With quick steps, entirely eager to get started in learning what he could of his new magic, Ashephyles strode over to the dark-stained desk and sat down with his legs crossed, the large cushion being as soft as he expected. Unlike on Earth, the desks, tables, and nearly everything else was very low to the ground, a result of the ponies not having the capacity to comfortably sit like a human, nor having the height of a human. As a result, almost every single chair was replaced by large cushions that could be comfortably sat on by almost every species, though Ash was sure there had to be at least one it didn’t work too well for.

Leaning slightly to his left, he reached into his pocket and grasped the object he had noticed some time ago. Pulling it out and holding it up, he quickly realized that it was a phone. The man wasn’t quite sure what kind of phone it was as it had no discernable markings from any carrier or manufacturer. The entire thing was sleek all around, entirely black, and around six inches tall and two wide. Out of sheer habit alone, Ash tapped the screen twice then realized it wouldn’t switch on like his own did. To his surprise, the phone did light up, the screen quickly showing a familiar lockscreen of a pattern passcode and water dragon background. With a hint of doubt, Ash ran his finger through his pattern, an inverted ‘L,’ which worked and unlocked the phone to show a familiar homescreen of several folders and a poison dragon background.

Well fuck, this has to be my phone, but it’s not the right model. Did God, if he really is God, do some shit to transfer my stuff over to this phone? Did he add anything to it?

Looking over his first page, he saw there was nothing new. The same shortcuts to various playlists, the same folders that held the majority of his often-used apps, and the same apps in each folder. Swiping the screen to the side, he saw exactly what he expected. There were two folders on the second page, the first labeled ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ and the second labeled ‘D&D Extras.’

Fuck, if I knew he was going to give me my phone, I would have asked for Dungeons and Dragons magic, too. That shit’s powerful! Hell, depending on which set of rules the magic would be run by, I’d be able to essentially become more powerful than Discord if I learned the Wish spell.

Just to be sure, Ash swiped to the third page, one he knew should be empty, only to stop in mild surprise. There was a new application on his phone, one he had never seen before. The symbol was the very familiar emblem of the Imperial Legion, originally referred to as the ‘Seal of Akatosh,’ and the first thing one would see when loading Skyrim. It was a solid gray stylized dragon with the wings forming a diamond shape that didn’t quite connect. Underneath the app was the letters ‘MGTAM.’

Tapping the symbol, it opened onto a title screen that held the symbol for Destruction, a stylized flame icon. Beneath the symbol were the words ‘Mage’s Guide to Aetherium Magic,’ which he figured was what the acronym stood for. A moment later, the screen changed as the app seemed to load, showing what seemed to be an index. The very first entry on the list was ‘Introduction to Aetherium Magic.’ Tapping it once, it opened into a scrolling page that Ash began to read.

“What is Aetherium magic, why is it called such, what can it do, and how do I use it are just few of the no doubt countless questions you have for me, Archmagus Shalidor!”

Ash thought that was a nice touch, using the name of an actual Elder Scrolls character in what seemed to be a compendium designed by the deity who sent him there.

“Aetherium magic, at its core, is energy drawn from the plane of Aetherius and harnessed into a variety of deadly and/or useful effects. The most common effects can be categorized into five schools of magic, though there are spells that fall within none of them. The schools of magic are as such; Alteration, dealing with manipulating the physical world for the benefit of the caster, Conjuration, dealing with summoning and/or making deals with Daedric beings as well as creating undead, Destruction, dealing with raw elements with the sole purpose of harming and/or maiming, Restoration, dealing with life energy to heal horrifying wounds, strike blows against the undead, and negate enemy magic, and Illusion, dealing with manipulating the senses and mind to the advantage of the caster.”

“The specific spells that lie under each school will be detailed later in this well of knowledge, under the entry corresponding to the specific school of magic you might be looking for.”

Swiping from the left side out, a sliding drawer extended and revealed the index list again. Sure enough, later down the line were five entries, each named after a specific School. Swiping again, he closed the drawer and continued reading. “One of the most important things for you, an aspiring mage, to do is to understand the ranking of spells. The weakest, and subsequently easiest to cast, are classified as ‘Novice’ spells, which include spells such as Flames, Oakflesh, Fury, and so many more. These spells require only visualization and a little thought to cast. Above Novice are ‘Apprentice’ level spells, which require visualization, an understanding of the spell’s effect, and raw will. Next come ‘Adept’ level spells, the location in which most mages cease furthering themselves. This rank requires visualization, an understanding of the effect, willpower, and directed magic, which we will get to later. Second to highest are ‘Expert’ level spells. These will require almost entirely directed magic, willpower, and understanding. Finally come ‘Master’ rank spells. These requires sheer Magicka reserves, willpower, directed magic, and full body gestures. It is important to not attempt to cast spells that are too high above you! You could engulf yourself in debilitating pain by spending all of your reserves, destroy that which is around you via a failed spell, or even destroy yourself! Follow this guide, for it will tell you when you ready for the next rank.”

“As is, however, you should be more than ready for Novice level spells. Let’s start with Flames. Go ahead, imagine a jet of flames bursting forth from your fingertips, but keep in mind just what fire is! Don’t be upset if it doesn’t work right away, just try it a few different ways until it works.”

Ash looked up from his new phone and glanced at the ceiling, seeing that it was easily ten or so feet above him. From what he remembered, Flames only launched for about six feet before fading out so it should be plenty of room. Pointing his hand at the ceiling, he closed his eyes and imagined a stream of fire erupting from his hand. He thought of the heat and how things blacken and ignite under the force of destruction. For several moments, Ash felt nothing out of the ordinary, so he opened his eyes. Nothing actually had happened.

Let’s try that again, I guess? Ash tried again. He pointed his hand at the ceiling once more, but kept his eyes open this time. In his mind’s eye, he saw flames flicker to life and leap toward the ceiling, only to fade halfway up. He imagined feeling the heat against his skin, though it did not burn him. He imagined the light dancing across the room and dispelling the shadows. He imagined hearing the roar of the flames soaring upward, ravenously consuming the air in its path. For a moment, Ash thought nothing had happened once more. Then he realized that he was no longer imagining anything, but actually sensing it. With that sudden realization, he killed the thought and the fire from his hand stopped, the heat and light and sound fading away in mere moments. Examining his hand quickly, he was relieved to find that he had not burned himself. However, he was slightly confused. He always assumed that a magic user can feel the energy in their body flow into the spell, but Ash had felt nothing. Perhaps that only happens with the spells that require directed magic?

Shrugging it off and turning his attention to the ceiling, he saw that he was right. The Flames spell didn’t have enough range to reach the marble roof. No scorch mark stained the ceiling, nor did the white stone seemed warped or cracked from the fire, though he doubted it was hot enough to do so, even if he was sure it was very hot in its own right. With a final glance toward his hand, and a rising feeling of amazement and elation, Ash quickly forced his attention to return to the guide lest he lose himself to the excitement of having magic.

“You might have found it easier to get the spell to work with your eyes open rather than closed. How did I know that? I’m a mage, of course! I know these things. But in all honesty, I knew because almost all mages find it easier to cast a spell with open eyes. That’s rather fortunate because it’s hard to aim with closed eyes! Now, you may or may not be feeling a sort of, well, strain deep within yourself depending on how long you held the spell. If you don’t feel anything, try casting Flames for about ten seconds and then continue reading.”

With a thoughtful frown, Ash looked up and reached toward the ceiling for the third time. The spell was far easier to call forth this time, now knowing how to channel the magic and how to properly visualize it. However, he did an experiment. Ash imagined the heat and the light, but he didn’t imagine the roaring crackle of the fire, hoping the spell would be silent. To his disappointment, though not his surprise, the spell failed entirely. Trying again but imagining the sound, the spell was still just as loud as it had been before. If it had not been for the marble walls and thick wooden door, he did not doubt the fire would be heard from down the hall. It was good to know that he couldn’t silence a spell just by imagining it was silent. If he had attempted that when his life was on the line, he might have lost it. Once he began to feel a strange tightness located around his chest, he ended the spell and returned to the guide.

“Now that you understand what I mean, that feeling lets you know that you have expended a portion of your Magicka reserves. The feeling is nonexistent as long as you have about 80% or more of your magic left. Between 50% and 80%, it transfers into a tightness that’s merely discomforting. Once you begin to near 30% of your full reserves, you will begin to feel slightly sick, which transfers into incredibly sick at around 20%. Once you drop below 10% of your Magicka reserves, you will experience extreme pain centered around your chest and head, so I recommend always leaving some to spare unless in the most dire of circumstances. If your reserves ever empty, you will either fall unconscious or, failing that, be too exhausted and in too much pain to move.”

“Recovering Magicka varies between everyone, sometimes drastically, sometimes barely. I myself need only sit down for a few minutes before I am ready to continue. Others may need to meditate for several hours or even get a full night’s sleep, depending on the strength of your connection to Aetherius. Those with the weakest connection must sleep. Many believe that the realm of dreams lies close to the realm of the Aedra, which allows the connection to strengthen. Some can strengthen this connection while awake, which are those who need to meditate. If you just need to rest for a while, it means your connection is strong and able to draw Magicka from the realm no matter what. Keep in mind that meditating and sleeping will speed your recovery up even further!”

“Now that you feel that tightness, you should try some of the things I’ve mentioned and see if the feeling disipates. That will signify that your magic has recovered past 80%. Sleeping will refill your reserves entirely, unless you have such a deep container that eight hours isn’t enough. Not even I have that much Magicka, and I’m an Archmagus! Now, sit back and relax and try to refill your Magicka. If that doesn’t work, clear your mind and meditate. If that doesn’t work, take a quick nap! Of course, if you are pressed for time, go ahead and try meditating immediately.”

Ash set his phone on his lap after checking the time and laid back, his bare skin feeling the soft carpet of the room. An idea struck him and he worked to blank out his mind, leaving no thoughts to roam freely. For several minutes he rested, staring at the ceiling as nothing flickered through his mind. Over time, he started to feel warm, and light began to filter through his eyelid, though he did not open them. Slowly, he could feel the tightness in his chest fading away. He relaxed and waited until it was gone, then waited longer for his reserves to refill completely. Sitting up again once he felt that his reserves were recharged, he checked the time again to find that it had actually taken around twenty-five minutes to regain what he had lost. It wasn’t the five minutes he was hoping for, but it was far better than sleeping for a full night. Thinking it over, he realized it actually made some sense. If he took into account Skyrim’s faster time, it did take about twenty minutes for the Dragonborn to regain magic.

Tapping the phone twice, he scrolled down a little more to see that there was two more paragraphs before the entry ended. “However fast or slow your Magicka recharges, keep this in mind as it is incredibly important! During situations of extreme stress, or even if you are just stressed in general, your Magicka will refill at only about a quarter of the usual rate! Since combat is, for most, an extremely stressful situation, do not waste your magic! Having that extra 20% may be the difference between you leaving with your life, or your enemy leaving with theirs.”

“Now, you may or may not have noticed that while the index shows all of the entries in this guide, you can not access any of them as of yet. That is because they are locked. As you read and finish an entry, you will be required to prove that you have read and understood the material before you can progress. Successfully proving you paid attention will unlock various other entries, depending on which entry you just finished. Go ahead, select the box beneath this paragraph and answer the questions.” Tapping a small box at the bottom that reminded him of reCaptcha verifications, he saw a loading circle appear inside the box. A moment later, the screen changed as a box popped up, replacing the text of the entry so he couldn’t cheat.

“What is the final spell rank?”

A.) Novice
B.) Enchanting
C.) Legendary
D.) Master

Tapping ‘Master,’ he received a quick check before the screen changed again.

“What do Master rank spells require that others do not?”

A.) Willpower
B.) Strength
C.) Gestures
D.) Rituals

Tapping ‘Gestures,’ he received a green checkmark again before the screen changed to show a new question.

“Who wrote this guide?”

A.) Archmage Savos Aren
B.) Molag Bal
C.) Archmagus Shalidor
D.) Akatosh

Tapping ‘Archmagus Shalidor,’ the screen changed once again to show a list. Quickly reading it over, he smiled lightly to himself. Things were going to get fun in the next few days.

Novice Spell Casting unlocked!
Novice Spell List unlocked!
Enchanting Introduction unlocked!
Enchantment Catalogue unlocked!
Alchemy Introduction unlocked!
Alchemical Reagents unlocked!

Before he could go into Novice Spell Casting, he heard soft knocking coming from his door. He glanced over his shoulder, then stood up and slipped the phone back into his pocket. Striding over to the large oak door that was surprisingly light for its weight, he pulled it inwards for it to open. Standing outside the door with a hoof poised to knock again was a guard. When he saw the human standing at the door, he lowered his hoof and spoke. “Their Majesties requested that I escort you to the dining room to join them for lunch.”

“Lead on, then.” Ash said, stepping out into the hallway and closing the door behind him. The guard nodded once and turned, heading down the hall with Ash right behind him. Now that he got a good look at the guard, he saw that he came up to around his stomach, though the maid came up to around his waist. Celestia was about the same height, with Luna being up to his neck or so. However, with their horns, both were taller than him. He figured that a filly like the Crusaders would come up to about his shin, with foals like Pumpkin or Pound being just above his ankle.

“Is something on your mind?” The guard asked, no doubt noticing that he was being stared at.

“Apologies.” Ash said. “I was thinking about the heights of the ponies I have seen so far. The Princesses are about the same as me, but it just hit me how I’m so much taller than most ponies. Do you mind if I ask you a couple questions?”

“I don’t mind, just know that there are things I can’t answer.”

“As expected of any guard talking to a foreign creature.” Ash replied. “You come up to my chest or so, with a maid from earlier coming up to my waist. Are stallions naturally taller than mares or is it something else?”

“Something else.” The guard replied. “In this case, it was just pure chance. The maid you saw must have been either shorter than most ponies, or just young. I’m about average height for a pony, with the Princesses being taller than almost everypony else. Princess Cadence, the niece of Princesses Celestia and Luna, would come up to your chest, I believe. Below your neck is your chest, right?”

“Right.”

“Most would come up to your stomach, with the shorter ones being around your waist.” The guard said. “There’s no real difference in the height of mares and stallions.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

The rest of the walk was done in silence with nothing else tugging at Ash’s curiosity. Of course, there were plenty of questions he could ask, but he figured he would either learn the answers to them in due time, or he would just ask Celestia or Luna. While the pair walked through the halls, Ash began to think. Let’s see, we’re obviously in Canterlot, and Luna is here, so that puts me after the start of the show. Luna seems to have gotten modern English, or would it be Equish, down relatively well, so I’d make a guess and say we are a year or so past season one, though I’m not quite sure where that would put the timeline. Of course, this is only assuming the timeline will be similar or even identical. For all I know, this will play out entirely differently than the show.

The walk wasn’t quite as long as Ash thought it was going to be because the guard stopped in front of large double doors that were made of the same stuff as all the other doors, that being oak, with the emblems of the Diarchy emblazoned on the doors themselves. Surrounding the doors, as such on the doorframe, were intricately styled vines carved into the marble walls, with flowers placed seemingly sporadically on them. Personally, he would have imagined something food-related would be there to mark the dining room, but for all he knew, vines were considered food considering the ponies were herbivores first and foremost. Two guards, looking like all the other guards in the castle, flanked the doorway and nodded to him. The guard that had been escorting him turned and spoke. “Go on ahead and enter the dining room. Their Majesties are waiting for you.”

Ash nodded as he strode up to the door. The two guards reacted quickly, their hooves grasping the handles somehow and swinging the doors open inward. He gave them both a nod of thanks before entering, seeing that the dining room was designed just as the hallways were; large marble columns from which hung banners depicting Celestia, Luna, their marks, or some combination thereof, white walls, stained glass windows, and an arched ceiling. In the center of the room was a large oak table large enough, and with enough seats, to accommodate around thirty diners. At the other end of the table, seated side by side, were the Princesses of Equestria. Seeing him enter, they both gave him slight smiles before Celestia gestured to her side. Ash walked across the room and sat down on the large cushion, the table itself coming up to his stomach while he was sitting.

The man gazed around the room for several moments before turning his attention back to the diarchs. Neither had spoken yet and he wasn’t quite sure why, though he had a theory. Perhaps, as a member of a species that will often rely on body language, they see no need to speak as often as humans do? He needed to fix that. “You know, I don’t think I could stand eating in such a large and empty room every day.”

The random comment got a smile out of Celestia again and a restrained giggle from Luna, who replied. “Verily. Were it not for the chance to sit down, relax, and speak with my sister, I would likely have a kitchen installed in my room simply so I don’t have to eat here.”

“I happen to like the open space.” Celestia said simply.

“Everypony sees as such in every hallway and room in the castle.” Luna teased lightly. “An adult dragon could walk through some of the main halls if they so felt like it.”

“I won’t deny that it is very impressive, though.” Ash said. “A castle such as this is a work of art in and of itself. The guest bedroom alone is absolutely amazing. I can’t thank you enough for you hospitality.”

“It’s nothing.” Celestia said with a wave of her hoof. “It would be remiss of me to send you away when you know nothing of our world or ways.”

“It’s everything.” Ash insisted. “I can guarantee that you wouldn’t receive anywhere near a warm welcome should you have arrived on my world instead.”

“What would it have been like?” Luna asked in mild concern.

“I’m not fully positive myself since it has never happened.” Ash admitted. “But I would guess imprisonment at the least.”

“Why?” Celestia asked loudly, shock clear in her features. “Why would they imprison somepony who hasn’t done anything yet?”

“To ensure they aren’t a threat.” Came the simple reply. “Frankly, I’m surprised I wasn’t imprisoned while you two made sure I have no hostile intentions.”

“We know you don’t.” Luna said in reply. “We can see that just by looking at you.”

“Truly?”

“Yes.” Celestia continued. “All ponies have the ability to judge another's basic temperance with a look into their eyes, though my sister and I have refined that trait over countless years. It doesn't tell us much about you, but it does tell us that you aren't going to attack us right now. Can humans not do the same?”

Maybe that’s why they seem so innocent? They can tell who’s an enemy and who’s friendly just by looking at them? With that skill, they can afford to be nice and trusting even to absolute strangers because they already know they won’t be hurt. “Not even close, Celestia. Humans are left to guess in the dark at whether a stranger is friend, foe, or just doesn’t care.”

Both Alicorns were clearly visibly disturbed by the thought of not being able to judge a person’s intentions. Ash took note of Celestia’s wings twitching lightly, though he wasn’t sure if it signified just plain old nervousness or something more. Luna shifted her weight to one side, though he doubted that meant anything at all. However, her dappled ears being folded flat against her head showed that she, too, was nervous or worried. After a moment of silence, Celestia spoke up. “W-what do you think about us?”

Ash hummed in thought for a small moment. “Do you want me to be really detailed?”

They both nodded, so Ash started. “The first impression I had of you two is that you are, by your nature, innocent. One of your first actions was to dismiss your guards and isolate yourselves alone with me, a risky move. With the knowledge that you can judge a person’s intent with a look, however, is making me believe that you can afford to be innocent without fear of being hurt, unlike humans. Beyond that, you two show an incredibly amount of kindness, understanding, and friendliness that I would be able to see in a portion of humanity. There are no doubt many humans just as kind as you both, but they are outnumbered by both the bad and those who live neutrally." Ash explained.

Luna was nodding along with him as he spoke, agreeing with most, if not all, of what he had said while Celestia was smiling lightly, thankful for his honesty in the situation. After a moment, Ash continued. “Will you return the favor?”

They nodded and it was Luna who started. “I find you strange, to be blunt, Ash. You have been through an experience that would most likely emotionally cripple a pony, yet you fully intend to play it off as something you had time to adjust to and expect. I doubt it has not left its mark on you, but I do not doubt that you are strong and truly mean what you say.”

When Luna paused for a moment, Celestia continued. “When you appeared in our throne room in a flash of light earlier today, I was immediately curious, if you remember me nudging you with my muzzle. I’m not particularly proud of the squeak I let out when you opened your eyes, but in that gaze I saw a portion of who you are. I saw your capacity for violence and willingness to hurt somepony should the need arise, a trait rare amongst ponies, but I also saw your desire to live a simple, fulfilling life.”

Luna took back over. “I will admit that you brought out an embarrassing moment in us both with how I reacted when you mentioned my dapples, but the look of intrigue and amazement in your eyes proved to me then and there that you had no ill intent to us. One who seeks the death of another would not admire their looks, simply put. Further proven in our earlier talk, you didn’t hesitate to tell us that you were not from this world. That alone showed that you were willing to extend your trust to us, which we decided to extend in return.”

Celestia grinned at him, her clean white teeth nearly shining in the light filtering in through the windows. “Satisfied?”

“Very.” Ash said, having not expected such a detailed answer. Before he could say anything else, a side door that Ash had not seen swung open, allowing several servants to swarm out and set various covered trays on the table in front of the three. Utensils were placed alongside plates and napkins, while cups were filled with some type of juice and pitchers meant for refills were set down on the large oak table. Moments later, the frenzy of moment faded as they returned to their hidden door, which Ash realized it really was hidden once they shut it. He hadn’t simply not seen it before, the entire door was made out of white marble and blended almost seamlessly with the wall. Now that he knew it was there, he could just barely make out the thin crack where the door met the wall itself, but no other hints were there as to the door’s existence, not even a handle.

Turning his attention back to the table, he saw that the Alicorns had already uncovered their plates. Celestia had a small salad of both fruits and greens in front of her, including more than a few flowers. Another covered tray sat to the side, and if stories were to be believed, Ash suspected it was a slice of cake. Luna, on the other hand, had gotten some form of soup. Soup that was going entirely ignored as she was busy tearing into a moon pie, the sight of which made Ash’s mouth water. He wanted one but far be it from him to take one from a mare who had shown him nothing but kindness.

Ash lifted the silver cover off of his plate and set it aside only to pause in surprise at his meal. A large, well donw steak sat on the platter. Just by looking at it, he could see that it was tender and juicy. Some sauce had been poured over the top and Ash swore that it smelled like steak sauce, but the man had no idea where the ponies would have gotten such a thing.

“We saw your teeth earlier today, so we had one of our chefs prepare a Gryphon meal for you. Is it to your liking?” Celestia asked, a small tinge of worry in her soft voice.

Looking up, he saw them both staring at him, though Luna had a few crumbs on her muzzle from her treat. Giving them both another grin, he nodded. “Most definitely. When I saw that you were ponies, and therefore herbivores, I was worried I would have to give up meat. As an omnivore, I can go without eating meat, but I have to eat a lot of alternatives to keep healthy.”

“Provided that you never eat a pony or any other sentient creature, we won’t have a problem with you continuing to eat meat.” Celestia explained. “There’s a stream that runs through one of the gardens that you are more than welcome to fish in, and the Everfree Forest and Whitetail Woods are popular hunting spots whenever we have carnivorous visitors, though the former is rather dangerous.”

Then she gestured toward his plate with a wing. “Go ahead, eat and enjoy. No Gryphon, nor Diamond Dog, nor Dragon has ever left this room unsatisfied. I’m sure Sharp Platter will be happy to add ‘human’ to that list. We’ll continue our questions after we have eaten.”

Ash didn’t need to be told twice. Picking up his fork and knife, he cut into the steak, surprised at how easily it was separated. Lifting it to his mouth and taking a bite, he felt his eyes close. It was amazing. The steak, as he assumed, was tender and juicy and practically fell apart without him needing to chew. He couldn’t identify any of the spices on it, most likely none of them existed on Earth, but it blended together into a perfect, or as close as a chef could get, mixture that went amazingly well with the meat. Seeing that he was more than satisfied with what he was provided, the two Princesses turned their attention back to their own meals.

Author's Note

A little hint of what the magic is going to be here. I had to set up a 'system' that would slow his progression through the ranks of magic down because, to be frank, the Dragonborn is able to completely master magic in less than a year. Ash will NOT be that skilled in Magicka.

I've also taken the liberty to make things harder so he isn't that powerful. Notice how it took him half an hour to recover twenty percent of his magic? Keep that in mind.

As usual, feel free to comment your opinion of the chapter. Have a guess as to what might happen? Feel free to share it!