Chapter 1
Power....Power can change you in ways you’ve never imagined. It changed me. My name is Nightlight, ex-student of Celestia, convicted murderer, and a terrible monster whose lust for freedom was never sated. Even now as I create this record in the depths of my prison, it cries out for release. I make this record to let everypony know my mistake, of my sins, and to make sure it never happens again.
I wasn’t always like this...this thing. I was a somewhat normal filly my coat was a dark purple, my mane was dark blue with light blue streaks, and I had magenta eyes. I had a life and friends, who all loved me, not at first anyways. My story begins in a poorly funded orphanage in Canterlot where life was anything but pleasant.
I never knew my parents, and as time went on I never bothered to learn who they were, seeing as how they dumped me in a place like that. The orphanage was quite possibly the most miserable place I have ever had the displeasure of living in. Food was always scarce, discipline was severe, and ‘fun’ was merely a word.
On top of this I had to suffer through the existence of a few ponies whom I had wished nothing but the most terrible of fates upon. A white coated, black maned, pegasus named Nimbus, and his lackeys the ruby coated and magenta maned Ruby Rum and the turquoise coated, blue maned Wind Breaker, took time out of their busy day to make mine awful.
On this day I finished my chores early and was able to do the one thing in life that gave me some solace, reading about magic. I was reading one of the few books the orphanage had, an autobiography by one of the greatest unicorns in history, Twilight Sparkle. The book was worn because of my constant usage of it, but it didn’t matter her tales of adventure and friendship gave me some hope for my future. Sadly however on this day the ‘Blood Wings’, as they referred to themselves, as also finished up their chores early and had nothing better to do than torture me.
Nimbus came up to me and smacked the back of my head, “Sup unidork!” he said, calling me by that ridiculous nickname.
“What do you guys want from me?” I whined as I rubbed the back of my head.
“‘Oh nothin,’ just wanted to have a little fun is all” he said with a devilish smirk.
Suddenly he snatched my book away from my hooves.
“Hey!” I cried out, “Give it back!”
“Keep away from unidork!” he shouted as he tossed the book through the air to one of his lackeys.
I tried frantically to jump up and grab the book mid flight, but to no avail.
“Give it back!” I cried again.
They kept this up for a few minutes until it reached Nimbus again who smirked fiendishly.
“Well unidork it seems that your book can go pretty far...let’s see just how far”
He turned to the window and began to open it. I ran over to try and stop him, but Ruby Rum bucked me in the ribs knocking the wind out of me. I watched helplessly as he tossed my book from the window and into the street below. They began to file out, Nimbus giving me another swift kick to the stomach sending me over the verge of tears.
After a few couple of moments of crying I managed to recover myself and climb over to the window. I looked out and saw that my book had landed in a nearby tree. I tried in vain as I reached my hoof out to try and grab it. I reached out as far as I could, but to no avail. The book was simply too far away to get by hoof. I was about to give up hope when I remembered a story from the book that gave me inspiration, the story of Discord. Where she almost gave up all hope, but her friendships reminded her that anything worth having is worth fighting for.
I turned back towards the window and began trying to use my magic to levitate the book to me. I closed my eyes and began to focus as hard as I possibly could, straining myself like I was lifting a ton of bricks. Sparks began shooting out of my horn as I felt my magic connect with the book. I opened one eye to see it begin wriggling free of the branch it was caught on, I smiled as it began to float over to me. I reached out and grabbed it and pulled it in before any more damage could be done. I smiled wide and opened it only to see Nimbus left a ‘going away gift’ by spitting right on the picture of Twilight Sparkle. I sighed, in the end defeated by that jerk of a pegasus, and looked for something to clean the book with.
I spent the remainder of the night reading through my book again, only to lose track of time and become late for supper. I rushed downstairs to the dining hall, where I found the orphan matron waiting for me, Miss Shelter.
“You’re late you little runt,” she said, her voice sounded like someone taking a sheet of sandpaper to a chalkboard.
“Sorry Miss Shelter” I said diverting my gaze away from her cold loveless eyes.
“If you keep reading those damn books nopony will ever adopt you.”
“Yes Miss Shelter.” I said submissively.
“Now you're going to go in there and watch the other brats eat, then you're going to spend the rest of the night cleaning up, got it!?” she said sternly.
“Yes...Miss Shelter.” I sniffled once, this would have been the fourth night in a row without supper. By then I was almost skin and bones in comparison to the other children, surviving off the small chance of there being scraps for me to eat. As I entered the food hall I walked passed Nimbus, who stuck his hoof out in front of me, making me trip and causing everypony to laugh at me before the cold eyes of Miss Shelter stopped all of that, as I said ‘fun’ was just a word no matter at whose expense it was.
Miss Shelter spoke up after a few minutes. “Alright you little brats,” she said annoyed at the previous antic. “Tomorrow is the Summer Sun Celebration and those who finish their chores early get to go. However if I hear but a peep from any of you you’re gonna get the beating of a lifetime d’ya hear!?”
Everypony in unison said solemnly “Yes Miss Shelter.”
She nodded and smirked lightly over her control over at as everypony all continued their meals, whilst I watched hungrily. After dinner I did as I was told and spent the rest of the evening cleaning up the dishes for the entire orphanage, thankfully somepony didn’t eat their alfalfa allowing me to dig in. I hated the taste, but when you’re hungry, you're desperate. I finally finished cleaning around bedtime and dragged myself to bed, I would have been too excited to sleep for tomorrow if I wasn’t so exhausted.
The next morning, as the sunrise was delayed due to the celebration, I was the first to hop out of bed and get to doing chores, I did everything as quick as I could. Today is the day of the summer sun celebration. The one day all year that anypony in the orphanage got a chance to go outside for a while as the celebration holds the whole population of Canterlot, spare the stubborn nobles who are too busy to attend. Luckily for me, the previous night had much leftover broccoli casserole, from which I had stuffed myself allowing me to sleep a bit easier no longer deprived of nutrition.
I knew that it was going to be a lucky day for me, I could smell it in the musty floorboards as I scrubbed them by hoof. I finished quite early, so there was time before everypony was herded together and escorted to the celebration. I decided to take my favorite book, The Adventures Of The Elements Of Harmony, out from the bookshelves in the foyer, and relax by candlelight until it was time to depart. It was the one book I read for something other than entertainment. I read it to really relax, or just soothe my senses.
“.....The 6th element of Harmony, Twilight Sparkle, became Princess Celestia’s private student after displaying a great deal of magic during the entrance exam to the School of Gifted Unicorns, which to today.....”
“Okay you brats!” a voice screeched out, breaking my concentration, “Get your flanks to the door this instant, we are doing a head count and inspection, anypony who didn’t do their chores is being left behind, as for everypony else, we need to keep track of y’all so we know if anypony runs off. Celestia help you if you wander off.” Everypony began to file out as they were each counted off, the kids who didn’t finish their chores could be heard sniffling from inside the the orphanage. Thankfully only Nimbus finished early today and he’s not so tough without his lackeys.
I gasped at all the sights as we passed through a decorated Canterlot, I had never been that far from the orphanage so I relished in every sight, the decorations, the happy ponies, the smell of festival treats filling the air, all of it was amazing. I didn’t want any of it to end. I was so distracted that I didn’t see where I was going and I lost track of the group. I began panicking, frantically trying to meet back up with everypony before I was caught, but there was so many other ponies walking around I couldn’t find them, so I did the only sensible thing a filly my age would do when lost in the city and filled with the fear of abuse, I broke down and began crying. I cried for I don’t know how long, no pony stopped to help me or anything until I heard the voice of a old mare from behind me.
“What’s wrong dear?” she asked, her voice filled with what sounded like genuine concern.
“I’m *sniffle* lost and I *sniffle* separated from my group and...and...” I lost it after the thoughts of what Miss Shelter would to do me filled my head. To my surprise the old mare picked me up in her forelegs and held me to her chest, which out of reaction I wrapped my own forelegs around her and cried into her chest.
She cradled me like I was her own child for a few minutes, as I began to calm down I looked up at her. She was a unicorn, her coat was a faded along with her mane, she had these magenta eyes filled with years of wisdom, but I couldn't see much else of her face seeing as how it was dark out and she was wearing a hood, but she seemed so familiar to me. She looked me in the eyes and smiled.
“What’s your name dear?”
“*Sniffle* Nightlight...”
“Well Nightlight why don’t we help you find your group...I bet they must be worried sick about you.”
I stayed silent, remembering a lesson that Miss Shelter taught us about telling on her. The mare used her magic to lift me onto her back as we began to walk through Canterlot.
“You know Nightlight,” she said after a few seconds of silence, “I came to the Summer Sun Celebration when I was a little filly also.”
“You did?”
She nodded, “That’s right, it was on this day so many years ago that I saw Princess Celestia raise the sun for the new day”
“Wow!” I said with fillylike wonder, “What was she like? Was she mean or nice or-or-or...”
My rambling made the mare chuckle a little, “She was nice, to answer your question, she’s nice to everypony. Anyways, her ability with magic inspired me to be proficient at magic as well.”
“Really?”
She nodded again, “That’s right, I spent so many days learning and studying in libraries and at home trying to be the best.” I could tell she began to reminisce about her fillyhood.
“What happened next?” I asked as she stopped talking.
“Many things dear, I actually became close with Celestia.”
“No way!” I said awe-struck once more.
“Very much so. After a few years with her, I moved to Ponyville where I met my best friends. We did so many things together, and shared our closest moments together.” She said happily.
“What happened to all of them?”
“They moved on dear...but I’ll see them again soon.” she said almost solemnly I didn’t understand what she meant, I was too young at the time. A few more moments went by as we finally arrived at the stage where Celestia would arrive to raise the sun, everypony was huddled around it waiting to see the rare spectacle that was about to happen. The mare picked me up in her magic again and placed me on the ground in front of her. She looked down at me with a sad smile “Nightlight...I want you to have this...” she used her magic and pulled a large tome from underneath her cloak and strapped it to my side.
“What is it?” I asked.
“It’s a book on magic, one of the most important kinds of magic to me.”
I smiled and hugged her, she smiled and hugged me back, a small sniffle escaping from her.
“What’s wrong?” I asked tilting my head.
“Nothing dear...now go run along and find your group, they should be here.” she said as she waved her hoof off. I nodded and went to look for the group, I turned back, and saw the old mare had vanished from sight, at the time I assumed she found her own place in the crowd.
I finally managed to find my group and sneak into it from the back hoping nopony noticed me, thankfully Miss Shelter didn’t seem to notice so I went on pretending nothing was wrong. We found a spot near the edge of the stage, everypony was waiting eagerly to see the princess. After a few short moments the trumpets began their fanfare and everypony began cheering their heads off as Princess Celestia began making her way onto the stage. I was awestruck by her beauty and grace as she walked towards the center stage. Once she reached the middle of it, under a pillar with a large sun symbol on top of it she flared her wings out and looked out into the crowd, everypony was distracted by her beauty I think to notice that she seemed like she was scanning the crowd, like she was looking for somepony. Suddenly the fanfare picked up more and she began flapping her wings and her horn began glowing a golden hue. As she flew up the sun began its ascent with her and as she reached the top of the pillar, it flared out for all the world to see. Everypony began cheering wildly, I however stood there in silent awe at her.
Soon after she landed and everypony gave her an encore, she left to places unknown while we made our way back to the orphanage. Once it go open enough Miss Shelter turned around and glared at us. “Alright!” she said without an insult least somepony was listening, “Line up and do a head count.” All of us scrambled to get in line as she went down the line making sure we were all there, I stood in the back and when she reached me she glared at me. “What the hay is that you’ve got!?” she said angrily as she pointed at the book on my back, which the fact I had it slipped my mind from all the things going on.
“It’s a book Miss Shelter.” I answered honestly.
“I know it’s a book ya brat! Where’d ya get it?!” she replied angrily.
“I found it Miss Shelter.” I lied, knowing that if I told her somepony gave it to me she’d know I got separated.
She snatched it from my back. “Oh yeah, I bet ya stole it from somepony didn’t ya!” she shouted accusingly.
I shook my head. “No, honest Miss Shelter, I found it in the street.”
She looked at me suspiciously for what seemed like an eternity before she dropped the book on the ground.
“If I find out you’re lying...” she said trailing off, I nodded implying I knew what would come my way.
We finally made it back to the orphanage, and everypony went off to do their business. The ones who finished their chores got some time to play with the ragged toys we had in the playroom. I went to the reading room to go read my book, but fate had other plans today. As I entered I heard hoofsteps behind me, the Blood Wings.
“Well, well, well, unidork got a new book.” Nimbus said as he smacked the back of my head.
I clutched the book closely not wanting a repeat of yesterday “What do you want Nimbus?” I said irritated.
“Oh nothin’ just wanted to have some fun.” his voice was laced with malice. He pushed me over, making me lose my grip on the book.
“Give it back!” I shouted as I tried to wrest the book back from him.
“What’s the matter unidork, can’t use your fancy magic to get it from me?” he said with sarcasm, making his lackeys laugh. He looked about the room for a moment “Ya know unidork, yesterday we saw if your book was able to fly, now lets see if it’s fireproof.” he eyed the fire place that illuminated the otherwise dark reading room.
“NO!” I cried out and jumped at him, but he stepped out of the way and Wind Breaker punched me in the stomach knocking the wind out of me. He picked me up and pointed me towards Nimbus as he casually walked over to the fire place with the book in his mouth, he looked back one last time with a fiendish grin and tossed the book into the flames.
I cried out again, “No!” I broke free of Wind Breaker’s grip and rushed over to the fireplace, but it was far too late, the book was already on fire and burning away. I heard them all laughing at me from the doorway.
“What’s the matter unidork!? You gonna cry again?” Nimbus said in between his laughing.
It was this moment that forever changed my fate. My anger, my power began to rush through me. I turned to him, my horn and eyes glowing a bright crimson, raw energy surrounded my body and began to sear away at the rotted wood floors, the flames behind me began to rise and expand outward.
“I...HAVE...HAD...ENOUGH!” I shouted, my voice echoed with power. All three of them began cowering in fear of me, and at the time, it felt great.
I launched a fireball at them from the fireplace, Ruby Rum was the only one who got remotely hit, her wings got singed from the blast. They began to scramble down the hallway, as I gave chase I left a trail of fire behind me. Apparently however my shouting alerted Miss Shelter who rounded the corner shouted, “You damn brats keep it -” she cut herself off when she saw me and the flames trailing behind me, she looked at me in horror and again...it felt great. She ran off telling all the children to evacuate, but I didn’t care about them, my anger was focused on those three. I continued my chase, setting everything ablaze that I passed, until I finally found them, cornered in the hallway.
“NOW YOU* cough* YOU *cough cough*” I broke out into a coughing fit, breaking my focus and snapping me back into reality, and I realized that the whole place was on fire. I began panicking, looking for a way out, and I spotted it in the form of a window in one of the rooms the Blood Wings passed by in the hallway. I ran over to it, the three of them following me and tried my hardest to open it, but the wood was so swollen that it didn’t open. I turned back at the sound of wood cracking above us, a large wood blank snapped off and began falling onto the three of them. They all tried to move out of the way, but Nimbus was too slow and the plank caught him in the face, causing him to writhe on the ground in pain.
I would have enjoyed the scene more if death wasn’t quickly approaching. I tried one last desperate act of picking up the wood plank in my magic and using it to smash the window open. I focused with all my might, made all the more difficult by the smoke entering my lungs. Sparks began shooting out of my horn as my magic began connecting with the plank. As it began floating in the air, I tossed my head back and the plank followed with the same speed shattering open the window wide enough for all of us to escape, Windbreaker had to help Nimbus because he was still clutching his face, and all of us were coughing hysterically. Once outside it turned out I was the most unharmed out of all of them, I hit Ruby’s wings better than I thought and they looked pretty damaged, Nimbus was still clutching his face, and Wind Breaker was gasping for air.
I stumbled off to go look for help and found that fire ponies already arrived and were trying keep the fire from spreading to any surrounding buildings, the orphanage was too far gone.
I rushed over to a medic pony.
“There’s some other ponies who are pretty hurt on the other side of the building!” I shouted hysterically going into a coughing fit afterword. One of them ran off to check those three while another attended to me. I felt the smog burn me inside, my vision blurred until I slowly faded out of consciousness.
I began to regain consciousness I don’t know much later. I was expecting to wake up in the hospital, which I have had to before...Miss Shelter has gotten pretty brutal once, but instead I woke up in some sort of bedroom. I looked around for a few moments before letting out a small coughing fit again, apparently alerting somepony outside. I pretended to fall back asleep, but I cracked my eye to see who it was. A pony wearing a nurses outfit came in and examined me for a moments, she gave me a slight pinch making me yelp out.
“Knew you were awake,” she said with a smile.
I pulled the sheets close to my face trying to hide myself which made her laugh lightly, “It’s okay dear, I’m not going to hurt you,” she started brushing my mane with her hoof. I slowly began to come out from under my hooves before another coughing fit hit me, making the nurse pony grab some water from a table beside me and pass it to me. I didn’t realize how thirsty I was until I drank that water.
A few seconds of silence passed as she began writing on some paper and a clipboard before I decided to break the silence.
“Umm...where am I?” I asked taking another drink of water.
“Canterlot Castle dear.” the moment she said that I did a spit take making the nurse pony laugh a little more.
“Why am I here!?” I asked confused and a little frightened.
“The Princess wanted to speak to you.” she said with a smile.
My heart skipped a beat, me? Meeting the Princess? I thought it was a dream.
“She wanted to speak to you as soon as you were well enough to speak.”
“H-how long has she been waiting?”
“About a day. You’re a lucky little filly to survive your ordeal.”
I tilted my head, my memory was hazy. The only thing I remembered was something about that book.
“Do you want to go speak to her now or do you need a little bit longer?” she asked.
“I think I can go talk to her...” I said nervously.
She nodded, “I’ll go get her then... you're still in no condition to move about,” she trotted off to go get the princess, leaving me to my thoughts, which were mostly filled with a combination of excitement and panic for whatever it was that the princess wanted to talk to me about.
Almost an eternity must have passed by while I was waiting, I wanted to doze off I was so tired, but the sound of hooves trotting down the hall made me perk up. A golden glow encompassed the doors as they slowly opened, revealing her, Princess Celestia. Her face had a concerned look on it, for what I wasn’t sure. Her eyes had a gentle look about them when she looked upon me. She turned to the nurse pony and nodded, the nurse bowed and closed the doors behind her leaving only me and the princess.
“Greetings Nightlight.” her soft voice filled the silence that the room built up, “How are you feeling?”
I hid under my covers again, trying my best to make myself seem as small as possible, my muffled response of ‘I’m alright’ came through the sheets. Apparently she understood what I said.
“I used to know a mare who was just as shy as you.” she said with a gentle smile.
“You did?” I asked curiously, my head coming out from under my sheets.
“She was always such a nervous little thing, but when it came time to protect her friends, she would find the bravery to stare down a dragon...and win.”
“Wow,” I said in wonderment.
She nodded, “She was quite the pony...so kind too, but I digress,” her expression turned solemn.
“Nightlight, do you remember what you did the other day?”
I tried my hardest to think back only remembering the book at first, but then it hit me like a ton of bricks, and just like being hit with a ton of bricks I began crying. Celestia took me in her forelegs and held me, much like the old mare from the celebration. I was crying for who knows how long, only to be interrupted by another coughing fit, my lungs felt like they were on fire with each cough.
After enough time for me to finally calm down she sat back away from me, “Nightlight...What you did to those friends of your-”
“They aren’t my friends! They’re bullies!” I snapped at her. “They take all my stuff and break it and yesterday they took this book from this nice lady I got and burned it!”
Her horn glowed pulling up a book that was burned on the outside, but it was alright on the inside “How did you-?” I said with a smile.
“Never judge a book by it’s cover...it’s one of the lessons in here actually.” she replied “But do not change the subject.” she said sternly, “We have to discuss the matter of your punishment.”
She made a sudden motion, I flinched readying myself for a blow, making Celestia gasp quietly, “But before we do that...I must speak to this ‘ Miss Shelter’.” She trotted off to places unknown, leaving me to finally fall asleep once more.
I awoke a few hours later at sundown, with Celestia patiently waiting for me. “Ah glad to see you're awake again Nightlight.”
“What happened?”
“I went to have a little talk with your Orphan Matron, and I don’t think she’ll be a problem anymore.” she said in a business like demeanor. “Now onto the situation at hand-” the Princess was once again interrupted by the sound of my stomach growling, quite audibly. “First...some dinner.” she said with a smile. She stepped outside for a moment and began talking to somepony who I heard say, ‘Right away Princess.’ before galloping down the hallways. Celestia took her place once again by my bedside and began stroking my mane with her hoof.
“Princess?”
“Yes Nightlight?”
“What happened to the Blood Wings?”
“The who-what now?”
“Those other colts and that filly”
She sighed.
“Well Nightlight, during the fire the filly Ruby Rum had her feathers singed off, so she won’t be flying for quite some time, one of the colts,Wind Breaker inhaled too much smoke and has a hard time breathing now and has to wear a special device to help him breathe, Nimbus...” she looked away for a moment.
“Nimbus is blinded in one of his eyes now” she said all of this very somberly. I felt bad for them in a way, but at the same time I knew it was the universe's way of getting me payback.
Soon after, some ponies came into the room with carts that had silver trays on them. The smell coming from them was the most amazing thing I had ever had the chance to smell. They pulled these lids off the trays and said, ‘Dinner is served.’ before leaving me and the princess alone again. It was quite possibly the most food I had ever seen in my entire short life. Fresh apples, vegetable stew, actually clean looking water, not counting the glass from earlier, but to top it off was a generous slice of cake. I assumed it must’ve been all for the princess at first, so I didn’t eat anything at all right away.
“What’s wrong Nightlight?” she asked as she was about to take a bite out of an ever juicy looking apple.
“I’m waiting for you to finish then I get what’s left. That’s how Miss Shelter did it sometimes, especially when I was late to the table.”
The look on her face was incredibly saddened by what I said, “Nightlight, dear, that’s not how it works. This is my plate, and that one is yours.” she claimed as she pointed to our respective trays.
“All of it?”
“Yes Nightlight...All of it.”
I never smiled wider than I did that day. I began to dig into the food, each bite more savory than the last, and for the first time since I could remember, I was actually full. Gloriously full. After she and I let everything settle she leaned forward once again, “Nightlight, it’s time we talk about-” she stopped herself one more time and looked around the room for anything that would stop her from continuing “It’s time we talk about you and your home.”
“I don’t have a home...” I said sadly.
“Well Nightlight, even though what you did was wrong, I know you couldn’t help it. I decided that it would be best you live here in the castle so I can properly teach you magic. However it has come around to the issue that while you are still a part of the orphanage meaning you would have to be there, despite its non-existence as of recently.” she paused for a moment, “And in light of the recent evidence against the orphan matron I could not in good conscious let you live there...That is why I’ve decided to officially make myself your legal guardian and make you my first apprentice since Twilight Sparkle.”
I want you to picture the happiest moment in your life and multiply it by a thousand and then compare it to that moment...it would still be short of the sheer joy I felt the moment those words left her mouth...sadly happiness doesn’t last forever no matter how good it is.
Chapter 2:
It was a few weeks later. Some time after the princess gave me lessons on magic control and manipulation, beginner’s lessons I had never had the chance to receive in the wretched orphanage. Luckily for myself I learned quickly, using examples out of the book given to me by the stranger I met during the prior year’s Summer Sun Celebration.
The book was old and handwritten, chickenscratch hoofwriting and ink stains littered the
pages. In the front of the book it had the most simple of spells simplified the lowest degree that they can. The rest of the book contained only slightly torn pages, complex diagrams, and incantations my young self could hardly make out, especially the ones not written in difficult languages I had not seen before.
At the time I assumed that the mysterious mare was probably a teacher that I would eventually meet in The School of Gifted Unicorns, and finally get a chance to thank for the guide.
I was practicing a levitation spell, which by then I had nearly mastered despite that it was just beginner spell, when Celestia, my mentor, opened the door, snuck up behind me and startled me with a quick ‘boo!’ breaking my concentration, causing me to drop the books I was floating on top of myself. “Teacher!...Why did you have to go and scare me like that?” I said with a half questioning, half whining tone.
“Because, my young pupil,” she began. “I have good news for you.”
“Well...I hope it was worth the headache, literally.” I said, rubbing my scalp with my hoof, where a thick book had struck me.
“I’ve decided that you’re ready to attend The School of Gifted Unicorns.”
I jumped around the room with glee, “Yay! That’s amazing! I can’t wait, when is the first day? Maybe I’ll get to meet some new friends, and really master some new spells and-”
“Nightlight, calm down,you will start attending in a couple of days, and I am very sure you will make plenty of friends.” She said giggling.
I smiled and bounced around energetically. Odd I know, a filly excited about school, but the chance to meet new ponies and make the oh-so mythical ‘friends’ that I had only read about in the book I adored excited me greatly. The days went by rather eventfully to prepare for my introduction to class mid school year. I crammed most of what fillies learned at my age, basic math, spells, reading, and writing as well as some assorted spells i thought might be useful later.
The first night before school was something that should have been addressed properly. If it was, I probably wouldn’t be in my prison.
I dreamt of the orphanage burning, its flames spreading untamed across Canterlot, and I watched in horror as the inferno consumed everything. I ran through the city looking for anypony who could help, until I saw at the inferno’s center a pony calmly standing among the fires. I rushed up to them for help only to see that they weren’t normal ponies.
They had no coats, manes, or even cutie marks. Their flesh was made of an red purple ethereal substance, this substance was flailing wildly in the form of tendrils on its back. Atop what would be their heads was a horn brimming with power, their eyes were glowing a bright crimson filled with rage. They turned and stared me down, I tried to run but was frozen in place. One leaned in close, our faces almost touching, and spoke one word.
“Soon.” Its voice was echoing with power. Fires consumed me as they walked away into the inferno. I awoke moments later screaming in a cold sweat.
Celestia came into my room after hearing my cries. “What is it Nightlight?” she asked in a motherly fashion.
I tried to respond but the dream had shaken me, making me only stutter while I attempted to formulate words, only to end up with sobbing cries and whimpers. From that point she decided to sleep with me and keep me company for the night. I couldn't sleep and ended up only shivering with my eyes closed till she left the room to raise the sun. I groggily left towards the dining room to eat today’s breakfast, but I wasn't that hungry and only had a few bites of an apple before getting ready for school.
I was escorted to the school yard by one of Celestia's assistants. A nice mare, brown coat, earth pony. She looked really motherly, I took bets that someone would mistake her as my mother. I asked Celestia why she couldn't take me and she mentioned something about keeping a ‘low profile,’ I didn't really understand, but seeing as how I was dead tired from the night prior I didn't bother to ask any questions.
A school teacher was standing outside greeting everypony, catching up with parents and drinking a cup of coffee. The assistant and I approached the teacher who greeted us with a warm smile.
“Welcome” he said energetically, “I’m Mr. Miracle, you must be the new student!” he said with a smile. He was to my surprise an earth pony, he had a bright dark green coat, a short black-gray mane that was mostly bald on top, and his cutie mark was a book with a quill.
I nodded nervously making him laugh heartily “Do you have a name then?”
“Nightlight...” I said shyly.
The assistant smiled, “I take it that you can handle this from here, yes?” she asked.
Mr. Miracle nodded “Of course,” he turned to me, “You ready for your first day then Nightlight?”
I perked up, “Yes! Well at least I think I am, I've been learning and practicing a bunch of new spells and stuff!”
He laughed at my enthusiasm, “It’s good to see a filly at your age so interested in learning. Come then, class is about to start.”
I followed him as he began walking into the school. I looked around in awe at everything. All kinds of ponies were going around going to their proper class rooms.
The bell rang as we reached the classroom, it was full of fillies talking with each other, desks and all sorts of educational needs.
“Alright everypony settle down.” Mr. Miracle said over all the fillies in the room, gaining the attention and silence of everypony in the class. “Today I would like to introduce a new student to the class, please say hello to Nightlight.” He motioned to me which made me retreat behind him. He laughed a little, “It’s alright Nightlight, why don’t you tell us a little about yourself?”
I gulped and gathered myself, “Umm h-hello everypony I’m N-nightlight...and uh...I like magic and I uh ...I wanna make some friends.” I spoke, unsure of myself.
Mr. Miracle smiled at me, “Well Nightlight I’m somepony will be your friend, now go ahead and take a seat.”
I nodded and found my way to an empty seat, and tried to listen, despite my fatigue, enthusiastically to Mr. Miracle’s lesson, which was for basic hoof writing. The reason that is taught at a school for unicorns is that not everypony was dexterous enough with their magic at that age to write with it.
That class ended eventually and I went to three others, attempting to catch up with everyone’s material. Soon enough the bell rang and all the fillies filed out excitedly to lunch which doubled as recess. My lunch was just a daisy sandwich, some water, and another apple from the renowned Sweet Apple Acres.
I sat on a picnic bench between a few fillies that I recognized from Mr. Miracle’s class. None of them seemed to pay too much attention to me, but it’s better than being picked on right away. I didn't eat very much, and had some time to kill before the lunch session was over. Earlier in the day I overheard that there was a library so after a few little questions I was able to get directions towards my desired destination.
After a short trot, I arrived at the library, a rather small building compared to most, probably most reading material was brought from either home or the city’s library, but still a quaint wooden building. I opened the door and stepped inside. Definitely a rather unused location as inside was a bit dusty, occupied as far as I can see by only an old looking pony with a gray coat and a couple of young colts and fillies escorted by what I assumed as their teacher.
I found my way towards the educational section, and of course as this was a school for unicorns, I would win a bet if it were on whether or not there were books on magic. In the isle I spotted a text labeled To magic, or not to magic?, levitated it off the shelf, and plopped myself down on a nearby cushion to start my tiny adventure of words, ignoring everything around me till the class resumes in an hour or so.
“Wait, how will I know when I have to head back?” I mumbled to myself. “Maybe they will go and find everyone? Or will they...” interrupting my personal monologue a book from above fell flat on my head.
“Sorry! Wasn’t my fault! It’s all Witch’s fault I tell you!” a voice yelled out from above.
The voice then hopped down from its roost above me onto a table, revealing itself to be a bright yellow earth pony with a tattered brown shirt and a black, coiffed mane. His cutie mark was a black question mark, but upside down, which confused me momentarily. When he looked at me, it was with one eye at first, the other trailing off in another direction, but once he looked at me for a little bit he focused it and stared apologetically at me.
“Why did you drop a book on my head? And what is wrong with your eye?” I asked.
“It was Witch! He zapped me and made my eyes go like this, my coordination hasn’t been very good ever since.” he claimed, pouting.
“A Witch? They don’t exist, and what are you doing here? You’re an earth pony, and this is a school for unicorns.” I said a bit agitated at the situation.
He jumped down from above, “That’s a funny story actually. You know Mr. Miracle who teaches here? I’m his kid.”
He landed in front of me, “The name’s Nut Case! Pleased to meetcha!” He said gleefully as he extended his hoof for a hoof shake.
“If..if you say so...” I reached out and shook his hoof, which he did in return in an over energetic manner. I continued, “.. now you were saying something about a witch?”
He chuckled a bit, “No no no, not a witch, it’s my pal Witchy, but he can be a drag sometimes with his attitude, takes things too seriously, know what I mean?”
“No...I don't know what you mean by that.” I replied.
Suddenly a loud ringing noise went throughout building, startling me.
“What is the name in Celestia was that? Are we under attack by griffons?” I asked, worried for my life.
Nut pouted as he looked outside and his eye trailed off, “Aw man, the lunch bell already?” He turned back to me, “Well, it was nice meeting you, miss... umm...”
“Nightlight. It was nice meeting you too Nut Case, but it does seem I have to get going then, bye.” I said as I started to head my way towards the door.
“I’ll be here, it’s not like I go to this school anyways!” He said, laughing and pointing to his hornless forehead.
“Alrighty, bye then.” I waved as I headed out my way, dashing to class.
I heard a faint “you forgot to put the book back!” As I rushed outside. In retrospect that was probably the fastest friend I had ever made, and I had only just got here! Maybe things won't be so bad here.
The day, as long as it had lasted, felt unforgivably short. I had the uncontrollable feeling I was forgetting about something. However I decided to just lay down and get some sleep for tomorrow at school, I hoped i could make more friends, hopefully none as...well strange to say the least. Anyways it was time to get some rest and so I did.
The quiet night brought by Luna was peaceful. I felt lucky it was so silent up in the castle rather than being in a musty old building like the orphanage which sat on the corner of a busy street and where commotion ran through the night. It felt good to get some actual sleep.
I got up from my bed, it was already daylight, and time to get ready for school. I shook myself out of the jittery daze and hopped out of bed. I took a quick glance towards a nearby clock.
“Bloody horse-feathers.” I sighed.
Quickly grabbing an apple I made myself to the hall where the same associate of Celestia from yesterday was waiting on me.
“Well took you long enough.” she giggled.
“Yeah sorry, I guess I woke up late.” I said
“That’s alright. Now if you are ready, lets go.” She stated, and I just nodded and followed along.
The simple routine from yesterday continued almost the same, with the exception that I was actually aware of where to go, and what to do. I sat through a simple lecture by Mr. Miracle, and while others were doing a side project I was too late to join in on, I was given recap lessons by Miracle. Finally after what felt like an eternity, the bell rang for lunch to begin. Perfect timing too, I was getting bored of being showed stuff Celestia already taught me last week.
I made my way to the library with my lunch, hoping some peace and quiet would calm my mind a little, still being shaken up by the nightmare I had.
“Hello again Nightlight!” shouted Nut Case from across the room.
“Why are you yelling? Isn’t this a library?” I whispered loudly as I trotted over to him.
“Uhh, look around, there’s nopony in here ‘cept the librarian, but she is usually sleeping heavily.” He said, one eye trailing off.
“Well fine..” I began, this time a little louder, “..but don’t you dare think I’m going to yell just because I can.” I grumpily proclaimed.
“Don’t expect ya to, but anyways I was gonna ask if you wanted to do anything after school today?”
“Well I don’t know what there is to do, I was isolated in an orphanage for 7 years of my life and until recently I never got out, so I really don’t know.” I stated, my volume growing lower.
“Ohh... sorry. Didn’t know, anyways we could hang out at my pal Witch’s place, or grab a bite at some local places...” he babbled, and began naming as many restaurants, cafes, and bakeries as he could off the top of his head.
“Hey!” I interrupted him mid-sentence causing him to stare awkwardly. “Will you just shut up already?” I said jokingly. “After school you are going to show me somewhere with sweets, got it?” I ordered in a light-hearted manner.
He took a moment to recollect what I said. Or to stare at the ceiling, I couldn't tell, when suddenly he bounced and said, “Sounds awesome! Meet me by the gate at the final bell, I’ll ask my dad for some bits, I’m gonna show you the best Fillydelphian pie you ever tasted.” He then rushed off, probably forgetting that there was still a deal of time until lunch ends. I took the temporary silence as a little gift to sit down and read something. Then i just squealed to myself, joyous over how I already made a friend and get to go out and do something fun.
