The group of foals followed the exam assistant through the long corridors of the school building like a flock of ducklings waddling after their mother. They were all still exhausted from the exams, and most of them appeared nervous. Their footsteps echoed on the polished marble in an irregular rhythm as they marched in tense silence.

After a short while, the exam assistant stopped in front of a large wooden door adorned with intricate carvings and turned to the foals. "Behind me is the door to the great hall. Snacks and drinks are waiting for you while we evaluate your exam results. In half an hour, the results will be announced. Unfortunately, you won't see me again today. I wish you all good luck." She gave the foals one last smile as she opened the large red wooden door with her golden magic, revealing the view into the great hall.

Twilight and the other foals entered the hall, and Twilight could hardly believe her eyes. The hall was enormous, with ceilings at least twenty meters high. Above them stretched a vast glass dome made of the finest crystal glass, through which the sunlight broke into rainbow colors, bathing the room in a gentle, warm light. A large golden chandelier in the shape of the sun hung from the ceiling, though it was not needed as the sun had already brightly illuminated the room.

The walls were adorned with a long tapestry depicting the story of Celestia's rise to the throne in magnificent images. The colors and details drew Twilight's attention like magic, and she could almost feel the pride and power emanating from these stories. Long tables were laden with various snacks and drinks, emitting enticing aromas. Some foals were already present, likely from one of the other groups.

Many of the foals seemed to have forgotten their worries instantly and eagerly dove into the banquet laid out. The enticing scents of fresh pastries and sweet fruits briefly made them forget their anxieties. But Twilight was not in the mood for food. Her worries weighed too heavily on her stomach. She retreated to a corner and let her thoughts wander.

The voices of the other foals echoed through the hall, some sounding excited, others nervous. "The transfiguration spell went pretty badly. The exam assistant tried not to show it, but I could see the disappointment in her eyes," thought Twilight. The pressure she felt weighed heavily on her.

Lost in her thoughts, Twilight overlooked one of the other foals slowly approaching her. A familiar shadow fell over her, and when she looked up, she recognized Dreamweaver. The light blue foal stood over her, the light from the crystal glass dome reflecting in her eyes and casting sharp shadows on her mocking grin.

"What are you thinking about?" Dreamweaver asked in a smug voice as she leaned down toward Twilight.

Twilight flinched as she stared into Dreamweaver's green eyes. She felt her cheeks flush with anger and embarrassment. "Nothing important," she finally muttered, her voice quiet and irritated.

"Oh really?" Dreamweaver laughed softly, a cold, hollow sound. "Maybe about your pathetic transfiguration? That was hardly more than a failed trick. When the exam assistant emphasized that we all successfully performed the spell, she must have forgotten about your orange. Not that anyone would remember something like that."

Twilight bit her lip to keep her composure. "I did my best," she replied, trying to stay calm.

Dreamweaver didn't relent. "Of course you did." Her grin widened. "Or maybe you're thinking about the amulet?" She leaned even closer, her eyes gleaming with curiosity and cunning. "What was that anyway? Some shabby trick? Or do you not even know what you did?"

Twilight felt her uncertainty rise again. "I don't know," she admitted. "But it wasn't a trick."

Dreamweaver snorted contemptuously. "Of course not. I bet it was just your shabby poor-people magic. Such a precious artifact is probably just not meant for someone average like you to use."

Some of the other foals, who were watching the scene, looked sympathetically at Twilight, but none dared to intervene. Twilight swallowed her rising tears and said nothing more. Satisfied with herself, Dreamweaver left Twilight to her thoughts and trotted back to the other foals.

Twilight remained alone in her corner, her thoughts swirling. "Don't let it get to you," she told herself quietly. "Soon, the results will be announced, and then we'll see who is average."

The minutes dragged on, and what was supposed to be only thirty minutes felt like an eternity to Twilight. Suddenly, the door to the hall opened with a loud bang, and all the foals immediately turned towards the source of the noise. Professor Lumens, accompanied by the five examiners from the arena, marched through the door and headed towards a podium set up at the other end of the grand hall. A long, parchment-like list floated beside him, held by his magic.

The foals were electrified and followed Professor Lumens with their eyes. The hall, previously filled with the hum of excited chatter, suddenly fell silent. Twilight felt her nervousness flare up again. She stood up and joined the other foals gathering around the podium. All eyes were on Professor Lumens as he and his companions slowly ascended the rostrum, observing the foals with a neutral expression.

He cleared his throat as he unrolled the list and began to speak. "Welcome back," he began in a deep, resonant voice that echoed through the hall. "You have all given your best and shown what you are capable of. Now, the moment has come for you to reap the fruits of your hard work."

The tension in the room was palpable as the professor cleared his throat again and directed his gaze to his list. "I am pleased to see that so many of you have passed the exams this year. Those who did not pass should not be disheartened; you have also achieved great things today." His words conveyed comfort, but his tone remained as neutral and matter-of-fact as ever.

Professor Lumens began calling out the names of the foals one by one, each receiving brief feedback on their performance. The air was filled with a mix of anticipation and fear that nearly took Twilight's breath away.

A light brown foal named Amber Dust was praised for her exceptional transfiguration skills. Another foal, a black colt named Shadow Strike, was recognized for his impressive control and precision. Twilight also heard some familiar names. Dreamweaver and Rose Petal had also passed.

Twilight felt her heart race as the list grew shorter. Her hooves felt heavy, and she hardly dared to breathe. Finally, Professor Lumens called her name. It didn't help that the majority of the foals had not passed, despite the professor saying that many had succeeded this year.

"Twilight Sparkle," he announced, and all eyes turned to her. When Twilight heard her name, her thoughts went silent. It was as if a thread had been cut, and Twilight's entire attention was now focused on the professor's words. She stood up and stepped forward hesitantly, her heart pounding loudly in her chest as if it might burst at any moment.

"Twilight," began Professor Lumens, "you performed well in the written exam. Your analytical skills are remarkable, and you show great knowledge in many areas of magic. However, your understanding of more complex magical structures shows clear gaps." He paused briefly before adding, "In the practical exam, you also performed above average. Although your transfiguration spell fell short of the examiners' expectations, you demonstrated impressive control and strength." A subtle smile crossed his muzzle. "I am pleased to inform you that you have passed."

Twilight felt a wave of relief and joy wash over her. The tension lifted from her, and for a moment, she could hardly believe what she had just heard. She had done it. She had passed.

She wanted to jump up and let her joy run free, but she had to restrain herself. However, this didn't stop her from wearing the broadest and silliest grin imaginable. Professor Lumens continued calling the names of the other successful foals and giving them feedback, and it wasn't long before he had read through the entire list. Some staff members led the foals who had not passed out of the room. There were murmurs and defiant stomping as they reluctantly left the room.

After all the foals who had not passed had left the room, Professor Lumens stepped forward again and raised his voice to gain the attention of everyone present. "Now that we have announced the results of the written and practical exams, I must make a confession. I fear there is one final, ultimate task that you must master."

The assembled group of foals stared at the professor in astonishment. Another task? What could he mean? The surprise and curiosity were evident on their faces as they looked around restlessly and whispered to each other.

"Each foal will complete this task individually," Professor Lumens continued. "You will be called into the exam room, where the details of the task will be explained to you. The order is based on your previous performance."

Twilight's heart beat faster and faster. One by one, the examinees were called and led out of the room. With each foal that disappeared and did not return, Twilight grew more nervous. Finally, she was alone with Professor Lumens in the great hall, desperately trying to calm her nerves.

At last, after what seemed like endless minutes, she heard her name. "Twilight Sparkle, please step forward."

Twilight did as she was told and stepped closer to the professor. "Please follow me, Twilight. We will go to the exam room for the final decisive test together," he said in a neutral, even voice that offered little comfort.

Twilight felt her legs tremble as she followed him through the long corridors. The path seemed to stretch on endlessly, and the ticking of a giant clock echoing through the hallways only heightened her anxiety.

They stood at the end of the corridor before an unassuming, light wooden door. Professor Lumens stopped and opened the door without comment, allowing Twilight to enter. The room beyond was impressive and had a cozy, almost homely atmosphere. The floor was covered with a soft carpet, and the walls were painted in warm colors. Although the room was relatively sparsely furnished, it had an undeniable charm.

Pictures and other artistic depictions of famous personalities and places adorned the walls, and plants decorated the space. In the center of the room stood a pedestal, atop which rested a giant purple dragon egg. But that was not what caught Twilight's attention.

Beside the pedestal stood the majestic figure of Empress Celestia herself. She was at least twice the size of a grown earth pony stallion. Her radiant white coat and flowing, multicolored mane seemed to absorb and return the light of the room, creating a gentle, magical glow around her. She wore her golden royal regalia and had her massive wings spread wide. Her magenta eyes shone with pride and calm, and her smile conveyed a maternal level of kindness.

Twilight felt her breath catch and her heart beat faster. She had never expected to come so close to the regent. All the stories she had ever heard about Celestia came to life at that moment.

Celestia smiled gently and took a step forward. "Welcome, my little pony," she began, her voice warm and soothing, like a melody filling the air. "You must be Twilight Sparkle. I am pleased to personally welcome you to my school. I will oversee the final part of your exam myself."

Twilight stared at the pedestal with the dragon egg. Her mind was blank, and she felt numb. The task's weight and the Empress's presence seemed to overwhelm her. Her nervous thoughts were interrupted by the gentle voice of the Empress. "Do not worry, my little pony. You do not need to be nervous. Your task is to hatch this dragon egg before you. I am sure you will master this task wonderfully." She gave Twilight a gentle smile and sweetly squeezed her eyes shut.

Twilight swallowed and nodded hesitantly. "I will do my best, Your Majesty," she said quietly, her voice trembling with excitement.

Celestia stepped aside to join the other examiners in the room, giving Twilight space to focus on her task. Twilight took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and let her magic rise. Her horn began to glow softly, and she felt the magical energy flow through her body.

She remembered all the nights spent hunched over books, the countless times she was caught sneaking around at night, the many hours she practiced her spells behind the orphanage, the mockery she endured, and Silver's bullying. Despite all this, she had fought her way to this moment. Every obstacle, every tear, every hour of solitary study had led her to this point.

Twilight opened her eyes and focused on the dragon egg before her. It seemed overwhelming, insurmountable, but she couldn't give up. She directed her magic towards the egg, trying to sense the embryo inside. She imagined her magic penetrating the thick, magic-absorbing shell to give the egg the necessary warmth and energy. Her magic enveloped the egg like a gentle, protective cocoon. Seconds passed, and Twilight could feel her magical energy flowing into the egg, but there were no signs that it was working.

The room was silent, the only sound being the faint hum of her magic. Twilight bit her lip, her forehead covered in sweat. "I must succeed," she thought desperately. "I must not fail."

Celestia's gentle voice broke the silence. "Remember, Twilight," she said softly. "Magic does not only come from strength. It comes from within, from your heart. Let your passion and determination flow."

Twilight tried every possible spell, anything that might be related to hatching an egg and much that had nothing to do with it. She stood in various ridiculous magician poses around the egg, pumping as much magic as her little body could muster through her horn. The magical aura around her grew denser, and the glow of her horn became more intense.

Twilight closed her eyes again and concentrated on her innermost wishes and dreams. She thought of the many hours of study, the tears of frustration and exhaustion, the endless nights of loneliness, and the unwavering pursuit of knowledge and recognition. But the egg remained motionless.

A lone tear dropped onto the carpet. "I'm sorry for wasting your time," Twilight whispered, her voice trembling with disappointment.

At that moment, time seemed to stand still. The silence in the room weighed heavily on Twilight, and the certainty of failure seemed unbearable. Twilight was overwhelmed by her darkest memories. But deep inside, something stirred – suddenly, Twilight heard a loud bang, and a tremendous force overcame her. It was as if a veil had been lifted from her inner being, and she felt a powerful, unknown energy rising. It hurt, and she closed her eyes.

Deep within, Twilight discovered magical reserves she had never known existed. In her mind's eye, an endless ocean of sparkling stars spread out, their lights dancing and pulsating in a mysterious, cosmic rhythm.

The examiners in the room began to grow nervous. There was a loud bang, and the little purple foal had flinched and then suddenly squeezed her eyes shut as if in terrible pain. What was happening?

Twilight let herself be carried away by her vision, her eyes opening wide with astonishment and awe. The energy emanating from the stars converged within her, filling her with a sense of boundless power and deep connection. Her magic flared up, stronger and brighter than ever before, filling the room with a radiant, sparkling light that resembled the glitter of countless stars.

Her magical aura enveloped the egg and made it glow in an enigmatic light. The room was filled with a palpable tension as if the air itself were saturated with magic. Everyone in the room held their breath as they noticed the first crack. The examiners could only stare in astonishment at the egg. How was this possible? The egg contained no embryo; nothing was supposed to hatch from it. Yet thin lines spread across the egg's surface, and the sound of the shell breaking was the only noise in the silent chamber.

With one final, powerful burst of her magic, Twilight made the egg shine even brighter. The cracks grew more prominent, spreading like a spiderweb, and a soft crackling sound broke the silence. Pieces of the shell began to fall away, and the room seemed to vibrate with anticipation.

When the shell finally broke open, a small purple and green head emerged. Large, curious eyes peered out, taking in the world for the first time. The little baby dragon slowly fought its way out of the egg, its tiny limbs still wobbly but full of life and curiosity.

The examiners could only watch in stunned silence as the impossible miracle unfolded before their eyes. The dead egg, which should have contained no embryo, brought new life.

Twilight felt her control over her magic slipping away. The radiant light around her intensified and transformed into a magical storm. Magically generated winds rose, swirling violently through the room and sweeping everything in their path like a raging tornado. Books, decorations, and even pieces of furniture were flung through the air.

Bolts of pure magical energy crackled wildly through the room, striking the walls and setting parts of the precious artwork on fire. The walls themselves began to tremble and crumble under the force of the magical discharge. The room was filled with blinding light and thunderous noises as the chaos continued to escalate. A magnificent painting hanging on the wall was struck by a bolt and reduced to ashes. An intricately decorated mirror shattered into a thousand pieces as a magical wind hurled it against the wall.

Twilight stood at the center of this storm, her eyes wide with shock and fear. She could feel the magic flowing through her, stronger and wilder than ever before. But instead of feeling empowered by this force, she felt like a puppet being moved by invisible strings.

Celestia's eyes widened with concern, but behind this concern lay a hint of something else – a triumph she rarely allowed herself to show. In her long life, she had seen countless magical talents, but this exceeded even her expectations. An excited, almost manic smile crept across her features, an uncharacteristic expression for her. Had anyone looked at her face now, they would have been frozen in fear.

But the urgency of the situation snapped her out of this fascination immediately. Celestia stepped forward and raised her voice over the roaring storm. "Twilight!" she called, her voice piercing through the cacophony of wind and lightning. "Focus on me!"

Twilight stared at Celestia, her eyes glowing bright white like a blinding light. Celestia lit her own long ivory-colored horn with golden energy and began to erect a powerful protective barrier around Twilight. The barrier acted like a shield, instantly stopping the magical storm in the room by absorbing and neutralizing the unleashed energy.

But that was not enough. Celestia had to delve deep into Twilight's mind to calm the young unicorn. With gentle yet determined magic, she entered Twilight's thoughts, feeling the turbulent, chaotic emotions coursing through the young foal. Slowly, Celestia began to soothe these swirling thoughts, bringing them peace and clarity.

Twilight felt the calming presence in her mind, the gentle but unyielding force soothing her fears and uncertainties. The blinding light in her eyes began to fade, and the magical aura around her weakened. The magical storm subsided, the lightning disappeared, and the wind stopped raging.

Finally, Twilight lay trembling but herself again, in the middle of the devastated room. Debris and smoke testified to the incredible power she had just unleashed. Celestia put on her usual maternal smile and took a step towards Twilight. "Twilight Sparkle," her voice was calm and gentle, as if soothing a startled animal.

Twilight looked up at the imposing figure of the Empress. The Sun Goddess herself had her stern gaze fixed on her. Her eyes narrowed to pinpoints. She had wrecked the room and probably destroyed artworks worth several million gold pieces. What would the Empress do with her? Fear and panic gripped Twilight's heart.

"She will banish me. Definitely, or she'll lock me in her dungeon, in a cell where I'll never see the light of her sun again. Or she'll banish me and then lock me up in a cell wherever I'm banished," Twilight thought frantically. The thoughts raced through her mind as she prepared for the worst.

Celestia was just about to speak again when a bright flash of magic filled the room. The dazzling light forced her to close her eyes. When she reopened them and her vision cleared, Twilight was gone. In her place, only a scorch mark remained on the floor.

Celestia stared at the scene in disbelief. Had Twilight just teleported away? "The remnants of powerful magic must have reacted to her fear," she thought, her face a neutral mask.

The other examiners and unicorns present also stared in shock at the empty spot where Twilight had just stood. The tension in the room was palpable. Celestia raised a hoof and then slowly lowered it as she gathered her thoughts. "Twilight Sparkle will not be admitted to my School for Gifted Unicorns," she said in a firm tone.

"But, Your Majesty. That can't be serious. This foal has incredible magical..." one of the examiners tried to interrupt but was silenced by a raised hoof from Celestia.

"Yes, Your Majesty, as you wish. We will send her an appropriate letter," the examiner finally said, bowing his head respectfully.

"Very well, Star Twister. I am counting on you." Celestia's voice was calm but resolute.

With a final, determined look, Celestia left the room, her steps firm and purposeful. "I need to take a day off," she thought to herself, "I have a job to do."

Author's Note

That was quick. But I didn't want to keep you waiting long for the second part. I hope you like it.

As always, I look forward to your comments. Your feedback keeps the whole thing going here.

English is not my mother tongue, so please write to me if you find any mistakes.