Chapters Chapter 0: The bright colt
"Is there a problem with my son?" Arel heard as he kept reading his book, stories about knights.
"No, the reason I called you here is that your son built this on his own," Arel looked over his shoulder to see what his teacher was showing his mom. It was the little model of a boat he saw in a picture of his books, a small sailboat he put together using the building blocks they had at the class a carefully built model that had a decent amount of resemblance to the picture he saw. "He did it during class."
"And he didn't do the task the teacher told him to? If that's the case I'll explain to him to pay more attention and give him a little scolding," Arel's ears dropped as he heard that.
'Why am I going to be... '
"There is no need, Mrs. Areneo. When the teacher took his textbook, he found the entirety of the book with the answers. He checked it and found out that they were all answered correctly. And before you conclude that your son might have stolen the answers, know that these books just arrived last week. But due to a problem, the teachers textbook arrived just yesterday. Meaning that your son to copy the answers would have needed to steal from the couriers."
"And since he is just six..."
"Yes, there is no way that he broke into the school to steal these. He wouldn't even be able to carry all the books. No, we checked the other subjects' textbooks and found out that he did everything right. Grammar, math, reading. Your son is a little prodigy in academics."
"But why call me here if everything is okay?"
"Since we just started the school's year and there are still spots left in the following grade. We would like to know if you are okay with him skipping a grade."
'Does that mean I get to be with the bigger kids? Neat! ' Arel thought as he returned to his book.
He got distracted by the story of a brave knight wielding a magic stone he had removed from the rock and became king. The book was a bit heavy for him, so Arel made him slide off the shelve using a ramp he made using the triangle pieces f the building blocks. Just as he was reaching the part of a great battle to defend his city from a horde of bad guys, Arel felt something petting his head.
"Let's go home, dearie," His mother said with a soft tone.
"Okay, mom!" He said happily closing the book, Arel tried to lift it but he wasn't able to. His mother crouched and took the book back to the shelf where he had taken it. Then she took his hand and walked away from the school, as she was leaving Arel's mom stopped by the door to say goodbye to the teacher.
"Have a good day, Mrs. Minds."
"You too, Mrs. Areneo. Before you go, maybe you should consider looking into colleges here Canterlot to enroll him. He has a bright future. Too bad he can't make to Celestia's school for gifted unicorns."
Arel saw his mother nod and she walked away pulling him by the hand, he wasn't sure of what was happening but he was excited with the idea of learning more things. He wanted to see more. Arel was very curious since he started to be able to walk, always losing his mother and wandering off in his next little adventure. His curiosity was matched only by his love for reading.
The little earth pony started to read when he was three years old, his father found him in his study repeating the words on one of his documents. After that, it didn't take long for Arel to start reading every book he could get his little hands on. But what he had in brains, he lacked in brawn. An earth pony that was scrawny and a very slow runner, unlike his friends.
It didn't take long for him to get to his home and see his father sitting in his study. Arel ran to him as soon as his mother let go of his hand, Arel's father got up and went to him.
"Hello, you little troublemaker!" His father said picking him up and spinning him around.
"Not a troublemaker!" Arel heard from behind him. "More like a little genius in the making."
"Is that so?" Arel's father asked turning around. "So, our little boy is a smart one? Who would have thought that after e caught him reading the history of Equestria?"
"I know," Mrs. Areneo replied giving a kiss to her husband. "The principal wants him to skip a grade. She also told us to start looking up colleges for him. She might be thinking a bit ahead but given how our little boy is going...I guess we ought to consider that."
"Well, son, whatever it is you chose to learn and. Knowledge is power. Remember what I told you about power?"
"With great power, comes great responsibility!"
"That's my little genius. So here is another thing for you to remember, ok?" Arel nodded as his father put Arel on top of his table. "Every life is precious, so are yours. You are a smart one, never throw your life or your values away in exchange for an easier path. Understand?"
"He might be smart, but I don't think he can have that level of conversation yet, dear."
"I just want you to promise to remember that as well, ok?" Arel nodded positively. "You don't need to worry about understanding it. It will have it's meaning when you're older. You just keep that little spark of yours burning brightly, ok?"
Arel noded positively to his father. "I'll make sure to remember father!"
And so he did, Arel performed brilliantly in academics, just as his teacher predicted. The young colt grew into a teenager, graduating from his school with honors he continued on his path to High School. His frame kept its aspect of being frailer than other earth ponies. Due to his avid reading, he ended up needing glasses once he came to the age of 11.
His cutie mark was chemistry vials and physics formulas, his coat was an orange fading to a bright yellow at the bottom of his hooves. Arel's mane went from a vivid blue to a lighter tone towards the end of the edge of his mane, it would stay styled if he combed it, and it would be all spiky if he didn't do it. So he varied based on how he felt or if he had the time to do it.
In terms of knowledge, high school was a breeze. When it came to dealing with others, he was pretty naive. He ended up being mocked a few times due to his nerdy nature, however, he just kept moving on. Arel had a goal, making the world a better place with his inventions. During his free time, he would study technology, magic, chemistry, biology. Anything that could help him come up with new projects was welcome in his studies.
"Well, Mr. Areano," The principal started, Arel was a bit freaked for being called to his office out of the blue. Especially six months before graduation. "You can relax, son. I just want to ask if you heard about the new project in the works at Celestia's school for gifted unicorns?"
"I-I can't say I have sir."
"They are planning on letting students that aren't unicorns to enter. For now, the project is still being evaluated and they need to see if they will work. So, they are taking in some students if they have a letter of recommendation and pass their interview."
"That is amazing sir! That ought to help a lot of ponies to grow in the academic field quicker."
"And we would like to recommend you to it," Arel tilted his head at that. "You are our most brilliant student. Your projects and scores in competitions of physics and mathematics brought a lot of spotlight to our school. This is our way of saying thanks!"
"I-I see! Well, sir! I would be honored if you were to recommend me to the project!"
"Okay then, son. After graduation, you will receive a letter telling the place and time to do the interview. Now, go out there and enjoy your last six months in our academy!"
"Will do sir!"
And just as promised, three days after his graduation in high school. Arel received a letter with the Princess' seal on it, the appointed time was 10:30 AM. The interview's place, within the castle walls. Apparently, there was a connecting area between the castle gardens and the school grounds. There they would be interviewed and those who passed would be evaluated to determine their level of knowledge.
Arel went to the determined spot at the appointed hour. His mother took the day off to accompany him there, there was a considerable amount of ponies waiting by a circular area that was closed off by a magical wall that prevented others from seeing what was inside
"Looks like a lot of schools are trying to get their students here," Arel's mother commented as she turned around and started to groom his mane and adjust his clothes. A red and white flannel shirt with a white T-shirt underneath it and dark blue jeans. "Now, remember..."
"It's okay mom," He said interrupting her speech and her attempts to groom Arel's mane. "I'm sure everything will be just fine. You can go find a place to wait. I'll just go wait for my turn."
Arel gave her a hug and went to the group of ponies, they seemed to be very tense. There were mostly females, the few males he caught sight of were hitting on the mares. The mares, however, seemed to be really concerned there were some in the verge of tears. Some were even sitting on the ground shivering a little bit.
'Maybe this is how things normally go during job interviews? '
Even being a few minutes earlier, Arel had to wait until 11:00 AM before somepony walked out of the magical wall. It was a mare with some small round glasses, a lavender coat, purple and pink mane, unicorn, reading some sort of small cards, her eyes were moving way too fast to follow. She didn't seem very comfortable with doing a speech, Arel concluded she must have been the first student to enter the place. Actually, she seemed too young to be attending there.
'Maybe she skipped a few grades just like me? I swear I think I've seen her before. ' Suddenly he saw her take a deep breath, take off her glasses and looked at the crowd.
"Good morning to all of you. My name is Twilight Sparkle and I am a first-year student of the High School segment of this institution. I was asked to welcome all of you to the interview process to apply to our academy. And also to explain how this process will be conducted," She said while walking red to left again and again.
'That was a sudden change. She looked like she was freaking out when she was reading. '
"The Princess believed that a student receiving other students would help ease the tension before proceeding to be interviewed. Now, pay attention to this is how things will go: behind me is the entrance, once your name appears on the wall approach it and you will be allowed entry. Once inside, you answer a few questions related to your highest grades while in High School. You will not receive feedback on it at first, after answering the questions you will proceed to the next phase. The interview, once that is finished you will proceed to the final room where you can find the feedback on your answers for the first phase. If you do not find a document evaluating your answers, that means you were not selected. That is all."
And with that Arel watched a bunch of mares and some of the stallions start to complain and be angry, Twilight just waved good-bye and left the place. Soon after, some of the students up and left with their heads hung low. Not long after that, names started to pop up on the wall. Nopony came forth.
'I guess they did that on purpose? To see who could handle the pressure? '
Then a name appeared and one of the students went to the wall, a door appeared and they went inside. The door disappeared immediately after they passed through preventing the others from seeing what was inside. Silence took over the garden, some students went to the wall and pressed their heads against it as if they wanted to hear what was happening inside.
Arel thought it would be useless to do that, so he simply walked to a bench and sat down. His legs were a bit shaky due to him being slightly more nervous after seeing the ones organizing this interviews using those tactics. Arel just closed his eyes and sat down, opening them whenever he started to hear murmurs and ponies asking about the name that had appeared.
Time passed by, more and more names were called. Arel started to feel more uneasy as time went by. 'Did they set this all up to see who would break? This is very stressful. Just a name on a wall and tests that we know nothing about. If making us feel uneasy was your goal...salutations cause you've done it right! '
Tired of sitting around, Arel got back on his hooves and started to walk around. Then more murmurs came around and he heard somepony mentioning his name. Turning around as fast as he could, Arel walked towards the wall and went inside. The first room was small and had only a desk with some papers, a pencil, an eraser, and a timer marking 15 minutes.
'I guess these are my questions? '
Arel sat down and started to read, physics, chemistry, math, his three best subjects in High school. They were very tough, two questions for each subject, all multiple choice. Arel worked as fast as he could through each one, carefully making the calculations and formulas and checking each step as he proceeded. The pencil danced like crazy through the paper, calculation after calculation he reached a result and marked the answer he arrived at. When he had finished the seventh question, a loud buzz sounded and the items before him disappeared. All that was left was the desk where he was sitting.
'DAMN IT! I didn't answer all! ' Arel thought as he stood up. One of the walls opened and Arel stepped through, his shoulders were dropped and his gaze was on the ground. Then he heard a voice he didn't recognize.
"So, you are Arel?" He looked up and saw something that he didn't quite expect.
The interviewer he was meeting was none other than the Princess of the sun. Celestia, who also was, as the name clearly stated, the founder of Celestia's school for gifted Unicorns. Arel had seen her in newspapers, parades, and he had heard about her feats in the past because of the history books he had read. He bowed as quickly as he could.
"Yes, your majesty!"
"There is no need for that. Come, take a seat," Arel looked up to see the Princess pointing at a chair opposite to where she sat. The Princess had a tea set placed over a table, Arel obeyed and sat at the appointed table. "You seem to want to ask me something, what is it?"
"U-um...d-did you conduct all the interviews so far?"
"Yes," She replied before serving herself some tea. "Now, let's proceed to yours. Your mother is called July Areneo, correct?"
"Y-yes, she is an e-engineer in the Harmony-Tech civilian outfit. S-she is currently working in items to help ponies have an easier life. B-but based on what I've seen, there has been some issues integrating the magic channeled through the current power cell model. The circuits break down too fast because the power cells need a different modulator to control the power flow and prevent overheating them. If that issue was to be solved the complexity of each of the circuits could be improved and then we could..."
Arel stopped the moment he realized that he was about to mention one of his ideas for after he managed to finish his college. He looked at the Princess to see her watching him with a smile, the teacup in her hands.
"Go on, don't let me stop you."
"I-if the complexity increased, more intricate mechanisms could be made. M-maybe an interface connecting directly to ponies nervous systems allowing a pony who lost the ability to walk to walk again. M-maybe by making a prosthesis to replace a pony's limb, e-even reconnect spots between a fractured spinal cord."
"Interesting, am I right to assume you saw the designs for the circuits your mother is working on?" Princess Celestia asked placing the teacup back on the table. Then magic surrounded her horn and a blueprint appeared on the table. "These are the blueprints for the current modulator for the Harmony-Tech cells. Go ahead, check them and tell me what you would do to solve the modulator problem."
Arel gulped, he placed himself in that situation. Now, he had to get himself out. Leaning over the table, he started to analyze the entirety of the blueprint. After running his eyes over it again and again, Arel took a deep breath before looking up.
"T-the component for this part modulator where the harmony flows through has a poor response to the harmony energy liberated by the energy cell. Reducing its efficiency. I-if we were to change this component that would be a start."
"And what do you suggest to replace it with?"
Arel gulped again before scratching his chin. "T-the natural elements we currently know have poor responses to Harmony, especially if there is fluctuation to the amount of energy running through it. B-but some materials apparently can have a decent response if we change their physical state. Therefore, if the part was substituted by a component with the right response ratio in its most responsive physical state, the time before breaking down the circuits due to use would be increased considerably."
"Then we could start experimenting on different material combinations to see if the response would increase until we found something with the most efficient response. With that, we can work on the remaining design changes to make the modulator efficiency increase even more."
Celestia smiled. "You are not far off. As far as I know, our scientists arrived at that conclusion a few weeks ago after revising the blueprints for months. You, however, got through it in a few seconds. Now, let's continue. Your father, Neil Nauka. He is a geneticist, correct?"
"Correct. He is studying the possibility of applying magic to modify genes and prevent diseases from manifesting. Maybe even stimulating the genes to increase the immune response to diseases." Arel replied breathing a bit more easily since he was through the storm now.
"Interesting. Now, let's change back to you. Why would you want to apply to my school?"
"Huh? I-I...I think that if I were to apply here I could be more easily gain access to research centers since this place is pretty famous. Meaning that maybe I could..."
"Gain fame more easily? Make a fortune?" The kind expression she bore to that point was a scowl, her voice went from calm and kind to cold. "To be another celebrity that came out of our 'famous academy'?"
"No! If had access to advanced research material and equipment in a laboratory that has decent funding. I could make my projects work! I could help to improve our technology making the lives of ponies easier! Making it better! I'm sure I can do it if I have the right tools!"
Arel shouted all that while he slammed his hands on the table and got up. Once he realized that he had just shouted at the princess, Arel began to sweat.
'Shit, I might just have signed a death sentence to me applying here. '
Celestia snorted before she burst in laughter, nearly falling off her chair her wings shot open as she tried to regain her balance and speak. But she wasn't able to make any response, that scene remained with Arel confused for several moments.
"Haha...T-that...was certainly refreshing! The last 45 students were so quick to simply agree to everything I said. And on top of that, you actually raised your voice against me! Out of those 45 students, about ten of them actually had some decent reason to apply here. The others had those rehearsed phrases about always dreaming of entering the academy."
"Uh...y-you kinda lost me there."
"I'm saying that you've been admitted to the academy. Which course would you like to enter?"
Arel's legs gave in and he fell on the chair, he was baffled by what was happening right before his eyes. He had just shouted at the princess, spilled the tea on the teacup, and actually passed the entrance exam. 'What the heck is going on here? '
"So? What course would you like to enter?"
"E-engineering? NeuroEngineering?" Arel replied after shaking his head a few times.
"Very well. Your place has been guaranteed. Your classes begin in a few weeks. We hope to you showing our teacher what you got, Mr. Araneo."
Arel still a bit shaken, got up and bowed to her.
"Look up."
Arel raised his head and saw the princess offering her hand, he reached to it and then he shared a handshake with the Princess. After that, she pointed the way Arel should go and he followed. The next room had only a file on top of a table, Arel picked it. It had the answers to his test, he was right on all the ones he answered.
At the end of the document, he found the following note:
Arel Araneo, we are glad to inform that you've been accepted in Celestia's School for gifted unicorns. Your course is NeuroEngineering, based on the score of your test. You've been evaluated to be on par with the students of the beginning of the third year. A list of the required materials for your classes shall be sent to you in two days. Your classes begin in a month form this date.
We hope to see you soon.
With that in hands, Arel left the place and went to meet his mother. Leaving the campus that he was going to be using for the next few years.
Arel faced every day with everything he had. He was about to turn seventeen on 22 of February, his parents helped him get all the books he would need and the supplies for his classes. Just like a lot of students going to a new school, he was both excited and terrified of it. He had thought that he was going to have time to process this and go with a clear mind, however, time flew by before he could even realize that the big day had come.
Once the first day arrived, Arel found himself at the front gates with only his backpack and a lot of anxiety. He was really happy when he entered, but now he was in a blind panic. Taking a deep breath he took the first step, then another, and another. Before he knew it, he was heading to the notice board after overhearing a few students talking about checking which classes they were on.
Arel kept his finger running down the list until he saw his name.
'Class 3-6, ok. Now...is there a map somewhere? ' Arel thought as he opened space for the others to check while he wandered off to see if he could find a map.
"Looking for directions?" Arel heard from behind him. Turning around he found himself sweating bullets as he saw who it was.
"P-p-p-p-p-p-p-p...."
"Did the cat get your tongue? Yes, I am a princess. But I also happen to be a student and chief of the monitors."
That was none other than Princess Cadence, the alicorn princess of love that nopony knew where she came from. Making her both a mystery and a celebrity. And also one of the most desired mares in Canterlot, there were a lot of stallions claiming that they would make the princess of love fall for them in interviews. But as far as he knew, all of them failed miserably. Which gave her a moniker by the males that failed, 'the unattainable trophy'. Arel thought that was a repugnant moniker, he preferred her title of 'princess of love'.
"I-I'm looking for Class 3-6, Neuroengineering," Arel finally managed to speak, he felt a burden lift when his voice finally came out.
"So, he talks. Well, the three means third floor. The six means the sixth row of classrooms on the floor. The door for it will have the name of your course. And that's about it."
"Thank you!" Arel said bowing to her.
"Now, your name?"
"Huh? Ah! Yes, I'm Arel Araneo. Pleasure." He said still bowing.
"Very well, Welcome to our academy Arel. Now, go on. Your class will begin in ten minutes."
Arel thanked her again, then he took off to find his class. The inside of the building was way bigger than the outside, Arel found himself in awe at the place. He could barely see the ceiling and there were lots and lots of enchanted books and objects flying around from one place to the next.
Arel went to the stairs thinking of where he wanted to get, after two steps he found himself at the top of stairs with a sign that had 'third floor' written on it.
'That is convenient! ' He thought before he began to look for his class.
Just as the Princess had said, the classroom that he was looking for was on the sixth row of rooms. The building was strangely laid out, Arel could swear that he heard explosions coming from some classes, from others he heard roars. After passing by a few doors, he found the one with 'NeuroEngineering' labeled on the door.
'Well, here goes. Let's get ready for the next three years! '
It didn't take long for Arel to start drawing attention to himself, being the youngest there was the main reason. The fact that he had the highest score on the first test their teachers made was another one. Soon after, Arel found himself being asked to help others study. The teachers also began to pay more attention to him, some would constantly throw questions at him during classes.
It didn't seem like anything could stop him. Not even the limitations on what he was actually able to do, researching magic in order to understand it? He would do it without batting an eye, even if he wasn't able to cast spells. Researching biology so that integrating an interface between the tissue and synthetic components could be possible? No problem.
Arel kept growing in more fields than one, his attendance in extra classes also made him get even more spotlight. The more time went on, the greater was the number of ponies mentioning the young earth pony that was all over the school. Dismantling enchanted objects, mixing up chemicals and creating all sorts of random potions and fluids with different effects. Arel had become a star by simply doing what he was best at, thinking and innovating.
But, just as he had earned high regards from multiple ponies. There were also those that would look at him and see nothing more than the earth pony. Playing pranks, calling him names, beating him down was not an option but they came close to it. Making him trip and drop his things seemed to be the preferred method of the punks.
"Hey look, a mud pony where he belongs. The ground," Said Blue Blood, Celestia's nephew and the all-time jackass that also was held back a year multiple times until his teachers suddenly had a 'change of heart' and sent him to the next grade. Every. Freaking. Time. His one redeeming quality was his talent for mastering new spells. If he read instructions for the spell, he would do it first or second try. Even if he wasn't especially powerful.
"Wow, real smart Blue. Did you think of that on your own? Or did one of you flunkies made it for you? Like all of your school projects and exams?' Arel replied getting all of his things back and heading to class. Leaving behind an angry 'prince'.
Arel was moving perfectly as a student. And his mind kept expanding what he could do, on what he could create. The ideas for circuits, programming, every gadget that could help others kept popping up in his head. But there was something that kept getting in the way, the modulator for the power cells. That's when the simplest yet greatest idea hit him.
(Begining of the second semester of Arel's second year)
"Professor Astro, I was wondering if you could take a look at my thesis?" Arel asked after getting his teacher attention.
He went to him due to this teacher being extremely open to his students, sometimes he would stay way beyond his working hours helping out his students with any problems they had with his class. Sometimes even other teachers' classes. His full name was Philip Astro.
"You're working on a thesis already? Mr. Areneo, you certainly don't waste any time. But certainly, let's see here. What are you...?" Professor Astro's eyes widened as he read the paper. "You came up with a material that can be synthesized for the modulator for Harmony-Tech Industries?! You, you also..." The teacher kept running through the pages like a maniac, his eyes darting around the pages.
"I-I'm sorry. I guess the schematics and the project are all messed up."
"Are you kidding?! Kid, you may have just started this. But you're incredible! With a few corrections, you might have solved the modulator problem!" Arel raised his head and looked up to his teacher.
"Really?!"
"No, I'm just pulling your leg. Of course, I'm serious! Tell you what, I'll help you with your research and you are done! Did you show this to anypony?" The teacher asked as he looked around with a suspicious look in his eyes.
"No, why?" Arel tilted his head while looking around as well.
"Keep it that way, if you show this to somepony else, they might try to steal your project. This is huge, what do you say? Let's change their tech?"
"Sure thing!"
And so Arel and Professor Astro started to work. After settling on their work time for the project, they reunited every night to review the formulas and rewrite the thesis according to the results they got on simulations. The professor even got them a modulator to work on and modify it. With some convincing, they also managed to get permission to use the equipment for what Arel's teacher described as ' Astro's especial experiments'. Something about being mandatory that the teacher who was conducting an experiment gave his name just in case something happened.
"Come on, Arel! Think! You managed to crack the chemistry required to synthesize this. We can break the calculations and adapt this! Think back your steps, see each phase. You'll make a breakthrough without an issue! I'm sure of it!"
Receiving advice and pep talks was one of the many things Astro did for Arel during the research. There were times when the professor would cover up for Arel when he fell asleep in the lab the entire night. Helping Arel by arranging materials they required in a short span of time, explaining Arel's scores whenever he had a drop in performance due to the experiments.
Telling the teachers that Arel was overworking himself and asking for them to give him another shot at some exams saved Arel's grades from plummeting since Astro would monitor Arel's activities to prevent burnout syndrome. The teacher was like a watchful guardian ensuring that his student could keep his academic life while keeping up with his research.
"Arel. A sound mind rests within a sound body. You cannot overwork yourself this way. You'll start making mistakes. Then you start hurting others and yourself in the process."
Arel took the teacher's lessons to heart, assuming a new and healthier routine. Arel was able to get his body the rest it required and get his academic life back in the rails. With the rest from new routine, Arel's mind was also able to figure out more about the schematics for his project and how to improve it. Professor Astro was basically Arel's pillar for the project, his reviews and his advice kept Arel on the right track and taught Arel about the scientific method. Making both Arel and the project grow.
Nearly a year late,r the duo was running tests to see how much the modulator managed to stabilize the magic flow. The experiment was basically running the highest magic flow possible through the modulator and seeing how much the flow was dampened, and that was measured by the amount of damage they would see in the circuit board for the experiment.
"Please, flip the switch, Professor," Arel asked while putting on his goggles, protection just in case shards decided to fly. The loud clicking sound from the switch echoed through the halls. Then energy started to flow through the circuit, Arel watched as the modulator started to vibrate and function.
'Can't have that, better work on something to stabilize the inner workings. Don't want the users to hear rattling from inside the gadget. '
It took a while, but the modulator started to change color and then there was a loud pop followed by smoke. "Professor turn the switch off!"
Arel waited for the modulator change back into its natural color, once it was back to normal, Arel took it and started to analyze it.
'The part kept its integrity, the outer casing at least, meaning that the inner liquids didn't get out and damage the entire circuit. Now, let's take a look inside. Yes! The solid component of the mix melted and mixed with the liquid component preventing the liquid portion from turning into a gas. YES! The smoke came from the conduit burning up! Thus stopping the magic flow to reach the circuit and damaging it further. '
"How did it go?!" Arel heard from behind him.
"How much energy did we send through the modulator?" He replied after looking at the clock.
"Six times the maximum capacity for the current circuit we have," Arel smiled at that.
"Professor, we managed to extend the time again! Two and a half minutes! Forty extra seconds!" The professor practically rushed to Arel's side and looked at the results.
"That's great! And it is working perfectly with the safety mechanism! Ok, how about the board's integrity?" Astro was practically hopping around in excitement. His creepy grin came forth.
"Enough smiling, professor! I don't need nightmares," Arel replied with a smirk, which made the teacher start to laugh. "Ok. Now, for the moment of truth!"
Arel picked up the board, after placing it on a well-lit table, he picked up a magnifying lens and started to analyze it. His eyes meticulously searched every inch of the board, using his free hand he kept writing up all of the damages. Once that was done, Arel went to the circuit's schematics to check what the damage was and how it would affect the machine's performance.
"So?"
"Professor, I-I'm sorry," Arel replied without looking back to his teacher. His shoulders dropped and he let the notes rest. After a few moments, Arel felt a hand on his back.
"It's ok, we still have time. Let's look back on what we did and try to figure it out," Arel stood there, silently looking at the schematics. "Don't beat yourself over it. It was an experiment, we made some things right, others wrong. That happens! I'm sure we can find-"
"We don't need to do it," Arel said in a low tone interrupting Astro. "Because...Because we managed to keep an integrity of 96 percent! That's three percent higher than we predicted! No vital systems were damaged! The board can still function even after receiving a charge six times its capacity for two and a half minutes! Imagine with its ideal flow not overheating the modulator!"
"Y-you mean that..."
"Yes! We broke through! The base issue with the modulator was solved! Now we can work on improving it!" Arel said turning to his teacher. Astro offered his hand, Arel took it. Then the professor pulled him to his side and passed his arm over Arel's shoulders.
"You did it, kid. Or should I call you Professor Areneo?" Arel laughed at that.
They made humongous progress on the development of the modulator, Arel's thesis was progressing just as fast. The professor was getting more and more interested in the project the as they progressed. Then came the midpoint of Arel's last semester before he graduated. The teacher also seemed to get anxious whenever there was a setback, no matter how small it was. He also seemed a bit obsessed with Arel keeping the entire project under wraps.
'If get there earlier I can put some extra work and maybe finish the thesis today! Yes, it's all thanks to the professor. If he hadn't helped me out I would probably still be figuring out which areas to fix. Having a different point of view can help a ton! '
Arel reached the classroom where they worked and saw silhouettes inside. Opening it he saw the professor and another stallion. He looked to be part of the nobility, either that or he was very rich.
"And who is this Astro?" He asked while examining Arel from top to bottom, his gaze was cold and Arel felt a shiver running down his spine.
"Oh, this is my student. He is part of that dream project of the princess to make this school open to all races of ponies." Astro replied looking over his shoulder, a strange smile on his muzzle. Arel had seen that smile before, whenever they made progress on the project the professor would start with that creepy smile. But then again, whenever a student came up to him with project ideas that smile would pop up.
"Who is this professor?" Arel asked while putting on a polite smile for the two elders. One of his twitches came up due to how uncomfortable and nervous he was, that twitch was his left ear dropping while his right would get up like he was on high alert.
"This is my friend from Harmony-Tech Industries, the chief of the military outfit. He is here to evaluate my special project." Arel tilted his head and offered his hand to the newcomer, that ignored him before turning back to Astro. Arel brushed that off and shook his head when he processed what the professor had just said.
"You have a project for the military? Awesome! What is it?" Arel asked almost jumping over to see what was on top of the table between the two stallions. Astro placed his hand on Arel's chest and pushed him back slightly.
"Oh, nothing big. Just my new modulator model." Arel's ears dropped and his smile disappeared. "With it, the technology for new armor and magic powered swords, bows, crossbows, and other military equipment will be way more powerful and efficient!"
"But that's MY project! I wrote the thesis! I came up with the modulator's new component! You said that you woul-" Arel stopped because Astro raised his hand.
"I'm sorry, but you should know better at this point. Look at this." He said making a pile of papers appear on top of the desk. "See? If you check, it's my handwriting there. My signature in each of the pages. My name on the cover. You are a brilliant student, but you can't claim merit for something you didn't do."
"But-" Arel's mouth was held shut by magic energy.
"Before you even try, can you back up your claim? Documents, witnesses?" Arel tried to retort, but he couldn't. He and the professor worked on all that on their own. Even the experiments on the modulator were just labeled as his property. Arel was backed into a corner and he had nowhere to turn to. And worst of all, after Arel handed over the thesis over a year ago, professor Astro told Arel to keep a copy of all he did. The professor, at the time, said he could handle making the copy.
"Thought so," The rotten teacher said with an evil grin on his muzzle. "Now, run along kid. This is a meeting for adults, important matters are being discussed here. Not lies and fantasies from a wannabe inventor."
'So...when the original disappeared a few two days ago. He was the one who did it, but...I saw it. The professor made a quill to mimic my...that was a distraction...this is another copy. He probably got rid of both of the samples with my handwriting. '
All his hard work, all of his effort into making that simple stupid piece of metal was stolen from him like it was never his, to begin with. Arel would need to start a new thesis from scratch, and he would need to finish it in three months. Tears began to form in his eyes, Arel struck Philip with his fist. But all he ended up with a wounded hand and ran away.
He didn't need to come back to school for a few days, Arel locked himself in his room and started to run through his notes. Trying to find anything to get his research back, on his third day of searching his room, Arel heard somepony knocking on his room's door.
"Son, a letter arrived for you. I'll slide it underneath the door. Also, please come out. We are worried about you."
Arel looked at the envelope, he saw a glow coming from the seal on it.
'Magic envelope...wonder who is it from. ' Arel thought as he picked it up. 'No sender? Then they must have left it on the mailbox directly. ' Arel opened it, there was a note and a bag inside.
Arel picked up the note and read it.
Hello there kiddo,
This is professor Astro. I got to say that you are pretty weak, you know? That punch of yours was nothing. But that's not why I sent you this. The bag accompanying the note is filled with some bits so you stop causing a ruckus and go back to the Academy. A student up and disappearing at the same time as the teacher leaves for a military research is a bit inconvenient. Especially since everypony thinks that you were my pet. Take it and get a job, maybe you can even come work for me and make me even more famous.
You can't turn down this offer, or my little friends will make sure your parents won't be able to keep their jobs. I'm no murderer, but I do have some friends in high places. So be mindful of that before you do anything stupid.
By the way, how do you like Harmony-Tech Industries newest paper? Courtesy of another little student just like you, actually, it never ceases to amaze me how many stupid students I managed to steal from. Just so you know, before you even think about using this as evidence. The letter is enchanted with two little gimmicks. First, to other ponies, this is just a blank piece of paper. The second, you'll know soon enough.
The letter turned into smoke and then disappeared when Arel read the final sentence. 'The professor must have rigged the paper to do that once I had finished it. ' Arel reached for the bag and picked it. It was heavy, very heavy.
'Astro, you fucking bastard. You're mocking me even with this?! If you can send me this much, how much did you get from them?! ' Arel tossed the bag on top of his bed and tossed himself on his chair. 'What am I supposed to do now? He took everything. And I didn't get anything but that bag of bits and...THAT'S IT! '
Arel spun his chair around and faced his desk. Picking up a quill and some paper he looked at the empty parchment. Arel had just remembered something the professor mention during their work.
"Guess what, professor? You just gave me the funding for my project and the idea for it. This time, I'M going to outclass you with MY own work while making sure this idea gets to the right hands."
Arel's quill started to run through the paper, his new project was based on a problem he heard the Professor mention regarding the power cells.
"So, our current power cells can only be charged by directly channeling magic into the capacitor through the unicorn's horn? How about a power cell that absorbs the magic energy from the environment? Even better, both the environment and the user. Earth ponies can channel magic from their bodies to use their strength. Pegasus, on the other hand, use it to manipulate the weather and its components. Unicorns...that's obvious."
With that idea in hands, Arel rushed so he could get his project done by the deadline. Going back to school on the following day, Arel gave the excuse of starting to feel sick to justify his absence. Using every second he could spare, Arel would write and design the power cell, giving more emphasis to writing. He was way quicker this time to cover the theory. By the time the day to submit his thesis came by he had finished it. It was way simpler than the final product he wanted to achieve, however, for his current situation that was the best he could pull.
"So, Mr. Areneo. What is your thesis about?"
"A new part for the Power cell that powers up magi-tech. The current power cells require a unicorn channeling energy directly to the capacitor in order to charge it. However, that takes a long time and the unicorn faces exhaustion after doing it. My thesis is about the possibility of multiplying the amount of energy absorbed by adding the new piece at the entrance of the siphon used to charge it."
"Interesting, but wouldn't that have the risk of causing the power cell to explode? We can barely tell when the power cells are completely recharged right now."
"Not if the power cell had a safety mechanism made by using the alloy used in the prison cells for unicorns. The one that repels magical energy. If you check the current schematics I placed there, you will notice that the safety mechanism has a trigger by the entrance of the siphon. Once the magic energy reservatory reaches its peak, it will send a pulse of magic to the trigger. Since the alloy part is small, the magic will move it in the same direction of the pulse's vector. Causing it to close the siphon's entrance with a similar material."
The evaluators looked at each other, then they started to read the document. Each one of them had a good long look at the entirety of it, Arel just stood there waiting for them to finish.
'Please, please! I have enough to get me started. There something way more elaborated back in my home. But it would need more time to finish it. '
"Well, Mr. Areneo...this project...have you looked for anypony to sponsor your research? Because this shows promise if it received more work." Arel smiled internally.
"No, sir. I have worked up on that thesis and tried to design the model. But everything on my own. I intended to present a more elaborate version of this once I graduated."
"Well, if you want you can present it to the Harmony-Tech Industries research team. You might be hired right away."
"Sir, with all due respect. If this got to their hands, they would probably send it to the Military outfit that receives way more funding. My intention is to use this for helping out civilians. The military would take this and only let civilians have access to it years later once they got a newer model," Arel replied with a cold voice while frowning.
"How would you develop this?"
"I was thinking of finding a smaller lab and start from there."
"Are you aware of Princess Celestia's special research institute?"
"The ones that developed that mirror that shows ponies as strange creatures without fur and different faces?"
"Correct."
"The same one that had a scientist disappearing while working on the same mirror?"
"C-correct."
"And the one where the magi-tech was first theorized?"
"Yes." Arel frowned a bit at that point, his mind started to rush into probabilities that opportunity could bring.
"Wouldn't I need to be noble to enter?"
"That's an urban myth. The research center is free from the influence of other nobles than Princess Celestia. She chooses the projects that are developed there. She also manages the funding. Just as you said, magi-tech was theorized there. But a private initiative convinced the scientists who developed it to join them."
"And so was Harmony-Tech Industries formed. I am well aware of its story." Arel said frowning.
"The princess also made a point that research projects that show promise presented by the students can be sent to her. If the student who developed it agrees to it."
Arel stopped and looked at his thesis on top of the table, then he looked back to the evaluators, and then out the window where he could see the princess' castle.
"So, basically I get access to research materials and a team?" He asked while scratching his chin.
"More specifically, you get to chose your research staff. And you'll receive some funding. But is better if you have some bits to start, if possible. The first payments there tends to take longer to get to the researchers."
'If I go there...the lab is secured. The staff would be as well since I could choose who would work with me. Since I can stay away from Harmony-Tech I won't have to worry about professor Astro. This can be the starting point, the next step would be working on the circuits. There is so much I can do with this! Am I lucky or what? '
"Mr. Areneo?" The evaluator's voice snapped Arel back from his thoughts. "Is this your final project or just the beginning of one?"
"Sirs, my actual project is to make a power cell that can be charged by any race. And that also feeds on the magical residue left in the air after any of us uses the abilities unique to our races." The evaluator sitting at the center of the table stood up and slammed his hands on it.
"Mr. Areneo. You don't mean the same residue that pollutes the immediate area where the ability was used?"
"That is the residue I'm referring to. As you are all aware, using if one of our race's skills inside a magic waste saturated area will cause unwanted side effects. Varying from those limited to the caster, like paranoia and hallucinations. To those that affect bystanders, like explosions. If the amplifier works, then the amount of energy we get from the user itself can be kept at safe levels when magic wast is low. And we also clean the magic waste from our abilities and preventing accidents by turning waste into the main source of power to charge the power cell."
Just as he had finished that sentence, the evaluator that was standing up fell on his chair while the other two had their jaws on the floor.
'Hook line and sinker! '
"M-mr. Areneo! P-please allow us to submit your project to the Princess' research institute!"
"Yes, please do," Arel replied with a confident smile on his muzzle. Everything was back on track, now all he had to do was show Astro what he was capable of. The three of them came forth to shake Arel's hand, the last one smiled at Arel as he shook Arel's hand.
"I guess we can expect some great things from you, Mr. Areneo!"
Author's Note
Hello everyone!
Thanks for reading, if at all possible I would like to know your opinion on the chapter.
I'm also going to look for an editor for this one.
Thank you for your time. Have a nice day!
A few months had passed since Arel submitted his project, he had been pulling odd jobs fixing simple steam engines and minor magi-tech devices to help out at home. Magi-tech was the name given to the technology created by mixing, just as the name suggested, magic and technology. And the biggest corporation working on such devices was Harmony-Tech Industries, which had two distinct branches.
The military branch was connected to the royal guard and received the most funding, the reason for that being the fact that most of the bigger noble families had some of their members in the guard. Therefore if they invested in gear to help them, the odds of survival for those members would increase. An additional motive was the fact that since the royal guards kept crimes in check, it stands to reason that with better gear they got to be more effective. Meaning that the nobles could claim that they were investing in the security of the community.
The civilian branch, however, was responsible for developing devices for helping in everyday tasks. Automated typing machines, were the most advanced example, using a microphone it would turn spoken words into written text. Due to the problem with the circuits breaking down too quickly, most of their projects were stuck on developing phase. And the lack of investments made the researches come to a hold.
Another distinctive detail about the branches was the fact that the military never let their projects see the light of day. While the civilian branch was always advertising their advancements. Arel came to despise the military branch after Philip Astro, the newly named head of research for that segment, stole his project for the modulator.
Arel was had just stopped working on his designs for fixing for the new power cell's fluctuation problems after extended use when he heard somepony knocking on his door.
"Come in!" The door opened and then he felt a hand running through his mane.
"Son, I think you might want to come down for a moment." Arel turned his chair around to see his mother with a worried look on her face.
"Did something happen? You're back early." Arel asked standing up and looking behind his mother.
"I don't know. She won't tell me."
"She?" Arel asked, his mom just nodded.
Arel raised an eyebrow and tilted his head, then he walked past her and went downstairs. Inside their dining room, casually sitting on a chair was Princess Celestia. She had a baby blue dress that turned white the closer it got to her hooves, around her neck the golden color with a purple gem she always had on, and her crown. The princess hadn't changed a bit since the last time he saw her. Just as Arel had stepped into the room, one of the planks creaked.
"Good evening, Mr. Areneo," Celestia said turning her head to face him. "It's been...what? Three years?"
"Y-yes. Um...to what do I owe the honor?"
"So formal, I heard that today was your birthday. Therefore I came here to give you a gift personally. Twenty years old, correct?" Arel nodded. "You're very young. But nevertheless, I am glad to inform that your project was accepted to my research center. And that I would like that you begin working on it as soon as possible."
"You did what?!" Arel heard from behind him. "You submitted a project to the Princess' research center?!" His mother was practically hanging from the stair's handrail.
"Uh, yeah?" Arel replied while looking over his shoulder.
"And he passed?"
"That is correct Mrs. Areneo. In fact, I have a few things to discuss with him regarding his project. His eyes and ears only."
"Oh! B-But of course! I-I'll just leave you two to it!" She said before running over to Arel so that she could give him a hug. "I'm so proud of you!" She said while squeezing him, then she ran back upstairs.
Now Arel was alone with the princess, again. Arel walked over to the opposite side of the table and sat down, then the princess lit up her horn and a pile of files appeared before him. Names with pictures of ponies, schematics for a lab, details on funding. All the details for Arel's research were handled, all it was missing was him.
"You covered everything? Why?" Arel asked while his twitch started to act up again.
"Your suggestion three years ago made our scientists start to experiment on different materials for the modulator for our own model for the power cell. Then professor Astro left the institution with a completely new model for a modulator out of the blue, a model that coincidentally had a complete and advanced concept of your suggestion. He stole your idea, didn't he?"
Arel bit his lip and clenched his fist, the princess looked at him without her smile. She was frowning and her eyes were throwing daggers at Arel, that simply stood there silent.
"You raised your voice against me. But you didn't fight for your research? You simply gave it up? Brave enough to shout at a mare, but not enough to raise your voice against a stallion?"
"He backed me into a corner. He got rid of the two manuscripts with my handwriting, made copies with his handwriting, and all we did during the research for my project was done under his name. Now I got no evidence to prove what he did, not even witnesses. The bastard even sent me bits to make me quiet," Arel answered with a low voice, his nails dug through his skin.
"So, you came up with this project because you were out of options. And one of the teachers of my academy did this to one of our students. That Professor was brilliant when it came to working on already started projects, there was no way that he would have developed that modulator entirely on his own as he claims."
Arel stared at the princess for a few seconds. 'Is she...taking my word for it? Was she suspicious of him before this? And if that's the case... '
"Princess, did you...did you do all this as an apology?" Arel asked with a hint of hesitation in his voice.
"My school was supposed to help minds grow and let their ideas help our world. Not to steal from them. And doing so while hiding the evidence that could convict him, I wish there was something I could do. But this is the best I got."
Arel tilted his head and leaned back on his chair, the princess was actually trying to apologize to him. 'She isn't the one to blame...it was all my fault for not suspecting Astro. '
"Will you accept these as an apology?"
"An apology for what?" Arel asked reaching for the files. "As far as I know, I dug my own grave for not suspecting him or trying to have more backups in case things went south. This is just you being kind to one of your students. For which I'm grateful," Arel continued while looking through the dossiers.
Looking up, he saw Princess Celestia with an expression of relief. Arel smiled at that and went back to the dossier, apparently, she had handpicked those candidates based on the specs Arel had the committee sent her. Five ponies, three mares and two stallions. All specialists for the work he was going to be doing. Engineer, chemistry specialist, magical physics, recently graduated magi-tech engineers. He had an all-star team at the tip of his fingers.
To top it all off, she had searched all of the ponies' histories. Apparently, she hired somepony to gather all their connections and search for anything that could compromise their integrity. But more importantly, she checked their connections with Harmony-Tech industries. No ties, nothing close to it. The stage was set, all Arel needed was the 'go' order and he would start his work.
"So, when can you begin?" Arel looked up when he heard Celestia's voice. She was resting her head on her hand as she waited for her answer. "The ponies for your project are all independent researchers that agreed to help you and are eager to begin. Golden Hashbrown, magic specialist, you need ancient magic and melding spells? That's your stallion. Blitzer Lowpop and Soft Shell, the first is a female earth pony, the second one is a female pegasus. They are both stars when it comes to tunning and programming magi-tech devices."
"There is also, Anbern Alboh, male unicorn, his specialty is modifying spells structures to make new effects. And Nimver Dew, female pegasus, you need to work out numbers? That's your sentient calculator. Like I said, they are all eager to work with your little idea, when can you begin?"
"As soon as you hand me the keys to my kingdom," Arel replied smiling back at her. "My reign will begin."
(later that night, Canterlot castle)
"Coming!" Celestia said while she finished tying up her robes. At that hour of the night, she knew that it could be only one pony.
"Did you seriously hire that earth pony student?!" That was the first thing she heard upon opening the door.
"Yes, Twilight. I did hire him," Celestia said making way for her student to come in. "Why do you ask? Do you have something against him?"
"Against him? NO! I want to know why didn't you let me join his team!" Twilight blurted out before covering her mouth. "Sorry, the thing is...that stallion is somewhat famous in the academy! His grades are amazing. He attended classes that didn't belong to his curriculum and performed greatly on them. I think he knows more about magic than me! I'm sure there is a lot I could learn from working with him!"
"Twilight, I am aware of how talented you are. But you need to go through your studies first," Celestia said petting Twilight's mane. "I can't have you there, yet. Besides, he is the one who decides who stays there working and who doesn't."
Celestia watched her student's ear drop as she looked to the ground, then she looked up with a pouty face. Then Twilight's eyes started to water up.
'No, don't fall for it. '
Twilight started to sob.
'She is too grown up now to keep falling for that. '
The first tear rolled down her face.
'Oh, come on! The ruler of Equestria won't break for that! '
Another one.
"*SIIIIIIIIIIIIIGH* I'll see if he can allow you visiting his lab every once in a while," Celestia said while her pride was wounded for she was defeated by the eyes of her student. Upon hearing those words, Celestia saw her student's face light up as a huge smile took over Twilight's muzzle. "You need to stop with that habit," Celestia said pulling her into a hug.
"I don't know what you are talking about," Twilight replied with an innocent smile.
"You are just as devious as you are smart, aren't you?" Celestia said giggling a bit, it didn't matter how bad her day had been. Just seeing Twilight's happy smile made her happy in a way she couldn't quite describe. "Now, off to bed. You have classes tomorrow and I have duties to attend to."
Celestia saw Twilight look up at her with a slight blush. "Er...Princess I..."
"You read another one of those horror novels, didn't you? You know that they scare you. Why do you read them? Besides, you're getting a bit too old to come to sleep with me whenever you have bad dreams. You're sixteen already. I wish you would stop doing that," Celestia said while her left ear twitched due to the lie she had just told.
'Please ask. '
"Pretty please?" Twilight replied with puppy eyes and fidgeting a bit. "And I'm almost seventeen!"
"Ok," Celestia said while rolling her eyes. "Come on, I'll comb your mane before we go to sleep."
"But what about my pajamas?"
"Like you don't even have some spare ones in my drawers." Celestia watched Twilight let out a mild laugh while she scratching the back of her head. Then she went to the drawers and got her spare pajamas, soon after Celestia went to get her comb.
'It's been a while since I last took care of Twilight. I wish I could tutor her on my own and keep her away from all those blasted nobles in the academy. But the families already cause enough trouble simply due to me having her around, ' Celestia thought as she made the comb run through Twilight's mane.
'Enough about that, I'll just enjoy this time with my...daughter... '
(A few weeks later)
"Ohmygosh! Ohmygosh! Ohmygosh!" Twilight squealed and darted around the lab. "You've been busy! These calibrators are on point! OOOOOOO! Is that the schematic for the new power cell you're working on? That's a magic scan?! Can I get a reading on my magic levels? Wait...Did you modify this to be a magic fluctuator reader?!"
"Um...Princess, I think your student is broken," Twilight heard from behind her, however, she completely ignored the remark and kept running around.
"No, Mr. Areneo. That's just how she is," Twilight heard Celestia say that followed by a small laugh from her.
"How is the project going?" Twilight asked running straight to the stallion and positioning herself in front of Arel. "Do you need an extra hand? I'm sure I can help out! If you-?!" The stallion held her mouth shut for a second.
"First of all, remember to breathe. Second of all, I am just as excited about this project as you are. Third, if you are as smart as your teacher here claims I would hire in a heartbeat if there weren't restrictions for the staff that works here. Nopony bellow eighteen is allowed."
"But..."
"Sorry, but there is a risk of explosions happening here, Mrs. Sparkle," Arel retorted petting Twilight's head. "I even had one of our members install a security system to allow us to shut this lab off the other ones and reduce any damage."
"Okay..." Twilight replied looking to the ground.
'I really wanted to get in though! This place is fantastic! The devices all seem to have been modified! There are schematics all over the place! '
"Since you can't get in," Twilight's ears perked up the moment she heard those words. "Got your attention, eh? How about we give you two a little demonstration for the current state of the amplifier?" Twilight started to shake her head up and down like she was having a seizure.
"Looks like she really wants to," Twilight heard the princess comment while she tried to keep her balance due to her head shaking. "Please, show us your progress."
"Okay! Everypony to their stations! Protective gear up now! Activate the blast walls! I want a vocal confirmation that everypony is in place!" Twilight eagerly skipped in place while she saw the scientists running around and flipping switches. Suddenly a metal shutter came down from the ceiling blocking a specific area of the room.
"Blast walls in place! Activating transparency spell!"
"Magic energy amplifier in place and waiting!"
"Magical energy pathway secure and waiting!"
"Magic flow stabilized and within acceptable levels! Waiting to allow its flow!"
Twilight was getting even more excited, there numbers, devices working at full throttle, scientists making calculations. It was, in short, everything she ever wanted. She longed to be part of this world of numbers and ideas, bringing forth new discoveries and advancements for all beings in Equis.
It was at this point that Twilight saw Arel turn to her and speak. "Do you want to flip the switch and begin the experiment?"
"Can I?!" Twilight shot back, almost squealing with excitement.
She saw the scientist laugh before he handed a remote with a red button and a green button. Twilight saw Arel point at the green button and then he turned around towards the sealed off area. Twilight locked her eyes where the device was resting and pressed the button.
A stream of colorful energy flowed through the path the scientists had set, once it had reached its destination, the energy passed through the device. The amplifier started to shake and vibrate as the energy passed through it and got larger after leaving the device. It was a marvelous spectacle of colors that shone throughout the lab illuminating the walls and the ponies within.
Out of nowhere, smoke started to come out of the amplifier, followed by sparks and even more vibration.
"Twilight! The red button now!" Arel shouted, Twilight obeyed the command and the magic flow was cut and the amplifier stopped making noises.
"What happened?" Twilight asked with her ears drooped at the side of her head. "Did I do something wrong?"
"No, I guess we still need to work out the stabilizer. The adjustments we made seem to have improved the overall performance of the amplifier. But we still need to overcome the limitations the size imposes. We don't want a can-sized amplifier in the power cell. We want a small device, effective and practical." Twilight watched Arel scratch his chin as he said all that, his gaze locked on to the defective device.
'He looks so serious now. But...he also seems very happy. It's almost...like his eyes are sparkling! He must really love inventing and overcoming obstacles. '
"Well, I need to make some new calculations. If you'll excuse me," As he said that, Twilight saw Arel pull out a necklace from his clothes before heading out.
'What was that about? '
(Months later zebrecan village)
"Mrs. Daring Do. We do not know what you speak of. There are no such ruins in that area. At least none that we know off."
"Then how do you explain these?" Daring replied tossing the pictures she took on the table. All the proof she needed to get the village chief to talk.
She had been contacted by Princess Celestia herself to do a bit of an investigation regarding some rumors running through the borders about a village that suddenly started to dominate neighboring villages in commerce and weaponry. Daring went to check and found out a humongous ruin, unlike anything she had ever seen.
An underground network of tunnels filled to the brim with relics and gold, while snooping around, she saw some zebrecans moving around and trying to clear up a door that was surrounded by rubble. That's when she took the pictures, the workers seemed to be using very advanced gear, but there was no logo. Therefore all she knew some corporation was paying them to conduct an illegal excavation. One thing she did notice though, was that the locals would not touch the gold or the relics, they actually seemed very concerned with even touching it.
"Ah! W-well y-you see. T-the that site is actually..."
"Is actually what?!" Daring asked slamming her fist on the table. "Spit it out! Who is paying you to conduct an illegal excavation?"
"I-I don't know!" The village chief said backing up. "The outsider came and asked about the ruins that were established as cursed by our ancestors. We did not know much about them. The stranger then asked us to go into the ruin and search for a collapsed area. We were desperate since our harvest was a disaster due to a sickness taking over our fields."
"Hold on! If he asked about the ruin, how did he know about the collapsed area?"
"The stranger had a book with him. After making us an offer for money, products, and means of defending ourselves, we accepted the request and he made a map for us using the book."
'So, whoever is pulling the strings is rich enough to have all of these expenses in exchange for labor. They also seem to have access to some knowledge we do not have. Meaning that this might not be their first operation. '
"How did your contractor keep tabs on you?"
"Every week, a different pony would come asking for a report."
'Ok, only ponies... a new one each week...this being is has a lot of ponies on their payroll. Which eliminates the local crime rings and minor companies. We might be dealing with some big fishes here. '
"How would you identify this supervisor if every time it was somepony else?"
"They would come with crates containing the tools for our work and the other items we agreed on our contract."
"And that's all? Any brand on the crates? Anything identifying who they were?"
"Nothing, Mrs. Daring! I swear!"
Daring sat back down, tipped her hat back, and stared at the ceiling for a moment. 'I need to think more. I can send a warning to the Princess, but that might end up bad for these zebras. Not to mention that...if I warn the Princess, the ones responsible might get wind of this and disappear in a flash. If this isn't their first operation, they might have somepony in the castle to monitor anything that may point to their activities. That means... '
Daring stood up and walked outside without saying a word to the chief, once outside, she looked up to the blue skies above her. There were fewer clouds there when compared to the cities, a huge blue sea looming over their heads.
'These clear skies are one of the reasons I live in a forest. Having a view like this surely helps to think. Well, I better report this to the princess directly instead of sending a letter or a report through one of her soldiers. ' Daring thought as she opened her wings and took off.
(Several weeks later)
"Working overtime?" Celestia asked the scientist that was tinkering with some device. He didn't seem to expect that since he jumped, fell off his chair and dropped his tools. "That was quite the reaction. Did I catch you doing something illegal?" Celestia commented after a giggle.
"N-no," Arel replied getting up. "I just didn't expect to meet somepony here at this hour of the night," He said while brushing off the dirt.
"Well, then what were you doing?"
"I want to understand more about different devices. So, I decided to use my free time and the small part of my pay that doesn't go to the project to get my hands on some of these magi-tech devices," He replied sitting back in front of the typewriter.
"And what are doing with them?" Celestia asked seeing all the wires and the different parts that he had disassembled.
"I first learn how they are built and how they work. Then I try to put it back together while trying to make some modifications of my own. It's both fun and educative," Arel answered while he kept messing with the different parts, his eyes were practically shining as he removed and observed each component.
"You are a very curious stallion, you know that?"
"I'll take that as a compliment," He replied with his back turned to her. "But I think that your visit isn't about my working habits, is it?"
"Correct," Celestia said crossing her arms. "A few days ago, an acquaintance of mine came back from an errand I gave her a few weeks ago. Now I have to deal with a little issue regarding an illegal excavation. A team is already there and they found a relic that appeared to be the target to whoever was funding the excavation."
"I see, but what does that have to do with our laboratory or our team?"
"I caught word of how you've been helping some of the other projects by modifying their gear allowing them to continue their projects," Arel stopped his work and placed his tools down. "Before we move the relic, we need to collect some data on it. But the equipment on site isn't actually responding very well to the relic. We had an accident already."
"And that's what you want from me, right? To make it safer and make the data actually attainable," Celestia replied to that with a nod.
"I know you've been working a lot on your project. Both here and outside," Celestia watched his ears perk up and he quickly turned around, he looked serious. "Before you say anything. There were some complaints about some weird individuals appearing and stalking around the labs. One of them dropped a notebook with several names checked out, except for yours."
"Therefore you placed somepony to watch over me and saw me using the necklace," Arel replied pulling out the ornament.
"I dare say you are very crafty. A pocket dimension spell is hard to detect, and given the quality...you must have spent a decent amount of bits on it," Celestia said reaching for it, however, before she could touch it Arel pulled it away. "What's the matter?"
"I rather not open it here. If there are ponies out there trying to get to me, I don't want them to know how to open this. I won't have another one of my projects stolen."
"Understandable," Celestia replied sitting on the table by his side. "Can I count on you to help them out?"
Celestia waited for an answer in silence, she watched Arel stare at the parts he had removed without any sort of reaction. She couldn't tell if Arel was completely ignoring her question, or if he was actually pondering the options he had just received. Out of nowhere, Arel stood up, making Celestia almost fall off the table. He walked off into one of the cabinets within the lab.
Celestia then watched him pull out a bag, then he started to pick up some tools and placed them inside it. Then he got up and turned around to face her, Arel had a smile on his face as he placed the bag on his back.
"Who am I to turn down a request from the princess herself? And I have to say I have a really good feeling about this!" Arel said heading towards the door. After he had opened it, he turned around. "Go ahead, lead the way!"
Celestia smiled as she got off the table and walked up to Arel. "Then try to keep up!" She said after smirking and flying off.
"HEY! That's not what I meant!"
(Weeks later, excavation site)
"I really should have packed some lighter clothes..." Arel grunted as he walked through the corridors one of the members of the crew guided him. An Archeologist and linguist, he had presented himself as Milo.
"Once night comes by, you'll be glad you didn't. This place is cold as the as that frozen land north from Canterlot," The earth pony said as he made another turn.
"You mean those empty fields?" Milo nodded in positively in response. "Well, I'm gonna take your word for it. Since I'm here, what did you guys find here that is so important? Princess Celestia wouldn't tell me before I got here. Just that it was a relic you guys needed to get data from."
"Well, since none of the locals will get in the chamber and the place only has one way in. We set our camp by it and once we get there you'll see what we found."
"Is the rest of the team there?"
"Hey! Milo! We were waiting. Is that the new guy?" A female pegasus asked as she hovered over their heads.
"Yes, Kida. This is Arel Areneo. He is here as our tech specialist," Milo replied while the mare landed by his side. "Mr. Areneo, this is Kidagakash, my wife."
"Pleasure to meet you," Arel replied offering his hand, she obliged. "You're the one using the equipment that will gather the data, right?"
"Me and Audrey. Don't mess with that unicorn, she will send you flying with a kick if you piss her off."
"I'll try my best."
As Arel said that as they made another turn and passed by a huge doorway, the cracks in its structure made it look like the place had some sort of violent impact sealing that area off. After a few steps in, Arel saw some weird stains on the floor, kinda like scorch marks. Those marks were all over the walls as well, the closer he got to the center of the room the more marks appeared.
At the very center of the room, Arel saw an altar that had a pedestal about his height. At its top, a beautifully carved idol made out fo some sort of metal alloy with a silver color that had resisted the elements up until that time. The idol was shaped like a spider with red eyes, Arel could see some faint energy waves coming out from the idol.
It didn't look strong enough to have caused all the scorch marks. In fact, it didn't look like the energy it was emitting could be used for anything. Arel had seen energy readers working before, however, the ones he had seen, were limited to sensing energy fields strong enough to cause strong distortions in the light of an immediate area.
'If they want to get some readings on that, they will need to make the energy that thing is emitting stronger. My amplifier could do the trick. I don't think that it would be much of a threat with these energy levels. However, just to be safe I would need to have something to shield everypony in here. Some blast doors or something of the sort would be nice. '
"Hey! Stay away from it!" Another voice called out to Arel as he stepped closer to the idol, he was too engrossed in his own line of thought to realize what he was doing. "Milo, who is this nutjob?"
"Calm down Helga," Arel heard from his side as he was pulled by something on the same side. "This is the tech support we received from the princess. Mr. Arel Areneo."
"An earth pony?" Arel offered his hand, the female unicorn with a yellow coat and golden mane simply looked at him from top to bottom. "Young and without a horn messing around with magic energy? This won't end well."
"Give the kid a chance!" Another voice called out from behind her, then another earth pony stallion came from behind her. He looked a bit different and he had some sort of accent. He was also wearing some sort of metal plate over his chest. "You also thought I couldn't blow through that rubble without damaging the inside, yet here we are!"
"Arel, this is Helga Sinclair. Our security chief and leader of the operation. The metal guy is Vicenzo Santorini, but we just call him Vinny," Arel offered his hand again, but this time to the earth pony, he shook it with gusto. "Be careful though, he has a lot of volatile stuff around his tent."
"You're a demolition specialist?"
"Right."
"What exactly do you have?"
"Dynamites, grenades, nitroglycerin, detonator, TNT, flares, timers, BIG paper clips...all office stuff."
"That's one hell of an office. Do you have anything to protect yourself and your companions?"
"Let's see," The stallion replied reaching to a back pocket, after a few seconds of running through it. He pulled out a small box. "I can use this to detonate some bombs that I'm not exactly sure how to disarm or when I'm experimenting with different bombs I made. It seals the bomb inside it. It can hold a blast of about 20 tons of TNT. If it exceeds this limit, the box breaks but at least reduces the blast radius considerably."
"That's actually pretty nice!" Arel said while he leaned closer to the box in order to examine it. "Can it hold ponies or other things besides bombs?"
"I never tried, but I guess it can."
"And why would you want to seal ponies in there?" Another voice came by, however, this time it came from behind Arel. "Planning of shipping yourself away?"
"Audrey, this is our-"
"Yeah, yeah, Milo. Our tech support. Now, answer the question." She was a pegasus, and she seemed to have a bit of a short fuse.
"Oh, based on what I've seen of the idol. It seemed to be emitting small energy waves that are too weak to be detected with the current equipment available to us. I think I might be able to set the bar lower enough for use to detect something, but not enough to get data from it. So, I guess we can use a prototype of mine to amplify the energy so we can get some readings on it."
Arel took a deep breath before continuing his explanations. "However, this prototype isn't entirely safe. All the experiments I made so far had some blast doors set up to protect me and my crew due to some of the earlier stages ending up with a big KABOOM! I guess you get the picture."
"Smart, so you pretend to use a remote gathering system to get the data while using your device. Not bad for a newcomer," She commented before feigning a punch, Arel braced himself for it. "Two for flinching," Audrey said before hitting him twice on his arm.
"I guess this is the entire crew," Milo said before pointing to a tent that seemed empty. "You're sleeping there. Set your things and then we can start to work."
"Sure," Arel replied heading to the spot showed by Milo.
The tent was small like the others, on the outside at the very least. After stepping inside, Arel saw that it was considerably big, there was actually a bed set up. There was a small table with some drawers, inspecting them, Arel found several components and tools he had brought with him.
'I guess this is a project with the Princess' full attention. I've seen other projects have some pretty big funding. Wonder how my project would do if I had this kind of money backing me up. '
"Like your accommodations?" That wasn't Kida's voice or Audrey's. "I apologize for the comment I made earlier. I take the safety of this team very seriously."
"Understandable," Arel replied putting his bag on the floor. "I try to keep my staff safe as well. And you're not the first one to mistreat me due to the fact that work with the magical energy that isn't within my body," He continued as he turned around, Helga was right in front of him. She offered her hand this time around, that was the first time Arel had somepony actually do that.
"Let's try this again, my name is Helga Sinclair. Chief of security," Arel reached for her hand and she squeezed it making him wince. "Put my crew in danger and you'll have to deal with me. Why are you wincing?"
"I-I may be an earth pony. But I'm not actually strong. And you're breaking my freaking hand! I need it to make my work!" After hearing that, the unicorn let go of him. She looked at her hand and then back at Arel.
"How in Tartarus did you make it this far being this weak?" Helda then raised her hand to her chin and started to look at Arel from top to bottom again and again. After a few moments she started to walk in circles around him, Arel felt uneasy as her gaze kept scanning him. "So fragile..." She muttered as a strange grin that sent chills rolling down Arel's spine formed on her muzzle before she left.
'Okay. I don't think I want to be near her when I'm alone. What the fuck was that about? '
Arel quietly went to the tent's front, he peeked through it and saw Helga walking all the way to her tent. Before she entered tough, Arel noticed Helga looked over her shoulder. The look she had once again made Arel feel a chill, he retreated deeper back into his tent.
After shaking off the uneasiness, Arel proceeded to remove his tools and his clothes from the bag. Then he proceeded to settle himself in, once everything was in its place, Arel went back outside.
'Let's make this place work! '
From that point, Arel dedicated most of his time to working on Audrey's gear. Fine tuning the receivers, increasing the sensibility for the energy reader, altering the parameters for the data processor, building an outer casing for the processor that could withstand a blast. And above all else, Arel started to build a simpler version of his amplifier. Setting all the safety locks and security lockdowns was his main concern.
The crew was very welcoming towards him, whenever Arel had doubts about the place or where to get something they would give him directions. Even regular questions regarding the place they were in, or what brought them here were also answered.
From Milo, Arel learned that the idol seemed to be worshiped once upon a time. Something about a guardian of destiny that watched over all the fates of the living, and he could see all through the web of fate he could create. There was also something about a ritual for awakening the spirit, the instructions on how to do it was damaged, however, it seemed to involve channeling energy into the statue. All that info was contained within a damaged papyrus that hey recovered within that very chamber when they first got there. Another perk was Milo teaching a bit about translating and lent him some books on the subject.
Kida showed Arel some new information regarding magical energy reading. Apparently, a theory that was known to field researchers and ignored by lab coats, was the idea that when the magical energy readings that they got from the machines were about 20% below their actual value. The working theory was that when the machine had energy coursing through it, the energy would be lost to the circuit, meaning that whatever readings they got were actually wrong.
Audrey, she seemed like your ordinary technician. However, she was a true genius when it came to building up a new magi-tech gear. Her planning and schematics were on point, the issue she had was the amount of energy some of them required to use. Making them actually impractical, Arel managed to help her out in some projects, however, the changes he made in the projects always seemed to reduce the performance of the gadget. In return, she taught him everything she knew about building magi-tech from scratch.
Vicenzo was a strange one, Arel walked up on him one day when he wanted to test the blast box and found Vinny making some markings on the walls. Once Arel asked him what he was doing, Vinny told him about a habit he had, in enclosed spaces like that, he would always find the structural weaknesses of the place and estimate the number of explosives he would need to demolish the place. When Arel asked why he would do that, the answer he got was a bunch of mumbling that he didn't quite understand. However, he did learn about finding those spots and some new information about explosives and their best uses.
The only pony Arel avoided at all costs was Helga, however, he did notice that regardless of what he was doing, she would always be watching. Her eyes were always locked on to him, her gaze made Arel feel extremely uncomfortable whenever he was near Audrey or Kida. And whenever she started to approach Arel would immediately try to talk with somepony, anypony who was near him.
Arel brought it up with Milo, but Milo reassured him that it was just his imagination. As days passed, Arel began to feel more and more uncomfortable. One night, Arel woke up because he had to use the restroom, which was a chemical one. While making his way there, Arel did hear some noises some muffled voices were near it. The tent near the restroom had a dim light coming from it.
There was a faint silhouette on the tent's side, it looked like to figures that were very close. That was Milo's tent, Arel decided that it was best to ignore it. After doing his business, Arel tried to get back. But somepony grabbed hold of him and covered his mouth.
"Shhhhh. Quiet now," Arel's eyes widened, that was Helga's voice. Arel tried to break free, but she was way stronger than him. "Don't make a fuss. I'll just get you back to my tent. I need to have a talk with you. If just apply a little more force I might break your arm," She said with a strange voice before twisting his arm a bit more. "I'll have so much fun with you. Just like playing with a delicate toy. Tough I can be a bit rough."
Arel started to think of a way out of that, there wasn't anything around that he could grab. There was something he could kick tough. Before she could drag him away from it, Arel used everything he had to hit, which resulted in the restroom rolling over and making a loud noise as its contents spilled out of it.
Helga was startled by the event and loosened up her grip, allowing a chance for Arel to run away as the others woke up and he snuck back into his tent. On the following morning, Arel found a note that was slid underneath the tent's side where his worktable was. He only saw it coming because he didn't manage to sleep after the event, Arel even got one of his tools that could be used as a weapon and spent all night sitting at the center of his tent turning around every ten seconds.
You can put up a fight. I like it.
At the end of the note, there was a marking of a kiss. Arel tore the note to pieces, after that he was even more on edge whenever he found himself near Helga. She, on the other hand, seemed to be a bit more aggressive to compensate his cautiousness.
Arel tried to tell the others what had happened, but whenever he tried to bring it up. Helga would pull out some random stunt and take all of the attention, which always ended with her looking at Arel with a smirk. Whenever any of the others weren't looking, she would always wink or send a kiss.
'There is something very wrong with that mare. I need to get the amplifier done, finish off this job, and then I need to leave. '
Luck seemed to be on his side, he managed to finish the last of the safety locks. Now he was off to cover the last bit of the job, once Kida confirmed that they got the data they needed, Arel could go away from the crazed unicorn. Arel was very proud of the prototype he managed to pull together, the new schematics were also added to the ones he had within his necklace. To add up to his luck, Audrey seemed to be bothered to how jumpy he had been in the last few days. Which resulted in her starting to watch over him.
Time continued to pass, until the day when they were going to use the data recorder for the first time combined with the amplifier. Something odd happened that day, after waking up, Arel dressed himself up and went to his worktable. It was empty, his tools, his components, his amplifier.
Instinctively, Arel reached out for his neck and realized that he no longer had his necklace. Arel bolted out of his tent, and the first thing he saw shocked him. Helga was knocked out on the floor near the idol, there was a bit of blood dripping from the back of her head.
Crouching near it, Arel saw Audrey with a bloody wrench on her belt as she kept messing with something Arel couldn't see. Rushing over to the wounded mare, Arel checked her and managed to hear that she was still breathing. Suddenly Arel felt something hit the side of his head, getting him stunned and making him fall.
"I was hoping you wouldn't wake up early just once," Audrey said tinkering with something Arel believed to be his device. Around her neck, his missing necklace. "Before you ask, I won't tell why I'm doing this. But I will thank you for updating my devices schematics. That creep was right about you being smart but naive."
"Not that it matters anyway, you guys won't come out of this alive. Take a look," She continued tossing one of the readers Arel had modified. The numbers read sixty times the cap of Vinny blast box, looking up Arel saw the energy waves around the idol causing heavy distortions around it. "The radius will erase even that tiny village. Lucky for you, you won't be awake to fell any of that."
'I've been betrayed again... '
When she finished saying that, Audrey stomped the reader. Then she kicked Arel on the head, making him black out.
"WAKE UP!"
A ringing sound accompanied by a distant voice echoed in Arel's head. His eyes slowly opened as a strong headache took over. The one that was shaking him was Helga, behind her, Arel saw Milo running around picking up his things as Kida did the same.
Moving his head around, Arel realized that Vinny was placing something on the walls. Suddenly the ringing sound faded and all of his senses came back.
"YOU HAVE TO WAKE UP!"
"We got to evacuate!" Arel finally managed to speak.
"No kidding genius!" Arel heard as he got back on his hooves, but his legs were bad. He couldn't stand straight, infact he couldn't stand.
'Audrey must have done something to my legs as well. '
"No! I mean the nearby village. The blast radius of that thing is going to erase everything all the way to that point! Audrey showed me the readings from the idol before she knocked me out."
"What?!" Helga exclaimed. Arel turned to see her biting her lip and squeezing her head, almost like she was trying to squeeze an idea out of her head.
Arel started to look around, he saw the blast box, then he saw the explosives Vinny was placing on the walls. Arel then looked back to the idol, the thing was vibrating a lot, so was the amplifier. Based on what he was seeing, getting everypony out of the blast radius in time was out of the question.
'We can try to reduce the blast radius. The blast box, the ruins. That should reduce it by a decent amount. However, I can't run away. And have any of them carry me outside wouldn't help either. Helga is in no condition to use her magic after a wound like that. '
"HELGA!" Arel shouted breaking her panic state. "Help Vinny place the dynamites! KIDA! Fly to the village, get them to evacuate immediately! MILO! Help me out! VINNY! Once you're through the explosives. Give me the blast box and the detonators!"
Helga obeyed immediately, so did Kida. Milo dropped all the things he had in his hands and went to Arel. "What do you need?"
"Get me to the altar," Milo dragged Arel all the way up to the altar and leaned Arel over the pedestal. "Okay, now get me the amplifier, the idol, and that damaged blast box over there," Arel watched Milo dart around to get the items. The amplifier he got using some sort of bag that ended up melting just as he got near Arel's side.
"What now?" He asked placing the items before Arel.
"Okay. Now get out there and help Kida!"
"What?"
"JUST FUKCKING GO!" Arel screamed making the stallion fall backward and run away.
After that, Arel got the idol and the amplifier. The amplifier was scorching hot, Arel wrapped it around some of his clothes and brought it closer. The idol Arel placed on his lap, the box he held on his left hand. Soon after, Vinny came running with Helga that started to stumble a bit.
"Here, what do you plan to do?" Vinny said handing the detonators and an intact box, as soon as he saw all the items Arel had around him, Vinny's eyes widened. "No, you're crazy!"
"What?" Helga asked from behind him.
"The kid is planning to stay behind!"
"What?! No! I am the security chief and leader. If somepony has to stay behind-"
"SHUT UP! I can't walk! If I can reduce the blast, then I'll do it! Just show me how to seal myself in the box!"
Vinny hesitated a bit, Helga came forth protesting once again. "NO! You're part of the crew, we won't-"
"You said I can put up a fight. Well, guess what? This is how I'm going to put up a fight against Audrey. By not letting her have her way! How are YOU going to fight back against her, Helga?! Huh?! TELL ME!" The mare kept silent, the idol started to shake more violently as well as the amplifier. "GET OUT THERE AND SHOW THAT BITCH WHAT YOU ARE MADE OFF!"
Arel watched Helga try to come with a retort before she squinted her eyes and ran away as fast as she could. Vinny kneeled down near Arel and pointed at a button near the edges of the box. "Press that one and hold it for two seconds. You and everything you're have will be engulfed by the box."
Vinny then placed his hand on Arel's shoulder and muttered. "Thank you. You might save a lot of lives today, kid."
"Enough with the sap. GO!"
Arel watched Vinny run away full speed. Once he passed through the doorway, Arel grabbed everything around him and used the damaged box. Then he used the second undamaged box, once the double casing was placed, Arel pressed the detonators.
The box shook and shook violently as a deafening sound reverberated through the metal walls, making him drop both the idol and the amplifier as he rolled around. His ears were hurting like hell, after a few seconds of agonizing, Arel dragged himself to the items and placed both underneath his body.
'Well, father...I guess I'm not throwing my life away. I'm preventing a bigger loss. I guess that this is the day I die. '
A white flash was the last thing he saw. After it, there was just a pitch black void.
(Several Days later)
"What is the meaning of this?!" Celestia asked after hearing the lawyer finish reading the document he had on him. A huge crowd was gathered behind him. It was a public audience after all.
"It is exactly as you heard Princess. I'm sorry to inform that the public has requested that your research lab is shut down. Due to one of your employees being the one responsible for a major catastrophe that has taken the lives of many citizens of a foreign country. Therefore your research center has been deemed a danger for all of Equestria. The council of nobles has approved this request. Should you decline, the public could assume that you don't care about their safety."
Celestia frowned at the information she had just received. "What catastrophe? Where?"
"In Zebrecan territory, a humongous explosion has destroyed half of a village and took out half of its inhabitants. The culprit, Arel Areneo. Who has also been requested to be sentenced to death."
Celestia's eyes widened, she could not believe what she was hearing. "H-how? How come I was not informed of this?!"
"I do not know what you're talking about your highness," The lawyer said with a devilish grin. "This news regarding the incident has been all over the papers in all of our country."
'This doesn't make any sense. Unless...no. They couldn't have... '
"We also found the unconscious body of the terrorist in the rubble. He was holding to a common idol for dear life. He was severely wounded by the blast. But somehow he managed to survive. The testimony of one of the crew members Audrey Ramirez gave us the full picture."
"And just what is that picture?" Celestia asked glaring daggers at the grinning devil.
"Mr. Areneo used an unauthorized magi-tech prototype that went haywire. The remains of the item were found on the scene with the culprit. According to Mrs. Audrey, that was extremely traumatized by the event, Mr. Areneo activated the device without heeding to her warnings or any of the crew members."
"HOLD IT!" Some voices called out from the crowd.
A golden-maned unicorn accompanied by a cream coated earth pony and a gray coated pegasus broke through the crowd. They walked past the guards after Celestia gave them a signal to grant passage to the trio.
"Helga. What happened?" Celestia asked walking off her throne, the group was in bad shape.
"Arel Areneo saved all of the villagers! Some soldiers came by later and shot down half of them! They even placed explosives to simulate the damage that would have been caused by the explosion! Audrey was the one that caused it! Arel just attempted to reduce the radius!"
The crowd started to whisper and murmur after she said that. Celestia smirked and looked back at the lawyer, who had an even bigger grin on his muzzle now.
"My dear! You seem to be confused. The stallion's fingertips were the only ones on the device we recovered. We also found them on the weapon that had your blood on it. And if Audrey's testimony is correct, you were wounded on the back of the head by the coward. Unless you have proof to prove her testimony wrong, I'm afraid nothing you said can be used to defend him."
"Not to mention that the most incriminating piece of evidence hasn't been shown yet!" The lawyer said pulling out a necklace. "I present to you, the schematics that show that he was completely aware of the risks of activating the device in its current state."
"Why you-?!" Celestia watched the mare try to run at the lawyer, however, her companions managed to stop her.
'I caused this, I sent him away from the labs where I could keep tabs on him and prevent him from being hurt by the ones that were stalking him. I allowed this to happen!
"Then let us correct your theory," Celestia heard Kida say before she pulled out a device from her pocket. "I had placed a black box inside every single device of our camp. The devices were linked to the monitors of the devices, and they recorded everything that happened during the time they were turned on. And guess from which one this came from? We took it away before your soldiers managed to grab hold of it."
The lawyer's grin was quickly replaced by a scowl. Celestia thanked whatever star was watching over Arel at that moment. Kida activated the box and the recordings started to play, or that what Celestia hoped for. Static was all that came out of it, for several minutes that was all that came out.
Suddenly, the recording showed Arel being shaken by Helga that kept trying to wake him up. Then his attempts to stand up, his orders while he tried to reduce the blast radius, and finally the moment he sealed himself in and when the explosion happened.
'That's not enough to clear him completely. But it should prove that he tried to stop the event, ' Celestia thought to herself as she bit her lip, it didn't take long for her to notice that the lawyer was wiping off the sweat. 'Bastard! '
"Well, my dear. That only shows that he had a conscience. Everything else we have proves that he was the one responsible."
"I don't think so," This time it was Milo that walked forth. "I have an eyewitness that states that Audrey Ramirez left the scene long before any of us left the ruin!"
"That is correct!" A fourth voice called out from the crowd. A figure wearing a cloak stepped out of the crowd, its face and body were completely concealed by it. "This one saw the mare called Audrey Ramirez run out of the ruins long before any of the others emerged from it."
"And just who are you?" The lawyer asked gritting his teeth.
"This one is called Zecora. The village that had been saved by the stallion's sacrifice was this one's home. Then the soldiers came by and killed this one's family. She was forced to watch her brothers and sisters die by the hands of merciless thugs!" The figure said tossing her cloak aside, revealing her tribal costume and race. A zebra with green eyes that had a tattoo at the base of her neck.
There were tears rolling out of her eyes, her voice was firm and did not crack. Celestia could feel the conviction behind her claims, the heartache of her loss. Celestia turned to the crowd and saw them looking at Zecora, their eyes glued to her figure. They were all whispering. Suddenly, a voice broke through.
"Let him live!"
"The boy tried to save them!"
"He is a vegetable now! He has paid for his crimes!"
'She got them out of the lawyer's hands. Mr. Areneo is safe from the death sentence! '
More and more screams came from the crowd, Celestia couldn't help but smile at the look from the lawyers face. If she were to sentence him to death now, she would have an issue, the lawyer and the ones who approved the request would also be in big trouble.
"W-well, since it's the will of our citizens. We withdraw the request for a death sentence," Celestia let out a discreet sigh of relief, however, the lawyer wasn't finished. "However, we request that the scientist Arel Areneo is forbidden from developing any magi-tech devices within the capital! He has proved to be incapable of doing so without putting others in harm's way."
Celestia heard the crowd cheer and applaud the request. The lawyer was still scowling and glaring daggers at Zecora, Celestia understood what he meant to do with that request.
'By having him unable to research that inside the capital. They prevent him from being under a fair protection that would shield him from their interventions. And if he were to get a big enough lab outside, he would easily be targeted and taken down by them. Then they can pull the same stunt they just tried to pull. Actually, if even sets hoof outside the capital without guards...he might get taken down. '
'And given his current reputation, he won't be able to get any work. No pony in their right mind would hire him with the risk of staining their institution. But the populace is backing this bastard up. '
Celestia rolled her eyes as she let out a defeated sigh before using her royal Canterlot voice. "I, Princess Celestia, hereby decree the immediate closure of the research center, Celestia's Research Center. I also decree that the earth pony known as Arel Areneo is prohibited to research and, or develop magi-tech devices within the Capital. You are all excused."
'Now, I need to figure out where Mr. Areneo is hospitalized. Then I'll have some of my most...no I'll have to figure out a way to keep him safe on my own. I need to make this right! '
(Meanwhile)
"This purgatory is so boring. Just an endless void with nothing to see or do," Arel said to break the ever-present silence.
Arel had no idea how much time had passed, all he knew was that ever since the bright flash from the explosion, all he ever saw was that never-ending void. There were no signs of anypony else but him there. Back when he first woke up there, he screamed and looked for another being, any being would suffice.
It didn't take long for Arel to discover that he couldn't move forward, all he could do was spin around. Arel concluded that he was dead and soon he had to move on, all he needed to do was stand still and wait for a guide or something to change. There was only one issue, how could Arel trust anypony that came for him?
"Not purgatory," A new voice echoed through the darkness. "This is the current state of your mind. The place is completely sealed off while your body recovers from the damage caused by the explosion."
"And just who are you? I'm not exactly in a decent mood for jokes. How can I be alive if I was at the very center of the explosion?"
"You doubt my word? I am the spirit of that watches over fate!"
"You sound more like the child. Go bother somepony else. I have no interest in your games. I just want to pass on."
"I'll make you see that you're alive. But a fair warning: You'll be in a lot of pain."
Just as the voice finished saying that, Arel began to feel his eyes opening. Suddenly an excruciating pain took over, Arel could barely see something that resembled the inside of a hospital room. A white and tall figure was sitting by his side, Arel started to try to move, he wanted to talk. But the pain, the pain prevented him from doing anything at all, all he managed to do was make the white figure come over him.
Just as suddenly as the pain came, it disappeared and Arel found himself back in the black void.
"I-I'm actually...alive?"
"Are you going to listen to me or not?"
"I'll listen to what you have to say. If I'll believe you, that's another story."
"Very well. In the past, I was summoned by more than one mortal seeking the power that lies dormant within me. The power I can grant to those who manage to awaken my idol. They all achieved this through the use of innocent lives to fuel me. And all of them met the same fate. Madness and death."
"Oh, boo-hoo. They got what they deserved. They should have thought of the consequences of using bystanders as fuel."
"You sir, are the very first mortal to awaken me without using the lives of innocents. As a result, I can't use my curse on you. Meaning I can grant you the power sleeping within me."
"And what do you win from this?"
"Nothing, I just fulfilled my duty."
"Then keep it. I won't be indebted to you. Or anypony else I know I can't trust ever again. That means everypony I don't know."
"I apologize, but you don't have a choice in the matter. You've been exposed to a humongous amount of energy. That energy has already been embedded in your soul and body. Arel Areneo, this energy has granted you powers that no being has ever yielded before. Your body is already being healed by it, I am bound by rules that prevent me from telling you what these powers are."
"How convenient. I'm stuck with this either way then."
"Yes, I am allowed to tell you this though, due to the energy coursing through you. You are allowed to see and understand the flow of magic. Meaning that your understanding of everything related to the flow of magical energy will be well above the other beings."
"Lucky me," Arel commented turning around.
"Just bear with the darkness for a little longer. You'll be back on your hooves before you know it."
(A month after the trial, hospital)
'A month in a coma. The doctors keep saying he won't wake up. But something is off, his injuries disappeared, he woke up for a brief moment. His health improved, and there is something different about Mr. Areneo. I can't put my finger on it, I just wish that he would wake up. I wish to apologize, for all the problems and misfortune I caused. '
"Urrrgh..."
That voice made Celestia look up. Arel was moving and his eyes were open.
"Y-you're awake!" Celestia said getting up and walking closer to him.
"D-don't shout! My head is hurting like nopony's business."
Celestia let out a sigh of relief before she sat back on her chair. "I guess this is the day you came back from the dead, isn't it?"
Author's Note
I hope you all enjoyed this reading, please let me know what you thought of it.
"So...how's the treatment here?" Arel heard Celestia ask while he tried to keep himself up by just using his legs.
Physiotherapy, examinations, blood tests, psychiatric evaluations and therapy, and so forth. Arel had been working himself to the bone since the first day he woke up, the wounds caused by the explosion had been healed just as the spider spirit had promised. However, the scars that were by it left still plagued him.
"A drag. I want to get out there and start working again. This place is making me sicker than I already am," Arel replied with a cold tone, after waking up he found it harder to keep his regular behavior given how things were going. "But what are YOU doing here? Shouldn't you be getting rid of Harmony-Tech?"
"You know that I can't do anything about it," Celestia replied as he continued to do his exercises. "Without hard evidence, all I can do is boost their morale as victims if I simply start to throw accusations. You have a lot of bags under your eyes...bad dreams."
"I wish," Arel replied to her as he struggled to sit down on the wheelchair without completely dropping his body on it. "At very least I would be sleeping if that was what was happening."
"What do you mean?"
"Rather not talk about it."
Arel discovered another thing after he woke up, trusting others was something he had a tough time doing, a REALLY tough time. The doctors said that being left behind in the explosion gave him PTSD, and that was the reason for his distrust. Arel denied it, he explained again and again why he stayed behind and that it was his choice to stay. But they would insist that Arel was simply traumatized by the explosion. They seemed a bit desperate to make him believe that.
Arell concluded that they must have been paid to brainwashing him into believing that crap, that made him simply pretend to listen to their advice. The moment Arel started to 'accept' that he had PTSD, the doctors left him alone and then started to try to talk about other subjects.
'It isn't PTSD. If I am like this now, it's all Audrey's fault. There is nothing wrong with me, ' Those were the words that repeated themselves inside his head during every session, reassuring him that nothing was wrong.
Now, there was something else that became a common occurrence after he woke up was the attention he got from the nurses. The female ones would pay a lot of attention to him, bring him extra food, try to talk to him more often. When he was still bedridden they would go the extra mile to make him comfortable, some would always make physical contact for several minutes even after he had said that he didn't need anything.
The male ones, on the other hand, were extremely aggressive and brute with whatever they did. Some even tried to shove medications down his throat, medications Arel did not require. Eventually, the hospital director made sure that he was only attended by the mares. However, there were a few exceptions to both sides, some mares seemed to have the same aggressive behavior of the stallions, and vice versa.
To top it all off, Arel discovered the thing that made him stay up every single night. After waking up sweating from a nightmare where Audrey had come back to finish him off at the hospital, Arel saw the director and some other nurses staying at the feet of his bed staring straight at him. They apologized and quietly left, after that night, Arel saw them hanging by the door, glaring at him from a small opening on the door.
"Arel!" Celestia's voice woke him up, he had blacked out on the chair after finally managing to sit down. "Are you feeling threatened?"
"..." Arel sighed as he stared into the floor. He wouldn't touch his food unless somepony else tried it. He wouldn't sleep because he was being watched, he wouldn't speak if he didn't need to. He had completely closed himself from others, there was only one pony that he would speak to, however. And that pony was Celestia, though he wouldn't go in details about anything, he would at the very least talk to her.
"Arel, please. I'm here to help, I got you into this mess. I'll help you in whatever way I can," She said crouching down in front of him. Her gentle gaze locked into his eyes, it hurt to look at her eyes. Arel looked away, but Celestia would keep making him look at her.
'Can she be trusted? Should I trust her? Can she help? Can I make myself trust her? There has to be somepony who can be trusted, or maybe there isn't. Maybe it's best that I do everything on my own.
"I..." Arel mumbled, his words were stuck on his throat, he wanted to ask for help. But something was bothering him, Celestia had been visiting him every day, but there was no sign of his parents. "I'll level with you. As long as you level with me."
Arel saw Celestia back away, he had hit a sore spot given the face she had on. "What do you want to know?"
"Everything you been hiding. Aside from the fact that Harmony-Tech has painted me as a monster. And before you ask, it isn't hard to figure it out when everypony is whispering this whenever I pass by them in the corridors." Arel replied, making Celestia sigh and then sit down on a chair.
"Well, for starters...you won't be able to research any new magi-tech within the walls of this city. My hand was forced on that matter."
"So, the bastards send me to death's door. Paint me as a lunatic terrorist, and prevent me from doing what I love? If I go out they can get me easily..." Arel asked earning a positive nod from the Princess. "And you were hiding this because...?"
"You had been through enough. I wanted to wait until you were healed up. I didn't want that news to get in your way," Arel saw the Princess squeeze her hands as she appeared to be bracing herself for more bad news. "Then...there is your parents."
"I swear on all that I believe that I will kill every single employee of that place if they hurt my family!" Arel exploded as he glared at Celestia.
"As far as I know they are okay. Your mother was relocated to Mane Hattan. Your father...the lab he was working with was bought by Harmony-Tech and they sent him to the borders by the dragon's territory."
"And why did they go with it?"
"To...to pay for your hospital expenses," Arel felt his eyes starting to water up, everything was rigged against him.
'With that reputation as a terrorist I'll never get a job. And that means I won't be able to pay for a place to live. I doubt even shelters will take me in. Then there is my family...without them around. I won't have anypony to turn to. I'm alone. I have nopony...I don't have anything! '
"Why?" Arel muttered.
"I'm sorry," Celestia said getting up. "What did you say?"
"WHY! I ASKED WHY! Why is all of this happening to me?! Why do I have to lose not one of my projects but all of them?! Why must I lose my family?! Why can't I simply die and let all this be over?!" Arel shouted trying his best to clench his fist.
There was no reason for him to be there, there was no meaning to his life other than that anger that didn't allow him to think straight. Anger towards the corporation that destroyed his life, anger towards himself for allowing himself to be fooled by others again and again, and anger towards the wretched world that sought only to make him suffer. As far as Arel cared, the world could explode and be reduced to nothing but a pile of ashes and it all would be fine by him.
That was when the idea to end it all came to him, he was on the seventh floor. At this current height, he could toss himself out of a window and then BOOM, all his trouble, all his pain, all his sorrow, all his anger would be gone. He would be free, the world would no longer have any way of torturing him. Arel looked at the gigantic window that allowed the patients to see the shining sun reflect its rays over the rooftops.
Most saw beauty in that view, to Arel, however, it was only a reminder of the darkness that lurked where the sun couldn't reach. Where the shadows waited to hurt him, where they waited for his suffering. Arel convinced himself that there was no more light in his life, there was no more meaning for him to research, for him to fight. The very room where he was staying was nothing but a dark gloomy cell where he was forced to stay.
"I don't know," Celestia said grabbing his hand and squeezing it. "I guess that every life has its value, and yours still has much to offer. So, my guess is that it wasn't time for you to go."
Celestia's words pierced Arel's heart, she spoke exactly like his father once did. She made him remember one of the principles his father always told him to remember. 'Every single life is precious, even yours. So, don't toss it away.' She spoke the message with the same tone, the same peace, the same kindness and smile his father used every time Arel heard it.
Arel felt tears rolling down his cheeks, the room started to clear up. It wasn't a complete darkness anymore, there was a single dim light standing right next to him. A small golden orb that was by his side, even if she didn't actually have an obligation to help him, even if she had more important things to do, that small light was by his side.
'Maybe...maybe there are some beings worth living for. Maybe there are some beings worth protecting. Those are the lights I can try to trust. '
"Mr. Areneo? Arel?! Are you ok?" Arel was brought back from his sudden realization by Celestia shaking him to the sides.
"Y-yes," He replied drying the tears and looking her in the eyes. "Well, I need to level with you now. However, I need you to come closer." Arel said as the Princess got closer. Once she was close enough, Arel whispered on her ear. "There are ponies stalking me."
"What?" Celestia said in a low tone. "How do you know?"
"They watch me from a slightly open door every night. I'm not sure I'll be safe here for much longer."
"I'll see what I can do," Celestia replied as she got up.
(Two months later)
"You actually came all the way here?" Celestia heard as Arel was brought out through the hospital's front door. "Don't you have a country to rule?"
"I have," Celestia replied watching him getting on his hooves with a bit of effort, his right leg seemed a bit damaged still. "I brought you this," She said using her magic to levitate a cane to him.
"Now give me monocle and a suit. Then I'll have the full set to scream 'I am a villain, end me here'," Arel replied before mimicking an evil laugh. "Seriously though, thanks."
"No problem," Celestia replied as she started to walk by his side, accompanied by two guards. Both of them female, after hearing that males seemed to be getting a bit violent towards Arel, she didn't want to risk him getting hurt or anything of the sort.
"Did you find a place I can stay for a while?" The stallion asked as his eyes kept darting around, he looked terrified. "I don't want to stay here in the open for too long."
"Well..." Celestia said biting her lip. She didn't want him to be on his own, especially with the condition he was in. "I've prepared a room for you to stay in the castle."
Just as she finished saying that, one of the soldiers almost tripped and ended up bumping in a cart that was passing by them. While the other one got so distracted that she walked up into a light pole. After both of them had regained their composure, Celestia watched them look at each other and giggle.
'What is going on? '
"Well, it is one of the safest places in terms of guards. But..." Arel said looking over his shoulders and then all around him as he kept walking. "How can I be sure that none of the guards will come for me?"
"Because you'll be working in a public space. A place where a bunch of ponies that happen to be of great importance to our friends are studying right now. My academy."
"What?" Celestia heard as they kept on walking. "Are you insane? I can't teach! Those stuck ups won't ever allow me-"
"I decide my staff. And just to be sure that you won't be having any issues because of your prohibition, you were assigned the spot of a magic teacher."
"I'm sorry if I'm being rude right now but...did you hit your head? This has to be one of the stupidest ideas I ever heard! I'm an EARTH pony! I can't use the magic that is taught in those classes!"
"Yet your scores in that subject were exceptionally high. Even though it was an extra curriculum for your course," Celestia replied, she heard more giggling from the guards, they were looking over their shoulders straight at Arel. "And since you'll be teaching magic by itself they won't have anything left to attack you with. Although it would be best that you secure a second source of income."
"Since they are ought to find a way to kick me out as well."
"Correct," Celestia said looking back on him, Arel was still a bit fidgety. And something about him seemed different. "Did you change your mane?"
"What?" He replied raising an eyebrow.
"You look different somehow," Celestia said after stopping and looking a bit more closely, trying to identify what was so different about him.
It was weird, for some reason Celestia felt some kind of pull towards him. There wasn't anything appealing about him as he was, his body was scrawny, his face was bitter, his eyes were dull. And even with all of that, something made it harder for her to look away, to step away from him. It was easier to move closer, it was easier to look closer, to reach out for him and touch his skin.
"Uh..." That interjection made Celestia snap back into reality, she was millimeters away from Arel's face. "What are you doing?
Celestia yelped before backing away and stumbling into one of the guards that seemed to be doing the same as her. "I-I thought I saw something on your face. I'm sorry for getting so close."
"Suuuuure," Arel replied raising an eyebrow and tilting his head before he continued to walk.
Celestia watched him walk away for a few seconds, attentively looking at him top to bottom, almost as if she was looking for something on him. Carefully studying every detail in his garments, the way he was walking, his arms, his legs, his mane, and so forth.
'WAKE UP! ' Celestia screamed in her mind before slapping on both sides of her face at the same time. There was a rush of blood going straight to her face making her cheeks feel warm. Closing her eyes, Celestia took a deep breath before her eyes opened and she went after Arel again.
After a long walk with a few more bumps regarding that strange sensation, Celestia and Arel reached her castle. She guided him through the halls. Along the way, Celestia noticed that almost everypony on the streets and inside the castle had their eyes on him. Some had scowls, others seemed eager to walk up to him. Inside the castle, she also noticed that most of the maids they came across were following them while keeping their distance, there were a few butlers as well.
"This is your room," Celestia said pointing to a room. "I contacted your mother and she sent some of your old clothes. They are already stored in the furniture. If you need anything, just ask the staff. I'll instruct them to aid you in whatever task you need help with."
"THAT'S RIGHT!" A chorus of voices cried out from the corner.
"I'm slightly...no I am deeply disturbed by the number of ponies following us the entire day," Arel commented as he walked into the room. "Thanks for everything, Celestia."
"You're welcome," She replied standing in front of the door for a few seconds while Arel sat down on the bed.
Celestia simply stood there for a few seconds, watching him stare into space. He looked so focused on something, so lost in thought. Celestia took a step forward, and another, and another.
"Do you need something else, Princess?" Arel asked, bringing her back from whatever thing was keeping her in trance.
"Oh! I-I forgot! T-the dinner is around 7:00 PM."
"Very well," Arel said getting up again and walking up to the door. "I will rest up and change. These clothes reek of hospital air. I had enough of that for a lifetime."
"Agreed," Celestia said walking away.
'What is going on here? Why am I acting like this? ' Celestia thought as she walked away from the room.
It was all very strange, she had been checking up on him since he was admitted to the hospital. And after each visit, Celestia did notice that something slightly different about him, even though his body remained the same. She would look more closely searching for that little change, that fleeting sensation of something being amiss, of an invisible trait that somehow escaped her. Something she had felt before, long ago. But it was something Celestia had to push away due to her lifespan.
'I don't suppose...No. That is ridiculous, I? After all this time? I doubt something like that would ever happen to me. Not to mention that...that anything like that can ever work when you don't age...Better to send those thoughts away, I'll just enjoy the new company. '
"What are you doing? " An echoing voice asked as Arel placed a chair blocking the handle.
"Making sure nopony can enter this room," Arel replied walking normally again. He headed towards the window and closed the curtains, the darkness activated the crystals in the room illuminating it.
"Pretending an injury? That isn't very like you. "
"I think its best that ponies underestimate me. Besides, you're just a voice in a statue, don't lecture me," Arel said stretching up a bit. "But I have to ask, what the fuck are you doing in my room?"
"I no longer emit energy. Therefore those friends of yours no longer needed me. Thus I ended here now that nopony wanted me around. "
"And I have to deal with a disembodied voice? Who writes the script for my life and where do I find them? I really want to beat them up," Arel commented as he searched the drawers picking up some clothes.
Arel's clothes weren't actually smelling like hospital air, his clothes had been carefully washed and they had a floral scent. All of this attention he kept receiving made him stay on the edge, he wasn't knew he wasn't attractive, so why? Why was he receiving so much attention from mares and a handful of stallions? Actually, why was he getting so much spotlight?
Arel wasn't comfortable with all the eyes, he just wanted to find a way to live by and try take down a huge corporation that ruined his life. No big deal, there was no need nor reason for anypony but those involved to be interested in him. Yet, there they were, trying everything they could to follow him. Did he have a bounty on his head?
"So...are you going to have a romantic dinner with the sun princess? " Arel rolled his eyes as he put on his clothes. Luckily for Arel, he didn't grow up during his little nap after the explosion.
"You're talking about a diety that literally has never, EVER, had any lovers registered throughout history. I doubt that a flimsy stallion like me can even think of courting her."
"She did act strangely with you a few times now. And you haven't even realized the changes yet, " Arel's ears perked up and he turned towards the statue.
"How do you know what happened?"
"Well, since I inhabited your body for a little while...I have access to all your senses. Everything you see and feel I do as well. But when it comes to communicating...I can only communicate within this room. "
"So I have stalkers and an ancient spirit that sees and hears everything I do. I fucking hate my life," Arel said facepalming. "Actually...you mentioned changes once before. What do you mean? Does it have to do with the stalkers?"
"Like I said when we met. I cannot give details about what the energy did to aside from what I already told you. "
"And if your statue were to somehow suffer an accident and be crushed to bits?"
"At your current state you would perish. Besides, seeing you discover how to deal with all of that will be amusing. "
"I am so tempted to toss you out the window," Arel said pressing his temples. "But I guess I'll take a walk around this place and try to find something to do," He continued walking up to the cane.
Limping once again, Arel removed the chair and the door opened up with a loud thud. About five or six maids and two butlers appeared to be trying to open the door and peek inside, Arel watched all of them let out some embarrassed laughs before they walked away looking over their shoulders.
'Creeeeeeeeeeeeeepyyyyyyyy... ' Arel thought as he started to limp away from the group. However, as he walked away, he heard a very low and familiar voice whispering in his ear.
"It's already happening, I wonder if you will remember what got you so far. What you'll do with the gifts you were given? "
Arel felt a strong stinging sensation inside his head as he limped away, the pain disappeared just as soon as it appeared. It wasn't before long that Arel saw the world a bit clearer. The shadow looming over everything was still there, but his sight saw more color, more life than before. Something had changed, but he thought better to think about it later, being outside the hospital made him want to wander for a bit.
The empty halls echoed the sound of his heavy steps as he dragged his 'injured' leg, the high walls proudly displayed banners of the sun princess' cutie mark, vast tapestries of different regions of the kingdom that Arel had never visited before, grand illustrations of heroes and battles of the past. As Arel analyzed each one of the pictures, he noticed something wrong with the composition, almost as if some spots were missing a character or had something painted over it.
The walk continued, only meeting the eventual servant or soldier that would also stare at him until he was far enough away. The great banners that hang from the top of the arcs gave a view of vast courtyards where armored soldiers were sparring and training. From up there Arel could see a single soldier handling multiple attackers, judging from the magic auras that kept appearing, a unicorn. A very thin soldier compared to his opponents, some sort of pink almost transparent cloud floated around him and circled his horn.
'That one seems to put way more effort in their training. Though his magic can also be giving him a huge advantage. '
The tour continued, the endless maze of twists and turns slowly being memorized as he saw more and more works of art. This time stained glass windows depicting the fall of Eris, the banishment of Nightmare Moon, Celestia's ascension as the keeper of Harmony. Arel felt almost as if he was walking through a book of history, it was then that he found himself before a set of big golden doors with the sun emblazoned on them.
'If this thing is made out of gold, then I guess I found where tax money goes to, ' Arel thought as he chuckled. When he was on his own it was easy for him to behave as his usual self when other ponies were interacting with him, Arel couldn't help himself but be blunt or crude. 'Celestia is on my side...I could try a bit harder o be less blunt... '
Arel touched the golden door's surface, the sound of cracking and something heavy being moved started. Arel looked at the doors as they opened towards him, a strange and thick golden cloud poured from within the chamber that lied beyond the doors. The cloud was so thick that Arel couldn't see beyond it, he could hear steps and a voice.
"We have a special guest tonight, so have the chefs prepare the best dishes they can. It's been a while since we had a new face here to make these empty halls a bit livelier," That was Celestia's voice.
The doors closed and the golden cloud disappeared just as suddenly as they had appeared. Arel then could see through the figure that was staring at him, Celestia stood with a confused expression as Arel stared into her horn. The golden cloud slowly drifted into her horn as it disappeared, leaving behind only a few traces of it behind.
Arel reached to one of these traces and touched it, it felt as if he was holding a thread, a beautiful delicate thread golden as the sun. The golden line danced around his fingers until it rested on his fingertips, they emitted a faint glow. Arel tried to get it out of his hands by snapping his fingers, the result was a small shock followed by a very small flash.
'Is that what he meant by seeing the magic flow? '
"What did you just do?" He heard as he kept staring at his fingers.
"I guess that strong soundwaves within an area that was filled with magic residue can cause a small flash of light. It would be wise to avoid noisy equipment or ponies if you are to cast a complex spell," Arel replied instinctively.
His eyes widened, that was way too fast. He saw a small phenomenon related to the magic residue and understood its functioning, his mind had assimilated an image he saw for less than a second and applied to a knowledge he had previously attained. It was known that certain waves of the right frequency and wavelength could damage objects, however, it wasn't considered that a simple snap of a finger could cause that effect in an area with high enough concentration of residue. How did he even connect what he saw with magic residue in the first place?
"And you came to that conclusion because."
"I'm not sure," Arel replied once again by instinct.
"It's good to see that at least you're still full of surprises," He heard Celestia say before she started to laugh.
Arel, however, was worried about another thought. 'What would have happened if I had snapped my fingers while inside that cloud? Small quantities caused a bright flash...could I have triggered an explosion? '
"Well, Mr. Areneo," Arel heard as he considered the possible outcomes of what he had just witnessed. "I think we may go to one of the small dining rooms."
"Sure, sure," Arel replied looking at both sides of his hand and following as the Princess walked away.
"How's the castle?" Celestia asked as they sat in silence.
The chefs were taking a bit longer to finish the dishes, which was understandable considering the specifications she asked, however, she was left to deal with the awkward silence while waiting. Celestia couldn't tell if Arel was angry or simply bothered by something else entirely.
"Feels like walking through a museum. There are plenty of pieces here I only saw in books," He replied while playing with a fork, meanwhile Celestia served herself a glass of water. "Although the paintings seem to be altered somehow."
Celestia choked on the water after hearing that. 'I paid good money to hide the images of Luna, I know she will come back one day and I want her safe. But if anypony makes the connection about her and Nightmare...she might end up like Arel. '
"Sorry. Didn't know that it was a soft subject," Arel commented as Celestia regained her posture. "I just figured I should point out that your precious decoration might've been stolen and replaced with fakes."
"Oh. That's what you meant," Celestia said drying up the water she had spilled on herself and over the table. "I didn't expect anypony to notice it actually. How did you notice it?"
"I dunno," The stallion replied shrugging. "My guess? I can see better than I think."
"You don't say. What else can you tell me about yourself?" Celestia inquired leaning forward and resting her head on her hands.
The answer she got made Celestia gulp, Arel completely stopped toying with the fork, he raised his gaze and locked eyes with her. His completely dull and uninterested expression shifted into a serious one, his eyes went dark like when he was back in the hospital.
'Oh, I think I might have forced something here. Um...what should I do? '
Celestia saw the stallion frown as his jaw opened moving up and down as if he wanted to speak but something kept him from doing so. His right eye began to twitch as the movement started to become more erratic, Celestia watched as he started to scratch his head with one hand as the other gripped the table cover.
"I-I...t-the..." The stallion muttered as his breathing became faster. He was really struggling to speak.
'Is he forcing himself? I did hear he had some sort of PTSD but...what triggered it? Is his personal life the trigger? Or something else entirely?
"You don't have to speak! It's okay!" Celestia said raising up her voice as she got up and went to him. "You can speak when and if you want about those subjects. I'll drop it and leave it to you when you want to talk about it. So, please don't force yourself," She continued resting her hand on his shoulder.
The response to that was even better than she expected, Arel's breathing came back to normal. His eyes slowly lightened up and his muttering ceased, Arel took a deep breath and closed his eyes before exhaling. Then he started to let out an awkward laugh as he turned away from her. Celestia made him look back at her.
"I guess that I am just a crumbling pile of flesh, aren't I?" Arel asked with a sad smile.
Celestia stared at that face, he was sad, he was angry, he was confused. The bright colt that she met years ago was just one big mess, and she couldn't blame him for it. She was actually surprised he even talked to her, after all, considering his record, he would probably never trust another being.
'If anything, he has more willpower than any pony I ever met. He has endured a lot in such a short span of time...how didn't he become a lunatic or a mad stallion seeking revenge? '
"I can't say that you aren't in a bad place," Celestia said with the softest voice she could muster as she brought him up close hugging him. "I can't say that I understand what you are going through. In fact, I can't even say for sure you'll ever be the way you were."
"That's really motivational," She heard as she continued to hold him.
"But I can say that you are not weak. You are not a crumbling pile of flesh, you're damaged. But it's up to you to fix what you can and move on. A lot of bad things may have happened to you. But you learned from it, you spent your entire life learning. You have knowledge that nopony can take away from you, and that is your greatest strength. A power that is yours and yours alone."
"Power?"
"Yes, and you can use that to prevent that others go through the same thing you are going now. If you are willing to teach them, to guide them. If you don't do it, then I'm afraid, not many will and many more beings will go through the same thing."
"A...a responsibility..." After hearing those words, Celestia heard him start to sob.
Then she felt his arms wrap around her as he cried out, his voice screaming like when he asked her why did he have to go through all this. He looked like he was using everything he had to hug her back. Celestia felt a warmth building up inside her chest, blood rushed to her head as she realized how close she was to him.
'Maybe he shouldn't have left the hospital yet. He is way more hurt than he looks, but...this feels...nice. Maybe I can help him? Maybe I can be there for him now that he is on his own, his shoulder to cry on. Wait, what? WHAT AM I THINKING?! He needs a specialist's help! I'm no psychiatrist! I might worsen his state! But in that case...he would rely on me more...NOOO! I AM NOT GOING TO HURT HIM! I REFUSE TO DO SO! '
(The following morning)
"Have you heard that we got a new magic teacher?"
"I bet it's another old unicorn."
"I heard he graduated here in the academy!"
'Just ignore them, Twilight. Once the new teacher comes by you'll go back to doing what you were meant to do. Studying. '
"Do you think he will be like the previous one? That annoying know-it-all?"
Twilight continued to try and ignore the conversations happening around her, such petty and trivial things didn't matter to her. Research, discovery, technological and magical development were the only things that mattered. Who was the next teacher? Who was dating who, who had the most advanced Harmony-Tech devices, who was the most popular? All of that was just a waste of time, after all, what would any of that matter once they graduated? Those kinds of things didn't matter, academical achievements were the things that would count.
And to take it all, Twilight knew that she couldn't afford to waste time with things like friends. Unless it was for studying, that was the only reason to waste time worrying with others. Because once she started to help others she could go over materials once again and assure her top class spot.
Her reading was interrupted by the sound of the door opening, which caused a sudden silence to take over the room. Twilight raised her head and saw a familiar figure walking into the room.
"Mr. Areneo?" She muttered watching the stallion wearing a brown t-shirt with some jeans and a lab coat entered the room, limping.
"An earth pony?"
"Is that a new student?"
"Somehow he is pissing me off."
"Isn't that the terrorist stallion?"
"Was he sent back here as punishment?"
These whispers and murmurs kept on going as the stallion walked up to the teacher's stand. Twilight was sitting on the first row, which allowed her to see him more clearly. Arel had a lot of bags under his eyes, the look he had in his eyes was strange. Arel looked tired and uninterested, very different from the time she met in his lab.
'I guess that's to be expected after what he went through. He must've been trying to figure out what to do after he got out of that hospital. The princess must have helped him to get here again. '
Then Twilight saw Arel pick up some chalk, turn to the blackboard and start to write something down with big capital letters. Once it was finished, Twilight could barely keep her excitement in check.
"Very well class, I am Arel Areneo. Your new magic teacher," He said before yawning. "Now, I spent the last night trying to catch up with what you all learned so far. Just so I would be able to teach you properly. And upon inspecting the books and notes of the previous teacher, I decided where I should begin."
'OHMYGOSH! OHMYGOSH! OHMYGOSH! What is he going to teach?! What will he show us?! ' Twilight thought as she hopped in her seat giggling and almost squealing while she watched Arel pick up one of the books on top of the teacher's desk and lifting in front of his face.
Then Twilight stopped and all of her excitement seemed to disappear, it was the very first book they had to read once they started the course. 'Channeling and casting, an advanced guide'.
'What? That has to be a joke. here is no way that he is... ' Twilight's thought process was halted by Arel tossing the book in a perfect arch that landed in the trash bin near the entrance door.
He then picked another book and did the same thing, and then another, and another. Tome by tome, they all ended inside the trash. Even the ones that they were yet to cover were discarded. Then Twilight watched awestruck as Arel turned around and started to write on the board again, once again the capital letters formed on the board.
FROM SCRATCH
"That's right," Arel said discarding the chalk on the desk. "You are all going to see the entirety of this thing from the very beginning."
At this point, all of the students started to yell and complain.
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!"
"DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD WE HAD TO STUDY TO GET HERE?!"
"WHAT CAN A MUD PONY POSSIBLY KNOW ABOUT CASTING MAGIC?!"
"I WILL COMPLAIN TO MY PARENTS!"
While the students continued to rant and complain, Twilight watched Arel reach into one of his pockets and pull out an empty flask. He carefully placed the flask on top of his desk, then he walked to the trash can and placed the trash can with all the tomes on top of the desk by the flask's side. Then Twilight saw him hold his cane by the tip and strike the top of the desk, causing everypony to quiet down.
"Now, are all of you done whining?" He asked with an annoyed tone, the answer was silence. "Listen up! Your bodies are like this flask when compared to other races. You lack the speed of a pegasus and the strength of the 'mud pony'. So, how do you compensate? Through you fancy magic that makes you all believe to be so great and better than the others."
"You all learn your fancy spells by memorizing magic words. Chant them in your mind and boom! Magic happens, however, what's the biggest issue all of you face?" Arel asked making the cane rest over his shoulder. "Your teacher asked you a question. Anypony?"
"The casting time," A voice by Twilight's side said. "The greater the complexity of the spell the longer the chanting."
"Correct, Mrs. Moon Dancer. Did I get your name right?" The teacher asked pointing his cane to Moon Dancer, that replied with a nod. "Well, it is as your colleague said. In your current method, you are forced to memorize the spells and focus everything you have into chanting. That is why most of you cast spells sometimes stronger than you mean to."
Twilight watched as, during that speech, Arel placed each book he had tossed away on top of the flask. "And that means, that when it comes to channeling, all of you are but novices. And all of you are also the ones responsible for filling up this place with magic residue. Which is also the cause of a lot of accidents out there. Earth ponies and Pegasus can also cause that, but our contribution is way smaller."
"And how do you propose to resolve that?" Twilight asked raising her hand. "Because so far you just accused us of causing the magic residue accidents."
"Thank you for asking, Mrs. Twilight! You get my point. As you can see, the flask is slowly cracking because of all the weight it has to sustain from the books. Your minds are mainly focusing on the words, meaning the other parts involved in the casting are being left to chance. It's a miracle none of the unicorns have blown themselves up, or caused severe damage to their bodies."
"So, you're saying that we could make more accurate and carefully executed by focusing on the channeling? But if the focus on the chanting is lost the spell fails," Another voice from the back said.
"That's why you all should throw away the chanting. Read the explanation, then channel the energy as the phenomenon you desire to happen is supposed to go," Arel said limping away from the desk, there was a brief moment of silence and then...
"Are you insane?!"
"That's the only way known to ponies on how to cast magic!"
"Celestia must have been crazy to hire you!"
"Therefore you are all doubting the choice from the ruler of Equestria and keeper of Harmony?!" Twilight saw a stern look on Arel's face as he limped towards them. "Mrs. Twilight, front and center, please," Twilight heard as he kept his gaze fixed on the crowd.
Twilight obliged and got up, then she walked up to him.
"I have a proposal to all of you. If I manage to make Mrs. Twilight over here cast a precise spell, more advanced than anything anything she ever done before. You all will shut up and listen to my teachings. If I fail, I'll give up and leave."
There was silence the students looked at each other, Twilight just stood there confused about what was happening. His first day on the job and he was putting his job on the line?
'He won't win this bet! I should try to stop this. Or maybe contact Celestia, ' Twilight thought right before Arel spoke again.
"I'll take your silence as a sign you all accept the challenge?" Silence once again followed. "Mrs. Twilight, are you familiar with the healing spells?"
"Y-yes."
"And the spells related to lighting?" Twilight nodded once again. "Very well, what does the spell of healing do?"
"It causes the metabolism of cells to spike allowing the receiver's body to recover quickly from injuries. The longer the chant the greater the heal."
"Perfect, and what are the limitations to those spells?"
"As I said they accelerate the metabolism of cells. Meaning that if the target has no energy substrate to sustain the process, the spell will not function properly. The subject can even get in worst shape than he was prior to the spell."
"We are talking about raw energy correct? Something usable by the organism?" Arel asked as he limped around her, Twilight replied with a nod. "Now, what is the essence of the lighting?"
"Electricity."
"And what is an electric current?"
"Charged particles moving in an organized fashion. In a flow through a conduit."
"Amazing! Ok, now here is another question: what's the most advanced healing spell you ever cast?"
"I...um...I-I never cast one of them...my magic is a bit erratic. S-so..."
"All of them ended up in failure," Twilight nodded to him in response. "Now, you are going to be using that on me."
"W-WHAT?! You can't expect me to heal you!"
"Everything will be fine. I'm confident in my theory, and your numbers are solid. Numbers are trustworthy. Given the right directions, your spells won't fail."
Twilight's eyes widened. 'Only the Princess has ever trusted me like that. I...I have to try! He is right, with the right instructions I will be able to cast them. '
"Do you want me to patch your leg?" Twilight said with a bit of confidence taking over her.
"Don't worry, for your first time I have a better target," He said before walking to his desk and taking off the books from the top of the flask. Then Twilight watched him pick up the flask and crush it with his hands, which made Twilight wince as she watched Arel take each shard of glass from his bleeding hand. "You'll heal these."
"You are crazy," Twilight said picking his wounded hand. "Now what do I do?"
"First, forget all the chanting and words you memorized. You won't need them."
"That might be hard..."
"Have you ever heard somepony telling a story and then you created the scenario in your head?"
"Yes," Twilight answered as she remembered her mother and her father telling her bed-time stories, then the princess. When they would tell her those, Twilight could see those worlds so clearly, the world around her would disappear and only the fiction would remain. Something similar could happen when she read some books, not to the same extent but it was there.
"Then close your eyes and charge up your magic," Twilight obliged. "Focus on the energy charging up. Remember the wounds on my hand, charge up the amount you believe that would be needed to heal them. Nothing more, nothing less. Then imagine the cells multiplying, the ions moving, the..."
His voice continued to describe the spell as Twilight followed his instructions. The process happening in her mind as the muffled voice in the back of her mind kindly guided her step by step. the image of his hand appeared in her mind. The magic amount required to heal them came naturally, a lavender cloud surrounded Twilight, gently flowing from her horn through her body.
The cloud traveled down from her head towards each of her arms, passing from her hands into Arel's hand. The energy slowly entering the wounds as the wounded tissue grew back into its original form from the inside out. Each layer of wounded skin closing at a time, while charged particles moved through the cells supplying energy for the process.
Once the final layer of skin had regenerated in the image that appeared before her, Twilight noticed that the voice had stopped. She couldn't remember when, but there it was the silence. Opening her eyes, Twilight saw Arel's hand.
"I-It's...it's healed! I did it!"
"There you go, class!" Twilight heard Arel exclaim. "Just as I said, no chanting. Just picturing the process and then magic happens. Not only that, Mrs. Twilight just performed the most complex spell known in the medical field. A healing spell that both heals wounds and restores stamina. The only known spell that can heal a wound without consuming the energy reserves of the target."
"W-what?!" That was the first thing that blurted out of Twilight's mouth as multiple questions swirled in her mind in a maelstrom that was making the world around her spin. "I-I performed..."
"Light's Blessing? Yeah, you just performed the spell that only three other magic casters have ever managed to pull it out successfully," She heard him reply looking over his shoulder. "Now, do any of you still want to question my methods?"
'I can't believe it. I cast Light's Blessing on my first try. He...he figured out a new way to cast spells. How did he do it?! I have to know! He has to have access to something we don't have. But...with this method, mixing spells will be a cinch. There is no end to what we can do! There is no spell we can't try! Wait...if we can focus only on the phenomenon...can we change the effect? Can the outcome be manipulated? '
"Show us what to do!"
"Go ahead smart guy!"
"Now, now! We can't have you all tossing spells at random here. There are a few things we need to get down first. First, I made a request to the principal requiring a test room so all of you can practice. Until then, only minor spells. Second, I made a list of magic spells based on your current scores in tests. I left three empty places for each of you. These are for spells you believe you can perform. Pick wisely for they will compose part of your evaluations."
"Mr. Arel!"
"Yes?"
"How did you figure this out?"
"Do you have some sort of talent?"
"Do you have some sort of tome that showed you that?"
At this point, Twilight didn't expect anything less. However, as the other students started to ask the same thing, Twilight started to realize that something was off with her new teacher. His eyes were rapidly moving to the sides, his grip on the cane's handle was so tight that the metal seemed to be bending. She could see him starting to sweat, his breathing seemed to be getting out of rhythm.
'What is going on here? They're just asking him how did he figure it out. He shouldn't be so anxious. It's just students asking how he made a breakthrough...oh no. Celestia did mention that he seemed to be having some issues back in the hospital. Is this what she meant? But what is this about? '
"I-I'll get the lists. Y-you all can...s-start to c-choose your own spells," Arel stuttered as he quickly limped away from them and closed the door.
"That was odd," Twilight whispered to herself as she kept looking at the door.
"He still pisses me off. But I can't deny the guy knows his stuff."
"I couldn't get my eyes off him!"
"I know! I wish that I was the one over there in the front with him."
"Twilight is so lucky!"
'What are they talking about? I was just holding his hand for a spell. Though...his voice...it was so...calming. His instructions were so clear...and how sure he was that I could do it. It was all so...what am I THINKING?! ' Twilight screamed in her head as she felt the blood rushing to her head, her cheeks felt warm as she slapped herself on them trying to recompose herself.
'Think straight Twilight! You need to focus on your studies! In the classes that he will be teaching. On what HE has to show us. EVERYTHING he has to...NO! NOPE! NOPE! NOPE! I can't waste time thinking silly stuff! Though...I might need extra classes. '
Arel quickly limped through the halls as he headed to the teacher's lounge. More and more students paying attention to him as he walked past them. There was no end to the number of eyes peering on him, he had to get away. Arel had to get somewhere where they couldn't see him. Where the Harmony-Tech couldn't look at him.
Arel finally reached the teacher's lounge, he opened the door and locked himself in. 'Ok, ok. This should be fine. I won't have to worry here. The teachers are all out in their classes right now. '
"I wasn't expecting anypony coming here," A strangely pitched voice spoke making Arel open his eyes. "Especially a student."
Before him, Arel saw the same soldier he had seen in the courtyard the previous day. Upon closer inspection, he was different from most soldiers he had seen. He was thin compared to the opponents, whose size was considerable even from a distance, he had faced in the previous day.
His armor was also different, a golden armor with purple details etched in the shape of a six-pointed star. He looked more important, and he seemed to care more for his appearance than the other soldiers. His mane was carefully kept, his coat as well.
"Well, what does a student need here?"
"I'm a teacher," Arel replied pulling out the temporary ID that Celestia gave him before he left the castle that morning. "This is my first day. I came here to get the list I asked to be stored in my locker."
"My apologies. I am the captain of the royal guard. The name is Shining Armor. If you wish to file a complaint about my behavior, please feel free to do it. I was wrong to assume you to be a student based on your age," He said standing up and bowing.
'He is way too formal. And how come he isn't at my throat? '
"I'll just get my things and go. I have no business messing with the captain of the guards."
"I have given you my name. The polite thing to do is give me yours."
Arel looked at the guard with a frown. "Why bother? You've probably seen my face in the newspapers and such."
"I rather not judge a pony based on the words of another. I prefer to meet and be the judge myself."
"Then you already know my name. Arel Areneo, also known as the terrorist or the magi-tech maniac."
"Given those bags under your eyes, I would take those monikers for being lies. You have the eyes of somepony who doesn't sleep due to worries. The figure painted by those clips is that of a maniac with no sense of guilt or conscience."
Arel gritted his teeth. 'What is going on here? How does he know that? He looks like he is talking from experience...I'll just leave. I really don't like this guy. '
"Well, I got to go and deliver the assignments to the students," Arel said walking to his locker and gathering his lists. "Have a good day," Arel continued as he grabbed the doorknob and opening it, just as he was about to leave, he heard from behind him.
"Just so you know. Celestia is the one who asked me to stay within the grounds. I placed the entirety of the guards on patrol to compensate for my absence. So, I just want to ask you to be kind to my sister. And to please not make the Princess regret aiding you."
Arel didn't reply, he simply looked over his shoulder towards the guard for a few seconds before closing down the door. Now he was away from him again but out in the open.
'I'm out and I have my own guinea pigs to test my theories. None of these spells are dangerous enough to put them in harm's way. I carefully calculated their abilities to check what they could do. But...I can't keep on acting like this in public. I have to remember how to behave in public...if I can't act normally as I am...maybe I can make somepony up who can. Somepony who can remember how to act in public. '
Author's Note
Here is another one, sorry for the delay.
I'm finally free from my exams so now I can write more freely, but this story, in particular, takes longer since I'm practicing to write longer chapters.
Thank you for reading. Please let me know your thoughts on the chapter! Sorry if it is shorter than the previous, but I gave it everything I had.