“A few more just walked in; I’m guessing that’s at least a dozen now.” Alpabiddle reported to his guests, looking out the window of his shop to the small cottage just up the lane. He was pleased to see so many unicorns arriving for this first night.

“See? I told you you’d get a whole bunch would come!” Izzy hopped excitedly up and down on her hooves, her instincts proving right about her friend’s magic skill. “Starlight said you were her best student and now you’re going to show every pony that she was right.”

“Oh-h-h-h! I don’t know how I you got me to agree to this! I’m no teacher!” Nimbus Starcatcher groaned as he paced about the floor of the tea shop in a small circle, his head ears drooping slightly from worrying and fretting about this night. He flipped back his bangs from his eyes, his blue mane glittering slightly from the room’s light and he slid his round-rimmed glasses back up his muzzle. “This was a crazy idea!” His tail swished nervously back and forth, the light catching the glittering twinkle as it moved.

Sunny, Izzy and their pegisus friends had been the nucleus of the idea of creating a magic school here in Bridlewood. Urged on by the unicorn population, a cottage had been selected and refurbished for the purpose. From among Starlight’s chosen students, a vote was taken, and he was chosen as the most eligible pony to be the first instructor from all the ponies who had been selected by Starlight.

At first, the accolades were nice and he like being recognized for his magic skill and not just known as the librarian of Bridlewood’s small library. But as he came to the realization that plans for a magic school was not just some whimsical idea but actually going to become a reality, he found being the center of attention not so great now. It all seemed to happen so quickly and come together fairly effortlessly as most of his fellow citizens were eager to have such a school in existence. Was it his imagination or did it feel like he got stampeded into the role?

“You’ll be great. You’ve accomplished more spellcasting and done more research with the two spell-books than any other unicorn in Bridlewood. Starlight would be so proud how far you’ve come.” Sunny was all smiles at the arrival of this day, a little bemused by Izzy’s friends’ nervousness. He’d been tapped by Starlight as a tutor to those in the original group of twelve unicorns; helping his fellow students who were struggling during the training. Magic just seemed to come more quickly to Nimbus, impressing Starlight and inspiring his fellow students.

“Sunny, maybe this is a bit too early to try something so ambitious.” Nimbus couldn’t help but have a case of ‘cold hooves’, not having some pony he could turn to when stumped by some aspect of creating or reading a spell. The sensation of having to now be the teacher to a group of unicorns reminded hm of that sensation of being slowly pulled up that first big hill of a roller coaster. The slow anticipation of what was coming, the uncertainty of what was next on the other side of that downward run.

“If Starlight picked you to help us when we were starting out, I don’t have any doubt that you’re the stallion best for this duty. I know I wouldn’t be.” Alphabiddle confessed with a smile. He’d learned a great deal about how to use his magic more effectively but was not scholarlily at studying the subject like some of his fellow unicorns. He was practicing some, but only for his own interest to help him around his shop. Alphabiddle wasn’t looking to become some awe-inspiring pony of legend. Like most of the other unicorns of Bridlewood, just learning more about the power within themselves and maybe trying a few harder spells was about as far as they liked to go.

“I’m positive you’re going to be great. Maybe in a few weeks I can join the students in your class. I’ve been studying and really want to see if I can cast spells as well as you; as well as Starlight did.” Sunny was earnest in her desire, and having a new unicorn friend here in Bridlewood was going to make this so much more fun and exciting to make mistakes with and learn with.

“I know you can do this, Nimbus. We’ve seen how you’re a real natural with casting magic spells. No pony has done more research and study with those spell-books than you. Sunny and me looked over your first lesson plan; we think it’s perfect for your first students.” Izzy knew how to play the cheerleader, giving Nimbus a small boost of confidence. It must have worked because he stopped and, using his magic, levitated over the lesson plan he’d finished, wondering to himself if it was too hard, or too easy by his choice spells to try. Would his first students understand the concepts of magic as he did while under Starlight’s tutelage?

The small clock on the shelf behind the tea shop’s counter went off, alerting them to it being 8 o’clock about was time. Nimbus took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, trying to relax. Izzy levitated over the specially made wizard’s hat and matching cape Pipp gave him as a present when she heard of his new position as first instructor of Bridlewood’s School of Magic. It was of a classic round rimmed and pointed design and a flowing cape that was held in place around his neck with a sapphire-encrusted antique silver clasp. Both garments were made of fine blue velvet and were embroidered with a random pattern of silver stars.

“We believe in you, Nimbus.” She floated the headgear right above his head and lowered it, as if she were crowing a king as he slipped on the cape.

“That really makes you look the part, Nimbus. Pipp’s natural fashion sense knew what would look good on you.” Sunny thought his looks harkened back to the powerful pony wizards of old; wondering if all unicorn wizards wore outfits like that. Nimbus Starcatcher levitated the lesson plan back into his carry bag and then slipped the carry strap over his head to have the bag hang from his right side.

“We’ll walk with you to the front door. I’m curious to see just how many of Starlight’s students are continuing on.” Sunny had gotten to know a couple of Nimbus and Izzy’s fellow trainees while visiting during Starlight’s stay. She hoped to have made a good impression on them when using her Alicorn magic power when aiding Starlight’s spellcasting.

There was no turning back now as a number of his fellow unicorns awaited his presence at his school. Sunny held the door open for him as Alphabiddle passed him a thermos full of his special relaxing tea blend, sure it would help sooth any more anxiety Nimbus might feel during his class time.

“Go get’em, professor Nimbus.” The large stallion grinned at Nimbus, sure that this was going to be not as nerve wracking as his friend was assuming. Having been tutored by Nimbus during their brief time assisting Starlight with her magic, Alphabiddle knew he was the right pony for this duty too.

“Thank you, Alphabiddle.” Nimbus opened the flap of his carry bag and slipped the thermos in, smiling gratefully for the offering. He headed out the door with Izzy right behind him and Sunny following. The two mares moved up alongside of Nimbus as they walked the short distance to the new school.

“I think it’s exciting to have a school of magic now. I hope to be able to join in some of your classes as soon as I gain better control over my transformations.” Sunny did want to learn how to use magic like Izzy and Nimbus. Getting a taste of spellcasting with some help from Starlight at the tail end of her time here had left Sunny wanting. All those bedtime stories her dad had told her about unicorn magic and what could be done with magic’s help set her imagination on fire, giving her the most fantastical dreams about what it must feel like to wield such power.

“Maybe I’ll pop in on a class or two, once you’re more settled in at your school. I know you’ll have room for one more student.” Izzy, too, was keen to learn more then she had while working with Starlight and the other chosen students. Having successfully done more difficult magic, Izzy was genuinely curious to see what else she could use magic for.

The walk only took maybe a minute or so to reach the front door of the impromptu school. Peeking inside the small window in the front door, Sunny spotted at least twenty unicorns seated at desks and awaiting Nimbus’ presence. It was a full house, and Sunny clapped her front hooves together in excitement.

“Theres a whole bunch of ponies waiting inside! This is going to be so exciting for you, Nimbus!”

The butterflies in Nimbus’ stomach kept fluttering about, keeping him a little unsettled about this first night. Instinctively he knew once he got started it would most likely be fine, it was just getting over that ‘first hump’ of actually stepping up that made this seem like something so difficult to do. Nimbus gave a small nod, readying himself.

“Let’s see if I can teach these new students as well as Starlight taught us.” He confided to Sunny and Izzy, trying to focus on what he was going to say. “Thanks for the company; wish me luck.” Nimbus reached out for the door handle and gave it a quick turn, opening the door.

“Good luck tonight, Nimbus.” Sunny gave him a small pat on his back with a forehoof as he headed inside, leaving her and Izzy standing in the doorway. Izzy shut the door behind him and both mares tried to peer in through the front door window for a few seconds, just to watch Nimbus get started.

“Good evening, students.” Nimbus addressed the classroom of ponies as he headed for his desk and waiting podium where he would speak from.

“Good evening, professor Nimbus.” Almost all of the unicorns answered back, recognizing him as the librarian to their library and then sat up straight. Nimbus placed his carry bag on his small desk and pulled out his lesson plan, stepping over to the podium to speak. Looking over the collection of first-time magic students seated in front of him, Nimbus recognized two of the students were two fellow unicorns whom he’d worked with while assisting Starlight; one was Selene Spellbound, a mare whose skill was almost on par with his and Strom Stormcloud, a stallion who’d started studying magic as soon as those two spell books gifted to them by Starlight were available. They three had been the top students for Starlight to teach. Nimbus would have believed one of these ponies might have been chosen of himself, but they selected him as the best. Both smiled pleasantly at him. He got started with what he believed to be the best way to break the ice with his new students.

“Okay students, before we get started this evening, I thought it might be a good idea to start with an introduction of every pony here and why you want to study magic.”

Author's Note

I forgot all about the ending I had made for this story and, now that G5 got canceled, I decided to rework this ending some and split it into two parts; what happened when Starlight left the future time of Equestria and another part of Starlight's return to her point in the timeline of Equestria's past. Since some in the fandom or the writing staff from the show explained the gap in time was about 250 years, that will be added to the second part of this story's epilogue. Keep watching for the final installment of this story.