Power Unending

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.