to control destiny itself and turn it on its head. Meaning: it’s like taking the potential of a ‘What if’ and converting it to a power source to use on a whim. Dow didn’t like this one either. It was too...Chaotic, for the lack of a better word. And besides, She doesn’t believe in destiny. She didn’t have a nickname for this one.

The last she was taught about was called Void energy, not because it came from a void, but more like it came from the nothingness of everything. This type of power seemed like it was inherently bad. She was told that if any pony were to use this emptiness, they themselves become empty eventually. So, in that sense she figured it was rather addictive as well. The more you use it, the more you’ll be willing to use it. In order to use this type of energy at all was also dark. One would need to be in pain to use it. Emotional pain. But, you know… whatever.

“What is with that filly?” Scaramouche asked Harlequin one day. The pair were working in the inside of the tree, making it livable. Making a staircase to a balcony that turns into a room. A bookshelf for the few books they had. A basement, a few more rooms for other needs and a table in the center of it all. Lavender was sitting in a corner, her face in a book.

“I don’t know what you mean.” He replied, “It just seems like she wants to learn to me.”

“That’s just it. What five year old ‘wants’ to learn?” Smooch asked him as she started putting books on the shelf.

“And your point?” Quinn asked as he started hollowing out another bookshelf. “I remember we were the same when we started working with Master.”

“Yes, true, but we were practically adults by that point.” Smooch replied.

“It’s because she doesn’t have anything else.” Starswirl popped out of a flash of light, right in front of them, causing the pair to jump, which in turn, made Lavender laugh out loud.

“I’m never going to get used to that am I?” Smooch muttered, picking herself up.

“We know.” Quinn said, “She told us pretty much everything.”

“Everything?” Starswirl inquired, looking at Lavender out of the corner of his eye.

“Yeah.” Smooch started, “You know. Born in a church, parents enslaved, met you soon after.”

“Ohh.” Starswirl sighed looking at the filly… the filly? He wondered why she didn’t go all out and told them everything like she did the princess and him? However he didn’t want to stop her at the moment. The book she was reading… No Boundary, by K. W. “Personal and spiritual growth huh.” He mumbled to himself. He then saw the pile of four more books on the side of her. Liber Null & Psychonaut by P. J. C. The Golden Dawn by I. R. Magic: Liberaba… by A.C, and the Invisibles by G. Mor’Bison. All books documenting the uses of Magic.

“Is something amiss, Master?” Smooch interrupted Star’s thoughts.

“How long has Miss Shadow been reading?” Starswirl asked looking back at the pair in front of him.

“Other then eating and sleep. A week.” Quinn said then looked at the filly a little scrutinizingly. “What is with this filly?”

“See?” Smooch said, clearly frustrated that Harlequin just now got it.

“All right.” Starswirl said, gesturing for the pair to calm down. “Enough, please…” He was, however, hiding his own concerns, forgetting for a moment that she was older then she looked. She wanted to hide her true past from other ponies… Okay then, he thought, why was she so open with him? Why did she try so hard to make one pony believe her if she wasn’t going to do it again?

The next day he asked her. The answer Starswirl got was so vary anticlimactic. “Because I don’t want to answer questions that are thoroughly pointless by now.” Disappointed, but still… ‘So she found out there is no way back home, so why talk about it and reopen old wounds? Makes sense’, so Starswirl left it at that. Today was more reading for Lavender Shadow. It was just one book after another. The pair still working on the inside to make it a home. They both noticed that the filly’s reading was slowly getting faster and faster. As if she was learning how to read, as she read. Starswirl was popping in and out at a regular rate. Showing up every hour just to leave ten minutes later. It was a little annoying to Lavender but she held her cool for the time being. It was a few hours later when she slammed the book she was reading at the time. “Okay…I think I’ve got enough to work with.” She said jumping up, “Now then, who’s going to teach me what?”

“You mean when are we going to teach you anything.” Lavender turned around to spot Scaramouche rubbing her right eye, staring at Dow for waking her up. There she was, in a poorly put together bed and Harlequin in bed with her, still asleep. “It’s, like, almost midnight, Dow.” Putting her hoof down for a moment. “So first, bedtime.” She said pointing to a smaller poorly made bed. “Then when we wake up, breakfast, then… Then maybe magic stuff.”

Lavender just sighed, “Yeah, you’re right, I guess.” She was walking up to ‘her’ bed. Smooch sighed and fell back into her own bed. Lavender looked around a little. Their home was coming along nicely she thought. Then when she looked up, she saw Starswirl, staring at her from the balcony. He smirked. “Well that’s not creepy.” She muttered. He then slowly moved out of sight as Lavender plopped down in her bed. “Tomorrow then.”

The next morning the four of them were outside all doing their own thing at the moment. Starswirl was sleeping in, under one of the protruding branches of the tree. Scaramouche was juggling random things she found off the ground. Harlequin, playing around with water, most of it were in the air, held there, and given odd shapes by his magic, and Dow, She was getting frustrated. Pacing left to right. “AAAAHHHH! DAMNIT!” She yelled. All the ponies jumped out of whatever they were doing and gawked at her. She in turn just kept pacing. “So, if I may inquire, when’s breakfast?”

Starswirl started laughing as the other two glared at the filly, “Well, aren’t you a rather impatient pony.” He said when his fit was over.

Lavender said, still pacing, “But she said,” giving Smooch a twitch of her head, “that magic lessons start after we eat.”

Starswirl sighed, “She has no say on the subject.” He said, looking over at his two apprentices. “Neither of them do… No offense.”

Both of them simultaneously said, “None taken.” Going back to their own projects.

Lavender stopped pacing and sighed, “Because you’re the Master.” She said, looking towards the other two. “Oh…” Star smiled. Lavender just realized that the pair were waiting as well. At least she was playing the part of a spoiled brat well enough. Right?

Starswirl chuckled a little, “Then here’s lesson one for you. ‘Patience’”

Lavender exasperated a sigh, mentally fisting the air. “Of course, Sensei.”

Author's Note

Lesson one: may actually take FOREVER. sorry bout that.