The Mage Games

Truly, I personally think that the latest assignment you sent me on, princess, was a total waste of time.

It really was. Even if it was in efforts for new spells, it turned out that it was a kid who somehow published a fake ad to make a few bits for no effort.

Twilight rolled the paper up, and it floated to Spike.

"Go ahead spike, she needs to know that this resurrection spell was a real hoax."

"Maybe you shouldn't take it so hard.", Spike opened the window, and flamed the letter.

Spike, resurrection spells are to be known for a reason. Malpractice can lead to creating a living body, that is soulless, and mindless, further harming ponies mentally, or worse, physically. They can be dangerous. But, have the right knowledge, and proper practice, you may have a slim chance to pull a soul back from the abyss, and give the body a rejuvenated structure, and not have any side effects. But, again, it's so hard because you might grab the wrong soul."

Spike didn't respond.

"Let's just get home, now, before Celestia responds. It's really cold here."

Spike yawned, sleep nearly taking him. He's been awake for only an hour, and a bed looks to be the best thing at the moment to him. Just a product of his cold blooded nature.

Twilight opened the vortex, swirling and black, to which they would leave in, and focused on a specific spot in her library, upon which she could see through the portal. The exact view from inside her far wall.

Stepping through, spike fell through it, having tripped on the edge of the vortex.

"You alright, Spike?"

He affirmed with a simple "mmhmm...", and picked himself up, "I'm going to bed."

Looking at the clock, Twilight agreed it was definitely time to sleep.

And she would have followed the purple dragon upstairs, should not somepony had knocked on the door.

"Really? It's nearly three in the morning!", Twilight said to herself.

The pony knocked again, receiving a sigh from the purple unicorn, who opened the door.

Trixie. The Trixie which had boasted to everypony, something she didn't do.

Raising an eyebrow to the blue unicorn, it seemed to Twilight that that was her cue to start claiming more fake nonsense.

"I, Trixie, Lulamoon, the Great and Powerful Trixie, whichever you wish to call me, have done something which-"

Twilight slammed the door, not wanting to hear another word.

Trixie knocked on the door again.

Twilight opened the door, "Listen, I don't want to hear about how you defeated a hydra, using your bare hooves, or how you used the power of the stars to take down a basilisk attacking defenseless ponies."

"Oh, I have nothing to boast about, but I have something to brag about. Something I know you would want to hear."

"...Fine then, tell me, if you want to."

"Thank you. I have recently discovered the art of resurrection..."

Twilight's expression became dire.

Oh, Celestia no, please tell me that she did not...

"And after months of studying such magic..."

Well, at least she did study...

"I have resurrected the one and only, ancient, well known unicorn, Star Swirl the Bearded!"

Twilight's heart skipped a beat.

Knowing Trixie's past experiences in magic, the most she could do were simple, and flashy magics, but, taking a leap into the one and only hardest form of magic there is? On Twilight's own hero! Knowing the consequences of naivety and even the stupidity of not regarding your own past failures in any magics, it's just simply enough to make somepony like Twilight drop dead on the spot, no warning, no noise, just, dead.

D-E-A-D, dead!

Twilight was silent for a moment, then put her hooves on Trixie's shoulders.

"Please, I pray for thee! Tell me now, why did you desecrate a sacred stallion?! Why?!?!"

"...W-what?"

"The consequences of your actions, may have brought Star swirl to life, but who knows who's soul is in his body, if he even has a soul, if he can even think, if he is an ugly, flesh craving zombie!!!! Celestia! Why did this have to happen?!"

Pushing the Unicorn down, Twilight ran to her desk, and began speed writing the letter to Celestia, telling of the news she just got, and took a deep breath.

"SPIKE!!!!"

With no patience in her mind, Twilight teleported the dragon downstairs, where he was dropped a good half meter off the ground, and clambered to his feet in panic.

"Ah! Wha, what?!"

"No time for words, just send this to Celestia!", Twilight shoved the letter into his mouth.

Spike, half bewildered, and half scared, removed the letter from being halfway lodged down his throat by the over active mare, and turned it to flames, sending it out the open window.

"There, happy?", he said with an angry look, corssign his arms, "Now can I go back to bed?"

"No! You can't, it may not be safe! Right now we have to-mmm-mmm-mmm mm-mm mm-mm-mm-mm-mmm!"

Trixie had sealed her lips with a simple zip spell.

"Calm down, Twilight.", she said calmly.

Twilight undid the spell, "How can I, knowing that you may have completely desecrated the corpse of Equestria's most widely known unicorn?1?!"

A middle Aged Green unicorn stepped through the door, signature robes and hat adorned on his ponison.

"Because!", he smiled, "I wouldn't be here, again, now would I?"

Twilight's mouth hung open in shock, a new process running through her mind entirely.

"Tea, anyone?", she asked calmly.

Spike facepalmed, and sighed, making his way upstairs to escape the spark of insanity, "I quit."

Star Swirl Cleared his throat, "Uhm, miss Sparkle, is it?"

"Yes, how do you do, kind sir?"

Star Swirl's horn lit up in it's usual green colour, and a magically filled glove materialized, slapped Twilight once, twice, thrice, then dematerialized, leaving the mare to rub her cheek gently.

"Ow..."

"Really, I've not seen anypony freak out that much since my own mother found out I was going to be a father!"

"Sorry..."

"Now, I know your concerns for everything on the subject that resurrection spells are nearly impossible to do perfectly, but, she did not do it entirely on her own."

"Come again?", Trixie turned her head ot the old unicorn.

"Yes, it's true, and I am sorry for not telling you this earlier, but, you only sparked the spell I had already set up in my tomb. Really, it would still take years to have even figured out the exact frequency of magic to display, in order to resurrect me to my prime years."

"Wait.", Twilight interrupted, "You said you're in your prime years, right?"

"Yup."

"And you have your signature beard, when you're only twenty years old?"

"Oh, this one is a fake. Helps ponies to recognize me easier."

Spike stepped down from the staircase, and held out three letters sealed with the princess's royal seal.

"These just came in."

Twilight rubbed the back of her head, an awkward feeling setting in.

"Sorry for freaking out, and writing the letter, but, I guess I need to clarify a few things to Celestia, and quick."

Levitating the three letters over to herself, she read them, one after the other, front to back.

"Wow. To tell the truth, I would never have expected the princess to over react more than I did."

"So, what do they say?", Star Swirl asked.

"Oh, she wrote in extra large, extra bold, an extra ink, that she will be here in...", Twilight checked the clock, "Now."

The door slammed open, and Trixie was pulled out magically, a small yelp escaping her lips.

Though, she didn't scream, even though she had the humongous form of a goddess looming over her, magic charging to rid her entire being from existence.

"Oh dear...", Star Swirl began, "Really, I did not see that coming. Excuse me for a moment."

Star Swirl stepped out of the library and cleared his throat.

"Helloooooo, Shmoopikiiiiiins!"

Celestia's giant form halted, the magic still charging.

"Yes, yes, she did do the unthinkable, but, luckily, I came prepared, as always."

The ball of magic which had formed at the tip of Clestia's horn dissolved into her form, and she turned her head to the small figure of Star Swirl.

"Allow me to explain over tea?"

So, now you have it, Celestia, Twilight, Star Swirl the Bearded, and Trixe, all sitting at Twilight's Dinner table, sipping tea in silence.

(swagger)

"So.", Star Swirl broke the silence with a smile, setting his tea cup down.

"Trixie Lulamoon, tell me now, what was going through that tiny mind of yours buried in that thick skull you have encasing it?", Celestia asked the blue unicorn bitterly, not looking from inside her tiny cup.

"Uhm...Uh..."

"Well? I'm waiting.", she turned to trixie.

"Vengeance?"

"Yes, Twilight has told me that you left vowing to return, but with this kind of sick action? Really, you could have destroyed his soul in the after life!"

"Love, calm down.", Star Swirl calmed Celestia.

"Star Swirl, you must explain to me why you haven't rid her from this world yet."

"Because she didn't resurrect me, I did! Granted, she provided the needed spark, but I had the tomb magically charged! Even if somepony tried to resurrect me, they would have to make a specific frequency of magic vibrate throughout the room. Trixe was lucky enough to get it right the first time."

"So...You would still have been untouched, should she have failed?"

"Yes, now, I understand we were past lovers, had a family, but, really, resorting to your most powerful form to eradicate a single soul? Really, I thought better of you!"

"...Y...you're right. I shouldn't have. It's just, what if you didn't prepare like you had done? And what if she failed to complete it, or her knowledge was not enough, and her luck just plum gone?"

"I understand your worry, but you need to keep calm, really. You are the ruler of Equestria, are you not?"

Celestia sighed, and let her forehead rested on her hooves, "Yes."

"Good. Now, to business, and news."

Celestia raised her head with a chuckle, "I've been waiting to here that come from you one last time for centuries. But, now that you're back, I'll be able to relive another life with you."

"That is how I have it planned. Twilight, can you set the quill and book aside for now? An autobiography is not needed right now."

Twilight wrote the remaining words and stopped, waiting for him to speak again, taking several seconds to register what he said.

"Oh! Sorry!"

Twilight set the book and quill under the table, levitating them there, and waited for the next part of the conversation.

"You're obviously excited, seeing as your queen, and a famous unicorn-"

"Yes, my teacher, and my greatest hero.", Twilight smiled.

"Oh my, Celestia, you have been busier than I would have ever expected you to be. As I was saying, the excitement may be a bit more than you can handle, and getting every detail written down may be worth it in the end, but, really, an autobiography is not needed right now."

"Eheh, what do you mean?", she said guiltily.

Lighting up his horn, Twilight's magic failed, and the book flashed onto the table, quill holding the place in the book.

"Wow, nearly halfway through, I must say, I am impressed."

Twilight didn't know whether to feel flattered, or to feel guilty.

"Now, as I wanted to begin a minute ago, to news and business. News is, I have taken Trixie Lulamoon under my wing, as her mentor, and teacher, just as it seems you have, Love."

"What?!", Twilight burst out, clapping her hooves on the table.

"Really, this day is full of surprises for you, isn't it, Twilight?", Trixie smiled snootily.

"Trixie, please, angering her would not be a good idea. I mean, just at a glance, she is a librarian. She could still beat you to submission, even if she weren't Celestia's personal protegee, and seeing as she actualy is, you'd be left hopeless against a hoard of hydras with fifty heads each, and more.", Star Swirl responded.

It was Twilight's turn to smile, but with pride.

"Now, with news out of the way, to business. Celestia, you have not remarried, have you?"

"Not that I know of. Though, a few nights in a bar, it really can yield odd results, one especially being, to wake up in a bed that is not even a bed, and not yours. I'm talking about beginning in a tavern in Canterlot, and ending up smack dab in the center of Equestria, in a city of which I had not even known the name of. Equilisia."

"Oh? You haven't been there? I have! A small little town. Makes wonderful bread from small wheat crops. Very full of flavor."

"Well, we must talk of it sometime, but, you were asking if I had remarried?"

"Yes, you see, that means that you and I are still husband and wife. I assume you still have our wedding circlets. I wish to request that we take them upon our heads once more as a wedded couple."

Celestia smiled, "I'd be delighted!"

"Good, and, hmm, that does finish this night's news and business. But I must have a word with you in private, maybe a quick flight?"

"If I may ask, what spell do you intend to use, Star Swirl?", Twilight asked.

"Spell? I have no need of spells during flight, miss sparkle. I am, after all, an alicorn."

Twilight looked up, "Let's see...one, two, three, four...five surprises today, and you haven't even made it to three."

Star Swirl chuckled, "I'm afraid, my schedule is far different from yours, miss sparkle. And to add a sixth, I must request that you house Trixie for the morning, and possibly, far into the evening, maybe until tomorrow, even. She's needs to rest."

"What?!", Trixie reacted, "I do not need sleep. I'm perfectly fine!"

"Oh? Well, Trixie, a simple mind reader spell can tell me a lot more. You were "analyzed" in my tomb, upon the end of the ritual. Tonight you sleep, and when you awaken, you will be courted with a fair meal, then you, and Twilight, will both be relocated to Canterlot with me."

"Uhm, love, as much as you are royal as me, you do also need to keep in mind of what she does for a living. she is a librarian after all.", Celestia warned.

"Indeed, I do, I have a substitute awaiting to take her place."

Flashing a jar into existence, Star Swirl dusted off the glass, to show that it had been filled with ashes.

"In here, are the remains of a phoenix fairy. To be exact, she was my loyal assistant for my remaining years while I researched different subjects of magic all over Equestria."

Removing the lid, he emptied the contents onto the floor.

"Oh, come now, Olivia, you can't stay asleep forever."

The ashes exploded into flames, which then grew into a fireball, and took shape as a red and yellow pegasus.

She stood, eyes closed for a second before shaking her head. Looking around, she found the green alicorn.

"Allu'rah, Masaey!", She spoke.

"Oh pardon me, I had her help me with an ancient language last, and haven't returned her linguistics to normal."

Casting a quick spell, the red mare sneezed.

"Bless you. Sorry for keeping you asleep all these years."

"Oh, no worries, just as long as I serve you."

"It's good to know that you are still as loyal as ever. Now. I have a request."

"Anything for you, master!", she smiled.

"This library must be managed while miss Sparkle is away with me and my own student, so I must ask that you keep the library running while she is with me."

"Understood."

"Good. Now, I guess it would be best to fire proof everything now, rather than later, miss Sparkle. She is, after all, part phoenix."

Twilight's horn lit up, and she nodded, casting the permanent spell over the library.

"Done. And, really, I'd begin to ask so many questions, but, I know that we must all get some sleep, and you and Celestia are about to leave."

"Yes. You're a smart one. For now, you three get some sleep. You too, especially, Olivia. Hibernating for so long will leave you tired more than ever for the next few days, best to be safe than sorry."

"Yes, master."

"And, Twilight,"

"Yes, Star Swirl?"

"I am unsure whether to call you miss Sparkle, or Misses Sparkle."

"Twilight or miss Sparkle is fine. I am unmarried. Too young."

"Understood. Now, I think Celestia and I should be on our way. I will leave my cloak and hat here, to be retrieved tomorrow."

Star Swirl removed his signature hat and cloak, setting them on the hooks that sat on the wall besides the door, showing his large wings, and followed Celestia out.

Later in the night sky, Star Swirl and Celestia came to rest on a cloud just above the library.

"You do realize that she could be listening via magic, no?", Celestia spoke first.

"Oh, I do. But, she will find out soon enough. I wish to request that you and I have a competition. I do not remember much from the past, easily. But I do know that we did have fun times, bringing two ponies to compete in magic."

"I remember those days well. You wish to do the same with Trixie and Twilight?"

"Yes. I wish to exercise my expertise in training such a lowly unicorn. She seems fit to throw out an entire mountain with one blast, but she is very arrogant, and erratic. A little training, and she will be dishing out magic as easily as Twilight."

"Hmm. We'll see about that. I accept your challenge. Though, I wish to know if you claim handicap, since you have been out of action for several centuries."

"I do not claim handicap. Bring it all, full forced."

"Then it is settled. The Mage Games shall commence once more."

"Oh, such a sport. Though, I have acquired knowledge that there are other unicorns and alicorns training others in magic, as much as us. Care to allow invitations?"

"Gladly."