Magic, what is magic?

Without starting too much of a lecture, magic is a force that flows through every living being and material objects.

Stars, for example, are a standard unit of distribution of mass in the universe [as we know from Princess Luna - editorial footnote]. The material mass which makes the universe can be divided into two types, the one that emits light, and the one that doesn't emit light. Mass can hold energy and radiate it, for example, heat.

Magic is somewhat in between energy and mass, as it can take both forms (...) It’s all iconic effects are only seen when it is in the form of energy (...)

(...) First is “energetical magic”, if enough of it is gathered in one place, it can be turned to liquid or solidified and it takes the form of a crystal. In such a case we talk about crystallized magic. Energetical magic is the form of magic that living beings can use. Shoot it, create spells with etc.

The second is “Materialistic magic” which serves the same purpose as grout that holds bricks together. However, magic is flexible, and sometimes magic needs to change things in some places of the universe, as the universe is frisky in nature. More about the properties of materialistic magic will be discussed in the second chapter (...)

(...) Therefore “materialistic magic” is what holds the universe nice and stable, for example, it allows for creatures to exist that don’t really make sense in the first place. Well, they do exist, so they do have the right to be and they probably make sense, from the fact they are living, but instinctively they do not at first glance look like they should (...)

Now, when energetical magic is used on something, it increases the amount of materialistic magic in the target. So, somecreature without much knowledge on magic can already tell, energetical magic is essentially magic without a material object to “stabilize”. Therefore it's “free”.

There is far more to it, but yes, that is true, and since magic is supposed to hold the universe in a good shape, if there is more than enough magic somewhere, it gets out of shape, obviously. Same when it lacks magic.

It is the reason why when we use energetical magic, called simply magic by most, we can change things, or achieve certain desired effects.

(...) No creature knows how much magic there is…

…

IN SHOES OF A UNICORN

For earth ponies, nonmagical creatures, and more!

Introduction, site 13-15

Prof. Quick Blink, an expert in the field of the metaphysical and a scholar of the theory of magic.

As he prepared to materialize himself the clothes he projected in his head, the Great Mage bumped into his first obstacle and surprise his new body had prepared for him (or the United One?). Rather than through his hand, as it normally should when he made a simple, dry and careless motion with his hand, with the palm of his hand directed towards his chest, magic didn’t flicker out of it, but his horn.

When using magic, the user will in most cases sense a feeling similar to that of a feather brushing against skin.

That is what the textbooks taught him and that was correct.

If the user uses magic to do something that for him is but a piece of cake in the context of the user's level regarding the knowledge of the metaphysical, a feeling of subtle warmth will be present, as if the user's hand was enveloped in water having the most preferrable temperature subordinated to the expectations.

That was another truth he experienced and knew it was true.

Now, all this happened, but he felt it on his horn. This made him flinch at first in reaction to the newfangled change. He strongly believed his transformation wasn't that hideous in detail, and as such, it didn't cross his mind that the method of casting a spell would be different.

He wasn't able to see what happened exactly, but he assumed that his horn must have also flickered with white light, as would for a split moment his palm normally do. The white color of his magic was characteristic of him. Normally magic was wearing the color of blue, like the sky, when cast or concentrated around some point. It didn’t hurt the eyes of those who watched, as it was subtle, many called his metallic.

As he stood there in the meadow under the sun, magical particles in the air swirled around, many turned to go fast through and along his body. It looked like an upside-down tornado, with incandescent dots surrounding him like glitter or fireflies.

Then it stopped, the magic suddenly shot into the body of the mage, for a moment he was all covered by white light. Clothing started to appear the way, fire consumed a leaf. Starting from one point, you had an orange wave, as if a piece of thread was on the leaf. Like in the sea, from a bird's perspective the foam always decorated the top of the wave and could be seen as it moved, so did the wave of a flame on the leaf, leaving everything behind as dark and black.

His clothes appeared the same way. A blueish wave first appeared from dozens of points on the Young Great Mages’s body, then as it went and covered all of him in a swift moment, was he left standing fully clothed up.

He had a long, dark green cotton cloak with a wide hood on it covering him. Where the neck started on the front side, there was a yellow thick twine tied in a bow holding the coat on him. The sleeves of the coat were long enough to reach the elbows. The hood was nicely placed and its bottom sides folded as they rested on the shoulders of the mage, giving him a intimidating cultist look.

His horn was going through a hole in the hood, that was cut in the hood itself and the edges were defined by a slim border from black leather, same leather his pants were made of.

Under it, he wore a woolen shirt, loose and extensively baggy, two from three buttons were left unfastened. Under it, he had a white tank top to warm himself up. Both were tucked into his leather plain and black pants that were held by a skinny brown knot belt not too tightly tied. Two large pockets on the sides were present, with a piece of skin in the form of a triangle covering them.

Since he was changed, he also had horseshoes for boots. Made out of iron and in good shape, they perfectly matched his hooves.

The mage was concerned about the use of his magical abilities. His spells, they’ll go through his horn, which means he’ll have to also stand in different ways when using offensive spells. Making poses wasn’t his thing, and second, he didn’t know how to do it with this body, if there even is a practical way for him to do it.

The more time he wasted, the more and more time did the United One have. He had to find the other Great Mages in the hope they would recognize him. He only remembered going through the portal. Was it really just a moment that passed or more? That was his biggest question. The invasion is still in motion…

"Hopefully."

The invasion could have failed, his memory partially wiped, but it meant that they must have had been defeated, which was impossible. They were powerful enough together to win, and with Tal Kalessil promising to aid them, they had the win in their pockets.

What he could be sure of, was that the United One was one step further, if not a whole jog before all of them.

For now, he must go with the most likely option he had, which was that the United One somehow discovered their plan and messed up with the portal.

Thing is, they would have felt it, then again, the United One was insanely more powerful than each one of them individually, their senses could have failed them. Before starting his reign, the United One bore the title of Librarian of Dauros, and was dedicated to Dauros, the God of law, order and knowledge. This can only further reinforce the possibility, the United One found a way to mess up with the portal, through the use of his old spells and favors and most importantly, through knowledge.

He must find people, a village or a farm will do, there he’ll get his answers sooner or later which will explain everything to him. Where he is, what province, on which side of Ardania, and what the people know.

If his case was the only one, then the other Great Mages are probably fine, if not, then they are alone and scattered away from each other.

He tilted his head downwards and aimed his horn at the ground. From his view, there was a weak light that quivered, at once it became more potent than the moment before.

The ground before him shook and cracked, with a hard punch of wind following the action, the ground erupted, dirt spraying everywhere as if it was a water gazer, spraying the soil in the near distance, it missed him completely.

From the brown cloud of dust, a leg stepped out, stone turning and hitting each other, as the peebles knocked each other. The limb grew and became its thicker version. In no time did the creature that the mage created step towards him, big and tall, bulky with pebbles raining down, dirt-filled the open gaps and clits in its body. Its anatomy very well resembles that of a strongman, with the stones, little and large shaping the body and limbs aesthetically giving it a touch of elegance.

A stone golem, kneeled down slowly, his movement similar to that of an older person whose old age doesn’t allow for such stretchy movements. The lazy move stopped as the animated servant looked up with its head. The stone used to make its head was a giant diamond-shaped boulder, it was turned upside down, on the sidewalls the eyes were located, blue in color, that radiated magic similar to a haze.

The mage looked at the golem with a hold-up brow. He went over to the side of the golem as it followed its master with its impaling gaze. Knocking once on its shoulders, the mage gave it a simple command to stand up. As the creature was finished, the Great Mage noted that his human height was adjusted to his species, which was some anthropomorphic version of unknown to him equine breed.

The Great Mage knew this for the following reason; when casting a spell and wishing for an effect to have a certain range, in most cases adding the desired range was enough, sometimes the mage had to imagine the area of effect. In most cases, small corrections had to be done to the incantation or movement of a spell. Now, he could compare himself, which he did, as he many times before summoned a golem like that and knew where his head reached.

" Some doors might not let me through," Was the Great Mage's quiet comment on his discovery, followed by an annoyed grunt. "Even worse for my back."

The Great Mage climbed the golem, jumping into the air, higher than he should be able to, but due to magic, he used levitation to help himself up, smoothly and gently making a step on the shoulder of the golem, landing like a feather.

Telepathically the golem was ordered to head west, as the mage felt a force of magic coming off that direction. It could be the United One’s agents, this would mean they are not that far away, in the worse case, it was one of the United One’s lieutenants…Their presence could be felt hundreds of miles away.

But who’s presence did he feel? Only time could tell.

In a week, the first-ever friendship festival will be held in Canterlot. Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship, was exhausted as she worked with all of her contacts the whole day to make sure everything was going to plan, and made herself the first since morning started break.

Spike, her loyal and handsome assistant, was helping her with all the things she had on her head as the festival got nearer and nearer. Of course, the festival would first be in a week, and Twilight already was panicking with small things getting delayed as if they were the most important. He felt it personally. Then again, Twilight had a scientific background, for her, a detail was as important as the fundamental things.

He placed the last scroll he had to carry to her on the map of friendship. Twilight sat in the meeting room in her crystal chair. She had her wings unfolded, large and angelic, the feathers becoming brighter the further from bone and closer to her remiges. Her right-wing was all over Spike's crystal chair, blocking the dragon from sitting there. She levitated one of the large pillows from her sleeping quarters - it had plenty of them - and brought it behind her head as the pillows came from the hallway. Her horn stopped glowing, as with it died the sparkling sound of magic.

"Spike, be so good and make me some tea. "

Spike was about to sit down on Rainbow's seat as it was the closest to him while she said this, he narrowed his eyes and without comment, as exhausted as she, but physically rather than mentally, he went to the kitchen.

"Thanks, Spike, I’ll make it up to you, I promise."

Spike answered already behind her and in the hallway " I know you will!"

Twilight let out a well-deserved sigh through which she let some of her stress out. She closed her eyes, she felt how they burned, as if the feeling of salt on a wound inside the mouth has decided that today it's going to take place as a representative of her tired eyes. She opened them again, shifting on the crystal throne, and made herself more comfortable.

She had a break now, she didn’t need to think for the next twenty minutes about anything related to the festival. Mental wellbeing was an important part of her health, she had to take care of it. That was her finest argument which made her hold a break.

Twilight wore her formal outfits almost daily, they were made to be comfortable and royal, while keeping its modern look, so that she stays in pair with her times. Rarity of course made them, even when Princess Celesia and Luna wanted to ship her their royal tailors and designers.

Twilight was finished with all the ponies with who she had to have a meeting with today, she jumped into the casual clothing she wore - meaning her old clothes before princess hood. Right now, she had on a light purple short-sleeved shirt with the buttons running not through the middle, but on the right side. This way her simple outfit looked more official than it was, resembling old military coats.

As for her trousers, they were unique in all Equestria and Rarity was proud of her idea.

Twilight didn’t have her horseshoes changed for a long time, and the fact she went with iron rather than steel has backfired on her. She needed them replaced. Somepony might have thought that she was used to flying already, and walking was her secondary option of locomotion. Nope. Walking was still her first, and she enjoyed it more than flying.

Rainbow Dash of course argued, and only bragged how stupid it was to walk when you can fly. She wasn’t here with Twilight, so, she didn’t care much, not to mention Rainbow was in the wrong.

Spike came back with the tea, and he placed it right in front of her on the counter. Twilight didn’t even hear his tiny feet make noise as he came with the drink.

" Thanks, Spike."

" Is there anything more for today that is, you know, demanding? "He asked and went over to her side. Twilight folded her angelic wings and brought them behind herself.

" Thank Celestia, no. " She responded and took a sip of the tea " Perfect like always."

" Thank you for not filling the schedule only with that. "

" I still have some things to do regarding normal princess stuff."

"Like what? "

" I have to visit the school " She counted " The garrison forces in Ponyville need a new commander appointed, and since the county is under my management, I have to choose somepony for it…

Spike cut in " But I thought that the superiors in the military can do it. "

" Yeah they can, but Celestia and Luna want me to learn, and we agreed before the preparations have started that I’ll also take care of this. I have to slowly expand my knowledge in those matters. "

Spike nodded in agreement, he understood her well.

" Now, I have to talk with Mayor Mare because new ponies are moving in, this influx of migrants has a good and bad side for the village, because of me becoming a princess and Celestia passing a decree for the migrants not to settle too close to the friendship palace, I have to know help with showing where they can buy land to build their homes. "

Spike wanted to say something, but stopped himself and continued to listen.

"Then there also is, Shining, who is obsessed with my security and wants me to have a proper guarding force that responds only to me. "

Twilight said with a small frown on her face, as if she bit a lemon. Spike immediately looked up, his ears moving as he heard the mentioning of creating for Twilight a personal combat force.

" You mean the Twilight Guard. " He clenched his fist with an evil smile on his face.

Twilight facepalmed herself " Please, stop calling it like that. "

"It's super cool! Admit it! "

"Spike, please. " She looked him into his eyes.

" C’mon Twilight, don’t act so mature."

" Spike," She said seriously "You know I literally can’t allow myself to do that. "

" You can’t live like that."

"I must."

" No, you don’t, you chose to, and this princess thing is taken by you too seriously."

"Too seriously?! Spike, it can’t be taken differently than that…"

"Yes it can, you are the Princess of Friendship, you are supposed to be a pony, first and foremost act like a pony and not as a princess - like a noble. " He corrected quickly " You are for the ponies."

Twilight opened her mouth to respond, but she didn’t say anything. Spike was right.

She was the Princess of Friendship in the first place, not just a regular princess, like Celestia and Luna. Of course, Celestia and Luna had their roles and she had hers, and hers wasn’t any less or more important than theirs.

Her role was to spread the message of friendship. She might have had overreacted many times since she became a princess, but in reality, she always had a reason, a better or worse one.

Twilight traced back to the moments where she, and her friends went through hardships, how they helped ponies in simple and important cases. It was all thanks to their knowledge of each other and using the experience the other had to help those who needed something.

They acted like normal ponies. Like volunteers who came from the pony folk and were for the pony folk.

There were of course times, where they had to fight.

Twilight’s expression turned sadder, as she thought about the changeling invasion with its consequences on Canterlot and the harm Lord Tirek had carried out.

Their noble mission was of course impossible to achieve without meeting conundrums and barriers to pass on their way. Moral questions arose, they doubted their views and their ethics. Especially when their actions spoke against them.

Nightmare Moon arriving and wreaking havoc across the land before Canterlot with the awakened bat ponies, who now answer to Luna, was the first sight of actual and raw destruction which only occurred in film and comics or novels regarding war.

She knew of pain, she knew of crime, she read about it and learned about it. It wasn’t less agonizing to see it, especially when Celestia cared for Equestria, and her rule was known for rooting out most of the perverse sides in society. This protection of hers made it look like the world was less brutal than it was.

Then the Changeling invasion, the burning of houses, the fights on the streets, the first few executions that Chrysalis has ordered. These were real as well. She helped rescue the prisoners in occupied Canterlot. Many Changelings were left scattered across the city of Canterlot, as the love magic coming mainly from Cadance wasn’t capable of banishing all the Changelings back to where they came from. They were spared in most cases, some imprisoned, a handful only suffered from being victims of magical banishment - a ritual involving teleporting somepony somewhere or to a random place in a prepared set of locations or with excluding such location from said set.

Tirek, taking away magic, without caring for life, did it in ways that killed his victims, as he sucked the life essence out of some of the unicorns and pegasi and earth ponies that he fed on because of his careless and desperate approach at the beginning. Leaving husks, lifeless shells, not bodies. Skin and thin layers of meat holding onto bones, as if the bodies were hermetic packages and the bones were the product under the plastic foil.

She saw ponies die these days.

"Twilight."

The train of thought took a sudden dark turn, Twilight stepped again into the good part of reality, coming back to her senses leaving the bad memories behind. She looked at Spike who called her name.

"What is it?"

" I asked where you put Zecora’s potions."

"Potions?"

…

"POTIONS!"

Twilight snapped and placed her hands on the cutie maps counter. She slapped her hands against the surface, making the teacup fall and break, spilling all the tea on the floor. She has forgotten about Zecora and her potions that Zecora promised to make for her so that her mane wouldn’t look unkempt and messy until the festival lasts.

"Twilight! Relax, it's just potions, you can get them tomorrow."

Twilight covered her face with her hands in embarrassment "That's not it, I made a promise and have forgotten about it, that’s what’s bad. " She half moaned as she put her hands back on the cutie map.

" I’ll go get them for you."

"What? I won’t let you go there alone, something might snipe you on the way. "

Spike jumped down his crystal seat " Twilight, I’m a dragon, and I know how to fight. You know that…"

" I know you do, but I can’t let you just go into the Everfree forest."

" Twilight, I promise you this won’t take long, I know the way to Zecora's house, plus..." Spike stretched himself, his tiny bones letting out a little pop as he did " ...I need a walk."

Twilight considered, Spike fought many times before, especially his struggle against Sombra's shadow guards was one of a kind. Tirek, when he trapped both Celestia and Luna and Cadence after they gave their magic to her, created magic creatures that served him and spread terror around Equestria. Spike was one of the ones who destroyed many of them in Ponyville together with the locals who knew how to fight. The rest was subtle, and timberwolves aren't that dangerous for Spike too.

" You have to learn how to deal with administration, I have to learn how to be less dependent on you. "

"Alright. But not because you have to learn, but because I have duties and you are my assistant, this is why I allow this to happen."

She stood up and hugged him. Spike was a small dragon, since dragons need much more time to grow, especially if they are not exposed to greed and fear and normal everyday dragon brutality, he was smaller than most in his age. In Equestria, he still was in the middle of many situations that required him to become more savage, this made him grow, and from a tiny chubby dragon who’s head ended as Twilights thighs began, now there was a proper young dragon.

He was about one meter and fifty centimeters tall, he stood on two legs, he didn’t yet develop his feral stance and could without the need to walk on all fours stand straight. Since he still was just a child, he didn’t develop wings.

Spike didn’t wear clothes in his earlier stage of development. After the adventures he faced with her, he had to because of his less feral look. He wore simple and tight clothes, he liked pullovers and he liked simple brown jeans. He didn’t wear boots and walked on bare feet.

He wore just that right now, a blue pullover with a white shirt underneath, all nicely paired with brown jeans without any pockets. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up to his elbows, revealing his slim but well-muscled dragon arms.

" Be careful, and take a weapon for safety ok?"

" I can ask one of the guards to give me a sword on the way out. "

" Not ask, but command, and tell them I allowed you to take a sword. Better even, that I order them to hand you a weapon."

Spike wished her goodbye and went to the exit. As he approached the giant gate-like doors of the castle, the guards that stood with their backs turned towards both doors hailed him and opened them for him. They wore golden plate armor, bearing halberds for weapons. Their manes made the crests of their helmets.

It was a tradition to dye the coat white when joining the military, many kept it that way until they didn’t exit, but it wasn’t mandatory. It was a sign that they were fighting for Equestria just like Celestia and served the country with their life as she does everyday.

As Luna returned, many stopped doing it, and so the majority of the military again became colorful, rather than monocolored. There even were soldiers who switched to silver for gold in order to honor Luna’s return. For reasons obvious to those who knew some of Equestrian history, such small changes were for Luna very touching.

The castle of friendship was surrounded by water, as for Twilight’s safety, the nobles with enough persuasion and long talks, made Celestia pass another decree that was about Twilight, which put into motion the project of using the nearby small waterfall as a source for a moat around the castle.

The friendship castle, however thanks to the previously mentioned decree about migrants was separated from Ponyville by a moderately justifiable distance. This way, the moat was made quite large and also deep, which in return left the castle on a small island. The nearby mountain was protecting the castle from the west, it had the perfect terrain for something to be built there, the angle wasn’t too steep while at the same time as the mountain climbed there was a lot of free space between levels. A small bridge could be constructed quickly to create a perfect passage while at the same time a main path from the village would lead to the structure that would be built there.

Plans to extend the castle and make it bigger were already given to Twilight, she however refused, throwing out all the architects who came to her to show off what they had in mind.

Twilight, as she was, refused anything to be done without her consent around the castle. She was misfortunate enough, that things were done under her nose.

Since the rule of equality between princesses stated that one princesse's voice is equal to the other, either the nobles, the supreme court of Equestria if the matter is about law, or another princess if there are three, in the worse case if anything can’t be done, an arbiter will be chosen and so he or she can tip the shawls and solve the problem. Twilight couldn’t do much, ironically, with her own castle.

From behind there was a small wide plain area, for now, it was unused and left the castle open for an attack from behind. Sweet Apple Acres was located further that direction, and for now, the element of honesty was the defender of Twilight castle from the rear, if she willed or not.

On the island the castle was located, there was a small camp erected by soldiers who were ordered to protect Twilight until a proper defense won’t be established. The island was long and shaped similar to that of a boomerang, many with Twilight herself called it a banana. The biggest landmass area served as the place for the camp that consisted of several wooden structures. The camp's buildings were closed off by a hexagonal palisade. About sixty guards were dispatched to protect Twilight, she didn’t allow for more.

When Spike was outside, he went down the yellow gold stairs and headed right towards the camp. From the stairs, a clean short path made from white bricks led to the bridge, on the side boxwood grew to decorate the short path on the way. The dirt path that was made by the soldiers who lived in the barracks violently disturbed the harmonic look as it bit itself into one's eyes, catching the attention.

The bridge’s colors were corresponding with the grey-lavender crystal walls of the castle. It was built similar to the one that allowed access into Canterlot through the main and only gate. This bridge wasn’t arched, and was flat, simple brass rails in the shape of stems, wiggly with details like leaves or flower buds were on them to protect anyone from falling. There was a round spot, creating a circle on the bridge in the middle of the way, the diameter of the circle being bigger than that of the width of the bridge itself. It was yellow, and Twilight's cutiemark was painted with different shades of white on the yellow field.

Spike entered the encampment and headed towards the armory, most of the guards were either inside the barracks or training, most were “dismissed” by Twilight and were allowed to roam Ponyville around. Of course, by “dismissed”, we are talking about patrolling the city for threat. That was the official version.

He entered the armory by getting on the other side of the tent flap which covered the entrance and was greeted by the pony responsible for the equipment. Large and long armor racks created a line of an almost unending supply of armor. On the right side, there were the weapon racks, mostly occupied by halberds and swords, he didn’t see any bows on the font.

The armory was lightened up by levitating balls of light cast by the unicorn in charge of the provisional armory. They looked like the sun but in size were only a tiny version of it.

" Hey there, Spike. " Said the unicorn in charge.

He sat behind a long wooden teachers-like desk, with a wooden shelf, like the ones you see in hotels, standing on the left. There was a wide gap between the desk on the right and the wall, both created one way in and out to get the equipment. The unicorn wore his standard outfit best fitting for the job.

" Hey, Small Arsenal " Spike greeted back " Twilight wanted me to grab a sword because-"

"She allowed you too?"

" She said that she orders you to give me one. " He said with a smirk.

The unicorn eyed him carefully "You know that the last time you asked for a sword it was for one of those game nights you have with Discord and...Uhmm, Big Mc’Intosh was his name?"

" Yes, but listen! " Spike argued, " I’m going to Everfree forest to get something for Twilight."

" I’m not so sure, you know what hangs above me. If they’ll find out I once again handed out a weapon to a citizen" He said, his voice full of dread " Not to mention doing it without authorization."

" But Twilight allowed me to, I swear, Small Arsenal."

"What guarantee can you give me?"

"As I said, she directly told me to say it's on order, because she sends me to Everfree forest."

The unicorn stopped talking and thought. If Twilight didn’t permit Spike to take a weapon, but he non the less was going to the Everfree forest, he would, either way, try and get one. If she finds out he didn’t give him one and knew he went to the Everfree forest, that would be the end of him. Regardless if Spike even told him the truth about Twilight sending him there, considering he is doing it alone, it was impossible for Spike to really be allowing this. Twilight was known for caring about him and this decision seems out of character for her. Then again, he never had a long conversation with her and all he knows are information from gossip…

"Fine. " He reached for a pencil and quickly took a piece of paper from one of the drawers of the desk.

Spike went quickly to the closest gladius-type sword. He took it with the scabbard, then he took in hand the shoulder strap and placed it over the shoulder. He looked up to see what number did the stand have, which was one hundred and forty-four.

" One, four, four " Spike said as he went for the exit, he was stopped as something pulled his tail.

Spike turned back and looked at Small Arsenal who after writing the number down on his note and hiding it in his pocket, put his arms on the desk crossing them forming an X. His horn was glowing and the sparkling, humming noise of magic filled the void.

"Please remember, that I was skeptical because you already damaged my trust in you. Not because there was something else in the way."

Spike felt the words sting him with vigorous passion. He stayed there for a few seconds more, he couldn’t look the unicorn in his eyes. Spike turned away with a semi-disgusted look on his face thinking about the time he genuinely deceived somepony for his own benefit. He knew he did bad and that his reputation in the eyes of the unicorn was damaged.

He got better and never again done it, learning a lesson from Twilight at that time too. He even tried to somewhat repair his trust, Small Arms saw him always trying to help at the armory. The unicorn said in most cases he didn’t need any aid.

There was a difference in the behavior compared to that right after the situation. Small Arsenal was outright aggressive in saying "no", denying him the right to get a weapon. Now, there were glimpses of him trying to find a reason again to do it, but the past experience incremented him to be less liberal.

That is how Spike saw it, was he right? Only time would tell.

"Try to build a custom ecosystem."

Applebloom gave her advice to one of the blank flank ponies who sought his purpose in society. He was a young colt, one-year younger than the rest of them. He had a blue coat and red eyes, with a brown and curly mane. He wore simple black jeans and a white woolen t-shirt with long sleeves.

" I tried, but neither did this have any effect on me."

Scootaloo was sitting on the ground right next to Sweetie Belle who was holding a list of potential things that could trigger the appearance of a cutiemark.

"You’re interested in both botanic and in ants, are you? "Scootaloo asked making sure she understood where she stood.

"Yes, I love both, but I always tried to experiment with both and mix them and nothing came out of it. " He said sadly, sitting also on the ground looking down at it.

" Have you ever tried to perhaps work with certain ants or plants? " Apple Bloom asked as she joined the trio and now they made a circle.

" Yep. " Responded the colt.

"Sweetie Belle, what about you? " Scootaloo spoke.

" Huh?"

" I asked what you think, what else can we try?"

She looked at the list in her hands "Maybe the problem is...That you know. Rather than be an expert in both, you are in one, and the other is just a thing you like."

" I thought so too at first. " He started and turned himself to her " I committed a whole week to do just one and I got nothing out of it also. This is why I came to you guys."

" Maybe Zecora will know how to help you. " Said Apple Bloom out loud.

"What, why? " Asked the colt " Who is Zecora even?"

" Zecora is the potion maker who lives in the Everfree forest, but not too deeply. " Said Sweetie Belle " Then again, why her?

" The Everfree forest?"

"Maybe his destiny lies in making creams for ant bites or something like that"

"I hope not AND I’m not going into the Everfree forest, forget it! " He said with an accent.

Scootaloo punched him in the arm " Oh c’mon, you’ll be a stallion someday, be brave!"

He scuffed and looked away, he felt insulted. His mind already racing in between going and showing her, that he can be a proper stallion one day, and the other saying he should not play as Scootaloo wants him to.

"The path there is easy and it will take fifteen minutes at worse. We’ll be back before night."

" You really want to go there? " Sweetie Belle said, her tone could be mistaken for murmuring " I don’t think we should, I have a feeling something will happen like always."

"Don’t be so pessimistic " Scootaloo stood up, ready to go. " You’re going or not Morning Dew? " She delivered him a small kick to the leg.

" Ok, I can go. " He said unwillingly, looking at her as he stood up. " Fatum doesn’t exist, and everything will go just fine. " He said to himself.

" Exactly, not even Fatum will stop us."

" Do you even know what it is? "Apple Bloom commented dryly.

" Nah, and I don’t need to."

Sweetie Belle sighed and stood up as well.

The four of them went towards the Eeverfree forest, first, they had to get on the way towards Zecoras home and there was some distance to pass before they even started seeing the border o the forest itself.

Morning Dew was walking with them, debating if he should or not step down. After all, the Everfree forest was nursing many dangerous horrors, of bigger and smaller types, like the timberwolves or manticores.

Only time will tell, but for now, he wasn’t stopping.

Author's Note

So, I hope you liked this chapter.

As you can clearly see, there are some serious changes here and there. I decided to add some realism for the sake of my fanfiction, some may be turned down by it, but really how much can I care? These people won't stay and those who like it will.

I just want to remind the handful of you who read this chapter, that the story is made first and foremost to improve my own English, as it's gotten worse. Some parts may be too blunt, as I lack the necessary vocabulary or/and don't know things.

I will be glad if you left a comment and perhaps wrote that I should try and limit this, or add something more to that, maybe don't bother with the synonyms for a word that is too unique to be passed for the matter of diversity in my work etc.

Your criticism helps me to better my abilities.

Please have in mind that things in the official book written by John Helfers was read by me, I'll use it as a reference to many things. Green text means that the following part is true about Ardania and can be found in the book.

Link to Twilight's pants:
https://www.etsy.com/pl/listing/220528065/formal-pants-high-waisted-pants-long?ref=sold_out-8&pro=1&frs=1

It was a tradition to dye the coat white when joining the military.

I can't remember what fanfiction was that in, but the idea wasn't mine here, all respect to the author/authors who came up with this.