Chapters It had been over three weeks since Lord Tirek and Queen Chrysalis had been imprisoned in stone, Clarissa Garrison was now in a federal prison. Celestia and Luna had retired and moved to Maretime Manor, while Twilight Sparkle was just recently crowned the new ruler of Equestria. Unfortunately, though it was a good time for them, it was not so good for Twilight's nephew, Nathan Cadenza. He had just been turned into an alicorn, but with bat wings instead of feathered ones. Not only was he no longer human, but now that he was an alicorn, he had to learn magic since he had a horn. Nathan was still adjusting to walking on four legs instead of two, but now he was already being enrolled at Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns.
This was the same school Twilight Sparkle attended a long time ago, but now that Nate was new to the life, it was his turn. Since he was going to be attending the School of Magic, that meant two things. The first thing was he was going to have to leave the School of Friendship and say goodbye to the student six; especially Smolder, since she was closest to him. Secondly, he was going to have to move from The Crystal Empire to Canterlot and live with Twilight and Spike, since she was his aunt. Luckily, he would also have Twilight Velvet and Night Light to visit with as backup family. Anyway, it was another three weeks until the School of Magic started, and Nathan was at his home.
However, poor Nate was feeling really scared about this new chapter in life as he was sitting with his parents. He was at his home in The Crystal Empire speaking with Cadance and Shining Armor.
"Mom Dad, Ah'm really nervous about all of this." he stated.
"I know you are son." Shining Armor stated, putting a hoof on his shoulder. "But you have to realize that you're an alicorn now. Things are going to be heading a new path for you."
"Not to mention that you are going to have to start fresh with this new life." Said Cadance.
"Your' comin' with me aren't y'all?"
Cadance put a hoof on Nate's chin and lifted his face up to her, "Son, our place is here, our future is here. It's time for you to let go."
"Ah' don't want things to change." Nathan whined.
"But you can't stop the change, any more than you can stop the sun from setting."
Shining Armor joined in, "Look son, I know this is hard for you, it's hard for us too. But you need to go and live with your aunt over this, and Canterlot is the only city in Equestria that contains Magic School."
"Nathan I'm sorry, but there is no other option." Cadance said, she and Shining Armor, both hugged him in sorrow.
Poor Nathan went up to his room in anguish, the thought of going to live in a different city was too much to put in thought. Moving to Canterlot was like starting all over again for him, he was already used to living in the Crystal Empire and being a student at the School of Friendship. But now it was a new circle of life for him to be fresh in a different environment, meeting different ponies, and residing in an even bigger structure that Twilight and Spike rested in. Nathan just sat there in his room and stared at a picture of him, Twilight, and Spike taken the day after he was adopted. As he eyed the picture, his stone posture was snapped out by the sound of tiny hooves entering his room, he looked and saw Skyla and Flurry Heart looking at him sadly.
"Hey Skyla, hey Flurry." He remarked.
"Don't go!" Skyla said, hugging him tightly. Flurry hugged him in tears! "Big bwothur stay!"
"Ah'm sorry tiger." Nathan said, stroking his little sister's head with his hoof, "But, Ah' have to go, Ah' got to learn magic."
"I miss big bwothur!" Skyla said crying, Nathan wrapped both of his sisters close.
"Ah'm going to miss y'all too." Nathan pulled his sisters close to him, comforting them both.
Cadance and Shining Armor entered the room, now it was a massive group hug. Nathan felt a sense of comfort of his own, especially since his parents and sisters still loved him. It was just a challenging moment for him, since he was moving away a third time and for good.
....TWO WEEKS LATER....
Nathan was at the Crystal Empire Train Station, where the next train bound for Canterlot was approaching. As the train pulled up, one last time, he hugged his parents and his sister's goodbye and kissed them all.
"We love you son!" Cadance said.
"Ah' love y'all too." Nate stated.
"You will listen to your aunt, will you son?" Shining Armor asked.
"Ah' will dad."
"Last call for Canterlot, train leaving in 15 minutes!" Nathan quickly parted ways as he heard that, then he got on the train and the doors closed. He sat by the window as his family watched from the station, he waved goodbye to them as the train began to depart the station.
As he rode the train, Nathan began to ponder about what his life living in royalty would be like. Not like he was already adopted by royalty; this was a different style of it for him. But how he was going to live was the least of his worries, his main thought was what the School of Magic would bring upon him. He knew there would be basics to start with, but he was reassured that no matter how hard the spells and magic lessons would be, Twilight would be there to guide him and help him through it all. Even if she was now ruler of Equestria. But he was also going to be homesick for a while, since Canterlot was going to be a new lifestyle of ways for him.
...LATER THAT AFTERNOON...
Nathan was kicked back and listening to country music, when he felt a jolt. The train was slowing down, as Nate looked out the window, a train station was coming into view, followed by the bustling skyline of Canterlot in the background. He had not even gone here since the night he ran away from home when Skyla was born. He got up out of his seat as the ponies who were exiting for the Canterlot station waited at the doors.
"Canterlot now arriving." Said the conductor, once the train came to a complete stop. Once he exited the train car, it was a much quicker than expected scene for him, because Twilight (Equestria's new ruler) and Spike, her former assistant now advisor, there waiting for him.
"Spike, Aunt Twilight!" He said with somewhat joy.
"Hi Nate" Spike said.
"Glad you made it here." Twilight responded, hugging her nephew. Their joy to see him soon turned concerning, because Nate was showing gloominess.
"Is something wrong?" Spike asked.
"Well, it's just that Ah' can't ever seem to get settled in one place permanently. For me it's like a rollin' stone gathers no moss. Ah've been bumped from one area of Equestria and back, now Ah' have to live here in Canterlot."
Twilight smiled "Look sweetie, I know this is a big challenge for you. But you have to know that you're an alicorn now, and any race of alicorn or unicorn need to learn magic."
"Aunt Twilight, Ah'm not an alicorn. Ah'm just a unicorn with bat wings." Nathan reassured.
"Well, you do have wings like one."
"Their bat wings."
"We know that, but you are technically an alicorn." Spike said.
Twilight smiled, "Okay, I think we've had enough chit-chat already. Let's get back to the castle and get you settled in Nate; Magic School starts next week you know."
"Ah' know Aunt Twilight." Nate said, gathering his stuff and following them to his new home.
First Day of Magic School
After a few days of recognizing nearly half of Canterlot and getting settled in, the day had come for Nathan. He had woken up and realized that today was the first day of class at Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, this was going to be a new setting for him. Learning such lessons like how to clear your mind, how to let magic flow out, and all that stuff was a fresh environment for him, but he was now an alicorn, so he really did not have much to say in word about it. Anyway, he had just gotten out of bed in his new room Twilight had prepared for him to live in, he was cleaned up and ready for breakfast, a big royal breakfast to be precise. He walked towards the kitchen of the castle, where Spike and Twilight were waiting with a decent breakfast prepared.
"Mornin' Spike, mornin' Aunt Twi." he said with a smile on his face.
"Hey Nathan, we have breakfast ready." Twilight said.
"Better eat up, today is your first day of Magic School." Spike informed.
"Yeah, like Ah' never knew that." Nate said with a tone of sarcasm.
Twilight shook her head as she watched her little nephew sit in between her and Spike.
"Now eat up cowboy." Twilight said "You don't want to be learning magic on an empty stomach."
Nathan did as Twilight told him and ate his plate of breakfast, which was pancakes and milk. Twilight wanted to make this day special for him, because he was going to be learning something new from a different schooling perspective. Once Nate had finished his pancakes, he got on his saddle bag and headed out the door, but not without an escort with Twilight.
"Aunt Twilight, why are you comin'?" He asked.
"Because I want to make sure you are okay before I leave you there. And I certainly don't want you causing a ruckus like you did with Thunder Clash a few months ago."
"Come on, Ah' had to clobber him, he stole money from a colt."
"That still never justified you hurting him."
"Ah' don't care! Ah'm sick of everypony tellin' me violence ain't the answer."
"Nate, you need to control yourself now. Because this is a new school and a new setting for you, I just don't want you growing up to be a violent pony."
"Nate shook his head as Twilight escorted him out of the castle and towards Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. Even though Twilight was now the new ruler of Equestria, she chose to keep the school's name the way it was. But it would be a whole new environment for her to watch her nephew not only turn into an alicorn, but also learning magic too. Anyway, as they were approaching the school, they were quickly surrounded by a bunch of other new unicorn fillies and colts accompanied by their parents.
Nathan felt his stomach drop, fearing what could await him here. But he felt a hoof touch him, and looked up to see Twilight smiling at him, he smiled back.
"Hey it's Princess Twilight and her nephew!" one filly stated, the entire crowd bowed to her.
"Thank you for the posture everypony, but I am just here to drop off my nephew. Now as your ruler, I suggest you all be very kind to him, and don't give him any trouble, he is tough."
"Yes Princess Twilight." they said, some were willing to listen, but a few were not.
"How do y'all know about me?" Nathan asked.
"Come on, only the coolest of a human turned pony would be so cool!" Said one unicorn filly.
"You were awesome, the way you took on Tirek and Cozy Glow. Nopony like you would have dared to face them!" Said another.
"All right you all, give him some air. He's just here for school like you all." Spike assured.
Before Nate joined in with the others, Twilight gave him a verbal notice. "Now Nathan, this is a special day, so I would appreciate it if you try your best to just ignore what others think or say. Just concentrate on your instuctor's topics, understand?"
"Yes, Aunt Twilight." Nathan said obeyingly, Twilight kissed him like a mother and she and Spike left. As he watched Twilight and Spike leave, he then turned and followed the new generation of filly and colt unicorns inside the school. Nate went into his saddle bag and pulled out a map of the school, and searched for his classroom, his room was 112. His instructor's name was Watermark, a former pupil of Starswirl the Bearded.
Nathan followed the small crowd towards the direction of his room, once he found his class, he went in and took his assigned seat. He was soon approached by a small group of unicorns who wanted to know about him.
"Hi Nathan, we saw you outside and wanted to know you." one of them said.
"Hi y'all, please to meet ya." he said with a smile.
"I'm Sunspot, this is Fire Bomb, and River Dawn."
"How did y'all know about me?" Nathan asked.
"We've seen how you took on Tirek and Cozy Glow, no colt would have ever dared to stand up to them." River Dawn said.
"Well, Ah' have strong faith in mah' friends. Not to mention how much Ah' look up to mah' aunt's teachings."
"You are such a cool colt." Sunspot said, their conversation was soon cut by the sight of their magic teacher entering the room. She was a tan colored unicorn, 50s in human-like age, her main and tail were darkish brown, and she wore glasses. Lastly, her cutie mark was a fainted picture design of a painting.
"Good morning class, I am Miss Watermark, your instructor for the junior phase of magic." She said, staring at the class as she wrote her name on the chalkboard with levitated chalk.
"Good morning Ms. Watermark!" The entire class said altogether, including Nathan.
"Now, before we start our first lessons for today, I do believe we have a new student joining us." Nate could tell Watermark was obviously referring to him.
"Nathan Cadenza, will you please come up and introduce yourself to the class?" she said, Nathan obeyed and walked on his hooves to the front of the class.
"Hello everypony, mah' names Nathan Cadenza, Ah'm Princess Twilight Sparkle's nephew. Perhaps y'all have heard about me before, Ah' stopped Tirek and Cozy Glow from takin' over Equestria, all thanks to mah' knowledge of friendship Ah' was taught."
"Oh yeah, we did hear about that." One unicorn filly said.
"What's that place you were from again? Tennis is it?" Another asked.
"Texas." Nate corrected, "It's actually mah' cutie mark here." He pointed his hoof to his Texas shape flag cutie mark.
Meanwhile, as Nate introduced himself, one unicorn wasn't having it. He was willing to challenge Nate to the toughness level.
Ain't No Love in Equestria
It was nearing lunch time, the class Nathan was in had already completed their first round of lessons. They had already learned the most important first rule of magic usage: Magic is not to be misused. But this was something Nate was about to do, something he would later regret doing, even after being warned about misuse of it. On the other hoof, they were also taught that the way to let magic flow through their horns was to first have a clear mind and empty their thoughts. The second was to embrace the feeling of the magic inside them, and let it flow through their inside. Finally, once their magic was embraced in them, they were to let it flow up and out their horns. Everypony had managed to master it, well except poor Nathan of course.
The reason being is that he had a difficult time trying to clear his mind for embracing the magical power. He was so filled with many thoughts, he kept getting distracted to where his horn could not let up. So, this first lesson was a bit of a tricky predicament for him, and it was about to start during lunch. He was sitting down with a group of newcomers talking about each other's lives, and they were chatting with him about what his life was like in Texas before he came to Equestria. Nathan was right in the middle of telling them the story about himself and how he defended Apple Bloom from Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.
As Nate was chatting with new students, he was interrupted by the sound of chuckling.
"Well, Well, look who we have here guys!" Nate turned to see three unicorn colts about his age, and they were staring at him with evil smiles on their faces.
"And just who are y'all?" he asked.
"Oh!" the lead colt assured "Where are our manners? I'm Meat Grinder, and this is Razor Blade and Mysterio! We've heard about you, Nathan Cadenza, how you're the toughest unicorn in Equestria, and one with bat wings."
"Well, what do y'all have to do with any of that?" He asked.
Meat Grinder cackled, "Let's just say, um, you have practically managed to encounter a group who does not fear your toughness. We're here to take that away from you, and make ourselves the popular ones."
Nathan sneered, "Think again, because Ah' beg to differ with that one."
Meat Grinder picked up Nathan's lunch and smeared it on his face. "Oh yeah, what does that tell you?!"
Nate was not having it, he grabbed Meat Grinder by the chest with his hoof and pulled him close. "Ya' ain't going to be laughin' when Ah'...." Meat Grinder broke free and knocked down Nate to the floor. He and his friends then laughed at him, "Now who's the loser, loser!" Meat and his jerk friends then left the scene. However, Nathan still was not having it.
"JUST Y'ALL WAIT, Y'ALL WILL GET YOUR SHARE OF A RED BUTT WHEN AH'M DONE WITH Y'ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Y'ALL SEE!!!!!!!
Later on, back in class, he kept doing his best to do the first lesson that was supposed to be done by now. After all afternoon, he finally got the goal spot on. His mind had been cleared, and he embraced the magical power within him! His horn finally lit up. But that was the least of his concern, he was still determined to get back at Meat Grinder for ruining his lunch and making him a loser in front of the cafeteria. And he was going to do it one way or another.
But little did he know that even the toughest of the tough can go too far! And it began after the first day of Magic School. Mrs. Watermark decided that homework was not to be concerning, especially because it was only the first day. So, she let the class out with just a thank you for making it a good first day for everypony. Nathan was trotting towards the castle, when out of nowhere, Meat Grinder shoved him aside.
"Well, Well, look who it is, Nathan the loser!" he said, his companions laughing with him. Nathan was now covered in mud, yet he did not cry or even show terror. As usual, he stood his ground for himself and got back on his hooves and got in Meat's face.
"Meat Grinder, Ah'm not going to stand here have ya' ruinin' mah' day anymore!" he said.
"Or what?" Meat Grinder teased.
"Or his aunt will expel your Dad from the castle." one of his friends mocked, his two friends high hooved each other. Meat Grinder then grabbed Nathan and pulled him close to his face.
"What's your stupid aunt gonna do, scold me?!" He asked threateningly, Nathan broke free and pushed him away.
"Meat Grinder, for the last time, leave me alone!" Nate answered, but Meat Grinder and his friends still would not stop bothering him.
"Oh poor Nate wants to be alone, well it ain't happening!" Meat said, he then pushed Nathan down again!
"I said you've met your match for the first time Nathan. Here is the bottom line, no matter what you say or do, I will never be afraid of it."
Poor Nathan was now on the verge of the tipping point! Even though he had just learned a basic spell on his first day. He was going to show Meat Grinder and his pals that he meant business!
"Meat Grinder, Ah' mean it! y'all have rubbed me long enough, Ah'm takin' ya down once and fer' all!" He said with a look of determination in him. Nathan remembered all the first basics he was taught in class, and cleared all his mind. Meat Grinder could now see what he was going to do, he knew what Watermark had told them in class about the dangers of misusing magic.
"Nathan don't!" He warned "I'm sorry, please, you're going to....." But it was too late, Nathan had blasted magic out of his horn and it shot right at Meat Grinder. Meat flew about 40 yards across before finally hitting his head on a lamp post, knocking him unconcious.
Nate's expression soon changed from anger to pure shock at what he had just done! His actions of misusing magic had drawn a huge crowd of onlookers, some were purely enraged!
"NATHAN ELISHA CADENZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" screamed an all too familiar voice!
Author's Note
Uh-oh! Nathan has gone too far!
Nathan now found himself back inside the castle, nervously sitting on a chair in the main dining room. The only other pony in the room was none other than Twilight, and all she was doing was pacing the same area. Back and forth, on and on, nothing changing for Nate as he watched nervously at his angry aunt. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of pacing and a blank cold stare, Twilight turned her attention to him.
As Nate sat in the chair, shaking nervously, Twilight got in his face.
"Now Nathan, this is the third time in the last year in a half you've resorted to violence!"
Nathan nodded "Yes, Aunt Twilight, Ah' know but...."
"**NATHAN**" Twilight yelled, "I will not have anymore of this "tough" non-sense. You should know by now that the pony principles are to solve problems with words, not violence!"
"Ya' don't understand Ah'...." Once again Nate was cut off!
"No more excuses my young nephew! This is the last time you will ever resort to violence, I don't care how much you get bullied or teased. I will no longer have you fighting or threatening, you will solve problems with nothing but words or friendship, am I clear on this Nate?!"
"Aunt Twilight, Ah'....."
Twilight glared with a look so fierce, and got into his face "I said, do I make myself clear!?!"
For the next few minutes or so, Nathan could do nothing but give his aunt the silent treatment. Twilight on the other hand was about to really blow a gasket when something clicked in Nate's head, something just......SNAPPED! He finally stood up and glared with a menacing look!
" NO, AH' WILL NOT HAVE ANYMORE OF YOU AND YOUR FRIENDSHIP CRUD RUINING WHAT AH' BELIEVE IS RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He screamed at her so loudly, it shook nearly half of Canterlot like an earthquake! Twilight and Spike now stood there in utter shock and terror. They had seen him get angry dozens of times, but they had never seen him snap this way before, it was pratically the Royal Canterlot Voice: Texas style!
"Y'all were there for me when Ah' brought down Diamond Tiara from bullyin' Apple Bloom. But not when Ah' defended Zodiac from Thunder Clash, and now yer' scoldin' me for defendin' mahself from Meat Grinder's antics!?!"
"Yes, you did defend them, but when you fought Thunder Clash you unleashed a riot." Spike replied.
"And now you badly injured Meat Grinder." said Twilight.
"Ah'm tired of y'all tryin' to turn me into somethin' Ah' ain't!"
Twilight was not so sure, "What, nopony wants to change you."
Nathan was not having it, "Oh, but y'all want everything to end in friendship and harmony!"
Spike answered "Yes, it's because violence only causes pain and suffering."
"Ah'm not causin' anything!" Nate said in a defensive tone "Ah'm defending mahself from threatenin' momentums!"
Twilight still was not budging "Well, that does not matter young mare. Because I got this letter from you stating that you've gotten detention on your first full week of school!"
"For defendin' mahself?!" Nate asked confused, yet shocked.
"No, for fighting on school property!" Twilight answered.
Nathan could not take it anymore! "THAT'S IT! AH'VE HAD IT WITH BEING SOMETHIN' AH' AIN'T! AH'M GOIN' BACK TO THE CRYSTAL EMPIRE!!!!!"
Spike and Twilight went from angered to shocked, "What?!"
It seemed like poor Nathan could not be tough anymore, every time he tried to defend himself he was always scolded. Yet, he was only praised one time for defending Apple Bloom from Diamond Tiara. It was all crashing down on him like blocks, he was now fed up with being scolded for every chance he had of defending himself.
"Ah' know violence is wrong, but Ah'm gettin' fed up with being scolded and yelled at by everypony every time Ah' defend mahself."
"Nate, we are not scolding you." Twilight said, trying to reason, "We are just...."
Nathan interrupted, "Ah' won't have it, Ah'm goin' back to The Crystal Empire where Ah' belong!"
"No cowboy!" Spike said!
"You are not quitting and you are not leaving Canterlot!"
"Quitin' what?!" Nate exclaimed, "Ever since after the defeat of Tirek, Queen Chrysalis, and Cozy Glow I've been intesifying mah' strength for defense and for ponies like y'all."
"That was months ago, Tirek and Chrysalis are imprisoned in stone now." Spike said "But what you did is a totally different aspect!"
"Exactly." Twilight said. "You misused your magic, you nearly killed a colt!"
"Ah' don't care! Ah'm tired of being scolded for how to handle problems!" Nate exclaimed.
"Nathan, I am only doing what I believe is best for you." Twilight said.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa ya' never said anything about doing what's best for me." he remarked, "Ya' only brought me here because Ah' had to learn magic and work mah' way to the advanced school for when Ah'm ready. If ya' want me to be a good magic user Aunt Twilight, if ya' want me to have it all for the best, then do what ya' have to do. But quit feeding me this line about friendship and harmony always bein' the way to solve problems, this is not about what is best for me at all! This is about you tryin' to turn me into somethin' Ah'm not!"
Twilight and Spike were in shock with what he had just told them.
"But, all I want is for you is to grow up and be a worthy unicorn." she stated.
"Ah' Am worthy, but Ah' have standards. And Ah' sure as heck ain't lettin' nopony walk all over me. Nor let somepony tell me how life goes."
With that, Nathan left the room. Twilight and Spike could not believe the tongue lashing they had just experienced. Sure Nathan had a temper, but they had never gotten such a response like that from him before. But what if he was right, what if friendship and harmony did not solve every single problem?
It was never like violence solved anything either.